Jude's POV

I woke up the next morning in so much pain that I almost threw up. I looked around the room confused as to where I was. Lena was in a chair next to my bed and Callie was in the other bed in the room. Machines were beeping behind me. It hit me then; I was in a hospital. I was raped last night.

I groaned as the pain in my abdomen and lower back increased.

"Jude, you're awake!" Callie jumped out of the bed and ran to my side. "What's wrong? Tell me what hurts."

"Everything hurts…" A tear slipped down my cheek but I didn't bother to wipe it away.

"I'll go get a doctor and see if they will raise your pain meds." Callie squeezed my hand and darted out of the room.

The noise woke Lena.

"Hey buddy." She stood and kissed my cheek. "Mom is in the cafeteria with your siblings and Mike."

"Mike is here?" I was puzzled. Brandon wasn't hurt so why would he be here?

"Yeah, he has to take your statement. He was going to do it last night but you were sleeping and the doctors wouldn't let him in. Do you think you're ready to tell him what happened?"

"I guess so. I just want to get this over with."

Lena nodded and crossed to the other side of the room to call either Stef or Mike.

"Good morning Jude! I hear that you are in quite a bit of pain." Dr. Mendez read my chart as he walked in with Callie on his heels. "I'll adjust your medication so we can make you more comfortable. How does that sound?"

"That'd be great."

Five minutes later Stef, Mike, the twins, and Brandon all piled into my room. They all said good morning and asked how I was feeling.

"Well, we should get started on your statement so you can get out of here." Mike sat down in a chair next to my bed. All of my siblings, including Callie, left the room but my moms stayed back.

I glanced at them and then eyed Mike trying to get him to make them leave. He must have understood because he walked over and whispered something to them. Stef protested a little but he made them leave.

"Alright Jude. I know that this is going to be hard to talk about, but any detail you can give us will help us immensely. Just start at the beginning." He pulled out a notepad and wrote a few things down.

I took a deep breath and began. "I was on my way home from a movie I had to watch for my Intro to Film class. I stopped to text Stef when this kid from my class called me a fag."

"Why would he call you that?" Mike interrupted.

"Because I am." My cheeks flushed.

"Jude, you aren't a 'fag'. You're gay. There was no reason for him to call you that. He was just being a dick." Mike patted my hand and encouraged me to continue.

I laughed at his remark. It gave me some courage to tell the rest. "I told him to leave me alone but he pulled me into an alley. He hit me and I fought back but he threw me to the ground. He pulled my shorts down and then… it was happening. When he was done he kicked me in the stomach, threatened to kill me if I told anyone, and left." I shook my head as I recalled the attack. "I should have fought harder! I could have killed him if I wanted to. That kind of situation is exactly what New Intelligence trained us for! Mike, I'm a trained spy and I couldn't fend off some dumb-ass college kid."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about this Jude. You were put in a dangerous situation. I know that you were in dangerous situations at NI but they were never directed at you, right?" When I nodded he continued. "This was a personal attack. And a very personal one. Sexual assaults are horrible, horrible things. You never know how you will react to it. You survived. It doesn't matter if you couldn't fight back. All that matters is if you made it out of there alive and you did." Mike wrote some more things in his notebook and then continued. "You said that your attacker was in one of your classes? Do you know his name?"

"Yeah, his name is James Link. He's on the wrestling team." I relaxed into the bed as I felt the medicine start to work. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, that's all buddy. You get some rest. I'll let your moms know that they can come back in."

I smiled as he left and closed my eyes. I laid there and waited for the blanket of sleep to claim my consciousness.

Callie's POV

Soon after Mike was done with Jude's statement Dr. Mendez told us we could take him home. He was sleeping when it was time to leave so Brandon carried him to the car. He slept the whole way home.

I sat down at the kitchen table and tried to rub away the headache that was building behind my forehead.

"Jude is resting. You all need to go get your things for school. Mama said the car is leaving in five minutes. You've already missed two periods. You can't miss anymore." Stef sent everyone else upstairs as she came down. She took a seat next to me. "Why don't you go lay down, love? You need to get some rest too."

"No, Ziva is going to be here any minute now. I need to get my things for work. I'm going to be home late tonight." I stood up to go get my stuff but Stef stopped me.

"You don't have to go into work today. I'm sure they would understand if you stayed home."

"I can't do that. I just started." My phone vibrated. "Ziva is here. I have to go. I'll see you tonight." I took off up the stairs and grabbed my bag. I stopped in to check on Jude before I left. I kissed his forehead and pulled the blankets up. "I love you buddy. I'll talk to you tonight."

I ran down the stairs and didn't even bother to say goodbye to anyone else.

"Sorry I made you wait." I said as I jumped in Ziva's car. "Gibbs was really okay with you coming to get me?"

"Don't worry about it and yes he's okay with it." She put the car in drive and sped down the street. "How is Jude?"

"I guess as best as can be expected. He's exhausted and in quite a bit of pain. But he'll recover. It's just going to be a long process." I sighed and rested my head against the window.

"I'm sure everything is going to work out." Ziva reached across and took my hand in hers.

I smiled inwardly. Ziva had basically been my best friend for the last six months. Any time I felt overwhelmed or upset about something she was always there. I knew that I could go to Stef and Lena but it was nice to go to someone outside of the family.

"Can I ask you something?" I took a deep breath for encouragement.

"Of course. You know that you can always talk to me about anything." Her grasp on my hand tightened a little.

"Stef and Lena want me to go to therapy for stuff that happened at New Intelligence. Do you think it's a good idea? We were always taught that opening up was a sign of weakness."

Ziva smiled over at me. "First of all, talking about what is bothering does not make you weak. Callie, you are one of the strongest people I know; mentally and physically. Second of all, Stef and Lena are very smart ladies. I think if they believe therapy will help you then you should give it a shot. You know, every time I have to shoot someone I am required to talk to a psychiatrist. I never want to do it because, like you said, I think it will make me seem weak. But, I have never walked out of one of those sessions feeling worse. It feels good to talk to someone about what you are feeling."

"I figured that's what you would say. I'm just scared. What if the therapist thinks I'm crazy?"

"They won't, I promise. Just give it a shot. I'm sure if you don't like it Stef and Lena will help you find a new therapist or will let you stop. It can't hurt, can it?"

"I guess not." I leaned my head against the window again. Ziva was right. It couldn't make me any worse off.

Ten minutes later we were walking to our desks.

"Callie!" I heard someone call from the squad room.

"Tony made you come with him again?" I asked Connor who was sitting at his dad's desk.

"Yeah, it totally sucks. We were supposed to hear about my placement test to this school I'm trying to get into but I guess the vice-principal had a family emergency or something." He look obviously annoyed with his situation but shook it off. "How's Jude?"

"He's doing a lot better. Thanks for being such a good friend to him. He can really use all the support he can get right now. And he really loves the drawing you gave him. It's so good!" I patted him on the back and he blushed ferociously.

"Thanks." He said sheepishly. "So my dad said that the guy you tackled the other day was hopped up on PCP. He said you were good, but I didn't think you were that good!"

"It was just an instinct I guess!" I sat down at my desk and got started on the last of my paperwork. "Connor, if I have to fill out one more form I'm going to go crazy!"

"Well, why don't you give me what you have done and I'll run it down to Human Resources. At least you will have more room on your desk to work." Connor walked over to me and I handed him a huge stack of papers.

"Thanks Connor!"

He smiled and disappeared behind the cubical walls.

"Gibbs!" I said as I saw him walking my way. "I only have a couple more forms to fill out and then I can start training!" I smiled proudly. He stopped in front of my desk with two cups of coffee in his hands. I reached for one but he recoiled.

"Are you healed from being slammed into that wall?" He lifted one eyebrow suspiciously.

"I mean I still have bruises but they don't even hurt that bad." I lied. Honestly, my back was in constant pain.

"Well until Ducky gives you the all clear you aren't physically training anyone. You can instruct but you aren't engaging in combat. Understood?" He dangled the coffee in front of me enticingly.

"Fine! But I can't just sit at this desk all day! I have to do something!" I snatched the cup out of his hand and took a delicious sip.

"Just finish the last of the forms and then we'll figure something out for you to do." Gibbs smiled at me and went to his desk.

The next few hours dragged by. The team was flying around the squad room trying to tie up loose ends on the case they had caught a few days earlier. Connor returned and begged Tony to take him home but failed to do so. Abby came up with exciting news on the case and Ducky came up with Jimmy and told the team about the first person he'd examined who had been on PCP. I thought it was interesting but everyone else seemed bored.

"Done!" I exclaimed when I signed the very last form. I held it up proudly and Connor whisked it away to take down to HR for me. "Okay Gibbs, you have to hold up your end of the deal!"

He laughed and surveyed the people who stood before him. "Alright, everyone down to the combat room."

"Everyone? Like…" Abby smiled and silently pleaded with Gibbs as she pointed to Ducky, Jimmy, and herself.

"Yes, everyone! Let's go!" We all hurried to the elevator and rode down to the combat room.

There were people in there but Gibbs made them all leave. They scurried out quickly. I think they were afraid of Gibbs.

"What's going on Gibbs? You said that I can't train anyone until Ducky gives me the all-clear." I probed. I looked to Ducky with hope in my eyes.

"You, my dear, are most definitely not cleared for active training. You need to rest until next week." Ducky said apologetically.

I groaned in response.

"Callie, you aren't training anyone today. Instead you are going to talk to us. You are part of our family now. Talk to us about your parents, New Intelligence, your brother, or whatever you want to talk about. In order for us to learn from you better, we need to know you." Gibbs pulled me to the front of the group and instructed everyone to sit down on the edge of the boxing ring.

"Gibbs, my life is so complicated. It would take me hours and hours to even begin to cover what my life has been like." I shook my head as I tried to deny his request.

"I don't care. We don't have any pressing issues right now. You're a part of my team now." He took a seat next to Abby who laid her head on his shoulder.

I took a deep breath and decided to just do it. I thought back to what Ziva had said in the car; that it feels good to talk to people.

"Okay, well after my parents were killed we were put into foster care but they couldn't take care of us so they just dropped us off at the local police station. Actually, the officer who talked to us when we got there was Stef. She went to go call our social worker and that's when the 'recruiters' came for us. They were dressed in civilian clothes and they just walked up, picked us up and ran out of the building. They tossed us in the back of a black van and drove away. I heard bullets hit the van. They gave us juice boxes and made us drink them. I think they had sedatives in them because we fell asleep. When we woke up we were in a warehouse in the middle of nowhere. I don't even know if we were in the United States. There were hundreds of other kids. They were all around our age. I found out later that I was the oldest one that was recruited."

"How long were you there?" McGee asked in the short pause that I took. "At the warehouse I mean."

"About two years. We trained every day. And every morning there were less and less of us. They got rid of the weak ones." My voice started to change. The emotion was draining slowly. That's what always happened when I talked about NI.

"What do you mean 'got rid of the weak ones'? They killed kids?" Abby's voice was laced with horror.

"No, they didn't kill anyone. At least I don't think they did. They told us that they were put with loving families." I scratched my brow as I tried to get all of the details in order. "Are you sure you want to hear all of this?"

"Of course we want to hear this. Like Gibbs said, you are a part of this family. We are going to support you in any way that we can." Ziva looked at the team members on either side of her who all nodded in agreement.

I smiled and continued. "After we were 'acclimated' they drugged us again and relocated us to the New Intelligence headquarters. We continued our training there. Reductions in the team were still happening, but not as often. It was still noticeable though. Training and schooling went on normally every day for six years. We learned everything from normal social behavior, for when we were out in the normal world, to how to leave a crime scene without leaving any evidence. We trained in hand-to-hand combat, weaponry, and physical fitness." I grabbed a stool from against the wall and sat down. "You know, it's weird… we were forced to be there but they made us feel like we needed them. Like we couldn't survive without NI."

"That is called Stockholm's syndrome. Your captors made you bond with them. It's a very common reaction for kidnap victims." Ducky explained. A little wave of relief washed over me. I think I finally realized that it wasn't my fault.

"Anyway, one day while we were training Commander Doran called me to her office." The rest of the story came out of me like I was a robot. I could almost see it being played out right before my eyes.

"Callie, thank you for coming in. I know you don't like to be pulled away from your training so I will make this quick." Commander Doran sat down and smiled at me. "You know that I am very proud of you, right? You and Jude are excelling rapidly. Actually, you're both the best recruits that we have."

"Really? I didn't know that you were ranking us. But, thank you for saying that. It really means a lot." Satisfaction washed over me.

"We've been evaluating and ranking all of you from the moment you were brought here eight years ago. Callie, I have a proposition for you. You know that we will be selecting our operatives soon, correct?"

"Yes, the trainers continuously remind us that we need to prepare for the exams." My palms became sweaty. I wanted one of those positions so bad.

"Well, I have something different in mind. I want you and Jude as my operatives. But, you have to successfully complete a mission first. That will be your exam. Do you think you would want to do that?" She shuffled some papers on her desk as she waited for my answer.

"Absolutely! And I am positive that Jude will want to do it too. What is the mission?"

"You'll find out when you reach your destination. Go brief Jude and pack a bag. You'll want to pack warm clothes. And don't worry about weapons. You will be given special issues. You leave in two hours." She signed some papers and sent me on my way.

I ran down the corridor to the barracks and searched for Jude.

"Jude! Where the hell are you?" I yelled.

"Callie? What's wrong? Are you okay?" He popped his head around the corner. Concern was all over his face.

I dragged him to a secluded corner. "Doran wants us to be the two operatives! She said if we successfully complete a mission then we will be promoted!" I pulled him into a tight hug.

"You better not be joking with me!" He smiled widely.

"We leave in two hours. Go pack a bag for cold weather and meet me by the front entrance." I sent him on his way and tried to contain my excitement.

I ran to my wardrobe and shoved some warm clothes into my large duffel bag.

"What are you doing?" A voice said from behind me.

I whipped around and came face to face with Evan. He was always on my back about something.

"Commander Doran needs me and Jude to go do something for her. We're going to be gone for a couple days." I turned back around and finished packing. Evan followed me as I went to the bathroom to get my toiletries. "Dude! Do you mind?" I turned around again and shoved him away from me.

"What the hell?" He came at me but I was bigger and stronger. Given I was two years older but still. He tried to take me down but I easily subdued him.

"Back the hell up unless you want to get your ass beat!" I screamed at him. The trainers were at my side in a second. They hauled Evan off, most likely for a reprimand. Even though I wasn't officially in a command positions I was still in charge of the younger recruits. They all knew to respect me. Well except Evan.

Two hours later Jude and I were at the main entrance waiting for our transport to arrive.

"Here are your weapons." Henry, one of the guards handed us each a duffel bag and walked away.

We both excitedly opened them. It was kind of like opening a gift on Christmas morning. We opened the bags and revealed long range rifles.

"We're sniping someone or something, Callie." Jude recoiled his hands from the bag immediately.

"It will be fine. What else do you have? I have two hand guns and two knives along with an assload of ammo." I rifled through the bag.

"Yeah I have the same." We zipped up the bags and stood when we saw Doran coming down the hall.

"Your transport is here. He will drive you to a private airport and then fly you to your destination. Make contact when you arrive. He will give you instructions when you land."

We saluted the Commander and then ran out to the car.

Nearly twelve hours later we finally arrived to the place where we would be staying. It was a small house in the woods. Luckily it had all the basic necessities: water, heat, and electricity. We each grabbed separate rooms and unpacked. I called the Commander and told her we'd arrived. She said that she sent me an email describing our mission.

"Jude! Come in here. Doran sent me an email. Come read it with me." I called to my brother.

Jude bounded into the room and plopped down on the bed next to me. I opened the email and we read to ourselves.

"Callie…" Jude's voice became shaky. "Does that say what I think it says?"

I locked my phone and set it down on the nightstand. "Go get some rest. We have to be up early in the morning so we can get there on time." I sent Jude out of the room and locked the door behind him.

"Doran, why the hell did you give us this mission?" I said to myself.

I laid in my bed that night coming up with a plan for the next day. I fell asleep calculating how long it would take us to trek to the location.

"What was the mission?" Tony asked. His question pulled me out of the trance I was in. I looked at the team. They were all leaning forward curiously. Well, except Gibbs. He was sitting back against the ropes with a stern look on his face.

"We had to assassinate the president and vice-president of the country we were in. We never did find out where we were. We also had to take out four civilians each. It was almost like it was a game to her. Like she dropped us in a video game and we were just characters. The mission was completely unfounded and unnecessary. Anyway, we journeyed to the city in the morning and perched ourselves on top of a tall building. The city was having its annual Winter Parade. It was in celebration of the president. Her term was ending and they wanted to honor her. Our targets were in an open car. When they were in position… we fired. We didn't even think twice about it. We just killed them. Everyone started screaming and running for cover. We picked four random people and killed them. When we were done we policed our brass and got the hell out of there. We ran all the way to the cabin. The next morning a helicopter landed in a clear spot about twenty meters from the house and took us to the airport. We got on the plane and flew back to NI."

"It is my pleasure to be standing in front of all of you fine people today." Commander Doran stood on a stage in the training room. We were all sitting in chairs that had been set up. It was the promotion ceremony. "You all have successfully completed the eight year training program. Give yourselves a round of applause!"

The room nearly exploded with clapping and hollering. After everyone settled down the Commander continued.

"You all have been promoted from recruit to agent. You should be very proud of yourselves. Now, I would like to honor the twenty-six of you who have exceled greatly in your time at New Intelligence."

Commander Doran started rattling off names. She started with Carson who would from then on be known as Zulu. I spaced out for a while. I waited to see if my and Jude's names would be called for Alpha and Bravo. She wouldn't tell us if we passed the mission or not. She just said that we would find out at the promotion ceremony.

I was brought back to reality by Jude nudging me.

"Now, I know you are all dying to know if you have made it to be my operatives or not. You were all evaluated on different areas of performance. I am proud to announce your operatives and new bosses: Second in command and my #2 operative is… Jude!" Once again the room erupted. Jude stood tall and walked up to the stage. He saluted the Commander and waited for the next name to be called. "First in command, my #1 operative, and my right-hand… Callie!"

People slapped me on the back in congratulations as I made my way to the stage. I saluted the Commander and Jude saluted me.

"Agents of New Intelligence… please stand and salute Alpha and Bravo!"

I looked out to the sea of kids in front of me. Lights shined in our eyes and made it difficult for me to recognize any faces.

They all stood at attention and raised their hands to their foreheads. Jude saluted them and then everyone, including Jude, turned their attention to me. They held their stance as I brought my hand up. I looked out and tried to comprehend what was happening. I brought my hand down quickly, saluting my new army.

Commander Doran came up behind me and whispered in my ear. "Keep up the good work and you'll have my position before you turn sixteen." She patted me on the back and quickly exited to her office.

Everyone was congratulating one another and coming up to me and Jude.

We looked at each other and knew at that moment that we would never be the same. We had only gotten to where we were by murdering innocent people.

It was that moment that I decided to bring down New Intelligence.