Flathead Lake

The sun drifted into the windows and onto Callen's face. He squinted before opening his eyes to take in the bedroom he'd slept in for an unknown amount of time. Time drifted here in unidentified quantities. He didn't know which day, date or time of the day it was. All he was certain of was that he was somewhere with his wife and children.

Sam and Gibbs had brought him to this unrecognised location at some point—was it yesterday, a few days ago or even last week? He rubbed his hand over his face, his stubble had grown significantly and frowned. *What the heck?* He tried to move to sit up, and found he wasn't in the pain he remembered when he pressed Gibbs to have him discharged from the hospital. Another unknown location he'd been taken to after his lucky escape.

*Strange,* he thought. How long has he been sleeping for?

"You're awake." Thea stood in the doorway watching him move and sit up. "How are you feeling?" She'd hardly slept over the past week, worrying over the amount of pain her husband had been in.

"Better." He looked up at her quizzically. "How long have I been here?"

"A week."

"I don't remember much."

"You're much more alert today. That's a good sign. Do you feel up to going for a walk to the bathroom?"

He nodded his head and it felt okay for him to do that. He pressed his hands down either side to help him onto his feet, and a slight twinge from his ribs was the only thing that reminded him of his close call.

"You are feeling better." Thea smiled warmly over to him, thankful for Callen's recovery.

"I do. I feel like I've been asleep for a long time and finally woke up alive and alert."

"Our children will be pleased. They've missed not being able to be with you."

Callen studied his wife and noticed the dark shadows under her eyes, an indication of the past week had been hard on her.

"You've not been sleeping." Callen took the two steps towards her.

Thea closed the distance and wrapped her arms gently around him. "No, I haven't."

"You can rest now, I'm feeling much better already."

"I know." She dug her face into his pale grey t-shirt, to hide the tears that betrayed her facade of being okay with all that had happened to him.

"I'm sorry." Callen lifted her chin to look straight into her almond eyes, the tears glistened and he wiped the tears away on her cheek. "I never intended on making you worry or place myself in danger."

"I know." Thea sniffed. "But it did, and I can't do this anymore."

"You don't have to. We can head to Moresby Island for a while, see my dad and decide our next move."

"I'd like that very much. Victoria is our home after all."

"That it is." He held her for longer before pulling away. "Duty calls."

Thea unwrapped herself from his hold and watched him walk into the bathroom. She quickly wiped the tears and exited the bedroom, relief washed through her, he was going to be fine.

"Is everything okay, Thea?" Kensi watched her friend as she descended the stairs.

"Yes." Thea gave her a watery smile. "Stephen is awake and alert and in much less pain. I think he's going to be okay now."

Kensi's lips spread wide and hugged her friend. "That's the best news."

"Have you heard anything from Marty?" Thea knew exactly what was going on with the rest of the team. Thankfully, Callen hadn't asked her about Sam or Gibbs. The last thing she needed was for him to want in on the secret mission that led the men away from this location the same day they arrived. Their presence here was brief, enough to ensure Callen was safe in bed, and left as soon as Hetty updated them.

"No." Kensi's eyes became serious and shook her head. "They're on silence, uncontactable until their mission is over."

"I hope they get through this without any issues." *Unlike the Paris visit, *Thea thought to herself.

"They've gone under the radar, so no one would have any idea where they've gone to this time." Kensi assured her that there were no leaks within their agency, or Eric Cairns around to lure Callen out into the open to have him killed. Her mind reeled from the reason behind Cairns' vendetta against her friend. All because he understood Russian, and figured out the family connection between Cairns and General Kuznetsov.

"Still, we know it's a risk." Thea couldn't rest until all of their men had returned safely.

"I know." Kensi whispered her response, worry for Marty filled her, and she missed him so much. Zander was missing his father too, which did not help.

Laughter and loud voices from their children echoed through the house, and Alice, who was at the front of the group, came to a halt when she saw her mom.

"Shhh!" She told her brothers and Zander. "Daddy's asleep, remember?"

"Daddy's awake." Callen appeared on the stairs, resulting in the return of the chatter from the children who were filled with excitement.

"Daddy's better. Yippee!" Alice and Tristan ran over to him, Hudson followed with Zander behind him. Four children wrapped their small arms around him the best they could.

Callen couldn't help but grin. This is what he loved the most. His family and his team who'd become their extended family. "Whoa! What a welcome."

"We missed you Daddy." Hudson told him in a clear strong voice.

Callen looked over to Thea, surprise spread across his face. "When did you grow up so much?" He lifted his youngest and hugged him.

"I'm going to be a big brother," Hudson told him.

Callen's eyes shifted to Thea. His eyes glistened and a smile formed. "I know. That's pretty cool, huh!" He was thankful and overwhelmed for the love, family, friendship and the chance to live his life away from the threat on his life. He'd survived, and he wasn't going to waste it.

"Where's Uncle Sam and Uncle Jethro?"

"They're not here." Alice told him matter of factly. She was disappointed they left so quickly.

He looked to the small figure in the doorway. "I need to speak with Grandma."

"Okay." The children ran back outside to the verandah, satisfied their father was going to be fine.

"Good to see you recovering so well, Stephen." Hetty gave him a warm smile, she'd been listening in since Thea descended the stairs. She was pleased and thankful he was recovering well.

"I feel like a new person today."

"I am pleased."

"Can we talk for a moment?" He asked her, unsure if she'd reveal anything to him on the case at hand. He decided she knew the most of what was going on.

"Come with me." Hetty lead him to a quiet office he never knew existed in this house, and wondered if this was another of her many houses.

Callen took a seat and watched his old boss move around the old wooden desk and made herself comfortable.

"Where's Sam and Jethro?"

"They're on a top secret mission. No one can make contact with them until they return."

"They've gone to Russia?" Callen swallowed the lump which was lodged in the back of this throat. He tried to clear his throat, but his nerves got the better of him.

"I never mentioned where they have gone to." Hetty held herself stoically, not showing the strain the risk on his life has posed on her.

"You don't have to. I remember Sam telling me about Cairns, about my first job with the CIA which almost ended my life. I had no memory of any of it. Why after all of this time would he come after me, go to such efforts to kill NCIS agents to draw me out, so he could have me killed? The CIA cannot get away with allowing their officers working on US soil. I was attacked in US airspace and it should never have happened."

"Our President heard about your situation. About your plane being shot down, and your death. We are keeping your death in place, Grisha." She deliberately used his real name, one he'd never had the chance to use much in the short time he's known it, since he's spent it in hiding as Stephen Campbell.

"This gives you the opportunity to move back to Victoria, if that is where you and Thea choose to go, to raise your children, and to live long good lives in safety, without having to watch your back for the next threat. Eric Cairns had to go to great lengths to draw you out because you have been living under your alias for so long. Your alias has not been burned. You weren't the target when those Russians broke into the Harper home and killed Sean." Hetty cleared her throat.

"Sean was chosen to watch out for you because he was family. Family will go to great lengths to watch out for each other, even if it leads to their deaths. I understand he almost revealed his true identity to you before his death, and to warn you about Cairns' hunt to kill you. He was out to kill your father too, but John and Natalia took that away from him. He will be facing execution for his actions, Grisha. You do not need to worry about him or any CIA operatives going rogue to hunt you down. You are safe now."

"What about the Russian mercenaries who killed Jason? I mean, Sean." He was still adjusting to the news about his neighbour.

"Detective Deeks lead a team of agents and worked with a SWAT team in hunting them down in Los Angeles. They are either dead or captured, and facing a long life in prison. One in particular, has been helping us with all the intelligence on General Kuznetsov and his men. After your partner and those with him return, there will no longer be a threat from Russian."

She noted his pleading to be involved. She held up a hand to stop him.

"It is too late for that now, Grisha. They should be ready to return home, if they have gone according to schedule. Besides, you cannot return from the dead, that will remove our upper hand in providing you a life free from being hunted. It is well and truly time that you and your family deserve to live a normal life and to remain in the one place, do you not agree?"

"Thanks, Hetty. I mean it. I cannot fathom all of which you have done for me over the years, so that I am alive today with my family, and have a family of my own. I could never have reached this far without you being my guardian angel."

"It has been my pleasure. Out of you all, you have been my greatest success. I love you as if you were my own son."

"Ai fost întotdeauna cel mai aproape de o mamă. Mulțumesc, Hetty." [You have always been the closest I've had to a mother. Thank you, Hetty.] Callen admitted to her in their birth language.

"Ești cel mai vrednic de a fi iubit, draga mea Grisha." [You are most worthy to be loved, my dearest Grisha.] Hetty replied. "That is all I have ever wanted for you. To trust others and to love and be loved. I believe I have achieved this for you."

"Like any mother would for their child." Callen rose and walked around the desk and hugged her. For someone so tiny, she was a force unlike any other he'd encountered in all of his life. "Thank you."

Her satellite phone rang and both their eyes shifted to it.

"I better answer."

"I'm not leaving," Callen told her. He wanted to know just as much as she did, how Sam and the others were doing on their mission.

St Petersburg

Spring in Russia was a more favourable time of the year to be in the northern country than winter when Gibbs had taken other trips over the years. This one was to be his last, he'd told himself. He would retire, using the grief of losing Callen for his reason, after all, the two men were like family, and no one would batter an eye over his resignation. No one would know the wiser it was to be closer to Callen and Nell and their soon to be four children. He pushed back his joy of this latest news and focused on the job at hand.

Detective Marty Deeks had updated him and Sam on the intelligence they'd gained after arresting and interviewing the main man who'd killed several of their agents. They were told General Kuznetsov was hiding in St Petersburg, since discovering the Fabergé egg had been returned to Moscow. He was laying low, hoping no one would see the part he'd played in its theft in the first place.

Hetty had found them an apartment to make as their base near to where the General was hiding out in, and from there, their plan of attack was formed.

There was to be no survivors. No one to tell of their attack, or any risk of the General surviving from this. It was a risky mission for them. They knew General Kuznetsov was well guarded, and any hint of an attack on them would be suicide for them.

Laid out on the dining table was a map of the streets surrounding the house where General Kuznetsov was staying. Unlike their previous trip to this beautiful city, they had no one to rescue, and the location was to the south of the city. This time it would be easier to escape, and flee into neighbouring Estonia, where a boat waited for them to take them to Stockholm, before flying home.

Their element of surprise was to their advantage. If they lost that, their mission would fail. And no one wanted or could afford for this mission to fail. General Kuznetsov had to pay for his part in the stolen Fabergé egg, and the death of the NCIS agents. And the risk over this General finding retribution of his grandson's arrest and execution in D.C., was too high for them not to take him out.

"We split up," Gibbs informed them. "Sam, you head in from the north. Deeks, from the south, I'll come in from the east." No one would enter from the west, that was their escape route to Estonia. They each had another local agent with them for backup, and that was it. No back up if they were caught, injured or killed.

"Are we clear?" Jethro Gibbs looked firm at each of the men with him. He noted them all nod their heads with determination.

"Good."

"Sam, a word?" Gibbs walked to the next room and closed the door behind them.

"You sure you and Deeks should go in on this? You both have families who need you if this goes south."

"We're sure. You know how much this means to all of us that we end this man's life."

"You don't need to tell me, I know. I'm making sure you're clear that this isn't a guaranteed survival on this one."

"Kamran has Aiden. She's almost grown up herself. They have their own lives now, so if they lose me it's not the same as if they were younger."

"They've already lost their mother," Gibbs added, not confident Sam and Deeks should go in. "No one will think less of you if you decide it's too great of a risk."

"We're in." Deeks appeared into the adjoining room, overhearing part of the conversation. "Let's do this." He looked at his watch it was almost ten at night. "It's getting dark."

"Okay!" Gibbs pulled both men in for a last hug. "Whoever survives this, you take care of those who are left back at home."

"We'll all survive this," Deeks told him with certainty. "We cannot afford for any of us not to."

"Deeks is right," Sam added. "Let's do this!" He checked his weapon the sixth time since he cleaned it, again. Deeks shook his head in disbelief over the amounts of times Sam did this, a habit he'd watched him do since he'd known him.

Gibbs was thankful it was spring and not the height of summer where darkness failed to fall. Their timing to head to St Petersburg was good, perfect even. Not cold like it was in winter, but they still had the cover of darkness to invade the property.

"Watches synchonised?" Sam asked, ensuring they all entered on the right time.

"They each set their watches to Sam's and parted ways into the night."