Mission 101

Chapter 52- Inhale Confidence, Exhale Doubt

Sam's POV

"Man maintains his balance, poise and sense of security, only as he is moving forward." Deeks stated. "Stealing quotes now, are we Deeks?" Callen asked, raising his eyebrows. "What? What are you talking about?" Deeks retorted. "Haha, Maxwell Maltz?" Callen replied. "Who's Maxwell Maltz?" McGee asked. "You don't know Maxwell Maltz?" I asked, surprised. McGee shook his head. "Maxwell Maltz was an American cosmetic surgeon. He wrote that book, Psycho-Cybernetics." I explained. Deeks looked surprised. "You guys have read that? Why would you want to read a system of ideas that he claimed to improve ones self-image? Your image is fine, Sam. Although, I think those abs could use an upgrade." Deeks teased. I laughed sarcastically, before ignoring him and going back to my paperwork. "You know what they say, balanced mind. Balan-" DiNozzo started. "Yeah, yeah. Balanced mind, balanced life. We know." Ziva interrupted.

"How'd you know what I was going to say?" DiNozzo asked. Ziva glared at him and laughed. "How'd I know what you were going to say? How'd I know what you were going to say! Well, maybe because it's your own little motto that we have to hear about one thousand times a freaking day!"

"Hey Nell, do you know this, Maxwell Maltz guy?" Kensi asked, turning to Nell. Nell nodded. "Who doesn't? Born in New York in eighteen-eighty-nine, died in nineteen-seventy-five and author of Thirty-one  bo-" Nell responded, stopping and freezing when she noticed someone walk into the bullpen.

Kensi got up when she noticed who it was. "Nate? Oh my god, what are you doing here?" I turned around in my chair and got up when Nate walked in. "Hey guys, Hetty's request. I'm back for a few days. She said there had been a bit of trouble." Nate replied. Nell was still frozen. "Yeah, well I can assure you, all of those problems are resolved now. If you will excuse me, I have to get back to work." Nell stated, running up stairs and into ops. I looked at Callen who shrugged his shoulders. "What was all that about?" Deeks asked. I looked towards Nate. "It's nothing that you need to worry about. I'm going to go talk to Hetty. I'll be back." Nate answered, walking into Hetty's office.

"Should we go check on her?" Kensi asked. "No. Just leave her. Eric is up there. If she needs someone, he will be there, he's probably the best one to get whatever's going on,out of her." Callen explained, taking his seat again. Kensi nodded and sat back down.

"So, Deeks? Who's the girl?" McGee asked. I looked at Deeks who had a confused look on his face. "What girl?" Deeks asked. "You know, the thing that Callen and Sam 'interrupted' this morning?" McGee added. Deeks sighed. "The girl is my girlfriend. And no, I'm not telling you anything else." I looked to Callen and we exchanged frowns. We thought he liked Kensi. Kensi is going to be crushed. No matter how much she may deny it, everyone can clearly see that she likes him. I looked over and Kensi and she didn't seem fazed, which I thought was weird.

Nate walked back into the bullpen and sat down in the chair that was sitting by my desk. "So, what kind of trouble has Hetty sent you to fix?" I asked, curiously. Although, I think I already knew the answer. "I would tell you but then I'd have to-" Nate started. "Kill you. Yeah we know." Kensi finished. Nate was about to speak up, but Kensi stopped him. "Come on, you say that at every chance you get." Nate frowned. " Hetty said that Eric and Nell were having some issues. Are they seriously like a proper couple now?" I smiled. "Yeah, it's pretty cute. Granger caused a bit of trouble, but I think they have sorted everything out now. Couple of days late, Nate."

Deeks started laughing and everyone turned to him asking for an explanation. He finally stopped and looked up. "Sorry, it's just, that rhymed! Maybe you should follow in Maxwell Maltz's footsteps, Sam. You know, become an author? You could write poetries?" Somehow he thought that was funny. When he saw all of our blank and unamused faces, his smile dropped and he sank in his chair,pretending like he never said anything.

"Hang on, how do you know Maxwell Maltz? I didn't think you read books, Deeks." Nate stated. "I don't, really. When I was younger, my father thought that Maxwell Maltz's book Psycho-Cybernetics, suited me. Because of the name and all. He used to throw the book at me and lock me in my room, making me stare at the cover and read the book all day." Deeks replied. I looked over at him and he looked upset and I felt bad for him. "I'm sorry, Deeks." Nate added. Deeks nodded, looking up to the stairs, that Eric and Nell were currently walking down.

"Nate! How you doing, big guy?" Eric asked, giving Nate a quick man hug. Nell just stood there and stared at the ground. "Hey, Eric. I'm doing good. How's things with you?" I frowned when I saw Nell. She looked so uncomfortable. "They're great, thanks." Eric replied, putting his arm around Nell. "That's good. Hey, Nell. How you doing? Hetty told me about your little run in at Disneyland." Nate asked. "I'm doing fine, Nate. I'm over it. Things happen. I'll see you guys later, I'm heading out. I have no more paperwork left, so I'm going to head home early." Nell quickly replied, pulling away from Eric. "Hey, Nell? Are we still on for tonight?" Kensi asked, turning to Nell, who nodded. "Yeah, I'll pick you up at eight."

"Hang on, Nell. Hold up." Callen stated, stopping Nell. "What?" She asked, annoyed and eager to get out of here, for some reason. "Okay, I don't know what's going on here, but before Nate showed up you were fine, now you're acting weird. What's going on?" Callen continued. So I wasn't the only one thinking that something was up.

"Hey, yeah. I remember you saying that you and Nate go way back. How far? I mean, how exactly do you know each other?" Eric asked. Nell and Nate looked at each other and frowned. "I don't want to talk about it." They stated, simultaneously. Doesn't seem like we're going to find out for a while. I mean, we are federal agents. It's our job to interrogate people. We will find out what's going on.