chapter 5
Pins, Bullets and Journals
A/N Thanks again for your continued support, Linda, Wotumba1, Amjm, LostForeverInHisEyes, Guest and Janice. This chapter is rather short again but I hope you won't mind.
Disclaimer: Of course, any resemblance with actual persons, places, buildings, and addresses are purely coincidental. This means that names or incidents which come by in this story are simple fictitious. All, except for the ones who were made up by CBS, Shane Brennan and R. Scott Gemmill. I gladly use the NCIS team for this story.
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Los Angeles || Hollywood, North La Brea Avenue
Before he fired the gun he grabbed from and shot at this tattooed guy, there was a huffing laugh of Paul Angelo, who'd pointed his gun at Callen.
"I should have known better indeed, Callen. You're different from the rest, right? That petite puppeteer never stopped bragging about your abilities, did you know?"
Angelo didn't wait for any explanations, but continued to talk. "Do you have any idea how it is for any of the other agents in this stupid agency of yours or even others? There's always 'G. Callen, the ghost', or 'the legend', to be compared with."
Callen decided not to respond. In fact, he didn't have a clue what Paul was talking about, or that his career was something that bothered anyone at all. Nor that he would know how it felt. He was just doing what he did, together with the ones he worked with.
"That same little lady who got you out of the hands of the cops, far from juvie and took you straight in, protected you from getting arrested again?" the other man huffed. "I don't know why she did that. Have you ever told her what you've done to get arrested for at all? And how come you never shared the fate of, or cared about the others of the gang, how come you never even came and look for us again?"
Indeed. It must have been someone whom he'd known in one of the last places he stayed in. Still, he didn't recognize this guy. One of the gang… It never was something to be proud of. Robbing some stuff from shops and reselling it in the streets, and carjacking too.
"She always protected you, right? She will do so now. Consider this a test. A show. I bet she has a team, probably your team, outside. Waiting to bust in. But for every step they come closer, a bullet per child is what they'll get."
He shook his head. "But she... Hetty won't know. She doesn't work any longer."
"You're so funny, Callen. Trying to protect her, and those children. You really think we believe it?"
They had to. Was there a way to prove it?
"G-man... look."
Thunderstruck he now stood, practically unable to move. Did he really see how this guy deliberately shot his gun at one of the young girls who stood this close to him?
He forgot to breath in. Forgot his training. All he saw were the large brown eyes of the girl in the pale blue dress. He noticed how her dark blond hair curled along her face. Callen registered her name tag. Macy, she'd written her name on it herself and drawn hearts and flowers around it. But above all, he noticed how the dark stain where the bullet hit her, growing larger and larger. The silent gasp of this girl.
All he could do was watch.
All seemed to go in slow motion.
All.
"You..." he swallowed, sick from processing what he witnessed. "Bastards. Why do this to her? She's innocent. What did she do to you?"
Callen kneeled beside the young girl, not waiting for the response of these two men. He needed both hands to put as much pressure as possible to stop the bleeding, and all he could do was hope for the best.
"Macy?" He read the pain and fear in her eyes. "Macy, listen." He had to grab her attention now. "I heard..." he looked around, saw the female leader in about the same position he was right now, taking care of Baker. He wondered how this situation would end. Again, he focused on this young girl. "Jeanny in there told me you were doing wonderful on stage."
He didn't really know, but he had to keep the girl awake. Alive. "Macy? I'll... let's tell your mom too, okay?"
Her eyes started rolling back and Callen was afraid she wouldn't make it.
He looked up and knew he never had his emotions under control. "Paul... why?"
"I hate you all, Callen. Your perfect little team of super agents. But I hate you and Hetty most. You have it all, everything you are is what I should be."
Even the words Paul Angelo spoke weren't really reaching his brain. Still, it made him think. Did he hear Paul saying this? That he, Callen, had it all? Did Paul really know what he was talking about?
"Frankie knew you'd be unable to resist a call when kids were involved. And I know how this is going to hurt poor Hetty".
Of course. The words sank in so slow and while he still had his eyes fixed on the young girl.
"But... what?"
Callen didn't have a real chance to ask. He only noticed the gun Angelo held. It was raised his way and there was no real chance to dodge from the bullet that came his way. Somehow he managed to duck, but far too slow though to get away from it completely. The bullet hit him high enough, but never lethal, he knew.
All he could think of was that Paul shot him. Him – unarmed, while he was trying to save the life of a girl. A young girl, innocent and shot, just because.
"I had other plans but well, you forced me to do this. I'll meet your precious Hetty, mourning, at the morgue or at the hospital."
He saw the hatred in Paul Angelo's dark brown eyes and expected another shot. Instead, there were noises from above and after a few curses, Angelo stepped back. Out of Callen's sight.
Callen groaned in agony. He felt Macy's gaze, he felt her fear more than this own pain. Pressed her wound again.
Why did he start to feel so weak, so sleepy? "Macy? Please stay... stay awake. Please?"
His arms started feeling rubbery and he was losing strength. Gas, he figured.
He wasn't alone in this matter— his unfocused eyes registered how the children were going down, one by one. To him, it didn't really matter. He wanted not to feel, for the time being.
Besides, there was no way to fight the lightheadedness and sleepiness and Callen simply gave up fighting.
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Los Angeles || NCIS office of special projects
"Beale. Is there any news from your co-worker yet?"
Eric shook his head. He simply felt and knew how his face reddened. But then, he wasn't lying so he confirmed his shake of the head. "No, not yet, ma'am executive assistant director."
"No need to be this formal, Beale. Relax. Will and can you try to reach agent Jones for me?"
"Ehm... I will, but... but are you sure about that?" He started stammering and he knew it. "What if she — Nell could be busy, you know."
Mosley's gaze was literally chilling him to the bone right now and so Eric simply did what she asked him to.
Nell's phone rang twice, three times and after the fourth time Eric started to feel uncomfortable. He shook his head.
"There must be a reason why she doesn't answer it. Like, perhaps there was no time to communicate but an immediate action was required."
"You think so?"
The raised brows made him realize Mosley doubted his words and so Eric added "I know Nell, ma'am. Know her longer than today. She'd see who's calling and I am pretty sure she'd answer, or call back the minute she can." He paused a second and repeated his words. "I know Nell..."
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Los Angeles || Hollywood, North La Brea Avenue, outside
She watched in awe as two heavily armed and uniformed men were up on the roof in matters of seconds. They lifted a hatch to what she knew gave access to the air-conditioning system. Then, they both took two vials and simply dropped them inside.
Nell bit her lip, then she finally asked Ramirez "Isn't it too much? I mean… Are you sure it is not too heavy for these kids?"
The man shrugged and replied rather dryly "Actually I don't know, since we've never tried before. Not in a situation like this."
He sent her an encouraging smile and motioned to the many vans with blinded windows. There were ambulances waiting too, their flashing lights still drawing the attention of anyone around. Still, what would happen outside would be kept from the public, since some of the men put up a higher screen as a barrier.
"You'd better make your call to your office, agent Jones, and let your boss know we're going in. In two minutes from now, to be exact. No delay. Our men will get everyone out."
She nodded. It surprised her that despite everything that went on she still felt calm enough to have a conversation like this. To make decisions after several scenarios were discussed. She didn't have to go in and find out herself what had happened inside. Then, why did her heart skipped some beats after all when she thought about the team leader? All of them knew Callen was inside, and that whoever was behind this all, had wanted him inside. What if… No, she needed to do what was asked from her, and right now it meant she had to call Mosley, to explain and to wait.
Nell took her phone, hesitated for a second. An incoming call surprised her for another second. When it stopped, she noticed it had been the office. She gathered some courage and made the call. "Mosley? This is Nell in here. I called to let you know we, well, the SWATs, will go in. Right now."
-"I think you may remember to call in before a decision like this was to be made, agent Jones."
It sounded so strict and Nell inhaled deeply. She chose her words carefully. "You are right about that. We need immediate action though, since five gunshots were registered from the inside. With all those children involved, we made the decision to interfere without any time-lag, ma'am."
She tried to ignore the pause coming from Mosley, more or less afraid there were more harsh orders coming from the city's NCIS executive director in charge. Instead, she heard a 'very well' on the other side of the line.
-"Please do inform me as soon as you know more, Jones. There are too many rumors going round in town, and the press is already circling around like vultures. Even worse, the major has been asking questions. This means I'll need facts, as soon as possible. So I suggest SITREPS coming in from your side every five minutes."
Nell understood. In a situation like Mosley's she'd want that too. "Will do so, Mosley," she said. Then she disconnected and the long wait started.
Thanks for reading. I'd be happy when you share your thoughts on this story so far too!
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