Smoke out a Mole

A short one-shot, inspired by the constant hints of the mole in the OSP. Based on Traitor [6.09] and Granger, O [7.22]. Darker than my usual stories

Disclaimer: the characters of NCIS Los Angeles belong to CBS. The only thing that's all mine is the idea for this storyline.

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The Whiskey Club || Los Angeles || April 10th, 2016

For fifty milliseconds I was sure that those bright, ocean blue eyes rested on my face and I kept my breath. Then he was distracted by something his company said and one of these trademark smirks appeared on his face.

I let out a deep sigh. God, I never expected him to be in here, not in a place like this.

Right here and now, I realized that for the sake of this operation, I needed to take better care of staying unseen. I needed to stay unseen, but it went for the others as well. He knew me, but he might just as well recognize one of the others.

Back into the shadows, I pondered over this whole situation once again. So far, we had it all under control.

This whole mole-thing — the hints, the insinuations and even the far-off insinuations and accusations. The situation was killing the team, though only figuratively speaking, of course. And so the situation went on and on. Cases came and cases went, and although every now and then Hetty, especially Hetty, had those worrisome look upon her face, she still had not found out who was it. Hadn't she carefully selected her team? Could it be someone of the back-office, someone like Brown?

He had been the best distraction so far and he never broke and gave up the names of his contractor.

Yeah, so far, all went well.

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Office of Special Projects, NCIS || Los Angeles || April 14th, 2016, 3 in afternoon

They come back in the office, first both juniors, bantering over food. It's fun to watch them every now and then, although it can be annoying too. Callen and Sam came in soon after. Peeved perhaps, because of Nate's actions which shook up this case. Although, until now, he only appeared in the office when Hetty ordered him or when one of the team needed him, he had been the talk of town, or rather, of the team and the back-office. Could it be Nate was the mole?

There was a lot of discussion about it, especially after what he did to Callen. Although Callen appeared to be a little shaken, it didn't strike me he was really affected by the situation. Of course not. Cocky as could be.

And there it was.

That suspicious look on his face, a short glance that comes my way. And I know there's hardly any time left.

He's always three steps ahead. Not this time.

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Office of Special Projects, NCIS || Los Angeles || April 14th, 2016, 7 in the evening

"The others already left?" I ask when I see him, still sitting behind his desk.

He looks up and smiles. "Sure. As ever. And, as ever, they left me do the dirty work. Piles of files. Same as every Friday night, right?"

He tries to joke, but by now I have learned to read his eyes.

I shake my head. "Feel sad for you, you know."

I know I'm going to have to play the game now, and play it fast. "Well, I've just finished. Any chance to grab something to eat?"

He shakes his head. "Nope. Don't think so, not for the first hour now."