She awoke early. Callen was sitting at his desk staring at her.
"Morning," he said.
"Good morning," she replied. She sat up from the couch and stretched. The whole time his eyes did not leave her.
"How was the couch?" he asked a smile spreading across his face.
"Delightful," she said in a sarcastic tone. He laughed at her and stood up from the desk as she stepped forward rubbing her back.
"See, I bet you wish you were back in that bed now," she shook her head.
"I will never admit defeat!" they laughed together. "What time does everyone get here?" she asked whilst looking around.
"Normally about 7:30 at the earliest," she smiled. He held out his watch for her to look at.
"So we have half an hour to wait," she said sighing.
"Or use depending on what way you look at it," she laughed.
"Glass half-full type of guy?" he shook his head.
"No as I once said, I am the half-empty, Sam is the half-full," she nodded.
"I see," he smiled and walked over to briefly kiss her. She kissed him once more this time for a little longer. They stopped when Callen's phone rang.
"Eric? Of course I'm at the office, remember I stayed there over night? Wait, why is everyone coming around? Alright I'll get organized," he hung up the phone. "Apparently one of my aliases got an email, one which we have been waiting for. He wants to meet with me tonight to talk but that is all I know at the moment," she nodded.
"So you might be gone for a while undercover?" he nodded.
"I don't know," she sat down.
"Mr. Callen, I need you upstairs now please," said Hetty as she walked through the door. The others arrived and followed Callen upstairs after saying hi.
"Eric, why did we need to get here?" said Kensi.
"Did he wake you up too early? Interrupt your beauty sleep?" said Deeks. In response Kensi just slapped him extremely hard causing him to stumble backwards. Callen looked up at the screen.
"So Eric, an email?" Eric pulled it up.
"One of your old emails from an old alias, um Vince?" said Nell as everyone turned to face Callen.
"What, the name sounded cool at that point? He was a major player who suddenly burst onto the arms deals scene two years back. Managed to lock up a couple of dealers and keep the alias intact whilst there I gave a couple of guys an e-mail to contact me. I then said I had to 'disappear' for a while, cops were onto me, and Vince hasn't been seen since. Who sent the email?" Eric zoomed in on the actual email. "To Vince, how's it been? I hope you're all good now and that problem cleared up. I need your help with a little job, something I need. I saw you three days ago, outside an apartment building so I guess you're back in business. By the way, the chick I saw you with merits you a congratulations. I know you remember the rules of deals s bring her and say two bodyguards. The house three down from the apartment across the road tomorrow 10am. See you then, Roger." Callen finished reading the email out loud. He looked behind to Deeks, Sam and Kensi.
"He must have been near the apartment, is his hideout always been there?" said Kensi but Callen shook his head.
"Roger is a codename used for one of Afghanistan's top weapon smugglers. Real name is unknown but that is what he was called whenever someone mentioned him. The rules of the game are that if a woman who is not specifically involved is present, there is allowed to be no guns drawn or any other weapons," he looked up at the email. "Kensi can't take her place, they've seen her. Deeks and Sam can go as security but the only way for it to work," said Callen before looking up at the screen.
"Is for her to go," finished Sam for him. They all looked between each other.