AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello there. Thank you, once more, for reading and reviewing. It all means so much to me. Thank you to everyone who has embraced Jess... although, I expected a mix response when I wrote this story... As an author, you want everyone to like your story but not just because it all goes the way they want but because it stirs an emotion in them as they read. You have made my day, thank you. Some have asked if this one will be as long as my last couple. No, actually we are about half way through now. Just remember what I said, there are more to come... they will be a continuation of every story I have written thus far. I have left plenty of clues in previous stories for future ones... the only question I might have for you and you for me is... which clues will be chosen... what drama will unfold. Think on that as we continue here with THIS story. What has Callen so worked up and what does Hetty have up her sleeve? I don't know... you will have to read and review to find out. hmmmmm. LOL
"Hey, what was that about?" Sam inquired, noticing the dark demeanor of his partner.
"Hetty being Hetty".
Sam leaned back in his chair, glancing over toward Hetty's desk, who simply returned the look with a raised brow. Turning his attention back to the man now sitting diagonal from him, he could only wonder what was brewing between the two now.
He hated when Hetty and Callen were at odds. It disrupted the whole team and threatened their very existence. There was a time he wouldn't have believed Callen would up and leave so easily but as a whole they screwed that up and even on the good days now, Sam couldn't help thinking how tenuous it all still was, that they were one screw up… one disaster away from him leaving. It was exhausting. At some point he would need to talk to the man and see where his head was at but this Jess had him in a good head space and he wasn't about to mess with that.
"Hetty being Hetty. Hmmmm, okay. Should I be worried?" Sam replied.
"Why should you be?" Callen asked simply.
"I don't know, because you're my partner maybe."
"Look, we apparently have a case and she wants Jess to help. I told her no."
"You told Hetty no" Sam stated incredulously.
"Sam, I don't want Jess on my team." Callen returned adamantly.
"Why not?" Sam asked, confused.
"Why… Sam. I'm the team lead and I lead by example. Now I've let Marty and Kensi stay on the same team because by in large they do well together, but it's not easy. I know all too well what can happen and I'm not doing that again." Callen answered, opening his computer and making it clear the discussion was over… leaving Sam to speculate as to just what his partner meant by the word, again.
"Again," Sam thought to himself, "Was he referring to Tracy Rosetti?" He got the feeling the answer was no. Callen had said on more than one occasion that he wouldn't date someone in their line of work. It was too dangerous. It didn't stop him from hooking up with someone from time to time for a night here and there but that was also rare… even that was a risk in his eyes. All the more telling when Jess showed up. She was able to bypass his walls, maybe because they had known each other for their entire lives. She understood him from the inside out. She understood the inner turmoil. She knew how to deal with him in any given situation… except for his insistence in keeping her off his team. Hetty may think that conversation is finished but Sam knew better.
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The mission had started as nothing more than surveillance which then produced enough information to assure the powers that be that the group was a legitimate threat to national security.
Hetty's team was now tasked with retrieving the stolen information before it could be sold and used by the highest bidder.
Nell intercepted communications that there was an auction taking place that evening. Having garnered the information and backstopping necessary she would insinuate her entire team into the event.
"Very well, Mr. Callen, you will be going in as Russian buyer, Alek Baranov. You will, of course need a plus one so as I mentioned to you earlier, I have asked Jess Coleman to join us."
Before Callen had a chance to continue their earlier argument, Hetty raised her hand to stop him. "No argument, Mr. Callen. I appreciate your feelings but Miss Coleman is well read on the case and is fluent in Russian.
"So is Kensi, So is Anna. Either of them could do it," he protested despite the warning.
"Miss Blye will be backing her partner and Miss Kolchek is otherwise engaged at the present time. My decision is final." Hetty replied.
Callen let out a heavy disapproving sigh but said nothing. It wasn't that he didn't think she could handle herself. He was more than aware of her capabilities. It was that he had to treat her like all the others and couldn't risk the lives of the rest of the team to ensure her safety. He'd already preached that sermon to Deeks. He'd be damned if he allowed himself to be caught in a hypocritical situation.
As if on cue, Deeks allowed himself a word or two on the situation despite his wife's encouragement to keep his mouth shut.
"So, Callen, maybe now you are better equipped to understand where I was coming from in regards to Kensi. She's not just your partner out there… no matter what you try to tell yourself."
Callen raised his head, his eyes burning through him. Sam shook his head in disbelief while Kensi closed her eyes and groaned. "Let's get something straight, right now. I have ALWAYS understood your side of it. I never denied it. I'm simply smart enough not to make things harder than they need to be out there. Know your weaknesses and avoid exploiting them to your enemies. I learned that lesson the hard way. I was hoping the two of you could avoid that same mistake but you are intent on pushing it anyway."
His voice remained painstakingly even. He'd give Deeks grace for the remarks but only because he had allowed himself to be compromised before by working with someone he cared about beyond the point of partnership. His fear was that Deeks and Kensi were doomed to follow that same path. All he could do was what he had been doing in order to keep them safe. Shaking his head, he thought, "How dangerously stupid to allow himself something… someone worth losing." Sighing once more he turned and walked away. He needed space before he said something he was going to regret.
"THAT was the very thing I told you NOT to do," Kensi hissed in her husband's ear.
Sheepishly, Deeks replied, "Did you really think I'd listen?"
"Ladies and Gentleman, wardrobe please. Mr. Hanna, find your partner. Mr. Deeks, follow me to my office so I can explain in painstaking detail what a foolish and nincompoop move you just made," Hetty ordered.
"Do I have a choice," he muttered.
Hetty cocked her head sideways and glared up at him, "NO."
"Right, office… I'm a dumbass." Deeks groaned.
"Yes, yes you are," Sam chuckled as he walked past to go find Callen.
Kensi simply shook her head, "That's one word."
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"Sit, Mr. Deeks," Hetty ordered as she rounded the desk to her chair.
"Hetty"
Raising her hand to silence him, she continued, "Mr. Callen lives by a strict set of rules. It's not a bad thing all told. We all do to some extent but he is very rigid when it comes to his. I blame Jethro Gibbs for that… but this particular rule is one laid down by every ABC agency. For Callen it's much more personal than that.
"Yeah, I know… Tracy Rosetti, we met her, remember?" Deeks reminded her.
"Yes, Miss Rosetti… or Keller, was an unfortunate mistake, but she is not the reason for his demanding adherence to this particular rule. The feelings between Tracy and Callen were blurred by the length of their undercover assignment. In the end she found him expendable and their attraction was narrowed down to the physical," Hetty explained plainly, as Deeks shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"No, Mr. Callen, loved once before. She was a brilliant young woman. A highly sought-after agent. The two made a powerful team. It took one mission gone wrong. The enemy knew the treasure they had when they grabbed her. In an effort to do his job and save his partner, in every sense of the word, he lost both. They got away but not before torturing her and ultimately killing her." Hetty paused a moment before continuing, "He didn't stop until he found the bastard who did it, but it was little consolation for what he had lost." Hetty couldn't help remembering what a long dark path that had set him on. Her heart ached every time she thought about it.
Deeks swallowed hard, at a loss for words.
I trust this conversation will remain between us, Mr. Deeks?"
"Uh, yeah… yeah," was all he could say.
"Good, now off to wardrobe… we have a mission to complete."