OPS Shenanigans

Who saw it First?

Hetty sees it first.

It's slight, almost unseen. But then again its Hetty. She could have x-ray vision and not say anything about it.

It's during a routine background checkof a Petty Officer who may or may not be involved in some illegal activity that got another seaman killed. They're going through his past with a cyber-enhanced fine-toothed combs, seaching for any ties with a dangerous street gang.

Eric and Nell type away side by side on their keyboards, when it happens. A beep, followed by a curse from Eric . Hetty hasn't really paying attention, but when she sees this, she begins to pay more attention to her pair of techs.

"Crap" Eric says, scowling at his screen. "I hit something."

"What?" Nell asks glancing over his shoulder.

"Some king of firewall." The blonde tech types in another command, but the beep from before reapeats "Crap!"

Nell reaches over with one hand and hits a few keys without lokkinh away frim her computer. "Does that help?"

Eric's eyebrows shoot up in suprise as the firewall disapears. "yeah. Thanks."

"No problem," she replies, going back to her own work. But soon she hits her own problem. "Oh, crap."

Without looking away from his screen, Eric reaches over with one hand and keys a short command in. "I hit that too, earlier."

"Thanks." Nell responds.

And that's the end of the conversation.

But Hetty sees the furtive glances that her techs give eachother when the other isn't looking.

And she smiles to herself.

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Kensi and Deeks catch the next one.

It's somewhat muted, but they catch it because they were sor of looking for it.

It's a few days after Eric comes back from the rocket science lab after almost getting frelted in the satalite testing chamber. He's still a little jumpy and short of breath. When the door to the OPS Center opens, his head whips around in shock and he looks ready to bolt.

Every time it happens, Nell is right there to lay a reassuring hand on his arm. He looks back at her, and she gives him a soft smile. If he gets really startled, she pulls him into a tight hug to calm him down.

Deeks leans over to Kensi and whispers, "That's new" Lifting one eyebrow at her.

Kensi cocks her head and him. "Eric's really shaken up" Kensi whispers back. "Nell's his partner. She's just looking out for him.

Her partner watches the young woman carefully. An idea came to him. she he nudges Kensi and gestures for her to watch. Being very stealthy Deeks edges towards the OPS door. It senses his presence and slides open. In the relative silence of OPS, it's a rather loud swish.

Not expecting it, Eric jumps in his seat, badly shocked and panicking. Nell is right there, pulling him into a hug, calming his down with soft words rotating circles on his back with her hand. Kensi sees the dirty look she gives Deeks and chuckles to herself.

That ends the experiment.

But Kensi and Deeks see how close Nell stays to Eric the rest of the day.

And they grin.

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By the time Sam and Callen notice, it's practically written all over the walls.

Eric and Nell are leaning over the table as the team is drawing conjectures about the latest case. Their shoulders are touching as they bring up corresponding data on the big screen.

Then Sam notices how close the techies' hands are. Nudging Callen, he subtly indicates Eric and Nell's hands with his eyes. When Callen sneaks a peek, he sees Eric's hand holding Nell's in a clearly affectionate grip. He catches Sams eyes and gives him a look of When did that happen?

I don't know, he silently admits, but they got chemistry.

Kensi and Deeks likewise notice the gesture, and they smirk at each other.

"Are we that cute" Kensi mouthed at Deeks across the island.

"Even more so Fern" Deeks mouths back. They can't believe it took Callen and Sam so long to notice.

And Hetty, who sees all, just rolls her eyes at her agents obviously more concerned with the two techies personal lives than with the case.

After all she saw it first.