The team was in the armory, preparing for a tactical mission. The tension in the air was thick as they geared up. Sam, Callen, Kensi, and Deeks were all going through their usual pre-mission routines—checking their weapons, making sure everything was in place, and ready for whatever danger lay ahead.
Sam had been unusually quiet, his focus sharp as he double-checked his gear. He couldn't help but notice the usual camaraderie between the team, but today, there was something different. Something about the way Callen and Nell interacted that had his attention.
The door opened, and Nell walked in, carrying a file with some additional intel for them. She handed it over to Kensi, who gave her a grateful nod before diving into the information. But Nell didn't leave right away. Instead, she hung back, watching the team as they prepared. Sam's eyes followed her movements, noting how she lingered near Callen, her gaze flickering between him and the task at hand.
Callen, as usual, was making sure his weapon was in perfect working order. As he loaded up his spare clips, Nell stepped up beside him. She passed him a clip, their fingers brushing for a second as she handed it to him. A subtle, almost imperceptible touch, but Sam caught it. He could see the way Nell's eyes softened when she looked at Callen—like she was paying extra attention, making sure he was fully prepared for the mission.
Then Nell moved on to his rifle. She adjusted the strap, tightening it slightly as she looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes meeting his with an unspoken understanding between them. Callen didn't miss a beat, simply offering her a small smile, but Sam could see the quiet gratitude in his eyes. It was the kind of look reserved for someone you trusted implicitly.
Nell, still focused, handed the rifle to Callen with a gentle but firm touch, making sure the strap was properly secured. She didn't pull away immediately, her hands lingering for a moment on the rifle, checking that everything was as it should be. She wasn't just preparing him physically for the mission—there was something in her actions that spoke to a deeper, more personal care.
Sam watched all of this unfold, his brow furrowing as he processed what he was seeing. He had always known that Callen and Nell shared a strong bond, but this? This felt different. Nell wasn't just making sure Callen was equipped for the mission; it was as if she was making sure he was ready—emotionally, too. She wasn't just focused on the tactical side of things; she was invested in making sure Callen, the person, was taken care of.
Sam had thought that maybe he was reading too much into things—that the connection between them was just a result of close quarters and teamwork. But watching Nell carefully adjust Callen's rifle and check his gear, her every movement deliberate, made something clear in his mind: Nell was just as much in tune with whatever was happening between her and Callen as he was. They were both involved in something deeper than the friendship they'd always portrayed, though he'd bet his house that neither of them realised or acknowledged it.
It wasn't just about work anymore. It was about making sure the other was safe. It was about caring.
Sam's gaze shifted between Callen and Nell as she made her final adjustments, still standing a little too close, her body language open and willing, her concern for Callen almost palpable. As Nell moved away, returning to Kensi to point something out in the additional intel, Sam turned his attention back to his own gear, his thoughts running deeper than before.
His partner, Callen, had always been a bit of a mystery when it came to matters of the heart, and Sam had always respected that. But now, it seemed clearer than ever that Callen had found someone who understood him in a way no one else did. And, just as importantly, Nell had found someone who cared for her as deeply as she did for him.
Sam finally couldn't hold back a knowing smile as he glanced toward Kensi and Deeks, who were busy discussing mission details. His gaze shifted once more to Callen and Nell, his eyes lingering for just a second longer before he shook his head slightly. This was something that had been building for a while. The way they looked at each other, the unspoken communication between them—it was undeniable.
"Looks like you two are ready," Sam muttered under his breath, almost to himself.
The mission ahead was dangerous, but Sam knew one thing for sure: whatever happened, Callen and Nell had each other's backs, and that was more than any tactical gear could provide.