She awoke the moment sunshine burst through the cracks of the curtains. Getting up she walked outside to see Callen sitting up on the couch with a piece of paper in his hands.
"What are you reading?" she asked. He tossed it down on the coffee table.
"All the information on, Eli or Matthew, or whatever other names you pick out of the tens there are. That piece of paper is all the information on him. As close to a ghost as I've ever seen," she nodded and sat beside him. He turned to look at her and they both smiled to each other. "None of his suspected crimes are listed; there isn't enough paper in the world for it," she pursed her lips.
"Not a surprise. Listen, um, about last night," he grabbed her left hand and clasped it in his. She smiled whilst leaning into him.
"What?" he looked down at her.
"Nothing," she said back, sitting up. He looked up at her as she rose. He was about to talk when a knock sounded at the door. They both stood at the same time.
"Sam shouldn't be here yet," he walked over to the door and looked through the mail slot. "I have never got any mail, and it goes through NCIS if by chance I do. So why is there a mailman on my doorstep? Quick get into the bedroom, close the door. Can you find a bit of the glass and use your phone to record whatever happens? If anything? Just stay hidden," she nodded and ran to close the door. When Callen could see the camera but not her he opened the door.
"Delivery of a package and letter," said the mailman just before Callen went to open the door. Before he could open it the man ran backwards and turned. He then ran straight at the door and using his right foot kicked it down. Callen tried to reach for his gun but was too late. The man came fighting full force and went hand to hand with Callen. He fought like he was well trained and Callen struggled. Behind the door she gasped and fought the urge to turn the handle and go out. With a large throw, the man tossed Callen down the hall and produced a gun which he pointed straight at his forehead. "Now, where is the girl?" he cocked the gun.
"Don't know what you're talking about," he walked a single step closer with Callen still lying on the floor.
"If you can hear me come out now or I kill him," she gasped and at that point opened the door. The man looked at her.
"So that is why they want you," said the man as she walked over to Callen.
"Just don't hurt him please," she raised her arms and in doing so revealed the gun she had hidden behind her in the back of her pants. Callen grabbed it with the man completely oblivious to what was going on.
"Duck," he whispered to her. The moment she crouched to the ground Callen shot the man three times in the chest. She started to shake as Callen helped her up. He pulled her to him using one arm and dialed his phone using the other. "Sam, you and Kensi need to get around here as fast as possible. I'm fine, so is she but the man who tried to shoot me and kidnap her isn't. Can you just hurry up and get over here? Oh, and tell Eric I'm sending him a video file from her phone," he hung up and went to grab her phone. He held her once more as he sent the video to Eric. By the time he was finished she was still shaking in his arms.
"Why, why did he say that? He said 'so that is why they want you'? Did he know something about me?" she said in between sobs.
"I don't know. It's alright you're safe," she nodded against his chest, still crying. They stayed like that until Sam arrived. He came up and saw the door smashed down and raced inside.
"G, what happened?" Callen sat Alena up and stood, handing Sam her phone. As he watched the video he understood.
"We need to get her somewhere safe as soon as possible," Sam nodded. Kensi and Deeks arrived and everything was explained to them. Callen drove the car with her in the back, keeping her head low. They stopped at a red light and she looked out the window. A park where no one ever went was on her left. Standing right by the side of the road was him.
"Um Agent Callen, that's, that's him," he quickly looked out the window. Standing there was a man, about age forty-five with brown, messy hair and the thin outline of a beard. Behind him was a man dressed fully in black. They both looked at Callen and the man with the brown hair bent his fingers back and forth, telling Callen to come. Kensi, Deeks and Sam pulled up behind them and Callen quickly called them.
"Guys, see that guy standing over there? That's him," he parked by the curb and she got out of the car. "Wait!" he yelled and rushed out to follow her. He grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. "Just wait for us, O.K?" she nodded and they waited while the others caught up.
"G, are we going to go see him?" he nodded.
"I need a name to call this guy, it's getting annoying," said Callen.
"Well Matthew was always my favorite, that's why I used it when I was with you Alena," all five of them turned around. The four agents pulled their guns out and pointed them at them. He slowly stepped backwards until there was a decent amount of space between the two parties. She stepped into the middle ground between them.
"What, what are you, who are you, why are you . . . . " She dragged off unsure what to say next.
"Hello, Alena. It's been too long," he smiled.
"Matthew," she said.