DISCLAIMER: No characters from NCIS LA/ NCIS/ Leverage belong to me. Victor, Marie, and Iosif, however, are all of my own creation. Any and all similarities to people living or otherwise is purely coincidental.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Good evening. I am presently wondering what in the world happened to the snowstorm we were to receive today. It has been quite the disappointment. Perhaps everyone else is getting one because I didn't hear back from many today. No doubt, everyone is busy. Well, for those who reviewed, I thank you kindly. Here is the next chapter. A little step forward, if you will. Please drop in with a brief review once you have finished reading, if you would please.
Hetty's attention was quickly drawn to the fast-moving figure flip flopping his way down the steps from the Ops center. She stood up in question when he didn't come towards her as she had expected but instead headed for the entrance. Moments later she had some of her questions answered as he came down the hallway toward her with Eliot and his entire team in tow.
"Mr. Spencer." Hetty greeted as she met them half way in the courtyard.
"Miss Lange." He replied.
"Shall we find a place to sit? You look as though you could use a chair." She offered with a small but calculated smile.
"I'm fine, but if YOU need to sit…" he retorted, eyeing her carefully.
"No, no, I am fine. What, pray tell, brings you once more to our doorstep?" she asked.
"I would think that was obvious."
"Ah, well, my guess then would be Mr. Callen. However, I must inform you that Mr. Callen no longer works for NCIS. He resigned more than a month ago, now." Hetty stated calmly, "I'm sorry to inform you that we have no idea of his whereabouts at the present time."
"We going to play this game? You and I both know damn well where Callen is. You also know why… so how about we cut to the chase. Where is his team and why the hell aren't you doing something to get him back?" Eliot growled angrily.
"Mr. Callen made it abundantly clear what my position was to be in this event." Hetty explained with her brows raised as she moved her sights onto Nate and Sophie, "I have had the pleasure of being introduced to Mr. Hardison and Miss Parker previously, however, I have not had the opportunity to get to know you, Mr. Nathan Ford, is it? And you are, Sophie Devereaux… recently married to Mr. Ford here, congratulations." Hetty shook each of their hands a knowing smile on her face.
"I see you have done your homework." Nate remarked solemnly.
"Due diligence, Mr. Ford."
"Enough with the niceties." Eliot grumbled, "Where's this team of yours?"
Hetty thought about the team and couldn't help but let her mind wandered back to the day the letters arrived that changed everything. She knew how hers chilled and gutted her heart but as she watched from her desk as the team read theirs, crushed whatever was left.
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Sam,
This letter is to inform you and the rest of the team that I have made the decision to move onto other endeavors. It has become painstakingly clear that we are fighting a losing battle trying to put this team back together. We can not go back in time to where we were before this all started. I will accept my part in the demise of this partnership… however, it is not I that started this mess in its entirety. That falls squarely on your shoulders. You knew back when we first met, Sam, that this was a long shot and if you had had your way, we would never have even been a team. Consider yourself lucky. Now you can find yourself a real partner. Kensi, I meant what I said when I told them that you were an excellent agent. The only thing you need to remember, Deeks as well, is that you can't bring your emotions into the office. No one is safe when you do. Deeks, I am sorry if you feel I left you behind to die during that mission. It was so long ago now, yet seems to be the anchor in all this mess. I did what I felt I needed to do for you as well as the mission. That said, the residual anger from that mission has settled within the structure of this unit and I can no longer pretend that I will be able to regain the trust of this team. I think it's time for someone to just call it for what it is… a failure. Sam, find yourself a partner you can trust and lead this team the way you think it should be led. I have officially given my resignation to Director Leon Vance along with Henrietta Lange. If I could offer one piece of advice, should it mean anything to you, keep training your kids, Sam. Don't ever leave them vulnerable.
G Callen
No one said anything for a few moments before Sam wadded the letter into a ball and threw it across the courtyard in a fury like no one had seen before. They had watched Sam fall into despair when Michelle died but no one ever angered and frustrated him quite the way G Callen could. Deeks watched as the anger mixed with sorrow at the loss of his best friend and brother. Knowing that once more his kids were going to feel the familiar sting of abandonment. "Damn him!"
"Sam" Kensi reached a hand out to touch his arm but he pulled away from her.
"No, you know what?" Sam said shaking his head, "It's fine."
"It's not fine, Sam" Deeks stated with concern. Where'd he go? Is he with another agency? Did he go back to Blackguard?"
"Oh No, you don't think…" Kensi started when Sam interrupted,
"Deeks, Kensi, It's fine. He never wanted to be here. Not since the first time I met the man. He never trusted anyone… not even us. He wants to go… Let him go! I'm tired of worrying about him! If he is stupid enough to go back to Blackguard then so be it! Maybe he's better suited to that kind of work."
"Sam, you don't mean that! You know what would happen if he went back there. You saw what it did to him! That is NOT what Callen should be doing." Deeks reasoned.
"I do mean it, Marty! He has repeatedly hurt my kids with his popping in and out of our lives. I'm done! I'm DONE!" Sam growled.
"He has also repeatedly SAVED your family's lives." Kensi argued.
Sam turned his sight to the ceiling, with a heavy sigh he looked down as he walked away, "except my wife… he couldn't save my wife." He mumbled just loud enough for his two teammates to hear.
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Bringing her thoughts back to the present she tilted her head slightly as she answered the group in front of her. "They are working on a mission at present. They will be back later today… sooner if they are able to wrap a few things up. I do not think it wise for you to meet with them while you are in this frame of mind, Mr. Spencer. Our friend, I'm afraid, left them with a rather bitter taste in their mouths. They may not be so inclined to hear what you have to say." Hetty offered.
"I don't give a rat's…"
"I'm sure you don't" Hetty chuckled, interrupting him. She could see so much of Callen in his behavior. It was no wonder they were good friends. "However, might I suggest you retire to the cottage where Mr. Callen had been staying and get yourself something to eat and some rest. We will meet you there later this evening and we will talk then."
Eliot thought for a moment, "Fine."
"Good, good. Let me get you the key and you can be on your way. Mr. Beale, would you care to accompany them?" she asked, looking over the top of her glasses.
"Uh, sure! I will go get my stuff." Eric said as he ran up the stairs to the Ops center.
Hetty closed her eyes to the sound of his flip flops hitting the stairs. She opened them to Eliot shaking his head, "You really know how to pick them, don't you?"
"Yes, Mr. Spencer, I would have to agree with you. The creation of this team was quite the coup. They are a squirrely bunch at times but they make an unbeatable team." She agreed.
"Maybe once upon a time. You are, however, missing your lead agent at present." Eliot reminded her.
"Yes, we most definitely are. So off with you. The house is stocked with everything you might need. Feel free to move your things there if you would like… you are less obvious there. Should I have a doctor stop by to check on you, Mr. Spencer?" Hetty asked, already knowing the answer.
"I don't need a doctor." Eliot replied as Nate chuckled and Sophie rolled her eyes.
"mmmhmmm, Well then, off with you. We will see you this evening. Shall I bring dinner?"
"No, I will take care of it." Eliot stated. He hadn't been in the kitchen since before Iosif and cooking always calmed his spirit and right now… right now, he needed calming."
"Very well." Hetty replied as she handed the keys over to Eliot. Eric joined them as they turned to leave.
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Callen stood on the balcony of his hotel room contemplating his latest job. He had little to no contact with Victor, which was fine by him… he knew he was watched. Victor's people hadn't been especially careful about not being seen. He had pushed the boundaries a few times by cornering them and scaring them into leaving him alone for a while. But Victor was always quick to remind him that Callen was not the only one being watched.
Tonight, he found himself reminiscing. The kids would be out of school now. The team had probably chosen their replacement for him. He hoped he wouldn't have to overlap any cases with them this time around. No doubt Gibbs was beyond pissed with him. He had already pushed him to the limits by the end.
With a sigh he headed back into his room. He was paid well for the work he did and so far, everything Victor had given him had checked out. Still, at the end of the day and when he had breaks between jobs, he found himself missing something and spending way too many hours on regrets he could do nothing about.
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Earlier in the day Nate and Hardison had gone and gathered everyone's belongings and moved them back to the beach house. Eliot allowed himself a few minutes to try and rest but every time he closed his eyes, he was revisited by the past several weeks… fear for his friend weighed heavy in the pit of his stomach. Finally, he wandered into the gourmet kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets and refrigerator until he decided what he would fix for the evening meal…
He appreciated Hetty's choice in quality foods. He had noticed that even while Callen was living there, she had made sure to stock it with as much healthy food as his friend would allow. Callen wasn't against eating healthy, despite the way Sam would tease him. He just didn't cook… simple as that. That and he enjoyed how it irked his partner to bring in the containers loaded down with bacon. He chuckled as he worked on putting the food out to serve.
"Find something amusing?" Sophie asked quietly as she entered the kitchen.
Eliot looked up, his face sober, "Memories."
"Memories of?"
"They should be here soon." Eliot deflected.
"Well, everything looks divine… if anyone leaves hungry, it is their own fault." Sophie took a carrot from the crudités platter and dipped it in the homemade dill sauce.
"mm" Eliot replied, once again lost in thought.
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That night Eliot watched as two cars pulled up to the beach house, "They're here."
"Yeah, Sam does NOT look happy," Eric said, watching through the window.
"I don't really care what Sam is feeling at this point," Eliot growled.
"Eliot, his kids are here. You need to reign in that anger of yours." Nate warned, "We don't know how much those kids know."
Eliot glanced back at Nate and with a nod he turned and headed to the back of the house, "I'm going to go plate up the toppings for the fish tacos. Bring them back to the kitchen when they make it to the door." Stepping away from the group allowed him the opportunity to breathe and reset. He realized that Callen had purposely gone out of his way to cut ties with the team and he was apparently brutal in his approach to assure they would leave him go. He just had to believe that whatever they felt for Callen was still there. He couldn't do this alone. He NEEDED their help and it pissed him off to admit it.