Note: Bit early for the speculation stuff? Not for me apparently! (lol). What's this one based on? Well, as I start to write this, Episode 2 is being filmed, there hasn't been any BTS pics or vids with Chris or Linda in them as of yet. Doesn't mean they're not on set, most likely means they don't want anyone knowing they're on set. (plus, Hetty has been in every Season premiere, so it's almost 100% guaranteed that she'll be in Season 13's premiere.)

Since I don't know for sure yet if Hetty will be in her office at the start of Season 13, I've come up with this theory that she and Callen will be up to something at the start of Season 13. And this fic is a version of that theory. Hope you like it!


Somewhere in the Middle East

2 days ago, Callen had come to work to find a note on Hetty's desk saying that Nell had left to go be with Eric, and surprisingly, where Hetty herself was. The note also said she could use the help on her mission to help her get home sooner. After reading it, he got on a plane and started traveling to the Middle East.

The note also gave directions to the meet up point with a soldier to take him to where Hetty was. When he got to the meet up point, he introduced himself to the soldier, they went to a chopper, and flew to a big war zone.

After landing, Callen was told that Hetty was in the big building. He went there, and saw Hetty waiting for him, in tactical gear.

'Nice to see you still kicking ass.' Callen said.

'Feeling is mutual, Mr. Callen.' Hetty replied.

'You look pretty good in that tactical gear.'

'Thank you. Although, it does get a bit hot after a few hours, especially in this heat.'

'Well, let's get to work.' Callen said, eager to start working.

'First things first, let's get you settled in, and I'll show you this place.'

Hetty took him to the barracks where they would be staying.

'This is a 2 bedroom cabin. Your room is directly across from mine. The walls aren't really thick, so I'd advise keeping it down in there because I really value my sleep. Toilet and sink work, along with the fridge and stove, though, the stove sometimes tends to act up.' Hetty explained.

'Nice place you got here.' Callen replied.

'Lot better then the last war zone I was originally at. I relocated here back in the winter because it kept getting bombed at. That place, I had to deal with a loud snorer and there was no working stove or fridge, Plus that jerk tended to clog up the toilet most of the time.'

'Yikes.'

'Yeah. Let me show you the rest of the camp.'

Hetty gave him a tour of the rest of the camp.

'As you can see, the big building is the main work place. Weapons, Electronics, it's the OPS of this place. The building next to it is the food court. Most of the soldiers here like to eat in groups instead of in their cabins. And yes, that's an outhouse next to it, in case of toilets backing up in the cabins. Along this path are the individual barracks for the rest of the soldiers to sleep in. Across the path from OPS and close to where we're staying is the gym.' Hetty said.

'This is a very organized camp.' Callen replied.

'It wasn't exactly like this when I first arrived, had to get more barracks set up, and had to get a better cell service and Internet connection built, which took a while.'

'Sounds to me like you might like being here.'

'Believe me, I don't. Being back for that short time back home was heavenly to say the least!' Hetty said.

'Then why didn't you stay?'

'Sigh. I'm taking a bit of heat from politicians back home, not just because of how long this mission has gone on, but because they're skeptical of how the team is being handled in light of my absence.' Hetty replied.

'What'd you say?'

'I told them that our team is in capable hands, and that I'm helping you all out the best I can from here, and that this mission is very important. Lives are at stake here!'

'No offense, but I wouldn't exactly call Admiral Grumpy Pants 'capable''.

'As much of a pain in the ass he is, he's still a good choice for um, being a babysitter so to speak.' Hetty said.

'Is that why he's always so grumpy? Because you told him to baby sit the team while you're here?' Callen asked.

'That, and he's not a fan of any of us all together.'

'How comforting.'

'I talked with him, and told him not to mess with any of you or I'd get after him for it. Now, we can get to work.'