Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS:LA. Seriously, you don't need to be Hetty to work that out.
A/N: Thank you for all the amazing reviews and favourites. I wasn't expecting that many for my first NCIS:LA fic. Love you all!
Two: Haunted House
Callen drove up the small dirt road, "Here we go. Home sweet home."
"Are you serious?" Sam looked at the creaking wood shack in front of them. In the moonlight, they could see the porch running around the outside of the front and the wide open front door.
"Am I the only one that's hearing spooky horror film music in my head?" Eric asked no one in particular as they stared at the house they were exiled to.
"Guys," Callen turned in his seat to face them. "It could be worse. We're off the grid here. Short of a satellite network they can't find us here. Think of it as an extended vacation."
"My vacation plans don't normally include staying in a place that looks like the big bad wolf could finish it off," Deeks said darkly.
"Deal with it," Sam told him, his patience wearing thin.
"Anyone else got a torch?" Callen asked, holding up the NCIS issue torch he'd stashed in the car. With only five minutes warning, there wasn't time to grab much.
"Yes." Sam and Kensi held up miniature torches on their key rings.
"Okay, Sam and I will go in first. When we give the all clear, you can come in." Callen got out of the car, not waiting for a reply. Sam followed quickly, moving in tandem with his partner.
"Yes sir," Kensi mock saluted their retreating backs.
"You know if this were a horror movie then Sam is a gonna."
"Deeks…"
He shrugged, "Just saying. The number two guy is always the first to go. Next is the hot one – sorry Kensi."
"Then you?" Kensi quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Maybe. There's two possibilities. It could be the handsome, plucky comic relief or one of the geek squad. Of course, either person gets a really bad death. Totally painful. Lots of blood."
"Deeks? Can you shut up? Please?" Nell asked, her voice small. Everyone glanced at her; she'd never said anything like that to any of them before.
"Shutting up," Deeks nodded and closed his mouth.
Eric put a hand on Nell's arm, "You okay?" He whispered.
"Yeah," She nodded, biting her lip. She was okay as she could be under the circumstances.
"So… Anyone know any camping songs?" Eric asked, trying to brighten the mood.
"If you start singing kumbaya, I will scream," Kensi warned as Deeks opened his mouth.
"Then no, I don't know any."
A high pitched scream tore through the darkness.
"What was that?" Nell straightened, panicking.
"Sounded like Kensi," Deeks said, glancing at his partner.
"Wasn't me. I'm right here."
"Obviously."
"It came from the house," Eric supplied, watching it avidly through the window.
"Come on Deeks," Kensi jumped out of the car. "Eric, Nell you stay here."
"No way. We're coming with you," Eric replied, getting out.
"Fine," She didn't have time to argue. "Just stay behind us."
They crept silently up the drive, guns and torches drawn. Deeks opened the door, Kensi positioned behind him. "LAPD!" He yelled, "Free… What the hell?"
In the pale torchlight, they could see Sam perched on the kitchen table, torch pointed to the floor. "There's a rat in here."
"A rat?" Kensi echoed.
"You screamed?" Eric couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. "Dude you scream like a girl."
"It was a big rat," Sam glared at the young tech.
Deeks slid his gun back into the waistband of his jeans, "Awww. Is the big bad SEAL afraid of an itty bitty rat?"
"A non-existent rat," Callen added, coming back into the room. "Sorry Sam, I couldn't see anything."
"All clear?" Kensi asked for clarification.
"All clear," Callen nodded.
"Good," She holstered her gun, "Are you coming down from there any time soon, Sam?"
"I didn't imagine it," Sam glared at his partner.
"I didn't see anything," Callen shrugged.
"Then you need your eyes tested."
"Rats?" Deeks could help but smile. "You're afraid of rats?"
"They're vermin. They cause disease!"
"They carry disease, they don't cause it," Nell corrected him out of habit. "Sorry," She added sheepishly when Sam looked at her.
"It's fine," Callen reassured her. "We're all a little tense after today," He looked at all of them. "We're going to sleep then deal with tomorrow when it comes. Okay?"
"Shot bags not sleeping on the couch!" Deeks called.
"There's three bedrooms-"
"Shot bags not sharing with Deeks!" Kensi parroted her partner's words.
"And we can share," Callen finished, glaring at Kensi for her interruption.
"The room on the east side is mine," Sam declared and jumped down off the table.
"Kensi, Nell you two can pick one and Deeks and Eric will have the other," Callen organised them.
"Okay, come on Nell," Kensi steered the younger woman down the hall to their left. "We'll leave the pink room for the boys."