A/N - So, now that FF seems to be working again, here is another chapter. Thanks again for the continued support. I'm very pleased that you are still interested after 46 chapters!
To anyone reading this being hit or affected by the floods (Jan 2011) around Queensland and New South Wales, and the bush fires in Western Australia, in Australia, I hope you are okay. I hope this gives you a little something to take your mind off things. Fingers crossed the rain stops and the rivers don't their predicted highs.
Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
Chapter 46
Previously at OSP
Whilst they waited for more information from Callen and Sam, who were still on their way to the hospital, and for Kensi and Grey to report back, Nate unexpectedly found himself talking with Annabel. He'd looked up from his desk at the knock on his office door and saw her standing there. He was finishing off the Chinese takeaway Hetty had organised for their dinner whilst going through the file they had found on Callen, trying to see something from a different perspective. He was surprised that she had come to him voluntarily.
"Annabel. Come in."
Nate stood up and moved from his desk to join her. She stepped in to the room and closed the door but didn't seem to want to sit down. He noticed she was looking a touch nervous.
"Are you all right?" Nate asked gently, as he took a seat on the couch in a less threatening position. He knew his height sometimes put people off.
Annabel looked at Nate for a moment before joining him on the couch. She took a breath and slowly released it, remembering that she was doing this for Callen and for Zoe and that there was no way it would be harder than what she had done in that interrogation room in Washington.
"Callen wanted me to help you profile this guy."
Nate nodded. So maybe not completely doing this voluntarily; she was doing this for Callen. "Hetty did mention that."
"Do you still need me to tell you about him?"
Nate could tell she was reluctant, but he wasn't sure if it was because she didn't know him or because of what she had been through.
"It would help me to refine the profile, but if you aren't up for it, that's okay."
Annabel shook her head. "It's not that exactly. I'm just not sure how much help it will be."
"Or if it might trigger more bad memories," Nate added.
Annabel gave him a small smile at being caught out. "Hetty's told you a little, has she?"
"Not as much as I would like, but some." He'd managed to get a little more out of Hetty so that he had some information to ensure he didn't put his foot in it. Hetty had simply told him that Annabel had some very bad experiences in the past that had recently been brought back to her mind, in the form of a rather distressing flashback. It hadn't given him much but it was a little bit more to help him understand Annabel, and her obvious reluctance.
It appeared to be the right thing to say and Annabel chuckled softly and relaxed slightly back against the couch. Nate took that as a very good sign.
"What kind of things would help you understand him?" Annabel asked, obviously still reluctant to delve into this.
"Whatever you are willing to tell me. I won't push Annabel. I understand from what Hetty has told me this has been a very difficult time for you, and not just physically."
Annabel nodded. "Callen trusts you Nate, so I do too. Please, don't think that I don't."
Annabel's words gave Nate a rather warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Getting through to Callen was one of the toughest jobs he'd ever had and knowing that he was being successful, in some way, was very rewarding.
"Whoever he is," Annabel started and Nate turned his focus to her, making sure he took it all in and wouldn't need to have to ask her to repeat anything, "he has taken a lot from me. He's taken my daughter's life, wormed his way into mine through others that I trusted with everything, only to find out that they didn't deserve it, and caused more people in my life to be put in danger, hurt or killed because of it."
The pain in her chest increased as she thought of those innocent ones who'd been hurt: Zoe, Grey, Adrian, Mandy and John. She took a few calming breaths before she continued.
"Callen feels that whoever he is may be the reason his mother has never been able to come back. At least that is what he hopes." Annabel turned her gaze to Nate and looked at him openly, allowing him to see the emotions swirling around in her. She switched off the agent control for just a little while.
"We both want to find him, and Nate, when we do … I can't guarantee that whoever he is will live to see the encounter finish. He's dangerous and ruthless and he killed my daughter."
She stopped there, her voice breaking on the last words. She couldn't keep going and closed her eyes.
Nate easily saw the agony and the pain in Annabel's eyes as she had spoken. He may not have felt the kind of pain that she had been through, but he could understand how it had affected her and what she wanted to do about it. He didn't need anymore.
Nate moved closer to her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Annabel opened her eyes and looked at him, unshed tears shining in her eyes.
"Thank you," Nate said, "for trusting me with all of that. I'm very sorry for what you have been through.
Annabel smiled. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you anything more."
"You've given me enough. I'm here anytime, if you do want to talk some more. Nothing will leave this room, I promise you that."
"Thanks Nate," Annabel replied sincerely as she stood up. She was halfway to the door when Nate stopped her and she turned back to him.
"Annabel, I don't mean to pry but… You and Callen. Is it serious?"
"Are you asking if I'm in love with him?"
"Yeah, I guess I am."
Nate was still concerned about the change in Callen and wanted to make sure that the feelings were reciprocated, not that he knew exactly what Callen felt but he suspected it was something serious, given the extent of those changes.
"Yes Nate. I am. And he knows that," Annabel assured him.
"You haven't known him for long." Nate hoped she wouldn't take offense to his comment.
"No I haven't. But then I didn't know my husband for more than a moment before I knew he was the one and we were together for six years before he died. Sometimes when it is right, you just know."
She's been married and widowed as well. What else had she been through?
"Sometimes though, you can be wrong," Nate added.
"I've done both, Nate." Annabel shook her head as she continued. "I won't make the mistake of giving my heart to someone who doesn't deserve it again. Once was enough."
Nate nodded and let her go. There was a lot more to Annabel than he thought. She'd been through so much. The emotions he could hear and see in her were enough to mostly ease his concerns. She really did care about Callen and that, as Hetty had put it, was a very good thing; especially if Callen actually let her in.
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It was just after 9.30pm when Sam called a second time. The first instance had been to help with the security for Mary. They were all in the Ops Centre and Eric put the call on speaker when Sam asked for Hetty.
"Hetty, G's gone," Sam said with more than a touch of worry and annoyance in his voice.
"What do you mean, Mr Hanna?" Hetty's tone was extremely serious and all eyes turned to her.
"G. He left to follow Grace and he didn't come back. I don't know where they went, except the security at the hospital entrance thought they remembered two people fitting their descriptions heading to the car park."
Hetty moved closer to the phone console and spoke her question firmly and clearly. "Why didn't you follow him?"
"Aside from the fact that I was protecting Mary at the time, he has the keys to the car," Sam admitted reluctantly.
"And you obviously have the phone. How long has he been gone?"
Since they couldn't track him by GPS locator in the phone, they would have to try other ways. Eric was already working on it, typing away on the computer, hacking into surveillance feeds from the hospital and the roads leading away from it, hoping to get a hit on Callen and the car he was in. Unfortunately, Grace didn't have a car registered to her so it was going to have to be done by facial recognition or the good old fashioned way of checking the footage with their own eyes until they found it.
"About ten minutes, I guess," Sam replied.
"Mr Hanna, can you or can you not acquire entry into the vehicle?"
There was a slight pause before Sam spoke. "Break in?"
Hetty rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mr Hanna. Break in."
"I can."
"Good, because in the glove box, attached to the top under some strong tape is a spare key. Now, did Mr Callen take the I.D out of the car with him?"
"Yes," Sam confirmed, "the one he keeps under the driver's seat."
Hetty nodded and some of the tension left her shoulders. "Good, we can keep an eye on where he is going if he uses that."
"What should I do Hetty?" Sam asked.
"Get into the vehicle and then call me back," Hetty ordered and signaled for Eric to disconnect the call.
"So it appears that Mr Callen has slipped away from Sam, with Grace. Now we have a job to do to find him."
Hetty had kept an eye on Annabel during the conversation with Sam. She had watched the fear, frustration and concern flicker across her face and then watched the agent in her push that aside and focus.
"Eric," Hetty turned to him, "Monitor Graham Carlisle. That is the I.D that Callen keeps in the car with him as a backup. In the meantime, see if you can get a cell phone for Grace and try tracing it. It might give us an idea where they are going."
"Kensi and Grey should be back in about twenty minutes," Annabel said after she had looked at her watch and mentally calculated how long it had been since they had called to tell them they were on their way back. "We'll need more weapons, Hetty."
"What are you worried about, Annabel?" Nate asked. He too, had watched the change in her as the conversation went on.
"What if this was a set up? What if Grace isn't Grace?" Annabel pulled her arm out of the sling, removed it and placed it on the table, as she looked at Hetty expectantly.
"Very well," Hetty nodded. "Come with me and we'll sort something out. Eric, the moment you find them, let me know. When Mr Hanna calls, tell him to find a place to go to that is easily accessible to the city, the airport and the freeway. Tell him to wait there for further instructions."
Annabel followed Hetty out of the room, leaving Nate and Eric looking at each other, concerned. With everything that had already happened, their nerves were quick to kick back in again, especially as they had no idea where Callen was. Nate raised his eyebrows at Eric and something about the look pulled Eric out of his daze and he turned back to the computer, keys frantically clicking as he tried to find something to give them a location for Callen.
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When Hetty and Annabel returned, less than twenty minutes later, to the Ops Centre with Kensi and Grey, Eric filled them in on what he had managed to find.
"Hetty, the number I traced for Grace's cell phone is off, but the last number she called must have been right before she left with Callen, and it was to a number in Atlanta."
"To whom, Mr Beale?" Hetty asked with a touch of impatience. "Don't hold back."
"I don't know," Eric said quickly. "It's a burn phone, not registered to anyone and it's not on at the moment either."
Hetty turned to the agents in her midst. "Kensi, Grey, Annabel. Are you all ready to go?"
They nodded their agreement.
"Just tell us where, Hetty," Grey answered for them.
"I have a plane ready and waiting at Edwards," Hetty informed them. "Go. Wait there. If Callen is still in San Diego, you'll fly there otherwise, when we know where he is headed, you'll follow."
"What about Sam?" Kensi asked as she slipped her jacket back on.
"I'll have Sam on a plane if he needs to be and meet you wherever Mr Callen has decided he needs to be."
As Annabel was about to leave the room, Hetty called out to her.
"Annabel … Don't be too hard on him. I'm sure he is just trying to protect his family." At least Hetty hoped that was the reason he was with Grace; hoped that Annabel was wrong about the possibility of Grace being someone else.
Annabel turned back to Hetty. "I know, Hetty. He's just like Grey."
"Just like you," Hetty added.
"Let's hope not," Annabel replied. Because up until two weeks ago, she would have gladly taken a bullet for anyone she cared about in order to protect them, not really caring if it killed her in the process. Now, she had too much she wanted to live for again.
Annabel turned away and moved quickly to catch up with Kensi and Grey.
Hetty turned back to Eric. "Well Mr Beale, how are you doing finding where our elusive Mr Callen is?"
"Still working on it. I've found him on the surveillance cameras at the hospital and am running a program to follow the car he got in with a woman, who appears to be Grace. I ran her picture through facial recognition to be sure and it comes back a match for Grace Baker."
"Thank you and well done Eric. Please inform Annabel that you have positively identified Grace. I am sure that she will be relieved to know that detail."
Eric nodded and picked up the phone as Hetty walked out.
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Hetty returned to the Ops Centre with a cup of tea in her hand. Usually she didn't drink in this room but she needed a 'pick me up' and she needed to be here at the centre of everything.
"Hetty," Eric piped up as she set the cup down carefully. "Callen's I.D just came up on the passenger list for a flight to Atlanta. It leaves in ten minutes."
Ten minutes was nowhere near enough time for Sam to get to the airport and join them. Not wanting to bring attention to them, Hetty made the choice not to get Eric to stop the plane.
"Call Sam," Hetty ordered Eric. "Tell him to get to the San Diego base. A plane will be standing by. Then find me an address for that phone call to Atlanta."
Hetty paced whilst Eric did what was requested.
"This is as close as I can get Hetty. I've already sent it to Kensi and Sam's phones. Sam also received a text from G, just the word Atlanta. Looks like we're on the right track."
Hetty nodded and relaxed slightly at the knowledge that Callen had been in touch, even if it was such a brief message.
"Good," she said. "Run up a list of all the occupants and owners around that area, say two square miles. See if we get any red flags with what we've found out recently. I need to make some calls. I'll be at my desk if you need me."
"Hetty." Nate's voice was slightly hesitant.
"Yes, Nate."
"What's Callen doing?"
Hetty looked at Nate for a moment before answering. Nate could see the worry in her eyes, something he couldn't usually see so clearly, but considering everything they had been through the past two weeks, he suspected that Hetty wasn't quite back to being her usual self.
"Unless he is protecting Grace, I have no idea. Until he gets off that plane, I doubt we'll figure it out."
