A/N: Thank you for being patient with me on this story. I hope you enjoy this update.
Chapter 26
The clot appeared on the scan and Dr Harrison shook his head. It hadn't appeared in previous scans, and it frustrated him that this had happened to his patient. Thankfully, his friend who had experience in a war zone had been there. He needed to move his patient, clots were the side affect from lying still. He entered the room of his patient, Stephen Campbell, and nodded to his friend.
"As you suspected, a clot has formed in his lungs. We need to get Stephen moving and walking." His eyes shifted to his patient.
"We have medicine to assist you with the clot, Mr Campbell. We need to get you up out of this bed to prevent more clots from forming."
Callen's hand shifted to the halo that rested over his head.
"We can remove this too." A warm smile rested on Dr Harrison's lips. "You are healing well. You are a lucky man. No more parachuting for you."
He'd come in with the information that he'd fallen badly from a parachuting accident. It was necessary to provide the medical staff the truth to how Callen came across these injuries, incase something was missed in their initial assessment of his condition.
Callen's smile widened, pleased to be getting up. The pain remained, but his spirits were brightened with this news.
"We need for you to take care, Mr Campbell. Do not forget your fractured ribs." Dr Harrison shook his head, how many times had this man fallen badly from parachuting? Looking at his old injuries had shocked him. Little did he know this man had suffered much in saving this country.
"He knows to take it easy." Sam replied. His eyes bore into Callen's to remind him of it too.
Pleased the former Navy SEAL would ensure this would be the case, he watched the two in action, and realised Mr Hanna had been with Mr Campbell for the previous accidents. They worked well together, and he hid his smile as Mr Hanna mothered him.
John and Natalia entered the Navy Yard and were walked onto the second floor, where Leon Vance waited for them. John took Natalia's hand and led her up the flight of stairs.
"Officer Carston. Welcome to NCIS."
"Call me Natalia, Director Vance."
"This way." Leon led them through to the conference room. A woman sat there quietly and looked up with surprise at the older version of her dead husband which hinted in her eyes.
"Audrey. This is John Callen and Natalia Carston."
"Sean was my son." John cleared his throat that was fogged with emotion.
"Sean. I only ever knew him as Jason." Tears spilled down her face and her hand went to her small bump.
"Sean told me you're pregnant. We would like to take care of you and the baby, if that is okay with you?"
"I never knew he had any family." She bit on her lower lip to stop it from trembling. "I would like that very much."
John moved around the long table and sat down next to her. He took her hand in his. "Sean was taken from me when he was ten. He found me, but he never approached me. I wish he had. I tried looking for him."
Audrey saw the grief in John's eyes. "How did Sean tell you I was pregnant?"
"He left Director Vance a letter for me in case anything happened to him."
"Oh." She didn't know what to say then.
"He contacted our son, Jack. We have a daughter, Jules too. They both would love to meet you and welcome you into our family. Jack can tell you anything you need to know about Sean."
"Thank you." The tears fell again, and she quickly wiped them away. She looked over to Natalia. "You're not his mother?"
"No."
"Who is she and does she know what's happened?"
John straightened his spine. "Agents in the NCIS San Francisco office have visited her."
"She's all alone now."
"Did you ever meet her?"
Audrey shook her head. "No. Jason, I mean, Sean, he never spoke of having any family."
Doubt formed in her mind over what to do. The Callens appeared kind and willing to welcome her into their family.
"Sean's mother took him away from me, and she didn't have much contact with Sean once he left for college. You were his life," John admitted.
Audrey wiped at the tears. "He was so attentive to my needs. My parents are old and need care themselves. My sister has always been better at looking after them than I was. I was always the career focused one."
"Whatever you want to do, we'll support you. But," John's eyes lifted to Leon's. "it's not safe for you to return to Los Angeles. Not until we are certain all who are responsible for Sean's death are locked away."
"How long do we have to stay at the safe house? Why couldn't Rebekah come with me?"
"Rebekah can return home. We have a place in mind for you for a while. Short term."
"Am I allowed to know where?"
John smiled. "Not until we reach there. It's beautiful, and there are women and children there to keep you occupied."
She was curious to know more, but she held back, since she knew he couldn't tell her more than he already had.
"Okay." She needed to stay safe, and since she didn't have a home to return to, having company sounded like the better option.
The D.C. team worked hard alongside Detective Deeks and Eric Beale. Deputy Director Ochoa was pleased with their results and allowed their return home.
Deeks returned to LAPD until his team returned from wherever they currently resided. Even he remained in the dark of their locations. At least Agent Callen was alive and healing. The Harper family home was cleared to pull down, now they had all the evidence of the arson and the murder that took place just over a week ago.
Deeks seemed hesitant to leave OSP, but he understood why he had to return. He was missing Kensi and their son, that was clear in his eyes. Ochoa hoped Deeks found himself busy at LAPD in the meantime.
Ochoa had another team step in to OSP in the meantime, keeping Eric busy, so he wouldn't worry about any of the team. The toll this last case laid heavily on all of them, in particular, with Agent Callen and a CIA officer he'd yet to meet. He was curious to meet this John Callen, a cousin of Grisha's mother. There had been too many angles on how this case would play out when they first started, and it led them onto another case Director Vance had kept privy from him. He needed to see him, and decided to head east to speak with him on the matter. If their agents knew about Jason from the onset, then it would have saved a lot of pain and time on his people.
His cell shrilled and he noted it was Leon Vance.
"Your timing is impeccable, Leon. I was about to head to the airport to fly back."
"You need to stay in Los Angeles longer. Not all the loose ends have been tied on this case."
"The team are spread out."
"Bring Detective Deeks back from LAPD. He belongs at OSP. He can work with the new team you've brought in to replace the others in the meantime."
"Can I ask why you kept Jason Harper's real identity from our agents?"
"It was necessary. It was a need to know basis."
"Even after he was killed, you didn't think it was impertinent to the case to tell us?"
"Not until we knew what Agent Stratford had discovered about Agent Callen."
"Not once did you let on to your people that Agent Callen was in danger, nor his family."
"We didn't have the facts." Leon huffed out.
"No. Because you didn't send someone in time to meet him. He had all the intel, but none of it had been passed on. You could have saved Agent Stratford and prevented Agent Callen from almost dying, and saved the other agents who worked on the Federov case too."
Leon fisted his hands, he knew he'd failed his men, and he would carry the guilt with him.
"I have to go." Leon told Ochoa.
"You have to answer for this, Leon. To your people and their families."
"I do not need you or anyone tell me what I need to do. Don't you realise I already carry the guilt of their deaths on my shoulders?"
Louis understood Leon's position, but still, he couldn't help pointing the blame at him. Someone had to pay for the men killed in this mess. Yet, somehow, he knew it wasn't Leon Vance who should suffer his accusations, but that of the CIA Deputy Director, Eric Cairns. He was merely offsetting his anger at his boss, rather than at the real culprit.
Deputy Director Eric Cairns glared at the NCIS Agent who sat on the opposite side of the table in the interviewing room. He'd waited for what seemed like an eternity before this agent had arrived, and now he attempted to exude power over her, hoping to intimidate and cast out whatever case they had against him. But the blonde woman across from him merely observed him, saying nothing for the moment.
He was furious. He'd been caught out and the shock from his sudden arrest, hinted at his pride being hurt. Someone had betrayed him, and once he figured out who, he was going to end their careers and destroy their families.
The door opened and Director Leon Vance entered, taking the vacant seat next to Jack.
"Special Agent Sloan and Director Vance are interviewing CIA Deputy Director Eric Cairns for the murders of NCIS Special Agents Sean Stratford, Adrian Prior, G. Callen, and Bradley Moore, and Lieutenant Tony Sutton."
"Whatever are you talking about?" Eric Cairns glared at Jack Sloan, but she never flinched and instead spent the time studying the behaviour of the CIA's Deputy Director. He was going down—loss of employment and freedom, for a really long time. He was likened to a caged tiger wanting freedom, but he wasn't going to have his way on this.
Leon laid out the evidence in front of Cairns.
"Two years ago, you instructed your men, Officers, James Dasper and Peter O'Conner—who worked on the joint Federov case with NCIS Special Agents, Sean Stratford, otherwise known as Jason Harper, Adrian Prior, Braley Moore and Tony Sutton—to steal the Fabergé egg to cause aggravation with the Russians, and framed these men for the theft, whilst you had them keep the egg in Paris with a group of Syrians."
"You have no proof." The words flew out of Cairns' mouth without a thought.
"We haven't finished." Leon pulled out another document. "And proof that you were out to have Agent G. Callen murdered alongside his father, a former Russian KGB Major, Nikita Reznikov. I believe this document is clear." He laid it in front of Cairns to read.
Cairns visage reddened and he looked as if he was about to explode. "This is a conspiracy."
"I have the testimonies from three of your officers, James Dasper, Peter O'Conner and Shane McGuire, that will support this document."
"I'm being framed." His rage continued. Spittle flew across the table, but landed before it hit either NCIS employee.
"An interesting claim, when it was my agents whom you framed and had murdered as a result of it. What I want to know is why? Why did you have my agents framed and killed as collateral to your end game?"
"They stole something precious to the Russians. I'm not at fault for their actions."
"You lie!" Leon scolded him. "Grow up, Cairns, and act like a man. Own up to your actions. You won't walk away from this."
I've done nothing wrong." Eric continued.
"You orchestrated all of this to bring one man out of hiding to target. Why did you want Agent G. Callen dead so badly?" Leon leaned over the table and roared.
"He's a Russian spy."
"Why would he be a spy when he's never lived in Russia?"
"His Russian is flawless. Surely you can't see through the facade. He is a spy."
"What did Agent Callen do to you while he worked at Langley?" Jack Sloan calmly asked him. The attention of their main suspect shifted back to the blonde woman.
"So you can speak after all."
"Agent Sloane asked you a question." Leon brought Cairns back onto track. "Answer her."
"He didn't do anything."
"Then why the witch hunt?" Jack continued her line of questioning, attempting to reveal the man's motives.
"He's not even American. Born in Romania to a Russian KGB. He has no right to be here let alone work as a federal agent."
"What do you have against Agent G. Callen?"
"The man doesn't even have a name. Isn't it obvious, he was planted by the Russians."
"Stop the lies, Cairns." Leon slammed his hand onto the table. "You have worked alongside the Russians in murdering five of my men. Good men who have only risked their lives for the good of our nation."
"So it's true then, Agent Callen is dead?"
Leon rose and stormed out of the room. He couldn't believe the audacity that man had. He walked into the viewing room and was thankful Gibbs wasn't there to watch this interview, or the ones he'd held already with O'Conner and Dasper.
""Why did you want Agent Callen dead?"
"Haven't you been listening to me? I've told you why."
"Do you really believe the lies that bleed from your lips?" Jacqueline Sloane was good at analysing suspects, Cairns was no different. The man was playing a game, taking them around in circles, avoiding the truth.
"I'm telling you the truth."
Jack rose from the chair. "When you're ready to admit the real reason for you wanting Agent Callen dead, we'll continue our interview. Interview suspended at seventeen hundred." She closed the door behind her and drew in a deep breath. Eric Cairns was a tough nut to break.
"Let me out of here, damn it!" Eric Cairns attempted to follow Jack out of the interview room but she'd locked it behind her. He banged on the door in frustration.
Leon stepped out of the viewing room and accompanied Jack away from the racket Cairns was creating.
"He's playing us. He's stupid enough to believe we'll let him walk out of here a free man and back to Langley," Jack told him.
"I have Director Sharp on his way, he wants a crack at Cairns on this. After I sent him the evidence, he was livid. The President isn't happy either, and wants a conference call once Sharp arrives. He wants answers as to how Cairns' actions over the past two and a half years, have gone unnoticed. This isn't just a recent action by Cairns, he's been planning and plotting to draw Agent Callen out of the shadows to end his life. He had no care about anyone else getting in the way. It's a good thing our people were able to save Agent Prior."
They entered Jack's office and closed the door. "Yes, and the other. I want to go and speak with him myself. I'm blown away how he escaped death."
"That will have to wait. No one can know he's alive or where he is. His injuries are serious, he's not out of the woods yet." Leon shook his head. "If I had any idea he was after Agent Callen and would go after other agents, I would never have agreed to the joint task force."
"No one envisioned the evil he conjured up in his mind." She handed him a file she'd produced on Eric Cairns.
"What's this?"
"My own research on our guest."
Leon opened the cream manilla folder and scanned the documents inside. "Where did you find this?"
"I had to dig deep. It looks like we found our real motive. I was hoping Cairns would play nice and admit the truth."
"He blames Nikita for his father's death."
"Yes. He helped his mother into the U.S. in the mid sixties, leaving his father behind to face tough interrogations from the KGB on where his wife had vanished to. He was tortured and died a slow death. His mother was pregnant with Eric at the time and raised him on her own. They lived a tough life here in the U.S. She'd been working for the Russian Government and didn't like what she saw and wanted out, but the only way out was death if she stayed. Instead, she sought Nikita out for help and he assisted her. Her real name was Oksana Kuznetsov. Her father was a General, and her disappearance was highly noted because of his status. Her husband, Gleb Teplov, was blamed for her disappearance, even though he had no idea how she disappeared. He was a wealthy businessman in Moscow."
"It says here that her new American name Nikita gave her is Shirley Cairns. She's eighty years old and living in a nursing home in Virginia?"
"That's right. She's an illegal immigrant. We could threaten to have her sent back to Moscow if Cairns refuses to admit the truth."
"Cairns was born here?"
"Yes. He is American born, however, his roots are Russian. He's developed a hatred for Nikita and must have discovered the connection with Agent Callen, forming his plan of revenge."
"Nikita did the honourable thing by helping Oksana out with a new life in America, yet her son grew up to spite him so much—he'd go as far as murdering good people to act it out."
"You've done well, Jack. This is exactly the proof we needed to tie the loose ends to this case."
"I'm surprised the CIA background check on Cairns never found out about Shirley Cairns' true identity. He would never have been allowed into Langley with his family history."
"Perhaps they did and thought he would make the perfect person for any Russian dealings. Dig deeper, take a look at the early work he did for Langley. I bet they'll have Russian ties."
Jack handed him a second folder. "It's all here, Leon."
Leon arched his brow, impressed. "We don't even have Ellie around to dig this deep so quickly."
"It helped that Director Sharp gave us access to Cairns' file."
"Thank you. I'll take this with me. Sharp should be arriving soon."