Lori quickly got up and ran to the pool. Ella was a bit from the side so Lori couldn't get to her from the side. Lori jumped into the pool and swam up to Ella. She was still wearing her bathing suit so it didn't matter, but even if Lori hadn't been wearing that she still would have jumped in. Lori reached Ella and grabbed a hold of her.
"It's okay Ella."
Lori swam back up to the side and put Ella on the ground. Ella shook herself to get dry. Lori grabbed a towel and dried Ella off.
"She okay?" Callen asked.
"Yeah she's okay. I know labs can swim but she's too young."
"Well she didn't think so," Callen joked.
"You like to swim huh Ella?" Lori asked as she pulled Ella onto her lap and gave her some love. "No more jumping in the pool little lady," Lori told Ella in a firm tone. Ella just licked Lori's face in response. "Ella."
Lori put Ella down on the ground and Ella went to pick up one of her toys. She brought it over to Callen to play. Callen threw the toy away and Ella went after it.
"Come here Ella, bring it back to me," Callen called. "Ella, come here. Ella." Eventually Ella came over to Callen with the toy. Callen tried to take the toy but Ella wouldn't let go. "Ella, let go. Ella, let go." Ella let go of the toy. "Good girl." Callen threw the toy again. "Good get it Ella."
Callen played fetch with Ella for a while. A little later the girls woke up. They walked over to Ella and started playing with her.
"You know what Ella did when you were asleep?" Callen told them.
"No daddy, what?" Julie asked.
"Ella jumped into the pool."
"Doggy no swim."
"Doggies can't swim but not when they are young, just like you they have to learn."
"Doggy bad."
"Yes doggy was a little bit bad but she's okay."
Now that the girls were up Lori decided to go to the store to buy some groceries, after getting dressed of course. Callen stayed at the house with twins and Ella. Just after Lori had left Callen heard a cry coming over the baby monitor.
"Girls, no going in the pool and keep an eye on Ella, daddy just has to go to your little brothers."
"Yes daddy."
Callen went inside and went to the boys' bedroom. It was Charlie who was crying.
"Hey little guy, what's wrong?" Callen softly spoke as he picked Charlie up. Callen noticed Charlie had a wet diaper. "Oh I see the problem."
Callen got the diaper bag and put a changing pad on the floor. It wasn't really handy to change a diaper with his hand still in a cast but he managed. Callen rocked Charlie back to sleep before putting him in his travel bed again. Callen went back outside to see how Myra and Julie were doing. When he came outside he didn't see Myra, Julie or Ella. He was about to look for them when he heard a bark.
"Shhh, Ella," Myra softly spoke.
Callen saw that they were hidden behind the lounge chairs but he pretended not to know.
"Now where did that come from?" Callen called and started looking around causing the girls to giggle. Callen looked at a few places before he heard another bark. "Ahhh, here you are," Callen spoke as he moved the lounge chair to the side. "We hide and seek."
"Yes you were playing hide and seek and daddy found you."
"Daddy found cus Ella made noise."
"Yeah, maybe you girls need to teach Ella how to play hide and seek."
Myra and Julie went to run around the yard with Ella. Ella followed them happily everywhere they went. Just before Lori came back from doing groceries the boys woke up. Callen went to dress them and took them outside. He put them in their bouncy chairs in the shade. Callen blew kisses on their tummies causing the boys to laugh. Lori cleaned up the groceries and joined the family outside. Just before 5.30pm Lori went to the kitchen and prepared dinner. She made pasta with meatballs and sauce. Myra and Julie loved pasta, it was their favorite.
"Mommy, Ella kibble," Julie said before they went to eat.
"Yes very good Julie, we have to give Ella her kibble."
Today it was Julie's turn to give Ella her kibble. Lori grabbed the box with Ella's kibble and Julie grabbed the cup and measured the kibble.
"Ella wait," Julie spoke as she put the kibble in Ella's bowl. She pushed Ella away until she had finished putting the kibble in. "Okay Ella, go eat."
"Well done Julie," Lori told her.
Julie put the measuring cup back in the box and Lori put it away.
"Myra, Julie, come wash your hands before dinner."
Everyone washed their hands before they went to sit at the dinner table inside. Finn and Charlie lay peacefully in their bouncy chairs on the bar.
After dinner Lori cleaned up as Callen, Myra and Julie went to walk Ella. Ella did her business and Callen picked up the dog in a bag and dumped it in the trash can. The girls played a bit with Ella before going back to the house. Lori was just done cleaning up and she took the girls upstairs for bath as Callen went to feed Finn and Charlie. He warmed the bottle up and first took Finn out and fed him.
Lori filled the tub. As the tub was filling Lori undressed the girls. Once the tub was hot enough Lori put the girls in the tub and gave them some of their water toys. Lori watched as the girls played in the tub. She let them play for a while before she went to wash their hairs. Once they were done Lori pulled the plug and dried the girls off. She already dressed them in their pajamas but the girls could stay up for a little while longer. Myra and Julie sat in front of the TV and Lori put a DVD with short movies on.
"Hey, how's it going here?" Lori asked as she walked into the kitchen where Callen was feeding Charlie.
"Finn has been fed already."
"That's good. Come here little guy," Lori spoke as she picked Finn up from his bouncy chair. "Time for bed buddy. Give daddy a kiss goodnight." Lori brought Finn over to Callen and Callen gave him a soft kiss goodnight.
Lori took Finn to the bedroom and changed his diaper and dressed him for bed. Lori sat on the rocking chair and rocked Finn to sleep. Finn looked up to her as he was sucking on his pacifier and his eyes slowly started drifting shut. Once Finn was asleep Lori carefully placed him in his travel bed. As Lori walked back into the kitchen Callen was already finished feeding Charlie. Charlie lay peacefully in Callen's arms. Lori took Charlie from Callen and took him to the bedroom as well. Lori changed his diaper and dressed him for bed. Lori sat down on the rocking chair and rocked Charlie to sleep as well. She placed Charlie in his bed once he was asleep and quietly left the room after shutting down the lamp on the nightstand.
Lori walked back into the living room and looked at the girls. They sat on the couch and Ella was lying in between them, head against Myra's legs and her paws against Julie's legs. Lori grabbed her camera and took a picture of it.
"Ten more minutes girls," Lori called after a while.
Once the movie they were watching ended the girls gave Ella some love before going to the bedroom.
"Can daddy get a kiss too?" Callen called.
Myra and Julie ran up to Callen and gave him a hug and a kiss. "Goodnight sweeties."
"Niwt daddy," Myra and Julie responded.
Lori took the girls to the bathroom first so they could brush their teeth and used the toilet. The girls crawled into bed and Lori lay down in between them and read them a book.
"Now it's time to sleep," Lori spoke once the book had ended.
"Again mommy," Julie said.
"No, it's time for bed." Lori got up from the bed and tucked the girls in. "Goodnight Myra, goodnight Julie."
"Niwt mommy," the girls replied.
Lori gave them a kiss and left the room.
"Niwt liwt mommy," Julie called as Lori was about to close the door.
Lori went back into the room and turned the nightlight on and left the room. She went to check on the boys before going back to the living room. She and Callen sat on the couch and just watched a movie before going to bed.
The next morning Lori was up early when Finn decided to wake up. Lori sat down on the rocking chair and breastfed Finn. Once she had finished feeding Finn Charlie decided to cry too. Lori breastfed him as well before returning to bed. Just after 8.30am the boys woke up again and Callen and Lori went out. They dressed them for the day and took them to the living room.
"Hey G, didn't you lock Ella in her crate last night?" Lori asked once she saw the empty crate.
"Yes I did."
"I think I know where she is."
Lori walked to the girls bedroom and opened the door. She found Myra and Julie playing on the ground with Ella.
"Good morning," Lori spoke.
"Hi mommy."
"Girls, what did I tell you about Ella in the bedroom?"
"No doggy in bed," Myra answered. "But doggy not in bed."
"Yes, but it goes for the room as well. No doggy in your bedroom. Ella stays in the living room."
"We play wiss Ella," Julie said.
"Yes I know sweetie, but you can play with Ella in the living room. Go get dressed so we can have some breakfast."
Lori took Ella to the living room as Myra and Julie went to get dressed. Lori went to walk Ella as Callen prepared some breakfast. Today it was Myra's turn to give Ella her kibble. When Lori came back Myra put some kibble in the measuring cup and put it in Ella's bowl.
"Go eat Ella."
Ella stepped forward and started eating her kibble. Lori gave her some fresh water before they sat down at the table.
…..
Today was New Year's Eve. The girls were excited to see some firework tonight. Lori and Callen wondered how the boys and Ella would do. After breakfast Lori went to the store to buy food for dinner tonight. They were doing a fry-up. It was pretty busy at the store so I took Lori a while. After lunch the family went for a walk. Myra and Julie on their bicycles, Lori pushing the stroller with Finn and Charlie and Callen holding Ella's leash. They went to park in the community. There were some kids toys there as well. Myra and Julie went to play as Callen and Lori sat on the bench on the side. Ella wanted to play too. There was a part of the park that was for the dogs, there was a fence around so the dogs couldn't escape. Callen took Ella there and unhooked the leash. Ella started exploring the park, sniffing every piece of grass she could find. A little later another dog inside, it was a small dog so it was nice for Ella. Ella ran up to the dog and they sniffed each other before they played a bit. They stayed in the park for about an hour before going home. The boys had fallen asleep in the stroller on the walk home so Lori carefully lifted them out and placed them in their travel beds. Myra and Julie wanted to play a game so the family sat at the kitchen table and played a game.
Just past 6pm they family sat at the table with the boys lying peacefully in their bouncy chairs. Callen had already fed them before dinner. Callen and Lori helped the girls bake their meat. The girls ate pretty well, they had some pieces of meat, some salad and some bread.
After dinner Lori took the girls to bed. The boys were already in bed.
"Wake up fow fiwe?" Julie asked.
"Yes mommy and daddy will wake you up so you can watch the fireworks. Goodnight."
"Niwt mommy," Myra and Julie replied.
Callen and Lori played a game of poker with something to drink and some snacks. Around 11.50pm Lori went to wake up the girls. Still dressed in their pajamas Lori took them to the living room. Myra sat on Lori's lap and Julie sat on Callen's lap.
"Alright girls, we can count down with the clock. Once it's time mommy and daddy will count down from ten and you can help us."
"Ten, night," Callen and Lori started and the girls counted down. "Eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, happy New Year."
"Happy New Year Myra," Lori said and gave Myra a kiss.
"Appy New Yeaw mommy."
"App New Yeaw daddy," Julie said to Callen.
"Happy New Year sweetie," Callen responded and gave Julie a kiss.
"Happy New Year G."
"Happy New Year Lori." Callen gave Lori a kiss.
Callen and Lori stood in front of the window, holding the girls, and they watched the fireworks.
"Pwetty," Julia spoke as she pointed up.
"Yes it's very pretty."
They girls watched the fireworks for about fifteen minutes before they started falling asleep in their parents arms. Lori and Callen took the girls back to the bedroom and tucked them in. Lori went to open a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne and poured them both a glass.
"Here's to us, our family and a wonderful new year," Lori spoke and they toasted.
Luckily Ella was pretty calm during the fireworks. She didn't seem to mind it. She peacefully lay on her pillow. The boys slept through the fireworks too. Callen and Lori watched the fireworks for a while before going to bed.
..
January second the family went back home. Callen and Lori packed everything and put it in the car. Lori walked Ella before they left. After they had passed the gate Lori put the car on the side and returned the keys to the guard up front.
"Did you have a nice stay here?"
"Yes it was very nice. The house was nice and it's a nice park."
"That's good to hear. Have a safe drive home."
"Thank you."
Lori got back in the car and drove them home. All the kids had fallen asleep on the drive home but they woke up when they arrived at home. Lori and Callen undid the seatbelts of the girls and they hopped out. Lori got the boys in their car seats and carried them inside. Callen opened the front door and went to collect the mail. Lori placed the boys in their play pens and took the car seat back to the car. Myra and Julie helped Callen and Lori get the stuff inside. Once everything was inside Lori removed the box from the roof of the car and put it back in the garage. Lori sorted out the clothes and got the laundry started as Callen, Myra and Julie went to walk Ella.
…..
That Monday Callen had to go back to work.
"Morning, happy New Year," Callen spoke as he walked into the bullpen, only Sam was there.
"Morning G, happy New Year. Did you have a nice vacation?"
"Yes, Lori and I took the kids to Palm Springs. We spend about a week there in a vacation home."
"That's nice. How did the kids and Ella do during the fireworks?"
"We woke Myra and Julie up since they wanted to watch the fireworks. Finn and Charlie slept through the whole thing and Ella was pretty calm too."
"That's good."
"How about you?"
"Michelle and I took Kamran to Disneyland. Aiden had to report back to duty. We spend a couple days there in one of the hotels."
"That's nice."
"Happy new year guys but the holidays are over guys," Eric spoke at the top of the stairs once Kensi and Deeks had arrived too.
All the agents went upstairs to OPS.
"What have we got Eric?" Callen asked.
"This morning this happened at the Naval recruitment center in Inglewood."
Eric put a video up on and the screen and the agents watched to see what would happen. A car sped up and screeched to a halt just in front of the door. A man got out of the car with a shotgun in his hands. The man walked inside the building. Eric put another video on the screen so they could see what was going on inside the building. The man shot a warning shot into the roof. Then he grabbed someone in a Navy uniform and walked out. He pushed the man into his car and got in himself before speeding off.
"Any ID on the either of the men?" Callen asked.
"None of the perp but the man he kidnapped is Lieutenant Will Harper. But nothing on his service record."
"What about the car?" Sam asked.
"Reported stolen last night," Nell informed them. "It's registered to a Joshua Stevens, he's clean."
"Any idea where the car is now?" Callen asked.
"We tracked it but he dumped the car," Eric replied.
"Sam and I will go to the recruitment center. Kensi, Deeks you go speak with Joshua, see if he can identify the man."
With everyone knowing what to do they left. LAPD was already on scene at the recruitment center talking to witnesses about what happened. Callen and Sam showed their badges and were allowed into the building.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" An older man came up to them.
"Agents Callen and Hanna, NCIS," Callen replied as he and Sam showed their ID's.
"Commander Tom Peterson. Thank you for coming."
"Anyone else hurt?"
"No, just Will is missing. Have you found him already?"
"No not yet, our team is doing everything we can to find him. Do you have any idea who this man is?" Callen and showed him and picture of the man who kidnapped Will.
"No, no idea who that is. Is that the man who took Will?"
"Yes it is. We're still trying to find an ID on this guy. Might if we look around Harper's desk?"
"No be my guest, it's over there."
Callen and Sam walked over to Harper's desk. Sam went to look at some paperwork as Callen plugged a drive into the computer.
"Eric, you're getting this?"
"Yes, got it, copying the drive now."
Callen looked around some paperwork as well and the things that were lying on his desk. Once Eric was done Callen removed the flash drive. They were about to leave when they heard a gunshot outside and two men with guns walked into the building.