Callie awoke to twelve drummers drumming in her head and an empty bed. Glancing at the clock, it was just a little after 1 am. She smiled at the trash can, washcloth and water that had been left by her side. Sliding gingerly from the covers, she returned the trash can to its rightful place in the bathroom where she scrubbed her face with the rag provided and used the water to wash down a couple of aspirin. Now, there was only one situation left to rectify.
She padded quietly to the bedroom door and opened it to look out into the living area. She could just make out the glow of the television and Tony's long frame stretched out on the couch.
"Anthony?" Callie spoke softly, as much for her benefit as anyone else's.
Tony turned at the sound of his name and saw Harris standing just outside the bedroom door.
"You need something?" his tone was concerned.
Callie shook her head, no, but replied, "Are you coming to bed?"
Tony sat up at the question. Smiling, he replied, "I thought you told me I wasn't welcome. And since Gibbs won't share his bed that leaves the couch."
Harris shrugged, "Maybe I spoke rashly. Are you coming or not?"
"Depends? You gonna throw up on me?"
Callie smiled bashfully, "No. Would you just come on already?"
Tony stood, returning Harris' smile. He looked down to the overstuffed chair and spoke, "Night, Boss."
Callie's eyes widened. She'd not seen the Senior Agent still sitting in the living room. Gibbs stood at the acknowledgment from DiNozzo and turned off the television.
"Think I'll turn in, too," he added.
Both men walked towards Callie, Tony leading the way. He slipped past her, into the Master Bedroom, leaving Harris still staring at Gibbs.
"Something you want to say?" Gibbs challenged as he walked up to her.
Callie opened her mouth as if in response and then suddenly shook her head, no, and retreated to the bedroom, closing the door quickly.
Gibbs shook his head in frustration as he entered his own bedroom for a few hours sleep.
Try as she might, Callie just couldn't sleep past 7:30am. She had listened to Tony's quiet snores and knew that she would only continue to toss and turn and eventually wake him. He deserved to rest. She left the bedroom and curled up in the overstuffed chairs in the living room, deep in thought.
Callie was definitely conflicted about the turn of events. She had been gone from Houston for over twenty years and yet, back less than twenty-four hours, the pain and insecurity of her youth threatened to overwhelm her. Harris had believed that with her father's death, the pain and hatred would die, too. How wrong she had been.
Deep in this reverie, she had missed the sound of the key in the electronic lock until it was too late. As the door to the apartment swung open, the alarm system rocked the entire area. Callie bolted to the key pad as the bedroom doors swung open. Standing in each was an armed agent. As Harris turned off the alarm, she looked at Gibbs and DiNozzo who both stood in the doorways, wearing nothing but t-shirts and boxers. Clone was the first word that popped into Callie's mind.
The intruder had frozen in place as all the action had occurred almost simultaneously. While the alarm had stopped, neither agent had lowered his weapon.
Callie turned on the man pressed against the front door, "Do you have a death wish, Blevins?"
"I've always used my passkey to enter this apartment," he explained with a quiver in his voice.
Callie shook her head, "Not when it's occupied by three armed federal agents."
"Callie." The growl came from the older agent.
She faced Gibbs, "This is J. Michael Blevins." She responded.
Gibbs lowered his weapon but Tony's remained aimed, "I can still shoot him for you."
Callie smiled at DiNozzo's calmly spoken statement and Blevins' widened eyes.
"No, that's alright. Around these parts, you shoot one attorney, two more take his place. Just be a waste of good ammunition." Harris drawled.
DiNozzo nodded and finally lowered his gun as Blevins glared at Callie.
Again, Gibbs spoke. "Coffee."
Harris answered, "Thirty minutes with breakfast."
Nodding, he answered, "Shower." And then closed the bedroom door.
Neither Tony nor Blevins had moved yet. Harris turned back towards Tony with a smile. He asked, "You okay?"
Callie nodded, "I got it. Go ahead and shower."
DiNozzo gave her a brief dip of the head and a quick scowl to Blevins before turning to the bedroom and closing the door.
J. Michael Blevins finally released the breath he'd been holding and walked past Callie into the living room. Trying to regain his composure, his tone was quite imperious as he spoke.
"Well, I see your friends made it in alright."
Callie joined him, returning to the chair she favored, "Yeah. About that. You should have called me when you knew they were coming." Her tone left no confusion about the displeasure she felt.
"Your Special Agent Gibbs made it VERY clear what I could and could not say." Blevins responded by way of explanation.
"So why are you here?" Callie moved the conversation along.
"I've got your itinerary for the weekend." Blevins answered as Callie rolled her eyes, "Visitation will be tonight at 6pm at the funeral home. The service tomorrow and lunch on Sunday will both be at 1pm. And, finally the reading of the will takes place at 10:00 am Monday in my offices. You may bring one witness with you, if you like. May I suggest an attorney?"
"There will be enough attorneys there Monday without adding another one." Harris groused, "Anything else?"
"The car will be here two hours prior to each event except for lunch Sunday. Karl will be here three hours early that day so that you make it out to the ranch in plenty of time." Blevins continue to instruct.
Callie asked, "Is that all?"
"I believe so, yes," Blevins responded, his tone dry.
"Fine. Now let me tell you something. As long as I'm in this apartment, you better not ever use your passkey again. You're lucky I couldn't get to my weapon in time or I would have shot you. No hesitation."
Blevins was affronted, "In cold blood?"
"For trespassing on private property. Remember, J., I am still a Harris and this apartment is rightfully mine." Callie's tone matched Blevins in superiority.
"Until the will is read," was Blevins cutting response.
Callie smiled wryly, "We're done. Let Hilda in on your way out." She ordered, standing as she spoke.
Blevins stood and started to reply but was stopped by the warning tone that said, "You heard the lady."
Michael Blevins turned to face a very stern looking Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He was about to respond but thought better of it as he saw the agent clinch his fists at his side.
Blevins cast a withering glance over his shoulder at Callie, "Very well, Callie. I'll see you tonight. And, make sure you remember the company you'll be with. You're not at sea any longer."
And he left the apartment just as Hilda knocked on the door. The weekend cook quickly entered and exited, much to Harris' disappointment. She knew Gibbs had questions that she wasn't going to want to answer.
He tried an indirect approach as poured coffee, "McGee said you and Blevins were adversarial. He didn't do the relationship justice."
Callie remained quiet as Gibbs continued, "What's the story?"
On a heavy sigh, Harris responded, "Blevins is, was and always will be my father's personal pit viper. Whatever Calvin Harris needed fixed or handled, J. Michael Blevins fixed it or handled it."
With a knowing look over the coffee cup, Jethro answered, "That include Calvin Harris' oldest daughter?"
Callie heard the door to the other bedroom open and looked up in time to see Tony coming out. She started to walk past Gibbs, only to be detained by a hand to her upper arm.
Looking down to where he held her and then up into crystal blue eyes, Callie responded, "Leave it alone, Jethro."
Tony watched the byplay between the two agents. Normally, he wouldn't bet against Gibbs in a battle of wills but with the mood Callie Harris had been in since hearing of her father's death, it was a fight he'd almost pay to see. Almost.
Gibbs knew he could continue to push Harris. He had worked with her long enough that he knew how to manipulate her, to get to the truth. Gibbs also knew that if he did that to her, in this situation, it would be the last he'd ever see of her. Gibbs released her but not before he leaned in and whispered, "We will get to the bottom of this before we leave Houston. Make no doubt about it."
Callie's eyes flared and a hint of something akin to fear flashed through them, of that Gibbs was sure. She didn't speak or acknowledge his comment. She fled from the room, past a staring DiNozzo without any other comments.
"Well, I see we've picked up where we left off last night." Tony chimed in.
Gibbs glared at DiNozzo but he knew the younger agent was correct. This was going to be a really long weekend.
The men were dressed and waiting in the living room for Callie. At 3:30pm she opened the door to join them and wait for Karl. Both agents stood, each with a very unrecognizable look.
"What?" Callie asked.
"I've just never seen you dressed like that, Cal. And, I've known you for…" Gibbs began.
"Yeah, I know how long you've known me. You can leave it at that." Callie smiled.
"It looks good on you except for the holster I can see under the jacket," Tony spoke as he joined her where she stood. He tapped the weapon for emphasis.
"If you're going armed, wear your backup," Gibbs instructed.
Callie eased up the pant leg of the blue and silver pinstriped suit, "I am wearing my backup."
"Then leave the service weapon," Tony told her, reaching under the jacket to unclip it from her waistband. He walked past her into the bedroom to lock it up with his backup. Both he and Gibbs were wearing their service revolvers and badges.
Callie complained, "I'd feel better in a full suit of armor with a battle axe, a sword, a knife, a shield and anything else I can think of."
"Yeah, but then we'd be picking you up all night because you couldn't handle the weight," Gibbs teased.
"Come on," Tony pushed at her as reentered the room, "It'll be fine. We'll be there and you'll see your brother and sister. And, it'll be over before you know it."
"I'd rather be shot," Harris moaned again.
The intercom near the door buzzed signaling Karl's arrival in the garage. Callie took one last breath, "Well, come on. You wanted to be here. Let's go meet the family."
And as she led the way out of the apartment, Callie still couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu as if she were heading to her execution.