Chapter 6

Kensi and Carla walked out of the boatshed and to Kensi's car, side by side. Kensi didn't have any information on their new team mate and this would be her time to get some answers. "So how did you like your first day with us? Callen didn't harass you too much today did he? If he did I'll talk to him about it."

Carla snickered. She'd been harassed, bothered, hazed by the best of them. "No Callen did his job. He made sure we dotted our I's and crossed our t's. He is actually a good boss. I really liked working with him." She laughed and got in her own question. "Is your partner always a jerk?"

Kensi gave a good snorting laugh. "Yep, that's my partner. It is really part of his charm."

Carla gave Kensi a 'what the hell look'. "Really, I wanted to pummel him. But if you can handle that then so be it."

Kensi stopped at a light. "Yeah he really only does that when something is boggling his mind. It helps him think things through." She thought about it again. "Or he truly is an idiot. I kinda like him."

Carla met Kensi's eye and noticed the emotion in those duo-colored eyes. "Oh…..you like him. Isn't that dangerous for you two?" She knew what those feelings could do to a partnership.

The light changed and Kensi started forward again. "We used to think so but we became acclimated to working together and leaving our feelings for before and after work. We're good." While Kensi checked her rear view mirror she decided how to quiz Carla some more. "Hey where are you from? Deeks and I grew up around Los Angeles. Sam grew up in Brooklyn, New York and Callen believes that he was born in Romania and was brought here."

Kensi was concentrating on the road so missed the look on Carla's face. "My parents met in Europe just after World War Two and came back to Washington, D.C. to have me. Three years later my sister came along. A few years later my father went back to Europe and was killed by a drug trafficking group. My mother was never the same after that.

Kensi waited for the car in front of her to make a left hand turn. She was going the same way. "You and Callen have a lot in common. His mother was killed on a beach in Romania while he was distracted by another man with a toy."

Kensi was watching the road so watching Carla's reaction wasn't happening. "That is unfortunate." Carla got real quiet. She looked out the window at the dirty streets of Los Angeles. "How did he get here and where is his father?"

Kensi heard the sadness in Carla's voice. "He has no idea how he or his sister got to the United States and as far as his father is concerned, he was arrested and incarcerated in Siberia. He doesn't know if he is still alive. How about you? Where have you been deployed lately?"

Carla didn't really want to share that information. There was just so much that she wanted to divulge to people who would be out of her life in two weeks or less but to not share something would be rude. She looked across the Cadillac at Kensi. "My last deployment was at Quantico. I taught agents hand to hand combat, like I used on Deeks. Before that I worked in Southeast Asia looking into the Abu Saif.

Kensi turned into O'Malley's. "So you're the one to thank for those moves. Thank you!" Kensi reached out and squeezed Carla's hand. "Callen is going to want to test you. Be prepared. He's a good supervisor, agent and a really good friend." She took her hand away and asked the question she really wanted the answer to. "Why did Hetty ask you to come here?"

Carla sat and thought about her answer to Kensi's question. "Hetty has been my friend and mentor for years. She's pulled my butt out of tough situations many times. When she asked me to come out to help I couldn't say no. I actually wanted to meet her "A Team." Carla laughed a small laugh. "Callen is a tough nut, what do you suggest to get on his good side."

Kensi laughed out loud as she pulled into the parking lot at O'Malleys. "Just be the best you can be, be honest, and give him your all. That's what he does for us, all the time. Hey, no more talking business, let's go get that drink."

Carla nodded and opened her car door just as Callen and Deeks pulled in behind them.

Deeks climbed out of the passenger seat of Callen's Mercedes and walked towards his partner. He looked at Kensi and with that look asked all sorts of questions. All she did was nod towards the bar.

I eyed my partner. I knew what Kensi had done and now it was my turn. "Carla, meet me at the Mission tomorrow at eight o'clock. We'll practice shooting and some one on one sparring. Is that alright with you?

Carla nodded her agreement. Inside she was ecstatic. "I'll be there." He needed to know he could trust her for her abilities.

I nodded and motioned for her to follow me into the bar.

Kensi and Deeks had commandeered a booth in the corner and waved a barmaid over to the table. I walked to the table with Carla and sat down across from her. Three beers were ordered and Carla ordered a Tom Collins. Kensi and Deeks looked her way. "I've never acquired the taste for beer. I only have one drink and I'm good for the night."

I smirked at her but I was good with her answer. "Good to know."

The drinks arrived and they sat and chatted about the case. Deeks and Kensi spent the next few minutes telling them about Fielding and how he had ties to the Molina Cartel. This made his involvement in the case more pertinent. Tomorrow they'd have Eric and Nell check on Fielding's bank accounts and phone, how it was used and who he called.

Deeks and Kensi took their beers and walked across the bar to play darts leaving Carla and I alone at the table. I watched as they walked away.

I turned abruptly towards her. "Where is Mr. Andrews?"

Carla sat back in her seat trying to read my expression. She couldn't. "Mr. Andrews, James, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He died three years ago from a brain aneurysm. He was buried with military honors for service with the Marines in Grenada. I miss him every day."

I had watched her expression as she spoke of his burial and missing him and her open honesty about her feelings impressed me but I could sense the loneliness of the woman.

Carla pulled together her poker face for the next round with Callen. "Is there a Mrs. Callen and maybe children?"

I smirked and gave a chuckle. She gave as good as she got, nice. "Yes there is. Mrs. Callen is Sara and my one child is my daughter, Gretchen, who is the apple of my eye. How about you? Do you have children?" I watched as Carla's face went solemn and filled with sadness.

She looked out over the bar to where the other partner's were playing darts. "I had two children, a boy and a girl. They died many years ago." She took a sip of her drink and put it back down on the table.

I understood those feelings. There had been a time when I walked the world alone, but no longer. Sara now held my hand while I carried Gretchen. Hetty and the team meant the world to me, yet I still yearned for my mom, dad and the sister who died years before I found her, but all in all I do fine with the family I've gathered around me.

Carla watched my face as I came to terms with the reality of my situation. "Maybe I could meet your family before heading out."

I'm pretty sure my right brow shot up. It was an unusual request. "I'll see what Sara thinks."

Carla understood the hesitation. His answer wasn't a yes or a no.

Deeks and Kensi stood across the bar playing darts. They watched the two at the table. Deeks blurted out. "I wonder what Callen said to her to make her so glum. She went from vibrant, but wary to desolate. I wonder why."

Kensi had been reading their lips and it had her mind going. "She told Callen she lost two children, a boy and a girl. That's what took the wind out of her sails."

Deeks turned to his partner just as Callen and Carla got up to leave. Callen left their part of the tab on the table.

Carla and I stopped as we went towards the door. "Carla is beat. I'm taking her back to her car. See you tomorrow."

Deeks looked at Kensi and she to him. "Yeah, we'll see you tomorrow."

Deeks watched them go as Kensi took her turn with the darts. "That's weird. We just got here. Callen is never that eager to leave. There are at least two beers for him." Another thought came to Deeks mind. "Damn it. How come I never get to ask her questions?"

Kensi laughed at him. "Take your turn Deeks. Just what do you want to know? Maybe I have that answer."