The glances they make at each other tell them everything

GLANCES

Apologetic

"Huh. Now, just think of how much faster you two would have come to this discovery had to worked together" Hetty said, accentuating the word together.

Both of them looked down at the ground and then toward each other real quick. Their glances were apologetic toward each other.

Later that night they were closing up everything when he spoke first.

"Nell?" He asked as he shut down the monitor.

"Yea, Eric?" She said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry about earlier today. I shouldn't have acted toward you the way I did." He said, rubbing his hands together.

"It's my fault also, Eric. I'm too stubborn for my own good sometimes." Nell said.

"You and me both." Eric said.

"I'm sorry, too. From now on we work as partners always. Deal?" She said.

Eric smiled and held his hand out of her. "Deal"

She gave him an underhanded high five. They walked out of Ops and to their cars, saying their good nights and driving away.

Embarrassment and Worry

"You just pull that address off the top of your head?" Sam asked.

"I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't keep track of my agents." Hetty replied before leaning toward Sam. "By the way, you're over watering your lawn"

Everyone in the Ops center smiled a bit at that revelation, everyone except the bespectacled blond and the pixie cut red head next to him. They both glanced at each other that was part embarrassed and part worry.

One hour later they were working away when she broke the silence first.

"So…Hetty keeps track of us?" She asked.

"Seems that way." Eric replied, not looking away from his work.

"You think she has spied on us?" She asked.

"Who knows?" Eric replied.

"Even if she did it's not like we…" She started

"We are just friends hanging out, playing video games, and watching movies. Nothing to be scared about." Eric said.

Nell broke a little smile on her face.

"Works for me." She said

Relief

Nell could have swore that today was easily the worst day of her life. It seemed normal enough until she had to watch her friend and partner almost die and she was unable to do anything about it. She was apologetic over the coms after Callen and Sam had saved him but it did little to quell the turmoil inside her.

When she heard the doors open and the sound of his flip-flops smacking on the floor she turned around and looked at him in relief. He was standing in front of her, in the flesh.

"Welcome back" She said with a smile.

"You didn't spin my chair, did you?" He asked.

"Why, I am shocked you would even think I would do something like that." She said, in mock exasperation.

Loving Relief

Eric tore through the doors of the hospital like a hurricane. Kensi and Deeks walked up to him but he shoved them out of the way, surprising them both.

"Get out of my way. I need to see her!" Eric said.

Callen stepped up to him and held his hand up.

"Chill out, Eric. She is going to be fine." He said, trying to calm Eric down.

"Move, Callen." Eric said, trying to move around him. Sam stepped up behind him and wrapped his arms around Eric, pulling him into a bear hug.

"Get off me, Sam!" Eric said, trying to wrestle his way out of his grip.

"Not until you calm down. You aren't doing her, yourself, or anyone else a favor being riled up like this." Sam said in a calm voice.

Eric stopped fighting but he shot a glare at Callen. "You promised me. You said you would keep her safe." Rage evident in his voice.

Callen could only nod. "Yes, I did say that I would protect her. And this is my fault. I accept all blame for this." He said.

"Mr. Beale. Good you have arrived." Hetty said as she walked around the corner. Sam let go of Eric and stepped away.

"I just spoke with the doctor. The surgery went well and Nell is going to be fine. The knife hit her kidney so she is going to have to be on dialysis for a few weeks but she will make a full recovery." She explained to Eric, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

A nurse walked up to the group. "I'm sorry to interrupt but Miss Jones is awake now. For how long, we aren't sure but she might be awake long enough for one visitor for a few minutes." She explained.

Everyone in the group knew exactly who that visitor should be. Sam gently patted Eric on the shoulder, nudging him forward.

Eric stepped forward and the nurse led him down the hall to the ICU ward. She brought him to a glass wall which divided the main area with the recovery room. Eric's eyes locked onto Nell as she lay on the bed. The nurse went in and gently nudged Nell who opened her eyes weakly. The nurse pointed toward the glass wall and Nell's eyes followed. Their eyes met and his glance at her was equal parts love and relief that she was going to be ok. She gave a weak smile before waving to him. He smiled back, wiping a tear from his eye, before signing a quick "I love you" to her, which she returned again before laying her head to the side and falling back asleep.

Sadness, Rage, and Determination

"Send me the picture" Deeks said over the coms.

"Deeks…" Nell replied.

"Send…me…the picture" Deeks said again, the anger in his voice rising.

Eric looked over at Hetty, pleading with her to tell him what to do. She nodded to him and he typed in a few commands. He slammed the Enter key harder then was necessary and his face turned sour.

"Oh" Was the only word Deeks was able to make out as he looked at the picture of Kensi.

Then a series of soft sobs started to come through the coms, before the breathing became deeper and deeper. Finally a howl of pure rage erupted before Hetty reached over and cut off the coms. She walked out, leaving Eric and Nell sitting there silent.

They both continued to work in silence until Eric stood up, mumbling words to the effect that he needed to use the restroom or get some air, Nell couldn't quite tell. She sat alone for almost 10 minutes before she stood up and tried to find him.

She opened the door to a file room that was tucked away in a dark corner of the mission. She closed the door silently and looked among the rows of cabinets until she found him. He was crouched in the corner, arms resting on his knees. She walked up to him and stood in front of him. He looked up and there was sadness in both their eyes. He held his hand out to her and she grabbed it. She got down on the ground and curled up against him, wrapping her arms around his chest.

They sat in silence, ragged breaths coming from both of them and a few tears shed before he finally spoke.

"I destroyed him. He is my best friend and I just destroyed his entire life." He said.

Nell shook her head against his chest. "You didn't do anything, Eric. This is entirely their fault, not yours." She whispered.

"You heard him. You heard him just as much as I did." Eric continued.

She raised her head off of his chest to look him in the eyes. She reached up and took his glasses off, wiping the tears from his face with the sleeve of her sweater before putting them back.

"She is alive. I know it. There is no way she is going out this easy." Nell said.

"You don't know that for certain. We can't tell if that picture has been faked or not." Eric said.

"I know. But I believe that she is alive. Because we need her to be. We need her to come home." Nell said.

"And if she isn't?" Eric said.

Nell's eyes replaced sadness with rage and fury. "Then we hunt them down. Every single one of those animals. We hunt them to the ends of the earth and we make them pay for what they have done."

Eric's gaze matched hers. "Let's do it. For Deeks, and Kensi." He said as he stood up, pulling her up with him.

Love and Hope

"I know how much you hate pants, and ties, and suits in general, Mr. Beale, but I must say you are looking stunning." Hetty said as she inspected Eric and his tuxedo.

"Well I have the best reason every to wear one today, Hetty." Eric replied.

Hetty stepped onto a step stool and help tie his tie around his neck.

"Doubtful you will ever find a better reason, Mr. Beale" She said, smiling.

"Thank you, Hetty" Eric said.

"For what?" She asked.

"For giving her a chance. We all know how much Intelligence Analysts annoy you." Eric said.

"That is because she is the first one who did what she was supposed to do." Hetty replied, pulling out a lint brush and brushing his suit.

"What is that?" Eric replied.

"Every Analyst that has ever worked for me has always told me what they think I think they should think. She was the first who actually told me what she thinks." Hetty replied with a smile.

"She is one of a kind." Eric said.

"That she is. And she is lucky to have you, just as much as you are lucky to have her." Hetty said.

"We are ready to go." Deeks voice came out from the doorway.

"Now, Mr. Beale. Let us not keep the future Mrs. Beale waiting." Hetty said as they left the room and walked to the main room leading to the backyard.

There was a small crowd already sitting. Eric looked at the 3 men standing waiting for him. Deeks, Callen and Sam all clapped him on the shoulder as he took his spot in front of them. Together they walked out to the arch way and were greeted by Nell's uncle David. Music started to play as Rose, Michelle, and Kensi walked down the pathway and took their spots. Kamran followed leading Monty down the pathway, handing the leash to Deeks. The music changed as David motioned for everyone to stand. They turned and looked at the house as Nell walked out being led by her father Ralph. Their eyes met and no one could question the glances they gave each other. Eric already had tears welling in his eyes seeing her in her gown. Nell was equally struggling to keep her emotions in check. They stopped and David asked who was giving her away and Ralph responded, giving Nell a kiss on the cheek before giving his own glance to Eric. It said to him Take care of her And Eric returned with his own glance replying Always.

The original idea came from watching Personal and noticing the quick awkward glance Eric and Nell give each other.

I know I said I would work on the backlog but my muses seem to have flown the coop with those. Im working on them...slowly.

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Also insert your own Towel joke here.

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