"You can't just go," Callen protested.

"Really? Since when?" Hetty regarded him implacably. "I've got news for you, Mr Callen, I not only can go, I most certainly am going. And what's more, I'm going right now. This morning. Is that clear enough for you?"

"Where?" Marty asked, with a stunned expression on his face as he realised that he'd miss her more than he'd ever have thought possible. Hetty wasn't just his aunt, she was his only link with his mother's family, and suddenly that seemed incredibly important. Why hadn't he ever realised this before – just how much she meant to him? Why hadn't he said something – anything? "Where are you going?"

"That would be telling. Are you planning on telling everyone where you and Ms Blye are going on honeymoon?"

"No point, they all know. Callen's paying for us to go to SeaWorld at San Diego, on account of the fact he dropped me on my head." Marty realised that yet again he really should engage his brain before opening his mouth. The joke had become such an ingrained part of the team mythology that he trotted it out without thinking twice. Only now the joke belonged to a different time, it came from a time before too much had been said – all those things that might be able to be forgiven, at some point in the future, but which could never be entirely forgotten.

"Well, I prefer my holiday destinations to remain private. That way I have some chance of actually being able to have a holiday without being bogged down by work." Not that Hetty actually had any plans for relaxation, or even for leaving LA. On the contrary, she had a team of removal men already clearing the house Callen and Nico had bought and she was going straight over there to supervise operations the moment she left the Mission. After that, things were somewhat of a moveable feast, in that she had no actual plans to do anything, other than to stay out the way so that the two most stubborn, boneheaded men she'd ever had the pleasure of working with actually managed to reach some sort of working agreement. It was either that or she'd have to let them slug it out between them.

"Wait a minute – you're going on holiday? On leave? You're not actually leaving?" For a moment there, Sam had been really worried.

"I'm going on holiday. Because I deserve a holiday. A proper holiday. My last one was rather less than relaxing, if you remember," Hetty pointed out. That had involved haring around Europe, desperately trying to find out who was threatening to expose old secrets. Secrets that involved the two men who were currently at each other's throats. "Mr Hannah – take care of things in my absence, will you? I've arranged for your IT account to be updated with all the necessary file permissions."

Callen stood up. "Sam? But I'm team leader, Hetty."

"Exactly. And this way you can continue to stay as team leader, while Sam assumes my responsibilities. That seems fair and equitable, doesn't it?"

"Seems perfectly fair to me," Sam agreed, trying hard to conceal his pleasure and almost succeeding. "Unless you've got a problem with that, G?"

"No problem at all. Why would I have a problem?" Except for the fact that I feel like I've been smacked across the wrists for being a naughty boy.

"Excellent. I do have one final thing to implement before I go on my merry way." Hetty almost burst out laughing as she saw the looks on their faces. Oh the sheer and unadulterated joy of keeping young people on their toes and showing them there is life in the old girl yet. "I thought that this might be a good time to add a little variety into your lives – just to stop you getting stale. And I believe it will enable you all to gain a fresh perspective on things and a deeper appreciation of the human psyche."

"Please don't tell us we've got to go on another of those awful 'Raising Awareness' courses or that 'sensitivity training' HR is always banging on about?" Kensi pleaded. "I just about gave up the will to live after the last one."

Sam shared her pain. "I felt like shooting myself after the first half hour. I don't do feelings, Hetty. You know that."

"I was talking about something much more practical. So, with immediate effect, you will be paired with Ms Blye, Mr Hannah. And that means Mr Callen and Mr Deeks can have the pleasure of working together." Having chucked her bombshell into the arena, Hetty considered it was the time to withdraw to a place of safety. "I do hope you'll all find the experience illuminating." She positively skipped away.

"That's not quite the word I'd choose," Marty muttered under his breath, totally impervious to the fact that Kensi and Sam were both shooting looks of the utmost gratitude towards Hetty's rapidly disappearing back.

Callen subsided into his chair with a look of shock. Hetty could scarcely have done anything more guaranteed to take his breath away unless she'd kicked him directly in the balls. Which she might as well have done, he realised, rather than subject him to this ritual humiliation.

"Okay, boss – you want to tell us what the plans are for today?" Kensi could see Hetty's decisions were not universally popular, but why shouldn't Sam be given a shot at taking the lead? He was a great agent, every bit as good as Callen. Under different circumstances, he would have been a team leader too, along with the extra salary that brought. And she knew that money was getting tighter by the moment in the Hannah household. Right now, Sam needed support and she was going to give it to him. They still had a job to do after all.

"I'll see you upstairs in Ops in five minutes. I want to have Nell and Eric brief me on any overnight developments." Sam turned his head as a cell phone burst into life with the distinctive opening bars of Sweet Caroline.

"Sorry. It's Caroline – and she only ever calls me if it's really important. I'd better take this." Marty couldn't believe his luck at the opportune timing and made a hasty getaway so he could take the call in private.

"That is so cheesy." Callen shook his head in wonder. "Another new low for Deeks."

"Don't start," Kensi warned him. "I'm trying very hard not to take sides here, even if I do think your head's stuck somewhere up your backside right now. But you leave Caroline out of this. She's never done anything except be nice to you and she loves that song, so just stop right there." Caroline had confessed that Joe had requested that song on the radio for her, and had then gone down on one knee to propose. Ever since then, it had been "their" song, and now Kensi loved it almost as much as Marty did.

Callen decided that there was nothing for it but to have another cup of coffee. Besides which there was no way he ever wanted to mess with Caroline. She'd have him for breakfast, served up on a bone china plate, neatly placed on a lace doily. Caroline epitomised the meaning of the word 'indomitable' and it would be a foolish man who tangled with her.

Details of why Callen dropped Marty on his head and then offered to pay for thier honeymoon can be found in my story The Chain, along with details fo Hetty's travels in Europe.