Chapter 20
Tony met them at the gate at Reagan National. Callen supposed that was a perk of being a federal agent in a federal town – you could meet people at the gate. They'd stopped being able to do that in California on September 11, and they still couldn't do it at LAX. You could arrange to meet stars and celebs at the gate, to ward off paparazzi or stalkers, but common people like returning special agents or Pentagon employees? Don't even ask. LAX won't let you.
Tony's first impression was that the two of them still looked tired, but otherwise basically okay. It was as if they'd had a few very long days and mostly sleepless nights. Their faces looked drawn, but their body language was pretty relaxed. Not what he'd expected, based on what he'd heard about the past few days. It seemed to be "normal tired", not "mission that went bad" tired. Not like how Ziva looked when she came back. He'd been afraid of that.
"Tony DiNozzo," he said, by way of introduction.
"G. Callen," Callen replied, shaking hands. "It's nice to put a face with a name."
"Likewise."
"Although," Callen continued, "I have to say that based on what I've heard about you, I half expected you to come floating in on a golden chariot, pulled by flying horses."
"Not on Wednesdays," Tony said, apologetically. He cocked his head to the side and eyed Callen. "I thought you'd be bigger."
"Roadhouse," Jess said, automatically, much to Tony's amusement.
"I'm actually the pretty one," Callen said. "Sam Hanna – my partner – he's the brawn."
Tony chuckled. "Huh – I was about to say the same thing about me and Ziva."
Tony then turned to Jess and hugged her tightly for just a second.
"Hi," he said, with a smile that clearly held more meaning.
"Hi," she replied, returning the smile.
With that, he ushered them into the airport. Callen wasn't sure what he was expecting from Tony and Jess … he expected Tony to totally ignore him and check Jess out to make sure she was okay. He expected questions and concern. He expected emotion … tears, maybe. He expected more than "Hi". But no. Just a simple acknowledgement that one member of the duo had been in danger, had gotten home safely, and that more information would be provided later. It was, he thought, exactly how he and Sam would have handled it. Except for the hug.
Sam also would not have taken his duffel, as Tony did Jess'. He took her bag, almost against her will. She seemed a little at a loss for what to do without something to carry; without something to be responsible for.
The three of them walked through the busy airport, with Tony and Callen taking the outside positions and Jess somewhat insulated between them. The men both instinctively shortened their pace to match Jess' stride, so that she didn't have to walk any faster to keep up. Jess, for her part, extended her stride a bit so that the guys didn't have to adapt too much. It was all oddly automatic, as if they'd all known each other for years.
They walked silently through the ambient noise and bustle of the terminal. Tony carried Jess' duffel on his right shoulder, his free hand occasionally brushing hers – not in a hand-holding kind of way, Callen noted. It seemed to be more of a security thing. As if he were tacitly reminding her that he was right there … not to worry. She'd grabbed Tony's hand once – as they hit the escalators to the restricted area downstairs. She'd stumbled a bit at a sudden turn and she'd reached out to steady herself, reaching for his hand instead of the railing. There was an ease between the two of them that impressed Callen. A level of trust that you just counted on. It explained how Jess could be so certain they'd be fine once she'd been able to get a message out. How she knew that he'd take care of it.
It occurred to Callen that Nate would have enjoyed watching this. He'd have hours of thought material watching these two interact. Hell, he could write an entire book about it.
By the time they'd gotten to the sub-basement, it was silent. Compared to the noise level upstairs, it was a little eerie. They walked quickly through a concrete hallway to a tarmac exit. Tony had a car waiting. An agent there took the duffels that Callen and Tony were carrying and tossed them in the trunk. Tony held the door for Jess and Callen, and they climbed in the back seat. Tony took shotgun and nodded to the driver.
"Thanks for the escort," Callen said, once they were underway.
"Yeah … we figured this would be easier," Tony said. He switched his gaze to Jess and continued. "Debriefing – case, psych and medical – can happen tonight or tomorrow, but they're mandatory." He looked again at Callen. "I know you already debriefed in LA," he said, "but Director Vance wants the first-person version."
Callen nodded.
"Gibbs talked to your boss at the Pentagon," Tony said, shifting his gaze back to Jess. "You're off for the rest of the week. More if you need it." Tony shot a slight grin at Callen. "You're here until Sunday if you want to be – you can head out any time after talking to Vance."
"If we get to choose," Jess interrupted, as she stretched her arms in front of her, "then I choose tomorrow. For debriefings. I could use a long hot bath and a very comfortable bed, in specifically that order."
"We've got you two in a safehouse in Georgetown for tonight," Tony said. "Once you're debriefed, Callen will be bunking at Gibbs'."
Callen nodded.
"And you," Tony said to Jess, in a distinctly lighter and "older brotherly" type tone, "can go home in a few days. But you're spending the weekend with me."
"Yes, sir," Jess replied with a slight smile and a mock salute. Then she closed her eyes and sighed, letting her head rest on the back of the seat. Callen did the same.
Tony turned back to the front for the rest of the trip to the safehouse.
Once they arrived in Georgetown, Callen took a quick shower while Tony called Gibbs with a sitrep and gave instructions to the security detail that would be covering the place for the night. Tony had invited Callen to dinner. Partially, Jess suspected, to give her some "alone time" and partially because Tony had been curious about the other agent for months. They were both a little surprised when Callen agreed. He'd seemed a little keyed up – not ready to call it a night, but not ready for a night on the town either. Tony promised the best steakhouse in DC and Callen took him up on it.
"Your expense account?" Callen had asked, with a sly grin.
"Actually, I think it's on the Pentagon," Tony said, glancing at Jess. "Their collar, their tab."
"Perfect."
Callen came out of his room looking awake and relaxed. So much so that Tony was almost jealous at how quickly the other man could go from "mission mode" to "normal mode". If, indeed, this was "normal" for Callen. Tony wasn't sure.
The sudden yawn seemed out of place, somehow, based on the ease of Callen's demeanor.
"You sure you're up for this?" Tony asked.
Callen nodded. "I'm good."
They both looked at Jess, who was eying them with a sparkle in her eye that neither man had seen recently.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this?" she said.
The two men looked at her, then each other, then back at her.
She laughed and shook her head. "Oh … the innocence," she said with a grin. She turned into her assigned room, to draw a bath and relax. "Bring me back a steak sandwich," were her parting words as she waved good-bye and closed the door.
The two stood there for a second, not quite realizing they'd been dismissed. Callen broke the silence.
"Lead on, McDuff," he said. And the two agents went downstairs to meet the waiting car.