Zoë quickly bent sideways, since she couldn't bent forward with her stomach, and Callen shielded her. He prayed their car wouldn't get hit. He heard the shooting outside for a few seconds and then it stopped and the car screeched away. Carefully he peeked his head above the dashboard and he saw that the coast was clear. He got up and helped Zoë up.

"You okay Zoë? You're not hurt anywhere?" Callen asked concerned as he checked her over for injuries.

"No I'm fine. I'm fine. I wasn't hit."

Pleased that he couldn't find any injuries he looked at the car, it seemed like their car wasn't hit. Outside he saw people screaming and hunched over someone who was lying on the pavement.

"Go see what's going on. I'm fine, I promise," Zoë told him.

Callen exited the car and looked to see what was going on. A male had been shot and was lying bleeding on the pavement. Callen quickly called an ambulance. A little later there was an ambulance and some police on the scene.

"Did you see what happened?" The police officer asked Callen as he came to take his statement.

"We were just about to pull out of the parking lot when I saw a black car with tinted windows, I think it was a Cadillac SUV, pull up and the back window opened and a Hispanic looking man, in his twenties I think, appeared with an automatic weapon in his hands. It looked like an Tec-9. He opened fire and he drove off. What happened with the shooting I don't know. I was trying to protect my wife," Callen told them.

"Thank you sir, this is very detailed. Can I note your name?"

"Agent Callen, NCIS."

"Ah that explains the detailed report. They were targeting this young man?"

"Yeah it seems that way. They pulled up right along here and opened fire and then drove off. No one else got hit so yeah this definitely looks like a drive-by, maybe gang related."

"Did you happen to catch the plates of the car?"

Callen thought back if he could remember the license plate. "It was definitely Californian and I think it ended with 76. That's all I can remember, it happened very fast."

"Thank you, this has been a big help. We'll be in touch if we need some more information."

"You're welcome."

Callen returned to the car and got back in.

"Is the victim gonna be a okay?" Zoë asked.

"He's been shot several times. It looked pretty bad."

"I hope he makes it. Were you able to help the police?"

"Yeah I told them everything I saw. Did you happen to see something?"

"Nah not really, it happened so fast and as soon as you said get down I ducked."

"Okay, I'm just glad you didn't get hit."

"Yeah me too."

"You sure you're alright? The baby too?"

"Yes honey we're both fine, we are both doing fine. We weren't hit."

"Good."

Callen put the car in reserve and went out through the other exit since this exit was still closed off for the investigation. He drove back home and he carried in the groceries. They had a relaxing rest of the weekend before going back to work on Monday.

"Morning," Callen replied as he walked into the bullpen.

"Morning G," Sam replied, he was the only one there. "Did you have a nice thanksgiving?"

"Yeah we went to Zoë's dad and her sister was there too. We had a nice dinner. Did you have a nice dinner with Michelle and the kids?"

"Yeah. Michelle's sister came over as well. Michelle had made a nice dinner. Aiden unfortunately was away training. Perhaps he'll be here with Christmas."

"Ah okay."

"Good morning. How are you doing Mr. Callen? I heard you had an eventful weekend," Hetty spoke as she walked into the bullpen.

"Everything okay with Zoë?" Sam asked concerned.

"Yeah she and the baby are fine. We happened to stumble onto a shooting just outside the Target store."

"You okay? Were they after you?"

"No thankfully not. It was a drive by. Some young man on the sidewalk got shot."

"LAPD just called to inform that the young man unfortunately passed away in the hospital," Hetty told them.

"Ah no!"

"But thanks to Mr. Callen's description of the scene they were able to catch the person responsible."

"That's good. Did they say what it was about?"

"They said it was a gang shooting. But they caught the person who shoot him as well as the man who drove the car."

"That's good."

Hetty left the bullpen again.

"Was Zoë there with you?" Sam asked.

"Yeah she was in the car with me. Luckily they weren't after us. We were just about to pull out of the parking lot when I saw the shooter pulling up. I told Zoë to duck but luckily the car didn't get hit. He was using a Tec-9. It's a miracle nobody else got hurt. It think there were a least like twenty bullets or something."

"Yeah that's a miracle."

A little later Kensi and Deeks arrived as well. A little later Eric whistled the team up.

"What have we got Eric?" Callen asked as the team walked into OPS.

"As of this morning Lieutenant Holly Stevens is missing," Eric started explaining. "She didn't show up for work this morning and no one had heard from her. A colleague went to her house to see if she was home. When he arrived at the house he noticed the front door was open and there were signs of a struggle inside. He called back to base and via SecNav it was send to our office. LAPD is already on scene."

"Was Stevens working on anything specific?" Sam asked.

"Not that we know so far. Stevens' commanding officer is waiting at the boatshed," Nell replied.

"Alright, Kens, Deeks, go to the boatshed. Sam and I will check out the crime scene. Eric, Nell, Zoë, see what you can find out about Stevens."

With everyone knowing what to do the agents left and Nell and Eric sat behind their computers. Zoë went back to her office to see what she could find. Perhaps there was something in the psych evaluations that could lead them somewhere.

..

A little later Sam and Callen pulled up to the crime scene. They showed their badges so they could go into the house.

"Forensics are already done so we can have a look around," Sam told his partner.

Even though forensics were already done it was still an active crime scene so the partners pulled their gloves on first before having a look around. Sam started in the living room while Callen went to the home office. On the desk stood a laptop which appeared to be untouched. There were no signs that they had been in the home office. Callen looked through the other rooms but it seemed like the only place they had been in was the living room.

"Rest of the house is clear," Callen stated as he joined his partner in the living room. "Nothing seems to be missing. Laptop is still there and the safe seems to be untouched."

"Yeah seems like the struggle was only in the living room. Front door seems kicked in. Looks like whoever it was stormed in and grabbed Stevens from the couch here. LAPD questioned the neighbors but they hadn't seen anything," Sam filled his partner in.

Callen's phone rang and he saw it was Zoë.

"Hey Zoë, what's up?" Callen answered the phone.

"Hey G, I looked into Stevens' records and she recently had a restraining order filed against her former boyfriend, who is in the navy as well. It says here he was violent with her and he is under investigation by the MP's as well for his behavior," Zoë said.

"So he could've come here to get some revenge or something and that he kidnapped Stevens?"

"Yeah that's a very likely possibility. He was supposed to have a check-in this morning but he failed to show up and they haven't been able to reach him."

"See if Eric and Nell can find him."

"They are already on it."

"Good work. Sam and I will wrap up here and we'll head back to the office."

"Alright, see you later."

The partners wrapped up at the scene and went back to the office. They walked into OPS to see if Eric and Nell had something new.

"Kensi and Deeks spoke with Stevens' commanding officer but so far it doesn't seem like her classified operations have anything to do with her disappearance," Nell explained. "Eric looked to see if there were any security cameras on her street but there were none facing her house so we're checking the cars that went in and out of her street. We're also trying to find her ex-boyfriend but so far no luck yet. Kensi and Deeks are on route to his house to see if he's there."

"Alright, keep us posted," Callen replied.

Sam went back downstairs and Callen dropped by Zoë's office.

"Hey beautiful," Callen spoke as he walked into Zoë's office.

"Hey you," Zoë replied.

"How's it going it here?"

"Good. Trying to find out more about Stevens and her ex-boyfriend to see if there might be something where they could be."

"Good. And how's our little girl doing?" Callen asked as he placed his hand on Zoë's stomach.

"Mostly quiet today, except for the occasionally kick in my kidneys. She's got a strong kick."

"Yeah we saw her kick on the last ultrasound. She's very active at times."

"Yeah she is."

"And how's mommy doing?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired and sore feet. But as long as I'm sitting it's fine."

"That's good. Just take it easy and if you're not up for working fulltime I'm sure Hetty would mind if you cut down your hours."

"Yeah I know, but I can handle it for now. Just as long as I'm taking it easy."

"Till when are you planning to work?"

"Till thirty-six weeks."

"That long? Shouldn't you stop earlier?"

"No, thirty-six weeks is about the standard and in most cases the baby doesn't come before thirty-six weeks so."

"Alright. As long as you're feeling and doing fine it's fine with me."

"And I will take is easy and avoid standing for a long period of time."

"That's good. And I'll promise you a foot rub tonight when we're home."

"Hmm that sounds nice."

"I've gotta get back to work. I will see you later," Callen said and gave Zoë a soft kiss.

"See you later."

"And I will you see later too," Callen spoke to Zoë's stomach and gave it a kiss. "Be a good girl to mommy."

Zoë loved it when Callen paid attention to her stomach and she always felt the baby reacting to his touches. She definitely knew who her daddy was already. Callen gave Zoë one more kiss before he went back downstairs.

"Hey Callen," Nell called just as Callen was about to walk down the stairs.

"What's up Nell?" Callen replied as he turned around to her.

"I think we found Stevens' ex-boyfriend Simmons, or at least where he could possibly be." Callen followed Nell into OPS. "Kensi and Deeks went to check his house but he wasn't home and his car wasn't there either. We found his mom's house. His mother passed away about a year ago and the house has been vacant ever since. So he could be hiding out there and have Stevens there."

"Good work you two. Send the address to our phones and have Kensi and Deeks meet us there."

"Will do."

Callen walked out of OPS and downstairs.

"Come on Sam, we have an address on Simmons," Callen called as he walked past the bullpen.

Sam followed his partner outside and they got in the car. When they pulled up the address Kensi and Deeks were already there waiting for them.

"So far we haven't seen any movement," Kensi told the senior agents.

"Sam and I will go around front, you take the back."

Kensi and Deeks went around back as Callen and Sam made their way up to the front door. Sam knocked on the front door. He waited a bit but there was no answer. He knocked again as Callen looked through the window. He house looked empty.

"Kens, Deeks, anything at your end?" The special agent in charge asked.

"No nothing, house seems empty," Kensi answered.

"Alright, pick the lock and go in on my signal." Kensi and Callen picked the lock. "One, two, three."

The agents went in and yelled: Federal agents. They searched the entire house but there was no sign of Simmons or Stevens.

"Got Stevens' ID badge," Deeks stated. "So she was definitely here."

"Eric," Callen called over the coms.

"Yeah Callen," the tech responded.

"Does this street have any cameras?"

"Checking…yeah there are two."

"See if you can find Simmons or Stevens. Stevens was definitely here but they left again."

"On it."

Callen and Sam put their gloves on and looked through the house as the junior agents went to ask the neighbors to see if they had seen anything.

There wasn't any clue in the house as to where Simmons had taken Stevens and the neighbors hadn't seen anything specific either. The agents were just about to get into their cars when Eric's voice sounded over their coms.

"Guys, we have found them, at least we think. We found the car and tracked it to an abandoned school in Culver City. Address is on your phones."

"Got it."

The agents quickly got in their cars and drove to the address. They grabbed their vests and rifles from the trunk before entering the school. Callen signaled to Kensi and Deeks to take the left side while Sam and Callen took the right side. With their rifles drawn they searched every room.

"Got eyes on Stevens and Simmons," Deeks called a few minutes later. "They are in the courtyard. Stevens is tied up, she looks beaten and he has a gun."

"Alright, coming your way," Sam answered. "Move in with caution."

The senior agents made their way over to the courtyard.

"Kensi, Deeks, we've got Simmons. You make sure Stevens is okay," Callen said.

"Got it."

"Move in on my count, one, two, three."

Callen and Sam moved into sight while Kensi and Deeks stayed out of sight.

"Federal agents!" Sam yelled as he and his partner moved in closer with their rifles aimed at Simmons. "Drop your weapon."

Simmons recovered from the initial shock and aimed his weapon on Stevens again.

"NO! She needs to pay for what she did. Cus of her I'm gonna get kicked out of the Navy! The Navy is my life. I need to be in the Navy! This is all her fault! She needs to pay!"

"No she doesn't," Sam tried to reason with him. "It is not too late. You can still put the weapon down. You can still walk away from this."

"No I can't! My life is over! She needs to pay!"

"You don't want to do this. Please just put the gun down."

Callen saw that he was aiming his gun at Stevens to shoot her. Without thinking twice he shot Simmons but Simmons had already gotten a shot off. Luckily it missed Stevens and went into the wall behind her.

Sam and Callen went over to Simmons as Kensi and Deeks made their way over to Stevens.

"You're okay, we've got you," Kensi tried to calm her down. "Nell, we need an ambulance for Stevens."

"On it's way," came the reply from the intelligence analyst.

Deeks undid her restraints and he and Kensi stayed with her until the ambulance came.

Sam checked Simmons. He had a nasty wound to the shoulder. "Nell, send another ambulance for Simmons as well. He'll live but he's gonna need medical attention."

"Got it."

The agents waited until the ambulances were there and they took Stevens and Simmons to the hospital. An MP accompanied Simmons to the hospital.

Before being loaded into the ambulance Stevens grabbed Kensi's hand. "Thank you for coming to safe me."

"You're welcome. You just rest up and get better."

The agents wrapped up at the scene before going back to the office. They cleaned the guns before putting them away. Just as the agents walked back into the bullpen Zoë came down the stairs.

"You ready to go home G?" Zoë asked.

"Yeah just have to grab my bag," Callen replied.

Callen grabbed his stuff and bag and the two walked out to the car after saying their goodbyes.

"What do you want for dinner tonight?" Callen asked once they were in the car.

"I'm in the mood for burger and fries."

"Burger and fries it is."

They drove passed the fast food joint on their way home and enjoyed their meal at home. After dinner Callen cleaned up and got some laundry started. Zoë wanted to help but Callen told her to just relax on the couch. When Callen was done he joined Zoë on the couch.

"I believe you promised me a foot rub earlier today," Zoë stated as she swung her legs onto Callen's lap.

"That I did," Callen answered with a smile.

Callen removed Zoë's socks and started rubbing her feet. Immediately he heard moans of delight coming from Zoë's mouth.

"Hmmm that feels good honey."

They watched some TV in the meantime. Zoë was sure if he kept this up she would fall asleep but there was also something about it that turned her on. She stopped Callen and tried to pull him over to her. Callen leaned on the couch so he was hovering above her.

"Thank you for the massage honey," Zoë told her husband.

"You're welcome," Callen smirked back at her.

Hmm that damn smirk of his, it made her weak in the knees every time. Zoë moved Callen closer to her and kissed him. Callen wanted to lie down on the couch with her but then he would crush her with her stomach that was in the way. Zoë reached in between them and started undoing the buttons of Callen's shirt. Callen helped her take it off and he started working on taking her clothes off. Even though her stomach was blocking his view he still knew which way his hand needed to travel to pleasure her. Zoë writhed underneath him as he pleasured her. Callen kept pleasuring her until she had finished. Callen turned her around on all fours and placed a pillow underneath her stomach so she could rest on that.

"You ready honey?" Callen asked.

"Yeah I am."

They enjoyed themselves on the couch for a while before they went up and got a nice hot bath together. Callen got in first and then helped Zoë into the bath. Zoë sat with her back against Callen's chest and Callen had his arms around her.

"Comfortable sweetie?" Callen asked.

"Hmmm, very," Zoë replied.

They stayed in the bath for a while before going to the bedroom. Callen grabbed some drinks and snacks from the kitchen and they watched some TV in bed before going to sleep. When Callen turned the TV off Zoë had already fallen asleep on his shoulder. Carefully he put her down on the matrass and lay down next to her. Zoë stirred a bit when Callen moved her but she stayed asleep.

…

It was the twenty-third of December which meant Christmas was just a few days away. Zoë was now thirty-two weeks pregnant. Everything was still going very fine with her and the little girl. Everything at the house was completely ready for her arrival and both Callen and Zoë couldn't already wait to meet her. They had already picked out a beautiful name for the little girl but they hadn't told anyone that name yet. They would find out when she was born.

Callen had decorated the house for Christmas. In the living room stood a beautiful Christmas tree and some ornament stood around the house. The front yard was decorated with a string of lights on the fence, a string of lights along the edge of the roof and some reindeer around the front yard. This year Zoë's mom Kirsten and her brother Frank were coming over to LA to celebrate Christmas. Mostly during Christmas Zoë went back home to The Netherlands but she couldn't fly anymore at this stage of her pregnancy so her mom and brother were coming over to LA. They would arrive here in the afternoon of the twenty-fourth.

Tonight they were having the Christmas party at work. Everyone had brought some snacks and drinks. They main room was decorated with Christmas decoration and a big table stood in the middle with all the snacks and drinks on it.

"Are you coming back to work after the Christmas break?" Kensi asked Zoë.

"Yes two more weeks after the Christmas break and then I'm on maternity leave. I'll be thirty-six weeks then."

"Ah good. You and Callen excited about meeting her?"

"Oh yes we definitely are, we can't wait for her to be here. It will be a bit getting used to in the beginning I'm sure but we both can't wait."

"If you ever need any help with anything just call. I'm happy to help. Even if it's just getting groceries or something."

"Thanks Kens."

They enjoyed the Christmas party before wishing each other happy holidays and going home.

The next day around 2pm Callen and Zoë drove to the airport to pick up Kirsten and Frank. Callen parked the car in the pick-up zone before he and Zoë got out of the car. They wanted to walk up to the entrance but suddenly there was a luggage cart coming right at them.