Chapter Twelve

Several hours later, consulting in Ops, the team had hit a roadblock in their plan to infiltrate, The Starship.

"What are you saying?" Callen asked frustrated, at not only, how Deeks had not been able to do one simple thing that he had asked, but also what Mike had said earlier while they had sparred. He had wanted to spar to release his frustration not to add to it.

"My contacts are dead." Deeks repeated for the third time. He confessed. "I was afraid that one or two would be, it's been four years, but all of them? Dude, that's nuts."

"Mister Deeks," Hetty enunciated each word clearly with emphasis, "Let me be clear on this, you are saying that every single one of the men and women, in which you had contact with four years ago, are now dead?"

Deeks sucked in his bottom lip in his mouth and bit down on it as his body tensed. He glanced to the ceiling, before meeting eye contact with Hetty, "Yes," He growled, before taking a deep breath and asking in a defeated sort of tone, "What is so hard to understand? Am I not clear enough? Eddie Brandt's buddies are dead."

"You are a hard individual to understand." Sam quipped, his arms crossed. Sam had not yet approached the club, due to Tara not having anything in wardrobe appropriate for drifter Shawn Samuels in Sam's size. She was remedying that fact, but it would take a few hours to do so.

Deeks shook his head, about to comment, Kensi laid a hand on one of his bicep to prevent him from doing so. She recognized that he was uncharacteristically not in the mood to joke. She looked at Hetty first, before looking around to each of the other five, before she supported her partner and defended his inability to perform the task assigned him, "It has been four years, guys, what we know about Doyle, he doesn't trust many people, and has a high turnover in the lower ranks."

"The lower ranks," Nell muttered as she stopped tapping on her tablet. She looked at Deeks. "You said that Eddie Brandt's buddies are dead, is there anyone that Eddie wasn't buddies with that you'd be able to contact?" She asked, as non-confrontational as possible, as she too, realized that Deeks was quickly getting angry and frustrated, "Possibly a friend of one of Eddie's buddies that was or is higher either at the club or in the, over all, organization?"

"Good question," Callen stated, his lips forming the start of a smirk, and his eyes shining, impressed with her. He looked at Deeks for an answer to her question.

Deeks placed his tongue in between his top lip and top row of teeth. A look of severe frustration crossed his features until a quick look of contemplation then realization replaced it. "Maybe," He answered. He looked at Kensi and tipped his head toward the door. Quickly he walked out of Ops, Kensi followed a look of confusion on her face, but she trusted her partner; just outside the automatic double doors, he turned around and looked at Hetty then Callen, "I'll get back with you when I've got something." He looked at Nell and exclaimed as he held one thumbs up, "You are a rock star!"

Nell smiled, but that smile quickly faltered as the automatic double door reopened before they had quite closed. Assistant Director Granger entered Ops, with a look of sheer anger and determination on his face.

"Agent Callen," Granger barked. "Explain the request for the loan of Agent Renko, a Senior Agent of a different team, to your team."

Just as Callen was about to explain in detail, where he would like Granger to go, Hetty intervened. She demanded in a murderous tone, "Owen, if you have an issue with Agent Renko returning to Agent Callen's team, you will direct that order to me."

Granger's eyes left Callen to land on Hetty whose mouth formed into a severe stern line, wrinkles around her mouth made the line more pronounced, and her eyes slanted opened just so, a look of challenge deep within them; intimidated by the smaller in stature woman, his gaze left her to land on each of the others.

Callen narrowed his eyes at Granger then Hetty as he crossed his arms.

Eric openly glared at Granger. That glare faltered for a moment when Granger's gaze landed upon him, but quickly and insubordinately the glare returned. He felt stronger and braver in defying Granger with the team around him, because he knew that they would support him. Furthermore, getting rid of Granger was now near the top of Eric's list of priorities, just under Operation Nallen, as he had come to think of the upcoming Op with the team infiltrating Doyle's terrorist operation. Nell would hurt him if she ever found out about his personal nickname for the Op, but when he was successful of finding the advantage against Granger, finally to exile him from their radius, Eric knew that she would not.

Sam uncrossed his arms and placed his balled fists to his side. A look of concentration and resentment on his face, his gaze zeroed in on Granger, offering a look of his own challenge to Granger, when their eyes met. Moments like this, is when and why Sam, regretted not shooting him when he had the chance. If he could do over, he would have defied his partner's order not to shoot. It would have been worth the paper work and documentation smear against his stellar clear record.

Mike crossed his arms and looked at Granger as if he had not a care in the world. He found it amusing that he was about to be fought over, especially when Granger, months ago, had made it known that he was not impressed with him. Ironically, they had gotten on as well as a smart-aleck Senior Agent and an arrogant Assistant Director could, until Granger had found out that he had previously been Callen's partner. Afterward, the only thing that Mike received from Granger was disdain.

Granger narrowed his eyes, as his eyes landed upon Mike, Mike half-smirked and half-grinned as he arched an eyebrow.

"Hetty," Granger stated, frustration clear in his voice, "Why was Agent Renko requested for this Op? Are five field agents not enough to infiltrate a terrorist organization, when in several past operations, only one has sufficed?"

"Nell is not a Field Agent." Callen interjected, needlessly as both that fact and his opinion were known.

"Mister Callen, do be quiet," Hetty casually ordered, her patience wearing thin. Everyone, including Callen and Granger, had the same look of a double take across their features, though the animations of those double takes varied. She continued, firmly, "Owen, I, as the OSP Supervisor can request anyone or thing from any of the teams and the large support staff that are under my command. If I fancy it, Mike Renko will become a permanent fixture on Team Callen!"

"Be as that may," Granger agreed, before he arrogantly declared, "I, as Assistant Director of NCIS, can overrule your decision."

Highly amused with the interaction between Hetty and Granger, Mike whispered quietly to Sam, whom was to his left, "Do they have pissing contests often?"

Sam grinned and subtly nodded his head.

Callen, whom was to Mike's right, heard what Mike had asked. Callen smirked as he whispered, "Yep. All the time."

Hetty slowly turned her head to look at the three Agents, her eyes smiled amused at the three of them, reminding her of times three years ago, before Renko was transferred to a different team. However, the amusement she held was not detectable in her voice as she asked, "Gentlemen, do you have anything to share with the class?"

"No." Sam replied, immediately, though still grinning.

"Nope," Mike replied, inwardly berating himself for not remembering Hetty's super sense of hearing.

"Yes," Callen replied, as he knew something the others, especially Granger, did not. "I was referring to the pissing matches that Granger subjects you to." Before Callen could continue, Hetty interrupted him.

"Really, Mister Callen," Hetty stated, amusement, and irony lightly lacing her tone of voice. She successfully fought a smile. "I highly doubt that you are the perfect candidate to say such things as you, my dear, are just as guilty, if not more, than I am."

"True," Callen conceded, but he continued, stating what he would had Hetty not interrupted him, "What I was about to say before you asked for show and tell, was that you normally wins those pissing contests."

"Not this one, Agent Callen." Granger declared frustration clear as he remembered all the times that Hetty, mostly through Team Callen, had foiled his plans.

"Oh, but, this one, too," Callen smartly admitted, "I knew you would have an issue with a request that would assist us in bringing down the Doyle organization."

Granger, feeling that his plan was quickly being thwarted, before it had truly began, he asked for clarification, hoping that he misunderstood what he believed Callen to have realized, "What are you suggesting?"

"Gentlemen," Hetty exclaimed, tiring of their on-going pissing match, "What Mister Callen is suggesting is that from past experiences and interactions of you and his team, he feels that,"

Callen interrupted her, "He feels that he doesn't trust you."

Hetty shook her head; her eyes looked to the ceiling, as she brought her hands to waist level out in front of her, and made a small gesture of surrender mixed with flabbergasting frustration. She sat in Nell's vacant chair, as the Analyst stood beside the screen a few feet from Eric. Hetty classily crossed her legs, placed an elbow on the armrest, and placed her thumb under the side of her jaw, her index finger rested against her jaw, the tip of her finger touching the earpiece of her spectacles. "Go ahead, Mister Callen, the floor is yours."

Eric, Nell, Sam, and Mike shared deep looks of shock and concern.

Callen glanced at Hetty quickly, before returning his gaze to Granger, "After Hetty and I spoke to Vance earlier over the phone, he approved the request for Mike to join the Op, which means that you cannot overrule the decision."

"Leon approved this?" Granger growled, unhappy that they had involved the Director. "You disrespected the chain of command! You are to report to me, not the Director."

"Yes, I went over your head," Callen answered insubordinately. "I report to Hetty not you. It is no secret that I distrust you, but you forcing one of my Analysts into the role of Field Agent without the necessary training, makes me question anything and everything that comes out of your mouth and office. I haven't figured out what your angle is, quite yet, but I will."

"Miss Jones is not one of your Analysts, Mister Callen." Granger replied snootily, "She is one of NCIS's and is assigned to the Office of Special Projects."

"She is assigned to my team." Callen interjected strongly, "Which makes her one of mine. My team, which includes Mike whether officially or not, take care of its own."

"Never leave a man or woman behind." Sam declared, supporting what Callen had said.

"Ditto," Mike agreed.

"I am glad to hear that you realize that Miss Jones is assigned to your team, under your direct command." He smirked, his eyes full of mischief, he continued dryly, "After all, we wouldn't want something to change the dynamic of Team Callen, now would we?"

Hetty sat straighter in her chair as she immediately understood what Granger truly meant, but as she had given the floor to Callen, she stayed silent, plotting, and planning the demise of Granger's career.

Something clicked in Callen's mind and he became livid, his eyes narrowed into slits, his jaw clenched, his body tensed, his mouth slightly opened in disbelief, "Are you serious?"

Sam sensing that something had happened within his partner, he stood straighter and looked at Granger then Callen, "What? What's the matter, G?"

Mike shook his head, as he too, had understood the veiled threat. Seeing as neither Granger nor Callen was close to offering an answer, Mike answered Sam's question, "Assistant Director, Granger," Mike sarcastically said his full title to prevent Granger from boastfully reminding him of his rank. "Just threatened to change the dynamic of Team Callen, which means he plans to transfer members which would effectively disband Team Callen."

"What?" Eric exclaimed loudly for clarification.

"You can't be serious," Callen stated, ignoring the others, focusing solely on Granger, "You are sending us undercover as man and wife to apprehend the head of a terrorist organization whose profile clearly shows that, in order for me, to gain entry in to his organization that I must provide him his favourite entertainment. Entertainment that he will demand of me and my wife as one of the only things that he holds sacred are marriage vows."

Nell was confused, as how it had, but what had originated in a battle over Agent Renko had quickly turned into one over her. "Um," she interrupted, highly uncomfortable. From what Deeks had carelessly told her earlier about the club and what Callen had said about the Op to both Hetty and Granger attempting to prevent her from becoming actively involved in the field, she had concluded that at some point she and Callen would be required to be intimate. However, hearing how Callen spoke about 'entertainment' as man and wife, she realized that the intimacy would require more than foreplay. Upon realizing the expectation, and filing it away to ponder on later, at a more opportune time, she startling realized what Granger referred to as changing the dynamic, his veiled threat to transfer certain members.

All eyes were on her, some patiently, others intolerantly waiting on her to continue onward with what she had interrupted to say.

She cleared her throat, stood straighter, squared her shoulders, glanced at Callen quickly though not meeting eye contact, and stepped forward toward Granger. "Assistant Director, for the record, I am not under Agent Callen's direct command. I am a NCIS Analyst whom reports to Supervisory Special Agent, NCIS Office of Special Projects Operations Manager Hetty Lange." She arched an eyebrow in challenge, her mouth forming the start of a smirk, before she innocently added. "However there is no such rule, provision, or policy preventing a Field Agent, regardless of their rank." She almost faltered the intense Callen now subjected her. "And a member of the Support Staff, which an Analyst is considered, although more often than not, tip-toe the borderline, as they are as intrically woven into the field as a Field Agent, sometimes more." She rambled on as she felt and saw Callen smirking, staring at her with an arched eyebrow, observing her, figuring her out, as if he could see right into her soul, through her barriers to her secrets. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "As I was saying there's no such rule, hypothetically, of course, to prevent Callen and myself from becoming physically, emotionally, or romantically involved. Seeing as there is no such rule, no such disciplinary action would be inflicted on either Callen or me, or the team as a whole."

Her interruption, her rambling speech, had left them speechless, though each for different reasons.

Owen Granger was astounded. He had severely underestimated the young Intelligence Analyst. He, now, feared that by pairing her with Agent Callen, he had prematurely began his ulterior motives, that he had paired two of his most challenging foes together into one unit. There was no doubt that he would have to regroup, to think of something else. Abruptly, he left Ops without another word or indication.

Hetty was speechless, because Nell had successfully shot down and shut up Owen. Unfortunately, not many were able to do so.

Eric was dumbstruck, because Nell, again, had targeted what could be an issue in a relationship with Callen.

Sam was flabbergasted at the lengths that Granger would go to disrupt their team, shocked that little Nell Jones had thrown Granger a curve ball, glad that what she had said, had successfully, although temporarily, rid them of Granger.

Mike was surprised, because the timid flower that he had thought she was, had proven to be an illusion. Callen had been right. She was a courageous woman; she had to be, in order to stand up to, correct, and on the verge of challenging Granger. However, Mike still believed that she had more to prove to him, before he would be at ease where it concerned her and his best friend.

Callen had known that there was no such rule, not that he had investigated it himself, but because of his friend, Leroy Jethro Gibbs had made it a personal rule of his own, to never get involved with a co-worker; it was his rule number 12, because NCIS had not a rule for it. He was both stunned and pleased that she had, felt the need to investigate the inconvenient policy that most all Government Agencies had. It only added to the proof of what Eric had cleverly revealed to him.

Nell Jones wanted a relationship with him; why else would she have researched and sought a rule on interoffice dating? He wanted one with her, too, but it had to wait until after the Op, not because Hetty had ordered it so, but because he believed he could not juggle a relationship between both their aliases and themselves.

However, out of survival, one must do things that previously thought they could not, were not capable of doing. Sometimes, there are permanent repercussions, because of the choices one makes. Some repercussions are welcomed, even looked forward to; others are wished to disappear, to have never have materialized, to never have happened.

Thank you all so much for your readership, alerts, favorites, and reviews. I appreciate it all.