Callen and the team gathered in the boatshed the next day. And he told them what had happened.

'Is Hetty okay?' Nell asked.

'She is. But she's in hiding for now. Until whoever set her up is caught.' He replied.

'If she's right, then we've been letting a snake into our building for, how long?!' Kensi said.

'The evidence she gave me is pretty damning.' Callen replied.

'Does that mean, everything he's told me about Hetty is a lie?! I feel so violated!' Nell said, angry.

'He wanted us to question Hetty's leadership skills, all so we could want another boss. All so he could try to get rid of her quietly without no suspicion.' Callen said.

'Damn. That's, wow. I have no words for this.' Deeks rang in.

'And dumb. Anyone who really knows Hetty knows perfectly well that she's not so easy to get rid of, and that if anyone dares to mess with her, they will have to deal with us.' Callen replied.

'True. So, what should we do?' Kensi asked.

'We are going to come up with a way to get Kilbride. It's the only way Hetty can come out of hiding.'

'Alright, let's all start coming up with plans!' Nell said.

It took a couple hours, and 1 of the ideas involved a lasso, but they eventually came up with the perfect plan.

It involved a lot of faking out, and plenty of luck. But by the end of the day, they got their confession they needed from Kilbride that confirmed what Hetty had suspected, Kilbride had wanted her gone.

Which meant Hetty could come home.

Callen called Hetty, told her the good news, and asked her to meet him outside the office.

An hour later

Hetty saw Callen, rushed up to him and gave him a big hug.

'Sniff. I don't know how to thank you enough!' Hetty said, fighting back tears.

'Anything for you. We've all really missed you.' Callen responded.

'I've missed you all!'

'Everyone's gone home, except Nell. She's in your office and wants to talk to you.'

'I'll go right to her.'

Hetty's office

Nell sitting on the couch when Hetty walked in.

'I've missed this old place! Hello dear.' Hetty said.

'And I've also missed you, Hetty, Glad to see you're back.' Nell replied.

'May I sit next to you?'

'Sure'

1 minute later

'I understand you may have a lot of questions, but hear me out first. When I was offered the mission, I had to leave immediately after accepting it. I needed someone who I knew would take care of the team while I was gone, and I immediately thought of you. Did I feel good about leaving you in charge temporally after you told me you didn't want my job? No. But, I had faith you would do good. Now, what did you want to ask me?' Hetty said.

'Uh well. First off, I get it. You have a very tough job, and it requires a lot of things. But, I'm not as ruthless or manipulative as you, there were times where I was worried I'd get someone killed! Kilbride had me thinking things about you that, I really regret thinking. You took a huge leap of faith leaving me in charge for a while, Hetty.' Nell said.

'I know.'

'I'm not meant for your job, Hetty. I don't want it. I can see why you would train me for your job, but you wasted your time. I'm not meant to be you, in any kind of way.'

'And what makes you think I was training you for my job?'

'Well, I have the highest IQ on this team, doesn't it make sense to train the smartest person for a leadership role?' Nell asked.

'I was training you to be an agent! I could see that you one day, might want to be an agent. In fact, years ago, you told me you wanted to form your own way here, remember?'

'Ohhhh.'

'I don't want you, or anyone on this team really, to take over my job.' Hetty said.

'Well, that clears that up.'

'Now the question is: Do you want to stay here at NCIS?' Hetty asked.

'I, honestly don't know anymore. Doesn't it feel like, we're all going our seperate ways? Everyone on this team feels, split, except when they're working. Feels lonely, and wrong.'

'Well, maybe it has felt split up for awhile, but we're all together again now. Feels like it's time to, start feeling like a whole team again.' Hetty said.

'Think it's possible?'

'I have faith, and faith goes a long way.'

Endnote: Chances are, this fic will definitely end up being way way way better then however Hetty's mission is really resolved. So, hope you enjoyed it!