As they drove away in Vlad's car, Callen thought about the picture of he and Jasmine that Vlad had on his phone. It had been taken before their case where the woman and her child died.
-Flashback-
Callen stared at the store in the Grove with trepidation, it was so girly which he supposed was apropos considering it was the famous 'American Girl' store in LA. It did not look like a place Special Agent in Charge G Callen would ever, in a million years, set foot. However, the ebony faced child staring at the store in wonder, American Girl doll clutched tightly in her 8-year-old hands, said otherwise.
"Oh am so excited Uncle Callen."
The blond looked down at young girl and his heart melted as those big brown eyes stared up at him, wide with excitement. "This is the best present EVER!"
Callen smiled down at Jasmine but behind his 'happy face' he mentally made plans to shot his partner for roping him into this situation.
It had all started a few days ago when he'd asked Sam what to buy Jasmine for her birthday. Sam had casually said she wanted some items for her American Girl doll. Having no clue what an 'American Girl doll' was or where one bought stuff for it, Callen had decided to stuff money in a card and solve his gift giving dilemma in that fashion.
At the party to celebrate her big day, Callen had presented his card to the birthday girl. Jasmine had looked a little disappointed that it was only a card and not a present wrapped in shiny paper with a big pink bow, until she opened it and read the note he'd scribbled on the card to make it a bit more personal. 'For you and Lilly to go shopping.' Jasmine had read the note and squealed in delight the way only an 8-year-old girl could, loud and high-pitched. "Mommy, Mommy look!" she shrieked. "Uncle Callen is taking me and Lilly to the American Girl store. The self-satisfied smug that had been gracing Callen's face disappeared.
"I'm what…" he started to say but was quickly overridden by Jasmine babblings.
"It's for me and Lilly to go shopping with Uncle Callen at the American Girl Store," she cut in punctuating the words me, Lilly, Uncle Callen and shopping.
Callen was pretty sure that was not what his note said or implied. An uncontrollable chortling filled the room. Glancing around for the location of the sound of mirth which he was sure, was at his expense, Callen saw his faithful partner nearly doubled-over in laughter.
"That's not quite what it says," Callen tried to explain but Jasmine flung herself at him and he had to catch her or risk them both tumbling to the floor from her enthusiastic embrace. Little girl kisses rained on his face as she repeated, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Best. Present. Ever." Finally, Callen was able to extract himself from her hug and set her gently on the floor where she took off running to the other room to show the rest of her friends her wonderful gift.
The usually calm and cool agent looked down right frazzled by what had just transpired. "It was for her to buy stuff…for the doll…it didn't say…" the flustered man mumbled.
"Aww G. You're not gonna break my babygirl's heart by welshing out of the shopping trip your promised her," Sam needled his partner.
"But I never said…,"Callen tried to interject but Sam kept on going.
"Her favorite Uncle. Taking her and her doll shopping. Best. Present. Ever," Sam mimicked with tears of laughter streaming down his face.
"Oh come on Sam," his wife chided him. "I'm sure Callen simply meant Jasmine could use the money to go shopping for her doll, not that he would take her shopping."
Callen smiled gratefully at Michelle. "That is exactly what I meant."
Sam got mock serious. "Oh no G. You are not wiggling out of this one. You promised my daughter a shopping trip and you are going to deliver, if it is the last thing you do." A loud chorus of squeals erupted from the living-room. "See, she just told ALL her friends how her favorite Uncle is taking her and Lilly shopping at the American Girl store."
"The what?" Callen asked but before Sam could answer Jasmine ran back into the kitchen and gave him another huge hug. "Best. Present. Ever!" she repeated before scooting back to re-join her friends.
Michelle started to say something but Sam gave her that look and she decided to stay out of this battle between her husband and his partner. Instead, she picked up a platter of tacos fixings and headed into the other room singing "Who's hungry?"
Callen unhappily watched his only ally leave the room before rounding on his partner. "I can't take Jasmine shopping," he tried to rationalize to Sam.
"Why not?" Sam asked, crossing his well-muscled forearms across his chest as he leaned against the kitchen counter. "I trust you with my life. I know you always have my back. I know you'll have hers too."
"Of course Sam. I'd do anything to keep her safe," Callen earnestly replied. "But this isn't a matter of life or death, this is shopping."
Sam gave a short laugh. "Oh you know nothing about little girls or women for that matter. Shopping is a matter of life and death."
Callen shook his head in disbelief. Sam was not going to let him out of this gig.
A dark curly-head, with salsa on its face, poked around the corner. "Best. Present. Ever! Best. Uncle. Ever!" she repeated before disappearing.
Callen stood there shell-shocked. There was no way in hell he was going shopping for doll clothes but then again he simply could not disappoint that little girl. Sam watched his partner warring with himself and stayed silent because he knew in the end G would not disappoint his daughter; Callen would take Jasmine shopping.
Sighing and running a weary hand over his defeated face he asked "Where am I taking her?"
"To the American Girl store. In the Grove. Dress nice. It's a classy mall," Sam instructed.
Special Agent Callen was already dreading his decision and he hadn't even left Sam's house yet.
He felt an impatient tug on his hand. "Come on," Jasmine announced as she dragged her Uncle towards the imposing store front.
Out of habit, Callen glanced around to see who was entering under that huge red awning; women and lots of little girls, but few men. Jasmine tugged on him harder and Callen wondered again what his partner would do to him if he turned around and ran away; kill him probably. So Callen gave himself a mental pep-talk; he was one of NCIS's premier agents, able to go under cover as anyone, anytime and always get the bad guy. He simply had to approach this shopping trip as an undercover assignment. No more, no less.
He was a little thrown at what sort of alias was required to penetrate this fortress; none of his past ones felt quite right for this particular mission. Instead, he created a new one on the fly, a self-assured, confident man, taking his favorite niece on a shopping trip. It was pretty close to the truth except he didn't feel either self-assured or confident on the inside. If things got too bad maybe he could whip out his gun, declare there was a terrorist attack imminent and clear the store. He could see the headlines now, "NCIS raids American Girl store looking for terrorist." That probably would not go over well with Hetty and Assistant Director Granger would have his ass in a sling and probably fire him.
Sighing, he allowed himself to be dragged under the big red awning. Always the gentleman, he held the door for a mother and her two little girls to proceed him and Jasmine thru the glass doors. When it was their turn to enter a loud siren when off and Callen immediately drew his SIG as tons of confetti and balloons rained down from the ceiling upon him and Jasmine. "Congratulations," a voice rang out cheerfully over the loud speaker. "You are our 1 millionth customer in the LA American Girl Store." Luckily in the confusion of confetti and balloons, Callen was quietly able to re-holster his weapon with no one the wiser.
"You, your girl and her doll have won a day of excitement here at the American Girl Place," the loud speaker continued. "First, you will visit the hair salon where your doll will get styled by our experts, have her ears pierced with special American Girl stars and finally will have a deluxe facial."
Callen hoped he was hearing correctly that the doll was going to have all that done to her and not Jasmine. He really wasn't sure of Sam and Michelle's view on body piercing, but he was pretty sure if Jasmine came home with new holes in her body that had not been there before she left, that her Uncle Callen would have a few new holes in his body, compliments of her father Sam.
"Next it is off to the photo studio where you and your American Girl doll, dressed in exclusive matching outfits, will be photographed and featured on the cover of our next American Girl magazine that is sent to millions of fans world-wide."
'Oh no,' Callen thought. This was going from bad to worse.
"By now you are probably going to be feeling a bit peaked…"
Callen was already feeling peaked if not downright ill.
"… so it is off to a splendid lunch at our American Girl Place Café where you can enjoy exciting dishes such as cheese stuffed pretzel balls, Tic-Tac-Toe pizza, and the ever popular parmesan-crusted chicken sandwich which you can washed down with our signature pink lemonade. And don't forget to leave room for desert, a Chocolate Mousse Flowerpot cake and a seasonal sugar cookie."
'This is a never ending commercial,' Callen thought. He glanced down at Jasmine to see how she was reacting; she was enthralled by the whole situation.
"A trip to the American Girl Place wouldn't be complete without a shopping spree. Our personal shoppers will help find all the right clothes and accessories for you, your doll and her new companions Coconut, Pepper and Licorice."
Figuring her Uncle might be a little lost since he was had no little girl of his own, Jasmine yanked on his hand and when he bent closer she whispered they are two dogs and a cat."
Callen gave her a tight smile as he straightened up praying they weren't real animals; he knew Sam was not a dog person from his interchanges with Monty.
"And finally, no trip to the American Girl Place would be complete without you and your doll having afternoon tea."
'Hetty should be here for this, not me," he muttered.
"You will have such delectable choices such as warm cinnamon buns and Kaya's Chocolate Chip Scones with Devon cream. Be sure to save room for Rebecca's Cucumber Sandwich with Boursin cheese on white bread, Caroline's Turkey Sandwich with American cheese, Julie's Mini Pigs-in-a-Blanket and of course Ivy's Peanut-Free PB&J made with soy-nut butter and strawberry jelly on white bread. Round out that scrumptious repast with Kit's Domino Cookie. And of course don't forget the tea!"
A tug on his hand had Callen bending over again to get some more intel from Jasmine. "Kaya, Rebecca, Caroline, Julie and Kit are all American Girl dolls. They are historic."
"Which one do you own?" Callen innocently asked.
"Oh no Uncle. Lilly is a 'My American Girl' doll. She was designed to look especially like me. See," she said holding it up next to her face and giving a huge smile. A loud 'ahhhhhhhhhhhh' was heard from the crowd as Jasmine held Lilly next to her. Callen quickly turned away to prevent his face from being caught on camera.
Finally, the loud speaker stopped spilling forth the good news and a real person walked up to greet them.
"Hi. My name is Cindy and I am the manager here at the American Girl Place in LA."
'Boy they sure like to say the name of their store,' Callen observed silently.
"I'd like to personally congratulate you and your…." She hesitated expecting him to fill in his relationship to Jasmine.
"Niece," he quickly supplied.
"Favorite Uncle!" Jasmine added helpfully hugging him which elicited another unscripted "awww" from the crowd.
"Niece," Cindy went on smoothly, "for being our lucky 1 millionth customer."
Callen really was not feeling in the least bit lucky.
"I hope you and your niece enjoy all our store has to offer, on the house, for being our 1 millionth customer here at the American Girl Place."
Callen had enough of this advertising spectacular. He plastered what he hoped was a happy-surprised smile on his face while capturing the perky managers' bicep in his grip and whispering in her ear in a no-nonsense tone, "We need to talk privately now."
To her credit, the manager's smile only slightly wavered as she tried to reconcile the happy look on Callen's face with his slightly menacing-toned request. "Right this way ah…"
"Jasmine," the young girl supplied when Cindy looked at her in askance.
"Jasmine," she repeated. "And…" she asked shifting her gaze to Callen's bright blue eyes.
"Jasmine's Uncle," he unhelpfully supplied.
"Yes, of course. Let's heads up to my office and take care of a few details before your day of fun begins here at the American Girl Place in LA!" she finished addressing the crowd again.
Cindy, Jasmine, Callen and Cindy's entourage took the elevator to the top floor of the building where they departed and headed for Cindy's corner office. Jasmine was skipping down the hallway with Callen marching grimly behind which left Cindy wondering if she should call security. When they got to her office, Callen asked to speak to the manager privately for a minute. Cindy nodded and made arrangements for her admin support to show Jasmine around the outer office which was filled with American Girl mementos.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Callen whipped out his badge and briefly waved it at Cindy before shoving it back in his pocket.
"My name is Tom and I'm an undercover agent for the LAPD," Callen said weaving his story.
"Oh I see," Cindy replied clearly not seeing. "Please, would you like to sit down?" she asked gesturing to two nearby overstuffed chairs. Seeing as it was not his goal to intimidate her any more than necessary to ensure that his and Jasmine's privacy was not compromised, Callen sat down to put Cindy more at ease.
"I am going to have to ask if any pictures were taken of Jasmine and I, that they be destroyed for her safety and mine. I can't allow you to use any photos, or anything about us. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course, ah, Tom," she said realizing he still had not supplied a last name.
"Look, I know this is a big advertising…" Callen quickly searched for a word. Somehow the appropriate word 'stunt' seemed like it would not be received well by Cindy. "…opportunity for your store and I suggest you choose a 'new' millionth customer."
"But what about your niece, won't she be very disappointed if you take this away from her?" Cindy questioned.
"Keeping America safe is more important," Callen said in his most sincere-save-the-planet tone. "Jasmine's father is my undercover partner. It would be dangerous for him, me and Jasmine to gain any sort of recognition. The bad guys might use this to their advantage; try to kidnap Jasmine or worse. Her Dad and I have put a lot of bad men behind bars, men that still have connections to the outside world and wouldn't hesitate to do nasty things to an 8-year-old to get even."
Cindy's face showed her dismay as she imagined, based on the TV shows she had seen on cable, exactly what those 'nasty' things could be. She unsuccessfully tried to stifle a shudder.
"It is nice of you to be worried about Jasmine, but you don't need to be. I'll make it up to her." 'Somehow,' Callen mentally added. "There was a woman and her two young daughters that would have been your millionth customer if I had not held the door open for them to precede us. I suggest you use them as your ah…," he struggled for a word again, "…spokesperson."
Cindy was bewildered but Callen pushed on. "Give me access to your security footage of the store and I can easily spot them for you and then you can do the whole thing over again."
Cindy slowly gained her composure, trying to figure out how to handle this situation. She totally understood the position of the man in front of her; he was one of the good guys and she couldn't put him or Jasmine at risk. But a part of her felt really bad to take all this away from his niece. She made a quick decision. "Would you excuse me for a second while I make a phone call," she said as she rose and made her way to her over-sized desk. Picking up the phone, she quickly dialed corporate headquarters.
Callen sat quietly. He could overhear enough of her conversation to have a good idea what she was trying to do.
"Thank you," she finally said hanging up and moving back to sit opposite him again. "Ok, Tom. Here's what we are going to do. You and Jasmine still get to do everything we promised, just quietly and behind the scenes. We'll, ah, 'choose' another millionth customer as you suggested and publicly do all the fanfare with them. That way both the store and Jasmine win!"
"That is very generous of you," Callen said sincerely realizing his bank account had just dodged a substantial bullet.
"We at American Girl Place feel it is the least we can do to honor you and your sacrifice to this county," Cindy finished sounding like a commercial again. She rose and said, "Now let's go get Jasmine shall we. You'll probably want a moment of privacy to explain to her."
"That would be great," he said shaking her hand. "You have no idea what this means to me and her," he added sincerely because it did mean a lot; Jasmine got a great birthday present so Sam wouldn't kill him, and Sam and his covers stayed intact so Hetty didn't kill him… a true win-win situation.
Callen returned to the present and realized that trip had cost him after all. Somehow a picture of him and Jasmine was taken and had gotten into the hands of Vlad, who was now using it to blackmail Callen. 'Best Uncle Ever' had put his niece in a deadly situation.