DISCLAIMER: Same ole, same ole… they don't none of them belong to me… and it sucks.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey there! Welcome back to another chapter! Well, we are really revving things up now, aren't we? Callen is one of those characters that you want so badly to protect and yet really want to give him a good ole "Gibbs slap" from time to time. HAHAHAHA. He has good reason for all of it… misguided perhaps, at times… but look at his life? Thank you so much for those who review… I do try to respond to everyone… I am sorry if I missed anyone. To the guest who commented in regards to the hypocrisy in Callen's actions… keep reading, you aren't the only one who thinks that… 12 Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read, I hope you are enjoying the story and that at some point you will feel comfortable enough to stop in and let me know what you think. I really do enjoy reading them all. I have another story in the works following this one… it will interconnect as they all do so, stay tuned… but I would love to hear your thoughts, as it may give me more ideas to work into this next story if not one to follow.
Okay! Here you go!
"Any luck?" Hetty asked, looking up.
"No. Were you seriously expecting that I would?" Gibbs grumbled the now familiar response.
"I had hoped… but sadly, no." Hetty replied as she sipped her tea.
"Something is going on… He thinks he's protecting them from something… someone. He wants this to work, of that I am certain." Gibbs stated confidently.
"Did he say that?" Hetty asked with a glint of hope in her eyes.
"Not in so many words, but… he just kept saying he needs to protect them. From who? What does he think is going on?" Gibbs asked.
"Hard to say. I have no doubt he's created many new enemies over his time with Blackguard. And, paranoia IS a side effect of that work." Hetty agreed.
"This isn't just a case of paranoia, Henrietta. Something is definitely going on. We best be finding out what before it's too late." Gibbs warned.
Hetty leaned back in her chair and let out a heavy sigh as she looked past Gibbs to the bullpen beyond, "Any ideas, Jethro? Because I am at a loss as to what else we can do to reach the boy."
"Leon is looking into a few things. Right now, it's a waiting game. I will say this… it is highly possible that he has pissed off some very dangerous people. For his sake, I hope I am wrong."
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When Callen finally found his way back to the bullpen, the others were busy working on their paperwork. Opening his computer, he attempted to ignore the tension that had invaded the space. His head throbbed. He could feel the doors closing on his ability to do nothing but disappoint these people.
A beep coming from his burn phone drew everyone's attention from their computers. Callen noticed it was from Eric. Included was a note that all other remnants had been erased. Curious, he went ahead and opened the message. Finally, another message from Joelle… The message itself was short but what it said hurt every bit as bad as the five bullets that ripped through his body so many years ago. This news had the potential to destroy.
"Callen! Are you okay?" Kensi asked after seeing the color drain from his face.
He heard the voice but the roaring in his ears camouflaged the words.
Deeks rose from his seat and moved towards Callen's desk. It was rare for Callen to allow anything that bothered him to show. It was a sign of weakness in his eyes and Callen couldn't allow himself the luxury of being vulnerable around anyone.
"Hey man, you okay?" Deeks asked.
Finally, Callen found the ability to acknowledge the voice. He closed the message and put the phone in his pocket as he looked at Deeks. He then looked around the bullpen unable to find the words needed to answer their concerns.
"Callen, you're scaring me. Are you okay?" Kensi asked again, reaching a hand out to touch him.
"No." was all he could manage as the need for escape began to build. He needed to breathe, to think… before he acted. He needed to be alone and reread the message. Without warning he jumped up from his seat, grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
"Mr. Callen? Where are you going?" Hetty called out.
Stopping in his tracks he backed up a few steps and slowly turned to face her. Hetty was taken back by the haunted look in his eyes.
"Do not stop me… you do NOT want me to stay here right now, trust me," he warned before turning and continuing his escape.
"Hetty?" Sam asked.
"Back to work. Those reports won't write themselves." She responded, returning to her desk.
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Finding a quiet spot on an otherwise crowded beach, Callen took his phone back out and once more opened the message.
There was no code to decipher, the message was painfully clear.
"Time is running short. They know and they're coming. I found the original list. Callen, it was Hetty. She created this list when you were five years old. I am so sorry. You are not safe. I'm not sure who you can trust. Please be careful. Joelle."
Hetty… Hetty created the Raven and Swan list after all! She lied so many times. She lied! The anger exploded within him and he was at a loss… who to trust, where to go. He had trusted Gibbs and even Leon but they were pushing hard for him to stay with Hetty's team. Did they know? Eliot was gone… Eric. He could still trust Eric.
Callen grabbed his phone and dialed…
"Hey Callen. Where are you? Everyone is freaking out. They may be getting suspicious of me helping you."
"Have you told them, showed them… anything, Eric?" Callen asked with an edge in his voice.
"No way. I promised you. I won't let you down. I'm just warning you." Eric replied strongly.
The swish of the door startled Eric, "Hey Eric, what are you doing?"
"Eric?" Callen asked.
"No! Commodore 64 is still the best computer ever, so… yeah. Gotta go, bye," he hurried off the phone and shoved it into his pocket before turning to Nell with a nervous smile, "Oh, hey, didn't hear you come in."
"uh-huh." Nell responded not believing it. "Who was that?" she asked pointing toward the phone in his pocket.
"Who, what? Oh, that! That waaaas…" he thought frantically… if he were ever to be an agent, he had to learn to lie better, "That… that was just a gaming buddy…"
"Gaming buddy… okay… so when did you get another phone? That's not your regular one." She asked curiously.
"What, I can't have a private life? I have to run everything by you?" Eric asked defensively.
"No, I was just curious… Is everything alright, Eric? You seem nervous lately." Nell asked with concern.
"Nervous… what have I to be nervous about?" Eric replied.
"I don't know…"
"Well, neither do I… so where have YOU been," Eric turned the tables, looking for information.
"Downstairs. Kensi is really upset and worried. Deeks went to calm down Sam." Nell explained.
"What about Hetty? What's she doing?"
"Eric, you saw Callen when he left. Everyone is upset and worried. Do you have any idea what the message was? I mean, you're the Great Eric Beale… surely you can find something, right?" Nell asked.
Eric looked away and swallowed thickly.
"Beale?" Nell pushed.
"No, I don't… and the last thing I'm doing is hacking his phone… even if I could. He threatened me if I did, Nell." Eric stated.
"Eric, Callen would never hurt you. He likes you."
"Yeah, I don't know about that," he lied, 'maybe he COULD do this' he thought smugly, "Besides, I can't… it's a burner."
"Right." Nell said as she dropped into her seat next to him.
"You would tell me if you knew something, right?"
"Like you'd tell me what's going on with Hetty?" Eric challenged.
"That's different…"
"How? How is it different?" annoyed by the double standard, he turned to look at her with his head tilted to the side slightly, as he waited for her answer.
"She's my boss." Nell answered softly.
"Exactly." Eric said and turned back to his computer.
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Callen tucked away the phone, shaking his head. Eric was a good kid. Brilliant, even. A genius at what he did and yet, so innocent. He had come a long way. There was a time when Eric would cave with just a look from Hetty or Nell. He was glad to see he had found his backbone.
He walked the boardwalk till the sun faded and the lights were lit before heading out to look for a place to stay. It was doubtful he'd sleep much. After all the years they had known each other… despite the complexities of the job… he had never believed Hetty would lie to him like that…