"Isn't there rules about this sort of thing?" Granger asked Hetty as they looked across the office.

"Oh, Where's your sense of fun, Owen?"

Why was it every time that phrase she said that, he got a swat or jab to his abdomen? Surely there was a rule about that as well. Though, Henrietta was a law unto herself most of the time.

He took another look and shook his head in exasperation. Only in this office would it happen.

Well, maybe not, but he liked to think so because it meant he could be exasperated at everyone in this building.

'It' being that pretty much every single employee in this building was wearing a costume. Hallowe'en costumes. Because, you know, it wasn't like they were a federal agency or anything. Oh, wait. They were.

Needless to say, Granger was not dressed up as anything. He did not do dressing up unless it was for a case and this was definitely not a case.

He didn't even know why everyone was in a costume, he thought it had only been the usual culprits of chaos that were doing a "partner competition". Apparently, Hetty had decided that everyone else should get the opportunity to dress up if they wished. And they wished.

Granger sighed. At least everyone was still working. Even if they all did look ridiculous.

For example, Blye and Deeks were dressed up as pirates. Of course, Blye being the captain. Jones and Beale were dressed up as something he assumed was from one of those video games of theirs. Or some sort of mythical creature. He wasn't one hundred percent sure nor did he want to know.

Which left Hanna and Callen. Who were the last people Granger thought would have done something like this. But no, even they had descended into madness and dressed up.

"Mr Callen, please don't tell me that you and Mr Callen took those coveralls and other accessories from wardrobe for this party." Hetty said as Callen approached them.

You see, Sam and Callen were dressed as construction workers of all things. Hard hats and tool belts included. Looking extremely professional too, mainly because these were the outfits that normally hung in wardrobe for such undercover work.

Callen flashed her a cheeky grin. "Okay, I won't tell you then."

Granger couldn't help but let out a snort as Hetty gave Callen an exasperated sigh.

"It's not like it's one of the suits," he tried to make it better."

"Because you would not have removed such high value items of clothing from wardrobe unnecessarily, isn't that correct, Mr Callen?"

"...Sure."

Hetty just shook her head at his incredibly unconvincing reply.

"What would G not have done?" Sam asked appearing with Deeks in tow, who was he was apparently arguing with.

"He would not have removed important items from our wardrobe."

"Never," Sam said easily. "Just stuff that's easily replaced."

"Stuff that's not even scary!" Deeks complained, gesturing at Sam.

"It's a costume party. Costume. That doesn't have to mean scary."

"You could've at least gone for a zombie construction worker."

"Just be glad that we dressed up."

Callen got this look in his eyes at his partner's statement that made Granger get this feeling of dread overcome him. The Agent rarely got that kind of look but when he did it usually implied something chaotic was going to happen.

"Wait right there," Callen said to them and strode over to his desk.

Granger raised an eyebrow at Hetty who just shrugged back at him. He didn't know whether that meant she knew what was going on or not. Either way, she wasn't stopping it.

He returned with a bag. A bag which was bulging.

"I couldn't help but notice that you two are the only ones not in costume," Callen began.

"It's a partners costume competition, Mr Callen." Hetty replied.

"But you two were partners."

"Past tense."

Very past tense but Granger wasn't about to bring that up. It made him feel old.

"Eh, same thing," Callen dismissed. "And you work together now so it counts."

Granger grunted something, neither denying or confirming this.

"So, what do you have for us, Mr Callen?" Hetty asked.

There was that grin of his again, which was getting very unnerving. Callen didn't grin. He smirked. Maybe he smiled or laughed. But a fully-fledged grin? No, that was more Deeks' forte.

With a somewhat awkward flourish, Callen pulled out the contents of his bag. Granger just stared at them. Hetty also seemed to be momentarily stunned into silence. He was still grinning at them.

Hetty managed to find her voice first. In his defence, Granger wasn't exactly sure what he should be saying.

"Crowns, Mr Callen?"

"Yep," he said proudly.

Not that they were really anything to be proud of. They were very obviously plastic that was spray painted gold with some extremely garish fake jewels glued on. Which weren't even glued on evenly, by the way!

"Why are you giving us crowns?" Granger asked, seeing how Callen wasn't going to explain himself any further.

"So, you can properly survey your domain like the rulers you are."

Granger just raised an eyebrow at him while Hetty took the crowns to inspect them.

"I believe Mr Callen is saying that we are the King and Queen of this castle, Owen."

"Exactly," Callen agreed. "Of course, to have the whole look you need capes or something. I'm sure you have capes around her somewhere."

"No." Granger said quite vehemently.

He was not going to be wearing a cape.

"What was that about capes?" Nell asked. "Do you still have the one you lent me, Hetty?"

"I do indeed, Miss Jones. I thank you for bringing in back in one piece," Hetty said pointedly to Callen who didn't even look the littlest bit abashed.

"It was my pleasure, Hetty."

"You could wear that, Hetty," Callen told her.

"Indeed, I could." she agreed, putting the crown on her head. "How do I look?"

"A sure-fire winner," Callen said and the gave Granger a sly look. "If you also had a partner."

"No."