At this point I'm pretty sure i'm writing this just for me... But if you have been following this story so far... the best has yet to come
Have managed to batter out a few new chapters recently, so will be uploading them as and when I have time
#11
A few months ago
"Very impressive Resume, Agent..."
"Smith, Sir" Grace replied, wondering if she was getting lost inside this new identity. When she woke up in the morning she was struggling to remember who she was… Grace Callen, Or Grace Smith, or even any of the dozen names she had been given while on the run with Eric and her mom.
"Can you explain to me why you've applied for this position. I appreciate that you were embedded with a serving marine squad, DEVGRU…. And even a few deployments with the coastguard?"
"I've a wide and varied history… I was the agent afloat on the San Diego, and aboard a couple of aircraft carriers"
"You were recruited by Hetty, weren't you?"
"Yes sir. Look, I appreciate that I lack some of the experience that you would normally be looking for, for a position like this. But I have a good team… "
"Yes I can see that. Can you explain to me what exactly you and your team are tasked for? I don't see that in your file…one of many things I don't see here. Like education or FLETC Graduation, for starters"
"Well, we have been acting as a rapid response team for OSP. Along with some sanctioned wet work for the CIA…but there is a lot I'm not cleared to discuss with you without Ms Lange's Authorisation" Grace continued, choosing to ignore the question about her history and training
…
Today:
"Can you tell all available staff to assemble in the gym this afternoon. Just those not already assigned to active cases. Let's rope in the technical operators and intelligence analysts… be good to have everyone on the same page"
"Where are you going to be till then?" Sam asked, with himself and Deeks following Grace
…
"Beale. Let's go… you have a visitor"
…
"This isn't a good idea!"
"Really isn't!"
Mike and Sam were following Grace, she had been determined that she knew what had to be done. They had both tried to talk her out of it.
"Fine. Wait with the car." Grace replied, not even doing the veteran agents the courtesy of looking at them… she tossed the car keys over her shoulder to Sam "Don't let Deeks mess about with my radio"
…
Nell had been in the room for over an hour. The guards wouldn't let her leave, they wouldn't tell her who she was to meet.
There was a knock on the door, which refocussed Nell.
The door opened and someone was roughly forced through the doorway, with a bag over their head, and forced down into the other seat in the small room. Nell wasn't feeling all that great about this latest development.
"Come on, you can't be allowing this!. I used to…"
"Yeah. We KNOW Beale!. Just sit down and shut up for once" the guard stated, thoroughly pissed off.
Grace had been waiting for this. Her mom would never change.
"Yeah… Sit down and Shut up. Especially if you ever want out of this lovely little hole" Grace said striding through the door, more confident than she could ever remember being
…
Grace could see the gears turning in her mom's head, though thankfully Nell had stayed quiet while the guards were about.
Nell opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get a word out…
"So… you kept his name. Interesting."
"Who do you think you are… we don't do this. We don't pretend to be dead! I raised you better than that"
"Your talents are needed. You see it through to the end, you and lover boy go free" Grace offered, indicating towards the hooded occupant in the room. "or you know, you can spend the rest of your life rotting away, just like gran wanted" Grace was totally uninterested in anything her mom had to say.
…
Grace walked out to the car, clenching her jaw closed. She wanted to scream and hit things… maybe even shoot things. But the time for that would be when she was back at OSP.
She was wondering why she was doing this… She wasn't sure if her Gran would be doing the same thing, in her place.
As soon as Sam saw Grace exit the prison he could see she was struggling with her choice. He had seen that look far too many times before from her own father. When Grace had briefed them only a few hours ago, they agreed to go along with what she thought was best… they didn't agree with all that she was setting in motion, but they agreed that they would back her play to whatever end.
When Grace was a short distance from Sam and Deeks, she asked a favour… knowing there were going to be conditions from them both.
"Can you wait here, I cannot physically stomach being around them, either of them. Two of my people will be here in 20 minutes to collect them. I don't care what you have to do…"
Deeks agreed, knowing he did not want to be in the car with Grace and Sam.
…
Sam eventually broke the silence. He had wanted her to speak first… he knew she needed to talk. They had all hoped she was less like her dad in that way…
"What'd she say?"
Grace didn't say anything, she just clenched her jaw and the steering wheel tighter
"Grace, you need to talk to me…I know I'm not…"
"Would Gran have done what I just did? Would dad or Mike?" Grace blurted out
…
Deeks had been walking back and forward out front for a while. The guards were still preparing the prisoners for release, and anyway he was still waiting for Grace's support team to arrive. He wished he could say he was in no rush… but that would have been a lie. He knew the urgency for Grace and the team… especially for Grace. Kensi… god, she was barely managing to remain in control. He knew it couldn't be easy… she had known Callen and Mike for a long longer than she had even known him. For them both to be where god only knew where… and with Hetty being gone…he didn't know how she hadn't broken down.
The last few days… no, the last few weeks. They had been far from easy for them… very few of the agents working in LA had come up under Hetty. In some ways she was an urban legend… after all she had very little to do with the daily operations, but everyone had heard about her. She had no biological family left, with Callen and Mike not there, they had all decided that a service could wait until they could all be there.
He was starting to get impatient… it felt like he had been waiting for hours, but at that moment a large SUV pulled into the prison parking lot and pulled over out the front. Someone jumped out and the SUV moved around the corner towards the secure entrance
"You Deeks?"
…
Grace hadn't even bothered giving Sam any time to answer her question, instead she turned the radio on, pretty loud, and pressed down on the gas pedal.
Sam knew it was pointless to try and get Grace to open up, especially after she just shut down any opportunity to answer her question. He just hoped Kens would have better luck when they got back to OSP.
Sam knew there was no way that Grace was actually enjoying the din coming from the speakers, she was clearly trying not to think about or discuss what was going on. Sam turned his attention to the horizon, only returning his attention to the interior of the car when he heard what he could only describe as a pained groan. Looking round at Grace, he could see that she had let one hand let go of the steering wheel, now clutching at her chest.
"Grace?" he asked, deeply concerned after switching the radio off "What's wrong"
Grace didn't respond, gone was the low groan, replaced instead by a pained hiss
Sam reached over with both hands grabbing hold of the steering wheel and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Grace, still in a great deal of pain, pulled her foot off the gas and tried some breathing exercises to try and regain some control.
When the car stopped moving, Sam put the car in park and pulled his phone out and dialled OPS, quickly requesting urgent medical assistance.
…
Kens had jumped in the car as soon as Sam had called her. Sam hadn't known enough about what was going on with Grace. She did know that Grace had been fighting with herself and Hetty's memory. None of them knew how to help the young woman. So much of the last decade of her life had been undocumented…
…
"Where is she, have you called Sydney?" Kensi Asked as soon as she entered the waiting room and saw Sam pacing.
"Yeah. Called her right after you." Sam could see Kens was getting more wound up than was healthy for a woman in her condition "Take a breath… You're not gonna be any help if you're the one in a state"
Kensi took a breath, while looking down at the ground, looking like she was to blame for what was happening with Grace. It was a look Sam had seen on Kensi's face too many times before
"What've the doctors said?"
"Oddly enough they're refusing to tell me. I'm not exactly family… not the sort they needed me to be, anyway" Sam explained, more than a little frustrated by the situation
"We are family. Callen… he'd want us to be in there. He'd… he'd want us to take care of her" Kensi replied indignantly, not concerned about how loud her voice had become, how far it was carrying or the looks they were both receiving from hospital staff
"Hey hey hey, Kens… You think I don't feel the same. He's my best friend… this… I don't like this feeling, Kens…"
…
Sydney had arrived a few minutes later, made a big deal to the doctor, and head administrator, about how Sam and Kensi were Grace's family, but given that 'Grace Callen' died several years ago, and that there was nothing to prove Sydney's claims about being Grace's aunt… she was fighting a losing battle. Even she couldn't get any answers for herself.
"How did Mike get you in to see her?"
"I don't know… I didn't think about it. I was just… I was just focussed on her actually being alive" Sydney tried to explain, equally frustrated
Not long after, there were some screams heard coming from down the hallway outside the waiting room.
Sam and Kensi's training kicked in, both reached for their service weapon.
"Get out of my way!"
Kensi and Sam both looked round at each other, both silently asking the other the same question 'Grace?'
…
"I want the pair of them under constant armed supervision…"
Kensi had been watching Grace, ever since she had discharged herself from the hospital, waiting for her to stop moving.
"You have something to add, Ms Blye?" Grace said, not looking towards where Kensi was perched.
Kensi noticed that Grace was sounding a little bit like Hetty now.
"Don't use the boatshed… they both know it and the surrounding area" Kensi offered, before pulling Grace away from the group of agents
"You want to tell me why you're issuing orders here, rather than getting checked over by the doctor?"
Grace was trying to decide whether to loop Kensi in. So far the only people that knew about her health were Mike and her aunt.
"I really don't want to get into this, Kens"
"You think we've not been through this with your dad? He was forever refusing medical attention."
"I know. I've been through every after action report you guys have ever filed"
"Grace, please. I… We've lost too much already. I don't think we can handle losing you…." Kensi said, struggling to keep her emotions and tears back.
"You can't do anything to stop from losing me. I'm not gonna be here forever…. I have breast cancer. It's most likely inoperable…"
Kensi didn't know what to say, her emotions were starting to bubble over and knew she'd be unable to stop from crying. She pulled Grace into a tight embrace, as she started to bubble
…
Deeks climbed out of the SUV and assessed the situation. The agents that had picked Him and the prisoners up, were very professional, but neither of them really engaged in any conversation. But even Deeks didn't know what to say considering who they were transporting.
He had disagreed with Grace's decision to release Eric and Nell. He wasn't the only one though… But none of them had any other suggestions about what they could do.
Deeks looked about, finally wondering where Grace's guys had brought them. All he could see were a couple of containers. "Hey, guys. Where are we… I thought we were doing this at the boatshed?"
"G gave us new orders. Doesn't want them anywhere the pair of them know. Too much of a security risk"
Deeks nodded, agreeing with this decision.
"You sure this place is safe?" Deeks asked, looking about, noticing there wasn't much in surrounding area. A bunch of containers, surrounded by dozens of cars and vans that looked only fit for scrap. Not exactly the sort of place he'd have picked. He, again, assessed the pair of Agents. Agent Fry looked to be late 30s, Asian, Short dark hair, average build and she seemed to keep a tight hold of her MP5… almost like she was waiting for something bad to happen. Agent Wilson on the other hand, looked like a white Sam, down to the shaved head. From the way he stood, it was obvious he was ex military
.
"Deeks, the boss knows what she's doing. Wouldn't put us here if it wasn't safe"
Deeks noticed that these agents seemed to think Grace was incapable of making a wrong decision
"How long have you been with the agency?" he asked, hoping to get some insight
"G recruited me over 2 years ago"
"3 years for me" the other agent answered
"Know her well, she makes good decisions?" Deeks asked
"G's as better than any CO I've ever had." Wilson explained.
Deeks nodded, still assessing the pair.
"She tell you who we're transporting?"
"Traitors.… G wants them here, so we got them here" Wilson said, again displaying his military background
"Look guys… I don't know if I should be the one to tell you this but…"
"We know who they are. We're intimately familiar with them…" Fry added, cutting Deeks off mid sentence "…and your team"
…
"Afternoon Guys, I appreciate many of you still have AARs to file… You will all be aware we're missing 2 of our agents. Agent Callen, Your former SAC. and Agent Renko…" Grace noticed a few of OSPs staff whispering amongst themselves at the mention of Callen and Renko "Callen, is off the board with one of our agents, you will all see him again… eventually. We don't leave our people behind… dead or alive, we will recover Agent Renko. And god help anyone that tries to stop us. You will have noticed a number of new faces. These agents will support us in achieving our goals… and if needed will support any of our other open cases. We will all have a chance to get to know one another… but not today. For now. Keep doing your job… Anyone with any CIs… I'm going to ask you to push them for any information that will help us locate our missing agent. If any of you have any questions… I'm more than happy to speak to you privately. Let's get back to work"
Grace stepped down from the mats that had been piled up at one end of the gym
She started towards her office, with Sam and Kensi following close behind
"Sam, I need you to do me a favour… I need you to go partner with Deeks. Watch Eric and my… Nell. You know them better than any of my guys. Either of them take a step in the wrong direction, put them down…"
"Are you saying kill your mom?" Sam asked, unsure if he had misunderstood Grace
"Yeah. They're traitors…I don't care if they live or die. So long as they do what's required of them"
"Grace…?!" Kesni almost groaned
"I don't have time to be sentimental. The only reason they're not in Gitmo, is that Gran wouldn't make that hard decision"
…
Grace sat down at her desk and reached into the drawer to pull out a bottle of Paracetamol. Kensi lowered herself into the chair on the other side of the desk.
"Do they help with the pain?" Kensi asked after watching Grace pour a couple of pills into her palm
"They take the edge off" Grace answered without looking up
"Are you sure you should be here, we can manage this without you"
"Kens, please… don't. Gran is dead, Dad is god knows where. Mike… Fuck, we don't even know if he's still alive. This is the only place I need to be"
…
"Marty. Long time… how's…"
"Don't, Beale. I'm not your friend… not after what you did"
"Deeks, please. You don't understand…" Nell started, looking up from her terminal when she heard Deeks
"I don't understand…!? What is there to understand. You stole intel. You tried to sell it off… you kidnapped Grace.."
"She's my daughter. I didn't kidnap her…" Nell interjected
"You know, we've all read the transcripts of your interrogations. We read Grace's statement. You forcibly took that girl away from her dad, from her family"
"You can't understand why we did what we did…" Eric stated, trying to draw the fire away from Nell
"No?. You took that kid from us… you can try and justify your actions; you can make any claim you like about being afraid of Callen…"
"He beat me!"
"Yeah, but you weren't exactly innocent, were you. You slept with his wife. Maybe he was wrong to do it... But I'll tell you something… If I had found you slept with Kensi… I couldn't, I wouldn't, restrain myself, like Callen did. I'd just have killed you… simple as that" Deeks stated matter of factly directing this to the former technical operator
Deeks could see some of the looks the trio were getting from Grace's guys, and they were making him feel the need to explain
"you know, I don't know what you were expecting…. What I do know, that kid… she's done something that no other agent would do. She's trying to recover one of her agents… one of our family. No fucking way any of the rest of us would trade your freedom for Mike… God knows Hetty wouldn't, Even that old woman, blinded by loyalty to her people… she didn't want either of you to see daylight again. I'm almost hoping you do something you shouldn't… after everything you pair did, even I would take delight in putting a slug in you… both of you. So, if you know what's good for you, you'll shut up and do what you're here to do"
…
"Kens, I need you to hold down the fort" Grace said after reading a message on her cell phone
"And where are you going?"
"Nothing to worry about… I promise you"
…
"You sure this is a good idea, G?"
"Good idea or bad idea… either way we need to recover our brother" Grace said, only half concentrating, instead she focused on the thumb drive she had pulled out of the envelope she had recovered from a hidden wall safe in one of Hetty's mothballed back up sites
"There's a reason she didn't tell you where she stored this…"
"please, Jay…We need to recover him. We need closure"
"This isn't something that 'we' need… this is all you. He's just one man"
"No… we don't abandon our own. I'm not gonna let my management of OSP, be tainted because I chose to abandon one of our own people"
…
"Are you kidding me? When did she…"
"Every agent was implanted during their last physical. It was… I worked on its development specifically for OSP, one of a dozen other projects over the last 18 months. Gran never got over the loss of agents Sulivan, Vail, Stevens, Hunter"
Kensi was hit with a wave of emotion after being reminded of Dom's death. She hadn't thought about him in years… and now she felt guilty
Grace could see the impact her words were having on her aunt. "None of them were your fault, Kens. None of them were Gran's fault… not that she'd agree"
Kensi took a moment, trying not to start crying. Damn these pregnancy hormones.
"What's the catch? I mean why have you not already used this?"
Grace looked about the room, being hesitant to go into the matter… but she knew she had to
"It Piggybacks over any data local data connection. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks… powered by body heat. But once I activate it… it's sort of a 'one and done' deal. If I activate it, if he's… If his body is close to a wireless network, we'll get a ping. But that's it…it's a ping, not a full on tracker"