So NCIS LA officially pissed me off with the season finale. The only way I could think that it would be forgivable is if those weren't really cops at the end and the person that got shot was a decoy. (Trying to keep it vague for those who might not have seen it yet, but needed to vent)

Chapter 12

Ava's apartment was very simplistic – open with warm natural light floating in from the large windows. Her kitchen was the immediate room at the top of the stairs decorated with sea glass tones. An antique four-person table was set up over by a floor to ceiling window and Ava motioned for her guests to sit down. "I can make some tea if you'd like." She offered pleasantly with a kind smile. The girl was always smiling and seemed like an optimistic soul – an odd concept to Callen.

"We'd like answers, that's all." Sam's cool voice replied, taking his seat next to G, leaving the other side of the table open to the stranger.

"Right, down to business." Ava took in a deep breath before joining them. "I assume you've done a background check on me."

"Ava Knight, 23 years old. Works as a small business owner and volunteers part time as an EMT. No prior record of breaking the law and no evident hacking skills." There was more, of course, but Sam didn't particularly feel like bringing up the girl's dead parents would be called for. At least not yet. According to her file Ava's parents had died in a car accident while she was at home. After their death's she moved in with her grandmother who owned the shop they currently were sitting in and took it over as an inheritance.

"Yes, that's right. What it doesn't say in the file is that I'm an Empath." Ava smiled brightly.

G's jaw dropped slightly and Sam seemed just as surprised. "Come again?"

"An Empath, someone who can sense other peoples feelings and emotions. I also have a special quirk that is uncommon for someone born with the ability. It's very rare – when I touch others who are…well for lack of better term 'psychically active' I can 'see it.'" She looked directly at Callen as she continued. "When I shook your hand the first time we met I knew you were gifted to. I also knew that you were not like me in the sense of being born with your ability."

Pausing the girl tipped her head to the side and studied Callen, her expression thoughtful. "You know, what you did wasn't easy to do."

"What I did?" G repeated, "I didn't do anything. I want this to stop! It's driving me insane."

Ava's eyes widened in her surprise. "It's very rare for someone to unlock their psychic potential. Many people try and fail. I am unsure how, but you must have meditated to a place deep within your mind and…"

Sam interrupted her by laughing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He waved them off when both his partner and Ava stared at him – well G was glaring, Ava was staring. "G doesn't meditate. He barely sleeps, alright? Look, we think it happened when he hit his head a few months back. Could that 'unlock' what you're talking about?"

G continued to glare, but kept quiet as he turned back to Ava waiting for her answer. He was very uncomfortable talking about this craziness and appreciated his partners open-mindedness. Yet at the same time he just wanted to yell, shoot something, and leave and continue to pretend none of this was happening to him.

Thankfully he hadn't had another 'episode' since Kensi.

The blond frowned lightly in concentration. "I have never heard of something like a knock in the head unlocking the gift." She shook her head slowly. "I've met a man who was pronounced dead and suddenly came back to life. He could see ghosts, but that's not what you've been experiencing." Ava shook her head, "I'm sorry you must have done this yourself, there is no possible other way."

Silence fell over the table for a moment before G spoke up again. "When I was unconscious in the hospital I had this dream. I was in some sort of hotel, I went to the basement and there was a room made of glass and an aquarium with a whale under the floor."

The girl across from them straightened at this bit of information – Ava looked excited, it pissed Callen off. "Now that sounds more like it. Did the whale attack you?"

Callen nodded mutely. "I got to the door across the room and there was this light…"

"What color was the light?" Ava pressed seeming thrilled as she leaned forward against the edge of the table with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Purple."

"Purple?" Sam echoed with a scoff.

"Purple…" Ava echoed at the same time, but in a softer, more contemplative voice. "Wow, I've never met anyone…" Her eyes grew sad and her lips formed a line. "I'm sorry, it must be very painful."

Though Sam seemed confused Callen nodded slowly. "Yeah, I wouldn't describe it as a walk in the park. What's with the color?"

Shaking her head Ava refocused on the conversation. "The intensity of the gift is color mapped. My grandmother was actually the one who figured it out – she's the only one I know of that studied the Gifted. White is the base color, level one if you will. Most people don't even know they have a gift and write everything that they sense off as De Ja Vu. Next level up is green. They'll experience head rushes and pitch changes in their ears before or after they use their abilities. Blue is next headaches and exhaustion. Last is purple – everything every other level deals with, excruciating headaches, nose bleeds, exhaustion that comes on so fast you pass out. It's bad news, and it'll only get worse without control."

"G," Sam started, turning to his partner, but Callen wasn't listening.

"Control? And you can help me control this?"

Ava looked shocked for a second before she managed to find her voice again. "I – maybe – "

Sam didn't look impressed. "Maybe?"

"Well, I don't know. I mean – my grandma, she would have been able to help you hands down. But me? I've never – she's been gone a year – I've never helped anyone. The others, they don't go out of their way to associate with one another…"

"Why is that? Why the big secret?" Sam demanded suddenly. "How can there be psychics out there, people who can really make a difference with these abilities – "

Ava leaned back, further away from them. A defensive move both agents noted as she answered. "Are you kidding me? You know what kind of people would kill to see the future, or read peoples minds? Or be able to control emotions? Bad guys. My grandma told me there's an underground trade, people with our abilities," she was looking at Callen now, "are sold, like animals. So we keep quiet, we keep to ourselves, we don't draw attention to ourselves or each other – it's a code of survival. The others, they would be pretty angry if they learned that I told you all of this in front of him," she pointed at Sam accusingly before dropping her hand and offering him an apologetic look. "But my grandma, she was different. She wanted to help, to understand it all. She dedicated her whole life – I promised to try to as well. I want to help you – I'll help you however I can – but you need to understand how dangerous this is."

The two agents fell silent as this information was digested. Slowly both of them nodded in agreement. "We understand." G spoke up first, new fears beginning to unfold within him. Not only was his 'condition' bad, but apparently there were people out there that would love to get their hands on someone like him. For what? Death visions? This was all sounding so ridiculous. Just more people on a very long list of people who wanted G – although the previous list simply wanted him dead.

"We also understand the danger to you." Sam offered to the tense girl who relaxed after the acknowledgment. "Now, how can you help us with Callen's…problem." Sam waved a hand in G's direction, gaining another pointed look/glare from the other man. Shrugging in return Sam looked back at Ava who was sitting up straight again – less defensive. She wanted to help, Sam understood that – talking about the negative was necessary, but it wasn't something she was comfortable with.

"My grandmother had a notebook of a few things she believed could 'calm' the gift. Lessen the effects – although in your case it might not be very helpful. There were a few types of tea, meditation exercises, certain scents can help. Unfortunately there are several different types of everything and it'll be trial and error before we can figure out which of what works for you."

Sam smirked a bit somewhere in the middle of Ava's speech. "Tea, G, your favorite."

"Shut up, Sam." Callen cradled his head in his hands with a longsuffering sigh.

"Not a fan of tea?" Ava winced sympathetically. "I'm sorry, it's the best way to lessen the effects before an episode for Foresight. All the other methods are only helpful after the fact."

"He'll live." Sam assured her. "Until Hetty kills him." He snickered, ribbing his partner playfully in the side.

"Ugh, all these years avoiding her tea."

"When she sees you drinking someone else's she's going to be mad." Sam drew out the last word mockingly with a laugh.

Ava watched the exchanged with fascination but no real clue of what they were talking about.

"What are you? Five?" G asked, raising his head finally to glare at his friend.

"Sometimes." Sam grinned back.

That's it for now…it might be a while before I get around to the next chapter because I'm kind of ticked off at the show at the moment. Sigh.

But thank you to my readers! You all are awesome and I appreciate you greatly! A special thanks to those who take the time to review they are very encouraging!

Hopefully my anger doesn't last long…sigh.

- Berry