Wednesday passed too quickly for Callie's preferences. Tony packed his bag and left early in the morning with a quick kiss and a whispered "see you soon." She had a brief conversation with Gibbs, offering one last time to let DiNozzo off, which Harris quickly refused.

Next thing she knew it was Thursday and she was landing at the private airstrip in balmy Houston, Texas. Deplaning, Callie's one large suitcase was stowed quickly by the baggage handler and the driver of the small limousine that was waiting on the tarmac. Tipping the young bag man, the chauffer crossed to his waiting passenger. Removing his hat, he waited for recognition.

"Oh my god," Callie breathed and then threw her arms around the older black man, "Karl!"

He returned the tight hug and then led Callie to the car, "Glad you're here, Cal."

Closing the door, he quickly took the driver's seat and started them on their way. "How did you wind up with this detail?" Callie asked from the back.

He smiled, "I volunteered. Heard Kyle say they got you to come so I went straight way to Blevins and told him I wanted the job."

Callie shook her head. Karl Hunter had been one of her dad's drivers almost from the beginning of Corwyn-Harris. As a teenager, Karl had been the one assigned to escort Callie. She never had to worry about transportation for her or her friends. Karl made sure she got to wherever she needed to be. Karl had also seen Cal in some of her worst times, too.

"How are the grandkids?" She continued to talk.

"Frank's in his second year at Rice. That boy got all the brains. His sister, Lucille, is a junior in high school. She thinks she's headed to Tech."

"You on for the whole time I'm here?" Callie wanted to know.

Karl nodded, "Yep. Whatever you need. Guess we're headed to the apartment?"

Callie smiled. "What do you think?"

He laughed, "Gotta say, Cal, you look great. D.C. agrees with you."

"Yeah, Karl, it does. Best decision I ever made."

"Special things in D.C.?"

Callie didn't miss the emphasis as she replied, "Very special things…people in D.C."

He smiled, "Glad to hear it, Cal. Lord knows, if anyone deserves it, you do."

Callie was suddenly uncomfortable, "Leave it at that, Karl."

Karl nodded, knowing he had gotten dangerously close to a line Harris didn't like to cross. He had a strong feeling that line was going to get zigzagged to hell before this weekend ended.

They arrived at the parking garage for the apartment complex situated in downtown Houston. Karl let Callie out and then quickly removed her suitcase from the boot. Setting it on the curb, he asked, "You want me to help you upstairs with it?"

Callie smiled, "No. I can manage. See you tomorrow?"

"Unless you want me back for tonight?"

"No," Callie shook her head, "I plan on hiding out here tonight. I'll probably have to save you for late nights tomorrow and Saturday."

He smiled, knowingly, "Whatever you need, Cal."

Giving her a final hug, Karl went back to the limo and drove off. Callie made her way into the elevator and up to the floor where the private apartment occupied almost the entire level.

As she started to enter, a flicker of something made Harris uneasy. Unholstering her weapon, she punched the final codes into the electronic key and made her way into the apartment. As she closed the door, still with her back to the center of the entry area, she let the suitcase come to rest against the closed door and then turned, her gun in shooting position.

The older, silver-haired man had been watching from the doorway of the bedroom and knew what was coming. As Harris made eye contact and registered her adversary, she heard the familiar voice say, "You owe me twenty bucks, DiNozzo."

Callie jerked her gun towards the doorway of what was the master bedroom as the tall Italian came out, "Damn, Cal. Can't you enter a room like a normal person?"

All caution went out the window as Callie yelled, "What part of don't want you here did you two not understand?"

Gibbs began a slow approach towards his volatile agent, "Lower your weapon, Harris."

She immediately retargeted the boss.

Tony followed suit, walking towards Callie, "She wouldn't shoot us, Boss."

The laugh was harsh as Harris pulled her weapon back to Tony and answered, "Why the hell not? You're trespassing. It would be justifiable."

"You couldn't do it," Gibbs continued to approach.

"Don't push me," she warned.

Tony replied, "You don't have a round chambered and your safety's still on."

Callie glanced down at the weapon. It was all Gibbs needed to put his hand on the barrel and wrestle the gun away from his agent. Slapping her hard in the back of the head, he hissed, "Next time I tell you to lower your weapon you better damn well do it."

Callie's voice was malevolent. "Make no mistake. I am not pleased that either of you are here." Grabbing her suitcase she stormed between Tony and Gibbs. "And, DiNozzo, you better not have your things in the Master Bedroom either. You came here with Gibbs, you sleep with him!"

And she slammed the master bedroom door and locked it to punctuate her outburst.

Tony shook his head, "That went well."

Gibbs expelled a breath, looking down at Callie's weapon. She did indeed have a round chambered and the safety was not on. Jethro really wasn't sure if she would have delivered on her threat or not.

"What do you suggest we do?" The younger man asked.

"We? Nothing. You? Well, you better hope she calms down and comes to her senses."

Tony looked at Gibbs, "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Cause otherwise, you're sleeping on the couch. I don't share my bed."

Tony couldn't resist, "Is that what those three ex-wives found out the hard way?"

The slap to the back of the head echoed in the quiet apartment.