For a man who is suspected for killing a federal agent, Jackson Gear was remarkably calm, just that morning he had been shopping for his granddaughter's birthday present, and before that he had been swimming at the local pool. This wasn't the kind of criminal behaviour you would suspect or expect for that matter.
After making a cup of tea, Gear decided to sit and read his paper. He was just finishing the cross-word when the door was kicked in.
"NCIS, Federal Agents. Stay still and put your hands were we can see them." Two men burst in through the front door and another from the rear. All armed, all pointing their weapons at him.
Needless to say he did as he was told.
"That's a new record." Sam Said as he walked out of interrogation.
"What finding him or getting him to talk?" Callen was a step behind him, for once.
"Well he didn't talk so much as sung and finding him was technically Eric and Nell." Pouring a cup of coffee, and turning of wave the pot at Callen, who shook his head. Instead opting for a donut from the box sitting on the counter. He had just taken a bite when Kensi and Deeks walked in, the former stopping to look at the TV screen showing the accused and the latter heading straight for the donuts and coffee.
"So you caught him." Callen wasn't sure if this was a statement, observation or question. He chose to answer it in a way that would work for all three, he just stood there with an expressionless face, Kensi took it like she normal did, annoyed.
Sensing a martial dispute about to start, both Deeks and Sam raced out of the boathouse and for once they didn't complain about sharing a car. Sam called out over his shoulder that he would see them later at whatever event it was that Eric had picked for their team Friday outing, and made it to the car with seconds to spare, beating Deeks to the driver's side, and saving himself from the drivers choice music rule, that Hetty had put in place after a partially nasty two hour road trip.
"I thought you were taking the day off?" Callen said offering Kensi a donut, no doubt an olive branch.
"I felt better, so I had Deeks pick me up on the way here." Taking a donut, and after a quick smell she put it back in the box with a look of disgust on her face. "When was the last time someone bought new donuts for this place?"
"This morning. Are you sure you're feeling ok?" Now Callen was worried, not only was she willingly riding in a car with Deeks, but she had turned down a perfectly good donut.
"I'm fine. Why did he do it?" She said pointing at the screen, which showed their calm and collected murderer.
"Apparently Special agent Tomas wasn't the loyal agent he pretended to be. Turns out our now retired mob man," pointing at the screen "was Simpson's second in command, Simpson the mob boss, payed Tomas to mess up the investigations by paying off the witnesses and losing evidence. Turns out that last year about a month before his death Simpson and Tomas covered up one more death, Samantha Gear, Jackson Gear's wife, he wanted revenge, and was willing to admit to the murder."
"I know that this is wrong to say, but I'm glad he's dead." And with that Kensi grabbed the keys out of Callen's pocket and set out for the car.
"Fine you can drive this time, but I'm choosing dinner!" He said as he walked out after her.
Kensi and Callen were finishing up the paper work that they had left behind the previous day. Sam, Nell, Nate, Hetty and Eric had just left for whatever it was that Eric had picked out for team night, Deeks had just reported in, after dropping off the prisoner and was now headed out.
"There I'm done!" Kensi said as she closed the last file, beating Callen by seconds.
"Me too."
"Not quite yet" she says as she drops a stack of paper on Deeks's desk, she walks over and puts another file down on Callen's desk.
"As my team leader, I need you to sign off on any leave I take."
"Why are you taking leave?"
"Read the file."
He does, then smiles.
"You knew that this would happen." Callen says as he walks into the giant tent, stopping to turn around when he realises that Kensi isn't with him.
"You know I've never seen an elephant before, I wonder if I could get him to spray water on Deeks." Callen smiles and looks around trying to spot the team in the audience of the travailing Circus.
"Oh, look Deeks saved us seats, too bad you already sweet talked that elephant."
"Oh, shut up." Callen laughed.
They made their way up the stairs to their seats, stopping only to buy some popcorn from a passing vendor.
"Finally your here, they are about to start." Eric was bouncing up and down in his seat, only to stop suddenly when Hetty, who was sitting next to him, was knocked, nearly losing her glasses in the large tub of popcorn sitting on her lap.
Just as Kensi sat down the lights dimmed and the announcement started "Ladies and Gentlemen, can you please take your seats, the Mystic Circus is about to start."
It wasn't until the team were sitting in a bar down the road from the Circus, did she final notice. She was shocked she hadn't noticed it before, angry at herself for missing the obvious signs. Not eating her favourite food, donuts, refusing to drink anything alcoholic, the crying and mood swings and even the light glow that surrounded her.
She did the only thing she could, under the circumstances.
"Ms. Blye, you are officially on desk duty until your maternity leave kicks in." With that Hetty left to go home, leaving her shocked team behind her.
Author's Note: I want to thank you all for your lovely reviews and alerts, it's always nice to know that people like what i write. Also thank you for all ideas.
