Chapter 17
The Sting
Authors Note: Thank you so much for leaving a kind word and/or a critical review for the previous chapter or those before that. As I mentioned before, this storyline is coming to an end, so please enjoy the read.
For those who noticed (which I doubt anyone has) – I had Callen move back to his former place instead of having him live above the Squid and the Dagger! Never mind, for the sake of this story it fits anyway.
Kni®benrots
Disclaimer: all the original characters belong to CBS and Shane Brennan. I just used them for this storyline. No matter how, I'm grateful for those who introduced agent G. Callen to us and make him into the agent he's become.
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Los Angeles || 631 Veteran Avenue
"Grisha… Perhaps you are right and leaving is the best option indeed. I made the decision to inform director Vance about that," said Hetty.
He let the breath he kept inside, escape through his nose and nodded "You mean you're okay with it."
Hetty let her gaze rest on his. He wasn't going to like her message, she knew already that and she pondered over how to tell him. Deep down, there was still this suspicious side of him, which would make it hard to discuss this matter with him. She always would want to avoid situations like this, yet there was no way.
Knowing him better than anyone, she figured he really might be the one able to deal with Vasquez in Mexico. Perhaps as an army of one, like he'd managed to be so many years before he finally gave in and became part of a team. He'd do anything to keep the others safe, even without bothering how he'd get out of it himself.
But not now.
Not with him far from being recovered.
And especially not now, during this time of his life when he finally seemed to be able and settle down. Maybe he'd even have the guts and start a family of his own. More than anything right now, Hetty Lange wanted to keep him safe.
Slowly, very slowly, she shook her head. "No, no. No. Now, Mr. Callen, I'm sorry to inform you that we cannot let you go."
He let out a deep sigh and slowly sank back to a seated position on the daybed, feeling defeated but also overly angry at the same time. "Meaning what?"
There was the shortest pause, trying to gather the right words. She offered "We expect you to be at the office next Monday morning at 8:30 AM sharp. We, as in director Vance and I, Mr. Callen. After a short briefing you are offered two options. I suggest you choose wisely and decide to stay in here, in Los Angeles, doing paper work or lead your team from behind your desk until you are able to join them back in the field."
"But Hetty, I —"
Whereas she admired his usual unreadable expression, his emotions now were so easy to read. He shook his head, then lowered his head for a moment. He didn't say a word. Neither did she.
"I can't do that. No way," he finally softly spoke. Then he jutted his chin in this specific way, his eyes vacant and bleak. "Not going there. I'm not going to endanger you or the others, no way. What if… No, Hetty, you can't be serious. There's no way you can force me doing this."
"I damn well can do that, Mr. Callen. And if you wonder what the consequences may be, well, let me be clear, you won't like them, not at all. To be honest, neither do I. Second option is you will be transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Definitely, that is. Now, this is nót what I think you really would want."
Everything she observed was wrong. The way Hetty tried to push him in a certain direction was wrong. True, Anna knew she meant well and Hetty was actually just letting him know what may happen, but Callen wasn't dealing with it well right now. She completely understood why. Frankly, she understood both ways.
"Callen, please. Hetty has a point in there. You need to let your body heal properly. Instead you intend to go sneak away and try to be some kind of superman," Anna said. "I... Well, you know you aren't. Nobody is invincible or immortal, not even you. Right now you're not in a condition to go out there on your own to try and walk over a legally employed General, in another country. No matter how corrupt he may be. And… I… Callen, I just don't want to lose you because you're too stubborn to see."
This time he looked up at her, his eyes clear and bright and blue. Still, Anna spotted the small pain lines and the way he looked fatigued. Perhaps he never expected her to tell him this.
He shook his head once more. "But the team… Anna. I don't want to be the one responsible for what happens if they keep hunting me. They could get hurt or worse because of me."
Anna exchanged a non-spoken message with Hetty and said "Callen, the others are able to defend themselves. They've always been and you know that. There's no need for you to disappear. They all just have to be aware of their surroundings. But haven't they done that all the time?"
Callen rubbed his tired eyes. Perhaps they were right. Arguing like this in his condition was useless, perhaps. He breathed out heavily and gently stretched his legs, wanting to get back in the most comfortable position.
"Maybe you're right," he sighed. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
He took his glass, swirled it so the ice cubes tinkled and finished his drink. Then he asked "Why, Hetty? Why did you delete my resignation letter and why don't let me leave?"
Her face softened this time. "If you'd quit you cannot come back, Grisha. May I remind you that every NCIS special agent ought to enter on duty no later than the day before he or she turns 37. You passed that age already."
Hetty got on her feet, knowing she'd better finish her visit and leave these two alone. "Your team needs you, Mr. Callen. So does this city," she said. Then she spread her right arm and added with a small nod. "Heck.. the country does. We all do."
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Los Angeles || OSP || four days later
He took his go-bag, got out of the car and closed its door. Then he walked around it and flashed a smile through the opened window of the driver's seat.
"I'll see you tonight, Anna," he said, keeping his stare on her.
Then he moved closer, close enough to gently put his hand under her chin. He bent down until he was close enough to finally make his lips meet hers. Making his kiss linger only a bit too long, feeling whole, with her.
"I'll pick you up. You just be careful," she whispered.
He shove a wisp of hair out of her face as he replied "As ever. "You too."
She put the car in gear and drove off. He watched her leave. His girlfriend. There was the sudden realization and with the softest chuckle to himself he added, without anyone who heard it "you too, Kolcheck. Don't want to lose you ever again."
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"You seen Hetty, Nell?" asked Sam.
Nell shook her head. "Not today. Why?"
"I'm gonna need an authorization. We know Zamora is staying at the Cambria. ICE confirmed it. We need to know if he's got anything to do with Vasquez' business."
The petite redhead shook her head. "I could send a request to director Vance. Although..."
"Although what?"
"If Hetty's not around, it means she left Callen in charge. He just left Ops, so why not ask him?" Nell suggested.
Although he hadn't seen his partner, Sam nodded. He left Ops and went to look for Callen downstairs. He found his friend's go-bag, jacket and laptop at the coffee table, but not the owner. He wasn't at the shooting range either. One more room to check.
That's where he saw his friend, struggling with dumbbells that obviously were far too heavy.
He shook his head as he entered the gym and said "You idiot."
He lifted the dumbbells while addressing his friend. "What were you thinking, G?"
At first, the look on Callen's face was vacant. Some seconds later he looked away. "This desk duty... it won't suit me Sam. Not ever. So I need to get my energy level up, get back in shape, get back with you in the field."
"Not with thát exercise. Straining the muscles in these areas is far too early and you know it."
"Cycled too," Callen shrugged as he tried to change into a more comfortable stance to hide the aches he experienced indeed.
It never fooled his partner though.
"Yeah, sure." Sam shook his head. "Give it time man. You're no longer 30 years old."
"Why'd you come anyway?" Callen asked. "Not some kind of supernatural feeling, was it?"
A broad smile and the typical dimples appeared on Sam's face. "Supernatural my ass, buddy. I need an signature and since Hetty's not around I was hoping you could arrange that."
Callen nodded. "You've got Nell find the paperwork already?"
"Sure. Where's the little lady anyway?"
"Washington. Something with the Defense Acquisition Board. Again, that is definitely not my cup of tea. What did you find anyway?" He changed the subject as he took a towel to wipe off the sweat from his face on his way back to the desk area.
"Zamora."
The single name was enough for Callen. He frowned, then nodded. "'La Eme'? Also with a bullet with my name on it, I suppose... Crap, Sam, how does this all end? Eric has been trying to remove every single message on the internet but it keeps bouncing back. I mean... yeah, I know we all have our enemies but it gets absurd."
He took the paperwork and a pen, let his gaze go over the text and signed it.
"You get Kensi and Deeks to go with you. I'll see to it there'll be a backup team as well. If you manage to arrest Zamora and get him in, I want to get involved with his interrogation too."
"You think that's wise?"
"You think it won't?"
Sam cocked his head slightly. "Well, it's you they're after. Hetty wouldn't let you do that, work your own case."
"She's not around so guess who's in charge?" Callen chuckled. "Anything better than sitting and waiting in here, feeling useless."
"Anything better than seeing you torturing yourself."
"Go, Sam. The sooner you're off, the sooner we know."
Sam nodded, turned and left while arranging that Deeks and Kensi were right where he needed them to be. He trusted Callen would do the same for another team.
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A few hours later both interrogation rooms were occupied. From the central room, Callen had taken a chair and leaned back, trying to follow what his co-workers were discussing. With Kensi and Deeks asking Zamora about his intentions. It was all clear the man had been looking for him. In the meantime the team had and the money transfers which had been traced back coming from Vasquez indeed. There was another man who was easily caught as well, in the same action, and right now, Sam was checking who he was and what his intentions were. Probably nothing which would surprise them.
Callen leaned backwards even more until the chair he sat on was balancing on its two back legs only, pondering over the matter why it was only him they were after.
His face, his name and occupation only, never those of his team members. He really resented the fact Mosley managed to put these around. By now, he was ready and done with this matter.
Then, the big screen came to life as well and Eric started to speak. "Callen, I think you need to see this!"
TBC
Thank you for reading!