It took a few days before the last of them, Kensi and Sam, were cleared and released. By that time they all had received medical attention and while still looking the worse for ware, they were all alive. It took mountains of paperwork, testimony, and the damning proof. McGee and Abby had been able to trace the original phone call that caused the Pendleton detonation back to Director Vance's phone. When Kensi and Sam were finally released they were greeted by many hugs from their friends. The papers had named Leon Vance as the perpetrator and they blamed it on mental instability and PTSD. Donations for PTSD and various charities for soldiers had increased fourfold in the last few days and more money was being thrown at defense, only defense at home. There was even talk of them receiving medals for service rendered to their country.

Without questioning it, Sam and Kensi were quickly taken to Hetty who was recovering nicely and had even been moved out of ICU.

She smiled as both agents gently bent to hug the petite woman.

"I believe a 'good job' is in order. To say I'm proud of all of you would be an understatement. Mr. Getz, I understand you figured it out."

"He did," Sam boasted with some pride. "Doc, we might just have to upgrade you to field agent. You're the only one who figured it out."

"Yeah, well…," since he could not finish, he just blushed and shrugged his shoulders and turned the attention to Eric and Deeks.

"I am not the one who escaped custody."

"Yeah, I hear that you two have something going on," Kensi teased a true smile gracing her face.

"How the hell did you know!"

"It's all the buzz at LAPD," she winked at him.

"You're just jealous, Fern."

Nate spoke this time.

"Kenz, how did you and G escape? He has not been forthcoming on the details."

Instead of responding she blushed and stuttered, she would have continued on this path but the amused looks from the man around her forced Hetty to speak up.

"Gentlemen, I believe Mr. Callen and Ms. Blye will bare their souls to us when they are ready. The point is we're all safe."

Instead of contemplating Hetty's choice of words, Kensi realized she didn't know if they were all safe.

"What about Mike's daughter?"

The silence around her was thick.

"Kensi, I'm sorry. One of the men helping Vance admitted that he had the girl killed soon after her abduction."

The look on the junior agent's face was crestfallen. "She never even stood a chance."

There was nothing anyone could say to comfort her as they were all equally angry at what happened. They stood in silence each letting the finality of the last few days settle in.

4 Months later…

Things had slowly gone back to normal. Deeks was now a permanent fixture in OPS as Kensi's new partner much to her chagrin, Sam's annoyance, and Callen's amusement. McGee's friend from college who had assisted the team, Nell Jones, had found a home on the team too, which was surprising considering Hetty's track record with intelligence analysts.

Nate had spent time with each of the team ensuring they were safe to work. Kensi had obviously required more of attention as she was well known for burying her feelings and acting as of everything was fine. Leaving three children without a parent had left her struggling to cope with her past and deal with her father's murder. Luckily, a new annoying partner forced her out of her head. Deeks had been good for her. The shaggy-haired detective had ruined his career at LAPD, that much was evident. It was to get anyone to even speak to him before Hetty reigned him back in. Deeks required more seriousness in his life Kensi Blye provided that. Sam had needed help regaining his balance. He had felt useless and unable to protect them during the goings on. He could not come to their rescue. Deeks had again proved valuable as Sam was able to refocus himself on training Deeks, sure the training was more goading, but it gave him an objective. Eric had lost an innocence, there was no denying that, but Nell would provide that. Putting Eric back with his computers gave him an objective and like Sam, he once again needed to feel as if he had a place and could help the others. True to his word, Deeks had trained Eric in fighting and the two became quick friends often catching waves together on early LA mornings. Callen's recovery had been a double-edged sword. He quickly let go of the events, although he would probably never let go of the image of a very naked and very beautiful junior agent, but he let them go in order to forge ahead in his quest to find out who he was.

Nate let all of these thoughts swirl through his head as he sat with the team eating garbage bar food, to Sam's disgust and Callen and Kensi's delight, and drinking beers. He let the conversations distract him from his serious thoughts.

"That's the best pick up line you have? Seriously, G, it's no wonder you're permanently single."

"Is this coming from one date Blye," Sam scoffed while Deeks and Eric just laughed their drunken heads off.

"Sam's right. Plus, I get plenty of women and I'm not the one who fell for the 'take a chance on me' line."

Nate watched intently for Kensi's reaction to Callen bringing up thoughts from the incidents of four months ago.

"That was a good line and he was handsome."

"I'm handsome."

"Your short," Sam laughed at his partner's expense. They all began laughing at their team leader's expense. Nate smiled. He was going to miss this. But he had his own demons to deal with. What happened four months ago proved to Nate that he was stronger than he believed and while happy to help his friends through their ordeals, he needed more for himself; he was antsy. Hetty sensed this and in a few days time he would be back in Afghanistan working undercover. He would miss his team but he needed to feel useful. He smiled to himself as the bickering and laughing continued. Nate would be back if they needed him, but he felt better leaving them in a good place moving forward rather than standing still.