Here it is... the end. Hopefully it's worth the wait
#17
Hetty had long since given up on working from the OSP office, preferring to work from home via video conference. With the exception of when someone from HQ arrived to oversee specific operations. This was one of those days… one that pushed her to breaking point.
"I really am sorry. But this is out of my hands, Mr Renko"
Mike could see that Hetty really didn't want to comply with the instructions from HQ. But he also knew that the last few years had been harder on her than the rest of them. While it had been tough on Mike and the rest, Hetty had barely been able to live with letting Callen hand himself over as a test subject.
Sam wasn't much better… he had almost immediately signed himself over to the research project to observe Callen while he was in the wild. He had periodically been relieved by Anna, but even then only for the bare minimum. As time moved on, he had less and less need to be home. His kids were grown and out living their own lives. Things with Michelle hadn't been great, not since they now spent most of their time apart. Although, Sam had hopes for the future now that he was home.
….
"He wants to lock Grace up" Mike announced, walking into the bar
"Can he do it…?"
"Yeah, Deeks. He can. She's a minor, using a firearm, attempting to murder someone…"
"Hetty won't let it happen" Kensi added, certain
"She can't…. I honestly don't think she has enough fight left in her"
….
"You can't let him take the fall for my actions gran"
Hetty had nothing to say, she wasn't going to say something simply to make noise
"He's watched out for me… how am I supposed to carry on knowing he's going to pay for my mistakes?"
"There may be a way…" Hetty began, turning her attention to Grace "…but it means giving your life up"
….
Present Day
"Does it matter, does it actually matter how long I've know you're gay. It doesn't change anything… and anyone that thinks less of you because you're involved with a woman instead of a guy. And anyone that thinks any less of you, you're better off without them in your life"
"I… know it's nothing to be ashamed of. You… if you knew, why didn't you say?" Grace asked, running a hand over her face, trying to avoid having to make any sort of eye contact
….
"I have to head home… you know, you could always come up, meet Vic" Grace paused, getting emotional. Gulping deeply "You know… I appreciate everything you've done for me. And I don't mean just today. I mean everyday since… well, way back. I don't know where I'd be or who I'd be… "
"Hey…" Mike interrupted "..You're talking like I'm not gonna see you again. I know you appreciate what we've done for you. It never entered my mind that you don't. Just… be safe out there"
….
2 Years ago
Mike opened the mailbox and excitedly pulled out the padded envelope stashed inside.
Pulling it out quickly and tearing the envelope open, he found that he had little idea of what to expect.
He had hired a private detective a few weeks ago to find where Grace had disappeared off to all those months ago. She would send the odd letter, the odd email… but nothing else. She hadn't even been in contact with Sydney… which was worrying enough, given she was her flesh and blood. Mike was nothing like that… he was extended family, but they had no REAL connection, aside from him having once been one of the most important people in her father's life.
Before pulling the contents out of the envelope, Mike opened his car door and climbed inside before pulling the contents of the envelope out and studying them.
There were numerous pictures, mostly of Grace in a coffee bar, and some of her with a young African American woman. More than a few of the pictures showed the pair in close intimate embraces. Of the other photos, one answered one of Mike's greatest mysteries… There was Grace serving a cup of coffee to none other than her father. Mike realised that this was all the design of the little ninja. She had been playing the long game, while letting the rest of them think she had given up.
….
Mike had been distracted all day… which was a good enough excuse to explain why he was sitting in an A&E department at 10pm at night, waiting to be checked out after taking a bullet to the shoulder from some neo nazi. Thankfully he suspected it was a through and though. No bullet had hit the bone and, aside from still waiting for an xray, had no real reason to still be waiting around the hospital waiting room. Other than not wanting to try and explain why he had a new body hole to Sydney. He was at the stage in their relationship where he had learned to be more afraid of Syd, than he had ever been of Hetty. He had been thumbing through his phone, then putting it into standby, and then a few minutes later waking it again to yet again thumb through his contacts. Why he was putting off the phone call, he had no idea… there was no reason to be worried. All he'd be doing was calling Grace to see how she was doing… hoping that maybe she would see fit to tell him where she was. Sure, Mike knew… but she didn't need to know that.
It was late enough that he would probably disturb her, and last thing he wanted was for her to interrogate him about why he was calling her. After everything that had happened the last time he had seen her, he didn't want to give her any more reasons to put any more distance between them.
Eventually he decided to send her an SMS… just something casual, letting her know he was still there for if she needed him.
[Mike R] 2203
{Hey. Just thought I'd check in and see how you're doing.}
[Grace C] 2205
{What you doing up so late, Does Gran have you staking some terrorist out?}
Mike was surprised that she had replied so quickly.
[Mike R] 2205
{Nothing so exciting… Just had some time to kill. Thought I'd check in}
Grace didn't reply anywhere near as quickly this time. It had Mike wondering if she had gone to sleep, or if she just was uninterested in chatting at the moment.
[Grace C] 2240
{Who shot you?}
….
3 Years ago
"Can I see him?, before I leave…"
"Are you sure you want to see him as he is at the moment. He may not know who you are , my dear"
Grace had fully signed her life away, she had no idea exactly what would happen next… she knew what she had agreed to sacrifice, but the unknown was worrying her more than she'd admit
"I know, Nan. I… I just. The last time I saw him… it's me… I'm responsible for ALL this"
"Ms Callen… this is certainly NOT your fault. I rushed to return him to here. I let my personal feelings about your father cloud my better judgement…"
"Nan… don't do it to yourself. You wanted to bring him home to his family. I know Mike or Sam would have done the same thing. I… I don't want to talk to him. I just… I need to see him. I know I'll see him again. But I don't know who he'll be…" Grace could see Hetty glance at her. "I know you'll…reprogram him. You'll have to… I know you have to. Even if the stroke is minor. You can't let it get out who he…" Grace paused, reconsidering her choice of words "… Who he was"
"Ms Ca…" now it was Hetty's turn to reconsider her choice of words … "Grace. I'm responsible for much of what happened to your father, As I am responsible for much of what you were put through. I let my own feelings about your mother and Mr Beale, cloud me from being able to see what they would do. Had I paid more attention… things would have been very different for you all"
….
Present Day:
"It's time… isn't it Nan. This is what you meant I would have to give up…"
"I wish things were different Grace. But a number of things have already been set into motion"
"You'll keep your word… about dad. He's better than he seems on paper. He can still be the man you told me about. He can still be an asset"
"I give you my word my dear. And Victoria… she will be taken care of. You needn't worry, though I know you shall."
….
"Grace gone home?"
"Yeah… she… something's just not adding up…"
"what?" Sydney asked, from the kitchen as she put the shopping away
"She… thanked me for all we've done for her. It… it was like she was saying good bye"
"Why don't we go up and visit her this weekend?. I'm sure Hetty'll let you take a couple of days off"
Mike thought about it for all of a second, not getting the chance to open his mouth
"…Did she tell you why she came down, Out of the blue like that?"
Mike thought about what to say… he so badly wanted to tell Syd… but it wasn't his secret to tell her. Just like it wasn't his place to tell her that her niece was gay
….
"hey" Vic said, smiling as she heard the door open. "What prompted the trip home?"
"Just needed to see my family" Grace replied, partly glad to be home, but mostly unsure if she could finish walking the path she had been set on so long ago
"Am I ever going to meet them?" Vic asked as she slid something into the over and closed the door "Don't get me wrong. I love the whole 'Mysterious' thing you have going on… but I would like to meet some of them. Even if just once"
"I promise you" Grace answered as she approached Vic and wrapped her hands around her girlfriend's waist and pulled her close "…you'll meet them soon"
….
2 Days Later
Grace ran her hands down her body from her neck to her breast, wondering if it would have been worth seeking treatment. Wondering about the 'greater good'
She had made her arrangements, she knew what was to happen to her and what Vic would be told… It didn't do much to ease her conscience. After everything she had found out about her parents from case files… she wondered if they would have made the same deal that she had.
….
"Are we there yet?"
"Not far now, honey" Sydney replied, trying to calm Jake down. She knew that Mike had issues with the boy… and having him ask if they were there yet for the last 3 hours wasn't going to help. He hadn't mistreated the boy, he just didn't have as much time for him as he had for Grace. Whether that was due to the connection they had, Sydney didn't know. He was loving… it was just that she knew he had issues with Jake because of his parentage.
But she could confess that Mike had seemed 'lighter' since Grace's visit. Whatever it was that had 'lifted' the weight off of him, she was grateful.
"I think I'll drop you off at the hotel… pop into town and scope things out" Mike said out of the blue, never changing focus from the road "Jake could probably do with a nap, anyway"
….
Mike had dropped Syd and Jake off at the hotel, and had done as he said he would. He had driven down Grace's street… just to check if it was as safe as he had been told by the Private eye. After that he had parked the SUV just along the road from Grace's apartment, and taken a walk down to the café bar where she worked. He was just across the street when he saw someone he knew… Someone that he wished still knew him.
"Afternoon" the gentleman said as he passed mike at the crossing
"Yeah. Nice day for it" Mike replied, hoping he didn't trigger some memory in the other man. Upon reaching the other side of the crossing he glanced over his shoulder, wondering what Callen, or whatever he was called know, did. Did he work? Was he capable of it. Mike could confess, Callen seemed very normal…. Certainly a lot more normal than Hetty had led them all to believe. Sure, Mike had known that Callen was up in this neck of the woods for some time… but nothing he had seen said if he was healthy, given how Mike and the team had been told he needed regular round the clock care.
Mike turned his head back round and surveyed the café bar, wondering why Grace had chosen to work here. 3 years on, why a café bar… why not go to uni. Or was the job part of her cover. He stared strolling along the sidewalk to the entrance, holding the door open for an older woman who was just leaving Mike could see that at the very least, the place was safe.
….
Mike had joined the cue at the counter and started looking around, trying to be as subtle as possible to see if Grace was working, or even Vic.
"What can I get ya?" Mike looked up and staring him in the face was Vic. How had he missed her being at the register
"You Vic?"
"Yeah?" Victoria replied, slightly hesitant
"I'm wondering if Grace is working today, come up to see her" Mike asked, trying to remain as calm as possible, but still assess the young woman Grace had become involved with
"She's in the back. Who's asking?"
"I'm her… I'm…" How could mike answer this without starting a whole long conversation with stuff he couldn't really get into with anyone not read in "I'm Mike… I'm her…"
"…Her uncle. Uncle Mike?" Vic asked, interrupting "I'm really meeting you. I swear I was starting to think she had made you up"
Obviously Grace hadn't been shy about mentioning some parts of her history with her girlfriend
"No I'm completely real. Any clue what time She gets off?"
"Shortly. Take a seat and I'll bring her out to you" Vic replied, before tapping one of the other baristas on the shoulder and asking him to cover the till
….
"Hey, you'll never guess who I just met"
"Santa Claus, the easter bunny… the tooth fairy?. You need to narrow it down, babe"
"Your uncle just walk in… Come on, introduce me"
Grace flipped her wrist over to check the time… Why now. Why today. Why'd he have to come here today of all days. She had less than an hour till everything was set to go down
"He alone?"
….
"Mike" Grace said, as far as her girlfriend was concerned a loving greeting for her uncle she rarely saw. But Mike knew…. Could see she didn't really want him in her world
"Your aunt suggested a visit. You know how hard it is to talk her out of one of her ideas"
Mike could see the tension on Grace's face. He could see the worry.
"I'll go get you both a coffee, give you time to talk. Same as usual, hon?" Vic asked, taking the hint that there was something going on… more than just some normal awkwardness. She tenderly squeezed her girlfriends arm and disappeared off to the counter
"What're you really doing here?"
"Your aunt wanted to see where you live. I… Just wanted to talk to you"
"You know the modern thing to do would be text me…"
"Well, No bullet holes…" Mike replied sarcastically "You've been up here for better part of 3 years. I didn't think there was anything wrong with wanting to see you. I guess I'm just worried… I know what your mom was like when we found out she had breast cancer. She had your gran, and us… she wasn't alone."
"MIKE…" Grace said in a very loud irritated voice. Not really thinking about where they were. Realising where she was She glanced around the room, taking into account of the number of customers now looking intently at them having stopped their various conversations …"Mike. This isn't a good time. Look… just em… I'll call you when I finish. You can come over to the flat, bring Sydney… and we'll talk about whatever you want"
….
"Gran… we need to put… we need to delay things. Mike and my aunt are in town"
[…]
….
Grace was about to put her cellphone back in her pocket, after the conversation with Hetty… she knew what she had to do
[Grace C] 1630
{Come round in about a half hour. Just please, don't bring Jake}
….
Mike pulled over outside Grace's flat… he was early. But Grace knew all to well what he was like.
Before he could even put the car in park, he heard the unmistakable sound of a gun being fired.. Mike panicked. Slammed the SUV into park and jumped out, not even taking the time to cut the ignition. As he ran round to the door of Graces home, he reached back and grabbed his SIG before kicking the door in. Rushing inside he ran up the stair 2 steps at a time, reaching the door to her flat he once again kicked it in, not taking the time to bother being covert.
"Grace?" he called and he swept the various rooms till he found Grace in the lounge, gasping for breath grabbing her gut. Trying to stop blood from escaping
"Come on Kiddo… " he said, dropping to his knees at her side and dropping his SIG before reaching his pocket and calling 911 "…Don't do this to me. You'll be okay… just a flesh wound"
Mike didn't know if he was trying to convince her or himself.
He could smell the blood, feel it soaking into his trousers feeling the cool warmth as his god daughter gasped for breathe as the life drained out of her
I know there are more than a few unanswered questions... all will be answered in the sequel, that will continue Grace and Mike's story