"I told you, I told you!"

The whole team gaped in amazement as they watched the figures on screen. Actually, they were paying far more attention to one particular figure. The one that was very obviously clown shaped. Even down to the shoes.

"I can't believe it," Kensi finally said, shaking her head.

Even Callen was staring at the screen in shock. Nell looked like she was trying to stop herself from laughing and Eric just looked alarmed.

"I suppose that even the light hearted and innocent children's entertainment industry has to have a dark side," Hetty said with a sigh like the whole world had disappointed her.

"Who wears clown shoes when they're doing criminal activity?" was Deeks' contribution to all this.

They all turned around to give him an incredulous look. That was the one thing he took away from this, really?

"What?"

"Really? That's what you focus on?" Nell asked.

"Yeah, like, come on," Eric interjected. "The wig is obviously the weird thing about this."

"No," Deeks shook his head. "That, I get. Part of the disguise and all that. Quality undercover work there. But the shoes? They put you at a disadvantage -"

"Enough talking about the guy's costume," Sam said in exasperation. "It's not important! What's important is that we caught the guy. I told you it was him!"

Eric and Nell looked at each other and appeared to have a silent argument before they both turned to Sam.

"Actually, the costume is kind of important," Nell told him. "Eric?"

Eric jumped, almost dropping his tablet, and tapped the screen a few times to bring a picture of a storefront and a man's driving licence up on the big screen.

"This is Morgan Rackheath," he began. "He owns Clowning Around, the clown costume shop."

"Wait," Kensi interrupted, holding up her hand in disbelief. "There's a clown costume shop?"

Eric shrugged. "Where else to you expect clowns to go? The mall?"

"It does high quality items for the 'esteemed and picky clown,' Nell quoted.

"Sorry I asked."

Nell picked up the explanation and clicked the button on the remote to show a still of a security feed. "This is a video of our guy entering the store."

"Several time," Eric added, bringing up more skills. "He buys something every two weeks or so."

"So, the store owner should know him," Callen finished.

"Exactly." Eric agreed.

"Looks like we'll be able to get him," Deeks said.

"Oh, we'll get him alright," Sam said threateningly.

"Want to take this one, big guy?" Callen asked, looking at the interrogation room through the TV screen.

"Yes," Sam said determination.

This guy was all his. He was the only one who thought he was a perp so he got to interrogate him. It was that simple. It was. Just as soon as he could make himself walk into the interrogation room.

"Think you can handle him?" Callen asked sceptically.

He knew just how much his partner feared clowns.

"Him and his giant, floppy shoes?" Deeks quipped.

Yeah, he was not helping the situation but it seemed that Kensi had that under control. Case in point -

"Owwww!"

"Thank you, Kensi," Sam said gratefully.

"Not a problem!"

"I have a problem,' Deeks complained, rubbing his arm. "I'm going to bruise, Princess!"

Kensi arched an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're the princess here."

"Well, I do have the better hair."

"As if."

"Mine gets more compliments."

"Because you fish for them."

"You're both princesses," Sam told them sarcastically.

Something which neither of them seemed to appreciate if the outraged and insulted looks they were giving him were anything to go by. Not that Sam cared. All he cared about was the man in the interrogation room.

"Well, let's get this done," Callen announced so that Kensi and Deeks couldn't bicker anymore.

"Right."

Sam made as if to go in but then came to a stop and turned around with a frown. Then he tried again. And again. No luck. He just couldn't do it. Couldn't make himself cross the threshold. It was pathetic.

"One of us could do it, you know," Callen pointed out.

Sam snorted. And they would never let him forget it. No way. He was going to do it. Right now. Now. Right away. This second.

"Does he really have to have the paint on his face?" Sam finally complained.

It really was freaky. Especially when half of it was wiped off due to sweat and/or him being thrown to the ground when they caught him. Hey, he had to make sure he wouldn't escape.

"Pretty sure that's part of the job description," Deeks said.

Sam sighed and ran a hand over his face. He was going to do this. With a deep breath, he found his centre (or as close to his centre as he was going to get with his heart pumping the way it was) and pushed open the door.

It was surprisingly easy to get a confession out of him. Apparently, the guy was extremely scared of him. Terrified actually. So, he spilled everything with minimal prodding.

It was almost disappointing in a way. Sam had been geared up for a fight.

"You get all that?" he asked as he walked back to his team.

"Yeah, we did, me and Deeks will pick up the rest of them," Kensi said.

"Great."

Sam did not need to see anymore clowns. Especially a gang of them. That would just be pushing it. One clown was more than enough for him.

"You did it," Callen told him.

"Yep," Sam agreed, feeling pleased with himself.

That had definitely not been something that he ever thought he would be able to do. But he had done it. Been in close quarters with a clown and got another of valuable information out of him. That, and he got to see the guy get taken away in handcuffs. Yes, life was sweet.

Until his partner opened his mouth again.

"I mean, you did hand him a wipe to clean his face-"