Usual Disclaimers Apply

"Uh, hey Nell?", Eric quietly greeted the analyst as he took his seat beside her in Ops. She had not heard him come in and was not happy to be caught off guard, muttering to herself about knowing better than to expect a date to go well for once in her life.

"What?", she practically snarled back at Eric, shooting him a glare that almost made him lose his nerve. But still, he thought to himself, 'I have to at least try and ask her…'

"Umm… you know how I am on call tonight? Well, I know its Friday and all and its short notice, but is there any way you could trade me and take the on call shift? I have to…do…something. I'll take your next two on call nights, anything. Please.", he finished dully, trailing off as he saw her glare had not only stayed, but had gotten worse. Eric twitched in his seat, waiting for an answer. Normally, Nell found his nervousness with people adorable, one of the things they shared. Now, with the mood she was in, she just wanted to tell him to grow a pair for crying out loud.

Had she noticed his eyes were not a bright as they typically were or that he looked exhausted, she may have considered accepting his favor and getting back at him by making him take her next month's on call duty schedule on, in addition to his own. But luck had not been on her side lately, so she was in no mood to spread any luck to others.

"Really, Eric? 'Do something' Please, I know there are going to be huge waves tomorrow from all the storms. Deeks is already so excited he looks like he's going to pee himself and Kensi's just about ready to throw him into the Pacific now. I'm not an idiot! Surf some other time, I have actual plans. I'm not moving them for you." And with that, Nell snapped her head around and began typing so furiously, Eric almost told her not to break the hardware.

"Look, Nell, my-", Eric tried to explain but was cut off.

"I said no! Nothing you can say will change my mind, now stop asking! We have a case, in case you forgot." Nell interrupted. Eric shrugged, defeated, and tried to shove what had happened, the phone call he got the previous night, out of his mind and focus on their case.

The case was a bad one. The child of a Marine was kidnapped and killed in a botched attempt a blackmailing the Marine into providing a terrorist cell with access to a Naval depot and the weapons within. The team was on edge, frustrated, and angry beyond words. To go after a seasoned Marine was one thing. Going after their child was another situation entirely.

Things in Ops were no better between Nell and Eric, the latter of whom had to keep being… refocused... by his partner. Of all the days for Eric to be acting like an airheaded newbie, this was the worst. He even got a headslap from Kensi, hard enough he had to scoot his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose. Callen just glared at Eric when he lost his train of thought; Deeks just thought Eric was tempted by the waves just starting to turn the beach into paradise. Sam, the only team member with kids of his own was the worst. And Eric, already scared of the former SEAL, was put on edge by the intimidation, making him all the more unfocused.

Nell was no help, still clearly pissed about whatever guy ditched her without so much as an explanation. She was also still fuming about Eric having the nerve to ask her to be on call in his place when she had plans. Well, she didn't have plans so much as she had a pint of Haagen-Dazs and a home facial mask kit at home with her name on it. But still, a girl's got to unwind somehow, especially with the kind of job she had.

Hetty had made no comment about Eric's uncharacteristic behavior, knowing the circumstances and that the team had no idea what was going on to make her tech operator so unbalanced. Her agents were surprised that their diminutive terror of a boss said nothing to Eric to prompt a change in him. After all, as scary as Sam could be, all feared Hetty the most. For her part, Hetty was surprised that her agents, so carefully trained to notice even the tiniest details in people, were not noticing the obvious signs that Eric was going through something deeply personal and gut-wrenching. She knew Eric was not only doing the best he could, but was doing better than she-or anyone, could have hoped. She was proud of him, and told him as much when he called her from the airport the next day.