Look Out, World! Chapter 6, a ncis: los angeles fanfic

Chapter 6–Information Central

Not much later, Anna ran out of OPS to the bathroom. A sudden wave of nausea had overpowered her, and she almost didn't make it in time. She skidded into an empty stall, and vomited.

"Chert voz'mi!" she yelped. "Ya nenavizhu eto!" She vomited again. She wiped her face, and then waited. She knew her body very well, so she was ready for the next barrage. This time, she felt like her stomach was going to fly out of her back. "YA NENAVIZHU ETO!" (Dammit! I hate this! I HATE THIS!)

She never noticed that another stall was occupied; she was too worried about vomiting on the floor.

Two stalls over, Kensi had all she could do to refrain from reacting to Anna. She bit her lips closed. Her mind was whirling, realizing that Fatima was right.

The door squeaked open.

"Anna?" came Callen's voice. "Are you okay?" He crossed over to her stall.

"Nyet!" she shrieked. "Ya tak ustal ot etogo! Ya nenavizhu eto!" (No! I am so sick of this! I hate this!) She vomited again, but with less strength.

"Moya bednaya lyubov'," Callen sympathized. He stepped into the stall and rubbed her back. (My poor love.)

Anna wiped her face with a huge wad of toilet paper, and then turned around to face him.

"I thought I was done with all this crap!" she griped. "Breakfast was so nice going down, and not too good coming up!"

Callen chuckled. "I'm so sorry, baby," he said, putting his arms around her. "You'll be okay."

"Yeah? When?" she stormed, breaking free from him.

"What's wrong?" He was startled by her action.

"I need to pee!" She fussed with her pants, wiggling all over.

"Oh, boy," he said, grabbing her pants and jerking them down below her knees.

Anna sat in a hurry.

"Oh, boy," Callen repeated with his customary smirk that turned into a chuckle.

He looked so cute that Anna laughed. She shook her head, amazed at how well he knew her.

She eventually pulled herself together, and flushed the toilet. She crossed to the bank of sinks to wash her hands and face, and almost fainted when she saw the closed stall door. She pointed at it, and Callen glanced in that direction.

"Oh, boy," he repeated. Panic overtook him.

Anna saw his expression change, so she took his face between her hands and kissed him. "It's okay, my love."

"You sure?"

Anna turned toward the mirrors again, and had a partial view of the woman's shoes. She nodded.

"Kensi."

Callen turned beet red, and Anna laughed.

"Ne volnuysya. Ona nichego ne skazhet," she added. (Don't worry. She won't say anything.)

"Ty uveren?" (You're sure?)

"Da, moya lyubov'," Anna replied. "Zhenshchiny ne rasskazyvayut sekretov." (Yes, my love. Women do not tell secrets.)

"Kensi," Anna added, "you can come out now."

The door opened very slowly, and Kensi emerged, looking and feeling foolish.

"I'm so sorry," she began.

Anna shook her head. "I didn't know you were in here, and there wasn't anything I could have done about it."

"I know," Kensi said. "But I could have let you know I was in here."

"True, but I probably wouldn't have heard anyway."

Callen calmed down slowly, but he was okay once he got over the initial shock. "Baby, I'm going into OPS now. You'll be okay?"

Anna nodded. "Yes. I'm okay now." She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. They stood there until Anna was ready to let go of him. Then she kissed him, and Callen took his leave.

"So? It's true?" Kensi asked.

"What is?"

"Well…um…Fatima told me that she thinks you're pregnant, and now I am seeing with my own eyes that you are!"

"Oh, that," Anna teased. "She thinks I'm pregnant?"

"Yes. Just because of the outfit you're wearing today."

Both girls laughed.

"I brought my clothes to the cleaners; that part is true," Anna explained. Then she realized how silly that sounded. "Why did she think like that?"

"I don't know. Maybe because you've been late to work, or disappearing into the bathroom at odd times during the day?"

Anna grinned. "I guess I've been busted," she said. "We haven't told anyone yet."

"I won't say anything," Kensi assured her.

"Would you like to see?"

"You know what? Yes! I cannot get pregnant, so why the hell not?"

And Anna lifted her sweatshirt up. Kensi stared at her swollen belly, and felt a twinge of jealousy.

"Oh, wow," she breathed. "You look awesome!"

Anna was aware that Kensi was disconcerted, and gave her a hug.

"You guys will be great parents for Rosa," she said. "Don't think otherwise, either."

Kensi looked up, right into Anna's eyes. "We will, won't we?"

"Yup!"

"Should we tell Fatima?"

Anna shook her head. "No, please. Absolutely not. We don't want anyone to know right now, Kensi. Please."

"Not a problem."

"Are you okay, Anna?"

"Yes. I'm fine. I was fine when Callen left," Anna replied, washing her face again.

"Can I ask you…Does he always fuss over you like that?"

A big smile filled Anna's face. "Yes, but I fuss over him, too, Kensi. It's easy because we love each other so much. And we don't even think about it. Doesn't Deeks fuss over you?"

"Yes, but in a different way," Kensi said, opening the door so they could leave.

"But that's okay," Anna said. "You love each other, right?"

"Yes."

"Then it doesn't matter. You do what's right for you and Deeks. Never mind what Callen and I do. We are different couples, so it wouldn't fit right anyway."

Kensi nodded. "That's true. Thank you, Anna," she said softly so Fatima wouldn't overhear them.

Anna nodded. She pulled her glasses from her pocket and put them on, and then sat down at her station.

Fatima looked at them curiously. She was sure they were telling each other some kinds of secrets. "What are you guys up to?" she asked boldly.

Anna shook her head. "Nothing. We ran into each other in the ladies' room is all."

"Oh." Fatima deflated. Just a normal conversation? Oh, how dull, she decided.

Callen was agitated to the point that he couldn't sit still, and it was driving Sam crazy.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Not a damn thing, I can assure you, but…You know what? Come to the Armory with me!"

Sam raised his eyebrow. "So…Something really is going on. I thought so."

"Don't jump to conclusions!" Callen warned. He pulled open the door to the Armory, and was glad that no one else was there. He sat down on a stool, and rested his head in his hands. "How did you survive the morning sickness?"

Sam sat on the other stool. "Oh, hell, I don't remember. Maybe because I wasn't around that much."

"That's not helpful, Sam," Callen said. "She gets so sick from it, and it doesn't want to go away!"

Sam laughed. "I get it. I get it better than you think, buddy. Just be there for her. I don't know what else to say."

"I know, Sam. Thank you." He put his head in his hands again and then looked up at his friend. "Well, if I can survive this afternoon, I can survive anything!"

"What happened?"

"Anna got sick, which is unpleasant, but do-able. What isn't do-able is having another woman in the bathroom at the same time!"

Sam frowned. "Say what?"

Callen smiled wryly. "Anna almost threw up on the floor this time, so she wasn't aware of anyone else. When she got cleaned up, she saw that another stall door was closed."

"And you know this how?"

Callen laughed. "I am usually with her when she gets sick, even here, so Kensi heard the entire thing, including me ministering to her."

Sam looked at Callen, and burst out laughing. "No wonder you're bouncing off the walls! Day-am. That is…huge!"

"You're telling me? It was damn embarrassing, too."

"I hear you, but we're not mentioning this to anyone—"

"Damn straight!" Callen replied quickly. "Sam…how much longer will all this last? The doctor said she's entering her second trimester. She's fourteen weeks."

"Not too much longer, I think. Ask the doctor," Sam said, feeling bad for his exhausted friend. "You might want to ask the doctor about meals. Maybe give her a bunch of small meals instead of the regular three meals."

Callen brightened. "That's a great idea, Sam. I'll call the doctor anyway, but I think the smaller amounts of food might help. It's amazing that any baby can put up with its mother exploding every so often!"

Sam laughed. "That's why kids are tough and resilient, I think," he said. "Yours will be, too."

"Thanks, Sam," Callen said, offering his hand. Sam gave him a hug instead.

"Anytime, bro. Anytime."

As soon as they could leave without repercussions, Anna and Callen fled. They couldn't wait to get home to relax. Before they got the front door opened, Anna latched onto him, and wouldn't let go.

"What's wrong, baby?" Callen asked softly.

"It was so hard with Kensi," Anna said, her voice muffled because her face was buried in his neck.

"Oh, boy. Put it behind you, Anna. It's okay. We are going to have to tell people sooner than later anyway because you are showing now."

She wiped her face on him. "I know. Can we order tonight?"

"No, baby. I will cook something for us," Callen said, lifting her off him so he could see her face. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm just tired," she said, leaning on him again.

"Come on. Let's get you inside," he said, taking her off him again. He unlocked the door, and they went inside.

While Anna went to freshen up, Callen opened the convertible, and made sure it had sheets on it. He pulled a big comforter from the hall closet and shook it out. Then he draped it over the bed.

"What are you doing, Callen?" Anna asked when she emerged from the bathroom.

"Nothing. I'm making things easier for both of us," he replied. He held open the blankets, and Anna undressed and slid right into the center of the bed. "Cute," he quipped.

She lay back, smiling. "Come."

He shook his head. "Not yet. I want to get us something to eat first."

"Okay," she agreed, turning onto her side, and snuggling his pillow.

"Will you eat, or do you want to sleep first?" His quick eyes noticed how sleepy she was.

She held up her arms in response. Callen wasted no time in joining her. She snuggled up against him as close as she could get, and laid her head on his shoulder. Then she closed her eyes.

He put his arm around her and held her close. He was as glad to be lying down as she was, and he realized it. He snuffled her for a moment, and then closed his own eyes.

They slept hard, waking up around midnight.

After he freshened up, Callen went to the kitchen and found a handful of snack packs of saltines. He grabbed them, a bottle of juice, and two cups.

"This is our dinner tonight," he said, presenting his feast to her.

"I think it's just fine," Anna said, settling in the blankets again. She had no real appetite, but she also knew that eating a small amount of anything would help her.

They finished the crackers, and most of the juice, and were perfectly happy.

They sat up for a while, leaning on each other and talking about everything and nothing, until they came up with a plan on how to tell everyone their secret.

Early in the following week, Callen and Anna offered to buy a big lunch for everyone. They ordered all kinds of foods, and had the tables erected in the foyer, and decorated with baby-print items.

"Oh, my gosh!" burst out Fatima.

Anna grabbed her. "Yes. It's true, Fatima, but don't say anything just yet. Let me do that, okay?"

The girl nodded. She was thrilled that her suspicions were proven correct.

After the last of the food was delivered, Callen called everybody down to the foyer.

"What's all this about?" Admiral Kilbride complained.

"Relax, Admiral," Callen said. "Be patient. You'll see."

The older man peered at the table with his eyes squinted. "All I see is baby gobbledygook."

"It's a little more than that," Sam contradicted, feeling offended for his friends.

Anna stood in front of Callen, and they surveyed the crowd surrounding the tables. Everyone was present and accounted for.

"I know there's been a lot of speculation about me," Anna began. "I am not sick, but I am pregnant. The baby is due in the spring."

The entire crowd clapped and few of the men whistled.

Callen said, "Thank you, everyone. We didn't want to say anything because we wanted to enjoy and absorb the news by ourselves for a while, so thank you all for not bugging us about it."

"Well, you did a good job keeping it a secret," Hetty said. "This is very happy news. Congratulations to you both."

"Thank you, Hetty," Anna said. "Now, guys, please enjoy your lunch."

"Is the baby a boy or a girl?" asked one man.

"We don't know," Callen answered. "We want to be surprised."

"Really?" complained a woman.

"Yes, really," Anna said, backing Callen. "Not everyone wants to know, and we do not."

"Besides, you'll all find out in the spring," Callen added, backing Anna. "Now, let's eat this wonderful food that we bought!"

Admiral Kilbride made his way over to Callen. "That was some secret. Congratulations." He shook Callen's hand.

"Thank you, sir," Callen replied.

"Do you have a preference?"

"No, sir. Just a healthy baby," Callen said.

"Good point," Kilbride said before he began to mingle with the other guests.

Callen found Anna, and brought her into the bullpen. "Oh, my goodness," he said, leaning his forehead against hers.

"We'll be fine, Callen. We aren't changing our minds, so it doesn't matter." She hugged him. "Let's get some of the pulled pork before it's gone, please!"

After they got into bed for the night, Anna became very excited.

"Callen! What do we do about a baby shower?" she squeaked.

"Hopefully nothing," he replied, putting his arm around her.

"Nothing?"

"Yes. I don't want one," he said. "I really do not. We can buy our own stuff."

Anna frowned. "Okay. But what? And which room?"

"Stop, baby. We can figure this out in the morning, and we'll have all day," he explained. "It's Saturday."

"Hey!" she objected.

"Hay is for horses," he quipped.

She thumped him. "Not helping! Are you sure you don't want the girls to plan something?"

He sat up. "Yes. I do not want a baby shower, Anna. In fact, I'll take you shopping tomorrow. How's that sound?"

She realized that he wasn't going to change his mind. "It's okay, I guess, but how come? Callen, how come you don't want a shower?"

"Oh, hell, Anna. I don't know. It's such a girly thing, and there's nothing for us guys to do, so No, please," he said firmly.

"Why can't we host something here for everybody, please?" She sat up and looked at him.

Callen stared at her face for a long moment. He could see in her expression that she really wanted the baby shower, and he couldn't stand seeing the hurt in her eyes.

"Oh, boy," he sighed, leaning his forehead on hers. Then he kissed her. "Okay, baby. We'll do the party here."

Anna threw her arms around his neck and kissed him over and over and over. "Thank you, Callen! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He grabbed hold of her, pinning her to his body. Then he hugged her tightly. "You're welcome, baby, but man, you've got to calm down!" He laughed at her exuberance. He couldn't believe something so simple could cause her to be so excited.

Anna laughed with him. She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "Okay, my love, but it'll be hard to calm down!" She wiggled out of his grasp, and lay down. Then she put her arms up, and he immediately lay down on top of her, taking care to not put pressure on her breasts.

"Should you be on me?"

"Oh, probably not," he replied, kissing her under her chin. "Just for a moment, and we'll be fine!" He continued to kiss her, and then slid off her. He snuggled into her, laying his head on her shoulder.

Anna laughed again, from the heart. She loved when he snuggled her. She put her arm around him as best she could, and managed to move closer to him. Then she kissed him and again.

Callen laid his hand on her abdomen. He was very proud of her body, and wished he could flaunt her all over the place. He stroked her belly, much to her amusement.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing that I don't normally do," he said, smirking. "I rub your back all the time, so now it's the baby's turn."

Anna nodded, and her head raised some, and she looked like a self-satisfied cat. Then she laughed. "Okay. That works!" She locked her arm around his neck and kissed the top of his head. "I love you so much, Grisha Callen!"

"I love you, too, Anastasia Kolcheck," he answered softly. He twisted around so he could kiss her chin. "No more, baby. We really need to sleep!"

"I know," she agreed. She kissed him again, and then settled down. "Good night, my love," she murmured.

But he didn't hear her as he had already fallen asleep.

Anna woke up early because she was still excited by the prospect of the baby shower. She wandered around the entire upstairs, trying to decide which spare bedroom would be the best for the upcoming baby.

Callen woke up, and felt for her. He felt a momentary panic because she wasn't there, and he suddenly, fully understood how she had felt the day she couldn't find him. He sat up and listened hard. Then he got up, freshened up, and went looking for her. He found her in the biggest spare room.

She smiled when she sensed him. Without even glancing at him, she asked, "What about this room?"

"You think so? You don't want to keep it as a guest room?"

"Nope."

"Okay. Let's look at the other two rooms."

"But I already—"

"Anna. Stop. This is for both of us to decide, please."

"Oh, I know, but—"

"But nothing. Baby, calm down. The room isn't going anywhere. You and I are going out after we eat." He took her by the hand, and brought her to the other two spare rooms. Then he put his arm around her shoulders.

"This has lots of natural light," Anna observed.

"Yes, it does," Callen agreed. "What color should the room be?"

"Color?" she gasped, having not thought about color schemes at all.

"Yes, baby. Our room is pale blue. What color should this room be?"

"Pink?"

He shrugged. "Maybe, but not really for a boy."

She gawked at him. "Oh, God. Yellow?"

Callen shook his head. "That's a kitchen color."

"Come on, Callen. This is hard enough as it is!"

"I get it, Anna. But be realistic. How about a pale green? Or a light peach?"

"Peach for a boy would be awful."

"Yes. Then let's concentrate on the greens."

She put her arms around him. "Okay. Green it is!"

"Thank God!" he replied quickly. "Now let's get something to eat!"

Callen fixed a very small, bland meal for Anna, and had some of it himself. He did not want her to feel punk at all. They ate slowly and leisurely, taking their time. Then they cleaned up the kitchen together, and spent the next while fussing over each other before they left on their excursion.

Anna got into the car and closed her seatbelt. Then she sucked on her lips for a moment. Her lower lip felt jagged.

"What did you do to me?"

"Not a thing that I don't normally do," he said. "What's wrong?"

"You shredded my lip!"

He glanced at her. "Oh. I'm sorry, baby. I guess I don't know my own strength." He couldn't keep the smirk out of his voice.

"You know something, Callen? You are seriously looking for trouble today!" She grabbed a plastic garbage bag and held it over her mouth, and held her breath. She willed herself to not vomit.

Callen reached out and patted her leg. "You okay?"

Anna shook her head. "Not really." She heaved for a few moments, but nothing happened.

"I'll pull over?"

"Yes, please," she said hastily. "The less moving I do for now, the better."

Callen pulled into the first driveway he found, and it was at a gas station. He parked out of the way of the other customers.

Anna lowered the back to her seat, and just sat there. "This really sucks!"

He nodded, but decided against saying anything. He lowered the back to his seat, too, and then closed his eyes.

A few minutes later, she vomited several times. She looked around for some tissues, and had to settle for some paper towels that he kept in his car. She wiped her face, and then tied the bag closed.

"Baby, what did you drink?"

"The orange juice."

"Oh, God. No more, Anna. Not until after this baby is born." He took her hand in his and squeezed it. "I think it's too rich for you."

"Maybe." She looked at him as she started to cry. "I keep messing things up. I can't do anything without getting sick!" she mourned.

"Oh, brother," Callen sympathized. He felt bad for her. "You'll be all right in a few minutes." He stroked her leg. "Baby, you got this," he added, trying hard to make her feel better.

Anna smiled wanly. "Maybe."

"Oh, God," Callen muttered. "Do you still want to go, or should we go back home?"

"No!" she wailed. "I want to keep going, please, Callen!"

"Are you still feeling punk?"

"Not really. I feel more stupid than anything at the moment."

Callen undid his seatbelt and got out of the car. He crossed over to her side, and opened the door. She was more than ready to get out of the car, and practically fell into his arms. He hugged her closely.

"Not stupid, baby. This is all part of being pregnant, and it does go away."

She rubbed her face on his shirt. "It better!"

Callen tightened his grip on her. Then he tilted her face up so he could see her clearly. "You really okay, baby?" He kissed her mouth gently.

"Yes, I think so, Callen," she replied, leaning against him again. "I need to pee," she added.

"Okay," he said. "Let's get the attendant, and he can open the door for us."

"Not a problem," she said, using his own language. A quick smile crossed her face.

Callen spoke to the attendant, who handed him the keys. They found the unisex bathroom, and he unlocked the door. Anna remembered to line the seat with toilet paper since there weren't any seat covers in the dispenser.

After a few minutes, Anna pulled herself together. She flushed with her foot, and then washed her hands. She was glad to see some paper towels in that dispenser. She dropped them into the trash receptacle by the door.

"The bag!"

Callen chuckled and smirked. "Ahhh, yes. The bag. We'll deal with that later, okay?"

Anna snickered. "Yes, please."

But, Callen changed his mind. He brought her to the car, and took the telltale blue bag from the car, and dropped it into the trash receptacle in the bathroom before he returned the keys to the attendant.

"Thanks, buddy!" he said, picking up a few snacks, and buying them. "For later," he told himself.

Once he strapped himself in the car, they drove over to buybuy BABY.

The size of the selections was astonishing. They didn't know where to look first. Anna gravitated toward the bedroom furniture. She liked a white set because it came with a crib as well as a dresser and a cradle. Callen was fascinated by a maple set with fancy knobs on the dresser.

Several hours later, after going through the entire store, they went home with the white furniture. They both concluded it would look better against the pale green they were going to paint the room. Callen put the boxes in the garage, and Anna carried the bags of trimmings upstairs. She was anxious to hang the curtains, except that she forgot to get curtain rods.

"Oh, boy," Callen said. "We need the paint, too. We can get that stuff tomorrow. I. Am. Done."

Anna nodded. "So am I." She went into their room and sprawled on the bed, on her back, with her arms thrown over her head.

He laughed at her, and decided to join her. He flopped down right beside her and managed to take her hand in his.

"I think we did just fine, baby," he said.

She smiled at him. "I think so, too." She rolled over and inched onto him so she could kiss him.

"Are you being safe?"

"I think so," she said, kissing him again, but with far more passion.

Callen loved having her on top of him, but they both were a bit worried about the baby, so she didn't stay there long. Just long enough to make him crazy.

Anna snuggled into him, and closed her eyes. "We can do all of everything later, okay?"

"Sounds good to me!" Callen kissed her one more time, and then closed his own eyes.

They slept the entire afternoon away.