Chapter 3
After 10 minutes Callen got Kensi to go find Carina and though she had only been gone a couple of minutes longer than expected the whole team was worried once again about the 'baby Nell' sheltering with them. Kensi opened the door to the ladies room to find Carina stood by a mirror and was just in time to watch her shove her shoulder neatly back into place. She didn't interrupt Carina as she swallowed several pills in quick succession and followed them with a handful of water. Then she broke the silence seeing the agent in the mirror. "Do you have to tell him?" She asked Kensi hoping that she could keep the injury from Callen.
"Nope" Kensi replied "not if you do it first" she finished, smiling back at Carina. "You really should though, I know exactly how much that hurts and I would rather be fussed over then have that kind of pain."
The agent's words had a befriending effect on Carina and she relaxed enough to face her. She took a deep breath then spilled everything about the past two years to her mother's friend. About the forgeries and the stealing and Kensi just listened. Once she was finished Carina looked up into Kensi eyes and saw that the conversation was confidential and it would stay that way. They left together and by the time Carina sat back down at Callen's desk she felt like a weight was sliding on her back. She still had trouble to deal with but it had definitely been lightened. After a briefing with Hetty Callen knew that the only people to find the evidence they needed to progress in their case he would have to go himself with the rest of his team. He was unsure how Eric and Carina would be together but they got on like a house in fire so Callen left them in peace while he went back to work.
Carina was still sat up in ops when Callen and Sam limped in, heads low after an unsuccessful operation. She was sat on a swivel chair, leg crossed with her hands moving quickly over the keyboard of the computer just Nell had once done years before. The only difference was that while Nell had had a ginger pixie cut Carina had much longer darker red hair pulled up into a ponytail ending halfway down her back. He watched as Eric slid a packet of tablets to her. She swallowed one then slid them back swiftly. Callen was jealous for a moment that Eric had got to know his daughter better than he had himself but realised he would have known more if he spent more time with her.
Sam leaned closer to Carina screen and watched in amazement as she cracked through layers of code with as much ease as Eric and was almost blown away when he realised that half the code was in several different languages. Callen also was amazed but when he saw that she was working through the same thing as Eric was but much quicker. She broke through the code with a triumphant whoop and turned to Eric saying "and that is why translators and computer geeks share a skill set" and laughing when she saw he was only half way through. He agreed and bowed to her acknowledging her superiority with a smile.
After another hour of paperwork for Callen and translating for Carina (Deeks had been sent several reports in polish) Callen decided to call it a day and he gathered his things while Carina grabbed her bag and walked ahead to his car. She was sat in the driver's seat revving the engine when Callen got to his car and was about to murder her daughter or not it she had hotwired his beauty. When he saw his keys in the ignition he relaxed slightly but still shocked at how the little minx had got them from his pocket. He walked round and opened the passenger side door and got in. "I'm happy for you to drive so long as you have your licence" he said only risking his car with the fact that Carina could pull off her side of the bargain. But then he felt his heart jump to his mouth as Carina pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. He made her pull over immediately and demanded to see this licence. She handed over a perfect copy of a licence that she had made soon after her mother died. By making herself 16 she could buy what she needed and she didn't have to rely on public transport.
Callen made her switch seat with him and he completed the journey back to his house. When he parked outside the house Carina felt like an intruder. The house seemed pleasant enough but not warm or homely. She was about to turn and run when she felt a guiding hand on her good shoulder pushing her towards the door. Inside she walked ahead of Callen to first his bedroom the the living room before dropping her bag to the floor and sighing "oh sugar".
"Do I get a bed was the first thing Carina asked Callen but inside she knew his answer. Callen gestured towards both the armchair and his bedroll and let her pick. He then double checked that all the doors and windows were locked before going for a shower to steam away the day's events.
Carina meanwhile wandered to his bedroom and looked through his room for something to wear finally settling on an old grey flannel shirt that came past her knees and a pair of shorts that she had in her bag. Beside that she had enough clothes for the day ahead but after that she would need either a washing machine or a shopping trip, preferably both. She changed quickly and settled herself on the chair and slowly falling asleep. By the time Callen was out of the shower and searching for his favourite shirt Carina was quietly dreaming. He grabbed some pyjamas and after changing he went to go read a book. He was going to get one from the pile by his chair when he saw Carina so soundly asleep he decided not to disturb her but instead he moved his bed roll so that he could be closer to Carina and he too fell asleep with his side arm in one hand and Carina's spare inhaler in the other.