Entering the locker room, Callen jerked opened his locker, grabbed his to-go bag and flung it on the nearby bench along with two towels. Slamming the locker shut he striped, grabbed his soap and shampoo and got into the shower. Adjusting the temperature to suit his preference, he braced his arms against the wall and let the water cascade over his blond head and down his scarred back. Silently, tears coursed down his face as he remembered the expression on the little girls' face when the bullets ripped thru her small body because her father decided to use her as a human shield. What kind of monster did that to his own flesh and blood? Callen's emotions swung from sadness to anger as he thought about the stupid CIA agent that had pulled the trigger, killing the child. There had been time to react differently Callen fervently believed; that little girl did not have to die.
The situation had gone from bad to worse when a second accidental shot ended up killing the grieving mother who had instinctively run towards her dying daughter. Within the space of a few minutes, three lives were snuffed out; one who deserved to die and two who did not.
If it hadn't been for Sam, Callen would have shot the two CIA agents that killed the mother and daughter on the spot. However, his partner's hand on his shoulder and calm 'no' had brought him to his senses and he lowered his weapon. As they were leaving, one of the CIA agents made an insensitive remark about the deaths and Callen lost it, tackling the agent to the ground and physically assaulting him. Again, Sam had saved him from deeper trouble by dragging him off the agent and physically restraining him.
Callen gave a short sob as his mind circled back to the woman and her child. Betty and Julia, the wife and only daughter of Frank Tichi, who was suspected of being the mastermind behind the bombing at Naval Weapons Station Earle, that had killed 10 and injured a dozen more sailors and civilians.
When Tichi had relocated from the east coast to the west, Callen had gone undercover to infiltrate his organization and during that time, had come to know his wife Betty and their only daughter Julia. When Callen had gathered enough evidence to get a solid conviction on Tichi, he had started working on a plan that would bring Tichi down. That's when the CIA got involved and wreaked havoc. The CIA mounted a poorly coordinated raid that had ended the life of Frank Tichi. But it was not the plan Callen had in mind; in Callen's plan the innocent wife and daughter survived.
The agent slammed his palms against the shower wall cursing the CIA agents in numerous languages before sliding to the floor of the shower and hugging his knees. Callen lost track of time and it was the dropping temperature of the water which finally brought him back to his senses and his feet; damn Hetty and her timers. Turning off the icy stream, he flung open the shower door reaching for his towel to discover Granger standing there, arms crossed, waiting for him. Callen gave a little shiver that had nothing to do with being cold.
Assistant Director Granger stared directly at Agent Callen as the shower door opened and caught a glimpse of the raw emotion on the man's face before Callen quickly schooled his muscles back into a facade of distain. Agent Callen, super-agent to some, was as vulnerable as the rest of them, given the right situation. Granger momentarily considered backing off and cutting Callen some slack, but decided against it; what he planned to do actually made more sense, though he was sure it would not be perceived that way by the rest of the team.
Callen, trying to get back the upper hand, calmly reached for one of his towels and deftly wrapped it around his waist covering his nakedness, while staring coolly at the Assistant Director. The agent refused to show any embarrassment in front of the man. "Something I can do for you Assistant Director Granger," he asked with a touch of arrogance.
Granger took stock of the man before him noting the old scars along with the new cuts and bruises and decided Sam had been telling the truth when he'd said the agent had a really tough day. However, he was not about to allow Agent Callen's earlier insubordination to go unchecked; long term that would set a dangerous precedent. Callen did not have to like him, didn't have to respect him, but Callen did have to follow orders; that is how the system worked.
"I asked you to come speak to me earlier and you blew me off. Don't…" he said cutting Callen off as he tried to interrupt, "bother denying it. We both know you heard me and we both know you choose to deliberately ignore me. You may not like it, but I am your superior and when I give an order, I expect you to obey it. Now get dressed. I want to see you in Hetty's office in ten minutes. And don't test me on this Agent Callen. Hetty might put up with your attitude but trust me when I say I won't and you will not like the consequences." With that, the Assistant Director rapidly left the locker room letting the door slam behind him. Less than fifteen seconds later the door re-opened and Sam walked in.
"Why do you antagonize him?" he asked picking up G's other clean towel and flinging it at him. Reflex took over and Callen automatically caught the towel, still scowling. "Would it have killed you to go see Granger when he asked on the way in?"
Callen started drying his hair before draping the towel over his shoulders. "It might have," he answered honestly for once, thinking of what might have happened if he had not come directly in here to have his meltdown in private. If he had gone to see the Assistant Director he might have punched the man if he had gotten irritated enough. No, Callen decided, ignoring the man and coming to the locker room instead was worth whatever punishment the Assistant Director had in mind.
Studying his partner a bit closer, Sam realized that maybe for once, stubbornness had not been his partner's driving factor as much as self-preservation. Sam knew his partner very well after five years and though Callen was trying to hide it, Sam could see right under the surface Callen was really struggling with his emotions. Reaching out, he put a comforting hand on the damp man's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Callen ducked his head and let Sam's hand rest on his shoulder for a bit before swallowing hard, gently shaking it off and turning away; answering and not answering at the same time. Sam understood his partner had just made a big concession, accepting a bit of comfort from a friend. "How well did you know that woman and her daughter that died?"
Callen flinched which told his partner everything he needed to know; Callen had known them well enough to care about them at some level. "They didn't deserve to die. They were innocent."
"No, they didn't deserve to die," Sam agreed knowing his partner well enough not to try to push him to work out his feelings at this point. Instead, he changed the subject. "What did Granger want?"
Callen gave a gruff laugh and moved to his bag to pull out some clean clothes. "The usual. To dress me down for not obeying him. Wants me in Hetty's office in ten, five of which are already gone."
"I hope you are going this time," Sam cautioned.
After pulling on his jeans, Callen dug in his bag looking for socks. "Yeah, I suppose so," he answered distractedly after he finally found the object of his search and pulled them on. Putting on his boots and stuffing his dirty clothes in his duffle bag, he got up, left the locker room and headed for Hetty's office; Sam trailing along behind him.
Assistant Director Granger stood impatiently alongside of Hetty's large wooden desk waiting. "This is my call Hetty. I won't have you interfering."
"Oh far be it from me to interfere with your authority Owen. But let's be perfectly clear what this is really about. You are not really mad that Agent Callen went after those two bumbling CIA agents. Back in the day you probably would have done the same thing," she said folding her hands on her desk. "No this, Assistant Director Granger is about you flexing your authority over my agents and not liking that they don't jump at your commands."
"Henrietta…" he warned.
"Sometimes, good agents must be allowed to make their own decisions, right and sometimes wrong. And the strong agents, like Callen, are going to defy you, if you do not handle them correctly and Owen, you do not."
"Don't tell me how to do my job or exert my authority," Granger started but he was cut off from adding anything more by the arrival of Callen and a few paces behind Sam. "Agent Hanna, again, this does not concern you. Go home," he directed.
Sam glanced at Callen, Hetty and finally Granger. "See you tomorrow Callen," he said though he made the remark directly to the Assistant Director. "Night Hetty."
"Mr. Hanna," she replied congenially.
Granger waited until Sam was out of ear shot before rounding on Callen who had dropped his duffle bag on the floor and was standing with his arms crossed defiantly on his chest. "Your behavior today Agent Callen was inexcusable. You could be brought up on charges of assault for your actions."
Callen face remained impassive as he simply said, "They deserved it."
"You, Agent Callen," Granger said his voice rising in anger, "don't get to decide if you like the way another agency or their operatives does their job."
With a voice that could cut steel, Callen replied, "Those operatives killed two innocent people."
"Yes they did," the older agent acknowledged. "But it was not your job to decide their punishment. You, Agent Callen, have no respect for authority and while Ms. Lange might tolerate it, I won't. Therefore, you are suspended for two weeks without pay for your behavior both at the scene and upon your return."
Hetty started to open her mouth but Granger cut her off. "This is not open for discussion."
Callen's eyes narrowed and his face hardened but he said nothing, simply un-holstering his gun, laying it on Hetty's desk along with his badge, then picking up his duffle bag and striding out of Ops.
Granger and Hetty watched him go. When he was out of sight, Hetty looked up at Granger from her chair and predicted, "That was a very big mistake, separating him from his team."
He disagreed with Hetty based on what he had seen in the locker room. Callen needed a vacation, even if a forced one, to get back in control. But he kept his thoughts to himself and said "My decision. Good night," and with that he too left her office. She picked up her tea cup, took a sip and discovered it had gotten cold. "Bugger," she said about the state of her tea and life in general.