"Nope...not happening guys. I am so not that stupid."
"Come on Eric...it's a team thing you have to come."
"I'm not an idiot Callen... I'd be the first one taken out and then I'd be bored while all of you had fun. No thanks."
"We can let him play referee with Nells...he has access to enough tech-toys to pull it off easily."
Eric gave Callen a hopeful look at Kensi's suggestion, much like an eager puppy. Sam gave a loud bark of laughter as G predictably caved in.
"Alright, Eric can help Nells with refereeing."
"Yes!"
Callen shook his head and turned to the rest of the crew.
"Kensi, Deeks are you two in?"
"Is the sky blue Callen? Hell yes I'm in. Deeks is in too."
"I never said that...I am in...but I never said it. You can't just volunteer me for stuff."
G rolled his eyes as they got into yet another argument.
"Nate, Hetty...what about you two?"
"Mr. Callen, I am far too old to be running around in a forest shooting little balls of paint at my employees."
"So that's a no, Nate how about you?"
"It is a good way to bond the team...alright I'm in. I just know I'm going to regret this later."
Sam and G grinned at each other.
The Next Day...
"Me and Sam against you three. Sound good?"
"3 against 2? I like our odds."
"Deeks, have you even watched those two as a team?"
"Not really."
"We're doomed Nate."
"Ok guys, here's how it's going to work. You're going to start on opposite sides of the predetermined playing field. I'll give an air horn blast to signal the start and end of the game. There will be no head shots...and no groin shots."
Everyone looked at Kensi.
"Oh come on...I'm not that bad."
The looks became rather pointed as Deeks reminded her of the incident with the French spy. She just huffed in irritation at them.
"How are you going to know when the game is over Eric?"
"I've temporarily borrowed a satellite to monitor the area."
"Uh-huh...is that like borrowing someone's shirt? How does one go about borrowing a satellite anyway."
"Enough G, Hetty probably got him permission. We need to go take our positions."
Sam and G ran off to their end of the field and took up their defensive positions. Kensi, Deeks, and Nate went to their side of the field and waited for Eric to give the signal. Eric finally sounded the horn and they moved off in Sam and G's direction. Kensi and Deeks were in front with Nate trailing them a bit, using the trees for cover as they got closer. They turned as they heard a low curse behind them and saw Nate with a bright blue blob of paint across his chest.
"I've been hit...sorry guys."
"Dude...I didn't even hear or see anything. What the hell are they, Ninjas?"
"No, just really, really good at what they do."
Kensi growled and made a sharp motion at Deeks, to which he nodded as they moved out again.
Eric, Nells, Nate, and Hetty were all watching the resulting 2 on 2 match-up via satellite. Sam and G worked like a welloiled machine, smooth and fluid. Kensi and Deeks...not so much. They were more like a brand new machine that, while functional, still had some bugs to work out. It didn't take Sam and G too long to take them out and win the game. Eric sounded the horn and everyone met in the parking lot outside the van. Sam was laughing and G was smirking in a very satisfied manner. Kensi was glaring at each of them in turn and cursing in ways that would make even the most caustic Marine blush.
"I trust that this little exercise has given you all some insight into yourselves and the team. What have we learned today?"
"We've learned that Sam and I are just awesome."
"Humble too..."
Everyone laughed at Kensi's reply and decided to go get pizza. Hetty shook her head with a smile as she followed behind them.
