Backup. It's funny but you really dont know who has your back until it's up against the wall...
"Renko your a major pain in my arse." I huffed as I juggled two cups of coffee and my phone as I walked into the office. It was just another bright sunny day in LA, not that I was complaining. I loved the sun, but the heat at times was a bit much for me.
"What? I can't help it." Renko said laughing. I rolled my eyes and reached my desk, putting one of the coffees down.
"You can't help getting lucky last night, fine I can almost believe that," I sighed taking a sip of my coffee. "But damn it, did you have to try and hook me up with her friend?" I asked sitting down in the chair.
"Coup, he really liked you." Renko laughed.
"Renko, he was so not my type!" I joked screwing my face up just remembering the night before. A jock with short black hair, big arms and no brains. No way close to my type.
"You're just too picky." Renko teased.
"You're too easy." I shot back before taking another sip of my coffee.
"Coup, I'm hurt." Renko joked.
"Not yet, but if your late to work again, I bet you will be." I joked watching other agent's file into the office.
"I'll be there in five, tops. Did you get me coffee?" Renko asked sweetly.
"Yeah." I sighed shaking my head as I looked at the other coffee cup.
"You're the best, see you in five." Renko laughed before hanging up. I rolled my eyes and finished my coffee. I had been working with Renko too long now, five years. We had swapped offices in that time, we used to work out of the LA office but once I got my full NCIS agent status we were shipped out as deep undercover agents. It wasn't all bad but sometimes it got tiring. I have dual nationality and for a long time worked as a liaison between The MOD and NCIS, but nearly three years ago now I wanted to stay in America so applied to become a full NCIS agent. It was easy to get in and since then I worked deep undercover.
I sighed as I log onto my laptop and started to go through my e-mails. There wasn't anything good, just the usual report deadlines. Ten minutes had passed when my phone rang again, I glanced down at the ID and saw Renko's name appear.
"What's the matter, forgot where the building is?" I joked, it sounded like a struggle was happening on the other end. "Renko?" I asked as I started a trace on my laptop. Suddenly a voice came on the line, one I didn't recognise.
"Mike's a little busy at the moment." The voice said mockingly.
"Who the hell is this?" I demanded as I continued to search.
"Oh you're the British one, your on the list too." The voice teased.
"You wanna tell me who you are?" I asked as I started to narrow down my search.
"Just tell Callen two down, two to go." The voice said before hanging up. I couldn't get a location.
"Damn it!" I yelled hitting redial in some strange hope that Renko was just messing with me, but the phone was dead. This had something to do with Callen it meant trouble. Don't get me wrong G Callen is a good person and as a friend, he's great, but trouble likes to fallow him around like a bad smell. His mysterious past has led to more than its fair share of shoot outs. But this all had something to do with him, which meant I had to find out what. I didn't trust the people in my building, they were the only ones who knew Renko and I were going to be in today. It had been a last minute thing, we'd busted the case we were working on early and came in for a debriefing. There was no way anyone on the outside would have known without some kind of warning. I grabbed my car keys and headed out.
I drove to a park in the city. I needed space and I needed a lot of people around me at the same time. I pulled out my phone and cycled through contacts until I found the right one. I hit dial as I sat on the bench.
"Coup?" Eric's voice held all the confusion I expected it to have.
"Jewel." I said using the code word, for basically I'm screwed and don't know who to trust.
"Understood. Twenty nine." Eric said giving me the code for he was sending someone to my location.
"Understood." I said and hung up, taking the battery out of my phone and tossing it in a bin. I started to dwell on what was happening. Renko, Mike Renko my partner was taken, so was someone else, and if I was unlucky, I'd be the next. It had something to do with Callen... but so many things had to do with the guy it was kinda a waste of time trying to figure that bit out. There was a leak in my office, that was clear. I started to replay the phone call in my mind, trying to see if I missed anything, missed something that could give me a clue as to who was after me. Nothing. I should have picked Renko up this morning, I should have said I was going to pick him up. I know he's late, he's always late. Damn it I should have picked him up...
I checked my surroundings for fifth time since I made the call and no one was watching me. That was something. I had my gun and badge, but it didn't really help Renko that much. I looked around when I spotted two faces I knew I could trust with my life. I got up from the bench and walked towards them.
"Coup, it's good to see you girl." Sam said pulling me into a hug. We were acting like old friends meeting up. Hell we were old friends meeting up. I don't know how long it had been since I had last seen Sam and Callen.
"You to Sam." I said as we pulled apart. I turned to Callen and hugged him as well.
"We need to go somewhere safe." I said as I hugged Callen, a big smile plastered on my face. Callen nodded taking my hand.
"Boathouse." He said smiling at me. It didn't take us long to reach the boathouse and it was just as I remembered it, except it had a nice coat of paint. I walked in and shook my head.
"Coup what's going on?" Sam asked fallowing me into the room.
"Renko's been taken by someone." I said turning to face my old partners. They didn't look surprised, in fact Sam just glanced at Callen. "Tell me you didn't know it was going down?" I asked making the pair look at me.
"Not exactly." Callen said, his blue eyes looking straight into mine. "Kensi's been taken too."
"What?" I asked completely shocked. "Renko and Kensi? What? Wait how? I mean, when?" I asked confused my hands expressing the total confusion I was feeling.
"Early this morning, someone broke into her place and snatched her. Looked like a professional crew, what about Renko?" Sam asked as I lent against the table. I ran a hand through my hair, pulling it loose. The day just keeps getting better and better...
"We'd just finished a case, drug ring bust, nothing major. We finished it early, idiot confessed, we were meant to come in this morning for a debrief, they, snatched him while he was walking in." I sighed shaking my head. Both Sam and G threw me sympathetic smiles. "They called me G." I said looking at Callen, my voice dry.
"What did they say?" Callen asked moving closer to me. A perplexed look on his face.
"They wanted to pass on a message to you," I sighed rolling my eyes. "I can't believe this, they said, two down, two to go."
"You think they mean us?" Sam asked glancing at me.
"Well apparently I'm on a list, so yeah, now Kensi's gone too." I admitted. "What the hell is happening guys?" I asked turning to my old friends. My old team. My old family.
"I wish I knew." Callen said zoning out a little.
"We need to tell Hetty about you and Renko." Sam said walking over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Super. And in the mean time, you guys got any leads from Kensi's place?" I asked trying to think as an agent, rather then a worried friend.
"Deeks is checking it out now, we were on the way to Op's when Eric called, he hasn't informed Hetty yet." Callen said breaking out of his thoughts.
"Well I guess telling Hetty is the next step." I sighed looking at the pair.
Walking into the Mission was impressive, on the outside it was a wreck, but inside... beautiful is probably the best word to describe it. Sam and Callen walked me into Op's through the back route, we didn't know what everyone knew and wanted to keep me safe. As we walked in I smiled, Eric and Hetty were there talking with a small woman and a blonde guy. As we walked in Hetty turned to me and raised an eyebrow. It was probably the first time that I had ever, ever, seen Hetty Lange surprised.
"Ms. Cooper?" Hetty asked as the guys walked over to the blonde. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Renko is missing Hetty, looks like they might be after me and Sam as well." I explained softly. I noticed the blonde guy look quickly from me to Sam to Callen with a slight panicked look. "Someone in my office tipped them off about me and Mike, I guess I was just lucky I got in on time." I half joked looking at the four foot wonder. Her face was blank, and I knew from experience that Hetty could hold a blank face with the best of them. Many a poker game had been lost to the four foot wonder with her using the same face she gave us all.
"Ms Cooper, Ms Blye and Mr Renko's disappearances have nothing to do with you." Hetty said being reassuring, I must have shown how guilty I was feeling about not being taken. I noticed the blonde stiffen slightly at the mention of Kensi.
"No but we think it's to do with me." Callen said making Hetty turn to him with a questioning look. "Coup said they called her, told her two down, two to go."
"Did you trace the call?" Eric asked throwing me a soft smile. Back when I worked with NCIS as a liaison, Eric was the first person to welcome me to the team. I showed up late and he was still working. We had a lot in common, namely computer games.
"Tried my best, but you are the master of the trace." I said with a half a smile. "I got a rough location, as in down town LA. Doesn't really help much."
"We'll keep working on it." Eric said throwing me another soft smile. I returned it with a small nod.
"Ms. Cooper, Mr Hanna, if this is to do with Mr Callen, it could be that they are targeting the old team." Hetty said glancing at all of us. "Which means it could be linked to an old case."
"Great, we only busted how many people?" Sam asked shaking his head glancing at me and G.
"Well we weren't bad." I joked modestly.
"That may be Mr Hanna, but at least it is a start for now." Hetty said seriously. "Mr Deeks, please inform the others with what you found from Ms Blye's home. I need to call the Director and fill him in." Hetty said looking at the blonde. He nodded and turned to us. "Ms Cooper, it is good to see you well." Hetty added before walking out. I smiled at her and then turned my attention to the blonde.
"Marty Deeks LAPD," Deeks, the blonde, said introducing himself.
"Alex Cooper, but everyone calls me Coup. You Kensi's new partner?" I asked watching Deeks carefully. He seemed nice enough, tall, surfer vibe coming from him.
"Yeah, we only really started working together this last year or so." Deeks admitted. I knew about Vail and how Deeks had replaced him. But honestly with my undercover and the nature of our work, I hadn't had much time to catch up with the guys. Something I was regretting at that moment in time.
"So Deeks what did you find at Kensi's?" Callen asked breaking me away from my regrets.
"Not much. She did shoot someone, found her gun with a bullet fired and a splatter on one wall. Sent it to trace for DNA. There was a struggle... she, she put up a hell of a fight." Deeks said looking at a picture up on the board. It was Kensi's place from this morning, you could see where there had been a fight. The blood splatter was disturbing though, sure we all knew Kensi would go down fighting, but still no one wants to see blood in a missing persons case.
"Kensi always did like a good fight." I said throwing Deeks a small smile. He nodded and continued.
"She, must have been drugged, no way she lets them walk her out. And no way they'd get the upper hand." Deeks said looking at the pictures of the crime scene again.
"Way I see it, no one takes Renko out in broad daylight without some kinda drug as well." I added making the guys look at me. "He was walking into work, we were talking on the phone ten minutes before I got the call."
"Walking? Do you know the way?" The small woman asked turning to me. I'd never seen her before but she looked a bit of a nerd like Eric.
"Yeah, west from 3rd and 7th." I said plainly. The small woman turned to Eric as they shared the idea.
"We can use kaleidoscope to see if we can see what happened to Renko." Eric explained. "Great thinking Nell." He added to the smaller woman.
"OK while you guys do that, we need to go over old case files." Callen said looking back at me Sam and Deeks.
"You really cant just think of a list of people who want to hurt you instead?" I asked plainly.
"That would be a long list Coup." Sam teased.
"Oh yeah, I forgot, being around you is like being a magnet for getting shot." I teased looking at G. He didn't look impressed but I could see he was hiding a smile.
"You get someone shot once-" He started to say.
"It was my first day!" I added laughing a little.
***Flash Back***
Bullet's flew past our heads as we took cover by the car, pulling my gun out, my heart started to race. The adrenaline pumping through my veins making me all too aware of the zipping bullets by my head.
"What did you say to him G?" Sam yelled returning fire.
"Nothing!" G protested as he returned some fire as well. The gang were yelling things at us in Spanish and shooting randomly at us. Moments earlier Callen had gone over to ask them about a lead, when suddenly guns had been pulled and we had ended up in the fire fight.
"Yeah, cos people generally, start shooting around you!" Renko joked flashing me a quick smile. Maybe I looked panicked, I wasn't sure, but I wasn't. I loved good old fashion shoot outs.
"I didn't say anything!" G argued as we all regrouped behind the car. Bullets still flying around us from all sides.
"G, come on, why are they going to kill us?" Probational Agent Kensi Blye asked as she reloaded the gun.
"I did not say anything to them." G huffed as he looked around his team.
"So this is the usual? Gun fights with gangs in down town LA?" I half joked looking at everyone. It was my first day and so far it hadn't been boring.
"When G is around, yeah." Sam laughed earning a glare from his partner.
"So what's the plan?" Renko asked as the window nearest him shattered.
"Sam, Renko go left, Coup, Kensi right, I'll keep firing and see if we can't get this over with." G said as we all checked our rounds. We all took cover and waited for the shout. "Now!" G yelled shooting out towards the gang.
Kensi stayed behind me as we moved round the right side of the group. We both took two guys out cold dead. As we started to move closer a third guy started to aim for us, we had to take cover.
"Damn it!" I yelled as we ducked behind a random car.
"So you wanna grab some drinks after this?" Kensi asked and I laughed. I'd met her in the morning and took an instant liking to her. She was a tom boy, no way of getting around it, but she had the same kind of humour as me and we clicked. Maybe it was because we were both women, but I thought it was because we were so similar.
"Sure, get the guys to come out too?" I asked as I returned fire towards the guy who was shooting at us.
"Why not?" Kensi laughed as she started to shoot too. We noticed he had started to reload so we took the advantage, we broke cover and moved closer. Bullets were flying all over the place and my mind was focused in the now. Kensi shot out to the guy who was shooting us, taking him down. She turned to me with a quick grin when I felt the gust of wind.
"Down!" I yelled pushing Kensi out of the way as a bullet ripped into the top of my arm. As we fell to the floor G came out of nowhere and shot dead the guy who shot at us.
"Clear!" We herd Sam shout as I groaned sitting up. Kensi looked at me, noticing the blood running down my arm. She looked a little pale.
"Damn it, and I wanted a drink tonight." I huffed as the guys walked over to me.
"You ok?" Callen asked helping me up.
"Yeah, not the first time I've been shot." I huffed looking at the nasty bullet hole.
"Wont be the last time around G." Sam joked as we all huddled around.
"I bet." I joked holding my arm to slow the bleeding.
***End Flash Back***
I sat at Kensi's desk as we tried to make a plan of action. A missing agent, meant time was of the essence. Two missing agents and we had to move, seconds counted. Callen had gone to talk to Hetty about something, leaving me Sam and Deeks talking.
"So how many people have you actually taken out as a team?" Deeks asked looking at me and Sam. I turned to Sam and shrugged.
"As part of a joint MOD, NCIS case, or just NCIS?" I asked glancing at Deeks.
"MOD?" Deeks asked confused.
"I was a liaison before I took a full position on NCIS." I explained as I tapped my fingers on the desk.
"We're missing something." Sam sighed before Deeks could speak.
"Kensi, Renko, you and me. We all mean something to G, but I mean why not take Deeks too?" I asked glancing at the guys.
"Maybe the guy who's taken them doesn't know about me?" Deeks suggested.
"But still... we're missing something here." Sam explained as shook his head at turning to look at me. I agreed, it didn't add up. Taking agents down called for a lot of guts, there wasn't that many people who really would do it.
"Did you check for Kensi's phone?" I asked thinking aloud. Deeks turned to me and thought about it.
"Yeah, no phone, no badge." Deeks sighed. "But the phone is missing it's battery. Eric's already tried to trace it."
"Ok, we need a fresh set of eyes on Kensi's place. See if you missed anything Deeks. Not to mention someone needs to go check on where Renko was taken from." Sam said sitting forward.
"Sam, it's Kensi-" Deeks started to say, sounding annoyed at being accused of missing something.
"We know Deeks, but you can be too close to this. A fresh set of eyes wont hurt anything." I said softly smoothing the building tension.
"So who?" Sam asked glancing at me and Deeks.
"Who what?" G asked as he walked over to the desk's.
"Who's going back to Kensi's to take a second look?" Sam explained plainly.
"And who's going to check on Renko's snatch point?" I added sitting forward.
"Well it can't be you or Coup." Callen said firmly.
"Why not?"
"We have to work the case G." Sam and I said at the same time.
"Who ever has Kensi and Renko want you two. We can't risk another snatch attempt." Callen explained firmly. I stood up from the desk and smirked at him.
"Yeah but see, I'm not in the team any more, so really, I could just walk out and go search the place with Deeks." I said smiling sweetly at Callen. His icy blue eyes darted to me, and although he held a plain face we both knew we were testing each other.
"Neither of you can go alone." Hetty said appearing from no where. I glanced down to the four foot wonder and sighed.
"We're wasting time here Hetty. The only leads we have are out there, the crime scenes. If we can figure out how they were taken, maybe we can figure out who has them." I said biting back the emotion that was pushing through my words. After all these weren't just my team that had been taken, but friends, family.
"I understand Ms Cooper, but I will not allow you or Mr Hanna to go anywhere unaccompanied." Hetty said firmly.
"Fine, so who's going with who?" Sam asked standing up as Deeks moved closer. Everyone turned to G waiting for his plan of action.
"Deeks, Sam, go back over Kensi's place. See if we missed anything. Me and Coup will go check on Renko's location." Callen sighed. "But I'm not happy about putting you two out there." Callen added glancing at me and Sam.
"We're big enough to handle it G." Sam said giving his partner a positive smile.
"Yeah, plus, you know, we got back up." I added with a small smile.
We didn't waste any time, as soon as the plan was made I was sat in a car with Callen as he drove to the location of Renko's snatch. I forgot how Callen liked to drive. Maybe forgot was the wrong word, I had mentally blocked it from memory for a reason.
"G? You see those little red dots that keep passing by?" I asked as we turned a corner.
"Yeah." Callen replied calmly.
"They're stop lights, you know, to make you stop." I joked as we pulled over close to the snatch point.
"I know." Callen said flashing me a quick smile. I rolled my eyes and sighed as I climbed out of the car. I slipped my shades on and looked around. The place seemed normal, no one watching us, no one caring about everyone else. This was LA after all, unless someone famous did it, no one cared. G climbed out of the car and walked around to my side before I had time to move.
"You ok?" He asked softly and it threw me slightly. Callen did have a human side, but he rarely showed it in the middle of a case.
"Sure. You?" I asked still acting tough. Callen just stood there and stared at me. His ice blue eyes studying my face, searching for some crack in my ever ready tough guy act. Thankfully my sunglasses hide my eyes from him, I knew if he could see my eyes he'd know exactly how I was feeling. How guilty, and angry and down right mad I was with myself, Renko, Callen and the bastard who grabbed my team. I should be at my damn desk doing brain numbing paper work with Renko throwing pieces of paper at me right now, not looking into his disappearance!
"This isn't your fault Coup, you know that right?" Callen asked giving me a puppy dog look.
"We don't have time for this G. We need to find them." I said pushing away from the car. I wasn't one to have big hearts to hearts, or talk about emotion. I liked to get the job done and then, alone, deal with it all. I walked down the street looking for any signs of a struggled. The street was busy but not too bad, we had missing the morning rush and the lunch time didn't start for a good hour.
"So what have you been working on since you left?" G asked making conversation as we walked down the path.
"Classified." I said with a small smile.
"But I have-" Callen started to say when I raised my hand.
"Not for this." I said laughing a little. It wasn't often that G Callen didn't have to clearance to know about an op but man, I loved knowing that on this one at least he hadn't. I knew it wind him up a little. Callen gave me a confused look for a second and then shrugged his shoulders. But in his eyes I could see the cogs still working.
"So you seeing anyone?" He asked as we reached a small alley.
"Excuse me?" I laughed as we started to wonder in.
"Just making conversation." G said throwing his hands in the air.
"Uh huh." I said walking down the alley. Something caught my eye and I bent down to get a better look. I pulled my gloves out of my back pocket as Callen came and bent down next to me.
"Is that?" Callen asked as I picked up a needle with a small amount of blood on the tip.
"Needle." I confirmed.
"Doesn't mean it's Renko's blood. Could be a junkies." Callen said rationally.
"True, but I mean it's something." I said standing back up. "Plus, alley, less people, smaller space, easier to get someone away with no witnesses." I added looking up and down the narrow alley. My mind coming up with a struggle between Renko and a few men.
"True." Callen said noticing something else and walking over to it. I fallowed him and felt my stomach turn as I saw a pair of sun glasses smashed on the floor.
"They are the same as the pair Renko has." I said leaning on the wall taking a deep breath. It was one thing to know he was missing, but seeing something that confirmed it, it shook me.
"Doesn't mean anything. Just a struggle." Callen said looking at me. He came over and put his hands on my shoulders.
"We both know it means something." I said looking Callen dead in the eye. He opened his mouth to speak when his phone began to ring.
"Callen." Callen said answering it. His eyes widened and I reached for my own phone.
"Eric trace the number calling G now!" I barked as Callen put the phone on speaker. I had known G, worked with him long enough to know when something was wrong.
"Callen, come on, lets be honest here, sending Sam out with a newbie? Tut tut!" The voice said mocking us.
"Sam's back in the office safe." Callen bluffed.
"Is he now Callen? Then I must be looking at another Sam Hanna." The voice mocked then we herd something close to a punch and a groan from Sam.
"Who is this?" Callen demanded as we rushed back to the car.
"Three down, one to go." The voice said hanging up as Callen started the car.
"Eric did you get it?" Callen asked roaring out onto the street.
"No Callen, sorry, this guy is good." Eric sighed.
"You're better Eric." I added as we weaved through the LA traffic.
"I'll go over what I got. See if we can pick anything up." Eric said before hanging up.
"Where are we going?" I asked as G turned a tight corner, just missing another car.
"Kensi's." G said firmly, his eyes glued on the road.
We pulled into the drive of Kensi's in under ten minutes, guns drawn we made our way towards the house, the two LAPD officers guarding the place had been shot dead. It wasn't a good sign. We continued to the house and went room by room clearing it. I went into the kitchen and saw Deeks out cold.
"I got Deeks!" I yelled dropping and checking him out. He had a pulse, it was slow and his breathing was shallow. But he was alive. It was more than the cops out front.
"Clear, how's Deeks?" G asked coming into the kitchen.
"Doesn't look good, look." I said lifting Deeks left arm, there was a small puncher wound. "We need to get him to a hospital." I added as G called it in. We were waiting for the ambulance when G turned to me.
"How did they know Sam and Deeks were here?" He asked me.
"They were watching." I said firmly. "Shouldn't the ambulance be here by now?" I added pulling my gun.
"Exactly." G said pulling his own gun. "Stay here, keep an eye on Deeks."
"I'm not letting you go alone." I said firmly looking up at Callen.
"You need to keep an eye on Deeks." Callen said as I stood up.
"And when this wack job kills you?" I asked holding an intense stare with G. His blue eyes were searching mine, looking for the weak spot to push and make me cave.
"He wants you, not me." Callen said firmly.
"He wants to make you suffer." I added glaring back.
"I'm not going to risk loosing you." Callen said firmly, yet his eyes showed another emotion, I couldn't place it but this was more than taking charge, this was about keeping friends, family safe.
"Fine, we stay put until-" I started to say when we herd a noise from outside. On instinct G went outside to check on it while I covered Deeks. I hated being behind, I wanted to be at G's side making sure he was ok. I herd gun shots and glanced out the window, I couldn't see anything. Which just made me more worried. A few moments passed when the back door opened and a G walked back in.
"They're were watching the place." He sighed, he looked worried. I had only seen G worried three times in my life. Ever time things hadn't ended well. The first time his rookie Vail was found dead, second, he came so close to finding about his past and then lost it all and third, well third is for another time...
"Were? The gun shots?" I asked as we herd the ambulance pull in.
"Yeah, come on let's get Deeks to the hospital." Callen said as the paramedics came in.
We got Deeks into the hospital and Hetty set up a guard for him. Doctors were running test's on him to see what he was drugged with. Whatever it had been was strong enough to keep him out for at least the next three days doctors guessed. It was late when we got back into Op's and things didn't seem to be getting any brighter.
"Eric what we got?" Callen asked as we walked into Op's. Eric and Nell were busy typing away at something and nearly jumped out of their skin when they herd G's voice. G's voice was rough and demanding, he was tired and worried and it was starting to show.
"Kaleidoscope hasn't come up with anything useful yet, but we're still running footage from Kensi's with Renko's snatch point, it's slow going though." Eric said slightly nervously as he turned to face us, I glanced at G and realised why a Eric was so nervous. G looked like a world of pain, his eyes were glaring at everything, body hunched, anger seemed to seep off him.
"I asked what we had Eric, not what we didn't." G growled at the younger man. Callen was glaring at Eric as if it was all his fault.
"I um I..." Eric stammered as he glanced at me for help.
"Did you get anything from the DNA, at Kensi's or the needle we found?" I asked standing in front of Callen, blocking him from Eric.
"We, um, we managed to confirm, Renko's blood on the needle." Eric said nervously.
"And, we know that the blood found at Kensi's doesn't belong to her, or so far any known person, but the searches will take time." Nell added. I noticed Eric throw her and small thank you smile. Before any one else could speak Callen stormed out of Op's.
"He's just worried guys, don't take it to heart." I said softly to the guys before chasing after Callen.
I fallowed him into the gym. I had shouted his name and he just ignored me. I shouted again as caught him in the gym, he still didn't answer me. So I picked up a boxing glove and threw it at his head. It hit perfectly, causing Callen to turn to me. His eyes were burning with a massive rage but I wasn't going to back down now.
"Bout time you turned around! I was shouting you!" I said cocky as I walked over to him.
"Back off Coup!" G barked at me.
"Or?" I asked walking up to him and squaring off.
"I said back off!" G growled glaring down at me. His blue eyes burning into my skull, but I knew I couldn't back off, not yet.
"Why? So you can go off and have a paddy while our team is out there, having god knows what happen to them?" I asked throwing my arm out.
"Paddy? What?" G yelled in my face.
"Well you clearly don't want to catch this guy! You'd much rather-" I yelled back and was cut off by a leg sweep to the floor. My head connected hard with the mats and for a second I was dazed, that was until I saw the burning blue eyes glaring at me.
"Don't say I don't want to catch him." G growled holding me down. I nodded slowly before kicking him, flipping him over me and landing on top of him.
"So what are you doing to catch him?" I asked, straddling G. "Cos to me, it looks like you'd rather take your frustrations out on others."
"You don't understand!" G yelled rolling me off him and putting me into a grapple.
"Then, please, enlighten me G!" I yelled back as I broke the grappled and speared him back to the floor.
"This is my fault!" He yelled pushing me off him and getting to his feet. "This is my fault! He wants me! He wants to get to me! And he's using you to get to me!"
"Feel better?" I asked getting to my feet as G started to calm down.
"This is my fault Coup, I've put everyone in danger." He said as he continued to calm down.
"You haven't put anyone in danger Mr Callen." Hetty said appearing in the gym. "That bastard who's taken our people did, and we are going to catch him."
"How? We have no leads, nothing." Callen sighed as we looked to Hetty for answers.
"Maybe so, but we know it has to do with your old team." Hetty said. "I want the pair of you to get some rest. Fresh eyes tomorrow."
"Hetty-" I started to say and she gave me a look.
"Mr Callen, please take Ms Cooper with you home, rest, then in the morning we will attack this with fresh eyes." Hetty said firmly.
Needless to say you don't argue with Hetty, well not so she knows anyway. We headed to G's house and carried on working on the case. It wasn't like either of us could sleep anyway.
"The old team." I said out loud as I thought. "We weren't really a team for long. And the cases we all worked, I mean, me and Kensi, there can't be that many."
"Yeah, you and Kensi were doing other things at the same time. She was finishing her training and you... what were you doing?" Callen asked passing me a cup of coffee.
"Nothing. So the cases," I said taking a sip of the coffee as Callen raised his eyes brow at me. "Must be, what twenty, tops?"
"I guess. Most will still be in jail, or the ground." Callen muttered as he pulled out a pad of paper and started to write down case's he could remember.
"I can't remember any using drugs though." I sighed looking at the list.
"No, could be a new MO." Callen suggested as the lights suddenly went out.
"Forget to pay the bill again?" I joked as we both pulled out our weapons.
"You're funny." Callen said sarcastically as we looked around the room. We couldn't see anyone, so I fallowed Callen around the house as we cleared it one by one. We reached the bathroom and I opened the door as Callen went in to clear it. As he went in I herd footsteps from behind me, I turned just in time to see a guy with a needle lunge at me. I grabbed his arms and swung them into the wall making him drop the needle. Suddenly another three guys appeared from no where.
"Callen!" I yelled as he came out of the bathroom and started to fight two of the guys. The third grabbed me from behind and tried to hold me as the first guy went to pick up the needle.
"Coup!" Callen yelled just before getting punched in the guts.
"Mr James say's hello, Agent Callen." One of the guys laughed holding G's head up before punching him to the floor. As he guy bent down for the needle I kicked him in the face sending him back, breaking his nose.
"Bitch!" The guy with the broken nose growled at me before rushing to pick up the needle. I herd fighting behind me and prayed that Callen wasn't getting the crap beat out of him. It wasn't until I herd two shots that I knew he was the one doing the beating.
"Stop! Let her go, now!" Callen ordered as the guy with his arms round me let go. I pushed away from the guy and picked up my gun before pulling the needle out of the guy with the broken nose's hand.
"Looks like we just caught a lead." I said with a small smile.
Within half ah hour, the lab was running the drug in the needle, while me, Callen, and Hetty were in the boat shed watching the two guys we caught at Callen's. I was cleaning Callen's cut on his face.
"Just sit still you baby." I teased as I wiped the antiseptic wipe over a cut above his right eye. Callen winced a little and let out a sharp breath.
"Anyone ever tell you, you have the bed side manner of a drill Sargent." Callen said squinting at me.
"Stop being such a baby." I joked as I pressed on a little harder. Callen squinted at me and grabbed my hand, pulling it away from the cut.
"I think it's clean Coup." He said hiding a small smirk.
"I know." I said smiling sweetly at him. Callen went to open his mouth when Hetty talked.
"Are you both ok?" Hetty asked softly.
"Better now we caught a lead." Callen said standing up and nudging me a little as I cleaned up the supplies.
"So who's going to have a chat with stunt guy number one and two?" I asked walking over to the pair. Hetty studied the screen hard.
"I think Mr Callen should talk to them." Hetty said watching the pair on the TV.
"Why?" I asked slightly confused.
"I believe these individuals would respond better to Mr Callen." Hetty said glancing at the pair of us.
"You think absent father syndrome?" G asked. Absent Father Syndrome was the name we gave to male suspects who would answer questions more responsive from males rather than females. They generally saw females as weak and worth ignoring. The way the guys attacked, I wasn't so sure, but Hetty was usually right about these kinda things.
"Yes Mr Callen." Hetty said glancing at us.
"Fine, but I'm gonna be watching G." I huffed folding my arms over my chest as Callen nodded before walking into the interrogation room.
"Ms Cooper, how far have you gotten on the Comescu assignment?" Hetty asked as we watched Callen talk to stunt guy number one.
"You think this is all about Comescu?" I asked throwing a hand to the screen.
"Ms Cooper, how far?" Hetty pressed, ignoring my previous question. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed looking at Callen on the screen.
"He doesn't know anything. I've done several psychological assessments of him, and his team. As far as G knows, his identity is still a mystery. Hetty," I said softly turning to the smaller woman. "I don't like keeping this much from a friend. He has a right-"
"Ms Cooper, I assure you when the time comes Mr Callen will be informed of the work you are doing, but in the mean time it is a classified file." Hetty said looking me dead in the eyes.
"He's not going to be able to trust me when he finds out." I said softly looking at my friend on the screen.
"He will not be able to trust a lot of us." Hetty said and I glanced at her with a raised eye brow. "I don't believe this is to do with Comescu. I shall have Mr Beale search through your old case files for a Mr James." Hetty said before walking off. I shook my head letting out a heavy sigh. The spying business was a hard game, and I never thought lying to my friends would be part of it. Ten minutes after Hetty left my phone rang.
"Coup." I sighed rubbing my temples as a headache threatened to ruin my otherwise perfect day.
"Alex?" A female voice said, it was drowsy and it a heart beat I knew who I was talking to.
"Kensi, are you ok?" I asked racing over to the nearest screen and waving to get Eric's attention. The small woman, Nell appeared on screen looking confused. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote 'trace' flashing it to the screen. Nell nodded and started to type away.
"Alex... my head is worse then the night we went out drinking." Kensi said softly.
"Which time?" I joked and I herd a small laugh escape her lips.
"True." She said slowly. "Alex-" The phone was snatched away from Kensi and a man's voice came on the line.
"There's your proof of life Special Agent Cooper." The rough voice had a slight threatening tone to it, but nothing I wasn't used to.
"Great, just let me hear Renko and Hanna's voices and I'll take that proof of life." I said firmly. I could see Nell working her magic.
"Tell Agent Callen if he wants to see his friends again to be ready to expect a call." The male voice said before hanging up. I looked at Nell waiting for an answer on the trace, she was still typing at something.
"Nell?" I asked not sure of her name.
"One second." She said as she finished typing. "We've narrowed it down to within a five block radius."
"Well that helps." I sighed running a hand over my face in relief. "So what are we looking at?" I asked. Nell typed a few key strokes and then a small map appeared on my screen.
"It's a warehouse district. But we're looking at three major warehouses and lots more smaller ones." Nell sighed as I looked at the map.
"Hey, least it's a lead." I said trying to sound positive. Nell nodded. "Let Hetty know, I'll go grab Callen." I said with a nod before walking off.
I walked into the interrogation room where Callen was chatting to the guy who's nose I broke. It had been bandaged up and looked like he was in pain. I smirked as I walked through the door. It felt good to take my frustrations out on a douche like that guy.
"Mr James, is a very, very powerful man." The guy said through his nose.
"So you say, but why Larry, are is he coming after my team?" Callen asked sitting forward.
"I'm not telling you shit man!" Larry snapped and then let his eyes roam over me. "Unless you wanna give me ten minutes with her." Larry added winking at me. Callen clicked his fingers making Larry turn to Callen.
"I want a location, you've got five minutes to think about it, or I get the information out of Curly in the next room." Callen said getting and walking me out of the room. As we walked out Larry blew me a kiss and I rolled my eyes.
"Why do I always attract the weird one?" I joked as Callen closed the door.
"Must be that British thing." Callen joked and I sighed. "What's happened?"
"We got a call from Kensi." I said and shook my phone. "Nell traced it to a five block warehouse area of town. It's something." I said with a small smile.
"Yeah, how did she sound?" Callen asked rubbing his eyes. We were both tired and hadn't slept yet, it looked like we wouldn't sleep for a while yet either.
"Drugged. They wouldn't let me talk to Renko or Sam. Said they were going to call you soon." I added rolling my shoulders.
"We need to be ready." Callen said as his icy blue eyes met mine. A determined look crossing his face.
We were sat at the desk's going through old case files looking for a James. It was a long shot, but unless we could narrow down the search area, it was all we had. I was sat Kensi's desk, reading a report Sam filed. Callen groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey, what does this say?" Callen asked passing me a file. I looked at the report it was Renko's chicken scratch.
"Suspect left with two bags of, coffee?" I asked looking at Callen slightly confused.
"Coffee?" Callen asked confused.
"What a great idea." I joked getting up and passing him the folder back. Callen smirked at me shaking his head as I went over to the coffee machine.
"You want a cup?" I asked turning to see Callen watching me. "What?" I asked turning round to face him and putting my hands on my hips.
"Nothing... a cup would be great." Callen said with a small smile. I nodded and started to head over to the coffee machine when Hetty appeared ninja style, blocking me.
"Hetty? I just want to grab-" Hetty raised her hand and shook her head. Also automatically I shook my head as well.
"I am ordering the pair of you to get some rest. There is a room set up, upstairs with two cots, go get some rest. As soon as we have anything I will have Mr Beale wake you." Hetty said glancing over my shoulder to G. I turned back and he looked too tired to argue, and if I was honest, I was too.
"Thanks Hetty." I said with a small smile before I turned to head to the cots. Callen dragged himself away from the desk and fallowed me up the stairs. We found the small dark room and walked in. Sure enough two cots were set up with a blanket and pillow. I smiled as I dragged my body to one of the cots.
"She's only doing this so she knows where we are." Callen joked as he sat down on the other cots rubbing his face.
"I know, but you wanna argue with her?" I asked pulling my shoes off.
"No, I'm good." He replied laying on top of the cot. I pulled my socks off and put them in my shoes. Callen had his eyes closed and his arms folded over his chest. "Still with the socks Coup?" He asked with a small chuckle.
"I can't sleep in socks. Sue me." I joked as I laid down on the cot closing my eyes.
***Flash Back***
I closed the door and sat on the bed, it was lumpy, no sheets, and the pillow looked like it had seen better days but in that moment it looked like heaven. I pulled my shoes off and then my socks before I pulled my legs onto the bed. I sighed as I laid down and closed my eyes. I had been working straight for the best part of twenty four hours, I was tired and need of some sleep. But before I could drift off I herd the bedroom door open, on instinct I grabbed my gun and aimed it to the door.
"You wanna shoot me with your eyes closed?" I herd Callen joked before I opened my eyes.
"If you're here to say I need to replace Sam at his post, yeah, I think I will." I joked lowering my gun. Callen closed the door and shook his head.
"Coup, you think too little of me." He yawned as he made his way over to the bed.
"Oh no, I am not sharing with you again." I said shaking my head firmly. Callen stopped at the end of the bed looking hurt.
"Why?" He asked.
"You move around too much, not to mention in like ten minutes you'll be awake, just as I might add, just as I'm about to fall asleep. So no, go find somewhere else to sleep." I said firmly. A small smile crossed Callen's lips as he looked at me. "What?" I asked slightly unsure of what his next move was going to be.
"Are you sure you wont let me sleep on the bed?" Callen asked with a plain face, his eyes showing the smile he wanted to burst out.
"No, go find somewhere else." I said firmly. The next thing that happened my feet were being tickled. I hated having my feet tickled. I screamed and kicked out at Callen as he continued to tickle. Callen stopped holding one of my feet.
"Sure?" He asked his finger inches away from my exposed foot.
"Fine!" I huffed, G let go of my foot and smiled. "But you wake me up and man, I'll kick your arse." I half joked as G walked round the side of the bed and plopped himself down, grinning to himself.
***End Of Flash Back***
I don't think either of us were asleep, I don't think either of us could really sleep knowing our team was out there. I tried not to think too hard about what could be happening to them. I had to focus on who could have them, who Mr James was and why the hell he would want our team. Everything I thought of wasn't a great outcome. I don't know how long I laid in the room in the dark, but at some point I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember is someone shaking me softly.
"Coup, wake up, we got a lead." G said softly shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes and sighed. This isn't a bad dream then...
"I'm up." I said softly sitting up and pulling on my socks and shoes. I fallowed G out of the room to see the building filled with people, it was sunny and warm, it was mid morning easy. "How long as I out?" I asked running a hand over my face to wake me up.
"Two hours." G replied leading me to the Op's room. As we walked in I saw Deeks lent against the table. He had a nasty black eye and a few small cuts but didn't look that bad.
"Morning sunshine." Deeks joked as I walked over to him. I smiled and lent on the table, turning my attention to Hetty and Eric.
"We found who Mr James is." Eric said beaming. "Meet Ben James," Eric said as a picture of a guy appeared on the screen. Black slicked back hair, thin face, dark eyes. The guy rang bells in my head, I glanced to Callen and sure enough he recognised him too. "NCIS- MOD joint op. You guys took him down late 2005." Eric said reading from something.
"Yeah, I remember him, James, he was selling Intel on joint Op's to the highest bidder in LA." Callen said as he remembered then frowned.
"What?" Deeks asked confused.
"Callen shot him dead. He had Kensi, gun pointed to her head." I added as I remembered the event as if it was yesterday.
"So who are we talking with?" Callen asked turning to Eric.
"Ben had a brother, a twin in fact, non identical, Will." Eric said showing a picture of a guy who looked a lot like Ben. "It's best bet we're dealing with him."
"Ok, so we know who, and why, got any further on they where?" I asked plainly.
"We're still working on it. Will James has a lot of property in other names. We're running them down though." Eric said with a smaller smile.
"Good work Eric." Callen said before heading out of Op's. Both me and Deeks fallowed him without being told. We went down to the desks and waited for a location to move on.
"So old Wills is out for revenge huh?" Deeks asked leaning on the desk.
"I would be." I said plainly. "So what happened at Kensi's?" I asked changing the topic.
"Sam and I were searching the place when we herd Kensi's phone ring. I went into the kitchen to check it out when some guy sucker punched me." Deeks sighed.
"The black eye?" I asked plainly.
"Yeah, then as I'm fighting this guy, another jabbed me in the arm, and the next thing I know, I'm waking up in hospital." Deeks sighed.
"That's a fast acting drug. Explains how Renko and Kensi were taken without too much of a fight." Callen mused.
"Yeah." I sighed. Nell walked over to us holding a tablet.
"I've got the results of the DNA blood from Kensi's place." Nell said and I noticed both guys stiffen a little. "Blood matches Will James, looks like Mr James is walking around with a pretty, nasty bullet wound in his body." We all smiled and Callen was about to speak when his phone rang again. He glanced at the number and then Nell. Without a word she started a trace.
"Callen." He said answering the phone and put it on speaker.
"Agent Callen, finally we get to speak, and I am so glad we can too." The guy said.
"Well Will, I think its about time we did." Callen said firmly. "Where are my people?"
"Oh so you know who I am, great." Will said plainly.
"We know all about you Will, like the gun shot." Callen said plainly.
"Yeah the little bitch got a lucky shot out before the drugs kicked it." Will said sounding like he hit someone, a whimper could just be made out. I saw a flash of anger cross Deeks eyes. "But I still got her. In fact Agent Callen I'm only missing one to my collection and I'll have all you team."
"Well you're not getting her." Callen said as his eyes darted to me for a second.
"We'll see." Will said plainly. "In the mean time, Agent Callen do you remember where you shot my brother?"
"Yes." Callen said not looking at anyone.
"Be there, twenty minutes, bring the British one. Bring anyone else and I kill them all." Will said and hung up.
"Nell?" I asked as the phone call ended.
"Damn it. I'm sorry, he hid his call better this time. I couldn't get a lock." Nell sighed.
"It's ok, least we know where he's going to be." Callen said plainly.
"And when," I said glancing at my watch. "Twenty minutes? Gonna be cutting it close." I added looking at Callen.
"You guys can't seriously go in solo." Deeks said as Hetty yet again appeared from no where.
"I'm not going in solo," Callen said glancing at me. "I've got back up." He added smiling at me.
"We need to move." I added returning the smile. Deeks turned to Hetty.
"They can't go alone Hetty, please it's a trap, talk some sense into them!" Deeks begged throwing a hand in our direction.
"Mr Callen is right Mr Deeks, they wont be going in alone." Hetty said with a small smile.
Nineteen minutes later Callen pulled into the parking lot in the middle of no where. It was near an old air field and there were a few odd storage lockers. It was where G shot Ben James. The place looked just as run down as I remembered.
"You ready?" G asked as we checked our weapons for the final time.
"Why not? It beats paper work." I joked with a small smile.
"Don't worry Ms Cooper, there will be plenty of that to do after the mission." Hetty said in our ear pieces and it made me smile more. We climbed out of the car and walked down the alley to the exact spot where the shooting took place. The sun was still bright in the sky, but the place still felt creepy.
"Well we're here, where's Will?" Callen asked glancing around.
"You don't think he's bailed on us do you?" I asked as I looked around too. We weren't just looking for Will James, but other bad guys and possible hiding places/exits if we needed them. It was just how we were trained.
"Let's hope not." G sighed as we herd a car from the far side of the alley. We both turned to face the noise and a few minutes later three men came walking out. Two had guns.
"Agent Callen, Agent Cooper, so glad you could make it." Will James joked as the goons pointed their guns at us. "Sweep them." Will said to the guys. One kept their gun on us as the other came over to sweep us.
"Where's my men James?" Callen asked as the goon pulled out G's gun and threw in on the floor in front of Will. He pulled G's ear piece out and stood on it.
"In time Agent Callen." Will replied as the goon walked over to me. He pulled my gun and threw it to the floor as well, also taking my ear piece. I sighed as he double and tripled checked me for weapons.
"Get your man off me, before I do it." I said looking straight at Will James. He let out a small laugh as he waved the guy back.
"The Brits got balls, I like it." Will laughed pulling out his own gun. My heart raced a little seeing the gun. Sure we planned for it, but we still didn't want to see it.
"Where's my team?" G asked not even blinking. Will cocked his gun.
"My team now." He said firing and shooting G in the chest. My mind froze for a second, my mind wouldn't register what had happened.
"Callen!" I yelled as my partner fell to the floor. I started to rush over when I herd the gun cock again.
"Stay where you are." Will grunted at me. I turned to Will James and glared, the rage I felt towards the man was unbelievable. G was gasping for air as his hands covered in his own blood.
"You're going to die, and I am going to be the one to kill you." I said threw grit teeth.
"Maybe so, Agent Cooper, but it's not going to happen today." Will smirked as the two goons grabbed me and dragged me off into the back of a van. I kicked out as much as I could, fighting them off until I was pistol whipped.
I came to, as we pulled up. The goons from before dragged me out of the van and we were in a warehouse. I could see everyone and it didn't look good. Renko looked the worst, he was out cold, a bad gash at the top of his head where dry blood trickled down. Kensi didn't look much better but her eyes widened when she saw me. Finally Sam saw me and tugged against his restraints. One of the goons holding me hit Sam in the face knocking him out cold. I noticed a small table with a big bottle of something and a few needles, my guess was that was the drug he had been giving the team. I was dragged past all of them and thrown on a seat in a small room. I just glared as Will James walked in smiling at me.
"I've been waiting a long time to kill that guy." He said pouring himself a small drink. "Felt good."
"It's not going to last long, might as well enjoy it while you have it." I said coldly watching the man put his drink down and turn to face me. My eyes met with his and I saw him move slightly uncomfortably. "What's the matter? Can handle someone who isn't drugged?" I asked not even blinking.
"Shut up." Will growled and raised his gun to hit me but I didn't move.
"You got I say, two minutes." I said plainly.
"What are you talking about?" Will asked cocking his gun.
"One minute thirty." I said watching him. He glanced out the window and looked around.
"No one's there." Will said getting agitated.
"One minute." I said watching him get more and more worked up.
"Shut up, you don't know what your talking about." Will ranted pacing.
"Thirty." I said calmly.
"Shut up bitch!" Shut up or I'll shoot you!" Will said aiming the gun at my head but his hand was shaking.
"Twenty." I said looking into his eyes. He slapped my face with his gun and bust my lip.
"Shut up!" He yelled.
"Ten," I said spitting out the blood.
"Shut up."
"Nine."
"I said shut up!" Will yelled going over and checking on his men.
"Eight, Seven, Six." I continued to count. Will walked over to me and stood over me, his eyes showed how worried he really was.
"I've had enough of this." Will growled aiming the gun at my head, pressing the barrel to my skin.
"Five, four, three, two-" I took a deep breath as I saw Will started to tighten his grip on the gun.
"One." A voice came from behind Will. He span around and was met by a head butt from G. I smiled as Will fell to the floor, G pointed his gun at the man and kicked the gun away.
"What took you so long?" I asked picking up the spare gun.
"I did get shot." G complained as the now unconscious body of Will James let out a small groan.
"You had a vest on." I said rolling my eyes.
"It still hurt." Callen protested.
"Baby." I muttered checking the gun I had.
"I am not a baby, next time I'll shoot you with a vest on, see how you like it." G replied rolling his eyes at me.
"Whatever baby." I muttered checking the sight of the gun.
"You're the baby." G muttered back a small smile creeping onto both our faces.
"When you've finished arguing like an old married couple, we've got a team to rescue." Deeks said plainly appearing from the air duck like G had.
"Fine, we'll settle this later." Callen confirmed as we ducked down and looked through the half open door.
"Two guys, our people are in the chairs, should be easy." I said scoping it out.
"On three?" Deeks asked cocking his gun.
"Three." G confirmed before raising three fingers in turn. On the third we bust through the door and shot the two guys dead.
I was sat at Kensi's desk signing the last of the paper work for Hetty. My mission was over, the bad guy was dead, the goons were dead, and it turned out one of the goons had been the leak in my office. I was glad I had shot him. I had to hand my paper work into Hetty and I would be done with the Office of Special Projects.
"Ms Cooper." Hetty said walking in front of the desk and smiling at me.
"Hetty, just finishing the paper work." I said with a nod to the papers spread across the desk.
"Very good." Hetty said with a warm smile. "It is nice to see you back here Ms Cooper, you know, you are always welcome back." She added. I noticed the guys coming down the stairs. Deeks and G were telling Renko, Sam and Kensi how they had saved their lives. They were all laughing and joking. I smiled as G caught my eye. I turned back to Hetty.
"They've got each other, they don't need me." I said signing the last sheet as the others reached us.
"Hey Coup, sounds like we owe you a drink or two." Sam joked as the group reached us.
"Sounds good to me." I smirked standing from the desk.
"Alright!" Kensi smirked at me.
"No vodka shots though." I added looking at Kensi.
"Fine." She said sounding a little disappointed.
"So where we heading to?" Deeks asked. The group started to choose a place.
"Hey guys, I just gotta finish this up, I'll meet you there." I said pointing to the papers.
"Are you sure?" Kensi asked sounding a little sad.
"I'm sure just this once Hetty will let you leave before finishing them." Renko said throwing Hetty a warm smile. The four foot wonder didn't return the smile, she just glared back at Renko. "Or maybe not..."
"Mr Renko, I expect all my Agents to fill out the correct paper work." Hetty said firmly.
"Quick! Run before she gets us filling out paper work!" Deeks joked and the group headed for the door. I laughed as Hetty turned to me with a warm smile. I picked up my paper work and headed over to Hetty's desk.
"You sure know how to control them." I joked putting the paper down on her desk.
"It's my job." Hetty replied laughing a little. "But Ms Cooper, my offer will last as long as you want, you always have a home here."
"Thanks Hetty, maybe after Comescu is done with." I said seriously.
"Maybe." Hetty echoed.
"Hey, you wanna come out for a drink with us? Show them how the old team kicked it?" I asked smirking a little.
"I have a few papers to sign, and a few calls to make." Hetty said sitting at her desk.
"So after that then?" I asked smiling at the fearless leader.
"Yes, after that Ms Cooper." Hetty smirked back.
"Awesome. See you out there!" I laughed walking off.
I grabbed my jacket from the desk's and turned around to see Callen stood leaning against his desk. For a man who had been shot, he looked well. I pulled my leather jacket on and walked over to him.
"So you're my ride?" I asked smirking up to the Agent.
"Looks like Coup." Callen laughed as we walked out of the building. I sighed as we left the building. "Sad to be leaving?" Callen asked as we walked down the street to his car.
"I was sad to leave the first time." I admitted looking over at Callen. "Some things I've missed like hell."
"You could always come back." Callen suggested as we reached his car. I paused looking at Callen. Truth was I was working the Comescu case, while hiding it from everyone I knew, including Renko. Being back at NCIS, working with my old team, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep that from them. From Callen. That's why I was transferred. Most of the time I work as a handler for Renko, while looking into the Comescu without anyone asking questions. It was complicated, but spying is.
"I can't." I said with a sad smile.
"Why not?" Callen asked moving a little closer to me.
"I don't think I could watch you get shot for real, hell visiting you in hospital was bad enough..." I said looking deep into his ice blue eyes. The truth was I hated seeing G that bad, I cared for him. Maybe a little more than I should have.
"I'm not going to get shot again Alex." G said looking deep into my eyes. Callen reached out and rubbed my cheek with his thumb, his eyes locked with mine.
"We both know that's not true." I sighed and took a step back. "Plus, who else is going to keep Renko alive?" I joked climbing into the passenger side of the car. I took a deep breath as the door closed. It's not easy to lie about your feelings, but one day G will find out, and he's going to hate me... No way I get too involved with him... even if I want to.
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