Hetty let her team stew for a bit. She did so enjoy doing that. She listened carefully for any noises coming from the corridor. It appeared that all of the LAPD staff had left.

"Congratulations."

Her team looked confused. Hetty resisted the urge to smirk. They were expecting a harsh scolding, worse than the one she had just given. Always better to keep them off balance.

"For what?" Mr Callen asked slowly, deciding that he was their spokesperson.

"For your determination and loyalty," she stated simply.

"Our what?" Kensi asked, sounding really confused and scratching her head.

She resisted the urge to tut. Honestly, these were her best people; they had thwarted terrorist attacks, made strategic tactical plans and they were still confused by her actions?

"I really do admire your loyalty," she congratulated them, knowing this was a most trying day for them despite their antagonism and general goofing off.

She hadn't really expected the to behave. Hoped, yes. But she knew the extent of their good behaviour.

They perked up a bit a that but still looked a bit suspicious of her, not convinced the other shoe had dropped yet. Good, she had trained them well. There was hope for them yet.

"But not the right way to go about it?" Mr Callen suggested sheepishly.

She peered at him from over her glasses.

"Is there ever a right way?" she asked, honestly curious.

"I guess if it doesn't involve maiming or murder…" Mr Hanna said thoughtfully.

Mr Beale gave him a terrified look at those parameters and took a none too subtle step back.

"Which you did neither," she praised, positive reinforcement and all that.

"Barely," coughed Owen.

Her team exchanged hopeful looks, none wanting to ask if they were to be punished further.

"So, that telling off with the LAPD was just for show?" Deeks asked carefully.

"Well, I don't want relations to deteriorate even more, do I?" she demanded. "I already get enough complaints from the Director at our 'inability to play nice' as he put it."

Honestly, it was like he thought she was running a kindergarten or something.

"Gibbs is worse," Mr Callen felt the urge to point out.

"Let's not get to his standard, please," she said mildly, knowing it would be taken as an order.

"So, that's it?" Mr Deeks asked curiously, not knowing when to let something go.

Everyone groaned.

"Dude," Mr Beale complained.

Hetty frowned at him but softened it to a smile, "I am aware of how difficult this was for you, Mr Deeks and it is your endurance I admired the most. I know of all your unfortunate struggles with these people but still you remain dedicated and loyal. That sort of spirit will always garner my admiration"

"Thanks," he replied looking slightly pleased and extremely embarrassed with the unexpected praise.

The team all gave him proud looks. He never did let LAPD get him down.

She then sighed heavily, "Trust with our allies is still of the utmost importance, especially these days, and maybe this will spark something new from the ashes of today's catastrophe."

That got her a lot of incredulous and doubtful looks. Hetty was impressed that Miss Blye could pull off both at the same time.

She waved them away exasperatedly, "Go! Finish your paperwork at the office and go home," Hetty instructed. "Before I change my mind and actually give you a proper punishment."

Everyone scattered rapidly, Miss Jones and Mr Beale darting off together in Miss Jones' car so they could get up to Ops and her team flying to the SUV to get, for once, an eager start on their paperwork. With any luck she'd have four nicely finished sets of paperwork at the end of the day.

Perfect. Hetty gave the empty room a genuine smile. She would never tell them that this whole "day of trust" was to demonstrate how much closer they were and how cohesive their actions are. Some things were better left unsaid and left as a seed buried in the depth of the mind. Perhaps they didn't consciously know it but after today the seedling was there. It would flourish.

It was exactly what they needed after recent unfortunate events that had shaken their confidence. She was unafraid to admit that the whole deal with Mexico had disturbed her, not to mention Mosely's actions towards her team. Hetty shook her head. Shay Mosely's time will come and Hetty Lange would be there to see it.

The past few years hadn't been exactly a walk in the park either. They had been tried and tested like no other team before them and the had come out of it all still standing. Maybe a little hunched over and world-weary, but still standing. It was up to her to straighten them up again to they stood tall with pride and confidence.

"Well, I'll be off. I actually have work to catch up on," Owen stated pointedly.

"Oh, you are not off the hook Owen Granger!"

"Like you really expected me to control them?"

"That does not mean that you juse let theme run roughshod over everything! Honestly, Owen, some decorum please."

"Because that rules the day around here."

"We are of a higher plane."

"You keep telling yourself that, Henrietta."

AN: And, that's it. The End. I wanted to thank each and every one of you who ha viewed and reviewed this and the entire series. I appreciate each and every one of you. Don't forget, if you think I've missed some scenes that you want to see from any of the three stories in this series drop me a message and keep an eye on 'The Outtakes: When Boys Play'. That's where I'll be putting what's happening back at LAPD.