Sam headed into work early the next morning; he still could not reach his wayward partner. He wasn't surprised to see his Boss was already there with a steaming pot of tea and two cups waiting. She motioned for him to come over and then poured him a hot cup of tea, handing it to him as he sat.
"Yes, Mr. Hanna," she said after taking a sip of her tea.
Sam looked at her inquisitively since he hadn't said anything yet.
"And no," she added.
Even though he was frustrated by his mysterious boss, he gently placed his tea cup on her desk before asking his question. Nothing was worth the wrath of Hetty if he so much as chipped her precious tea set. "Yes and no what?"
"Yes, Assistant Director Granger suspended Mr. Callen and no I have not heard from his this morning nor," she took a sip of tea, "do I expect to. He is suspended for two weeks."
"Two weeks!"
"Without pay. However, the rest of the team is not under suspension. I expect you, in Mr. Callen's absence, to take over and keep things running like a well-oiled machine."
"Just like that?" he said bitterly. "Did you even try to stop Granger from suspending Callen?"
Hetty didn't call Sam out on his insubordinate tone; she knew he was worried about his partner as was she. But in a storm, someone has to be the lighthouse and guide the ship to safety and that was her role. She simply said, "I'm worried too. But what is done is done and we must move on."
Sam stood, clearly not happy, but knowing a dismissal when he heard one. As he turned to walk away Hetty added, "Of course, nothing stops you from discretely looking into his whereabouts, as time permits. Just to ensure he is not working during his suspension, which would be wrong."
Sam turned back and smiled gratefully at his boss who promptly shooed him away. "To work, Mr. Hanna."