Summary: Chloe, Hetty's 'friend' comes to visit. Her and Callen are involved in a shooting leading to the discovery that someone has put out a hit on Chloe. Callen and Chloe share a kiss but agree not to talk about it. The team discovers that a Daniel Hague, Chloe's ex husband and also the son of one of the biggest crime family's in Australia, hired two brothers, the Ainsley's. They interrogate one of the brother's girlfriend who leads them to a storage garage at fort Wayne storage rentals. Before the team leaves to check it out, Hetty and Granger show up.

Previously on Light Chloe ignores him, being low profile not really offending him as much as he thinks. "Granger? As in Owen Granger?" The team gives her a skeptical look, intrigued as to how Chloe knows Granger. "Yup, that's the one," Kensi conforms. "He's the Assistant Director of NCIS." Chloe chuckles under her breath. 'Never would have guessed the guy with a big nose and ears like Dumbo would be so important.' Of course Chloe's never been one to keep her thoughts to herself, she realizes when she hears the quiet sound of snickers from the agents around her. Suddenly they come to an abrupt stop and she hears Deeks choke trying to hold his in. She senses a presence behind her. On instinct she turns around is presented with an interesting sight. One tiny, yet frightening unamused looking manager, and one even more unamused, frighteningly tall director. There's no way any one didn't hear her gulp.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 15

"Oh, hey Granger. Didn't expect to see you there," she says, keeping her cool. "What are you doing here?"

"It's good to see you Chloe, although I wish it were under different circumstances," Granger says. "To answer your question Deeks, I'm here to help on the case. I've known Chloe here for quite a while now, and I don't like knowing that there is a hit out on my friend. So from here on out I need everyone focused on this case only."

The 3 NCIS agents, and LAPD officer share some confused and somewhat irritated looks. No one ever liked it when Granger did things like this. He may be Assistant Director, but that doesn't give him the right to control their team.

Deeks, being Deeks, speaks up first. "Why is she so important that we have to drop all of our other cases?"

"Um, ouch?" Chloe's voice can be heard in the background.

Granger looks down at Hetty, "Should I tell them, or do you want to fill your team in." Sure. Now when he's cornered he hands things off to Hetty.

"Tell us what?" Kensi says.

"You can't just come in here and tell us to drop everything and not even give us a clue as to why." Sam says.

Hetty, with her hands crossed behind her back, looks to the floor and nods, as if she agrees but is still contemplating the best way to approach the situation. The room is silent for a moment before she finally speaks.

"I might as well tell you now. It was going to get out sooner or later." She lets out a sigh and from the corner of her eye she can see Chloe look away from her, "Chloe is not just a good friend. She is my daughter, and Granger's niece."

Sam, Kensi and Deeks are baffled. Deeks can't even think of his usual side comment. Even Callen is shocked. Sure he knew that Hetty adopted Chloe, but for Granger to be her uncle? That just brings up a whole new batch of questions.

"What do you mean she's Granger's niece?" Callen asks.

"Yeah, and what do you mean she's your daughter?" asks Kensi.

Hetty shoots both her agents and stern look, effectively shutting them up. "Let me finish. Chloe was orphaned when she was 3 years old. I decided to adopt her. Granger and I were working closely together at the time and he became Chloe's unofficial uncle and guardian. Now. Any more questions?"

Her tone clearly said she wasn't asking. Everyone keep silent absorbing the information they'd just learned about the woman who they had so recently meet and so quickly came to like.

"Great now that that's out of the way, what have you found so far?"

Nell and Eric appear on the screen and right on time too. "So," Eric starts, "We checked the footage of the storage place you got from Ms. Bradford, and guess what we found?"

Of course no one was really in the mood to guess, Nell answered for them placing a video on one side of the screen. "An hour ago, footage showed both brothers entering one of the larger storage units separated from the main building and they have not left yet. Odds are you can still catch them."

Eric jumps in, finishing Nell's next sentence, "The information is already sent to your phones."

"Good," says Granger.

The two partners set out to leave but Callen and Sam are stopped in their tracks when Chloe follows them. "Can I at least sit in the front this time?" She whines.

"No." Granger says, his deep voice leaving no room for argument, "The only place you'll be sitting is either back up in ops or that hotel room."

"But-"

Granger points a finger at her. No words are needed for her to know that whatever she says won't make a difference. It's always been that way when it came to Granger. The guy's not even her real uncle, yet he acts like he's her father. That's always bugged her. Don't get her wrong, he's always been a prominent figure in her life, but sometimes his over protectiveness is too much. She looks at Hetty hoping she would be a bit more rational only to receive identical treatment.

"You guys are blowing this way out of proportion," she says putting her hands out as if waiting for something.

"It's for your safety Chloe," Granger starts. "The Hague is not the type of family you want to mess with and neither are the Ainsley brothers."

At his words any childish need to argue leaves her as reality strikes once again. "Fine, but I'd rather stay here than go back up to ops. That place has a bad vibe"

Granger starts to protest but Hetty beats him to it saying "Okay my dear. There will be guards here though, just as a precaution. You are safe here. You guys," she points at the team, "need to leave now and fast before those brothers get away from us again."

As ordered the team heads out quickly towards the storage facility. Hetty and Granger linger on behind to have a talk with Chloe. Thus the accusations begin.

"You married a Hague Chloe? What were you thinking? How could you not tell your mother and I about this?"

Chloe frustration and anger rises as the questions keep coming accompanied by Grangers classic disappointed gaze.

"See! That right there is why I didn't tell you! The look on both your faces right now is why I didn't tell you! I know I haven't been the best daughter or niece you and Hetty could have asked for. I know I've made a lot of mistakes in the past, ones that you, specifically, seem to particularly enjoy reminding me of. I didn't want to tell you guys I got married because I didn't want to be reminded of how much a disappointment I am to both of you!"

The room is engulfed in silence. Both Granger and Hetty are shocked to hear of Chloe's true feelings. It might have been her own tears in her eyes, but she could swear she saw Granger and Hetty's eyes glisten over. No one talked for a minute or two, taking the time to let everyone's feeling settle down.

"We have never, ever been disappointed in you Chloe," Hetty is slightly surprised to see granger speak with such sorrow and passion. It's something she hasn't seen in him for so long she forgot the kind of person he used to be. "I know we always been hard of you, me especially but it's because we care. Hetty and I both love you very much. The fact that we're not related means nothing. We've just always wanted you to be safe."

"Safe and Happy," Hetty adds. "We have never wanted you to think of yourself that way. You were brought into our lives with open arms. Our intentions to keep you safe were never to make you feel like you weren't wanted. We lead dangerous lives Chloe. We are both so proud of the life you've chosen. So long as it make you happy and keep s you safe, we couldn't be happier."

"I… I'm… I don't know what to say. I didn't mean to yell at you guys. I just… I got so frustrated with everything and myself. I…Thank you."

"You don't need to thank us darling."

Chloe moves to hug Hetty. "Yes I do." She stands awkwardly in front of Granger, who is hesitant to reach out for her. "And thank you too Uncle Granger." The hug she gives him is awkward due to the significant height difference, but Granger accepts it comfortably anyway.

Kensi and Deeks take the east entrance of the storage area while Callen and Sam take the west. On Callen's command the team moves into the storage cell, guns at the ready. Scott and David with no decent cover, unless you count four a legged table, some chairs and a bulletin board decent cover, have no choice but to surrender. If only things could be that easy. Of course David wouldn't go so easily.

He should have known better. Reaching for his gun in a room with 3 federal agents and a police officer was a stupid move. Callen, with his fast reflexes, shot first, leaving his brother two watch helplessly as two bullets tear into David's chest.