A/N: Hello again. Today I want to thank terken, moviefanatic17, Rebel Magnus, and TwilightPony21 for their lovely reviews. Also thanks to jane laird and brownjar for putting this story on alerts - same goes for Pappel for favoriting and quiltingbren for putting ME on alerts. Additional thanks to moviefanatic17 for putting the story on alerts as well.
Oh, and before I forget - I do not own NCIS: Los Angeles in any way, shape or form. Don't expect me to say it again.
Brace yourselves - 'cause this chapter measures over 3,000 words.
Chapter 2: Six Days Earlier
Sam came in to work to find Callen passed out on the couch. With a resigned sigh, the ex-SEAL resolved not to wake him up; although he'd very much prefer it if Callen spent his nights at home, his partner needed his sleep – and if he needed the couch in the bullpen to get it, so be it. Sam settled down at his desk.
However, after about ten minutes, boredom set in. No one else was here yet, he had no case to work, and thanks to Hetty, he didn't even have paperwork to keep himself busy.
Sam was just contemplating going up to Ops to chat with Eric and Nell when Callen stirred, yawned, and sat up.
"Morning, G," Sam greeted. For a second, Callen looked surprised to see him.
"Morning," he returned. "Why didn't you wake me?"
Sam just gave him a look. Callen chuckled slightly.
"Okay," he acknowledged. He made his way over to his desk.
Sam hesitated before speaking again. He wanted to ask, yet again, what was going on between Callen and Kensi, but he couldn't bring himself to. Not yet. So instead, what came out was, "Did you manage to finish all your paperwork?"
Callen glanced at him, and Sam knew that he knew that wasn't what he was going to ask. His partner's eyes sent him a grateful word of thanks as he replied, "Yeah. Took me all night, though – which is why I ended up crashing on the couch."
This wasn't strictly true, but Sam didn't need to know that. The fact was, Callen didn't feel like going home when he knew no one would be with him there. Oh, it wasn't like Kensi had moved in – more often than not it was her place they stayed at – but until recently, whenever he'd been home, Kensi was with him. Somehow she'd helped turn that empty house into a home, and without her it was just that – empty. Bare, unfilled, devoid – not even a good place to spend the night.
Funny how a few times there with one person had so drastically changed his view of what a house – a home – should be like.
Callen knew who was standing outside his house the moment he heard the subtle knocking on his door. With a sigh, he stood up and prepared himself to play the ever collected, cool-headed team leader.
That plan crumbled to dust the minute he pulled the door open. Kensi took one look at him and frowned.
"Quit pretending, Callen. I know you're not fine."
He had to smile wryly at how well she knew him. Without protesting, he let her in.
"Still haven't got any furniture, I see," Kensi remarked, making small talk.
Callen shrugged. "You want anything to drink?" he offered.
"No, thanks," she declined. She looked him in the eye. "Callen, you know why I'm here."
He nodded. "I know. And I appreciate it, but you really didn't have to."
"Like you didn't have to visit me on Christmas Eve?" she countered, the challenge clear in her eyes.
"That was different," he argued. "You were personally involved in the case – and Talbot hurt you."
"It was not," she scoffed. "You wanted to make sure I was okay – well, I'm doing the same for you."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Kensi blushed, recalling how she'd woken up that morning with her clothes strewn all over the bedroom, and Callen lying, equally undressed, next to her.
After they had recovered from the shock of what they had just done, they'd both promised not to let it happen again. They couldn't afford to let it happen again – not with their work. It was too dangerous. And besides, if they continued, they'd be breaking all sorts of rules, and they couldn't have that.
So why did she feel like she'd be willing to break the same rules again?
"Don't bring that up, Callen," she warned him, bringing her emotions under control. "We promised never to speak of it again."
"And yet here we are," he said – needlessly. She scowled at him.
"G, I'm serious. We can't let it happen again." She looked at him, obviously expecting a reply.
It was the first time she'd ever called him by his first name – well, letter – and he was surprisingly entranced by it. So he didn't immediately answer her.
"Callen!" She sounded more urgent now. He snapped his head around to look at her. "Did you hear me? We can't let it happen again," she stressed.
"Yeah, Kenz, I hear you."
"Good." Her expression softened. "So…" she began hesitantly, "how are you?"
"I'm fine," he answered immediately.
The frown was back on her face. "You remember what you told me about people who say they're fine?"
Damn. Now she was using his own words against him.
Kensi sighed. "G," she said, walking over to him, "don't worry about it. We'll get that last canister eventually."
"I know that," he said, ignoring the strange thrill he experienced when he heard her say his letter again.
"And it is not your fault that we didn't get it today," she told him firmly. She was closer now; he could feel the warmth of her skin. Without thinking, Callen reached out to grasp her hand.
She immediately jerked it back. "Callen…" The warning was clear in her tone and in her eyes.
"I know," he admitted, shoving his hand into his pocket. "We shouldn't do it. That's exactly what we said last time." His eyes told her all.
Her expression changed again, to a queer mixture of annoyance and longing.
"Damn it, Callen," she sighed, more resigned than angry. Truth be told, she could feel the chemistry between them, and it was taking all her restraint not to do what she wanted to do.
"No one has to know, Kenz," he said persuasively. He was immediately surprised at the words coming out of his mouth, but he didn't stop. "We're professionals. We can keep it from affecting our jobs. Why can't we try?"
"What happened to your rule about dating law enforcement?" she asked, even as she helplessly leaned closer.
"Every rule has exceptions," he told her, taking her hand again.
With that, the last of her restraint crumbled away, and she let her passion overtake her as he kissed her.
"G," Sam began, and Callen knew they'd reached the point he didn't want to talk about. "We need to talk about you and Kensi."
Callen sighed.
"Come on, G," Sam pressed. "This has been going on long enough. What happened between you two?"
"It's…complicated," was all Callen could think of to say.
"Did you fight about something? Disagree about a case?" Sam prodded.
"Something like that." Callen could see Sam was getting frustrated by the lack of explanation, but he suddenly decided that he couldn't say anymore. "Look, I know you deserve to know, especially since it's affecting you and Deeks – but this is between me and Kensi. Under other circumstances I would tell you, but this…" He exhaled. "It doesn't just involve me, Sam." He shook his head. "Believe me, you'll probably find out soon anyway."
"Oh, will I?" Sam arched his eyebrow, masking his frustration. His partner's secretiveness was a constant thorn in his side – but what could he do? Callen was Callen, and in this particular case, he was at least partially right – whatever it was that was happening between him and Kensi, it was personal, and most likely difficult to explain.
Sam just didn't know how right he was – or how intensely personal it really was. Callen himself had only an inkling of how deep his thing with Kensi went – mostly because he hadn't taken the time to think it through properly.
"Callen, what are we doing?" Kensi asked.
They were on the couch in her house, snuggled close together and playing with their hands, exploring the different ways their fingers could connect. At her question, however, Callen threaded his fingers through hers and gripped her hand securely. She leaned her head against his chest as she waited for his answer.
Callen, for his part, was pondering her query, trying to find the answer. By now they'd been seeing each other for over a month; however, as they were both pros at deception, no one knew about them. They kept their relationship tightly under wraps; at work it was business as usual, and no one suspected that they saw a lot more of each other than they let on.
Both had doubts about Hetty, though.
But even after all this time, he still had no idea where it was going. So he replied honestly.
"I don't know," he admitted.
"That's not the answer I was hoping for," Kensi sighed.
"I know," said Callen, "but it's the only one I've got."
She hesitated before asking her next question. "Do you ever think we should stop?"
He smiled wryly. "All the time." Then he leaned towards her, his free hand traveling up her back to stroke her hair; she shivered at his touch. He turned his head and lowered his voice to a near whisper. "But you know something?"
Kensi moved closer, molding her body to the shape of his embrace, knowing what he was going to say next.
"I don't want to."
Sam sighed, sensing that Callen was not going to say anymore.
"I get it, G," he said. "I do. But whatever this thing is, you've gotta get it sorted out. It's distracting both of you, and that could prove fatal when you're out in the field."
"Kensi and I are both professionals," Callen disagreed. "We can still do our jobs."
"I'm not saying you can't. You've proved you can." Sam's face was serious as he continued, "I'm saying you can't do them as well as you did before this thing started."
Callen opened his mouth to deny it, to defend himself, but then he closed it again. He couldn't object to that because, much as he hated to admit it, Sam was right.
Callen opened his door to find Kensi standing on the doorstep.
"Kenz."
"Where'd you go, Callen?" she asked as she stepped in.
Callen sighed. He should've known this would come up. "I had some personal stuff to take care of."
"What?" she questioned, eyeing him carefully.
"It's complicated," Callen replied. Kensi scowled.
"Well, your 'personal stuff' left us a man short during the last op. It's a good thing Nate was there to pick up the slack, otherwise Sam might be in the same situation as Moe." Her voice was scathing.
Callen looked at her impassively. Hetty had briefed him on the prison op the moment he checked in, of course – but hearing it from Kensi was so much different. And the accusation in her tone struck home – Sam could very well have died during that op. Callen knew if anything had happened because he wasn't there to help, he would never forgive himself. As it was, he was feeling guilty enough because Sam had just lost someone very dear to him. But he couldn't not have gone chasing after his past. That tin soldier was a great clue – or at least, he'd thought it was – and he had jumped at the chance to find out more about his past. However, just like every other time, it had amounted to nothing. Now Callen was left to deal with the hurt and disappointment he'd caused his team.
"Kensi…"
"No, don't even try, Callen," she interrupted. "When we started this relationship – or whatever the hell it is – we promised we'd be honest with each other. Running off on a mysterious errand without even notifying any of us is not called being honest."
"Kensi, I had to," Callen protested. "Look, it was just a day. And we've all got our secrets."
"I know we do." Her tone had changed; from anger, it was now softer, more vulnerable in nature, and Callen got a glimpse of how he'd disappointed her. As if he needed any more guilt. "But that's not the point. You ran off, didn't tell any of us – we didn't know when you'd be back or if you'd be back…" She trailed off, eyes distant. "Callen, you said I could trust you, remember? You said you'd never leave." She threw his words from six weeks ago into his face.
"Aw, Kenz…" Callen took a step closer and tentatively wrapped his arms around her. He took it as a good sign when she didn't pry his hands off. "I'm sorry. I was looking for something I knew I probably wouldn't find. But I came back."
"I was scared, G," she admitted softly. "I had no idea where you were, what you were doing, what kind of trouble you were getting into…"
"Trouble? Me?" Callen said lightly, easing the tension.
Kensi huffed. "Knowing you, you'd find danger in the safest place on earth."
Callen saw, with relief, that the worst of it was over. But there was one more thing he had to take care of.
"Kensi, listen." He hooked his fingers under her chin and lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. "I meant what I said. I won't leave. I might take off sometimes on personal business, like yesterday – but I'll always come back."
"Is that another promise?" she asked, half-skeptically.
"You can think of it that way, if you like." He leaned in to kiss her.
Nell sat in her chair in Ops, absent-mindedly playing with a lock of her red hair as she stared at the wide array of plasma screens in the room.
"I'm bored," she commented to Eric. When he didn't reply, she turned her head to look at him. The technical operator was engrossed in a Call of Duty videogame, oblivious to his surroundings.
"I wonder what Hetty would say if she found out you were playing videogames when you were supposed to be working," Nell remarked casually. This earned her Eric's undivided attention.
"You wouldn't," he said – but there was uncertainty in his voice.
Nell just smiled sweetly at him.
"She probably already knows," Eric pointed out.
"Maybe," Nell conceded. "But you're not sure." At Eric's glare, she kicked her chair towards him and added, "Come on. Get off the videogame for a while and talk to me."
"About what?" Eric asked, reluctantly setting his controller down.
"For starters, Callen and Kensi."
Eric gave her a warning glance. "Don't go there, Nell."
"Come on," she coaxed. "You're not curious?"
"Of course I am, but I've learned not to interfere in their private affairs." He picked up his controller, ready to resume his game.
"We're just gonna be talking between ourselves," Nell reasoned.
"About them," Eric reminded her.
"They're not here, Eric."
"They'll find out."
"How?"
"They have ways. They'll read us." Eric turned back to his game.
Nell observed him for a while before commenting matter-of-factly, "I think they're seeing each other."
At this, Eric's fingers froze on the controller. He slowly turned to face her, his disbelieving expression clear.
"You're kidding, right?" he said incredulously. "How'd you even come up with that?"
"It wasn't easy," she admitted. "They're good at hiding it. But for the last few months they've been really close. Callen's gotten a little bit more protective; Kensi smiles at him more often – and they're always looking at each other."
"And you know this how?"
"I'm observant. Come on, you seriously haven't noticed?" At Eric's blank look, Nell corrected herself with a slight roll of her eyes. "Look who I'm talking to. Of course you haven't."
"Sam would have noticed."
"But he didn't. Maybe he's too close."
"Hetty would know about it."
"I'm not saying she doesn't."
Here Eric paused, searching for another angle.
"What makes you so sure you're right?" he asked finally.
"I don't know. But I think I am. You can call it a gut feeling, if you like."
Eric mulled over this for a minute.
"Okay, so say your theory's right," he began. "Then what's going on between them now?"
Nell shrugged. "Maybe the relationship's not working out," she suggested.
Eric shook his head. "You know what? Forget I asked. I'm not having this conversation with you. There is no way Callen and Kensi are seeing each other. It's impossible."
"Wanna bet?" Nell challenged. Eric met her gaze cautiously.
"Sure," he agreed. "Twenty bucks says your theory's way off base."
"Fifty says it isn't," she countered. He blanched a bit.
"You're that sure?"
She grinned mischievously at him. He reconsidered.
"Thirty?" he compromised.
"Deal," she agreed.
They shook on it – Nell enthusiastically, Eric still unsure if it was a good idea and wondering how she had roped him into this.
Down in the bullpen, Sam was wondering where on earth Deeks and Kensi were. It wasn't like them to be so late without at least phoning ahead.
"G, you know where Kensi and Deeks are?" he queried.
"No." Callen glanced at his watch. "It's nine-thirty. They should be here by now." He looked up, worried. "You think something might have happened to them?" It was unlikely, he knew – but considering their line of work, it wasn't implausible, and it didn't do to assume everything was fine.
"I'll call Kensi," Sam volunteered, picking up his phone.
"Don't bother," Deeks said as he walked in.
"Deeks, where's Kensi?" Callen inquired. The absence of the only female agent was conspicuous.
"Holed up in her house with some books and a cup of tea," the LAPD liaison replied as he settled at his desk.
"Tea?" Sam echoed. "Kensi never drinks tea."
"She does when she's not feeling well."
"Kensi's sick?" Callen was instantly on alert.
"She's fine," Deeks assured him. "It's just the flu. I dropped by to see how she was doing on my way here."
"And?" Sam prompted.
"And she all but kicked my ass to work," Deeks responded with a chuckle. "Refused to let me stay more than five minutes. But I'll tell you one thing – her place is a mess. I mean, it doesn't quite look like a tornado went through it, but it's not what you'd call neat, either…"
Eric's familiar whistle reached their ears, and Deeks cut himself off to head up the stairs with Callen and Sam.
It was time for a new case.
A/N: I'm sure you've noticed by now the references and tie-ins to the show's episodes in the flashbacks. If you're a good NCIS:LA fan, you should know which episodes, but if you don't, that's okay - the episode references aren't really all that important to the story, although the asides could get a little confusing if you don't know what happened.
Yesterday's flashback was, of course, taken from Disorder (Season 2 Episode 11). The flashbacks you've just read refer to Overwatch (Season 2 Episode 12) and Lockup (Season 2 Episode 14), respectively (the second flashback has no episode allusion).
Tomorrow's chapter might be a little late, but believe you me, it'll still get posted.