Author's Notes – Not mine...now or ever.
Woot! Here's another one for ya! I think it's a little shorter than some of the others, but it was a good breaking point. Hope you enjoy! As always, please leave comments or suggestions! I will apologize in advance for the long paragraph below. It's my attempt to address a guest review. Feel free to skip it if you were not the one who placed the guest review on chapter 8.
I wanted to address a review from a guest. Normally, I send a message to person so as to avoid a long response on here, but that is obviously not an option since the review was from a guest. First, thanks for reading! Second, apparently my cell phone censors certain words when they are sent as emails from the website...interesting thing to learn and I'm not entirely sure why because I am fairly certain swear words have come across in emails before. Third, this review is for Chapter 8 which prompted a re-read on my part! As far as Callen being able to kick Eric's a** (as my phone so diplomatically worded it for me!), this is obviously true; however, I think even Callen would use a measure of control with a friend. Therefore, I didn't really see where Callen would literally beat the man up even though he is capable. Fourth, and final, Eric brought Callen to the hospital hoping to catch Nell before the procedure. Let them talk it out and all that fun stuff. Nell got moved on the schedule which meant the timetable Eric had been working on was non-existent now. He sent him home because it was no longer the time or place for the conversation in light of Nell having just gone through a medical procedure. I hope all that makes sense and addresses your concerns or questions. As before, thanks for reading and please feel free to add any other reviews as you feel they are needed!
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Reaching the ops center, Nell flings herself unceremoniously into the chair in front of her terminal and closes her eyes as her head falls back until it is parallel with the ceiling. She knows she needs to get a grip. She also knows her frustration is very likely out of line. But it's there nonetheless and she will have to figure out how to get it in check. Especially now. The one thing she wants to prove to everyone, at least those who know, has effectively been disproven with that little spat downstairs. She mentally kicks herself for the display knowing that she just gave the rest of team pause for concern. Concern she just isn't interested in discussing right now.
The sound of the doors opening causes her to jerk her head forward as she sits up straight in the chair while simultaneously turning her back to the doorway as if she had been working on the computer the whole time. Assuming it is Callen, she responds accordingly. "What part of I can shoot a gun pretty effectively did you not catch?"
She freezes when she hears the response, "I don't doubt your ability one bit, Ms. Jones." Nell turns around quickly in her chair and feels the sting of embarrassment as it floods across her face. She watches as Hetty crosses the room and pulls a chair beside the young woman. She raises her hand as Nell moves to speak, "I would like to congratulate you on being one of the few people that I am aware of to threaten Mr. Callen with a weapon and then not be on the receiving end of his." Her words cause Nell to chuckle which in turn causes the older woman to smile in response.
"I am sorry, Hetty. I have no idea what my problem is today. I really don't." She lowers her gaze to her hands and gets lost in her thoughts before she hears Hetty interrupt the silence.
"You don't want to be treated differently. You don't want to be seen as incapable of doing your job." Hetty pauses as Nell raises her eyes to meet the operations manager. "You also don't want Mr. Callen to respond in a manner that he would not have before your relationship became more personal in nature. But, unfortunately my dear, that is an impossible request. It's hard enough to be in a relationship under typical circumstances and the two of you most certainly aren't living under those types of parameters." Nell feels Hetty's hand encase her equally small one, "There is a balance. You just have to find it. For yourself. And for Mr. Callen."
Hetty is on her feet on and moving out the doors before Nell even has time to respond to her words. She takes in a shaky breath unwilling to let tears take over in this setting. She is determined to let work be the one place that she remains the same. And so far, today has been a bust. In the worst way possible. Resigning herself to the undeniable fact that, whether she wants to or not, she needs to address the rest of the team Nell rises to her feet in order to find Kensi and Deeks.
Before she reaches the door, Eric bursts through and makes his way straight to his terminal. The rest of team follows within seconds and Nell immediately knows the case must have taken a turn. Moving to stand alongside her partner, she watches as he types furiously across the keyboard. Not knowing what is happening, Nell is left in confusion when Callen orders the team to gear up. Eric places a call to a secondary team and tell them to meet Callen in the tactical room for instructions.
Turning to his now completely confused partner, "Break in the case." He waits for what he hopes will be a very sarcastic response from the woman beside him.
"No, really. I thought they were just meeting up for ice cream. Or maybe just heading to Callen's for a movie and beer night." He laughs at the same time it registers with Nell that Eric knows what at least part of her problem had been without the revelation even having to leave her mouth. It shouldn't have surprised her, but after the call this morning, she was concerned he might try to baby her as well. She smiles at the man, "Thanks, Eric." He nods his head in response before filling her in on the latest turn in the case. The two work in tandem guiding the teams through the remaining steps of the operation and breathe a sigh of relief when all the suspects are either apprehended or eliminated.
They work for the next hour to close out the case on their end and are heading downstairs when they see the team moving towards them bantering back and forth. Deeks sees the pair first, "Hey, we are going to Mickey's! You guys are joining, yes?" Eric looks at Nell who smiles before they both nod their heads in confirmation. "Sweet! We just gotta get Fern here cleaned up a tad and we will be ready to go!" He sends one of his famous smiles in the direction of his partner just as her hand makes contact with his shoulder. Nell laughs as she hears Deeks muttering something about Kensi always resorting to violence as they walk towards the tactical room to put away their gear.
Seeing his partner heading in the direction of Nell, Sam slaps Callen on the shoulder before following the pair heading down the hallway. Eric excuses himself and walks away giving Nell and Callen a moment alone. Giving her a look, Callen speaks at the same time the smirk glides across his features. "Am I still at risk Ms. Jones?"
Nell matches his features with a smirk of her own before retrieving her service weapon from her back holster and holding it along her side. His eyebrow hitches and he gives her a questioning look, "You have some reason to be worried, Agent Callen?" They both break into a smile before Nell closes the gap between them pulling him in for an embrace. Callen steps back after a moment and places a hand across her cheek before stepping around her to put away his tactical gear.
Nell joins Eric on one of the couches from earlier in the day as they wait for the four members of the team to check in all their equipment. They fall into easy conversation and are laughing quite loudly when the others appear in the doorway. "Why do I always miss all the funny moments?" Deeks's voice comes across as more of a whine than any of them expected causing several members of the team to join in the laughter.
The team make their way out of the Office of Special Projects and create a six car caravan to Mickey's to enjoy some much needed downtime. Going through the doors, Eric and Nell scout out a table as Deeks and Kensi move straight towards the dartboard having already set a wager that has the loser paying for the next round of drinks. Callen and Sam head to the bar to relay drink orders for the group.
"Things seem to have calmed down with Nell." It's more of a statement than a question because Sam is well aware the two of them haven't really had a chance to talk since the display earlier. Callen nods his head, but doesn't say anything in response. "You are being a little overbearing, G. You know that right? It's probably a good thing we were out in the field most of the day or she may well have followed through with her threat."
Callen takes a breath as he stares straight ahead before turning his back to the bar and fixing his gaze on the young woman in question. "I know Sam. At least I realized it after she threatened to shoot me."
Sam laughs at the memory flash, "Pretty sure she could hit you too."
Callen laughs in response. "Me, too." He faces the bar again and hands over money for the first couple rounds of beers before making eye contact with Sam. "It's all new, man. When Eric bumped her in the ops center and she caught her breath like that I just reacted on auto-pilot because I knew she was hurt. I didn't even think it through." He pauses for a minute, "I'm not sure I will ever understand how the hell you handled being in the field with Michelle." With that sentiment, Callen grabs the two pitchers and heads to the table leaving Sam to carry the tray of glasses.