Relationships Bests…
Ever since Callen has gotten out of the hospital, he has been put on desk duty by Hetty. But the agent didn't mind because he got to spend more time with Annie. He was able to chat her up whenever she passed by for tea and after two weeks they started doing paperwork together. While Callen worked on field reports, taking the time to finally catch up on the paperwork he has been putting off since before he got stabbed, Annie was filling out clothing orders as well as expense reports. Doing it together made paperwork more fun because he was able to get Annie to open up a bit more. In fact, it seemed like she was finally opening up to the rest of his team. Annie and Kensi worked out together now but they always varied the times so that the boys wouldn't catch them and watch.
"Hmm… what other relationship bests are there?" Kensi asked as the two women were gathered around the bench in the gym. The guys had finally caught them; however the two women were done with their sparring session and so Callen, Sam, and Deeks waited for them by occupying the bench.
Both were glistening with perspiration, panting heavily, and in their work-out outfits. Kensi wore her regular sports bra top and tight shorts with her hair up in a ponytail. Annie also had her hair up but she wore a gray tank top that hugged her frame with men's athletic shorts that were forest green. Annie had her towel around her shoulders and Kensi was using her's to dab her face. Kensi let out a sigh once she sat down on the bench next to Deeks while Annie remained standing, her face thoughtful.
"Oh, I know! Best breakup sex, go!" Annie said gaining the guys' attention even more so. Annie could feel their wide-eyed stares on her but she focused on Kensi, thoroughly enjoying this new little game they created to get to know each other better.
Kensi and Annie knew that they should become more acquainted with one another because they were both women working in a dangerous and normally masculine occupation. Or at least, Annie could understand Kensi's disposition and was relatively closer in age to the female agent unlike Hetty. But Kensi wasn't interested in shopping and Annie, even though she could drag-race like no other, was not wired to talk about cars or anything of the like. So the two women settled on sparring with one another because they had no urge to hold back like their co-workers would for the first time because they were women.
After a few sparring sessions Kensi and Annie became more comfortable with one another, comfortable enough to attempt some form of personal conversation other than the work talk that they had stuck to previously. The work talk proved to be difficult because a lot of what Kensi wanted to know about Annie was technically above her clearance level. One day in the middle of sparring Kensi started complaining about the guy she went on a date with recently and Annie told her about an experience she had similar to Kensi's. From then on, the two compared the men they had dated leading onto "best" and "worst" parts of their relationships such as "Best/worst kisser" or "best/worst date location". It was fun in Annie's opinion because it was one way of connecting with her coworker.
"Breakup sex?" Kensi asked in confusion.
"Yeah, basically when you get to a point in the relationship where you know that you can't continue further, and the guy knows this too, so you both decide to breakup. But, before it becomes official you and he have one more night together as a farewell and to end the relationship on a high note." Annie explained and Kensi nodded in understanding, the boys were now gaping at the two women.
"I see. Unfortunately, I have never experienced that. I haven't gotten to the second date in a relationship in a long time let alone to the point where it would count as breakup sex because most of the time the guy doesn't know it yet." Kensi responded and the two of them laughed at that, totally ignoring the guys who were struggling to find words.
"So how about you? Who did you have the best breakup sex with? And I want dirty details." Kensi added knowing that she had Callen's attention and to see what amusing expressions the man would create in his jealousy. It was clear as day to everyone at NCIS: OSP that Callen had a crush on Annie.
The man who normally did not show any continued interest in a woman was always captivated by their fashion consultant when she entered the room and joined the conversation. And the month of him being on desk duty proved it even more so because if one wanted to find Callen, they just needed to seek out Annie and he would be there doing paperwork with her or helping her sort out the new incoming clothes/clothes returning from the tailors. At first, everyone thought that he was doing it out of boredom but even now at the end of the month long probation when Callen would normally be itching to get back out into the field, the agent remained as calm as a cucumber and followed the little routine he formed with Annie. Now the question was if Annie liked Callen in that way as well.
This was significantly harder to tell because the team all knew Callen's mannerisms like the back of their hands and Annie was new to their team so they were still getting to know her. Plus, Callen has been more subtle about his attention towards Annie because if any man showed any romantic or lustful motive in their actions towards Annie, she would clam up and shut them down. Deeks was a repeat offender of this when she first came to work here at NCIS: OSP and Annie always politely turned him down by completely ignoring the fact that he was hitting on her and going on with her own schedule. Kensi wished she had that ability but Deeks knew her too well, and Deeks was her partner so he might lightly flirt but he was never serious. Not like he was with Annie at first. However, nowadays he and Annie's other pursuers have pretty much given up on trying to get with the fashion consultant. Sure they would still flirt with her time to time but it was light and very rare.
Annie paused briefly to think about her answer and had the men on Kensi's team completely mesmerized, waiting for her answer. So, Kensi took this chance to read their facial expressions in this unguarded setting. Deeks and Sam were purely curious with a bit of surprise at the topic of conversation. Callen had a similar expression but there was something else simmering in his blue eyes that had Kensi smiling as he lived up to her expectations. His eyes also conveyed a sense of jealousy and determination that proved that he was definitely interested in a more intimate relationship with Annie. And Kensi could see the two together, so she had mentally vowed that she would help Callen in any way to make this possible.
"His name was Harrison," Annie began to say and Hetty decided to join in on this conversation, appearing out of nowhere like the ninja she was.
"Oh, the mercenary you accidently dated, right?"
"You are correct Hetty. Glad to see that your mind is as sharp as ever when it comes to gossip, especially the illicit kind." Annie chuckled.
"How can you accidently date a mercenary?" Sam asked which made Annie and Hetty share identical grins. This told Kensi one thing: that this was going to be a good story.
"Well, this was back when I was still a part of the NSA," Annie started her story and paused to see if there was any space left on the bench.
Yep, this is definitely going to be a good story. Kensi thought and then she mentally gave a girly squeal at Callen giving Annie his spot, making him stand next to Hetty. The smile the two gave each other sent Kensi's normally dormant girly side in overdrive at the image of them as a couple.
"I was in Morocco going undercover as a belly dancer." Annie stated and that sent Deeks choking on his coffee when he took a sip.
"Breath Mr. Deeks or else you will pass out and miss the story." Hetty said as Sam patted him on the back roughly. When his outburst was over and he nodded his head to Annie, she started up her story once more.
"As I was saying, I was undercover as a belly dancer. While there I performed for plenty of men and got to know the regulars at the haunt I danced for. Harrison was one of them. Of course, there was this instant attraction between us. We started up a relationship there in Morocco and it carried over into the States. I told him that I was an exchange student spending a year in Morocco studying the political development of the Middle East and that I was dancing to learn the culture better as well as to earn some money to pay for my tuition. He bought it and told me that he was an independent contractor which I believed to be true at the time. Technically, he wasn't lying now that I think about it some more, he was just not the type of independent contractor I thought of. Either way, during the three months we were together we rarely saw each other because of our work. I claimed that I had conferences to go to and he had business meetings, both were outside of D.C. hence why we would be gone for long periods of time." Annie explained and her audience was enraptured at learning something about Annie and how unguarded she was being right now. Annie made sure to look at each and every single one of them throughout her story holding their gaze for a brief second before moving onto the next person. She also had this small and beautiful smile on her face that showed that Annie was relaxed and happy to tell them this personal information about her.
"It was a good relationship that was basely constituted on sex to be truthful. We were working so much that it was all our relationship could ever really be. Hence why we knew we should breakup, but we both thought that we might not ever find someone this understanding about our work schedules so we stayed together. Of course, neither of us knew the other's real job. We found out the hard way." Annie chuckled and so did Hetty. Apparently their boss has heard this story before, or some form of it.
"Harrison was hired to take out the man I was supposed to be protecting during one of my many jobs at the NSA. We ran into each other in the middle of one of his failed attempts to take the target out. If you could only imagine the state of shock the two of us were in. We agreed to meet up at a hotel to talk this thing out and we basically spilled the beans about who we actually were and then we laughed it off. Just the memory makes me want to laugh." And in her voice there was a slight shake from holding back some chuckles. The smile on Annie's face grew and lit up a bit more, which had everyone else smiling as well.
"If I remember correctly you then had some amazing sex." Hetty said and everyone in the audience besides Callen raised their eyebrows at this. Annie had the decency to blush while she laughed and nodded her head.
"Yes, yes we did." She agreed.
"Wouldn't that be considered to be a conflict of interest?" Callen asked and there was hint of agitation in his tone. Although Annie seemed to have missed it by the way she answered in the same amused and happy tone she was using to tell the story. But everyone else heard it.
"You are definitely right G, hence why afterwards we both removed ourselves from the case. But even then we both knew that if we continued to see each other, this could happen again and we can't keep just avoiding these cases if we ever want to get far in our perspective careers. So, we decided to breakup and, like I stated previously, had the best breakup sex I have ever had." Annie ended her story, a bright smile still plastered on her face that both quieted and enraged Callen's jealousy.
The smile made Callen smile, made him unwind and feel the same happiness that she was feeling. He enjoyed seeing that smile on her face. But it also made his jealousy flare up because he knew that it wasn't because of him that made her smile like that, it was this Harrison person. Callen wasn't sure how he could feel this conflicted but he let the happy side of him overcome his jealous side because as Annie stated, Harrison was in her past. She wasn't seeing him now; right now Annie was single and working at NCIS: OSP. Of course, Deeks had to ruin it.
"Have you kept in contact with Harrison?"
"Last time I talked to Harrison it was a year ago, and the last time I saw him was at my wedding to Eli. He is still a mercenary if that is what you want to know, although he is more of the leader and behind-the-scenes man now than the guy who was on the front line when we were together. He grumbles about how he misses the old days and being in the middle of the action, but I know that he prefers where he is now. He had quite the collection of scars when we were together and I bet he gained a lot more from then." She replied nonchalantly and her indifferent tone put Callen back at ease. He was then acutely aware that he was being watched by Kensi and Hetty.
He wondered if they could see what he was feeling/thinking. Callen wouldn't be surprised if Hetty could see right through him but Kensi was a wild card, sometimes she was dead on and other times she didn't have a clue. But Callen didn't really care anymore if everyone in NCIS: OSP knew about his feelings towards Annie because right now there was nothing going on between the two of them. And his coworkers were going to gossip anyways so what was the point? He just hoped that it didn't scare Annie off, but she didn't seem the type to participate and listen to gossip so he wasn't that worried about it either. No, Callen was going to stick to his original plan of taking things slow with Annie, gaining her trust and friendship, truly getting to know her, before pulling a move on her. Callen was going to go slow for the first time in his life in regards to a romantic relationship.
"Any other crazy dating stories that I would love to know." Deeks asked bringing Callen back to the present. Annie rolled her eyes but from the smile playing across both Hetty's and Kensi's faces that there was more stories about Annie and dating.
"I do, but those stories are going to be reserved for another time. I, myself am going to go change and get back to work since I'm assuming that my break is over, right Hetty?" At their boss's nod, Annie got up and left to go take a shower and change back into her work clothes. But before she left, Annie exchanged a wink with Hetty and Kensi that made her even more mysterious to the men in Callen's team.
"Ok, Kens, time to fill your partner in on everything that you know about Annie." Deeks turned onto their female coworker, Sam and Callen followed suit.
"Sorry boys. If you want to know then you should spar with her and gain her trust. Although, I would have to say, some of her stories are worth sparring for." Kensi responded with a shrug. Both Callen and Deeks fantasized about wrestling with Annie, not really caring if they got any information from Annie about her past relationships.
"Easy gentlemen, I suggest that you find some other way of gaining Ms. Smith's trust because it will be a while before she feels comfortable sparring with either of you with elevated levels of testosterone. But like, Ms. Blye said, her stories are worth it." Hetty stated. She was about to leave when Kensi stopped her.
"Hey Hetty, you've heard pretty much all of Annie's relationship stories right?" She asked and the boys were curious yet again as to what their female coworker was getting at. Hetty quirked her eyebrow which was enough to signify that she was interested in her question.
"From the ones she has told me thus far, it seems really weird that Annie would date a mercenary but then wind up marrying an accountant like her ex-husband." Kensi stated and kept her focus on Hetty, even though she was dying to catch a glimpse of Callen's profile. Hetty smirked a little as she caught onto Kensi's reasoning behind her inquiries.
"Ms. Smith doesn't really have a type, if that is what you are wondering about Ms. Blye. I have seen her date a mercenary, as we all know by now, an accountant, fellow federal agents, a grunge rocker, and some type of royalty from Denmark. Those two were such a cute couple too. Either way, Ms. Smith does not necessarily have a type. But, enough with the gossiping and let's get back to work." Hetty ordered before disappearing.
The rest of the day, the men a part of Callen's team all made some form of plans with Annie later on. Deeks asked her to grab a drink after work, strictly professional he claimed and Annie believed him, Sam went to the firing range with her during their lunch break, the sniper firing range, and Callen stuck to his usual of following Annie around throughout the day and going out on a food run with her when the team and her stayed for overtime that night.
That day was an interesting one for Annie who was flattered with the guys' attention towards her. What pleasantly surprised her was how sincere they were in wanting to know more about her but didn't push it when she changed topics or told them straight out that she couldn't say anything more. It was then she knew that she had real friends here at NCIS: OSP and she was happy with that little epiphany of hers.