Disclaimer: The characters of N.C.I.S. Los Angeles are property of CBS
The morning after-
Callen was starting to stir, and then he felt movement.
{Who's in my bed?} Callen thought. {Wait a minute. I don't have a bed.}
Callen opened his eyes and realized that by the color scheme in the room he wasn't at his house. Callen felt movement again; when he looked in the direction of the movement he saw his partner for last night's tango: Noa Vega. Callen smiled to himself because come Monday morning Sam is going to bombard him with questions, so he thought he might as well make the most of it. Callen pulled Noa into him, effectively waking her up, and then rolled on top of her.
"Good morning to you too!" Noa said.
Callen and Noa started making out again, and then half way through Noa pulled a Jiu Jitsu move and swapped positions with Callen again.
"Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we may have to go a round some time." Callen said.
"Not today." Noa said, with a naughty look in her eyes
Noa grabbed a condom from her drawer, applied it to Callen, and then the lovers went another round.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Sam and Michelle were sitting at home relaxing in their living room.
"So tell me about Noa Vega?" Michelle asked.
"I don't know what to tell you because Callen is keeping a tight lid on this relationship." Sam said.
"But Callen is in a relationship with Noa?" Michelle said, more as a statement than a question.
"Here's what I do: every time Grissom meets them at Club Balm they always end up staying over for drinks and they always stay late. Whenever they meet up it's usually in a bar either on a Friday, or Saturday night. They have gone out to eat at least one, and I could put a decent sum of money down that Callen went to her house last night for some action." Sam said.
"You approve of her?" Michelle asked.
"As long as my partner is happy with her, I don't really care. I'm surprised that he and Joelle broke up, but I can understand why it wouldn't work." Sam said.
"Why, you don't approve of my choice?"
"It has nothing to do with your choices as opposed to compatibility." Sam said.
"Meaning?" Michelle asked.
"Look at us." Sam said. "We understand the dangers of the job; you know what I'm getting into every day, or you have some understanding."
"And Joelle doesn't?" Michelle asked.
"How could Joelle know when Callen can't let her in all the way? Callen kept her at arm's length to protect her, and it was also a point of contention for them because of it." Sam said.
"And Kensi and Deeks, what about their relationship?" Michelle asked
"That's a good one. We both know the dangers of working with someone you love, but then again could being in love with someone, either in this field or another line of work entirely, be dangerous anyway." Sam said.
"How so?" Michelle asked, intrigued by her husband's epiphany.
"Loving someone you work with is dangerous because it could cause distractions, and someone could get hurt. But then again loving someone in a different field you have to hide who you are so they aren't used against you. To truly be safe in this line of work, emotionally, you have to remain single." Sam said.
"You aren't going to harass Kensi and Deeks about being married and working together?" Michelle asked.
"Why should I?" Sam asked.
"You said it yourself it's dangerous." Michelle said.
"True I did say it was dangerous." Sam said.
"But." Michelle said.
"Who am I to judge when I went off the deep end when we were chasing Sidorov?" Sam asked.
Michelle thought about what he said, and a possible response that Sam could give.
"So you aren't going to judge them when you failed to keep you head in the game?" Michelle asked.
"Yes." Sam said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Kensi was at Ops on a Sunday morning trawling the databases looking for that operation that Deeks had a mission folder three months back. Kensi was mindless scrolling through ops being currently being run when one jumped out at her.
"Operation Inganno." Kensi said.
When Kensi tried to access the file, she was denied access.
"Probably Director Vance's doing." Kensi said.
Kensi gave up on the search and went to her mother's house for the rest of the day.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"How are you doing Nell?" Eric asked entering their living room
Nell approached Eric and started kissing him. It went on for a minute before a winded Eric broke away long enough to ask.
"Anything I can do to be of assistance?"
"Bedroom, now!" Nell said almost growling.
"As you wish." Eric said.
"Whoa!" Nell exclaimed as Eric took her in his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
As Kensi was calling it quits for the night she let Monty and Tracy out to do their business, and then headed to bed for the night. As Kensi was attempting to fall asleep she had a hard time. She was so close on figuring out the complete truth of her husband's actions, just to be denied because it was above her paygrade.
"Probably for his or my protection." Kensi said.
Next thing she knew she was being attacked by her dogs.
"Aw, I love you too." Kensi said once Tracy and Monty had their fill.
After the dogs had finished giving Kensi some love, they cuddle up next to Kensi on the bed. The action moved Kensi to tears, and she slept peaceful through the night.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Monday morning-
Kensi walked into Ops on Monday to a loud bull pen.
"So how did it go?" Sam asked.
"I'm so not answering that question." Callen said.
"Why?" Sam asked.
"Because." Callen said.
"That's it: because? I get a one word answer for your wild passionate night?" Sam asked.
Kensi stopped in her tracks letting the rest of the conversation play out.
"Sam when Noa and I have the conversation, then I will let you know." Callen said.
"The conversation?" Sam asked.
"Once Noa concedes to it being more than just a fling, Callen will let you know." Kensi said.
"Thank you." Callen said.
"And you know this how?" Sam asked.
"Deeks was the same way with me." Kensi said.
"Deeks." Callen said.
"Resident playboy Deeks?" Sam asked.
"Playboy? That would be more of an act than a legitimate front." Kensi said.
"Deeks. Putting up a front about being a playboy? I never would have guessed." Callen said.
"Deeks flirts with a lot of women mostly just to get under my skin." Kensi said.
Kensi let the conversation die as she walked over to her desk to get ready for the day.
"But?" Callen
"What?" Kensi asked.
Sam and Callen stared at Kensi with baited breath.
"Deeks isn't a womanizer, okay." Kensi said.
"And Monica?" Sam asked.
"My jealousy got in the way my professional duty." Kensi said.
"There's a story behind that." Sam said.
"One that I'm not at liberty to tell." Kensi said.
Callen and Sam stared at Kensi.
"What?" Kensi asked.
"And you're not going to tell us?" Sam asked.
"It's not my story to tell." Kensi said.
"Why not?" Callen asked.
"Would you willing tell me Sam's past?" Kensi asked.
"If you did, I'd whoop your hide." Sam said.
Kensi went quiet as the Sam and Callen started bantering, but that was cut short when Sam realize how quiet she was. Sam studied Kensi and saw the sadness in her eyes.
"What happened to Deeks?" Sam asked.
"Ask him." Kensi said, clearing her throat.
"Alright." Callen said.
Callen's phone had started ringing. Callen looked at his phone as he picked it up to check the id.
"Private." Callen said, and then donned a serious look.
Callen cleared his throat, and then answered the phone.
"What's on the docket today Grissom?" Callen asked.
Callen went silent listening to Johan's plans for the next deal. It was another ten minutes before Callen spoke.
"Making it happen as we speak." Callen said hanging up his phone.
Callen stared at Sam after he hung the phone up.
"What?" Sam asked exasperated by his stare.
"He wants a ton of soap." Callen said.
"Really? What terrorist asks for soap?" Kensi asked.
"A man who knows bomb making." Sam said. "One of the main compounds of soap is glycerin."
"Last shipment was for nitric acid." Callen said.
"So we have a terrorist that is employing a chemist to make a bomb." Kensi said.
"I'll inform the director." Gibbs said as he was passing the bull pen.
"I'll be back." Callen said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Deeks was walking by Tanner's computer when he heard a beeping. Just as Deeks was sitting down Tanner was coming over.
"What are you doing?" Tanner asked.
"I had an alert setup to go off when a file has been accessed." Deeks said.
Deeks was looking at the file that was accessed. The file name: Operation Inganno.
"The last person to access said file." Deeks said.
The name to pop up was: Kensi Deeks.
"Well it seems that my wife has figured out, or is suspicious at least, of this operation." Deeks said.
Deeks stopped and thought back to the conversation with La Volpe.
Janus Koza is in Los Angeles making a deal with a man by the name of Johan Grissom.
Deeks had an epiphany, and sent a message to Los Angeles. Deeks got up from the computer and walked away.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Kensi was thinking about Johan Grissom's business in Los Angeles. That he has a connection to Janus Koza. And that somehow Deeks and Sasha are mixed up in some kind of operation that is probably screwing with Koza's business ventures. Then Kensi came to the realization that the bomb won't be deployed in America.
"Ouch!" Kensi said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Callen was standing by watching Johan Grissom as he was checking the shipment, and then handed over the money necessary to pay for the soap. Noa was standing in between the two groups acting as an intermediary. The agents traded glances, and went back to business. Johan shook hands with Callen and then left. After Johan and his entourage got in there cars and started to leave, Callen was approaching Noa.
"This relationship." Noa said.
"What are you looking for?" Callen asked.
"I've had a lot of relationships in my time while doing this job. None of them that move as fast as the one I've had with you, but none as fulfilling." Noa said.
Callen looked Noa in her eye, and realized that this was the moment that he would be breaking his rule about dating a cop.
"None as fulfilling as the relationship I am currently engaged in with you." Noa said.
Callen's head was swimming with all the implications of this relationship, and what it could mean for the job.
{Consequences went out the window the moment I lied down with her.} Callen thought.
"What do you want?" Callen asked.
"What do you think?" Noa asked.
"A house, with a white picket fence?" Callen asked
Noa nodded.
"Anything else?" Callen asked
Noa cocked her head to the side and raised both of her eyebrows.
"Well that's something were going to have to work on." Callen said.
Callen wrapped his arm around Noa's shoulders, and Noa wrapped her arm around Callen's waist as they head back to their cars.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"Nell, Eric we just gave Johan two tons worth of product to level half of Los Angeles. Got any ideas?" Callen asked as he walked into ops.
"Or any other target in the world." Sam said.
Eric and Nell looked at each other, and then shrugged their shoulders.
"Okay, what could Johan do with a bomb that size?" Sam asked.
"He could any target anything." Eric said frantic and wanting to add the theory of what Johan could be doing.
"Fifty bucks, not that it matters the amount of money that's involved; next thing that Johan asks for is shipping documents." Kensi said.
Everybody in ops stared at Kensi, and wondered how she knew that.
"Care to explain how you know that?" Gibbs asked
"Or you could, Agent Gibbs." Kensi said.
"I'm with everybody else on the need for shipping documents." Gibbs said.
"Callen what did Noa say that Grissom's nickname was?" Kensi asked.
"The Deliverer." Callen said.
"But two tons worth of product? For who?" Sam asked.
"Eric, bring up my photos from the surveillance I ran last week." Kensi said.
Eric type a few buttons and brought the photos in question. Kensi walked over to the big screen and pulled up the photo of Grissom walking to a car with another man.
"Janus Koza." Sam said.
"And you know that Johan is securing these materials for Janus. How?" Callen asked.
Kensi thought about how she was going to explain that she figured out why her husband faked the assassination of a high profile target without any evidence; which she has none, other than a theory.
"Call it a hunch." Kensi said, and then left ops.
Callen and Sam left ops to go coordinate with the A.T.F.; while Gibbs went to inform Director Vance. Just before Gibbs exited ops, Eric got a hit on his search.
"Gibbs." Eric said.
Gibbs stopped and looked at Eric.
"You might want to take a look at this." Eric said.
Gibbs walked back to take a look at a picture on the big screen.
"Who's this unlucky gentleman?" Gibbs asked.
"Remember that leak you asked me to plug." Eric said.
"On it. Good work Beales." Gibbs said as he was exiting ops.
It took thirty seconds before it dawn on Nell what Gibbs had said.
"Did Gibbs just say Beales?" Nell asked.
"Seeing as how he gave you ginger ale and saltine crackers two months ago, I'd let it be." Eric said.
"Touché." Nell said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"What's the play Gibbs?" Leon asked standing in M.T.A.C. out in Washington.
"On which front: The mole or the bomb that Grissom is building?" Gibbs asked
"The mole was secured three hours ago. You think Deeks and Sasha might be compromised?" Leon asked.
"You can't play with fire and not get burned. They have been taking down Koza network for three months. Now we started freezing his accounts. It was only a matter of time before Janus decided to take matters into their hands." Gibbs said.
"And Kensi?" Leon asked.
"I'd expect a call from her soon if I were you." Gibbs said.
"How soon?" Leon asked.
"After the next meet." Gibbs said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"What's the problem?" Sasha asked.
"I think I know why Koza is in Los Angeles." Deeks said.
"And that is because?" Sasha asked.
"What have we been doing for the past three months?" Deeks asked.
"Wow. And Koza decides to hire an intermediary to take us down?" Sasha asked.
"Sadly enough, yeah." Deeks said.
"So what's the plan?" Quintus asked.
"Unless you can mind read from the other side of the planet, we need to be careful. It looks like the mole that N.C.I.S. had has been found and detained. All though we have no idea how much of the information has been compromised." Deeks said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
Sam and Callen were waiting at the boat shed for A.T.F. agents Vega, and Johnson to arrive. Ten minutes later Vega, Johnson arrived.
"What do you have?" Johnson asked.
"Johan is acquiring materials to build a bomb for this man." Sam said.
Sam tapped a few buttons and brought a picture of Janus Koza.
"Janus Koza." Johnson said.
"Friend of yours?" Sam asked.
"Political nightmare." Johnson said "I've been chasing him since the nineteen seventies."
"He also kidnapped two of our agents four years ago." Sam said.
"Agent Deeks and Agent Blye?" Johnson said.
"You heard about that?" Callen asked.
"What part of chasing Koza sine the seventies don't you understand?" Johnson asked.
"On with the show." Callen said.
"Any reason why Janus would need a bomb?" Johnson asked.
"Did Vega apprise you of the situation?" Callen said.
"Yeah. Grissom asked for a ton of soap." Johnson said.
"Last shipment was nitric acid." Callen said.
"Let me guess: he ordered a ton of it?" Johnson asked.
"Lucky guess." Sam said.
"Next guess." Callen said.
"Do the names Martin Deeks and Sasha Pellegrino mean anything to you?" Johnson asked.
"That's not a guess, but I'll bite; Sasha was an asset used by Assistant Director Granger, and Agent Deeks was formerly employed with N.C.I.S. until three months ago." Sam said.
"They went rogue and started running amok in Janus Koza operations." Johnson said.
"Well I think Kensi knows why Grissom will need those papers." Sam said.
"What papers?" Noa asked.
"Shipping documents." Callen said.
"Shipping documents for what?" Johnson asked.
"You said it yourself Johnson: Deeks and Sasha have been ruining Koza business for three months." Sam said.
"So Koza asked Grissom to secure two tons worth of product to wipe their team off the map?" Johnson asked.
"What next?" Noa asked.
"We keep that bomb from leaving Los Angeles." Callen said.
"We need eyes on the other side of the world to intercept whatever Janus has planned." Noa said.
"We have to stay here and finish the job." Johnson said.
"I'll get Gibbs to inform Director Vance." Sam said.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
"Gibbs." Gibbs said answering his phone.
"Gibbs I you need to contact the director and tell him we need somebody overseas watching Janus movements." Sam said.
"Why?" Gibbs said.
"Supposedly our friends at the A.T.F. told us that Deeks and Sasha have been running amok of Koza's operations abroad." Callen chimed in.
"Send in Echo Squad." Gibbs said.
Callen and Sam share a look.
"Friends of yours?" Callen asked.
"No." Gibbs said.
"Who's?" Sam asked.
"Keep me apprised of the situation." Gibbs said, and then hung up the phone.
Callen and Sam stare at each other.
"Okay." Sam said.
"Deeks and Sasha go rogue and start destroying Janus operation." Callen said.
"Why?" Sam asked.
"And why the abduction of Hetty and Conor?" Callen asked.
"That might be the reason for Deeks to execute Granger." Sam said.
"Granger told Deeks to stand down, but he didn't want to." Callen said. "But if that the case, wouldn't you have done the same thing that Deeks did?"
"Kill Granger, and then do a whirlwind tour of the world taking down a terrorist organization without help." Sam said.
"Sasha had a stock pile of supplies." Callen said.
"Four months' work of supplies?" Sam said.
"I can find supplies from anywhere, and you know it." Callen said.
"Are you defending Deeks?" Sam asked.
"Just saying that it's easy to stay off the grid if you have supplies stored off sight." Callen said.
"I have a feeling that Kensi hunch isn't a hunch." Sam said.
"You think she is sitting on evidence that proves Deeks innocence?" Callen asked.
"I'm not entirely sure Deeks is dirty." Sam said.
"And the video?" Callen asked.
"Do you actually believe that video?" Sam asked.
"Why not?" Callen asked.
"We could always ask Anatoli Kirkin." Sam said.
Upon mention Kirkin's name Callen realized why Kensi might be holding out.
"Let's bring our team home." Callen said
T.B.C.