Callen woke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee and frying bacon when his phone began dancing across the coffee table and groaned when he saw Hetty's name on the caller ID. Sam came in with two cups of coffee and set one on the table next to the phone before sitting in an arm chair across from him.
"I thought we had a few days off." He moaned as he answered the phone.
"I apologize. Mr. Callen, we've received a request from Director Vance to assist the DC team with an on-going case. Mr. Beale has sent Mr. Hanna the details of the case and will continue to send updates as they become available. We have been asked to protect LCDR Lawrence and her children as well as find the man hired to kill her. Handle this with the utmost of care. I have taken the liberty of sending Mr. Deeks and Ms. Blye to the children."
Callen sat silently absorbing all of the information Hetty was giving him, until Sam turned his phone around to show them the picture of LCDR Lawrence. "Hetty, we've already met this woman. She's Sam's daughter's piano teacher.
"If that is the case, LCDR Lawrence may feel safer if Mrs. Hanna is involved. For this case and this case only, I will permit her involvement. You are to relieve Special Agents Hurst and Koenig. I suggest you get over there immediately."
Callen handed Sam his phone and grabbed the coffee mug. "We need to know what if anything she told Michelle." He said and Sam agreed. Michelle sat down with them and told them everything she knew, which in truth was absolutely nothing that had anything to do with the case. Michelle was shocked that Lori turned out to be a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and not just a piano teacher and luthier.
After a quick breakfast, Michelle dropped Hailey off with a neighbor and the three headed out to Lori's house. When they arrived, all three looked up and down the street with caution. As they walked up to the house, the dogs began barking. All three laughed as Special Agent Hurst started yelling at them. Michelle opened the screen door and told them to hush. Surprisingly they did and then followed her out to the back yard where Hurst said Lori was. Callen and Sam remained in the house and took a look at the photos. Both were stumped that photos were taken of them as they walked towards the coffee shop and then again while talking with Lori.
Callen pointed out that whoever took the photos may have recognized Sam from the many piano lessons. However, Sam pointed out that there were no other pictures of him, or Michelle and Hailey for that matter. The three agents surmised that whoever took the pictures knew exactly who they were. Now they needed to figure out how.
Lori was still in shock, a cup of coffee in her hands as she tried to talk to Special Agent Koenig. When Michelle walked out, he immediately stood. "It's alright, she's a friend." Lori told him. "Michelle what are you doing here?"
Michelle nodded towards the house and Special Agent Koenig took that as his cue to leave. He'd heard that Special Agent Hanna was bringing his wife and if she was anything like him, Koenig wasn't going to cross her. Not to mention that it was rumored that she was former CIA and had been heavily involved in the Sidorov case a couple years back.
Michelle waited, once he was in the house she hugged Lori. "You doing alright?"
"How did you find out what happened?" Lori asked thoroughly confused.
"Look, the agents that are replacing Hurst and Koenig are people you've already met." Michelle told her with a warm smile trying to ease back to her seat.
Lori took a step back, but found the chair was right behind her. "How do you know about this?" Quickly she glanced into the house and saw Sam talking with Hurst. "Michelle, what's going on?"
"Calm down." Michelle smiled. "Sam and Callen aren't who they presented themselves to be. Due to the nature of their work, they have to live under false pretenses."
Lori shook her head, trying to gain clarity. "Wait a minute, they're NCIS?"
The wider smile on Michelle's face was all Lori needed, she collapsed into the chair behind her and laughed. "No wonder Hurst and Koenig never said anything when I had you guys over or when I went to your house. Damn it, how could I have been so stupid not to put it together. Wait, how can you be here, are you NCIS too?"
Michelle moved her chair closer to Lori, "No honey, I was with the CIA when Sam and I first met. I've been called from retirement for a couple cases. Because you and I have something of a friendship, they felt you might be more comfortable if I was brought in."
"Yes, thank you and please call me Kelsey since the cat's out of the bag." She laughed.
Sam had been watching the two woman and knew it was now safe to talk to LCDR Lawrence. Callen hung back and allowed; just this once; Sam take the lead. When they arrived, Lori or LCDR Lawrence looked bewildered and confused. Now, she smiled and looked relieved as they walked out into the yard.
"LCDR Lawrence." Sam said softly, officially. "My name is Special Agent Sam Hanna, this is my partner Special Agent G Callen. We are going to be replacing the San Diego office on this investigation. We'd like to ask you some questions if you don't mind."
Kelsey burst into laughter. "I'm sorry Sam, I know that's all procedural and everything, but it just sounds so weird coming from you. I will tell you anything you need to know as long as you're completely honest with me about exactly what's going on."
Sam smiled. "Of course."
"Please call me Kelsey." She said looking from Sam to Callen and them Michelle. "I'm fairly certain I sent your Special Agent radar into high gear last night when I referred to the kids as Demi, Tristan and Gabby, didn't I Special Agent Callen?"
Callen gave her a tentative smile and agreed, even admitted that he'd gone home and told Sam and Michelle about it. In the midst of relaying the events of the day, Special Agent Hurst and Koenig took their leave. Callen had received several calls during the conversation, which he excused himself for. The final call was from Gibbs. The four went into the house since Gibbs wanted to officially tell Kelsey about the crime scene in Greece. Michelle watched Kelsey's reaction while Gibbs explained what they suspected happened to Costos and his son. She was impressed when Kelsey didn't so much a bat an eyelash when she looked at the pictures.
"I have one question Jethro." She said as Sam and Callen's heads snapped in her direction when she referred to his by his first name. "Is there any sign of Anna? Why wasn't she found in the same manner, unless she's the one who did this?"
"We can't jump to conclusions. Tim and Ellie are checking to see if there's been any ransom requests."
"Who would really want money for that bitch?" Kelsey chuckled under her breath and again Callen and Sam looked at her.
"Didn't like her much?" Sam asked.
"In honesty Sam, she really wasn't a likeable person." Kelsey said and told them about the surprise visit Costos drug her to the US right after the fire. Gibbs told them about her behavior towards the kids, which didn't set well with Sam or Michelle.
Gibbs ended the call telling Kelsey he'd call her later. Kelsey looked absolutely exhausted, so Michelle suggested she go up and lay down. Without complaint, Kelsey nodded and headed upstairs. Twenty minutes later, Callen's phone rang again. He was worried when he saw Kensi's name on the caller ID and immediately answered. As it turned out, everything was fine. She just wanted to know if Kelsey wanted the children home or if they could stay at her friend's house. After Callen asked how the kids felt about leaving or staying, Kensi relayed the question. A chorus of voices rang out saying they wanted to stay. With an ear to ear grin, Callen agreed that it would probably be for the best if they stayed, being that Kelsey wasn't in the best frame of mind at the moment.
An hour after Kelsey laid down, Callen went up to check on her. She was laying on her side with her back to the door. He could tell by her breathing that she wasn't asleep and it was confirmed when she giggled. Callen walked closer to see if maybe she was on the phone, but saw a charcoal grey kitten stretch and paw at Kelsey's face. The kitten looked up at Callen and he swore he saw it smile at him. Kelsey looked over her shoulder and waved at him.
"I thought you were up here sleeping." He laughed, but moved no closer to the bed.
"I was for maybe fifteen minutes. It's hard to sleep with this one around." Kelsey laughed and scratched the kittens chin.
"She's beautiful, I've never seen a cat quite that color. Or one with yellow eyes." He said and moved closer when Kelsey waved him over.
"She's almost blue, isn't she?" Kelsey asked with a smiled. "The kids call her eye color butterscotch. The marshmallow is hiding somewhere. Probably in one of the kid's rooms"
Before Callen could ask the cat's name, Sam appeared in the doorway and motioned him over. Callen gave Kelsey a quick smile before he walked out of the room. Sam immediately told him that he'd gotten a call from Eric about Wenslow's escape from the prison transfer. Callen told Kelsey to stay upstairs a while longer while he and Sam made a few phone calls. Kelsey nodded, but as soon as she heard them downstairs, she grabbed her phone and called Gibbs.