Sorry…a but shorter than usual.
Chapter 14
All the bits of information that the team had gathered were written on the whiteboard set out neatly and pedantically: one of Sam's OCDs. He stood tall glaring at the names, trying to make connections. Gradually he felt a presence and he knew who it was. "Making any headway, Mr. Hanna."
Sam shook his head. "No. But I think this is way bigger than what it seems. I think we need to focus on the homeland threat first and see where it leads us," suggested Sam.
"Is that what Arkady thinks as well?" asked Hetty.
"You trust him Hetty?" asked Sam.
"No, I don't trust Arkady Kolchek but I trust his survival instincts…he shares that with Mr. Callen. It comes with being seasoned operatives," explained Hetty with a wry smile.
"So where do we go from here? There just doesn't seem like there's anything we can use," said Sam disheartened.
"We need a plan Mr. Hanna. We need to follow Brenko's every moment and see whom he meets up with, then we can deal with this threat. I just hope we're not too late."
"Eric and Nell are on that now already. We'll also find a way of putting a bug on him maybe some interference from Kensi," added Sam. Hetty nodded. There was no sense of jubilation just inevitability. They paused looking at the whiteboard then Sam asked, "How's G?"
"Much better. His memory is returning faster than hoped. He just needs rest, Mr. Hanna. The boy has been through a lot."
"No…I mean how is he? Stop holding out on me, Hetty. Not when it comes to G," he turned to face her. She could see he knew something.
"Whatever do you mean Mr. Hanna? said Hetty skirting the issue.
"Arkady said G was sick…not injured or hurt…but sick. What's wrong with Callen?" probed Sam.
"It's confidential," said Hetty looking away.
"Hetty, please…" Sam's pained voice broke down Hetty's defences, she turned and motioned towards the couch.
"Come sit down Mr. Hanna. This is private information and no one else must know until I inform Mr. Callen. He is yet unaware of his situation." Hetty told Sam everything Dr. Taylor had told her. They sat in silence until Sam gripped his head in frustration and sorrow. Hetty placed her hand on his shoulder, "Mr. Hanna?"
"I wanna talk to him," said Sam through gritted teeth.
"Not yet but soon I promise," said Hetty trying to calm the muscular giant.
Suddenly Hetty's phone beeped. "Hetty we've got something," said Eric.
Up at Ops Centre
Sam and Hetty were standing in front of the big screen when they were joined by Deeks and Kensi. Eric and Nell stood excited. "As you all know DHS monitor Mosques that have had or are known to have had ties with extremists groups. We piggy-backed on their surveillance and look who we found….Brenko talking to a man identified as Shah Haklemi," explained Eric smiling at the group. "But wait it gets better."
"Indeed Eric," said Nell. "We did some digging and Shah Haklemi is Raza Kaleen's cousin, on his mother's side. So we're thinking that the two incidents aren't isolated but related…"
"Because there's no such thing as coincidence. Formidable work children," interjected Hetty.
"But the connection? Why would they have any dealings with each other?" asked Deeks.
"Think about what we know," posed Sam, walking towards the screen. "Brenko is an arms dealer. He supplied for Raza. Raza's group was eliminated by us, specifically the SEALs. Intel has come in on a possible threat to a naval base…this isn't a simple random attack."
"It's revenge!" piped up Kensi. "Plain and simple…revenge…two birds with one stone."
"Yeah…and we have no way of infiltrating Haklemi's group to find out the target," griped Sam, frustrated and annoyed.
For a long moment there was silence. Then Hetty spoke, "There is someone who might help." Before anybody could say a thing. She was gone.
"Hate when she does that," scoffed Deeks.
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Could she do this to him? Was it right to ask it of him considering everything he'd been through? She'd explain the situation and ask him if he would. But would he be well enough? Was she willing to risk his life…again? That's all she seemed to be doing lately.
An uncertain Hetty entered Callen's room and saw him standing by the window. He was shirtless. He was holding it in his hands. He was so thin and the scars stood out like neon signs detailing the horrors of his life. "Hello Hetty?" he said without turning around.
The worry and the concern that had been plaguing Hetty disappeared and joy filled her being. She recognised that voice. It wasn't Aziz. This voice belonged to G. Callen…her Callen.
"Hello Mr. Callen…so good to have you back," she said moving towards him holding back the tears. Callen smiled. She saw the reflection in the window and smiled in return. He turned towards her, still feeling light headed. "Well look at you. Ready to leave this place."
"You know me. Can't stay in one place for too long. How are the others?" he asked walking over to his bed and finding his balance before sitting on its edge. She watched him slowly pulling on his t-shirt.
"The team is well and anxious for news of you…Your memory has returned I take it?" she asked sitting in the chair facing Callen.
"Yeah. It came all at once, like a tsunami of information. Gave me vertigo. Felt queasy after that, bit like driving with Kensi," he smiled. Oh, how she loved his smile. It had been a while. She was lost in thought. "Hetty?" he prompted, looking strangely at her.
"Yes…lost in the moment. You gave us quite a scare. We thought we had lost you in more ways than one. You do remember everything?" she dared to ask.
"Yeah…everything is crystal clear," he answered solemnly. "Did they make it out?" he asked masking the pain of betrayal.
"Yes they did. They are so appreciative and grateful of your sacrifice. They have put your name forward for the Medal of Honour," said Hetty unaware of the depths of Callen's feelings.
"Really? Well, they can withdraw it. It's amazing what a guilty conscience can do," said Callen spitefully.
"Mr. Callen, really. Lt Commander Westerman is truly indebted to you."
"I know. I know there was nothing they could've done without putting all their lives at risk. I don't begrudge them, really. But watching that Humvee drive away Hetty…" his voice hiccupped and he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
"It brought back all those abandonment issues…I understand and I am sorry."
Callen finally brought himself to look at Hetty as he wiped the tears with the back of his hand, "How's Sam?"
"Beating himself up about what happened to you and being beaten up by a fiercely loyal Deeks who won't let him forget leaving you behind…and NCIS," she said trying to lighten the mood.
"Good to know someone has my back," said Callen unsure about his feelings for Sam.
"We all have your back…I now owe General Air Force Chief of Staff Patterson a old and very expensive bottle of Chateau Margaux 1952 for the lease of one of his planes. When you feel up to it Mustafa could do with a phone call. He is a remarkable friend and an honest man. He saved your life and put his in peril, as did Miss Blye, Mr. Deeks and Mr. Hanna," said Hetty.
He turned sharply, "I didn't ask them to."
"That's not the point, Mr. Callen, that's not the point at all. I am outlining how important you are in their lives and how much you are loved." She placed her hand on his knee and looked at him, "Callen, believe me." She had never used his name like that and it resonated with the agent. He nodded comprehending her underlying message.
Enough with the emotional circus, Callen decided to move onto to business, "So when can I leave here? I'm getting cabin fever."
Hetty burst out laughing, "You have only been conscious for a few days. How do you feel, really?"
"Ok…just tired. It usually doesn't take me this long to recover," stated Callen a bit surprised at his less than miraculous speed of recovery.
"Gets longer as we get older. However we need to talk," she said seriously.
Callen cocked his head, "What is it? It's about Slakov."
"Yes. We have uncovered a terrorist plot to stage an attack on a naval base on home soil. Slakov aka Mikhail Brenko met with a Pakistani national, a person of interest. We assume that this Pakistani national Shah Haklemi is buying weapons from Brenko. Haklemi was Raza's cousin." Callen's eyes widened. Suddenly the pieces starting falling in place. Hetty continued, "The only two factors left are the when and the where. We need someone to infiltrate the group and uncover that information, Mr. Callen." Her eyes moved to towards his and she stared at him pleadingly and sympathetically. "There is no one else and there is no other way. If there was…"
Callen interrupted grinning, "You wouldn't be asking me."
"Yes and it pains me to do so…Your alias has the background and the history of being a survivor of the massacre. I feel it will give you immediate clout with Haklemi," said Hetty posing a very solid argument.
"It's very plausible. But I'm not mission ready Hetty. I could be a liability," said Callen cringing at the very words.
"That is the only issue I'm concerned about. But this is your decision. If it sways you at all they will expect you to be injured, broken and out for revenge. We will pull you out once you have the information. I know your spirit Mr. Callen. I know I am asking a lot from you and you have every right to decline. But we have no other option. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Callen ran his hands through his hair. It was longer than normal and it bothered him, "I think I need a haircut and a shave, but I might hold off and wait until I finish this mission and then Hetty, I'll be putting in for holidays."
Hetty suddenly let out the breath of anticipation she was holding, "Are you certain? A lot relies on your performance Mr. Callen, you ability to keep it together," questioned Hetty.
"I fooled them in Pakistan, this will be a walk in the park. Spring me from this place, get me some steaks with bacon on the side and I'll deliver the bastards to you along with the time, date and place," said Callen smiling.
"Thank you Mr. Callen. I'll go and talk to your doctor's and when I can spring you." Hetty stood and rubbed Callen's arm affectionately and turned to leave when Callen's voice caught her before she left.
"Hetty…I know you're keeping something from me and I know it's about my health. Something's been off for a while, before I went to Pakistan. I don't need to know…not now. After this is finished I'll deal with it," he said quietly but decidedly.
"Are you sure Mr. Callen?" Hetty asked keeping a lid on the emotions threatening to gush out.
"Is there anything I can do about it right now?"
"No."
"Then I'm sure." Callen bowed his head. She didn't argue and she didn't object. He had guessed right. Something was wrong. Something big. But he wasn't afraid. He'd suffered through so much already.
"I won't be long." Her boy had come through and she knew he would. Then she'd tell him and she'd make sure he got the necessary care.
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