Chapter 14

"You coming tonight, right?" Sam said as he and Callen met 9:25 in the morning, both being 5 minutes early for a change.

"I paid for the ticket, of course I'll come" Callen smirked, it didn't reach his eyes but he seemed calmer this day then the others. In his hands rested a letter, but Sam knew better then to ask.

"If you two finished chit chatting" Hetty's voice was hear behind them. They both jumped, Callen pushed the letter down in his pocket. "Vance wants you both upstairs. MTAC" She added and as Sam and Callen got up and walked passed her she grabbed a hold of Callen's arm, catching his eyes. "You and me will talk when you're finished upstairs."

Twisted Desire

Tony was checking through information he had found about a person they had found dead earlier the same day. He was puzzled by the information he got.

"McGee, look at this" Tony said, McGee rose and walked over to Tony's desk. "Doesn't that look like someone we know?" Tony added.

"It does, take it to MTAC, Callen and the others will be there." Gibbs said as he passed them. "Ziva's joining you for a while, Bianca's leading her team, they and FBI's working on the Rebecca Ali case." He added as the three of them headed to the stairs up to MTAC. Ziva came shortly after them. Vance was there already, he and Sam was talking.

"Everyone's here now?" Vance asked as Ziva, McGee, Tony and Gibbs walked up to him, Callen came into the room on the other side of the screen, at the same time. Sam leaned close to Callen, whispering something, Callen just shook his head. Nate was watching his every move.

"If Nate will remove himself from my head then we can start" Callen dryly.

Twisted Desire

Maxine sighed as she closed the door, she was alone now, Kensi would come in an hour or two, but the loneliness was worse then before, why had she let it slip? She could have been with Callen at this moment if she hadn't been so stupid…

Twisted Desire

Callen walked down the stairs and headed to the exit when someone cleared their throat in the back of the room. He turned and met Hetty's eyes, she pointed to the chair in front of herself and he sighed. He really didn't want to talk, he just wanted to go out and either drink or go home and pull the duvet over his head. Home? What was home… His hand rested on a letter in his pocket, a letter he had to deliver before the concert.

"Kensi" He said as she walked passed him. "Give this to Maxine, I'd do it myself if Hetty hadn't requested my presence." Kensi took the letter reluctantly.

Twisted Desire

"You coming Kens?" Abby asked, Mackenzie's eyes was filled with hope.

"Yeah, I'm just stopping by Maxie's place, got a letter to deliver." Kensi said.

"She's on her way" Abby said and bit her lip to hide the chuckle when Mackenzie sequealed.

"Who's on the preparty?" Kensi asked which a chuckle.

"Me, Kensi, Anthony, Chris, Lauri, Sam's coming later. Alicia, Kathy, Linda and the others here too. Eric, Lauri's friend's coming too."

2 hours later

Abby entered Maxine's apartment. She had had a nice conversation with Mackenzie and Kensi earlier and just had to make sure Maxine was ok and really going to the concert at the same night. Chloé was with Lauri and Linda, she was to get there and be with Linda and the children when the others was going for that concert.

"Maxie girl?" Abby asked into the silent apartment. No answer. "Maxie girl, where are you?" Abby asked herself as she walked closer into the apartment, hearing something from the bedroom. Silent sobs? She opened the door and ran towards Maxine.

Maxine was rocking back and forth, her hand clutching to something.

"I'll call that man here myself, he gotta see what he's doing" Abby said angrily.

"No, Abz, don't" Maxine stood up, still shaking, she grabbed a hold of Abby's arm.

"Why not?" Abby asked.

"Cause I still have a chance" She dried her tears. "I've not lost him completely."

Abby unfolded the letter. But it was Maxine who read out loud.

"I'm sorry for the confusement and the hurt.

I still don't know what to think or how to react,

please give me some more time.

I don't want to loose you.

I wont be at the concert tonight if it causes you pain,

just don't give up on me.

Yours, GC"

Twisted Desire

Sam, Lauri, Eric and Bianca met Christopher, Maxine, Mackenzie and Anthony outside the hall, in the line. They hugged each other. "Kensi's further in the line, with her date." Sam said, Bianca patted Maxine's shoulder softly. "I haven't seen him yet, I'm sorry" Sam said. She just looked down, she didn't think he'd come, not after the letter. She had asked Abby to tell him that she wouldn't mind him being at the concert, she hoped he knew that now.

Twisted Desire

As soon as they got let in they stood a bit away from the stage, not wanting to be pushed around by other fans. Anthony and Mackenzie stood a bit away from Maxine. Sam, Lauri, Eric, Bianca and Christopher stood in the back, watching the children and Maxine when a hand touched Sam's shoulder.
"Look who I found" Kensi said, Sam looked up and met Callen's eyes.
"She's over there, take your time" Sam said, watching Callen's eyes fall on Maxine.
Song by song was played and then it came, the song that got Bianca, Christopher, Lauri, Eric and Sam to look at each other. Callens eyes were set on the same person they had been set on the entire night.
Anthony had his arms around Mackenzie, rocking to side to side, singing along. Anthony looked up and smiled for himself, he whispered loud enough for Mackenzie to hear "I think Callen's going to your mom"

Twisted Desire

She drew a deep breath, couldn't help that it shook, the lyric hit so very close to home. Tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't leave the concert, she knew that much, so fleeing wasn't an option. Her daughter was there with her boyfriend, Alicia's son Anthony. Maxine herself was there, with them. She knew that she had friends there as well, but she felt so alone, Callen hadn't shown up, she didn't know if he came or not. She cursed the day she told him what she felt, she could have lived with his friendship and hid the love, the letter had calmed her down somewhat, but she didn't know how to live without him around, but she had to, for her children.

Twisted Desire

Callen took a deep breath and left the others standing where they stood and walked over to Maxine, he had felt this way just a few times before but not this strong, he had thought so long on it, he couldn't let her slip through his fingers, the lyric somehow made him realise what he was feeling, something he had tried to push back since the day she sat down in front of him at the pub, before he knew that Daniel and Mackenzie were missing.

He took another deep breath and reach out and touched her shoulder. She tensed and ever so slowly turned around and looked up into his eyes.

His breath caught in his throat as their eyes locked.

"Somewhere theres a place in your heart
where the wounds never heal
well your not alone that's just how I feel"

Standing so close, her heart beat so hard and so fast, his arms closed in on her, wrapping her up in the safety. She had regret letting him know that she loved him, then the letter and now she didn't know, he looked at her, his eyes filled with tears and pain. He pulled her so close that she felt his heart beat against her. She held onto him, feeling him kissing her forehead, holding her so close.

Twisted Desire

Kensi had left her date and walked over to Anthony and Mackenzie, the three of them joined Lauri, Christopher, Bianca and Sam. Sam pointed at Maxine and Callen who stood tightly together, arms safely wrapped around each other. All 5 smiled at each other. 'Bout time' Sam mouthed at Kensi.

Twisted Desire

Callen and Maxine looked each other in the eyes as they held onto each other. He leaned his forehead against hers before they joined in a soft, slightly hesitating but oh so loving kiss.

In my heart lies a question

Hesitation blown in the wind

Loving you, loving me

In our hands are the answers

The future of us both