All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.

English is my second language, if you find any mistakes in my story please send them back to me for correction.

I also would be very glad to get your reviews.

Chapter 6 - Big Baits Catch Big Fish

They were the fifth day in their new home. Every morning, before Sam went to work, he and Joann staged a noisy dispute. Then she stayed in the house until noon, did the housework and worked in the garden. Neighbors who watched her saw the injuries in her face. In addition the ponderous, with pain-distorted face executed movements, were noticeable to them. Afterwards Joann officially also went to work, a part-time job. She came back before Sam, to have the dinner ready in time. They had the next dispute when Sam returned. He was yelling loudly at Joann every time, insulted her viciously and at last the neighbors could hear the sounds of blows and the whining and crying from her.

Already on the second night the police was with them for the first time. Sam was admonished and Joann offered to take her to the women's shelter. Of course she refused. Every other night the police showed up. On the fifth evening the officers took Sam along, but he came back around midnight by taxi. Of course, there was immediately the next dispute.

When they had finished their show, Sam sighed before he Joann quietly asked, "Well, all right with you?"

She smiled at him. "Of course. Don't worry, I'll cope with it." Sam did not look convinced. "Really. It's just a show, like every other undercover operation."

"Not in your case."

"Yes, also in my case. I'm not a woman who was regularly beaten by her husband. Just once. And if R.J. hadn't knocked me out immediately, the whole thing would have been different. I would have sent him to the hospital and not vice versa."

Sam scrutinized Joann, and then he nodded slowly. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'm sorry that I had doubts about you."

Joann answered the scrutinizing look. "I don't think you had doubts about me. You're only worried. It's just your way. Or those of G. Or of Marty. Or Ray." Joann grinned. "You four know exactly how well Kensi and I are in our job, but you constantly worry about us. Hey, Kensi beats you in two out of three duels, and I almost in every second. We both are as good shooters as you are. Only Marty is better. If you and G are marooned in the middle of nowhere, stark naked, then you will arrive in the nearest city in the shortest amount of time, well fed, well rested and properly clothed. Kensi can do the same. Okay, I can't, but my strengths lie in other areas. I defeat you all when it comes to process and analyze large amounts of information without a computer. Just as Ray does with pictures. You and G are really good when it comes to unusual methods of interrogation, but I can read people like books." Joann took a deep breath. "Well, Sam, stop behaving as my babysitter. Be my colleague, my partner. Give me back cover when I need it. Help me if I can't get ahead on my own. And trust me, that I will do the same for you."

"I know you'll do that. I have absolutely no doubts about that. Also, I am well aware of your skills. Or Kensi's. Nevertheless, I will continue to worry about you, as well as about everyone else. We are more than colleagues and partners, that's what you always say." For a moment Sam looked at her silently. "We are friends and family. That means that one worries about the others, takes care of each other and sometimes one is also the babysitter for the others. I did that for G, long before you both met. And I won't stop with that now." Sam wondered if he should say next or not. "I also know that Marty had been the babysitter for you, too."

Joann scrutinized him with this certain look she always had when she looked into humans. "The leopard can't change its spots. So can't we." Then she smiled at Sam. "We will get about that right. We always have, haven't we?"

…

As Joann appeared at the headquarters the next afternoon, hustle had broken out there.

"Hill has zeroed in on someone. She is about to find out every detail of his life." Ray informed his partner about the current state of affairs.

"And who is it?"

"The one whom they suspected of pedophilia."

"What have your searches proved?"

"They might be right. Eric and Nell have gained access to his computer and just sift the data. If they find something, we will take him of the streets. Then you get the go-ahead."

"Is the guy under surveillance?"

"Of course, Miss MacKenzie." Hetty approached the two. "If Hill let go of their partners on him, we will take him of the streets, regardless whether Miss Jones and Mr. Beale have found something."

"Then Sam and I should also come to our final show tonight or tomorrow morning. The risk to wait any longer is too big."

Hetty nodded. "I agree. The decision on when, I leave to you."

Together they went to the ops.

"Mr. Beale, what have you found?"

"So far, nothing unusual. But we aren't looking for a long time. If he has something to hide, Nell and I will find it."

"I am positive about that, Mr. Beale." Hetty smiled at him.

"How far are you with our 'toys', Eric?"

"Nell gives them just the finishing touch, Joann. You can take them later when you go."

"Thanks, Eric."

Joann went down in the technical area, where Nell was working.

"You're too early, Joann. I need some more time." Nell did not look up, she focused entirely on the small object that laid before her.

"I was just curious, what you and Eric prepared for us." Joann looked at the hodgepodge of small electronic things, which laid before Nell on the table.

„You will have to be patient." Nell did not perceive Joann any longer.

…

Callen and Sam were sitting at their desks and talking in her usual teasing way. Smiling Joann looked at and listened to them for a while.

"How long do you want to stand there, Jo?" With a smile G looked over to his girlfriend.

Joann answered the smile. "I didn't want to disturb you, G." The smile became a broad grin. "You looked so cute together." Then she had to go into hiding, because Sam threw one of the never used pencils at her. "Missed!"

G laughed. He missed Joann, but he knew that she was in good hands with Sam. Then he became serious. "Have you ever spoken with Ray?"

"Yeah, tonight or tomorrow morning time has come. Then Sam has to be the bait."

"We should do it tonight, Joann. We always had our most heated quarrels in the evening. I think it will be more believable this way."

"Okay, tonight." She looked at Sam. "You know what that means for you?"

"Yeah. Do you again want to go to the gym?"

"No, not this time. You have to hit me tonight. Who is at home in this subject is able to see whether the injuries are fresh or even a few hours old."

Sam looked pretty miserable. He really had an issue with this part of the operation. Sharply Joann looked at him.

"Sam, we don't discuss this again. If you do the number on 'corrupt cop sells his partner' with G, you always beat G, so it looks real." Sam wanted to say something, but Joann did not give him a chance to speak. "And if you tell me now that this is not the same, the two of us go immediately into the gym!"

G could not help laughing. "I wouldn't get involved with this, Sam. There is a high probability that you draw the short straw."

"Can we now discuss the details for today evening?" Joann seated herself at her desk and looked inviting at the two men.

"We are still waiting for the others. Kensi and Deeks have to be here any minute."

"Already there." The two arrived at this moment in the office, Ray in tow.

…

Crying and sobbing Joann ran in the street, pursued by a roaring and staggering Sam. Appropriately enough the prowl car turned the corner. Quickly the two officers had the situation under control. The policewoman took care of the weeping Joann, while her colleague brought Sam back into the house. Shortly after, another prowl car arrived. Sam was led away in handcuffs, while Joann, accompanied by the policewoman, was packing a few things and then let herself drove into the women's shelter.

Deborah Jennings in person took care of Joann. That was not planned, actually the manageress should have the early shift. Joann looked at it as a fortunate coincidence that was sometimes necessary for their work.

With knowledgeable eyes Jennings looked at Joann's various injuries. "How long does your husband beat you, Mrs. Moore?"

"Brad only punishes me when I deserve it."

"And how long do you deserve it?" Jennings stood firm over it.

Joann looked down, hemming and hawing. "Since we have been married…for five years now."

"Why are you here now?"

Joann swallowed. "I'm frightened. I...he..." She wrung her hands. "Since our move here...I don't know... for the first time he has beaten me for no reason." Joann swallowed again. "He came in, yelled and had beaten me, just like that. And tonight I thought...I thought...I was sure he strikes me dead." Joann started trembling, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Now, now, is just fine. Here you are safe, Mrs. Moore. Your husband can't come here." Comforting Jennings took Joann in her arms.

Joann shook her head. "Brad is smart, he will find out where I am. I can't stay here for long." She got up. "I better go now."

Deborah Jennings pushed Joann back onto the chair. "He won't find you here, Mrs. Moore. Neither our address nor our phone number is publicly available. Your husband won't find you for sure."

Furthermore talking comforting to Joann, Jennings took care of the injuries and then lodged Joann in a room.

…

"Jennings is online now, Callen." Nell and Eric monitored the computer activities of the suspect women. "She sends a message to Hill with all the information about Joann and Sam."

"What about the alleged pedophile?"

"We couldn't find anything appropriate, Callen. A team has already brought him to safety."

"Okay. Send Ray everything on the computer."

"Incoming."

"Ray?" Callen looked over at his colleague in the passenger seat.

"Yeah, got everything. Hill answers her already. She tells her that the other target is gone and they will now check the Moores."

"G?"

"We can hear you loud and clear, Jo. Got that?"

"Yes. I think Jennings has believed me the battered woman."

"She has already emailed all information to Hill. Be absolutely careful, you shouldn't underestimate Jennings."

Joann sighed. Sometimes the need of her colleagues to protect her, was tiring and annoying. "I won't. See you tomorrow." Again Joann checked her long hair wig, so that no one could discover her earwig.

…

Melissa Hill was fast and meticulous. She checked the legends of Joann and Sam. As discussed, Eric and Nell had created a legend for Sam as a thug back to school days. After his retirement from the Navy 'Brad Moore' lived on the East Coast, therefore he had not been noticeable in California. At the East Coast he had married 'Karen'. For professional reasons Moore had returned to Los Angeles. But first after Hill had found Joan's medical records and x-rays she was convinced that Mr. and Mrs. Moore were genuine. She sent corresponding emails to Jennings, Clarke, Huntington and Wolfe. Hill also pointed out that in two days Brad Moore job-related would fly abroad for three weeks. Eric had arranged appropriate flight and hotel reservations. Only a short time after the women had received the mails, they held a conference call. Hetty, Eric and Nell listened attentively to the discussion.

"Everybody is puzzled that their previous target has disappeared so unexpectedly. This makes our suspects suspicious. We should come up with something, Hetty." Nell was anxiously. "If they are too suspicious, they may decide against Sam. Then we start all over again."

"All right, Miss Jones. Let the man somewhere appear where he is out of reach. And give it a suitable explanation. Mr. Hanna should become to an adequate victim. Mr. Beale, inform our people."

"I'm just at it, Hetty."

…

Sam was released by police without charge and returned to the house. As planned, he tried to reach Joann by telephone. Bu she had handed off her cell phone to Jennings. A precaution that applied to all women. None should be able to reveal unintentionally or intentionally the address of the women's shelter. Sam left a lot of threats to her mailbox.

Jennings played the messages to Joann. "What do you do now, Mrs. Moore?"

Joann, who had become quite pale, shrugged helplessly her shoulders. "I don't know, Miss Jennings. But I won't go back to him. I probably would not survive."

"Your husband said you should be back when he comes back. What does he mean?"

"He has to go abroad for three weeks, job-related. The day after tomorrow."

"Well, that's still the best opportunity for you, Mrs. Moore, to leave your past behind. We can help you to start over."

"Oh yeah?" Doubtfully and fearfully Joann looked at Jennings.

"Of course. We give you a new identity, a new home, a new job. Anything you need, Mrs. Moore."

…

"Hetty, there takes place another telephone conference."

"I'm on my way, Mr. Beale." Hetty went upstairs to the ops.

"I think this time the suspects agree to Sam." Nell updated Hetty. "Jennings is doing pressure because of the tight time frame. But Huntington and Wolfe are still not convinced."

"What about Hill and Clarke?"

"They buy the explanation for the unexpected disappearance of her previous target and are willing to try it with Sam."

Eagerly the three listened to the call. When the suspects finally agreed on Sam, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"Too bad that the women haven't spoken more specific. Then the records of the conversation would be enough to send them up." Nell was a little disappointed.

Hetty chuckled. "Yes, Miss Jones, it would make our job much easier if our suspects would talk openly about their past and planned crimes." Hetty became serious again. "Unfortunately, they rarely do us this favor. Without our background knowledge, we would have heard nothing remarkable in that conversation. Just a few women, who are talking about men. Hardly an unusual topic of conversation." She sighed softly. "Mr. Beale, the team should hold itself ready. In the next few hours our suspects will try to kidnap Mr. Hanna."

…

While Sam was waiting for his captors under the watchful eyes of G and Ray, Joann watched the manageress of the women's shelter. As soon as Jennings would leave the house, the operation would go off with some certainty. Kensi and Deeks had taken over Joann's surveillance. From a safe distance other agents of the NCIS kept an eye on the remaining suspects. The aim was to find the place where the five women captivated their victims, tortured and killed them. This was the only way to convict them. On the basis of Wolfe's involvement Hetty had decided not to incorporate the L.A.P.D.. She depended on the fact that Eric, Nell and two other called in technicians would assist the teams with camera surveillance. Just wait and see.

…

"She's gone, guys!" Joann watched Jennings go away by car.

"Then come out of there, Jo." Kensi got ready to pick up her colleague.

"No, I take the opportunity to look around in her office. I'll get back to you if you can come for me."

"Don't take unnecessary risks, Joann."

"I won't, Marty."

Thoroughly Joann investigated the complete office, but she found nothing in the papers, which did not belong there. Finally she discovered a laptop in one of the drawers. That was not the computer of the women's shelter. Eric already monitored it. Joann booted up the laptop, but it was password protected. She put her phone on it. "Eric, can you get access to this computer?"

"At it, Joann." It took only a short time. "Okay, I'm in and download all the data. You can disappear there now."

"Thank you, Eric, but I'll wait until you're done. If something goes wrong, nobody should be aware that I've searched the office. Maybe I have to be Karen Moore here again."

Patiently Joann waited until Eric was ready. Then she put away the laptop and left the office in the same condition as she had found it.

"You can come and get me now." Joann left the women's shelter. Only moments later Kensi and Deeks drove up. "Did anything happen?"

"All women are on the road. Telephonically they agreed for a meeting in the vicinity of the house." Deeks turned to Joann. "Damn!" Her sight appalled him. "Was that necessary, Jo?"

"Never mind, Marty, looks worse than it is."

"I doubt it." Deeks shook his head. "I've been in one or the other brawl and I know how you feel then." When he saw Joann's look, Deeks did not further pursue the issue.

…

"Sam, they are coming."

"Copy that, G."

The doorbell rang. Grimly Sam opened the door. "Yeah?"

The woman smiled at him apologetically. "I'm sorry to disturb you so late, sir. But my car has had a breakdown, only a little ways up the road. Your house was the only one in which light still was on."

"And what shall I do now? I'm not a mechanic." Sam sounded growling and slurred dead easy.

The woman, it was Andrea Huntington, still smiled. "Maybe I could call from you the automobile association?" She held up her cell phone. "My battery is empty, otherwise I would have done it."

Sam looked at Huntington in a rather disparaging way. "Okay, baby, come in."

At the word 'baby' Huntington winced, but she kept at her smile. "Thank you, sir, that's very good of you."

Sam turned his back on her. At that moment, Huntington moved a taser out of her purse, took aim and shot Sam in the back. Twitching, he collapsed.

Grimly Callen followed the events on Ray's laptop. Ray looked like he would prefer to plunge immediately into the house.

Out of the darkness an unlit station wagon arrived and drove backwards into the driveway. Three dark-dressed women got out and entered the house. Shortly after, they carried out a large bundle. One of the women folded down the back seat, while the other two groaning heaved the bundle into the car.

"Where is the fifth woman?"

"Agent Callen, this is Team Three. We are on her. She has met with the others, and then drove off alone. At the moment it seems as she drives aimlessly through the city."

"Copy that, Team Three."

Just when the women had stowed away Sam, a tiny compact car drove up. One of the women entered it, the other two entered the station wagon. The cars drove away together.

Slowly Callen started and followed the cars inconspicuously. "What about Sam's transmitters, Ray?"

"They are functioning properly."

Ray watched Sam's kidnapping on his laptop, so that Callen was able to keep a large distance. To be sure, the women did not realize anything, the teams took turns at the pursuit. It went back and forth across the city.

"G, they separate. We take the compact car, then you can stay with Sam."

"Got it, Jo. You get two teams in support. Don't let them out of sight."

"We had no plans tot do that." Joann shook her head but said nothing further. Deeks and Kensi grinned at each other.

…

"Where the hell do they want to go?" The compact car again changed the direction. "They go for a sightseeing tour around the town with us!" Joann was a little annoyed. "Eric, what about the others?"

"They also change direction all the time. So far no signs, wherever they want to go."

Joann growled to herself. One of the other teams had taken the direct pursuit, so they did not attract attention. She reached for her laptop, which Kensi and Deeks had taken for her. "Eric, I need the routes that they had gone so far, and their current locations."

"Coming up."

Joann surveyed the result, but she did not go one step further. Nevertheless, she could see something, without really seeing it. "Ray, I send you something. Tell me what you notice at it."

"Yes, copy that." Ray looked at the courses of the routes and finally entered data. "That's it! Joann, I've found something." He immediately emailed his results to Joann and Eric.

"Of course! Crap, I didn't recognize that immediately. Eric, they specifically avoid some districts. Try to find out something about them."

"Will do."

"What did you found?" Deeks turned to Joann.

"Maybe a clue to the place where they want to go. There are a few districts, they deliberately avoid. I'm sure in one of them they have their hiding place."

"How many districts, Jo?"

"Still too many. I hope that we can gradually remove some of the list. Then we may be able to position action force."

The ‚sightseeing tour' lasted another hour. Finally, it did make sense. The women had really circled one district. In it there were industrial complexes and warehouses. Some of the buildings were empty, the companies had gone bankrupt. Too many buildings to guess, in which one the women had their hiding place.

"They're gone!" Ray sounded frantic. "Sam's signals are gone, all! Do you still keep an eye on the car?"

"Team Four. The station wagon is two cars in front of us."

"Don't let him out of sight. We have no electronic monitoring anymore, guys. Eric, what's the problem?"

"No idea, I'm already running a fault diagnosis."

"How can three different signals fail simultaneously?" Callen threw a quick glance to Ray, whose fingers were flying over the keyboard.

"Basically they can't. Possible explanations are a software problem, that the transmitters have been found and destroyed all at the same time, or maybe a mini-EMP. The software problem lies with us and Eric is currently reviewing that. The other two options would mean that the women knew that we set a trap for them. They had plenty of time to search Sam, while they went on a cruise around the city."

"I don't like both possibilities." Callen looked stubbornly forward and started to reduce the distance to the driving ahead teams.

"Team Four. The suspects drive in a parking garage. Shall we follow them?"

Callen did not hesitate. "No. You and Team Five secure the exits. We will be with you in…", Callen interrupted himself and looked questioningly at Ray, who raised two fingers. "We will be with you in two minutes."

"Copy that, Agent Callen."

…

Inconspicuously Callen parked on the roadside when he reached the parking garage. "Status Report."

"Team Four. They did not leave the parking garage at the southern exit."

"Team Five. They also did not leave through the east exit."

"Copy that. We will wait." Callen glanced at his watch.

"Callen, it's not a software error that Sam's signals failed." Eric sounded worried.

"No mistake possible, Eric?" Callen did not sound less worried.

"No. The fault diagnosis has gone through twice and Nell has done a manual check."

"Got it. Team Four and Five, we go in." Callen glanced at Ray, but he had already exchanged his laptop for his weapon. They drove slowly through the rows of parked cars and were on the watch for the station wagon. "There it is." The searched car was neat parked in a parking space. With their guns drawn, the two agents got out and approached cautiously. But the car was empty.

"Eric, you immediately have to deal with the footage of this parking garage and the surrounding streets. We need to know in which car the women have disappeared."

"At it, Callen."

"Joann?"

"We are still on to the small car, G, but they continue to drive aimlessly back and forth."

"Team Three?"

"No change on Jennings, Agent Callen."

"What now?" Anxiously Ray looked at Callen.

"Wait."

…

"Mr. Beale, how is it going?" Hetty had effaced herself. Now she went up to Eric. He had found three cameras in the parking garage and let the footage run in parallel on his monitor.

"Only one of the cameras has made close-ups of faces. I let the face recognition run over the footage, but so far nothing, Hetty. The other two took up the cars, the passengers can only be seen blurry. Too bad for the face recognition. I'm trying to find them without electronic means."

Hetty nodded. "Miss Jones?"

"Unfortunately, this is an area with almost no surveillance cameras. I have found only a traffic camera at a crossroad and a surveillance camera at an ATM." Nell shrugged her shoulders. "I don't expect to discover the women on it. They had been pretty smart so far, so why should they drive past the only cameras in the area? As soon as Eric has discovered the new vehicle, I can search more targeted."

…

"Agent MacKenzie, Team Six. The small car has spotted us and tries to escape."

"Damn! Don't let them get lost, guys. If there is no other way, arrest them. Team Seven, status report."

"We are parallel to Team Six and can be in a minute with them, Agent MacKenzie."

"Copy that, Team Seven. Put your foot down." Joann turned to Kensi. "That goes for you too, Kensi."

She did not need to be told twice, and floored the gas pedal.

"There!" Deeks had discovered the small vehicle first. "Where do they want to go?"

"No idea, I do not care." Kensi tore the steering wheel sharply around and took up the chase.

But the driver of the small car knew what she did. She always managed to stay close in front of her pursuers. But then she slowed down.

"Ha, got you in a jiffy!" Kensi sounded quite triumphantly.

But at that moment the compact car turned into a narrow gap between two houses. The way was meant for pedestrians, however the car barely fit through it. Both Kensi and the other teams were not able to follow with their big cars. Joann jumped out and ran after on foot. She had managed about half of the lane when she heard the sound of a motorbike behind her.

"Out of the way, Jo!"

She heard Marty's voice over her earwig and immediately pressed herself to the wall. Joann's colleague passed her fairly quickly. Amazed Joann looked at him. Where did he get the bike? She shook her head briefly and then ran back to Kensi.

"Eric, keep Marty on the monitor and send the data on Ray's and my laptops. He follows the compact car on a motorbike."

"Copy that, Joann."

Kensi was ready, as Joann arrived at the car. She got on in the front and grabbed her laptop. Kensi went on with squealing tires.

"Wherefrom does Marty have the motorbike?" Joann looked at her monitor, Eric already had sent the map with Deeks' position.

"Dumb luck. The driver left from the company premises across the street. Deeks has stopped him and effectively dragged him from his machine. The guy was pretty shocked. He thought he would become the victim of a carjacking. I could hardly soothe him. Where do the women go?"

"Where we can't follow them." Joann critical glanced at the map. "They use sidewalks and narrow streets. Too narrow for our wagons. We can only hope that Marty will stay tuned with them." She frowned. "Team Three, what about Jennings?"

"She's still on a cruise, but I get the impression that she is back on her way home, Agent MacKenzie."

"Thank you, Team Three. Kensi, something is wrong. Why does Jennings drive back home?"

"She has discovered our colleagues and may see no way to escape them."

"Possibly." Joann was not satisfied with the answer.

…

"There, that's the car! They're in it!" Nell almost jumped up and down in her chair with excitement. "Callen, it is a silver Lexus RX 400 h, license number 6UAG375. It left the parking garage through the east exit. Eric has already started kaleidoscope."

"All right, Nell." Callen looked over at Ray. "Which options do they have through the east exit?"

Ray activated the road map. "I'm afraid, but too many." He pointed to a few points. "Here, here and here they can reach several freeways. They also have access to several large industrial areas and this new development area. There are probably no surveillance cameras. In the industrial areas, there are only a few cameras. Most of them will be on the buildings, and monitor their entrances and exits. All of them good targets to disappear."

Callen nodded. "Okay, then we have to wait, what kaleidoscope will reveal."

…

"Marty, what's up?"

"They drive more slowly and are back on normal streets. I don't think they have discovered me."

"Don't let them out of sight, Marty. Currently they can be our only chance to find Sam again."

"Do you think I don't know that, Jo?" Deeks sounded resentful. Even if he and Sam are constantly arguing and rarely agreed, they were colleagues and friends. Deeks would do nothing that could endanger Sam.

"I'm sorry, Marty." Joann sighed. This case was not only bad, it was also totally out of control. None of them had expected that the women would figure out the trap. Maybe they had not done that but only noticed their pursuers. Anyway, Sam was in danger. Priority was to save him.