Mission 101

Chapter 50- Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose

Callen's POV

I was so confused. I thought Deeks had a 'thing' for Kensi. But then Sam and I turn up at his house and he's with some other girl? And trust me, that was really awkward. He obviously doesn't care as much about Kensi as he led everyone to believe.

I walked into the gym with Sam and went straight to the punching bag. Sam went to the exercise bike and started it up, increasing its scale up incredibly high, within two minutes. "G, you know if you keep hitting it that hard, you're going to end up hurting yourself. What's gotten you in such a bad mood? You were fine this morning. Is this about Deeks and his feline friend?" Sam asked. I laughed and stopped punching the bag, pulling the gloves off and wiping my face with a towel. "I'm fine, Sam. Don't you think it's a bit weird that after all these years of Deeks and Kensi having a 'thing', that Deeks would go and sleep with a random chick. It just goes to show that maybe Deeks doesn't care as much for Kensi as we all thought he did. As far as we know, Deeks could have one hundred girls lined up and we wouldn't even know." I stated. Sam rolled his eyes. "Come on, don't you think that's a little dramatic?"

I went to reply, but Nell walked in. She looked like she hadn't slept in days. "Hey, Nell. How are you doing?" Sam asked. Nell looked at him and just nodded. "Yeah, fine. Hey have you guys seen Eric today? He's usually in by now." I looked at Sam, who's smile had slightly faded. "Umm, Nell? Eric doesn't work here anymore. He quit yesterday." I explained, instantly making Nell frown. "Wait, what do you mean, Eric quit NCIS? Oh my god. This is all my fault. I'm such an idiot. Anyways, Hetty wanted me to tell you we don't have any cases, so it's paperwork for today." She replied, tears forming in her red, sleep deprived eyes, as she started to walk out of the gym.

"Nell, wait! Hey, come here. It's going to be okay." I comforted, wrapping my arms around Nell. "I don't know, Callen. I seem to have made a pretty big mess of this whole 'situation' and I don't know how to fix it." She replied, pulling away and wiping her face. "Nell. It's okay. You just need to talk to Eric. You will sort this out." Sam tried. Nell forced a smile. "You guys better head back to the bullpen and get started on your paperwork, you have a big stack each and it has to be done by six tonight or Hetty will have your heads on stakes. Can you tell her I'm taking care of something and that I'll be back in about an hour? I have to go find Eric." She replied, walking out of the gym after Sam and happily nodded, following her out and going to the locker rooms to have a shower and get changed before we start work.

I walked into Hetty's office, while Sam went into the bullpen and sat down, starting on his big stack of paperwork. "Hey, Hetty. Nell just wanted me to tell you that she had to take care of something and she will be back in about an hour." I informed. Hetty looked up and out her cup of tea down. "Ahh, I thought so. Thank you for telling me, Mr Callen." She replied. "Hetty, did you seriously let Eric quit yesterday? Or was that just some sick joke? Nell is pretty worked up about it." I stated. Hetty sighed. "He did, yes. However, I don't think it will last long. Eric and Nell will sort out all of their problems or misunderstandings, if you must. We just need to let them both cool off. Now, Mr Callen. I suggest you get started on that paperwork of yours. It isn't going to do itself and you have the biggest pile out of the lot. I thought you would be more organised, considering you are of course, team leader." Hetty stated. I nodded and walked into the bullpen, pulling out my paperwork for a long, very boring, day of work.

"Morning!" DiNozo greeted, walking into the bullpen along with Ziva, McGee, Abby and Gibbs. I looked up and smiled. "Morning." Sam and I replied, simultaneously. "Hetty set up a desk for you three here," I added, pointing to DiNozzo, McGee and Ziva and gesturing towards the desk they put to the left of the bullpen inbetween mine and Kensi's and Sam and Deeks' desks. They nodded and sat down after thanking us. "Abby, they've set up a working area with all of your 'forensic theory' materials or whatever it is, up in the room next to ops. If you need help with anything, just call out. Nell's out for about an hour, but she should be back soon." Sam explained. Abby nodded. "Thanks guys. I guess I'll go get working! Is Eric here?"

"No. Eric quit last night. Nell has gone to try and find him, he's not home and not answering anyone's calls. He's gone off the grid." I informed. Abby's smiled faded. "Why would he quit? I mean, Eric loved his job! Is everything okay?" I shrugged, not knowing what to say. "Yeah. I think so. Eric and Nell just had a little 'misunderstanding'. All thanks to Granger. Don't worry, he'll be back before you know it." Sam answered for me. Abby nodded and ran upstairs to the room that was set up for her. "So, I'm guessing considering you are both sitting at your desks, that we are doing paperwork today?" Ziva asked. I nodded, sadly.

"Seriously, paperwork?" Deeks asked, walking into the bullpen, throwing his bag on his desk and sitting down, with a coffee and croissant. I looked over at him and nodded. "No time for breakfast this morning, Deeks?" Sam teased, noticing the food. I chuckled quietly. "No,actually. Because you wanted me to go and see Eric, now didn't you?" Deeks responded. "Yeah, um. Sorry about interrupting your 'female bonding' session this morning." I stated, smirking slightly, as Kensi walked in. Deeks just nodded. "Morning." She greeted, sitting in her chair, placing a coffee and doughnut on her table. "Looks like Deeks isn't the only one around here that didn't get time for breakfast this morning." I stated.

"I stayed at a friends last night and they live a little further from work. Let me eat in peace, gosh!" Kensi exclaimed. I raised my hands in mercy. "Okay, so Deeks, did you manage to talk to Eric?" Sam asked. Deeks looked up, dusting off his hands, from the croissant crumbs. "No. He wasn't home. I'm gonna head back around there after work and try again. I can't believe he quit. I didn't think things would get so...out of hand." He replied. I nodded and went back to my paperwork.

A few minutes later, I looked up and saw Kensi texting on her phone, not bothering with the paperwork yet. She put it down on the table and opened up her first piece of paperwork. Then I looked over to Deeks and saw him texting on his phone. When he stopped and put it down, Kensi's phone lit up and she started texting again. They both had smiles on their faces and occasionally looking up at each other. I smiled. "You know, you're sitting across from each other. Is there seriously a need to text?" I commented. They both looked up and smiled, putting their phones away and getting back to their paperwork. Definitely a thing. I just wonder how many 'things' Deeks has with other girls.