And… here was are. Another chapter for you all. And chapter 30 at that. I really having been writing a lot, haven't I?
Anyway I have pretty much made up Michelle's character, though it is based on what we see in the show. I hope it is actuate and I hope you like it. I know this chapter short, but you'll see why when you get to the end.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
Once Sam had been treated, dinner served and eaten, and their daughter put to bed, Michelle turned her attention on the man who had once upon a time practically lived in her home. He was family to her, like a brother-in-law, and she had always treated him as such. She knew the bonds of true partners went much further than work, and she respected it. Respected the man she knew would always have her husband's back, apart from when it came to her. Then sensibly G stayed well out of the way.
She understood G in ways she knew Sam couldn't. He had never been an operative like they had. Worked the way they did, and she was glad that someone was there who could see all the angles as she herself would do. Of course she also knew her husband understood things about G that she couldn't. But between them she was sure they had most of his measure, through there would always be that secretive part of him. The part he would never show anyone. They had both learnt to love and accept that.
But right now she wanted intel. So sitting herself comfortably down on a chair in the living room she smiled across at the man who was once again sitting on her couch. It had been missing him with his long absence, now he had a house, and apparently, a boyfriend. Time to get the details then.
Callen saw the smile, it was almost feral in the idea of the pleasure she was about to receive and he couldn't help but return it. Bring it on.
"So I hear you have a new man in your life." Michelle started with, giving a nice easy opening.
"Do you?" Callen responded smiling sweetly, not taking his eyes from the woman across from him, not even to look at his partner who sighed in something like pleasure at hearing the opening words.
"Yes. So what's his name?" Michelle asked deciding to start with direct questioning. It was always the best way to get a gauge on your opponent after all.
"What's in a name?" Callen replied deciding not to say the rest of the quote, 'that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet'... It would reveal too much at this early stage. He was going to make Michelle work for all information.
"Identity?" Michelle counted with, though she did wince when she realised who she was talking too. Maybe mentioning names and identity to a man who only knew the first letter of his own was a little insensitive.
But Callen wasn't fazed by her words. He had his answer ready and waiting. "Easy to fake." He responded with a shrug of his shoulders, knowing everyone in this room knew the truth of that sentence.
"What's he like?" Michelle asked changing tack quickly, not wanting G to get comfortable.
"Funny, warm, caring." Callen replied rapidly. It wasn't hard to come up with words to describe Marty after all, just as long as he used ones that didn't set off any warning bells in Sam's head.
"That's good. What does he do?" Michelle asked with an encouraging smile which just made Callen smirk as he responded.
"Cooks me dinner."
"Really? You found someone who can cook? Good for you." Michelle chuckled coming out of the interrogation mode to a genuine smile at the man across from her at his words. He needed someone to look after him, it seemed he had found it in his new mystery man.
"Yeah, I think so." Callen said in the same genuine tone as he followed her to slip into who they really were, and out of what they were doing. Matching their wits.
"Is he employed, or does he work for himself?" Michelle asked deceptively mildly, hoping to catch him out. But when she saw the glim in G's eyes she knew she had failed.
"What would you do if I said he works for me?" Callen replied in a very suggestive voice making Sam cringe. Which Callen found hilarious because in all honesty it was nothing but the truth. It was just he may have lead his partners mind somewhere other than the office.
"G, too far." Sam groaned from his position by the door. He hadn't wanted to get involved, leaving it up to his wife to get answers. But there were some things he just couldn't take, not in his home, or front of his wife. His partner better get his mind out of the gutter right now.
Michelle heard Sam's voice, but she was studying G at the time. And she had to wonder, just how much truth had been in his last sentence. Not the tone, but the actual words. Did G's boyfriend work with them? Was that why he wouldn't tell her or Sam anything? But she wasn't going to voice her suspicions now, she would tell Sam later what she thought. But for now, she was going to carry on the game she and G were playing. It was fun.
"So I hear he likes comics." She said changing the angle again.
"He does." Callen nodded smiling that secretive smile of his which made her think there was something more here. Something to investigate.
"Have much of a collection does he?" She asked innocently, wondering what button she would have to press to get him to tell her what he was hiding.
"Yes." Simple one word answers. Not informative at all.
"So which superhero is his favourite?" Michelle fired back, determined to get to the bottom of this one.
"I haven't asked him." Callen replied honestly, though he liked to think that it was Superspy, or at least it was for now. And that was good enough for him.
And so they continued, trading questions and deflections, often coming out and just being two people who cared about each other before diving right back into the cat and mouse game. Though Sam who stood there and watched them, wasn't sure which was which. He could see in both their eyes that they were enjoying themselves. Not that he thought anything would come from it, but still they were having fun. That was good. He liked seeing this. The woman he loved and his best friend, the man who was like a brother to him, together enjoying themselves. Yeah, this was what made what they did worth it. Being able to enjoy this.
Finally Michelle and G called a truce and Sam turned to his partner to find out if he wanted to stay or if he wanted him to take him home.
"My house would be good." Callen replied, neither Sam nor Michelle missing the fact that G had not said home. It seemed his house was not his home, how very interesting. It told them more than they had learnt from most of the evening about his relationship with his new man. Home was where he was.
Sam pulled up outside G's house with a smile as they said goodnight, before returning to his wife, ready for them both to dissect every word G had said that evening.
Callen on the other hand made his way into his house and looked around the barren room. He walked through to his bedroom and lay down on the bedroll he had barely used in weeks and stared at the ceiling. He knew he should just go to sleep. It was late, and he had to work the next day. But all he could think about was how he wanted Marty in his arms. But he couldn't, he knew the other guy would have gone to bed hours ago if he had any sense. They had been up a long time, and the case had been bad. No doubt Marty was fast sleep, happily tucked up in his nice comfy bed… all alone. With a groan at himself for his stupidity Callen pulled himself up from the floor and made his way out to his car. It seemed Marty would be seeing him before tomorrow, or though, looking at his watch it was past midnight, so technically it was tomorrow already, right?
Walking through Marty's door, having once again picked the lock Callen made his silent way to the bedroom. He couldn't help but smile at the slight that greeted him. Because there, lying on his side holding the pillow Callen always used tight in his arms was Marty. He didn't want to wake the guy, but he did want to be able to use the pillow. So moving carefully he got to the side of the bed and started to ease it out of Marty's arms, smiling even more when he saw them tighten. Though the smile disappeared quickly when he heard Marty's sleep induced words.
"No G, stay. Love you, G."
At those words Callen couldn't move fast enough away from the bed. He found himself up against the window breathing heavily as tried to convince himself Marty hadn't said what he just had. There was no way he could love him. They weren't like that. They couldn't be like that. No. This wasn't supposed to happen, no one was supposed to get emotionally evolved, so no could get hurt.
No.
He couldn't process it, his mind couldn't think. It was a confused mass of shock and memories, and all the other crap that came whenever someone had told him they loved him. No. He couldn't do this. They couldn't be this. With that Callen quickly and silently turned around and left Marty's, no Deeks', apartment. He had to get out of there, now. This was too much, he just… he couldn't do this.