The team looked at the picture on the screen. It was crystal clear and in perfect focus, showing every member. They were all laughing at something; even Hetty had a smile on her face. Deeks's and Kensi's shoulders were touching and they both looked like they were about to fall on the floor from their laughter. Eric and Nell were sharing a conspiring look and Callen and Sam looked completely relaxed and at ease…something Kensi couldn't remember the last time she saw. Hetty was looked at them with an indulgent and almost…motherly smile.
"I guess opening up isn't so bad, huh?" Deeks said, finally smiling.
"Yeah…we actually look like a team." Kensi said, staring at the complete happiness on everyone's faces.
"No." Sam said quietly. "We look like a family."
Everyone was silent for a moment. Finally, everyone started talking at once.
"Oh my gosh, I loved Hetty's expression when Callen read that first part of his letter!" Kensi said to Nell right as Nell said "Did you see Eric's face when Hetty read his letter?"
The two girls moved off laughing with each other.
"What is it with girls and going off by themselves?" Deeks muttered.
"I do not know." Eric shook his head and glanced at the other men. "So, that exercise was crazy, right?"
Sam chuckled. "I'll say. Although it was worth it to hear that Deeks worships me." He grinned. Deeks sharply responded.
"I do not worship you! You're crazy."
"Oh please, you idolize me."
"Do not!"
"You probably have a shrine to me in your apartment." Sam grinned and bumped Deeks's shoulder.
Deeks just looked at him. "One, that is creepy, and two, I do not idolize you."
"Do to."
"Do not."
Callen decided to take pity on Deeks. "And Eric over here tries to live up to my expectations." He grinned as Sam laughed. Deeks pounced; glad he was not the target anymore.
"Yeah, our egomaniacal nerd over here actually cares about what someone thinks." Deeks grinned.
"Hey, hey, hey. All I meant by that was Callen here keeps me in practice. Even Mike Tyson had a personal trainer." Eric said, straightening his glasses with superiority.
"Boom! Downgraded from hero to personal trainer like that." Deeks snapped his fingers and laughed. Callen glared at Deeks and the other man shut up instantly.
Sam just shook his head at the interactions. "Fight nice, boys."
"Oh, yeah, Sam, that reminds me…" Callen glanced at him. "Apparently Deeks has grown on you; what was it…'I can't imagine the team without him?'"
"Without his jokes, G. Without his jokes." Sam stressed. "And even those can get irritating."
"You guy talking about Deeks?" Kensi asked as she and Nell rejoined the group.
"How could you tell?" Sam said jokingly.
"The word irritating."
"Hurtful." Deeks muttered.
"Hey, that's something I noticed." Eric suddenly said. Everyone looked at him.
"Everyone called you Callen in their notes except Sam. He called you G." Eric pointed out.
"Yeah, I noticed that too. It's kinda adorable." Deeks said with a smile.
At the expression on Sam and Callen's face, the computer tech quickly backtracked. "And by 'adorable' I mean completely, totally commendable because it shows how close you guys have become as partners." Deeks said quickly. "Kensi, help!"
"So, Eric, what did you want us up here for anyway?" Kensi broke in, deciding she didn't want to break in a new partner anytime soon.
Both computer techs looked guilty. "Well…Eric was trying to delete messages off his cell phone and-" Nell stopped. "Oh, who am I kidding? We just wanted to talk to you guys about what just happened." She shrugged and smiled.
"Yeah, we were…curious." Eric admitted. "Hetty has never done anything like this to us before…"
"No, she hasn't." Kensi said, tilting her head. "Why did she do it this time? Why now?"
"I don't know." Callen frowned. "I mean, all things considered we are no different than any other time."
"I think I know why she did it." Sam said quietly.
"Why?" Deeks asked, then remembered he was still in disgrace.
"Look." Sam nodded towards the still-paused picture on the screen. "When was the last time we were all together like that? Laughing, relaxed, sharing stuff with each other?"
Each of the unit thought for a moment. "I see your point." Callen said.
"I guess Hetty did know what she was doing." Nell said with a smile.
"I occasionally do, my dear." Hetty said from behind the agents. All six jumped and Nell looked embarrassed. "And while Mr. Beal's alert to you all was a false alarm, I just got word from Director Vance about a new case. Get to it!" She said with a nod at Eric. He jumped to action as the others fell into their normal stances during a briefing.
Hetty sent a glance over to the picture frozen on the one screen and noticed everyone else looking over at it every once in a while as well. She got an idea in her head, and filed it away. She wanted to see how her first idea had affected the team before she put it into effect. She smiled to herself. Yes…she would watch, and wait.