Staring at his shirt in stunned disbelief, Nate drifted away from the bullpen. With a satisfied smirk on his face, Callen proceeded to plop into his chair and watch Nate's receding back. Eventually, when Nate disappeared from view G spun around to face his partner in crime, Sam.

"Did you ever notice Nate doesn't curse?" Callen queried his colleague. "I mean wouldn't you have cursed a blue moon if someone stained your brand new shirt and tie?"

Frankly, Sam was feeling a bit guilty about what they had just done to Nate. It really was not nice and maybe bordering on mean. "What?"

"Nate. Ever heard him curse?" Callen repeated patiently.

OK, that was out of left field Sam thought, though Callen did have a point so Sam pondered the question. "Dunno G. I don't recall Nate ever swearing, but I never really thought about it either."

Silence descended over the bullpen as the men contemplated the question at hand.

"But you know G, it was kind of mean, scaring him, making him spill coffee. Like a school boy prank, knocking a tray in the lunch line," Sam finished. He glanced around to check if someone was going to come and punish him for his uncivilized behavior.

Callen grunted noncommittally having already moved on. "Nate will go to Hetty. The Queen of Stains will tell him how to fix it. She might even offer him new clothes from her magical closet. Don't worry. Hetty will take care of it."

"Ok. I'll bite. Take care of what, Mr. Callen?" Hetty inquired appearing out of nowhere, as was her norm.

Callen slowly spun his chair around to face his boss. "Maybe not a bell around your neck but what about one of those proximity sensors, like they use in laser tag? It would buzz when you were approaching."

"A novel but impractical suggestion. Battery consumption would be a nightmare. No, the bell is actually the superior idea, being self-sustainable," she answered philosophically. "Now, exactly what will I be taking care of gentleman?"

"Ah, not for us Hetty. For Nate. It seems he accidently spilled coffee on his new shirt and tie. We figured you'd know how he could get the stain out," Sam stated very seriously.

"I see. And your role in making this stain appear on Mr. Getz's clothing was exactly what?" she inquired facing Callen and allowing her eyes to drill into his soul.

Even though he knew it would not work against Hetty, Callen gave her his 'hurt altar boy' face anyway. "Why do you assume I had something to do with it? Maybe it was Kensi, or Deeks or even goody-two shoes over there," he said gesturing towards his partner.

"Oh I have no doubt that Mr. Hanna, once coerced by you, played a pivotal role in this incident. Am I right Mr. Hanna," she asked still glaring at Callen.

Sam maintained his pious facial expression and sanctimoniously nodded his head in concurrence. "Exactly, coerced."

"Well played, Mr. Hanna. Now perhaps I should go try to right this wrong and assist Mr. Getz with his dilemma. Those types of stains are tricky." Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Hetty brought forth a bottle of liquid soap. Both men, experienced in the mystical ways of the great Hetty, did not even flinch when the bottle appeared out of nowhere. "This should do the trick," she stated triumphantly then added as an afterthought, "though that tie was hideous and may not be worth saving."

As she started to walk away, Callen threw a parting query at her. "Hetty, did you ever notice Nate never curses?"

Hetty halted for a moment. "Well maybe he has not been provoked enough to use foul language. And Mr. Callen," she said in her singsong voice, "that is not to be taken by you as a personal challenge to annoy Mr. Getz to the point he curses."

The calculating look that had entered Callen's eyes drained away and he gave a slight shrug and sigh in compliance.

"Perhaps you could try a more civilized approach," Hetty continued. "Like, oh I don't know, politely asking him why he doesn't curse. I realize this may not be as much fun, but it will save you from a future reprimanding by yours truly. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Hetty," both men answered simultaneously.

"Good. Now back to work," she admonished as she went in search of Nate.

When he thought she was out of earshot Callen said, "Do you really think she meant it, about not annoying Nate to try to get him to curse?"

"Yes I did, Mr. Callen," came the disembodied voice of Hetty.

Sam quickly ducked his head and started working on the mounds of paperwork on his desk.

Callen sighed, thinking about the subject more, before finally shaking his head and turning to his laptop to read his email.