Mission 101

Chapter 43- I Don't Trust Words. I Trust Actions

Callen's POV

I was sitting with Joelle, with my arm wrapped tightly around her waist and her head nuzzled into my chest, when Eric and Nell got up. "Guys, we're going to head home. Do you guys wanna join us for a few drinks?" Eric asked, looking around to everyone. I looked over at Joelle who nodded happily. "Yeah, sure." I reply, as everyone nodded and agreed, apart from Kensi and Deeks.

"Umm, I can't. I have plans." Deeks stated. "Yeah, I promised my mom I would watch the finale of America's next top model with her, so you know." Kensi added. Everyone looked at them for an explanation, clearly not buying their excuses. "Really?" Sam asked, frowning. "Yeah you know, I have a date...You know what? I'm actually going to be late. Umm, I'll see you later." Deeks replies, looking at his watch and walking off nervously to his car. Kensi looked at the team and smiled. "Hey, Deeks! Do you mind giving me a ride to my moms? Cool. Uhm, yeah. I'll see you at work tomorrow, guys!" I exchanged looks of uncertainty with Sam, both of us being unsure about what just happened.

Hetty smiled, turning to everyone. "As much as I would love a few drinks right now, Mr Beale. I think I better head home. Ohh and Jethro? I trust that you will do what I suggested earlier?" Hetty stated, turning on her heal, grabbing her bag and walking towards her Jag.

I went up to Sam and nudged him. "Do you know what just happened? With Kensi and Deeks?" I asked. He shook his head and laughed. "Nope. But I want to find out. I swear if he hurts her, I'm going to kill him. Although, It kinda looked like Kensi has that in control." Sam replied, probably replaying the scene where Kensi kicked Deeks, leading in Deeks falling to the ground, unable to stand up for about fifteeen minutes.

"Come on. Let's go. You sure you're up for drinks? I mean, we could always do something else?" I whispered into Joelle's right ear. She giggled. "Ohh yeah, like what?" I smiled at her and thought for a second. "I don't know, how about me, you, dinner. Maybe after that we could round up some strawberries and champagne. I'm sure the hot tub won't mind being put to use for a few hours." I suggested, softly so only Joelle could hear. She giggled quietly, looking to the teams who were packing up their things ready to head to Eric's house.

"Uhm yeah...I think we'll pass. Callen and I have other things that need to be done." Joelle informed, not very discretely, if you ask me. The teams cringe and keep walking.

Joelle giggled, interwining my hands with hers and leading me towards my car. I stopped her when we got to the passanger side door, wrapping our interwined hands around the back of her waist and pulling her closer to me. "I love you, Joelle." I informed. She looked at me and smiled. "Aww Callen, I love you too." I pulled her into me, so her chest was rubbing against mine. I held up her chin and kissed her lips intensly. She pulled up her hand and stoked my cheek softly. I pulled away and opened the door, gesturing for her to get inside. She nodded, hopping into the car and putting her seatbelt on, while I walked around to  the other side and did the same.

I started up the car and pulled out onto the main road, while Joelle held her hand on top of mine, on my knee. Joelle's phone started ringing and much to my disapointment, she let go of my hand and pulled out her phone, answering it. "Hello?" She was silent for a second, I looked over to her and she seemed to have tensed up. "Max?" She asked. I turned back to my driving. "Who the hell do you think you are calling me?....No! You don't get to talk. What the hell is wrong with you?" She yelled. I looked over to her and she looked like she was going to break any second. I placed my hand on her thigh, showing her I was here for her. She looked out the window, clearly avoiding eye contact with me.

"What are you talking about?....No...I thought you..What?...Now why would I do that?....Oh my god, you're an idiot....Don't you dare touch her!....Max?....Max!......Max!.." Joelle yelled, hanging up and dropping her phone into her lap. I pulled over and turned to her, still keeping my hand on her thigh.

"Jo? Hey, Joelle? What just happened? Are you okay? Who's Max?" I questioned. Joelle leant her head against the side window and tilted her head to look at me, not saying anything. She had tears forming in her eyes. "Joelle, it's okay. You can tell me, it's going to be okay. Come here." I stated, moving closer to her and motioning for her to give me a hug. At first she was hesitant, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight, covering my shirt in tears.

She pulled away and looked at me. "Max is my sisters ex boyfriend. He attacked her a little over two months ago. She left him and he was arrested for assult. He got out of jail yesterday and he is looking for her. He said he found her and he was going to kill her." Joelle explained, tears pouring down her face like a stream. I wasn't expecting that. "Joelle? It's going to be okay. We are going to find her and he is not going to hurt her, okay? You have to trust me, okay?" I asked, holding onto Joelle and looking deeply into her eyes. She nodded.

I pulled out my phone and dialled Nell's number. Eric would be driving, so I thought it would be best to call Nell. "Hey Nell! We have a problem! We need to get to ops. Now. Call Kensi and Deeks, get them to meet us there. I'm going to call Sam and Hetty."

"Callen, what's going on? Okay. We'll see you soon." Nell replied, through the phone. I hung up, dialling Hetty's number. "Hetty! Joelle's sister is in trouble. She has been kiddnapped and is being threatened to be killed. We need to find her. Can you meet us at ops?" I explained. I heard Hetty sigh through the phone. "Ohh bugger. Of course, Mr Callen. I will be there in two minutes." She replied, hanging up.

I put my phone back into my pocket and placed my hand on Joelle's thigh again, in order to comfort her. I pulled out back onto the main road and turned around, speeding to ops, probably breaking about ten different traffic laws  while doing so. No wonder why I'm always getting sent to traffic school.

"Joelle. It's going to be okay. I just need you to trust me okay?" I reassured. Joelle nodded. "G, there isn't a person in the world, that I trust more." I smiled as she took my hand and held it in hers, storking the back of mine with her thumb.

We arrived at ops a few minutes later and we both ran inside. When we got inside Joelle was standing in awe, which made me realise that she hadn't been here before. "Come on." I guided her up the stairs into ops, where Hetty, Eric and Nell were already waiting. "Okay, Callen. What's going on?" Nell asked, looking at Joelle and I as we walked in the room. Joelle looked like she was going to break and start crying again, so I reached down and interwined our fingers, letting her know that it was going to be okay.

"Can you trace the last call made to Joelle's phone?" I asked, not bothering to explain just yet. I didn't want to have to explain three times. Eric nods, typing away on his computer. "It's a burn phone. Probably trashed it. Want to tell us what's going on?" He asked, as Kensi, Deeks and Sam come running into ops. I turn around so that I was facing everyone. "Joelle's sister has been kiddnapped, by her ex boyfriend. He called Joelle and said that he was going to kill her sister." I informed. Joelle started crying again, so I turned to her and pulled her into a hug, stroking her hair and kissing her head softly. "Hey, It's going to be okay. We are going to find her, before Max can do anything." I whispered. She nodded and pulled away, wiping her tears from her face. "Okay, Joelle, do you happen to know Max's last name?" I asked, holding her around her waist. She nodded. "Max Brandel."

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Hey guys. Just so you know, I'm going away for a few days and probably won't be able to post. I will try, but it's highly unlikely. Please bare with me. Sorry guys. I will post a bunch of chapters when I get back.

Molly L. Brookes