(The Next Day)
(Washington D.C.)
(At NCIS Headquarters)
(Emily's P.O.V.)
I heard McGee chuckle a little behind me.
"Sh!" I said, looking at him over my shoulder, where he was sitting at his desk.
Then, I went back to what I was doing.
McGee and I were at the NCIS building.
We arrived at the same time in the parking lot, and came up together.
When we arrived, we saw Tony in his chair at his desk, still in yesterday's clothes, asleep. Indicating he never went home last night after we squared everything with the case away.
Seeing this, I seized the opportunity to take a magic marker off McGee's desk, and draw a mustache on him. Just to get him back with what he did to me when I arrived here about a week ago.
"What on earth-?" I heard a voice begin.
I stopped what I was doing, and looked toward the voice.
It was Ziva.
She was looking at me with a questioning look.
"Payback." I whispered.
"Ah! Well, by all means," Ziva whispered, gesturing for me to continue.
And I did.
Once I was done with the mustache, I drew big circles around each of his eyes, and connected them like glasses.
"Is there something I should know about?" I heard a voice ask.
I looked toward the voice, and saw Gibbs by his desk.
"Hey, Gibbs!" I said, smiling at him, as I capped the magic marker.
I then handed a smirking McGee the marker.
Gibbs looked at Tony. Studying him.
"Why?" Gibbs asked, looking at me.
"Because it's funny." Ziva said, smiling.
"Because he deserves it." McGee said.
"Payback." I said.
Gibbs smiled a little.
Then, he shouted:
"DiNozzo!"
Tony awoke with a jolt. Clearly on high alert.
"Yes, boss?" Tony asked, looking at Gibbs.
"I'm taking Emily to the airport." Gibbs said. "Thought you would want to say goodbye before she left."
Tony looked at me.
And when he did, I couldn't help but laugh a little.
But I quickly recovered.
Tony smiled at me, and stood up.
Then, he hugged me.
"Have a safe flight, Em." I heard Tony say, as I hugged him back. "I'm going to miss you."
"Oh," I began smiling. "Give it five minutes; I'm sure that won't be the case."
"And, seriously," I heard Tony whisper in my ear. "Ask him out already."
"You're your own advice." I whispered back.
Then, Tony and pulled away.
"Oh! Good! I didn't miss you!" I heard a voice say.
I turned around, just in time to get hugged by Abby.
I hugged her back.
"Can't you stay here a little while longer?" I heard Abby ask.
"Wish I could." I said.
Then, we pulled away.
"Call me when you land?" Abby asked.
"Of course." I said.
"Bye, Em." McGee said, standing up.
"Bye, Tim." I said, hugging him.
McGee hugged me back.
Then we pulled away.
I then walked over to Ziva, and hugged her.
Ziva hugged me back.
"I normally don't agree with Tony, but," I heard Ziva whisper. "You should take a chance on Callen."
I pulled away, and nodded.
Little did she know, the ball was in Callen's court.
"Ready?" Gibbs asked.
I nodded.
"Bye, everyone!" I said, as Gibbs and I headed toward the elevator.
"Bye!" They all said.
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(Los Angeles)
(NCIS: OSP Headquarters)
(Callen's P.O.V.)
Deeks, Kensi, Sam, and I were in the bull pen sitting at our desk, doing paper work.
Well, they were.
I was currently staring at Emily's desk.
Ever since she went to D.C., and when we didn't have a case to occupy myself with, my mind would wander to her, and wonder what she was doing at the moment.
Wondering if she was ok.
Wondering if she was missing me as much as I was missing her.
Wondering if she was even wondering about me at all.
My heart began to ache.
I took a deep breath and let it out. Hoping it would help.
It didn't.
"What's wrong?" I heard a voice ask.
I looked toward the voice and saw Kensi was looking at me.
"Nothing." I said, as I sat up straight in my chair.
"Are you sure?" Kensi asked. "You've been spacing out for a while."
"I'm good, Kens." I said.
I then looked at Sam.
By the way he was looking at me, I knew he knew Emily was on my mind.
I looked away from him.
"Hey, Deeks," Sam said, getting the attention of our LAPD liaison. "Do you know when Emily's coming back?"
"As if two days ago, no." Deeks said. "She hasn't called since then." Then, Deeks looked at Sam suspiciously. "Why?"
"I kinda miss my favorite desk partner." Sam said.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute!" Deeks said. "She's MY desk partner."
"We share the same desk." Sam pointed out to him.
"She's my desk partner." Deeks said.
Sam just shook his head smiled.
"I miss her." Kensi said.
"We all do." I said.
"Especially me." Deeks said.
"I highly doubt that." Sam said.
"She's my best friend." Deeks stated. "I've known her longer than you three combined. I miss her the most."
Sam looked at me, then, he looked back at Deeks.
"No you don't." Sam said.
"You saying I don't miss her?" Deeks asked.
"No. I'm sure you do." Sam said. "I'm just saying that there's one person who misses her more than you do."
"Who?" Deeks asked, clearly confused, yet, curious at the same time.
"Callen." I heard a voice mutter as if it was obvious.
I looked toward the voice and saw Eric and Nell were now standing at the entrance of the bull pen.
Nell suddenly had a look of realization of what she said on her face.
"I-I mean, who knows?" Nell said, trying to cover up what she said.
It didn't work though.
I felt Deeks, Kensi, and Eric's eyes on me.
"What's up?" I asked Eric and Nell. Hoping it would be enough to change the subject, and get the attention off of me.
"Uh-well," Eric began.
"The FBI is waiting for the four of you in the boatshed." I heard a voice say.
Eric and Nell looked behind them, and stepped the side to make room for the person who just joined us.
It was Hetty.
"What does the FBI want?" Kensi asked.
"To brief you on a case they you're your help on." Hetty said. "Eric, tell them the basics."
"About a week ago, a man named Tyler Bradley wa murdered. So far, no suspects." Eric said. "But, today, a woman named Sophia Farrell was murdered. She's a Marine, and the FBI believes that both cases are related."
"How?" Sam asked.
"Because Sophia Farrell was Tyler Bradley's girlfriend." Eric said.
"Makes sense as to why they think that." Deeks said. "More than likely they are."
"Well, let's go meet the FBI." I said.
Then, Deeks, Kensi, Sam, and I got up, left the bull pen, and headed out of the building.
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As soon as Kensi, Deeks, Sam, and I entered the boatshed, I saw two FBI Agents in the main room of the boatshed by the table. Looking right at us.
"NCIS?" The man on the right asked.
"That depends." I said once we reached the table. "You FBI?"
"Sorry about my partner." The man on the left said. "He's paranoid a lot."
"I know exactly what you mean." Sam said looking at me.
"I'm Special Agent Jake Rivers." The man on the left said. "This is my partner, Special Agent Hank Cummings."
"Special Agent Sam Hanna." Sam said. "This is Special Agent Kensi Blye, Detective Marty Deeks, LAPD, and Special Agent Callen. We were told you wanted us to assist you on a case?"
"Yes." Jake said. Then, he opened a folder on the table. "Thirty-four year old Tyler Bradley was found dead by the beach last Thursday. So far, all we have is a bullet casing."
"He was shot in the head." Hank said. "No witnesses have some forward. And so far, nod suspects."
"And today, his girlfriend, thirty-three year old Sophia Farrell was found dead in her house." Jake said. "All we got is one bullet casing for her, too."
"She was also shot in the head." Hank said.
"She's also a Marine." Jake said. "Which is why we called you guys."
"Have you talked to the neighbors yet?" Kensi asked. "Or next of kin?"
"Not yet." Hank said. "We thought we would brief you guys first."
"Ok." I said. "Kensi, Deeks, talk to the family's. Agent Rivers, Agent Cummings, can you talk to the neighbors while Sam and I check out the crime scenes?"
"Not a problem." Jake said.
"Let's move out." Sam said.
The six of us began to head to the exit, when I felt someone tap my shoulder.
I stopped walking, and turned around. Becoming face to face with Deeks.
"What Deeks?" I asked.
"Was Nell right?" Deeks asked. "Do you miss Emily a lot?"
"I miss her, yes." I said.
"But do you miss her a lot?" He asked.
"We have a murder to solve, Deeks." I said.
"Just tell me if Nell was right." He said.
"Kensi is waiting for you." I said, anger a bit clear in my voice. "Go."
"But-" Deeks began.
I just stared at him.
"Right. Going." Deeks said.
Then, Deeks walked by me, toward the exit.
I took a deep breath and let it out.
"Callen," I heard a voice say.
I looked toward the voice and saw Nell was on the T.V. screen.
"I'm sorry about earlier." She said.
"Don't be." I said. "I'll just be glad when she's back."
"Well, this should make you happy then." Nell said, a smile coming to her face. "Gibbs just called Hetty. Emily's on her way back."
When Nell said that, I couldn't help the smile that came to my face.
"Hetty doesn't know that I'm telling you this, so-" Nell began.
"I won't tell." I assured her. "But, Hetty tends to know everything."
"True." She said.
"Thanks, Nell." I said.
Nell gave me a nod, and was gone.
She's coming back, I thought.
"G.," I heard a voice say.
I looked toward the voice, and saw Sam was by the door.
"You coming or what?" Sam asked.
I nodded.
Then, I began to walk toward him.
"What's with the smile on your face?" Sam asked, as we headed to the black Challenger. "Does it have something to do with what Deeks said to you?"
"You could say that." I said.
Then, we got into the Challenger.