A/N: Sorry that this is update so late/early (depends on where you live)

The muffled pop and the steady recoil of his gun as he fired round after round into a faceless silhouette, helped to calm Callen's nerves and level his head just a bit.

The team has seen Michael Bayard's body just a few hours ago and while seeing it affected him, he hadn't felt the impact nearly as much as the rest of his team did. He could see the way that Sam's face paled, the way that Deeks eyes dulled and lost their color until they were slate blue, and the way that Kensi had turned around, a hand over her mouth and her eyes closed.

He couldn't even imagine how he would have reacted or felt if he had children of his own.

"It's never easy seeing a child's body." The soothing voice of Hetty made Callen jump before he put down his gun and took off the ear mufflers.

"No it's not." Callen agreed and leaned against one of the booths.

The moment that the body had been covered up again, Sam had taken off to the gym while Deeks and Kensi had disappeared into some part of the building. He hadn't seen any of them since and had had the urge to head to the firing range.

"Your team will be alright, just give them some time; especially Ms. Blye and Mr. Deeks." Hetty stated. "I have watched the two of them with those children and can honestly say that they both doing a splendid job with them. But having the emotions that they are towards those children and working this type of case is going to take a toll on them."

"I know." Callen gave her a small smile and sighed. "I hate when we get cases like this one. Just seeing a kid like that and then having the responsibility to inform their parents that no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn't find the kidnapper in time to save their child."

"We can't save everyone Mr. Callen." Hetty sighed and walked back out of the room as silently as she had entered.

Callen watched her leave before he put away his gun and disposed of the silhouette that he had been using. He then started to make his way back through the building in search of the others and was met just minutes later by a sweaty, slightly more relaxed looking Sam.

"Do we have anything new yet?" Sam asked.

Callen looked up to the second floor where the doors were still closed and neither Nell nor Eric had ventured out.

"Not yet." Callen sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Where are Kensi and Deeks?"

Sam glanced over and let a small smile grace his face before he nodded in the direction that he was looking at. Callen gave him a curious look before he turned and stopped short at the sight of the two younger partners curled up together on the couch.

Deeks back was against the back of the couch while Kensi was held to his front by one of his arms; the other was under her head like a pillow. The fingers on Kensi's left hand were entwined with those of Deeks right hand.

"How long do you think that's been going on?" Callen asked.

Sam shrugged. "They look comfortable, so I'd say a while."

The two of them shared a quick look but soon had their attention drawn towards the doors to OPS as they opened and Nell walked out looking haggard and upset.

"We have another kid missing." Nell stated.

Callen closed his eyes and swore under his breath. "He's moving fast."

"Too fast," Sam said and crossed his arms over his chest. "If someone is taking boys just a day or so apart, they are bound to make a mistake."

"When did this boy go missing?" Callen turned to Nell.

"His father went to check on him before he went to bed himself. When his son wasn't in his bed and he couldn't find him, he called 9-1-1. The call was made twenty-five minutes ago." Nell explained.

"The scene is still fresh." Sam said, a spark of hope in his eyes.

"You head over. I'll wake them and we'll meet you there." Callen nodded towards the couch where Kensi and Deeks were still asleep.

Sam took a deep breath and nodded before he headed out and Callen made his way over to the partners, shaking Deeks shoulder to wake him.

"There was another one wasn't there?" Deeks asked when he took in Callen standing over them.

"The scene is still fresh." Callen said in answer.

"Let's go." Kensi stated and untangled herself from Deeks and led the way out.

Kensi stood off to the side while she watched a team of LAPD officers ask the routine questions needed in a missing child case. She watched the couple's reactions and listened to their answers.

No, they didn't have any enemies. No, they didn't know anyone that would want to take or harm their son. No, they didn't lock their son's bedroom window. And finally, yes, they did hear something shortly before Mr. Howe had gone to check on their son Nathan.

Kensi then looked around the room until her eyes landed on the medals that belonged to Mrs. Howe, each one proudly displaying her involvement with the Marines.

"Another family with a son taken seemingly because one of the parents was or still is a Marine." Sam said, stepping up to stand at her shoulder.

"Someone really has it out for these families." Kensi nodded and glanced at him. "Did you guys find anything in his room?"

"Deeks found a piece of latex that we'll send to get DNA tested." Sam said with a hint of a smile on his face. "I hope we nail this sucker."

"Me too." Kensi agreed and chewed her bottom lip.

"That's never a good sign." Deeks stated with a light tone that they could all tell was forced.

"Do they have a connection?" Kensi asked.

"The Bayard family said that they don't know the Harvel family." Callen announced. "The only connection that they seem to have aside from abducted sons, is that at least one of them has a Marine connection."

"So these boys were just picked at random?" Kensi said with a bite to her words. "Is it truly possible for three boys to be picked at random that are the sons of Marine's, the same age and have remarkably similar features? Another thing that is bothering me is that Benjamin Harvel was taken before Michael Bayard, yet Benjamin hasn't been found."

"You would think that the first kid would be the first to die." Callen nodded.

"Rose did say that Michael died from a gunshot wound to the back of his head, but that he also had bruises and what appear to be defense wounds. She also said that they appear to have been caused by very small hands." Sam announced.

"You think this bastard is making them fight each other?" Deeks asked in disgust.

"It could explain why Michael is dead. Ben was stronger." Callen remarked.

Deeks took a shaky breath and quickly left the room, soon followed by Kensi.

"We should head back." Sam said, just as disgusted at the idea of the boys being set upon each other. He couldn't even imagine what they must feel how scared they must be to not only have been kidnapped but then forced to fight each other. The winner gets to life while the loser gets a bullet to the brain.

Callen nodded and walked out of the house, spotting Kensi and Deeks off to the side. It didn't escape his notice that they were holding hands again or that there was barely an inch of space between them.

"Are you guys okay?" He asked, resulting in them both turning to look at him.

"How could anyone do this?" Deeks asked.

"I don't know." Callen admitted. "All that I know is that we're going to find this bastard and he's going to pay."

"You've got that right." Sam said and got nods of agreement from Kensi and Deeks.

"Let's go test the latex for DNA." Callen said and got into the car.