Author's Note: I am so sorry for the delay of this update. For the past week, the site has given me issues with uploading and posting, Chapter 10 and 11, have been ready since early last week. However, with the long wait that y'all patiently went through, I merged 10 and 11, into this super long chapter, I hope that you can forgive me, and enjoy the update. Please, let me know what you thought of it; what you liked and didn't like. Thank you all so much for your readership, alerts, favorites, and reviews. I appreciate it all.
Chapter 10
Meanwhile, Eric Beale had sent both Kensi and Deeks the information on their aliases and had backstopped Mister Carl as much as he could until he received Nell's input on her alias. He needed a surname for Mister Carl, because although Mister Carl No Surname worked for a short matter of time as Callen normally used the alias, it would not work while being undercover for any length of time. Furthermore, Eric needed to know where and how the aliases had met, married, and how long they had been married. It was surreal and he very much wanted this to be some nightmare, because that was all he could think of this Op had the potential on becoming.
He took his glasses off placing them beside his keyboard before he placed the tip of his right thumb on one closed eyelid, the tip of his right index finger on the other eyelid, and gently massaged his eyes. The emotions of the day and the stress of the upcoming case had exhausted him, but what tired him more was the fact that he had less than four hours of sleep, because he had not fallen asleep until close to one in the morning. He had not expected at Five AM to be called to start his workday several hours early. He had been actively working since around six and most of that time used going through Pike's computer then the briefing and subsequently backstopping aliases. He glanced at his watch and exhaled a long deep breathe. It was eleven o'clock and he needed caffeine.
The double automatic doors slid open. He recognized it was Nell without looking, because as soon as the doors had closed she started on a tangent. He retrieved his glasses and slid them back on in order to watch said tangent. He blinked in surprise then confusion as he recognized that she was wearing one of Deeks' jackets. When his eyes landed on her exposed jaw then her covered neck, he realized what lay beneath the jacket. Any residual anger or irritation he held for Deeks' or the comments the Detective had said earlier about both him and Nell immediately disappeared and was forgiven, as Deeks must have seen the evidence that was left by what most of the team had watched through the surveillance feed.
"I cannot bloody believe him, Eric!" Nell stated through gritted teeth as she tightly hugged her abdomen with her right arm, her left resting gently against her abdomen. She walked to the computer station directly to his right, sat, and gnawed her bottom lip.
"Which him?" He asked as he turned in his chair without moving said chair, in order to look at her. He blinked surprised at the amount of anger that emanated from her. "There are a lot of 'hims' to be mad at today, so please clarify which one you are currently mad at."
"Callen," She answered in a contemptuous tone as she rested her hurt wrist on the armrest. "He, I, he, just grrr!"
Eric bit his lip to prevent from smiling or laughing. He did not find his best friend distraught amusing at all, but the fact that she had actually grrr-ed.
"Did you grr at me?" He asked for clarification even though he knew what he had heard. He had tried to hide his amusement, but it was obvious in his voice, "What is this; a Facebook status, tweet, a comment on a blog?"
"Eric Christopher Beale, do not laugh at me." She growled as her face distorted as if she were about to cry.
"Nell, look at me." He turned his body toward her without moving his chair, and stated quickly, in the attempt to prevent the tears from falling. She looked at him and blinked, two solitary tears, one from each eye escaped her hazel eyes and slid down her face. Suddenly heartbroken for his best friend, he frowned, and looked at her pityingly. He was not comfortable with someone crying, seeing Nell cry was worse as she always had to be in control, but he would support her in any way that she needed, even if it meant letting her cry, allowing her to lose the control that she fought to hold onto. He gently took a hand of her hands and gingerly held them comfortingly. "I'm not laughing at you. What did Callen do?" He paused as he watched her attempt to withdrawal into herself. He would not, could not let her do so, because he knew that she needed to get whatever disdain or hurt feelings she felt for Callen out of the way, now. "Nell, do I have to kick his ass?"
She blinked, immobilized in shock. "You said ass."
"Of course," He snorted in disbelief as he rolled his eyes before he continued, some words emphasized. "That's what you latch unto. The fact that I just threatened someone with physical force, a scary somebody like Callen, just rolls off your back, but I curse, you act as if it is a huge deal."
"Oh no," She said, turning both her body and chair so that she could speak more directly at him. "Eric, I'm sorry. I was not shocked, at all; that you were trying to protect me, defend me, to Callen, what was shocking was that you cursed."
"Uh," He paused, afraid that she had heard about his minor altercation with Callen earlier. "How is me threatening Callen, hypothetically, of course, not shocking?" He paused, hoping she never found out about his actual threat, would not need a reason to find out.
"You're my best friend." She smiled as she playfully punched his bicep with her unarmed wrist. "Best friends do that for each other. They stand up for the other, regardless of whom they are standing against," She smiled wider as her eyes glistened, tiny tears escaped from the corner of her eyes. She hugged him and he returned the hug, comfortingly running a hand back and forth in a caressing motion on a portion of her mid back. She sniffled for several moments as she placed her head on his shoulder, before silently the tears fell, tears of anger, frustration, confusion, hurt, and love. Neither heard the sound of the automatic double doors opening then closing. She nuzzled her nose into his neck for comfort, she took a shaky breath, and stated. "I love you, Eric; I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Woah, TMI!" Deeks exclaimed, making it known that the two had an audience, as he misinterpreted what he and his partner witnessed. "Ouch!" He exclaimed, as he rubbed a spot on his bicep, where Kensi had just smacked him.
Eric rolled his eyes at Deeks as Nell lifted her head from Eric's shoulder and pulled away from the hug. She swiped the tears away and turned to the computer station, typing in her log in information.
"Deeks." Kensi hissed.
"What?" Deeks exclaimed as his eye widened. He brought his arms out in front of him with the palms upward. "How else do you think I should comprehend that? She was declaring her love for him!"
"Deeks!" Kensi once again hissed. "Shut up! I swear you love the taste of your foot!"
"Nah," Deeks arched an eyebrow, his right nostril slightly twitched, and his lips formed a sensual, evil smile. "Not mine."
"Ew!" Kensi declared disbelieving as she rolled her eyes. Her cheeks tinged slightly pink under her olive tanned complexion. "Deeks you're insufferable!"
Deeks tipped his head in consideration and grinned, "That's not the first time today I've been called insufferable and won't be the last ever."
Nell cleared her throat, tiring of their banter. If she were honest with herself, she was envious of it, because it was rare for her and Callen to engage in that sort of thing. This morning before he had administrated first aid had been the first time they had bantered in months. "Was there something either of you needed?"
"Yes," Deeks answered. "Actually there is. Once Tara The Wardrobe Lord let me in her closet, me and Fern started building on the aliases Eric sent us."
"And?" Both Nell and Eric prompted.
Deeks scratched the back of his neck and hesitated to answer, but was prevented from having to answer.
Kensi answered instead. "We've come to the conclusion that my alias, Kennedy, should be Mister Carl's business investor, partner, old friend, something along those lines, that way if we're spotted at the house by Doyle's men, it won't be suspicious. And it gives us another location to meet instead of just the Club."
"The Starship, sugar bear." Deeks interjected.
Kensi rolled her eyes.
Nell asked, preventing the banter from continuing, "Why Callen, why can't one of you be connected to me?"
"I hadn't thought of that," Kensi admitted. "What do you suggest?"
"Hmm," Nell murmured as she tapped an index finger to her chin, "Kennedy's niece, Eleanor, the daughter of Kennedy's older brother, Lincoln. He and my mother, Anna Lisa, died in a car crash when I was twelve. Kennedy has been my guardian since, or rather my nannies raised me, my favorite was Etta, and the two before her were Leona and Flora. Kennedy can be Carl's business manager, which is how Carl and I met, through Kennedy. That'll work."
"President fetish?" Deeks asked as he smirked. "Nice."
Nell coolly glared, "Everyone born to my father's family represents a presidential name, whether it be the actual president or members of his family."
Deeks held his hands up in surrender, the smirk disappeared, apologetic and seriousness replaced it. He asked, genuinely curious, "Sorry, Nell Bell, who are you named after."
"Eleanor Roosevelt." She replied, forgiving him. "Nell is an uncommon variant; my sister Nora is named after her, too."
"Cool, I didn't know that." Eric retorted. "The use of Kennedy for Kensi was a mighty fine coincidence."
"Never say mighty fine, ever again." Deeks shuddered playfully, but quite serious on what he said. Kensi and Nell smiled.
Eric glared, before he turned his gaze to Nell, he asked, "What will Carl and Eleanor's surnames be?"
"Doesn't matter." Nell answered.
"I think Nallen would be perfect, don't you think?" Deeks retorted.
Eric, Kensi, and Nell blankly looked at Deeks.
"You know," Deeks continued, "Like Brangelina or TomKat, a mixture of names to form a couple name. You know, Nallen, Nell and Callen?"
"No." Nell immediately vetoed, not wanting to explain the reasoning behind the name when Callen found out; he always found things out.
"Come on," Deeks retorted. He glanced at Kensi, who with wide eyes shook her head as if to say he was on his own. "It's perfect, it's Irish. Did you know that? It is a last name, so it doubles its purpose. What better way is there to get in with Doyle, a man proud of his Irish ancestry, than a rich shady man with an Irish last name? Huh? Huh?"
"I don't think that it's Irish." Eric answered uncertain.
"Deeks, just because it's a name of an Irish Pub, doesn't mean that it's Irish." Kensi retorted, herself unsure of the nationality, yet she wanted to needle her partner. She loved it when he squirmed; it was adorable.
"But," Eric continued making Nell frown and Deeks grin, "That doesn't make it any less of a choice. I'm quite fond of the couple pet name."
"Eric Christopher!" Nell firmly glared.
"Seriously, Nell Bell," Deeks started, but was prevented from finishing his thought.
Nell interrupted, "You know something is going to be bad, when you say seriously."
"I'm hurt that you feel the need to continuously shoot me and my wonderful ideas down." Deeks answered, playfully wounded. He continued, "You did say that it and I quote," Deeks paused to make air quotes, "It doesn't matter."
Nell glanced at Kensi for help; she shrugged and half grimaced, "I'm sorry, Nell, you did say that."
Nell growled and stared at the ceiling as she began to swivel herself around in the chair, "I knew I should have called in for the first time today."
Kensi glanced concerned at the younger woman.
Deeks did a dramatic playful double take, making his eyes widen, his mouth frown, and his nose scrunch up.
Eric shook his head as he grinned and tapped away on his keyboard.
The automatic double door entrance to Ops opened. Kensi and Deeks glanced first, both smiling when they saw who was with Callen.
"Mike, my man, how've you been?" Deeks greeted, chuckling. The two men hugged, the only way to describe it, was man style.
"Been doing," Mike grinned, answered as he stepped away. His grin, if possible, widened at seeing his former partner. "You taking care of our man?"
Kensi quirked an eyebrow, shook her head, and grinned as she hugged her first ever NCIS partner. She answered, as she held unto the hug tight, "Of course, I'm taking care of your man." She laughed, as she pulled away from the embrace. "You need to do something about him, he's awfully high maintenance. You know, with the frequent bathroom stops, he whines when he's hair gets frizzy and sweaty, and he won't let me eat my doughnuts like you used to let me."
Deeks rolled his eyes as Eric snorted. Eric stated, "Dude, Deeks, Mike's the one that got her hooked on those jelly contraptions."
Deeks playfully glare and grimaced at Mike, "Buddy, you and I, are no longer cool."
Nell continued to swivel in her chair, though not as fast or obvious or completely in a circle as she had, now it was more of a sway and slowly twisting a little to the left then right before going back left. She controlled her breathing, attempted to find inner peace, as she tried unsuccessfully to block out all of the chatter. She heard bits and pieces, her interest piqued when she heard Renko say that he was on loan to the team for the Op, that he was going to be her personal assistant. Nell perceived the title as a way to mollify her into believing that he was not her bodyguard, but simply someone to assist her with whatever her alias did. She wondered when Hetty and Callen would cease trying to put one over on her.
Her ponderings ended as her breathing hitched and she jerked slightly when she felt Callen place a warm hand on her shoulder, crushing the side of Deeks jacket underneath his palm, his thumb mindlessly caressing the side of her neck, where a love bite had formed. His other hand firmly on the desk, engulfing her personal space, he hovered above her.
She shivered before firmly resolving that she would not allow him to affect her so. She was the one in charge, regardless of his rank, she had to be, or else she had serious reservations on whether she would survive the Op. She had serious control issues and this Op would force much of the control from her, them, to Doyle and his organization. What she could control was the dynamic between her and Callen. She realized she was fooling herself into believing that Callen, an Alpha male, would allow her to steer the course, but she had to hold unto that foolish belief, because she knew she could take control, because her will power was strong, and often unmatched. Everyone knew that Callen allowed Sam, who also knew yet playfully denied it, to think Sam was the Alpha of the partnership, but she did not want that sort of control that Sam had, because Callen could take the control at any point.
"You okay?" Callen whispered an inch from her ear.
Nell nodded as she bit her bottom lip. She loved and hated how he made her feel. On one end, she enjoyed his attention, whether it be him listening or talking to her, or when he carelessly or purposely touched her, but today was overload of caresses, of attention, of Callen. She was unprepared for the onslaught and she knew that he was not putting much effort in anything, which is what truly scared her. What would happen when he did focus upon her, with all effort and no distractions? No other time in her life had she felt like this, that she looked forward to a struggle for control, which she had even considered relinquishing control to someone else, but she could not relinquish it or allow him to take it; she was confused on all aspects except that she cared about him, that she wanted him to care about her.
"You sure?" Callen asked, this time his mouth a breath away from the upper most part of the shell of her ear.
She swallowed, forced a smile that was not as bright as the one she wanted to display, and nodded again.
The automatic double doors closed, admitting Hetty and Sam.
"What we got?" Sam asked, his brow furrowing at Callen and Nell.
Callen caught the confused look of Sam and the subtle warning one of Hetty, before he slowly stood straight, but did not step away from Nell or take his hand away from Nell's shoulder.
"We haven't chosen a last name for Mister Carl." Eric answered.
"Grayson," Sam replied firmly as if there were no other options.
"Grayson, Mr. Hanna?" Hetty asked.
"That name," Callen stated contemplative as he struggled to grasp the meaning. "I've heard that name why does that mean something to me?"
Sam grinned and tipped his head toward Callen, "You're my Robin to my Batman."
"Whatever," Callen smirked, his blue eyes sparkling. "If anything, you're my Robin to my Batman."
"Great," Eric stated, interrupting Sam and Callen's banter, "Carl and Eleanor Grayson."
"I'm calling you, Nell." Callen said as he looked down at her, only now just hearing the name of her alias. He saw her look of confusion, "Nell's a variant of Eleanor, isn't it? If anyone questions why I'm calling you Nell, instead of Eleanor, that's what we'll tell them." He paused when he recognized that she was impressed with him, but still uncertain why he would not call her Eleanor. He continued, "When I think of the name Eleanor, I think of Sam's Great Aunt, she's pushing a hundred."
"Ninety," Sam corrected, smiling to himself, glad that Callen had finally allowed himself, reluctantly, to be included in the family to the point he was referencing members of the family in a conversation. It proved he was intricately apart of the family, he had for years fought, because family was something that Callen had never had, and all previous attempts to gain family, had failed.
"What's ten years?" Callen asked impertinently.
"Age difference is a funny thing. Sometimes it matters, others it doesn't." Nell answered dryly, forgetting the large audience.
The dry quip, to anyone else, on any other day would not have caused such contemplation.
Hetty pursed her lips as her gaze went from young Nell to Callen, to gauge his reaction, which was entirely too neutral for the subject matter.
Kensi and Sam stared directly at Callen, waiting on him to comment, because no matter how indifferent he looked, it was not what he was feeling. Sam knew that the comment had hurt him; it must have, because Callen cared about her, and for those feelings to be derailed, because of something out of his control, his age, and her age, would frustrate and enrage him to the point where that was all he would think about. Callen was a calm cool collected control freak. He could control his outer emotions and body language while losing the control, he craved, but inwardly he would be an absolute nervous wreck.
Mike looked back and forth between Callen and Nell, finally understanding why Nell had been so happy to see him at the boat shed; she was trying to use him as a buffer. He was the only one, who did not know what happened between Callen and Nell in the interrogation room.
Deeks and Eric stared flabbergasted at her. Deeks was surprised that she had thought or said it, while Eric was surprised that she had targeted what could be a large issue in her relationship with Callen, whether it be their aliases or themselves. Nell ignored the big issues in relationships, hell; she ignored relationships, even as far as referring to the word as 'the R word' as if it was a word to fear, as Voldemort was to many, in the Harry Potter 'verse.
The only sounds heard in Ops were the tapping of keys on keyboards, beeps of the equipment, along with other noises originating from the high tech equipment.
Nell felt uncomfortable with the scrutiny from the others and the neutrality Callen displayed; he refused to make eye contact. She shifted in her seat away from Callen. He tightened his grip on her shoulder and bent down, almost squatting in front of her, before she realized what his agenda was; his lips captured hers as he finally met eye contact with her. His eyes burned with intensity that she had never seen him display. The light in his eyes was far more than a sparkle, more like a crackle of blue fire. Shock, anger, and joy swirled in her eyes. The kiss was chaste compared to the earlier ones that they had shared, but it was powerful and spoke volumes within the ten seconds that it lasted.
He pulled away from the kiss, his blue eyes never straying from her honey brown, and the hand that had a grip on her shoulder quickly and smoothly trailed up the side of the column of her neck to her jaw. She bit the side of her bottom lip. He cradled her left jaw in his hand, his thumb reverently caressing her bottom lip. His other hand smoothed a lock of her hair behind her ear. Her skin tingled where he touched her. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw. He sensed she was about to pull away, their moment was quickly becoming a fleeting memory. He tightened his hold of her jaw and slightly nudged it, her eyes popped open, her lips pursed.
"Nell," He firmly said as he brought his hand resting at her ear to the right side of her face. He cradled it before he gave her a quick peck on her pursed lips, "Age is a number implied on our driver's licenses, not our hearts." His voice never wavered in his resolve, as he continued, although he would have preferred to clear this issue in private. He feared, if he waited, it would be too late to calm her, assure her on the issue, which he believed not to be an issue. "Age does not matter; simple as that, it will not matter."
She could not believe what he had done, what he had said.
She was in shock.
How could he, why did he kiss her in front of their friends, colleagues, and their boss?
It was highly unprofessional and something that she had not foreseen, but inwardly a part of her smiled, because he had said that her age didn't matter to him, but the rest of her freaked out, because lines were now drawn, and she was not the one in charge.
Callen smoothly pulled away and stood up, not expecting an answer or rebuttal, because he knew that he had shocked her speechless. He glanced at everyone, daring them to comment on what they had witnessed. His eyes landed on Renko, "Mike, you up for some sparring?"
"Sure," Mike answered, his voice firm, but his facial expression concerned. He had a feeling that he would be on the receiving end of Callen's anger and frustration, but he was okay with getting the brunt of it, what he was not okay with, was his friend taking a risk over someone who didn't know what they wanted, whether she wanted what she wanted. Mike liked Nell, thought she was a wonderful girl, but he had his reservations about her, where it concerned Callen. Callen was his oldest friend; they went back years, he, Callen and Sam. "I'm game."
After Mike and Callen left with the gym in mind as their next destination, Deeks joked, ignoring the obvious outlet to joke about, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I think that we should have a ten second moment of silence for the Agent that was known as Mike Renko." Deeks paused dramatically for three seconds, before he continued. "I feel sorry for the dude. I hope he knows a good doctor."
For once, they all agreed with Deeks' attempt at comic relief.