Welp, here we go with the end of the series.
Of note, what I find interesting in this episode is not the contact between Callen and Hetty, but it's lack. With the whispers of Hetty being called to Washington, you'd think there would be at least a sense of that tension – but there isn't. Callen ends the episode so hyper-focused on the case he doesn't even notice that he hasn't checked in with Hetty at all.
So I explained it.
Enjoy!
Season 5, Episode 24: Deep Trouble, Part 1
She had only just sent Kensi away when the text from Callen arrived.
"On our way in. Anything new?"
Hetty frowned. Such an inquiry was not one he typically sent her way — it was the sort of status update he would request from one of the others up in Ops.
She glanced over where Kensi was stalking back towards her partner.
Mister Deeks was putting his phone back in his pocket.
Of course. Leave it to the detective to monitor her discussion from a distance and decide to contact Callen.
She had no time to explain and, truth be told, this was one battle she didn't want him to fight. Not now, not when this case was troubling her. It wasn't anything she could pinpoint, but there was a weight to this one which had her thinking about her arm holster.
Whatever political game was afoot, the best thing for the case and for Callen himself was to keep him far away from it.
He would be angry later, but this was necessary.
She sent back, "I need you to enact Komodo protocol."
She was pleased when he didn't reply immediately. Two minutes later, he sent a response.
"Confirm Komodo?"
If he were here, she might well have hugged him. She could have phrased it as an order, of course, and would have if he hadn't accepted it. But this was one he wouldn't countermand, not right now.
If he knew about her summons to Washington, he might. But he didn't. And with Komodo in place, he wouldn't even bother to track her, possibly wouldn't even notice her absence. Not until it was too late.
It was a code she had put in place with him years ago. She had a similar one with many of her agents, and with all of the children who had looked to her. A code which was an order, one to surpass any others save the oaths given to the country.
She remembered telling him about it early in his career.
"Komodo dragons have a very unique way of hunting," she had said. "After their initial attack, they will single-mindedly pursue their prey, returning to strike again and again, never ceasing, never turning away from the meal they have marked for themselves.
"Someday I may ask you to adopt the same focus, Mister Callen. Someday I may call upon you to focus on your prey, looking neither left nor right, but pursuing your mission without distraction. If I ask you to become a Komodo, I need you to bend your entire force of will upon what is before you, no matter what."
And he had accepted it.
She typed back, "Komodo confirmed. Good hunting."
He didn't even reply, and she could almost sense the full weight of his attention and skill being brought to bear upon the case. Somehow, she had a feeling he would need it.
Hetty considered telling him not to press Owen too hard when he finally learned why she had shut him out so effectively, but decided it wasn't worth the effort.
Either way, he wouldn't let her down. No matter what Washington held, she had that much comfort to carry with her.