Double Take
Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.
Chapter 36
It had been a few frustrating weeks for Callen, waiting to be cleared by medical professionals, with regards to his mind and body. He had passed the physical, which he attributed to the time he spent with Pierre and his father at the beach. He relished in the family time, seeing he had lived so long without it, but he was still desperate to return to work. His work was what he had held onto, while his life lacked what he craved. Now he had family, yet he still felt the need to hold onto what had remained constant the longest in his life—-his work.
Becoming a Federal Agent had given him the fulfilment in bringing good into other people's lives, even if his own lacked it. It had given him a purpose and direction, which he needed. If only for his sanity. If it hadn't been for his work, all the searching for who he was and where his family were, most probably would have made him go insane. It also gave him the opportunity to prove his self worth to others. Yet, it wasn't until he met Leroy Jethro Gibbs, did he make a close personal connection with another person. He was an older brother figure for him, when he needed it most. But as Callen reflected back on that time, he realised, Gibbs needed that connection as well. He had lost what had been most valuable to him too, when Shannon and Kelly were killed. All the losses both men had endured, clinched their friendship.
But now he found himself in a new situation again. His father, John, needed him. After spending those few weeks with him and Pierre, he realised it wasn't just for his purpose John and Pierre were there. Each one of them needed the other. Pierre was at an age, where he needed his father. Callen needed family around to heal and John needed his son and grandson. The absence of Beth and any mention of her, had Callen wondering. But finding the right time to approach his father on the subject with Pierre around, had been difficult.
He sat at his desk, alone, as he was the first of his field team to arrive into the mission. Nell sat upstairs with Eric, getting ahead on intel for their new case. Being in a relationship with Nell Jones had given Callen a heads up, when something was coming their way. It was his first day back to working in the field. His shrink had given him the all clear, after much negotiating with Nate. Nate knew he was good at passing psychological tests. He'd been doing it most of his life. He had learned early on, the importance of having people thinking you weren't affected by what life threw at you. He was good at deflecting the conversation back at Nate on many occasions, to avoid having to talk about his feelings. But he felt it was his relationship he had developed with his father and son, that had Nate accepting he really was okay. He had spotted Nate on many occasions watching them from afar on the beach. And he had to agree, having Pierre and John around as well as having Nell move in with him, had him smiling a whole lot more.
The day of the big move of Nell's furniture into his house and Kensi's stuff into Nell's old apartment had been the highlight of his time off work. Although he was limited to what he could do, he had defrosted most of his cooking to feed the troops. The looks on his team's faces when Nell told them he had baked them all, had been priceless. Deeks had tried to crack a joke about Callen's new found talent, but after he had tried his baking, the Detective was speechless. Sam shook his head in utter amazement. Kensi couldn't feed herself enough. She had decided she would put orders in for Callen's baking instead of donuts, in future. Nate was surprised, but pleased the seasoned agent, who hardly ever let anyone into his life, was beginning to trust others. Callen was sure Hetty already knew about his cooking classes. After all, his aunt knew everything. Eric, like Kensi, couldn't eat enough. He fought Nell for the last caramel tart. Callen smiled at the memory. He had to play referee in that instance, cutting the tart in half, for them to share.
John and Pierre appeared to have enjoyed his team's company also. They all had been amazing with Pierre. He had laughed, when Pierre managed to play a joke on Deeks. He pretended he didn't understand English, at first. Callen himself had stood back and watched his son play the Detective with utter smoothness. Deeks had struggled to speak to Pierre in French. Instead of saying, "pleased to meet you." Deeks had managed to say "I'm sure you are pleased to meet me." This had sent all of them who understood French into utter hysterics. Poor Deeks. Kensi rubbed his arm to make him feel better. As usual, the Detective pulled himself back up and when Kensi told him what he had actually said, he too could see the funny side of it all. But then Pierre chose to suddenly speak to him in perfect English.
The Detective turned and saw the smirk on Callen's face. He shook his head. "He's definitely your son." Deeks looked down to Nell, who at the time was sitting on the couch. "You better hope there's more of your DNA in your baby than his, or else all hell is going to break loose if we have another Callen around here."
Sam had chuckled at Deeks response. "True, Deeks. I'm hoping for a girl. Nell's going to need all the support she can get."
Nell replied, telling them about Callen's dream, that it was a girl. All of them looked at Callen surprised at this revelation. They all thought he would have wanted another son.
But what Callen had loved the most about that day, was how good Nell was with Pierre. It had worried him after their conversation the night before. But it hadn't taken Nell long to see how much Pierre was like him. She was hooked after that. She fussed over him, like any mother would over their own child. But that wasn't all. They had chatted for a good while and laughed. At his expense, he was sure of it. But he didn't care. Seeing them both happy and getting on so well, had made his heart swell with pride. Pierre took to Nell with ease and liked her quirkiness. He told Callen later, how much she reminded him of his mother. Callen realised just how much he had forgotten about Gabrielle. Hearing Pierre talk about her, brought back the memories of their time together. They had been happy and very much in love. But it hadn't been real. Or had it? He wasn't sure anymore. It was almost fifteen years ago. Another lifetime. Now he was in love with Nell and expecting a child together. Living a life, with no pretence.
Callen was pulled out of his thoughts by the sounds of Deeks and Kensi's bantering. He smiled as he looked up at them when they entered the bullpen. "Morning Kenz, Deeks. What's up?" he questioned them. He knew whatever it was about, was trivial.
"Kensi says I twitch my nose when I sleep." He turned towards his partner. "I do not twitch."
Kensi raised her eyebrows as she gave Callen a smile. "You do twitch. And I find it endearing."
"You do?" the Detective asked her. "Can I have that in writing? Just incase you change your mind later."
"Hah!" Kensi responded. "No you cannot have it in writing, because I don't change my mind."
Callen sat back in his chair enjoying the banter between the younger members of their team. It showed things were returning to normal within the team again. Well, as normal as they would ever be again. As Sam walked in, he nodded over to him and sat down and smiled. Neither Deeks or Kensi had spotted Sam's arrival. It felt good to be back with the team. While they still had one extra agent on their team while Kensi was pregnant, with Callen back, it felt normal.
Eric's shrill on the whistle caught their attention, spurring them up the stairs to the Ops Centre, to be briefed on their new case.
Hetty watched her team back together again, with a smile. "Oh Goody." She decided she was not going to miss out on joining her team's first reunion. She quickly made her way up behind them and entered through the sliding doors behind them. Being small had its advantages.
The team stood in their usual positions. Sam and Callen towards the front, while Deeks and Kensi more towards the back. Hetty stood to the side as she watched her team. Up on the screen were photos of a fellow NCIS agent.
Shivers ran down Callen's spine as he saw the images of the dead agent. He looked over to Hetty and saw concern in her eyes. She was watching him closely, that he could tell. He quickly returned his attention back to the screen.
"Special Agent Jake Frost's body was found in his home in San Diego late last night by his girlfriend. There were signs of a struggle, but no forced entry. Whoever killed Frost, knew him enough to be let inside the house. All agents who worked with Frost are in lockdown in their offices, in San Diego. Our team has been asked by Director Vance to tread carefully on this one." Nell stopped the brief and looked over at Callen. She worried as she noticed he had paled.
"Were there any witnesses, or any persons of interests in Frost's murder?" Sam asked. Callen remained quiet, as he took in the bloodied body of an old friend.
"No witnesses. His girlfriend, Amanda Singer, was out at the gym at the time of the murder. She said there was no one she knew that didn't like him," Eric added.
"How do you want to do this, G?" Sam asked his partner. He was aware how quiet he had been.
"Sam and I will visit the crime scene to make sure the local team down there didn't miss anything. Rogers and Deeks will head to the office to speak with his colleagues. Kensi. Can you see if you can get anything more from the girlfriend?
Kensi nodded. She was glad to be doing something, other than assist Eric and Nell from the mission.
"You can ride with us." Callen wanted to ensure she was okay. He worried about putting her out in the field in her condition. He saw Deeks' look of disappointment of not having Kensi ride with him and Rogers. Driving around with Rogers just wasn't the same without Kensi around. She brightened up his world. 'Sunshine and gunpowder.' He gave Kensi a smile before he left with Rogers.
"George!" Hetty's familiar voice rang through the room with a power that would make anyone stop and listen. But she then softened it, once she had caught his attention. "Are you going to be okay working this case?"
"I've been cleared, Hetty," Callen reminded her.
"I am fully aware you have, George. That is not what I am referring to. You know that." Hetty sighed. Still the stubborn man he'd always been.
Callen nodded. "Yeah! Thanks for asking." He left before anyone could ask him why Hetty had asked him the question. But he should have known better. Sam was not going to let it slide.
Sam waited until they were in the car driving south before he brought it up. "When did you work with Frost?" He had put the pieces together already.
"Just before we became partners. He was a good man. He didn't deserve this." Callen looked out the side window, hoping his answer would satisfy his partner.
"Are you going to be okay working this case, G?" Callen turned and looked at his partner, who gave him a quick glance in return, as he drove onto the highway.
"Yeah!" His usual strength to deny and hold things back had softened since Prague. "Thanks."
The remainder of the journey was held in silence, until Kensi suddenly felt ill. "Pull over, Sam."
Sam quickly pulled over to the side as Kensi pushed the door open and vomited on the ground. Callen climbed out and offered her some water. "Are you okay, Kenz?"
Kensi nodded. "I've been doing really well. Hardly had any problems. Must be the drive."
"How about you sit in the front." Callen suggested to her. "You might feel more comfortable."
Kensi nodded. "Thanks, Callen."
They arrived half an hour later since their unplanned stop. They dropped Kensi off at the neighbours, where the girlfriend was waiting. Callen and Sam walked up towards the house, when the whole house suddenly exploded in front of them. Debris flew across the yard, sending Sam and Callen onto the front lawn. With their hands on their heads for protection, building fragments landed on top of them, hitting them on their backs and arms. Kensi ran from the neighbour's house, shouting out to them, as she couldn't see them through the smoke and debris. She called Eric for the fire brigade, ambulance and backup.
Relief spread across her face, when she saw two familiar figures hobble back towards her. With concern spread across her face, she checked both men out for any serious injuries.
"We're okay, Kenz. Stop mothering us."
"I'll stop when I have completed my assessment of you. Now sit and let me take a closer look." Kensi lifted Callen's shirt looking for hidden signs of injury. She gasped, as she saw his recent wounds from Prague. Not only did he have the five bullet wounds to his chest from five years ago, but scars from where he had been operated on more recently, to save his life. They were fresh and more gory. Callen tensed as he felt her hands on his body. "Does that hurt?" She firmly placed her hands on his ribs. After his last ordeal, she wasn't taking any chances.
"No." Callen answered through gritted teeth. Sam and Kensi gave Callen a disapproving look. "I'm fine. Just a few cuts and bruises."
"You're still having the paramedics look over you, Callen." Kensi ordered. Sirens could be heard from the distance, coming closer as she moved onto Sam. Kensi repeated the action of assessment over Sam. Satisfied they would both live, she sat down beside them. "Crap! There goes our crime scene."
"Yeah! It just got a whole lot bigger. But who would do this?" Sam added. To kill a Federal Agent was one thing, but to blow up the house as well, on the following day, just didn't make sense.
"Eric." Callen rang through on his cell. "We need all of Frost's active cases analysed. Get Nate to help Nell if you must. We need to know who was after Frost before they strike again.
"G." Nell's voice came over the cell. "Are you okay?" She had seen the video footage from Sam's car of the explosion. Her heart had stopped beating, while she waited to see Callen was alright.
"We're both fine, Nell." If it wasn't for their unplanned stop when Kensi was sick, they most probably would have been inside the house when it blew up, Callen thought to himself. He was sure Sam was thinking the same thing. "We need to know if anyone in the San Diego office knew who would be coming to investigate Frost's murder today. It seems too long after the crime was committed, for this to be a cover up." He was concerned someone was after another member of their agency, and Frost's murder was to lure them in. He just hoped it had nothing to do with his team. After all they had been through of late, they didn't need anyone in their team having a price on their head.
"We'll get onto it straight away, G," Nell replied.
"Don't tell Hetty what happened, Nell. I don't want her worrying," Callen asked her. The last thing he needed right then, was a concerned aunt who would pull him off this case, before he had even started working on it.
"George!" Hetty's voice rang through his cell.
Too late, Callen realised.
"Are you both alright?" Hetty asked him. She had seen the explosion from her own laptop. Worry could be heard in her voice as she asked him.
"Yes, Hetty. Just some cuts and bruises. Kensi's done a good job checking us over and the paramedics have arrived." The sirens blared loud as they arrived on scene.
"Get yourselves checked out first ,George, then comb through the crime scene. Ask the neighbours if they have seen anyone over the past few days come anywhere near Frost's home." She wished her team hadn't been asked to work this case. After all they had been through over the past few months, they needed a break.
"Will do, Hetty." Callen hung up and proceeded to a paramedic for assessment. He looked over at Sam being checked over by the other paramedic. He saw Sam flinch, as the paramedic pressed on his ribs. "You hurt there?" Callen asked his partner.
"Uh huh!" Sam admitted. His left side hurt pretty bad. Bruising and swelling had already begun to form.
"Are you going to be able to work? Or do you need to go to the hospital?" Callen asked him. He needed Sam with him, but at the same time, was worried about his well being.
"I'm good, G. Let's deal with this scene now." Sam pulled away from the paramedic.
"Oh no you don't." The paramedic scorned. Sam raised his eyebrows with surprise at the paramedic's determination to boss him around. Sam towered over him. "I need to tape up your ribs. It looks like it's just bruising, but we can't take any risks. I understand you have a job to do, but so do I."
Sam raised his arms in surrender. "I give up." He shook his head at Callen.
Callen smirked and was thankful, he didn't have Sam's paramedic attending to him. Callen had managed to hide his pain from his partner, Kensi and the paramedic. Or so he thought.
"This looks bad." The paramedic named Brian, told him.
Callen turned and glared at the paramedic attending him. He remained quiet, but hoped his glare of steel blue eyes would make Brian keep his thoughts to himself. The last thing he needed was being sent home. Or worse, to the hospital.
"How long ago did you suffer broken ribs?" Brian asked him.
Callen tried to remain aloof in his answer. "A while ago."
"Try three months ago." Kensi walked over and added her dime's worth in. "I thought you said that didn't hurt?" Kensi challenged her team leader, annoyed he had lied to her. They had all been through so much, with nearly losing him and Jackson. She couldn't help but feel over protective of him.
Callen sighed. He was not amused by Brian giving away his true condition to anyone.
"I think you should come with us to UCSD Medical Centre. You'll need x-rays to ensure there's nothing broken."
"I'm fine!" Callen pleaded his cause. "Nothing feels broken." He tried to convince Brian, unsuccessfully. "Fine. But only if Sam comes too. If I'm being checked out, he should as well."
"I agree." The other paramedic named Andrew added.
"Don't worry, Sam. I'll take great care of your challenger. I'll even follow you to the hospital, so you can get out quickly," Kensi added.
Both agents frowned. Neither were happy with the outcome, but they both knew it could have been a whole lot worse.
Office of Special Projects, Los Angeles
"What do you mean they've both been taken to hospital?" Hetty sounded more stressed by the moment, as she listened to Kensi update her on Callen and Sam's status. "George ensured me their injuries were minor."
"The attending paramedics advised them that they both needed x-rays. Sam and Callen hid how much pain they were in when I assessed them, Hetty." Kensi sighed, as she heard Hetty rant on the other end of the phone. She understood it was because she cared for their well being, and thought all of them as her responsibilities.
"Keep me apprised, Miss Blythe." Hetty finished her conversation and sat back in her chair. For a brief moment earlier that day, she had enjoyed seeing all her agents safely back in the fold. Too much hurt was occurring to her agents, and it worried her greatly.
"Will do, Hetty." Kensi hung up on her end, only to receive another call from Deeks. "Hey Marty!"
"Eric just told us what happened to Sam and Callen. Are you okay? How are they?" Deeks worried about her, especially when he wasn't around to keep her safe.
"They're both having x-rays, to ensure no broken ribs. They took the brunt of the debris from the explosion on their bodies. Both are tender on their sides, trying hard not to show how much pain they're in." Kensi missed not having her partner by her side. She had been so glad to be out of the mission, but after what had happened to Sam and Callen, she was wishing to be back there.
"Crap!" Deeks responded. "Do you need us to meet you at the hospital?"
"Thanks, Marty. But Callen needs you to find out who in the office down here may be involved in Frost's murder," Kensi advised him.
"Okay, if you are sure. We've interviewed Frost's immediate team. There doesn't seem to be anyone who felt ill towards Frost. They all seem shocked over his death," Deeks told his partner.
"Okay. Let Eric and Nell know. We may have to look into his cases. Eric is doing that right now. Callen thinks there may be a possibility that Frost's murder was to lure someone else out." Kensi hoped their team leader wasn't right about that. She was frustrated she was limited on what she could do. "I never got to speak with the girlfriend, so I'll have to go back to the neighbours after Sam and Callen have finished here.
"Be careful, Fern. Just incase whoever is behind this comes back for the girlfriend," Deeks stressed to her.
"I will. Thanks, Deeks." Kensi disconnected the call and sighed. She leaned back against the wall in the waiting room, and closed her eyes for only a second, but her gut told her, she was being watched. She slowly opened her eyes, not to give her suspicions away. She scanned the waiting room and saw a man who looked out of place. Carefully she held up her phone to look at it and took a photo of him. She quickly sent the photo to Eric for identification. She pretended she hadn't noticed the man and stayed put.
About thirty minutes later Sam and Callen walked out free to leave. "No broken bones," Callen told a very concerned Kensi. "You can't get rid of us that easily." He smirked his famous smirk.
"We're being watched," she whispered into Callen's ear. He tensed, but remained facing her. Her phone beeped. She looked at the caller ID, and saw Eric's name.
"Hello!" She tried to be blazè about who was on the other end of the phone.
"Kensi. You guys need to get out of San Diego. All five of you. The man whose watching you, is linked to Sidorov. Hetty's been onto Granger to get another team down there."
Kensi tensed at the mention of the Russian arms dealer. It brought back the blackest of memories, when she had nearly lost Marty a year ago. The whole fiasco nearly split them up as partners. She nearly lost him for good. He had left the team for a while, but eventually they had managed to get him to return. But their friendship had been on eggshells, ever since. He had come clean with his kiss, but she was so confused and fed up with his lack of communication, on how he felt about her. That was why she had been relieved to have a holiday away from him. How wrong she had been. "Thanks."
She turned and headed out of the hospital, with Sam and Callen following her lead. She threw Sam his keys and jumped in the front passenger seat. She hoped she wouldn't have another wave of nausea, knowing they were having to lose this guy and get out of there. She waited till they were all safe in the car and heading out of the car park. "Hetty wants us all back in L.A. immediately. That man is linked to Sidorov." She took a deep breath as she waited for Sam and Callen's reaction to the news.
"Crap!" Callen responded.
"Damn!" Sam voiced out loud. He looked in the mirror and saw a black SUV following them. "We have a tail. Hold on, Kensi, we're going to have to make this drive back a mad race, like in the 'Fast and the Furious,' I'm afraid." Sam pressed hard on the peddle and flew up the ramp onto the Pacific Coast Highway out of town. "G! You got our backs?" He called out to his partner, who was already geared to fire his weapon if thy didn't succeed in losing them.
"I'm ready. Let's hope we don't have to have a fire fight with them." He looked over to Kensi. She looked pale. "You good, Kenz?"
"Yep!" She managed to get out. Her stomach was not liking the sudden movements at all.
Sam sped up weaving in and out of traffic, hoping to lose them. He looked into the rear view mirror and cursed as they continued to follow.
"Eric, we need back up immediately. Black SUV with no number plates is following us on the Pacific Coast Highway. We can't lose them," Callen called through. Eric typed quickly as he connected through to highway patrol for assistance. He contacted Deeks and Rogers, to find out their position in relation to the others.
"Deeks and Rogers are five minutes behind you. They're coming to back you up, G. Highway patrol are also en route to assist you." Eric was glad Nell had left the Ops Centre for the bathroom. He didn't want her around worrying about Callen or the others. He hoped that by the time she returned, the team had lost Siderov's men.
"Thanks, Eric." Callen turned and focused on the black SUV. He was thankful there wasn't a traffic jam on the highway between the two cities. It was going to be a stressful drive. The usual two hours was going to be cut short one way or another, he hoped and suddenly wished he was a praying man, that they would be alright.
Ten minutes later, they saw Deeks' silver SUV pull in behind the black one. Every move the black car made, Deeks copied. It unnerved Sidorov's men, who tried to get away from Deeks and Rogers. Callen hoped Deeks was alright, after all he had endured the previous year by the Russian.
Five minutes later, highway patrol had moved in for support. They managed to create a road block for the black SUV, fully aware of the black challenger and silver SUV's need to escape the black SUV. Cars on the road were urged to pull over and let the three cars continue. Sam managed to drive through the road block and sighed with relief as Deeks pulled on the breaks and watched the black SUV being sandwiched in by highway patrol.
Gunfire could be heard from behind them. Sam, Kensi and Callen sighed with relief, as they were clear for a free run home.
Deeks and Rogers pulled back and allowed highway patrol to take over, arresting the men. A news helicopter flew around the scene, reporting a situation, without knowing any of the details. They managed to move off the highway and take another route around the scene, to head north to Los Angeles. After they were clear, Deeks pulled over. His body shook from the realisation of now close they all had come to Sidorov's men, once again. It had frustrated the whole team to no end, that Sidorov had escaped after Michelle, Sam and Deeks had been rescued.
"Are you alright, Deeks?" Rogers asked him. He had been filled in with all the details the team had endured over the past eighteen months. He needed to know, so he could look out for any signs of repercussions by any of the team. Today had been the first time he had seen any reaction from the Detective.
Marty Deeks took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His body came back under control again and relaxed. "Yeah! Thanks." He gulped hard on a drink of bottled water, before restarting the engine again. It had been a close call. But they had escaped this time. He shook the memory away of his torture and focused on the rest of they drive home.
Rogers noticed how quiet the Detective was on their return journey. He knew that what had happened back on the highway had shook the man deeply. Something he would have to speak to Hetty about.