Tsunami

Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.

Chapter 3

OSP, Los Angeles — two weeks later

Life continued on at a steady pace for the next two weeks, but Callen had refused to see his father. Savannah returned home with the twins, three days earlier and they had settled into a good routine.

An urgent call went out to the team and they each made their way into the office. Callen ran up the stairs and entered Ops.

Hetty sighed from her desk, he shouldn't have been called in, but he was needed. "What have you got, Eric?"

Sam, Deeks and Kensi looked over to him and wished that he'd could have spent one more week with his wife and sons before he was dragged back into the thick of it, but as Eric and Nell briefed the team, the severity of the problem became clear.

Last night, Pendleton was invaded by Russian separatists. They are an underground group called Moshchnyy Rossii.

"Powerful Russia," Callen stated, knowing that the others wouldn't know what the name meant.

"The CIA, NCIS, the DOD and the FBI have had agents deep undercover for sometime, but none of them knew about last night's invasion." Eric played a video. Screeches of tires were heard as armoured trucks rammed down gates and entered the secured military base. Gunfire rained from security guards and the armoured trucks, an all out battle took place, but the invaders were well prepared.

The agents were dumbstruck. They'd never seen such an attack on US soil on a military base. Memories of 9/11 returned to the forefront of their minds. A shiver ran down Callen's back as he studied the video.

"What were the casualties?" Sam inquired, worry for his fellow marines etched in his brow.

"We lost fifteen marines, twenty critically injured, another eleven, with minor injuries." Almost fifty marines injured or killed. That was too many for any place, let alone on home soil.

"Do we know what they were after?" Callen remained fixed on the video, not daring to look at his team. Kensi was a marine brat, she knew these people. Sam was a former SEAL, he too would be feeling the effects. They all were, but they were feeling it the most.

"They entered through Fallbrook Gate and went straight for the Weapons Station. We're still trying to ascertain exactly what they stole."

"Does anyone know where they went?" Deeks stepped forward, taking a more closer look at the video. He gave Kensi a sideway glance and could see the worry in her eyes.

"They were last seen heading north on Interstate 15."

"So basically, they could be anywhere by now." Anger rippled through Callen's body. Why had it taken them so long to be told about this. They should have been out there last night finding these Russians.

"Unfortunately, they are, George." Hetty entered and saw the look of destruction on her agents' faces.

Callen looked to his team. "We better get down there and see if they left any evidence to help us find them."

"Not so fast, Mr Callen." Callen snapped his attention to their Operations Manager. Yet again, she used his family name. He'd hoped that since he'd learned who he really was, that she would stop calling him that and only use his first name. He'd gone for so long without it after all.

She saw the look, but this was serious. "Director Vance wants us working with the agents already deep undercover for this operation." She looked at their expectant faces, wondering what was ahead of them.

"Unfortunately, it means that you will be split up." She turned to her analyst. "Miss Jones, could you please bring up the details of the undercover agents."

Nell nodded and brought their details up onto the screen. "NCIS Agent Ramon Donati has been deep undercover with a group of street racers, who we believe were behind last night's raid. The style of driving through the gate and how fast they vanished verifies that some of their group were involved. We're still trying to get hold of Donati to verify details."

"Donati's NCIS now?" Sam raised his brow, he'd known Ramon Donati down in Coronado, when he was a SEAL.

"Yes, Mr Hanna. Your history with Agent Donati should be an advantage for him to get you into the group. Director Vance has given us the green light for you to take the challenger. I have our people placing the necessary equipment into your vehicle as we speak."

Callen glanced at his partner, concern for Sam going in like this grew within him. He didn't like it one bit that the team were being split up. They were a family and they were strong as a team.

"Do you want me to stay close and have Sam's back, Hetty?"

"No. You will be assigned to CIA officer, Ethan Wiles. He's been working deep within the Russian group in Moscow. You will head out to London to meet with him there and join up with a fellow female CIA officer, Jennifer Ashley, and he will get you both into the group."

Callen studied their details. Wiles was around his height, slightly more solid than himself, hair had darkened from blond like his own, also with blue eyes. He'd never crossed paths with Wiles before, and his trust issues began to fester once more. He looked at the woman. Jennifer Ashley. A brunette, long legs and brown eyes. She was a beauty, Callen had to admit, but nothing on Savannah, that was a certain. A knot twisted tight in the pit of his gut, he was leaving Savannah alone with their children. He had no idea how long he was going to be undercover and he worried that Samuel and Nathan would forget that he was their daddy while he was gone.

"Can't someone else go, Hetty?"

She noted his reluctance to go on this op and she wasn't surprised one bit. A newly wed and father to boot, with so many issues to resolve around his reunion with his father. The timing of this operation couldn't have come at a worse time. But they needed to act fast, find these Russians who were behind last night's attack and take back their stolen weapons. They were thankful that no nuclear weapons were taken. They were kept at a different facility and for now, remained highly guarded. But after the brazen attack on Pendleton, security at all bases across the country had been tightened.

"I'm sorry, George." She weakened her resolve to be professional with him with this case, but he was her weak spot after all. "But this comes from the directors of all the agencies involved. You have experience with deep cover work inside of Russia. You speak the language fluently as if you've lived there all of your life. You were chosen to join Officers Wiles and Ashley on this operation, even before last night's raid. The raid at Pendleton has only brought the need for this team's involvement in earlier than first planned."

He didn't like it one bit. "I'm not supposed to be here, Hetty. I'm not only on my honeymoon still, but also on paternity leave." Not that they made it to their destination that he'd planned. The early arrival of their sons changed everything. Now this case was taking him away from them.

"We're all well aware, George. I have tried, but Director Vance outranks me on this."

Callen saw Hetty's own frustrations fester, although she tried hard to keep her cool.

"When do I leave?" He looked over to Sam, who also was leaving his family for who knows how long.

"Tonight."

His eyes widened. "What?" Panic ensued him. He looked at his watch, it was now noon. He had six hours left before he had to be at LAX to check in.

"Go home, George. Spend this time with Savannah and the boys. We have no idea how long you will be away. Miss Jones will bring your ticket and passport over to your house."

He looked lost over to his partner and the junior members of the team. "Stay safe. All of you." He didn't like it one bit. He gave Sam a man hug and continued on to Kensi and Deeks. For some reason, he feared if he'd see any of them again. He turned to Eric, Nell and Hetty. "Make sure they're safe at all times."

"We will." It was all that Nell could muster and she wiped away a tear from her eyes. Her sister would be beside herself if she knew the details of this case. It was a good thing that Savannah had no knowledge. Callen was going into the lion's den. Right into the heart of this group, who would stop at nothing to destroy America and any western country who would fight them on becoming the super power that they had once been.

Callen bolted out the door, he couldn't get home quick enough. As he drove home, his mind wandered to how he would tell Sav that he was leaving for an unknown time. He pressed speed dial and called Amy.

"Hey, George. How's the twins settling in at home?"

She sounded chirpy and it was bizarre in comparison to how he felt. His heart felt heavy and a dread for this operation overcame him. "Hi, sis." He tried to put his cheery voice on. "They're both doing great. Sleeping through already."

"That's great."

"Hey, can you do me a favour?"

"Yeah sure. What is it?"

"I have to go out of town for work, not sure how long. Can you keep an eye on Sav, make sure she's doing okay? Nell's going to move in with her, to help."

Amy stood still in her kitchen and looked out at the ocean. The waves crashed onto the beach, but her focus was not on the picturesque scene outside.

"Amy?" He worried over her silence.

"Yeah, sure." She furrowed her brow and memories of Mark going on his last operation returned to her. She shuddered and goose bumps spread over her skin.

"Stay safe, George. We all need you to come home safe."

"I will. You know me. I'm a survivor." He was trying to convince himself, but no matter how much he tried, the worry that had already started to fester in his gut wouldn't shift.

"Of course. You have Sam with you. You both take care of each other."

"Thanks, Amy." He disconnected the call. He couldn't tell her that he was going away on his own and meeting up with strangers for this case. Nor that Sam would be going deep undercover with a fellow former SEAL, with a street racing group, who had known ties with this Russian group that he was going to meet. He managed a smile as he entered the house. He could hear Savannah singing softly to their sons and he found her upstairs in the nursery. Both boys were awake and he was thankful that they were. He scooped Samuel up into his arms and hugged him tight.

Savannah smiled over to him, the sight of seeing Callen so in love with their sons warmed her heart. She understood that he had a lot to deal with, but when it came to her and their children, he was the perfect husband and father. Milly and Archie loved Callen and he was great with them, as if they were his own flesh and blood. "Your timing is perfect. They both decided to wake up and demand a feed at the same time. Now that you're here, you can entertain Samuel, while I feed Nathan first."

Callen gave her a warm smile and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Where else would I want to be?" He took Samuel with him up to the master bedroom and pulled out his suitcase. He carefully laid Samuel on the bed, propped up on a pillow, so his son could watch him pack. He folded shirts, trousers and casual clothes. He was prepared for anything. He found his toiletry bag and packed that too and then his back up weapon and Sig. He opened a safe and pulled out packets of shells and placed them inside the secret compartments of the case. Hetty had personally provided each of them with their suitcases for such an occasion, so they could carry their weapons in their bags, without raising suspicion.

Savannah heard Callen talking to Samuel and followed his voice. She stopped still when she saw the suitcase. When he looked up and saw her, guilt flashed across his face.

"When were you going to tell me…"

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her and Nathan. He gently kissed her on the temple and held her close. "This is the last thing I want to be doing, Sav. I tried, Hetty's tried, but this has come from up high. I've got to go."

"How long?" Her emotions were all over the place since having the boys. She was tired and still adjusting to having babies in the house again. The routine was returning to her, but fear for going it alone again consumed her.

"I don't know." He sighed and wiped her tears. "Don't cry, Sav. Please. I'll be home before you know it."

Savannah pulled away, she couldn't do this again. Lose another loved one.

"Sav…"

She handed him Nathan and walked over to Samuel, picked him up and exited the room.

He gave her the space, but really he needed to be with her for every moment that he had left with them. Not like this. He paced the room and then decided to find her. Callen watched her change Samuel's nappy and sing to him. He gave her a smile, well what Callen thought looked like a smile. His blue eyes widened and he looked very alert. Samuel was focused on Savannah's voice and an idea popped into his head. He left her there and went downstairs looking for the video camera. He set it up on a stand and sat down on a chair. He pressed record and stared at the camera for a moment, before he started.