Hello again! I feel like I haven't done this in so long, which is true because the hiatus was long! I loved the new episode! It was so good and exciting! Hetty is coming home and I'm so happy about that. I can't wait to see how she and Mosley try to figure out how to work together. Of course this took forever to write so the next episode has already aired!

I'm so excited to be writing these chapters again. It's like getting a new prompt to write about each week and it forces me to get it done. I've been writing some other stories but often get a new idea and then start that, so I have lots of beginnings of stories but not yet a complete story idea to post hahaha!

In the last scene when they're on the helicopter I can't really tell if their camo face paint is still on so I'm just going to go with yes and from what I can tell Mosley just addresses the team by their first names or last whichever they prefer, but I wasn't sure.

This picks up after the fourteenth episode of season 9, Goodbye, Vietnam (9x14).

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS:LA.

Sam and Callen helped Hetty walk out of the cabin she'd been held in. She was weak but very relieved that they had come to her rescue. They would have to wait for the helicopter so Sam got out his small emergency kit to clean some of Hetty's wounds. Keane was also in need of medical attention soon so they hoped they could get out of there quickly.

"We got all the people except for one. He's tied up over there." Sam pointed to a different building.

"Then we've got some unfinished business to attend to." She was referring to Dang.

When Mosley and Hidoko left the room, Nell finally released the breath she was holding. She looked up to Eric and he smiled. They gravitated towards each other quickly and just held on. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and her face buried in the crook of his neck. The relief she felt was overwhelming her and causing her to get emotional.

"You found her just in time Eric."

He stroked her hair. "We all did." He kissed the side of her head. "You figured out why she gave you the flashlight; Hidoko knew what the words in the book meant; Mosley booked the flight tickets for the team; Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks just rescued her…" He released his breath. "And she's coming home."

She nodded her head. "It all worked out perfectly. We couldn't have been a second later." They got to her with no time to spare. Another second later and the outcome could have been very different.

"The universe works in mysterious ways sometimes."

"So does Hetty." She said softly. That thought got them both laughing again. Some way or another Hetty always had a plan but this one seemed very risky. She had to have faith in the team to know that they would find her and they did.

"I'm sorry again for what I said to your sister. It wasn't my place… She was just asking about our relationship and my intentions and…"

"It's okay Eric. You said what I've wanted to my entire life and I've never had the courage to. Nobody knows how close we really are, definitely not her. We hardly talk, I don't call her very often."

"I just hate seeing you upset and I know how much being called Togo irritates you."

"I know it's because you care. Nobody's ever stood up for me like that." She squeezed him a little tighter and then moved back. "Okay, let's go home."

"Take your own car?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you at your apartment."

xxx

"Deeks wake up." She said gently. "We're almost there." That was partially the reason she woke him up but also because she wanted to talk to him during the landing.

He started to stir. "I'm up." He was slightly disoriented still from being in a deep sleep, the result of the time difference to Los Angeles and because he didn't sleep on the plane but he was awake now. "You still okay?" It was still be hard for her to be on a plane especially a helicopter like the one they crashed with last year.

"Yeah." He reached for her hand. "Much better now that we have Hetty here."

They both looked over to Hetty and saw that she was asleep with her head against Callen's shoulder. "They look so cute."

"Deeks…"

"I'm sure we looked just as cute a few minutes ago." She chuckled and then leaned her own head on Deeks' shoulder. He removed his hand from hers to move it over her shoulder so that they were completely wrapped up in each other's arms.

Nell logged out of and shut down the computers. Then slung her bag over her shoulders and descended the stairs from osp. Deep in thought, she was surprised to hear someone speak.

"Good work today Nell."

She turned around and saw Mosley. "Thank you." Suddenly shy again. Completely opposite from when she took charge earlier. "And thank you again for everything today. It means a lot to me and the team."

"We couldn't have rescued her without you. I'm glad she's okay."

"Me too."

"Goodnight Nell."

"Goodnight Executive Assistant Director Mosley."

They arrived at the medical center hoping they could get Keane some more medical attention before heading to the United States again. Hetty was also taken to a room to get checked out even though she seemed okay, Callen insisted wanting to make sure everything was good.

Chegwidden, Langston and Bridges sat on the chairs to the side and Sam was pacing down the hallway. Deeks and Kensi were left standing in the lobby so he grabbed onto her hand and pulled her along. "Come."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." He grabbed a towel from his bag and lead the way.

"You know this is the women's restroom right?" She asked as he proceeded to push open the door to the public restroom in the lobby.

"There's nobody in here at this hour. Hop up." He pointed to the sink that had a countertop next to it and then checked all the stalls to see that he was correct, nobody else was in there.

She sat next to the sink, her legs dangling off the side, as she waited for him to come back. "Clear?"

"Yep. Time to get the camo paint off of your face." He started to unclip parts of her outer armor and laying it down next to her. He unzipped the coat and then helped her take it off. He was uncovering the many layers she had on until she was down to just her black long sleeve shirt. His hands lingered on her hips and then went to move the shirt up.

"Deeks." Her tone warning him.

"I'm just kidding. Don't worry Fern." Flashing his signature smile. He took the towel and wet it under the sink. Then stood in front of her and gently wiped the towel down her cheek.

She watched as he concentrated on cleaning her face. Looking into his piercing blue eyes, she'd looked at so many times before yet they had a different hue each time, she basked in the pleasant silence. She got lost in his eyes thinking about all that had occurred in the last 24 hours. The whirlwind of events was enough to overwhelm anybody even her. The range of emotions she'd felt in just the last hour or so, was beyond fathomable.

"Are you tearing up?" Deeks' voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"No." She said defensively.

"Don't worry Kens. I know everything about you, you don't have to hide. I see you."

"I think you just wiped some paint in my eye." She laughed and he joined in while wiping her eyes from the tears with a clean part of the towel. "I'm just so happy everyone's okay."

"Me too. It's a relief. I feel like a whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders." She nodded in agreement. Another stroke over her forehead got some more the paint off her face. "Quite a team we had today."

"Yeah can you believe Rio, or whatever his name is, is here?"

"It's crazy."

"Unbelievable. I'm up to here with him." She held up her hand to show him and he laughed. "It's not funny."

"It kinda is."

He wet the towel again and started to clean his own face with the help through the mirror. "No let me." She took the towel out of his hands and shifted his shoulders so she was facing him. "What did you think of our older team members today?"

"They sure think they know everything."

"You're more like them than you'd probably like to admit. Especially Bridges."

"What? I'm not like him at all."

"Oh please. You're the one who suggested that they're us in the future."

"I'm not like him." He was adamant.

She gave him a look but he didn't cave in. Exasperated she just went ahead and said it. "You both have to pee all the time."

"That was in the past, I don't do that as much anymore."

"You both talk way too much."

"You love hearing my voice."

"The hair."

"What's wrong with my golden locks? I know you love them too." She wasn't even going to respond this time. "Fine. You're right."

"I'm always right, just go with it."

"I should get used to it huh? Especially after we're married, the wife always wins."

"You bet."

"Happy wife, happy life."

She wiped the last of the paint off his face. "And I do love your golden locks." She ruffled her fingers through his hair and then touched her forehead to his. The smiles turned serious and their breaths synchronized. Her hands moved down to the nape of his neck and her legs wrapped around his to pull him closer to the counter. Her soft lips kissed his cheek and he reciprocated. Her kisses continued until her lips were on his. They deepened their kiss as his hands reached for her hips. Before things could get too heated, they heard the door click and pulled apart. When Hetty came into view they released their arms from each other completely and Kensi hopped off of the counter.

"Hi Hetty. How are you doing?"

"Much better now, thank you Mr. Deeks."

Suddenly realizing he was in the women's restroom again, he excused himself. "Uhm I'm gonna go see if the guys need any help. See you out there." He said to Kensi.

"Yeah."

He laid a hand on Hetty's shoulder on the way out and then shut the door. Kensi was left standing against the sink looking at Hetty who had her head facing down.

"Hetty?"

"Mhm." She lifted her head.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, my dear. I'm doing alright. How are you doing Miss Blye?"

She huffed a laugh. "Really well." Hetty seemed surprised by that response. Kensi wasn't one to share overwhelming emotion of sadness or happiness. "I'm so glad you're safe." She moved a strand of hair out of her face. "I've missed you Hetty." She added softly.

"I have missed you and the rest of the team as well. It's been a long time since I have seen you all."

"Very long time."

"I'm glad you didn't give up on me."

Kensi looked down feeling guilty. She hadn't wanted to come to Vietnam to find her because she honestly thought they wouldn't. "I almost did." She said softly not daring to look into Hetty's eyes.

"Almost… but you didn't and I'm very grateful for that."

Kensi nodded her head and Hetty opened her arms. She hesitated like she usually did and then embraced Hetty with so much love. She was the woman who gave her encouragement and confidence as the only other woman on the team. She'd given her advice about being a strong woman holding her ground with all the guys. Later Nell came along but the females had still been outnumbered for many years.

She wasn't sure if Callen had already told her about the new additions to the team but she wasn't going to bring it up. With Mosley and Hidoko now part of the team, the ratio was even if Hetty wasn't included. She didn't know if she'd come back after her retirement.

"Us women have to stay strong. We can't let our fears control us." Hetty said as if she had read her mind. Not only about being strong but also the fear of flying that had been continuously on her mind. "Now, let's go see what the boys are up to." Hetty patted her on the back and then they pulled apart. Kensi grabbed her gear and silently followed her out of the restroom.

The lobby was now filled with everyone waiting for them. Kensi walked over to Deeks and they all looked at each other. "Alright." Deeks said. "We're going home." The words echoed the ones he'd spoken so many times before. A promise to bring each other home safely. "We're going home."

Thanks for reading!