Away – 500 words

Sam watched helplessly as the bus drove off into the distance. Without him or his partner on it.

"Well, that's not good," Callen stated.

That earned his partner a glare.

"You think?"

"Hey, I'm not the one who insisted on going to that deli for lunch."

The glare didn't abate even though Sam knew it was true. It technically was his fault that they had been running late and therefore had missed the bus back.

"I told you I wasn't eating anything at that greasy place you chose."

Because he was not going to put that kind of crap in his body if he could help it.

"There was no line," Callen reminded him. "We would have been back with plenty of time to spare."

"And you didn't think it was suspicious that it was empty at lunchtime?"

"I was just thinking of food."

"And I was just thinking that I really didn't want to be poisoned."

"That is definitely not fun," Callen agreed.

Sam gave his partner a questioning look and then decided that he was probably better off not knowing.

"Me and Michelle are supposed to bring Kamran to a Christmas show at the theatre tonight," Sam groaned and checked his phone. "In three hours."

"We'll make it," Callen said confidently.

That was something that Sam most definitely disagreed with.

"The next bus isn't for another two hours and it takes an hour and a half to even get back to LA. That's with optimal traffic conditions.

Why did they hitch a ride with that FBI agent with no other means of transport except for public?

Suddenly a car rolled up in front of the and Kensi stuck her head out of the open window.

"Need a hand, boys?"

The two older agents blinked at her incomprehensibly.

"Why is nobody moving?" came a voice that was none other than Deeks. "Are they okay?"

"How did you know to come get us?" Sam asked, moving towards the car.

"Hetty," was all Kensi needed to say because it really did explain everything.

Not questioning it, the duo got into the car. Sam tried to kick Deeks out of the front seat but the blonde maintained that this was his and Kensi's ride therefore he had the rights to shotgun. Sam wasn't pleased with that but capitulated because he wanted to get home. Soon they were back on the road.

"We're going to need some tunes for this little road trip," Deeks declared, turning the knob on the radio.

They all groaned as Christmas music came on.

"Don't be grinches!" he scolded as he started to hum along.

"I won't be if you put on some tasteful music," Sam told him.

"Maybe some show tunes," Callen suggested mischievously.

"It's Kensi's car, do you really think there's tasteful music in here?

That got Deeks a pinch from her.

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock!" Deeks sang out of tune.

They all covered their ears.

"Jingle bell swing and jingle bell bling..."