A/n: sorry about the long chapter…

Chapter 25

Mort was settled in a comfy leather chair in a very private and exclusive Gentleman's Club waiting for his associate, when his phone rang. He looked at the ID and was curious. "Hello Maria? Is there a problem?" asked a concerned Mort.

"No, Signor Saulmann. I delivered the note."

"So what is it Maria?" asked Mort gently as not to spook the elderly maid.

"I am worried about …How is Signorita Meg?" asked Maria, clearly overstepping her role as housekeeper.

"It really doesn't concern you Maria. But why? Was she unwell when we left?" asked Mort, intrigued at Maria's overt concern.

"I think she is with child and she was sick before she left. I was worried. I am sorry Signor Saulmann." The pause on the other end of the line was lengthy. Mort had to pull himself from the thousands of thoughts that were running through his mind.

After having composed himself, he replied, "No no none of that. That is good news. Thank you Maria. She is resting and she is well. I'll make sure you will have a big birthday bonus."

This situation couldn't get any better. Mort found himself laughing at the turn of events. The game would not end here and it would not end now.

At Ops

Sam was sitting on the brown leather lounge behind the bullpen, nursing his shoulder with a rather large icepack staring at Callen. Callen was sitting on a chair with his arms cuffed to the armrests, nursing a bruised ego and staring at Sam. Deeks sat opposite them smiling. He was enjoying the silent conversation Callen and Sam were having. He was amazed at the connection these ex-partners had. Deeks had thought that everything Kensi had told him about Callen and Sam was exaggerated, but he was seeing it first hand and he was astounded. "So you guys always communicate at a super sonic level?" asked Deeks trying to break the silence that was making his hyperactive personality go berserk.

Deeks waited but neither said anything. Sam lifted his eyebrow and Callen smirked. "See, there. What did he say? You just did it."

"Deeks haven't you got anywhere else to go, something else to do other than annoy us," moaned Sam.

"Yes and plenty but I'm under strict orders to keep my highly trained detective eyes on the two of you especially Houdini there…a Hetty commandment and you know what happened when Moses broke the tablets, don't you," finished Deeks stretching in his chair.

"Great…look I just wanna speak with G…and he won't if you're around," explained Sam scowling at Deeks.

"He is right here and I really don't care if Deeks is around because there's nothing left to say Sam," said Callen broadening his shoulders, straining against the cuffs and regretting it as pain lanced through his re-bandaged shoulder. He finally looked at Sam.

Sam frowned and his muscles stiffened in the lounge, "Again G…"

Suddenly Deeks got the overwhelming feeling that the Alpha males were going to need some space and he needed to be absent. "Ok I think I need to get something from way way over there. Now play nice boys," said Deeks motioning with his hands as he got up and walked away.

Callen's gaze never left Sam, but his scowl turned into a smirk. "Works every time huh?" smiled Sam.

"We're not that intimidating, are we?" mocked Callen. Sam laughed. It was so good to have his partner back.

"So we gonna talk about it all G?" asked Sam.

"What now?" said Callen, really trying to avoid this conversation.

"Look I know you don't do the whole cathartic thing, I get that but I need to tell you how I feel."

Callen nodded sullenly, knowing this was inevitable.

"What you said about not asking you to stay. Man it was wrong. I had a feeling you were going to run but I thought you just needed some time away…remember Nigeria. What, you took leave of absence for 2 months but you came back. I thought this time would be the same. What happened in Vladivostok and in the years before was hard on you, I get it. I didn't ask you to stay because I thought you just needed to deal. You need to know that G. When I left there I felt like I had left half of myself behind…I was lost without you. I never blamed you, nobody blamed you. It's what we do. Why couldn't you just talk to me?" explained Sam.

Callen looked at him, truly looked at his partner, "At the time, everything seemed wrong. All I saw was death and pain. I was broken Sam. I needed saving from myself and I guess…it just seemed really too hard. I couldn't do that so I ran…"

"So you ran to Mort?" accused Sam, the betrayal still very real and very raw.

Callen straightened up in his chair wincing at the bruised muscles and healing wounds, "NO! He presented me with an alternative."

"And it was better than what you had here?" asked a hurt Sam.

"It was a way of not feeling, of not hurting, of not…having to care. It was like I was back in the foster homes. I was looking after myself and it made me feel safe and protected. What else is there to say? You should know me by now," whispered Callen avoiding Sam's glare.

"I knew the pre-Vladivostok Callen, but the person you've become, I don't know. What you did to Porta and Hetty, G…it was cold man…really cold. I don't know if I'll ever get past it. You shot one of ours for what?" stated Sam.

"For what? I lost my innocence when I saw my mother die Sam…I am not like you. It's easy to shut off that part of my humanity. That's why you were my partner. You were my conscience. Porta hurt Raina and the kids, Rivera threatened our fa…" Their eyes met as Callen realized what he had just uttered. Sam saw the pain behind Callen's eyes as they glistened. That's all they projected lately: pain and isolation. Callen noticed Sam's reaction. Callen wondered why he ever bothered hiding anything from Sam. They were his family as well.

"He threatened your family. No one does that and gets away with it and he was going to get away with it, Sam. I did what I had to do. Nothing different to what I was doing for Mort." Sam remained silent. He didn't know how to respond to Callen's confession. Of one thing he was certain; although he couldn't condone Callen's actions, he'd be eternally grateful. As for Hetty though…

Callen continued, "But Hetty was different…Hetty was never in danger. She has always been the closest being I've had to a mother. I think deep down she knew that and so did I. She knew I was coming. I gave her a warning and I knew she'd protect herself. I only shot Hetty once. You see Sam my M.O. is three shots. I make it final and Mort knew that. He was on to me before I was. Sad really. Even when I thought I was running the show, he was pulling the strings all along."

"And now…what's going through your thick skull? You gonna ditch us again?" accused Sam still hurt for the Boatshed incident.

Callen shook his head trying to lift his hands. Sam had him restrained to a chair, at his mercy after three years. Had Callen expected less? A wave of indignation spread throughout his body. "Really? I did what I had to do."

"What! You expect me to trust you G…after everything. You have to earn that right," said Sam raising his voice.

"When it comes to your safety and that of your family…YES!" responded Callen tensing in his chair. Sam heard the wood creak under the strain.

"OK but what about Mort?"

"I'm still here, aren't I?" glared Callen, clenching and unclenching his fists as his face turned an angry shade of red.

"You're not facing him on your own. I'm coming with you G…do you hear that! I'm not letting you outta my sight," said Sam adamantly.

Callen didn't want to fight with Sam on this one. He nodded, "OK…I go in first. Last thing I want is to spook him then you leave with Meg. No discussion on this."

"You can't…" Sam tried to say kill him but the words couldn't come out.

"No…I can but I won't." It was the truth. There was no hidden agenda. Callen would let Mort live.

"OK. Good. You know him…what the hell do you think he's playing at?"

"I don't. Nobody does. Does he want revenge? He doesn't do that. He wants the book and I guess he wants to tell me my services are no longer required," said Callen absolutely deadpan.

"Does that mean leaving his department in a pine box, or with a letter of recommendation?" asked a very serious Sam…all joking put aside.

Callen didn't honestly know. He clenched his jaw and stared straight at Sam. Sam understood. Callen was scared, "I don't know."

The moment was interrupted by a very talkative duo. Deeks and Hetty walked up to Callen and Sam. They noticed the intense moment between the two men. "Ahem…" interrupted Hetty. It took a moment for the men to respond. It was Sam who spoke up first.

"Long toilet break Deeks? Too much of that wheatgerm grass thing you drink?" asked Sam forcing an everything's fine smile.

"Yeah that is right Sam," answered Deeks in an over-dramatic tone.

Hetty didn't buy it as she looked between Deeks and Sam who just shook his head. "She knows," confessed Deeks throwing up his hands.

"She's the mother's cat, Mr. Deeks and yes, I was counting on the fact that you'd be convinced to leave so Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna could have a bit of a chat," said Hetty noticing a heightened level of tension that she was hoping would have disappeared. But something was still awry. "Gentlemen I hope we've laid some ghosts to rest?" she asked. Sam and Callen said nothing but suddenly found their toes quite interesting. Hetty knew she wasn't going to solve their problem today but they had to at least start. Then her focus fell on Callen. "Well, well, well Mr. Callen. I hope you're comfortable?" Callen stared at her not liking her joke nor his situation. "Good, now boys we need to go over some security protocols for the meet."

"No." Came a small voice.

Hetty, Sam and Marty all looked at Callen. "No? Mr. Callen!" exclaimed an exacerbated Hetty.

"I can't put Meg's life in danger. Sam and I have worked it out. We'll handle it," said Callen calmly and resolutely.

"You don't know what Mort is going to do?" asked a frustrated Hetty.

"We're meeting at The Stafford. What can he do? Drown me in cognac? It's an exclusive gentlemen's club. I'll sit, I'll give him the book, he'll hand over Meg, Sam will bring her here and I'll chat until a resolution is found," explained Callen very matter-of-fact.

"You know it's never that simple with Mort," said Hetty sternly.

"Maybe I am tired of over thinking everything and thinking the worst of people. I think this time it is. I am tired Hetty, I am hurting and I need to finish this so I can curl up in some corner and sleep. Please trust me. Let me do this my way. I promise I won't do anything reckless or stupid," pleaded Callen.

She didn't like it, she didn't like it at all. "Let me come with you."

"No…absolutely not. This is my battle. You'll have yours another day," said Callen.

"Fine…fine. But back up will only be minutes away. However I do have two conditions: that you place a bug so we can hear everything and that you wear a camera. I want to know and see what is transpiring…I need to have leverage on the devil."

"That I can do," Callen nodded then Hetty moved closer to Callen and uncuffed him.

"We still need to clear the air over a small incident that happened at my house several days ago," Hetty said within Callen's earshot. Callen met her stare and felt abashed. "Go and get cleaned up. There are clean clothes in your locker. You need to be presentable for The Stafford. I should know…" said Hetty as she left.

Sam helped a stiff Callen out of the chair, "You don't think…?"

"No! She wouldn't be allowed," added Deeks who looked between Callen and Sam.

"I wouldn't be surprised. I'll check the members' log…it's Hetty after all," finished Callen shrugging one shoulder as the other was flaring in pain.

"You sore?" asked Sam. Callen gave him a look and raised his eyebrows. "Stupid question. Come on let's get you to the showers."

They started walking. Sam was conscious of Callen's unsteady gait. Then Callen stopped, "You still have my locker?"

Sam squeezed Callen's good shoulder, "We never gave up hope G…least of all Hetty."

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Kensi hadn't said much to her father as they retrieved the book from the floor cavity of an old abandoned house on the outskirts of Corone. Neither was ready to face each other, let alone open old wounds. He kept looking at her. "What?" she asked feeling rather annoyed.

"You've really grown up Kensi. You're a woman not the angsty teenager I left," replied Donald.

"Well, I had to grow up pretty fast and I'm a married woman now," she corrected him.

"Yes I know. I…was there," he said sheepishly.

"What?" yelled Kensi losing concentration just for a moment.

"The drinks waiter at the bar…the old guy who made "the best mojitos ever" quote," he said smugly.

"Really?" remarked Kensi letting a small smile escape from her intense face.

"I tried to be there at all your special occasions…sometimes in the background, sometimes incognito and sometimes well just say I came close to being arrested but I tried. There's so much I want to say…" However Kensi cut him off.

"Look…dad. We need to talk and that's a given but we can't do that now. That book had caused so much damage. We just need to resolve this and get Meg home," said Kensi trying hard to bridge the emotional gap between Donald and herself.

"Couldn't agree with you more…who would have thought I'd be working on a case with my baby girl," he smiled and suddenly the future seemed so bright.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

At OPS

"So this ratty old thing is the book. You know it's hard to believe. It doesn't look impressive and the title The Red Badge of Courage really…lame don't you think and who the hell is Stephen Crane? Your Pop, Callen, did a great job hiding these secrets. No one would even look twice at this book," said Deeks, obviously not knowing when to stop.

"So this is it," said Sam taking the book from Deeks and getting a hurt look. "I don't get it. What's in it that's so important?" Sam said as he flicked through the pages seeing nothing of interest, even the font was boring.

"I don't know," Callen said shaking his head. The priceless value of the book completely lost on him. "Hetty?" asked Callen, hoping that she would offer some answers.

"Sorry gentlemen but I'm as lost as you all are. We were never told. Donald what about you?" asked Hetty.

Donald came forward and took the book back, "I've scoured the book, looked over it many times. I found some microdots with several geographical targets and blueprints for machines and artillery that would now be very redundant and out-dated, but nothing that could explain the trouble this book has caused."

Silence came over OPS until Nell spoke, "My nan once told me a story of my grandfather during WWII. He was captured by the Soviets and held in the Kozelsk prisoner of war camp. He kept a diary and in that diary he wrote love poems. That's what the Soviet guards saw…that what he wanted them to see. However he managed to pass on his diary to a fellow prisoner, one of the lucky few who managed to escape the Katyn Massacre. The diary found its way to my nan. She relished in the poems which she read over and over…"

Suddenly Sam interrupted, "Nell great story but is there a point to this?"

"Well what she started to see was that each word was an anagram. It took her the better part of that year but she decoded it. He had listed the names of the Soviet officials and guards who were presented at the Katyn Massacre and helped bring those men to the war crimes council. What I am trying to say, is that maybe we're looking at it all wrong?" explained Nell. Her little story did peak their interest.

"They couldn't have done it to the whole book," stated Callen convincingly.

"Maybe or just the title or the author?" posed Eric. "Let's put them through the computer and see what comes up…I'll also cross reference any results with names, towns, streets, cities, and other random stuff. It's gonna take awhile."

"We can't wait for this," stated Donald rather harshly. "We need to get Meg back."

"I know. So let's do this," said Callen, looking around at the team. "Sam and I will go in. Donald, Kensi and Deeks you take point outside and wait for Sam to bring out Meg. Then you bring her here. Don't wait…just get her safe."

"And you Callen, lone wolfing it again?" asked a skeptical Kensi.

"No, he won't," answered Sam causing Callen to look his way surprised, "I'll make my way back in and position myself so I have G's back." Kensi smiled. Her boys were back.

"You volunteered without consulting me?" asked Callen. "You cannot put your life in danger Sam…Raina and the kids are counting on you to walk through that door."

"Yeah with you Sundance. I'm not facing them alone, " smiled Sam and Callen didn't have a comeback.

"Sounds like a plan to me. Now Mr. Hanna get Mr. Callen wired up while I call in a few favours," said Hetty tucking the book under her arm.

The three agents and Callen left, leaving Donald and Hetty. "What are you up to?"

"Donald I have a plan to destroy the book right in Mort's hands," said an excited Hetty, "but I wonder if it is in fact the best course of action. What do you think?"

"I think we let him have the book but we hide a tracker. Then we follow him and we document, then we wait until he makes a mistake and we pounce. We make him pay," said Donald, suddenly all the regret and the anger of the past years, coursed through his veins.

"I think Donald you might have the wiser plan."

Suddenly their moment was interrupted by a very rehearsed cough. "Yes Eric…" asked Hetty annoyed at the interruption.

"Sorry, I wouldn't have if…" stammered Eric.

"Yes what is it Mr. Beale?"

"Anagrams of the name Stephen Crane…it got a few results. One stands out in particular." Eric pulled it up on the screen…An Etchers Pen.

"An Etchers pen…what is it?" asked Donald.

"It's a very old shop located in Little Odessa New York, the Russian Quarter (he raised his eyebrows)…it sells antiques specialising in writing implements," said Eric glancing over at Nell.

"Mr. Beale we don't have time for your quaint guessing games, why is it important?" said Hetty losing her patience.

Nell stepped up and pulled up a very old document, "The deed for the property belongs to a Stephen Crane."

"Oh dear!"

"You can't tell Callen not yet," panicked Donald, pleading with Hetty.

"No you're right Donald. We don't know anything about it yet, so Mr. Beale and Miss Jones start digging and dig deep. Also need I remind you this is highly classified. You will not divulge it to anyone let alone Mr. Callen. Once Meg is safe and Mr. Callen has had time to recuperate, we will face this next challenge. Meanwhile collect any intel you are able to and it's for my eyes only."

Nell and Eric nodded vigorously as the intercom buzzed, "Yes?"

"Hetty we're ready. Tell Donald we'll be waiting in the cars," said Sam.

"He'll be down shortly. Mr. Hanna how's Mr. Callen?" asked Hetty truly concerned.

"He's good, scared; he'll be better once it's all over," replied Sam.

"Won't we all. God speed Mr. Hanna. Look after him."

"I'm not letting him go this time. I'll be there to catch him when he falls."

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