Tricky Measures Chapter 25, a ncis: los angeles fanfic

25TRICKY MEASURES

Chapter 25—Discoveries

The whole family fell silent for several minutes. They were all trying to figure out why Raisa sees herself as nothing.

At last, Anna spoke up. "Why do you think you're nothing, Raisa? Nobody else here thinks like that. They all love themselves."

"Nuh-uh, Mama. Everybody thinks I'm nothing. They tell me every day."

Anna stared hard at her youngest daughter as something occurred to her. "I know why Raisa thinks like that!" she declared. "I know exactly why!"

"What are you saying, Anna?" asked Callen.

She waved him quiet. "Raisa, did you become nothing when you were five or six?"

"Oh, no, Mama. I've been nothing since I was four," Raisa answered quietly.

Anna nodded. "I understand," she said. "When did you start believing them?"

"Oh, Mama. Gosh!" Raisa lamented. "Only since I was four."

The doorbell rang. "Guys, no more of this," Anna said firmly. "No more at all. Papa, get the door, please. The rest of you go to the table."

"Okay, Mama," said Anya, and they all herded into the dining room.

"Kira, come and help me set the table," Anna said.

"Yes, Mama," she replied, glad of something to do.

As soon as Callen set the huge bags of Chinese food on the table, the doorbell rang again. He answered it, and accepted the pizza.

"Guys, settle down," he said, sitting down. "All of you need to

understand something: Nothing has changed. What Mama and I told you before dinner still stands. We are having the Chinese food, and Raisa is having the pizza—"

"What if I don't want it?" Raisa interrupted rudely.

"Then, nothing. You begged for pizza, and that's what I got for you. There is no other choice."

"Papa," Anna said.

"No, Anna. We are not backing down just because she changed her mind. Raisa is not in charge. She can have the pizza, or she can have nothing."

"Oh, man," Raisa moaned. She held her hand out, and Callen gave her the pizza bag. "Thank you, Papa."

"You're welcome, baby," he said, opening a carton of the fried rice. Anna handed him several plates, and he served the pork fried rice. He gave the plates to his children.

Anna opened another carton, and found the white rice. She put a good-sized serving on one plate, and then heaped some of the beef'n'broccoli on top. She handed that plate to Callen and then fixed one for herself. She dove in with gusto, and he chuckled at her. She merely grinned at him.

After a little while, Raisa decided to ask for some of the fried rice. Her parents didn't respond quickly.

At last, Callen said, "You need a plate."

Raisa stood up to go to the kitchen for a plate, but Anna waylaid her.

"Sit down, and wait a minute," she said, pulling an extra plate out from under her own. She put some of the fried rice on it. "Please pass this to her," she said.

Callen stared at her, slack-jawed. "You tricky little bat!"

Anna grinned at him. "What can I say?" she sassed. "I know my family!"

"Can we stay up?" Kira wanted to know.

"Not at all," said her mother. "You have school in the morning, and Papa has to go to work."

"Don't you work anymore?" Anya whined.

"Stop, Anya. You know I do, but the doctor hasn't cleared me yet," Anna replied. "I still have my staples, and I cannot go to work with the staples!"

"Why are you being dumb?" Nikolai asked. "You should know that she cannot work with the staples in her body!"

"Whoa!" Callen reacted. "But, Nikolai is right. It's dangerous, too."

"No more," Anna put in. "Finish up, and then put your stuff in the kitchen." She started gathering the empty food cartons.

Callen combined some of the foods, and handed the empty cartons to her. In response, Anna smirked at him.

She carried the entire stack to the kitchen wastebasket, and dropped it in. Then she went back for the full containers.

She surveyed her children. "Get done, guys, please. Which of you is doing the dishes?"

A chorus of "not me!" rang out, and in the blink of an eye, the table was cleared off and wiped down. Then all four fled up the stairs to their rooms.

Anna knew that Callen usually put the kids to bed, but she turned the tables on him, asking him to do the dishes while she supervised the kids.

He laughed, and agreed. He gave her a quick kiss and a hasty hug, and she went upstairs as quickly as the kids had.

"Whoa!" squeaked Raisa. "What are you doing up here, Mama?"

"A better question is what are you and Anya doing on a school night?" Anna replied.

The girls jammed their game pieces into the box, and then stashed it under Raisa's bed.

"Let's go," Anna told them. She escorted them down to the bathroom so they could brush their teeth and get ready for bed.

"Why'd we have to clean up? Papa lets us play," Anya complained.

"Since when?" Anna responded. "I'll tell you what. You've done nothing but complain all evening, so you will be missing the shopping trip this weekend."

"That's not fair, Mama!" Anya squawked.

"Not another sound, or you'll be home for the entire weekend," Anna said firmly. "Do you understand me?"

Anya nodded in response.

Raisa wanted to laugh because it wasn't she who was getting grounded, but she didn't. She didn't want to take the risk.

When they were finished, Anna let them run down the hall to their room, and dive onto their beds. They tried to outslick their mother, and she let it slide.

Anna kissed each girl, and then covered each one right up to her chin. Then she kissed them again, and turned off their light. She decided to tell Callen that they had switched beds…

Then Anna poked her head into Kira's room. She was just about asleep. Anna went in and pulled her blankets up to her chin, and gave her a kiss good night.

Next, she went to Nikolai's room, and he was sound asleep. She checked him for his pull-up, and saw that he hadn't put one on; she let him be. Then she pulled up his blankets to his chin, and kissed him goodnight.

She knew instinctively that neither of those two children had brushed their teeth nor gotten ready for bed properly.

Anna opened the door to her own room, and was very surprised to see the dim lamp on. She looked toward the bed, and then smiled. Callen was already tucked in, and she couldn't wait to join him.

She went to the bathroom to get freshened up, and brush her teeth. Then she climbed into her bed, and lay up against him; he was so warm.

Callen sat bolt upright. "Hey! Get off me, you refrigerator! Jeez!"

Anna did nothing but laugh. Then she held her arms up and he lay down on top of her.

"I thought you said I was cold," she quipped at him.

"You are," he replied. "But I won't freeze," he added, wiggling around.

She put her arms around him. "Stop that, and lie still!"

He sputtered. "You're no fun," he chuckled, turning over onto his stomach. He sidled against her, and rested his head on her shoulder.

Anna wrapped her arm around his neck. Then she kissed him. "No more, please," she cautioned.

"Or what?"

"Or I'll sit on you!" She shoved him off her, and sat up. "I thought you were cold."

"I am," he responded, lying down where she had been. "This is so much better."

Not to be outdone, Anna climbed on top of his body, and stretched out. She loved sleeping on him, and had no desire to move this night.

"You're right. It is better," she answered, burrowing her face in his neck. "Good night, Callen," she added, kissing his cheek.

"Good night, baby," he replied, pulling their sheets and blankets up to their chins. He was warm and comfortable, and loved, and so was Anna. They slept through the night.

While the kids were rushing around getting ready, Anna grabbed Callen.

"What do you want to do about the information I uncovered last night?"

"Plenty," he said, grabbing his socks. "But what IS the information, baby? You never told me."

She jammed her foot into her black bootie. "Callen, this answers all of everything!"

"How so?"

She moved over to his side of the bed, and leaned on him. "Callen, all of the bullshit with Raisa started when she was in PreK," she said. "Those same kids have been together for their entire school career, and they singled out Raisa. Why, I don't know, but they have been bullying her since they were all in Ms. Veronika's class."

He looked at her incredulously. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"I certainly do, and I want to let Ms. Horvath know!"

"Yes," he agreed, "but what about the rest of our kids?"

"We'll figure it out, Callen, but not right now." She finished getting dressed, and went downstairs.

Callen hurried up, and followed her hastily. He made sure each child had his or her schoolbag, and then herded them into his car.

"Papa, why can't we stay home?" begged Anya.

"You starting up again?"

"No, Papa. I don't like eighth grade."

Kira laughed. "I didn't either," she said. "But I got through it."

"Well, Anya," Callen reasoned, "If you want to stay home, you'll have to bring all of your books and assignments with you."

The preteen frowned deeply. "Why? The whole idea is to have no schoolwork, Papa!"

"I'm sorry, baby, but you're underage to cut school. You have to be sixteen," he said, speaking clearly.

"Kids in jail don't have school!" she objected loudly.

Callen pulled into Nikolai's parking lot. "You got your stuff, baby?" he asked his very independent son.

"Yes, Papa," the little boy replied, giving his father a kiss. "Bye, Papa!" He climbed out of the car and ran directly at his teacher, who waved her hand at Callen.

Callen waved back, and then he responded to Anya's statement.

"To the contrary, Anya. Kids in jail do have school, five days per week, just like you. They study the same subjects, too, all because they are underage like you."

"Then how the hell do I get out of schoolwork?" she growled.

"Well," her father replied nonchalantly, "You can start by being grounded from today through Sunday, with no talking except in class."

"Papa, that's not fair!" Anya yelped at him. "Today is only Tuesday!"

"So it is," he said. He was very tired of her poor attitude. "Anya Alexander, you can stay home this week, but you cannot go anywhere at all. Not even outside. Your work has to be completely finished by Sunday dinner, or you will face a bigger consequence."

"That's not fair either!" she shouted at him. She slumped in her seat, and scowled. Her ploys were not working out the way she had planned.

"Oh, boy," Callen muttered. He dropped off his other two daughters, and then drove Anya straight home. "Go up to your room for now."

Glaring at him, and dragging her schoolbag behind her, Anya made her way to her room. She slammed the door shut, and then lay on her bed.

Callen made a face, and called Sam. He asked him to delay picking him up, and Sam was agreeable. He wished he could go with Anna, but didn't want to take the chance with Anya.

"I'll be okay, Callen," she said. "When I get back, my staples will be gone, and I can't wait!" She pulled up her shirt so they could both see them.

Callen put his hand on her side. "Yah," he agreed. He gave her a kiss and sent her on her way.

Anna drove straight to the doctor's office. She was impatient to see him, and she was grateful that she didn't have to wait long.

She squeaked every time a staple was removed, although none hurt. She shuddered when the doctor showed her the flat bowl of the pointy little stickers that had been in her side.

Right after, he removed the stitches from her arm. She felt the threads being pulled, but it was a different sensation. Her arm itched.

The doctor put a soothing lotion on her arm, and on her side as well. Not too long after, Anna felt better. Then he handed her a new tube to take home, cautioning her to use it twice per day. She thanked the doctor profusely for taking care of her.

As she left the office, Anna paused by the front desk, where the nurse put a label with instructions on the tube. She thanked the nurse just as profusely, and then went on her way.

Upstairs, Anya lay on her bed feeling sorry for herself. She did not want to do her schoolwork at all, and she was still angry at her father because he had told her to bring her books home. Then she got up from her bed, and started throwing things around. There was enough slamming that the noise brought her father up to her room.

"Oh, no! Do not throw Raisa's things! As it is, you have to clean up your own things anyway!" he said, knocking on the door and opening it.

"No, I won't," Anya contradicted. "I'm not cleaning any of it!"

"That's fine," he said calmly. Callen scanned the haphazard room, and then left. He closed the door behind him. He could not figure out why his middle daughter hated eighth grade.

A few minutes later, he heard Anna return. He was as excited over her staple-free side as she was. She showed him her arm, too. He touched both scars on her.

"The skin is very soft," he observed, stroking her arm.

"The doctor gave me some cream to put on twice a day," she told him, and taking the tube from her pocket.

"Okay," he said. "Um-mum-mum, I need to talk to you for a minute before I leave."

"You sound serious. What happened?" she asked, leading him over to the dining room table, and sitting down.

"Your middle daughter has gotten herself into a pickle," he said. "She still hates eighth grade, and is home for the week. Right now, she is upstairs in her trashed room."

"What'd she do?"

"Went on a contained rampage, throwing all of her things around. I wouldn't let her throw Raisa's things at all."

"Oh, boy," Anna responded. "Is she cleaning it up?"

"Not at all, and I will not be helping her either. That is your department." Callen stood up, and then gave her a kiss. "Sam is coming momentarily, and I'll be back later on, probably after dinner."

Anna made a face. "Okay." She reached up and gave him a kiss. "You know I'm saving the hard homework for you!"

Callen laughed. "I do, indeed." The doorbell rang. "I'll see you later, baby," he added, as he went to let Sam in.

Anna slouched in her chair. She was very comfortable, and didn't want to move. Then she heard some thudding coming from upstairs, and she steeled herself to go up to see what Anya was doing.

She knocked on the door, and then opened it. She ducked as a book-shaped missile sailed over her head.

"Whoa, Anya!" her mother exclaimed. "You need to stop right now!"

Anya hurled her science textbook at her mother, and narrowly missed hitting her. "No!" the girl roared. She threw another book at her mother.

Anna switched into her agent mode. She grabbed hold of her daughter, and sat her down on the bed. She held onto her.

"You need to stop right now!" Anna growled at her. Anya tried to wrest herself out of her mother's grasp, but could not. "Anya, you need to stop. I cannot help you if you don't stop!"

Callen looked haggard, and Sam commented on his appearance.

"What happened, man? You looked better the other day," Sam said.

Callen laid his head back, and covered his eyes with his hand. "I don't think your daughter is suffering the pangs of eighth grade any more," he moaned.

Sam bit back a chuckle, although he smirked. He was glad that he had gotten past that stage.

"No, she is not," he agreed. "She is giving me grief about other things!"

Callen sat up a little straighter. "Like what?"

Sam growled. "College issues that could impact her career."

Callen frowned. "I thought she was at Annapolis."

"Nope. I think it was too stodgy for her. She likes the freedom of where she's at now."

"Auntie Kensi, why are you here?" Kira asked, very surprised to see her.

"Your parents have something to take care of today," Kensi replied.

"Are we going home today?" Nikolai asked.

"Yes, baby," Kensi answered. "Your mom said you could watch a bunch of movies today."

"Even if our homework isn't done?" Kira asked.

Kensi grinned. "Yup!"

"Oh, yay!" chirped Raisa.

"Oh, yeah? How can you help me when you're holding me like this?"

"Anya, you need to stop!" Anna said. "Just sit still, and we can talk about what's bothering you."

"Nothing is bothering me, Mama! I hate eighth grade, and I don't want to go to school until it's over!" Anya struggled against her mother's grip.

"You can't if you don't pass, Anya. Next year, you're going to the high school, and you cannot go there if you don't complete eighth grade first."

"That's lame!"

"How so?" her mother said. "Well, if you don't want to pass regular school, plan on going to summer school this year."

"NO! School is for dummies!"

"Really? Who told you that?"

The three kids all dropped their schoolbags by the front door. They fervently hoped that their parents wouldn't realize that their homework wasn't completed.

They piled up on the couch, and they gave Kira the first turn at choosing a movie to watch. She scrolled, and came to a stop at a Duck Tales movie which they all enjoyed. Raisa had the second turn, and she chose a GI Joe cartoon; they all enjoyed that. Nikolai chose a Huckleberry Hound cartoon, and eventually, he began to sing along with the blue dog. His sisters joined him.

When the movies were all finished, it was dinner time…except that there was no dinner to be had. Kira brought her siblings to the kitchen and asked them what they wanted to eat. A general consensus followed, and they wound up having microwaved chicken nuggets and and regular mashed potatoes. Then she reminded the kids to put their dishes in the sink, which they did. But nobody washed anything. After, they returned to their movies.

"Answer me. Who says school is for dummies?"

Anya glanced at her mother. "Well," she said at last, "Raisa is in school and she is a dummy. I'm not a dummy, and I am not going to school!"

"Ohhhh. Is that how it is?" Anna released her grip, but kept Anya within her embrace.

"Yes! The whole school knows that she is a dummy," Anya continued.

Anna became very angry. "Why are you saying such things? Raisa is your sister. You should be supporting her, and not shooting her down! I am ashamed of you, Anya."

"Why? I didn't do anything!"

Anna turned her daughter around so she could see her face fully. "Did it ever occur to you that that might be the reason why? You not doing anything does not make Raisa feel better."

"Dummies have feelings?"

Anna wanted to beat her child because she was so angry, but she didn't. In a very low, even voice, she continued, "First of all, none of my children are dummies, no matter what! —"

"But she—"

"Don't go there, Anya. If you do, you will have to include me."

Anya's jaw dropped. "You? You aren't a dummy!"

"No, I'm not, but I could not do math when I was Raisa's age. By your own reasoning, that makes me a dummy."

"No, Mama! No! You aren't a dummy!"

"Neither is Raisa. Remember that she is the only straight A student in this family, parents included. So, she is not a dummy."