Her guys. I'm back, but I'd like my reviewers back. I miss themdearly :/

Chapter 37: Christmas Catastrophe

"We've got a case." Eric said without his usual pep, sulking away, hands in pocket.

Everyone in the bullpen looked to each other, pessimistic about what case would be awaiting their arrival two days before Christmas.

They headed up into Ops with low spirits. It was even worse than they all had thought.

"Nell." Hetty cued with a wave of her hand.

"This video was taken from security footage in the parking lot at our consulate in Dubai." Nell began.

They watched with disdain as a man walked out with two bodyguards and a car came barreling at them with guns blazing. The two bodyguards fell while the man ducked. The car swerved to a stop and the gunmen ran out and grabbed the man. A cloth came out and the man went limp. Nell paused the video as the man was thrown in the back of the car.

"The man is Rob Waller. The consul general of our US Embassy in Dubai who just recently got back from a trip in Tehran from a peace summit with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His bodyguards were walking him to his car when they were hit. They both died in the hospital. " Nell informed.

"One of the kidnappers has been identified as a known associate of Moqtada al-Sadr, his brother Mustafa al-Sadr. He's a radical Shia political leader and after the recent peace summit, the Shia's aren't to happy with the President or the US. " Hetty said with an all too familiar un-readable expression or tone.

"There's been a ransom note that was just released demanding for the president an the is to re-call the treaty and back out or they'll kill him and blow up the consulate in both Iran and Dubai." Nell continued.

"CIA and FBI are already on the case but you all are to recover Mr. Waller alive. Mr. Callen and Ms. Blye are to go undercover as a married couple on their honeymoon in Dubai while Mr.-" Hetty said as she began to designate assignment positions.

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa, hold up!" Deeks interrupted.

"I'm sorry, is there a problem Mr. Deeks?" Hetty asked innocently. Deeks knew all too well she knew exactly what she was doing. It was both infuriating and impressive.

"Yeah there's a problem. Why can't I go undercover with her? We could sell the married couple way better than Callen could, no offense." He said as an aside to Callen who just nodded. "Kensi and I are actually engaged."

"Which is exactly why you're staying here and working this from the ground with Eric and Nell." Hetty said calmly.

"Come on. Hetty, it's almost Christmas!" Deeks cried in protest.

"Yeah. Can't Deeks and I switch?" Sam pleaded, wanting to be nowhere but with his family for Christmas.

"Yeah Hetty, come on please." Deeks begged.

"Please." Sam added desperately hoping for Hetty to say yes.

"I'm sorry gentleman but where I've placed you is what the situation requires." Hetty apologized. She didn't want to be the Grinch who stole Christmas for everyone but she wasn't the one who tasked the team with the mission. They forgot they she too had a chain of command and that Director Vance and Granger had told her that her team would be going in to smooth over the operation. "I'm sorry Mr. Deeks, Mr. Hanna, but this is how Assistant Director Granger assigned you."

"Of course." Deeks scoffed under his breath. Sam too had the same thought.

"Pack your bags people, there's a plane coming to get you in three hours at LAX." Hetty said hurrying them along.

Eric and Nell watched with sympathy as their friends sulked out of Ops.

"This sucks." Deeks mumbled. "Sorry you won't get to be with your family Sam."

"Yeah. You too." Sam replied half heartedly. "I'll drive you home G." Sam said grabbing his bag from beside his desk and the car keys to the challenger. Callen nodded and followed Sam. He was angry at Granger for tearing his team apart at Christmas.

Kensi grabbed her bag and began walking out to her car silently. Deeks recognized her trying to be stoic and followed after her with a heavy heart and heavy footsteps.

He knew already in his heart and mind that this was going to be the worst Christmas he'd ever had.

XxxxXXxxxLoveStoryxxxXXxxxX

And so the things I've previously asked are now coming to light nearly twenty chapters later. Lol. Like Callen and Kensi undercover as a married couple just like in the olden days. Sorry I took so long to update. Things have been crazy. Christmas shopping, sickness, decorating, baking cookies endlessly, homework, and...my best friend surprised me Wednesday evening and called to tell me he'd be home for Christmas! Yay! I got to see him yesterday for a bit but we've fallen back into our old routine of talking from dawn until early dawn the next morning.