Nell was in a little bit of shock when Dani said that. "He's your boyfriend?" She asked to make sure what she heard.
"Yes we've been together a little over 6 months and i haven't told my dad yet". Dani said.
"In a way I could see why you haven't told him"
"What should I do Aunt Nell? If i tell my dad and the others i'd be betraying Seth's trust but if i don't tell Seth could end up dead or in jail"
"Do what you think is right, tell your dad and the others. If Seth is part of whatever this is we can help him before it's too late"
Just then the team came in and when Dani saw her father she felt her chest raise and her breath getting caught in her throat she then let it out.
"You can do it D"
"Thanks"
The teen then went down and hugged her father from behind. "Hi dad". She said.
"Hey Dani, how was school?" He asked his daughter.
"It was ok, could I talk to you about something?"
"Sure"
Dani then pulled her father aside as the others watched. "What was that about?" Sam asked.
"I don't know". Kensi said.
Once the father and daughter were clear of everybody Dani spoke up. "Dad what i'm about to tell you please don't get mad at me"
"Why would I be mad? Wait, you didn't get suspended from school again did you?"
"No dad. The reason I have Seth's file is because I stole it from school the same day I stole the case files but hear me out first. After school today I followed Seth somewhere and he was meeting a group of men. He took something in a backpack I bolted before I could get caught".
"Dani wha- this is too much to handle all at once. Why were you even looking into him anyway?"
The young teen held her head down for a second trying to gain her posture. "Well i'm waiting Dani"
"Seth's my boyfriend"
Callen, Sam, and Kensi had gone up to Ops after they had given the Wonder Twins the phone from the site.
"What'd you get off the phone Eric?" Callen asked.
"It's the same kind of phone that was used and placed at the other bomb sites and has a message on it". Eric said.
The young tech had put it up on the screen and it said, 'Pacem Bello'
"Pacem Bello? Latin again what is it with these guys" Sam spoke.
"What this means Mr. Hanna is peace through war, whoever these people are, they want a war and will get it". Hetty said.
Deeks was still with his daughter getting more frustrated by the minute.
"Look dad I know you're mad I didn't tell you and I'm sorry, I wanted to see how things would work out before we said anything" Dani told her father.
"I'm your father Dani, you know you can tell me anything" Deeks responded.
"I know and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I don't know what's going on with Seth but I wanna help him before he ends up either dead or in jail, I love him dad"
"Your 16 Dani you don't know anything about loving someone"
"Either way I want to help him, I don't want to see him being buried in the ground or locked up for the rest of his life"
"Alright but you have to get him to talk to us first"
"I'll try dad I promise"
"But don't you ever put yourself in harm like that again Danielle Riley"
"I won't dad I promise"
The two hugged for a moment then Deeks got back to work when Dani went out to call Seth.
-Hello. Seth came on panicked.
-Seth? Are you ok? Dani asked with concern.
-I'm fine D what's up?
-I was wondering if you would wanna hang out.
-Sure.
-I'll text you the address.
-Alright, I love you Dani.
-I love you too. Dani said.
She hung up and texted him the address to the boat shed and went back inside to inform her father. "Dad, he'll meet us at the boat shed"
"Alright, Kens I'm gonna need help with this". Deeks looked to his partner.
"Let's go". Kensi said.
The three had left, leaving the other two agents confused when Nell came down with some Intel.
"You guys ok?" Nell asked.
"It's Dani, something's going on with her". Sam said.
"You would have found this out at some point but Dani stole the file on Seth the same day she stole the case files, she followed him and he was retrieving something in a backpack. She thinks he could be involved"
"Why would she not say something to all of us?" Callen asked.
Nell bit her lip dreading the next part. "Because she's dating Seth".
Seth was standing outside jittery, pacing back and forth when finally Dani, Deeks, and Kensi arrived.
"Seth" Dani called, running to him.
The young boy looked over to see his girlfriend coming towards him and when they got next to each other they hugged and kissed, Deeks didn't look happy when he saw his daughter kiss the teen boy.
"Deeks calm down". Kensi said.
"I can't believe my little girl is growing up so fast". Deeks said.
"She has to at some point"
"So what'd you wanna do?" Seth asked.
"Well my dad and his partner wants to talk to you about something". Dani replied cautiously.
"Talk to me about what?"
"Seth, I followed you after school, I saw where you went. I don't want you to end up dead
or in jail for the rest of your life please let us help you"
"You don't understand, I can't"
When the two partners got near the two teens they decided to go in the boat shed before anything could happen or anyone could see.
"Look what you saw Dani just forget it alright, besides nobody can help me"
"Why do you say that Seth?" Kensi asked, first.
"These guys are dangerous. If you do anything to piss them off they'll kill you and your loved ones"
"Is that what they said to you Seth?" Deeks asked next.
"I tried to leave before and they said if I did they would kill my mom, dad, and brother, I thought it was cool at first but now I just want out but I can't because it'll have my family killed"
"What was in the backpack you got today?" Dani asked.
"A bomb I'm suppose to plant it and detonate it and leave behind a phone, that's it".
"Where's the backpack now?" Kensi asked.
"I was supposed to leave it on a bus and wait for the signal to detonate it"
"Why didn't you tell me Seth? I could have helped you". Dani spoke feeling hurt.
"I didn't wanna involve you Dani, in fact you already know too much"
"Seth, please don't tell me what I think you're about to say". Dani's voice cracked.
"I'm sorry but I have to do this Dani, I can't be with you anymore. I still love you but I don't wanna hurt you so goodbye"
"Seth please don't do this, I can take care of myself". Dani let out a sob.
"Dani, these guys are dangerous. You already know too much if they know that I talked or that you know anything they'll kill both of us, I'm not taking that chance".
The teen boy then left the boat shed Dani had tried to chase him but her father had caught her and brought her into his arms.
"Let him go, we'll find him" Deeks soothed her.
"No.. I…I have to go after him" Dani cried, struggling to get out of her father's hold.
"Callen and Sam will find him. We will help him"
"What if…What if they kill him? I can't lose him daddy"
The middle aged father felt his heart break for his daughter, eventually she had stopped fighting her father's hold and cried into his chest.
"Shh sweetheart shh it's alright, I'm here. I got you, I got you"
The teen cried for another couple of minutes till her cries were now sniffles. "He's right". Her voice is hoarse. "He's right, he doesn't wanna see me hurt because of him but I will find a way to help him"
Callen and Sam were stunned at the redheaded tech. "You mean to tell me that Dani is dating a suspect in this case?" Callen asked.
"She didn't think he was involved yet and now that he is I don't know what's gonna happen". Nell said.
"Anyway, did you find anything for us?" Sam changed the subject.
"Yes, the phones are prepaid so they can't be traced, however I searched for this type of phone and many people bought them but someone bought quite a few of them at random stores so he can't be tracked or traced"
"Does it say how they were paid for?" Callen asked.
"Cash. I called the stores and I developed a pattern, he hits the stores in a specific area and he always pays for them in cash so that way it can't be tracked or traced back to him".
"How can you know for sure it's a he?" Sam asked.
"They sent me their surveillance footage and I'm running it through the database to see what comes up"
Eric then came running out of Ops and almost fell but caught the attention of Sam, Nell, and Callen.
"Everything alright Eric?" Sam asked.
"There was another bombing but it was on a bus this time, downtown LA". Eric said.
"Were on it tell Kensi and Deeks". Callen said.
"Already done". Eric said.
Sam and Callen had left for the scene, Kensi had just gotten the text from Eric. "Deeks there was another bombing this time on a bus downtown LA, Callen and Sam are on their way". Kensi said quietly.
"Do you think it was Seth?" Dani asked, dreading the question.
"We don't know yet but come on, you are waiting in the car". Deeks said.
Not in the mood to fight or argue the decision she had nodded at her father. "Alright"
They got in and headed for the scene, when they got there police, FBI, firefighters, and paramedics were everywhere treating the injured civilians. Deeks and Kensi had gotten out leaving Dani in the car as she slowly went to sleep, when the dirty blonde haired father looked back he wanted to go and hold his daughter, never letting her go.
"She'll be ok" Kensi assured him gently.
"In a way that kid did the right thing". Deeks said.
"That kid's name is Seth and you're right he did the right thing, he didn't wanna see her hurt so he protected her by ending things"
"I just hate seeing her upset and crying like that"
"I do too but she'll be ok. Dani is strong, just like her father"
They got closer to see the damage and it was bad, half of the bus was burnt, many people were hurt and others were killed. Sam and Callen were talking to a cop who had handed them a cell phone that was in an evidence bag then the cop walked away just as Kensi and Deeks went up to their other two partners.
"What happened". Kensi said.
"Apparently somebody left a backpack on the bus and it went off, whoever did it left behind this phone". Callen started.
When they pulled the phone out there was a message on it, qui paratus est bullum'.
"What does this mean?" Deeks asked.
"Let's head back to Ops and figure it out from there". Callen asked.
They headed back to their HQ all in the while Seth had looked at what he's done. He knew he couldn't do this again so he was gonna get some help. When the team got to Ops they gave Eric the phone and he put the message up on the screen just as Hetty and Granger came in which caught everyone's attention.
"What were you able to find out?" Granger asked.
"Someone had left a backpack on the bus and later detonated it". Callen said.
"We were able to get this phone from the scene with this message" Sam continued.
The message was up on the screen, qui paratus est bullum.
"Hetty do you have any idea what it could mean?" Kensi asked.
"What it means is that war is coming be prepared". Hetty answered.