It was getting late, not that the two young techs would notice. Hetty Lange sighed. A good work ethic was a good thing for them to have but it was after ten o'clock at night and even Callen had gone home. The building was vacant except for the two techs and herself.

The doors leading into the computer lab were closed. Hetty gave another sigh. If Mr Beale and Miss Jones wouldn't respond to her repeated messages over the intercom, she'd just have to go up there herself.

Hetty marched out of her office and strode toward the stairs. When she reached them, she called out, "Mr Beale? Miss Jones? I'm coming up there if you don't come down this instant." No answer came from behind the closed door, no response to show they heard her, neither of them came out apologizing for keeping her so late.

"Children." she muttered. "They're just like unruly children needing to be told when to go to bed." She stomped upstairs as much as a four foot seven woman wearing heels and a tailored suit can stomp.

When she reached the second floor of the building, it was instanteous. The overwhelming feel of danger swept over Hetty like it hadn't in thirty years. Automatically, relexes took over and she prepared to fight, her carefully concealed gun at the ready. Cautiously, she crept down the hall toward the computer lab, the feeling of dread growing with every step. Slowly, she tapped the numeric keypad with its four digit code, unsure what she'd find beyond. The metal door began to creak open.

"It's past nine." Callen commented. "Where's Hetty?" He gestured to her still dark untouched office.

"Sick day." Sam offered.

"That woman doesn't know how to be sick."

"Probably the only thing she doesn't know," Deeks added.

"She's gonna walk in here and box your ears." Kensi told him.

Callen and Sam nodded in unison. "She'll make you her slave for the day."

"Maybe make you wear a toga." Callen declared, solemnly.

"She doesn't have a toga in there," Deeks started to answer, then stopped. "Does she?"

"Who knows? Hetty's well known for her closet." Sam shrugged.

"Seriously, guys, it's a quarter to ten. Where could she be?" Kensi asked.

"MTAC?" Deeks suggested.

"No, we'd know about it."

"Unless it's beyond our clearance," Called said, slowly. "Eric or Nell would know something about it though, they're the ones who set up the calls."

Kensi shook her head. "Haven't seen them either."

"Now, that's strange." Sam agreed.

"Maybe they've got a little something something going on?" Deeks suggested.

The other three all turned and looked at him.

"Nah."

"She's too young for him."

"They hate each other."

Deeks just nodded. "Yeah, right. 1, she isn't too young for him. Nell is what, twenty three? Eric's only a bit older then that. 2, they don't hate each other, they're just competitive."

"You've spent some time thinking about this." Sam said.

"What, you wanted to go out with Nell?" Callen threw at him as they climbed the stairs.

"She really is too young for you." Kensi said.

"I'm thirty three!" He protested.

"Oh, so he admits it!" she exclaimed.

"No, hey, wait, that's not what I said! Sure, she's nice and all but," Deeks protested again, to no prevail.

"Don't worry. Nell won't mind an older man," Callen ribbed some more.

"Seriously, really, I don't like her like that. Isn't she just out of college or something?"

"Has to be at least twenty one to be working at NCIS."

"Guys." Kensi stopped in front of the computer lab. "The door is open."

"So?"

"It's weirdly open, see?" She pointed. The door was, indeed, weirdly open, only a few inches from the doorframe, something the heavy metal door couldn't do without something else helping it.

"Yeah, it is." Sam commented. "Eric, Nell, you in there?" he called.

No answer came at first, then a noise that sounded like a chair rolling across the tile floor came out of the room.

"Eric, Nell?" Sam called again. This time a thumping sound occured. "I'm going to open the door all the way, okay?" He turned to the other three."Get ready on the count of three." They nodded. "One, two, three." He pushed the heavy door all the way open, unprepared for the scene that greeted them.

Okay, this is my first fanfic in a while. The last one didn't get many reviews or anything, so before I go on, I'd really like to know what people think. Is it worth continuing?