Chapter 4 - You Got It

Every time I hold you, I begin to understand
Everything about you tells me I'm your man -You Got It, by Roy Orbison

Two days later (Wednesday Evening), Callen-Mitchell Home

As Callen finished prepping the ingredients for home made pizzas, he heard the front door open.

"Perfect timing," he said quietly. He placed the bowls with various toppings on the table, pulled the baking pans from the cupboard and then headed for the front door.

"Hey beautiful," his announced as he took Katie's bag then gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Hello handsome," she said with a sweet smile. "You're home early."

"How was your day?"

"Good. Actually, more productive than good."

He understood exactly what that meant. "Hope you are hungry. Pizzas with your favourite pitas."

"From Marciano's Bakery?" she asked with widened eyes.

He nodded, "And I bought those mini quiches for your lunch."

Knowing her new favourite bakery was at least a thirty-minute drive, Katie's curiosity was heightened. "How early did you get home?"

In classic G. Callen style, he didn't answer her. "Why don't you get changed and I'll turn the oven on."

Callen wasn't a 'game player' but he was home in one piece, breathing and standing upright. It didn't really matter to her why he had come early that unusually cool day in October.

"So you are saying that you will be doing this every Wednesday?" Katie asked as she put a little extra cheese over her toppings.

"Every Wednesday."

"For how long?" she asked as he set the timer for the pizzas he put in the oven and they sat down to eat their salad.

'Well, I have forty-two days accrued time off, so forty-two weeks," he answered, still very proud of himself for coming up with a fix for ensuring he was home more during the week. The reality of him being sent on an undercover assignment and not being home on a Wednesday was still there but neither would speak of it and Callen was grateful for that.

"Why didn't you take any of that time off?"

"No need after I took the mandatory yearly vacation time." He set his fork down, took a sip of his water, then continued. "I had wanted Hetty's job so I could be home more but since I didn't get it, I decided this was something we could both benefit from."

Katie smelled the aroma of the pizzas and agreed with him.

"Do you know why you didn't get the job?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to tell me?"

"Granger had talked Sam, Kensi, Grace and even Deeks about me. He also talked to Hetty."

Katie waited patiently for the reason.

"She told him that she didn't feel I was capable of separating my personal feelings for the team from decisions that would have to be made to get the job done effectively."

"Oh Callen ..."

"No pity needed," he said abruptly. "She's right. I've made some wickedly tough choices over the years but never have I had to make the decision to sacrifice an Agent to get a successful outcome for the job."

"I take it Hetty has had to sacrifice an Agent."

He nodded, "More than once." And then started tapping his foot and Katie knew there was still something else he wanted to tell her.

"What is it Callen?"

Literally saved by the timer he said, "After dinner."

Katie savoured every bite and surprised herself by having three pita-pizzas. Idle chit chat occurred during the meal and when they finished Callen said he would clean up. Katie unpacked her lunch items and repacked fresh items for the next day and made sure everything was ready for another day at work. She was already looking forward to next Wednesday.

There was no easy way to tell Katie about Marcel Janvier's impending Christmas card, so after he cleaned up in the kitchen he made tea and brought it into the living room where Katie was snuggled up on the couch under a blanket. They were both too full for dessert so he put the chocolate cheese cake in the fridge.,

"Looks cozy under there. Mind if I join you?" he asked after setting the mugs on the coffee table.

"I'd mind if you didn't join me," she answered as she lifted the blanket and Callen sat beside her.

They both stared at the mugs, neither wanting to move from their cocoon of warmth.

"It's still too hot to drink," she said as she snuggled into him. He would usually put his arm around her but he was too focused on what he was going to say.

"There's no easy way to say this so just wait until I'm finished, okay?"

Katie nodded but wasn't liking the sound of his voice. One thing for certain though in their relationship was that Callen had more secrets than the entire Magician population combined. Some she would never know. Some she would learn bits and pieces about. And each time one was revealed she thought she was prepared for it, but more times than not, she was proven wrong.

"We, I mean I, will be getting a Christmas card soon."

A Christmas card? Katie (tried to) mentally brace herself for his next words as only G. Callen could make receiving a Christmas card an issue.

"It will be coming from Florence, Colorado."

Katie remained silent, not recalling Callen mentioning he knew anyone there.

"It will be from an inmate in the prison there." Relived he finally told her, he waited breathlessly for her response.

"Isn't that the one for the worst of the worse criminals?" Katie asked as she sat upright and was intrigued with Callen's connection to an inmate there.

Callen nodded, "He killed two NCIS Agents."

"So why is he sending you a Christmas card?"

"I was the one who arrested him." No need to tell her about shooting Janvier in the face and the subsequent moves in their game. Or that Janvier's last spoken words to him were "Agent G. Callen. The game is not over." They still sent a shiver down his spine when he said them in his head. And of course, the Chameleon's reference to the book The Count of Monte Crisco couldn't be forgotten –-or overlooked by the almost thirty-nine-year-old Federal Agent.

"How does he know where you live?" Katie's inuring mind kept Callen on his toes.

"I'm not sure how he got my address." That was the truth.

Katie snuggled back into his chest, "Well it's a good thing he's in a prison he can't get out of. Anyone in prison who would send a Christmas card to the person who arrested them is crazy."

Lying to Katie wasn't as easy as lying to a suspect. In fact, it tested every skill he had ever learned.

"Yeah, he's crazy alright." More like vengeful and determined - to kill/destroy all that I love.

"Is he bigger than you?" Katie asked as she reached for her mug.

Janvier was same height and give or take a few pounds, same weight. And although Callen was thirteen years younger, Janvier's vindictiveness was the best, make that the worst, he had ever encountered. And he had battled wits with some of the most notorious criminals on the planet. "No. Why would you ask that?"

"Well, if he was like Sam or bigger, I might be somewhat concerned but I've seen what you are capable of."

Although Katie had come to terms with Callen's 'capabilities', he still didn't like that she had witnessed the incident in Kenya. But that was the past and he was determined to focus on the present and future. He was just about to ask her what she would like to do next Wednesday when he felt her hand on his inner thigh.

He had eaten four pizzas and wasn't in the mood for sex but that became irrelevant when she slid off the couch onto to her knees and nestled between his legs. Katie's prelude to performing oral sex on him was tantalizingly slow before she worked her way up and down his shaft, mouth and hands working in tandem to give him pleasure.

"I should take two days a week off," he managed to say after Katie joined him back on the couch.

Katie smiled sweetly at him. "I really appreciate you doing all of this."

He pressed his forehead onto hers and closed his eyes for several moments. As he pulled back, he just stared at her, his heart again growing with love. "I had to do something after what you said Monday night."

"I was just frustrated."

"But you were right. I sometimes forget that your job can be stressful. And I shouldn't forget because I was one of the kids who tested the patience of every Social Worker I saw. And I saw a lot of them. Do you want to talk about it now?"

"No. That was two days ago. I already talked to Taryn about it."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." He took her hand in his, "I know you want me to talk to someone but I'm just not ready. To be honest, right I don't feel I ever will be. But I will keep an open mind and not disregard it completely."

"You can only go when you're ready."

"Katie?"

"Yeah?

"I know this doesn't make up for all of my absences …"

She cut him off. "I never said you had to make up for them. But I now have a new favourite day of the week."

"Mine too."

"I don't think you give yourself enough praise for being the kind of man you are." She sat up and moved back so she could look him in the eyes. "What you did today was a very selfless thing to do."

He pulled her against his body and savored the feeling for it was at that moment he embraced the reality that he was as good for Katie as she was for him.

Despite the coolness of the evening air, Katie and Callen put on their jackets and went for a walk. They made their way around the block and stopped at a small park where they found a bench to sit on. Their surroundings were illuminated by street lights which shinned directly towards the playground equipment. Katie thoughts immediately went to the young girl she had talked with on Monday.

"She's eight and her mom said she was going to the store and would be back soon. Six hours later the girl went to a neighbour's and told them her mom hadn't come back." Callen listened with an empathetic ear knowing this was why Katie had a rough day on Monday.

"Neighbour called Family Services and they eventually found the mom high in her pimp's house."

Although he rarely encountered children in his job, those situations hit him hard. Katie dealt with children every day and he admired her strength to do that.

"Let's head back home now." He stood then took her hand. "And you can tell me what you would like to do next Wednesday after I take you out to dinner at the place of your choice."

"You're spoiling me G. Callen. And I love it." She took his hand and they headed in the direction of their home.

"I like to think of it as showing my appreciation for the amazing woman you are."

"I am amazing, aren't I?"

"And then some," he replied as he whirled her around and pulled her to his chest. Words were the furthest thing from his mind as he kissed her soundly, the sounds of crickets in the forest fading as their mouths met in an intensity that surprised them both.

"We should go home," Katie said after pulling back and catching her breath.

Callen nodded. As they made their way up the walkway Callen asked her again what she wanted to do next week.

After closing the door and turning the lock, Katie slowly unlaced her shoes as she thought of how to word her answer.

"There is something I have wanted to do," stated hesitantly, "but don't want to go alone. Or with a girlfriend."

"Anything you want." Callen was feeling optimistic about life in general and Katie wasn't an extreme person when it came to extracurricular activities, so he was game for whatever she wanted to do.

"I want to go to Amor Lingerie ... and Sex Shop."

Silence

He had been to one several years ago during an investigation and was very grateful he never had to go back to one. Maybe it was that particular store but the thought of Katie entering a sleazy establishment like that one wasn't something he would agree to.

Katie saw the look of displeasure on his face. "Never mind. I should have known you would react like that."

"Like what?" He was now in defensive mode. "Is there something you're not telling me about our sex life that needs assistance? You already have a vibrator."

"You know I'm very happy and satisfied with our sex life. It's just more of a curiosity. But if you're not able to handle it ... I understand."

Katie was testing Callen's personal mantra to never turn down a challenge. And he hated to love that about her.

He took a moment to ponder what curiosities Katie had. Some made him cringe. Others had him curious. And aroused. If he didn't agree to go she might resent him for it and that was the last thing he needed. He had to admit that although the place he had visited violated more codes than any rooming house he had stayed in, he had also visited even worse places while undercover.

"I'll drive."