Pride in Workmanship

If you build something you want to show it off a little, right?

Callen stepped back from the table and admired his handiwork now that the stain and varnish had dried. He chuckled as he remembered Renko's attempts to help him with the stain. Really the man did not have a clue when it came to working with wood. Gibbs would have head slapped Mike into the next county if he had seen him rubbing the stain in against the grain of the wood, luckily they had started on the backside of the table so the mistake couldn't be seen.

He walked over to his chair and grabbed his workbag and placed it on the table before picking up the chair and bringing it over to sit by the table. Sitting down he opened the bag and took out the laptop and his papers and spread them out; oh yeah this was going to work out way better than the floor. Opening the laptop he puttered around on the computer for a few minutes before catching a whiff of body odor.

Deciding he needed a shower Callen ripped his shirt over his head and went towards the bathroom. After a quick shower and change of clothes he found his self standing in the living room staring at the table. Was it shallow that he really wanted someone to come over and admire his table? He had never felt the need for acknowledgement by his peers before, but he really wanted his friends to see what he had created.

Picking up the phone he quickly texted Sam to see if he wanted to come over for a beer. While waiting for a response he picked up his papers and computer, putting them back in his work bag leaving the table empty. His phone beeped with an incoming message that Sam would be there shortly.

While he waited for his partner to show up Callen took a couple of photos of the completed table and sent them to Gibbs, knowing he would want to see the finished project. Since he had the photos ready to go he couldn't help but send one to Hetty as well, thinking she would like to see that he was finally doing something besides work.

"Hey man, what's going on?" Sam walked up the steps and opened the door. "To what occasion do I owe the honor of an invite from the usually antisocial G Callen?"

"I do stuff with you all the time Sam; how could you say I'm antisocial?" Callen looked surprised at the comment. "I was over at your house last week for dinner."

"That's what I mean G; I have to ask you to do something. This is one of the rare times you've actually invited me to your place." He smiled to take the sting out of his words. "So what's the deal, why am I here?"

G wouldn't look Sam in the face. "Its no big deal I just thought you would want to see the end result of my table building." Now that Sam was here Callen was a little embarrassed.

"You finished it already, that was quick work. Let me see it." Sam got up and went inside to stand speechless at the sight of the table. "Dam G, you built this by yourself? I had no idea you could build something like this."

"It's just a table Sam, not that big a thing." He was really embarrassed now wishing he had never called his partner to come over. "There are plenty of nicer looking tables in the world."

Pulling out his phone Sam quickly snapped a picture and sent off the photo. "Deeks is going to be green with envy when he sees this. I'd better send it to Kensi too or she'll kick my butt for leaving her out."

They had grabbed a couple of beers and where sitting outside talking when the SUV pulled up.

"I can't believe you finally got furniture for your house Callen; where did you get the table from, IKEA?" Kensi smiled as she and Deeks walked up to the door.

"I'll bet that was a fun shopping experience for the sales clerk, did you give them you stone face when they tried to up sale you Callen." Deeks rubbed his arm when Kensi punched him. "Let me guess it was a woman clerk and you dazzled her with those baby blues."

"Do you even hear yourself talking Deeks; first you insult Callen and then you accuse him of having to flirt to get a good deal." She opened the door and went in. "Nice table Callen, why didn't you get some chairs to go with it?"

G looked at Sam in disgust "This is all your fault Sam, next they're going to want beer and food, oh yeah Deeks is going to want food. Start calling for pizza now."

"I didn't get chairs Kensi because I didn't buy the table at IKEA, I built it." He couldn't help the look of pride that made his blue eyes flash a little brighter. "Maybe I'll do chairs next."

"You built this, for real." Deeks had walked up in time to hear what Callen said. "Wow there really is no end to your talents is there? Seriously you are the NCIS answer to Batman and this is your Batcave."

Kensi had pulled out her phone to make a call "Nell its Kensi, call Eric and both of you guys come over to Callen's, we're having a party."

"What are you doing Kensi, why did you invite them over?" His blue eyes had a dazed look, there had never been this many people in his house before.

"Callen we can't leave out Nell and Eric if we're having a team party right? Now do you have enough beer or does Deeks need to do a run?"

His phone beeped saving him from having to answer, the text was from Gibbs

Nice job on the table now put something on it like food.