Eye to Eye

She doesn't know if it is wise or not, but Hetty Lange sends Callen on a black operation.

Eye to Eye, chapter 1

Disclaimer: All the characters [except the OC] are known from the original NCIS Los Angeles series: they were made up by Shane Brennan and belong to CBS.

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Will Rogers Beach, Los Angeles || January 3

He strolled around the beach without seriously realizing where he was.
The place was nearly deserted at this time of the day. Besides, the weather wasn't too inviting. It'd drizzled throughout the day and the grey day kept many people inside.

He had intended to go for a short run, instead he just had killed a full 7 miles. He now slowed down to an ordinary walk. Whereas Callen usually payed a lot of attention to his surroundings, this time he simply shut off his agent-like behavior, his thoughts in a whirl.

Should he have done things differently? Had Joelle been right? Should he have asked director Vance for another kind of job within the NCIS?
He shook his head, more or less to himself. True, his job was no nine-to-fiver but it's odd working time would never change, not even if he'd ask for a transfer to a desk-job. On the other hand, working from behind the desk would be saver job. Still, he wondered if he would ever like a desk-job.
He came to a halt, watched how the waves came rolling in. Listened to them, splashing onto the beach, and took in the loud screams of seagulls.
Again, he subconsciously shook his head. Nope. What Joelle needed was something he could not offer. Not now, not in future, never. And frankly, he was grateful she had been clear about that. He had felt it coming too. The past few months were different, although he had not been able to put a finger on it. Callen also was aware that if she hadn't broken up their relationship, he would've done it. It would not have been fair to leave what was left of the love and their friendship, dangling any longer.

Callen had hoped things would be different after he had decided to be honest towards her about his job. Instead, she had hoped he would quit his job in the end. Joelle hated the continuous unease and fear when he came home late, or stayed away because of an undercover operation. He, on the other hand, had felt uncomfortable with having to talk about things like furniture, dinner parties or hanging around with teachers, although he noticed how she felt at ease in those situations.
He blamed himself since he realized he should have cut her loose earlier, much earlier. All he cared about right now, was if he had not hurt her, which had never been his intention.

For once, he had hoped he would have been able to have a real relationship. Perhaps even an ordinary family life. Who did he try fool, her or himself?

He blinked his eyes several times, chilled right now. He should get moving. Callen heaved a deep sigh. Perhaps… no, he knew it was for sure he was feeling alright. And it felt weird and he didn't know if he dared to admit that to himself. He breathed in deep. The fresh ocean air worked nearly soothing. He stretched and decided he could do it again, run the full 7 miles back.

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Veteran Avenue 631 || one and a half hour later

The dark grey Mercedes slowed down halfway the street. By now, Callen was fully aware again that someday, someone might be around, someone who would come for an unexpected revenge. Not today. He drove further down the street to the place he called home, parked the car in front of it and got out.

Callen opened his front door and quickly deactivated the safety alarm. Then he kicked off his running shoes and hurried to the bathroom, where he stripped off his wet and sweaty clothes and took a warm shower.

Minutes later he walked into his kitchen, barefoot and his shirt loose.

The shortest rustle of a fabric made him turn to where the soft noise came from. He knew it was no use to grab for his gun.

"If you came around to find out about the 'why and how' you have to know I don't feel like talking."

There was no response, and so he shrugged. "And it's no use waiting until I start to talk."
Callen moved to his fridge and took a bottle of beer from it, opened it and held up another one. "You want one?"

The look on Hetty Lange's face was a sad one and she shook her head. "If you must know, Mr. Callen, I did not come in here to talk about the break-up between you and miss Taylor."

He put his bottle aside. "Hetty? What's wrong?" Her face suddenly looked aged, he noticed and the worry on it nearly scared him.

Nervously, the older operations manager stared at her hands which she kept folded in her lap.

"It's about one of our own, Mr. Callen."

TBC.

Thank you for reading. A review is welcome, as ever! Kni®benrots