A/N - Okay so this is a little look into Hetty and Tash. Don't really know if I've managed to get successfully into Hetty's head, but hopefully it is passable.

Thanks for the reviews, alerts and favouriting. The encouragement is really appreciated.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Chapter 16

Hetty walked in a little later and handed Tash a cold drink as she sat down next to her with a cup of tea.

"I believe you do not do tea, Miss Farrow. Mr Hanna was kind enough to run out and pick up something that he believes you will enjoy."

"Thanks." Tash shook her head slightly. "I don't know about tea though. I don't remember trying it."

Hetty smiled. "I remember. I believe your words were, 'I'm sorry Hetty, but that is just awful' when I arranged a tasting."

X

"Miss Farrow, would you like to join me for some tea?" Hetty asked her.

"Tea?" She shook her head. "I don't do tea."

Hetty raised her eyebrows and looked at her. "Is there a particular reason?"

She heard a muffled chuckled from Callen behind her and looked around at him. She frowned as he turned away and tried to look busy.

She turned back to Hetty, an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry Hetty. Don't like the taste,"

"There are many types of tea, Miss Farrow. Have you tried more than one?" Hetty enquired.

"A few," she said with a shrug.

"Then perhaps you should try some more." Hetty tilted her head toward her desk and the tea that was already set up.

"Okay Hetty, I'll try another," she agreed. She got up and followed Hetty to her desk.. She briefly turned to look at Callen again, as she walked away, to see him watching with a grin on his face. She frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. She had a feeling he had neglected to tell her something about her new boss.

Hetty handed her a cup after she sat down. She took it tentatively and sniffed, not liking the smell. She tried not to think about it as she looked over at Hetty.

"What kind is this one?" she asked.

"Orange Pekoe," Hetty answered as she took a sip of her own.

Orange, I like oranges. Can't be too bad right.

She took a sip and almost spat it out. Tea just wasn't her. She tried to cover her reaction so she didn't offend Hetty, but she was too late.

Hetty raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sorry Hetty. But that is just awful," she apologised. Hetty didn't say anything for a moment.

"Perhaps, we should see what Mr Callen thinks." Hetty's eyes slipped past her and she turned around to see Callen walking away from them.

"Mr Callen," Hetty called out. He turned around and she caught the laughter in his eyes before he hid it. "Join us please."

He walked over to them, she noticed he seemed reluctant. She knew he hadn't told her something about this tea thing. He also knew she didn't like tea. He was going to be in so much trouble.

"Sit," Hetty ordered. Callen sat. She had a hard time not laughing. She did find it quite funny how intimidated everyone seemed by Hetty, including herself.

"Tea, Mr Callen." Hetty passed him a cup.

"Thank you Hetty," Callen inclined his head, took the cup and had a sip.

"Very nice Hetty," Callen added, as he glanced sideways at her.

"You really should have told me how much Hetty likes tea, G. It would have saved me all that shopping time last week looking for her birthday present," she said.

Callen eyes narrowed slightly at her. "Didn't think you knew when Hetty's birthday was."

"Oh, there's a lot of things I know, that you don't know about."

"Care to share?" Callen asked.

She didn't answer him. She just stood up and smiled at them both. "Enjoy your tea you two. I've got some paperwork to do." She could feel his eyes on her as she left. As she sat down at her desk, she opened up her drawer and looked at the two small presents in there. One for Hetty and one for him. She knew his birthday was soon. She just wasn't sure if she would give it to him. They hadn't been partners long, just three weeks, but when she had seen it, somehow she couldn't resist getting it for him. She'd just have to wait and see.

X

As the memory faded, Tash looked over at Hetty. "Oh. He didn't tell me about the tea."

"I know," Hetty replied. "How is your drink?"

Tash looked down and realised she hadn't tasted it yet. She took a sip and smiled. Whilst it didn't bring back any more memories, it certainly wasn't awful.

"I'll have to thank Sam later." Tash put the smoothie down on the table and sat back, her head resting against the back of the couch.

"How are you coping with the memories?" Hetty was concerned after her collapse earlier. That, and Natasha had been looking even more fragile recently, like she wasn't getting enough sleep. Perhaps she should check with Nate on her progress.

"There were so many just before. It kind of took me by surprise," Tash answered. More was an understatement. She had no idea how long the memories had taken over her mind. It didn't surprise her that everyone seemed worried. "Normally, it just one, two, maybe three and I'm fine with that. Though I do wish they would hurry up."

"Are you sure about that?" Hetty queried.

Tash turned her head and looked at Hetty with smile. "As long as they don't cause me to pass out again." Though she hadn't actually passed out, it was close enough.

Hetty patted her knee in a gentle and reassuring way. "Rest my dear."

Hetty stood up and walked away. She turned around and glanced at Natasha before she left the room, seeing her put her head back again and close her eyes. Hetty returned to her desk and let herself hope that maybe, soon, Natasha would be ready to return to the team.

Hetty remembered her reasons for choosing Natasha. After assigning Agent Callen and Agent Renko as partners just over four years ago, she had realised her mistake fairly quickly. The two agents did not mix. So, she had looked over her files to see if she could find someone who would fit with Agent Callen. When she came across Agent Farrow's file, she knew this was the one. Callen needed someone to balance out the rough and tough, loner side. Natasha had a gentleness that provoked protectiveness.

Natasha had been on the outer rim of her radar until a mission close to Hetty's heart, had brought her right in. Her god-son's daughter had been kidnapped. The FBI Agent in charge of the investigation was under suspicion, though he didn't known it at the time. Natasha had been sent in, playing the fragile, delicate aunt. Watching from the sidelines, Hetty saw the way the FBI Agent fell for the 'protect me' aura that was just part of Natasha's make up, nothing deliberate on her part. She was a highly capable agent, which was definitely put to the test during that mission. When, after two weeks, they hadn't been able to get anywhere, Natasha 'broke down' telling the Agent that she was really the mother and if only she could get her daughter back, she would run with her and make sure they were never found. He had fallen for it, taking her straight to where the girl was, ready to run with her and the child. Unfortunately, the child was scared of Natasha, as she didn't know her. They'd had to scramble to get there in time but Natasha had put up quite a fight, protecting the child. They successfully rescued Natasha and the child; the FBI Agent wasn't so lucky.

The moment that Callen had first laid eyes on Natasha, she knew her instincts had been correct. She had seen the protective look in his eyes. Her reason for this wasn't to distract Callen, but to have him consider his team rather than just himself. Whilst his ability and talent to be able to work on his own was an incredible asset, when working as a team member he needed something to make him think first, just a little. She hadn't expected the two of them to fall in love, or the long drawn out battle before they finally gave in. When she had added Sam to the mix, she had been relieved to see the instant bonding and, again, protectiveness. They never knew she had overheard the bet. She'd been watching from the shadows to see how they interacted when Sam first met Natasha. She had been quite pleased to see the way Sam had slipped in on the other side of her as they had headed for the door, like two bodyguards protecting something precious. She'd even ignored Callen's speeding ticket from that day. It had been worth it, to see her new little team come together.

Whilst everyone believed Callen was her favourite, it wasn't truly the case. She would admit that Callen was a favourite, but if she had been made to choose between the two, she would have chosen Natasha. She hadn't expected herself to fall for the 'protect me' aura. When Natasha arrived at work on her first day though, she felt it when she looked at the delicate woman and saw the bruise on her face, hidden under the make up and the loose hair. Between that and the special feelings she already had, considering her involvement in kidnapping, looking back, it didn't surprise her.

When she had to choose a new member for the team, she had deliberately avoided any gentle, delicate looking women. With Kensi, she saw a tough, beautiful and talented girl who didn't send out that 'protect me' signal. She didn't feel any of them were ready for that kind of replacement. Kensi had blended in to the team brilliantly, though it had taken the boys a week to settle and realise that Kensi wasn't replacing Natasha, she was just another member of the team. She knew though, that the team had been missing that extra gentle touch, and she hoped it might be filled soon.

Hetty smiled, as she sat back and looked over at Callen, Sam and Kensi. She could see Natasha fitting in with them. All of them.