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Category Archives: Chris O’Donnell
Callen’s Corner: What is the Right Girl for G?
What is it about G Callen that draws the female fan of NCIS: Los Angeles to the seasoned Federal Agent? Is it his heroism; his strong arms and striking blue eyes, as mentioned by Elise (his neighbor) on her blog (S5E06 ‘Big Brother’); the fact he has no family or first name other than a letter, which pulls on your heart strings; the bad boy image or lone wolf tendencies? Whichever it may be for you, there is one thing apparent — many fans don’t want to see G Callen in a relationship. Let’s look back at the women in his past and reflect on them in regards to G Callen.
The first signs of seeing Callen get more personal in a case was in ‘Search and Destroy’ (S1E04), when Callen gets close to a suspect’s girlfriend Cherise Dawson and chooses to not only lie to her that Walton Flynn did indeed want to be with her:
“He told me I’m to stay away from you. I guess he really does like you.”
But he also organised a beautiful bunch of gerberas with a message from Flynn:
“Thanks for believing in me.” Walton.
This gave an insight into who the man G Callen truly is: kind-hearted, but also desiring a normal life and perhaps someone to believe in him also?
In ‘Keeping It Real’ (S1E06), Hetty and Sam were trying to set Callen up with Agent Natalia Giordano who was pretty obvious in her advances towards him. Callen stated to Sam that she pretty much “left the door pretty wide open. A truck could drive through that.”
[Sam and Callen walking up the stairs in the mission]
Sam: “Room service, really?”
Callen: “I don’t date law enforcement.”
Sam: “Might wanna make an exception this time.”
Callen: “Sam, you know the rule. They got their own handcuffs, I’m out.”
[In wardrobe]
Hetty: “Take her out to dinner after the case is solved.”
Callen: “Agent Giordano?”
Hetty: “Then take Sam the next night. You know how he gets.”
[In the Boatshed]
[Callen is handing the money back to Agent Natalia Giordano after they arrested the bad guys]
Agent Giordano: “So do you wanna get a hamburger? Or we could order room service?”
Callen: “I’ve got this rule about dating cops.”
Agent Giordano: “So you mean I have to wait till I retire.”
Callen: “I guess.”
Agent Giordano: “She must have been some cop.”
Callen: “She was.”
(S1E06 ‘Keeping It Real’)
This was due to the effects of what Tracy had done to him, resulting in him making this rule up of never dating cops. However back in Season 1, we had no idea who Callen was referring to, until ‘Standoff’ in the following season:
The team were watching a hostage situation live up on the big screen in Ops, when Callen admits that the woman was using an alias as his ex-wife. He goes in to talk to her and solve the situation, admitting to Sam that she was “the kind of person who chooses the mission over her partner.”
[Tracy Keller is holding up hostages in a Navy Recruitment Center]
Callen [handing his gun to Sam]: “It’s for her protection, not mine. I’m still upset over her getting the dog in the settlement.”
[Callen walks into the Navy Recruitment Center to face Tracy]
Tracy: “You look good.”
Callen: “Yeah, having a shotgun pointed at me tends to bring out my natural glow.”
Tracy: “Whatever happened to us? Huh! We used to be great together. My meticulous planning, your gift for improvisation. We were unbeatable.”
Callen: “I absolutely agree. We were great. Till you hung me out to dry.
Tracy: “You never let me explain.”
Callen: “Explain what? It was a crappy thing to do to your partner. To me.”
[In the Boatshed]
Sam: “She was right about one thing. Somebody wants to take her out. How do you want to handle it?”
Callen: “Like a hostile divorce hearing.”
Why did Callen fall for her in the first place? Like what often happens, he may have fallen in love just from the fact they were put into a close working relationship. Or, it might be that he just fell in love with the idea of actually having someone in his life. Either way, they must have worked well together. Her intelligence and drive, his intuitiveness and ingenuity, just a great combination for undercover partners. And the chemistry between them was evident. But her drive may have been their undoing. According to Callen, this woman put the mission above him and whatever relationship they had developed. It just seemed cruel that, once again, our G Callen was abandoned. He was most probably already a lone wolf – a result of his upbringing. But whatever trust he might have had in mankind just went kya-poohie after Tracy failed to show the same loyalty he had for her. So dating someone in law enforcement holds that same possibility of getting close to someone who is “all about the mission.” He’s just not going to purposefully put himself in that situation again, although we saw her sweet talk her way back into Callen’s life (or so she thought):
[In the Boatshed preparing to meet their suspect Mason]
Tracy: “I really appreciate you trusting me back there.”
Callen: “That’s what partners do.”
Tracy: “I never stopped caring. I tried to reach you. You never let me explain.”
Callen: “You made it pretty clear where your head and your heart were at.”
Tracy: “I was young. Ambitious. I made a mistake. One that I regret.”
Callen [whispers]: “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Tracy [places her hand on the side of Callen’s neck]: ” Remember when we used to talk about getting away from it all? Just you and me on some remote island.”
Callen [removes her hand away]: “Buddy hated the beach.”
[On a boat in the Cayman Islands]
Tracy: “You know, we could start over. My real name is…”
Sam [exiting the cabin]: “Rosetti. Nice boat.”
Callen: “You didn’t think I could keep my partner from a free trip to the Cayman Islands, did you?”
(S2E06 ‘Standoff’)
Callen saw through her manipulative words, refusing to let her hurt him again. So why was Hetty trying to play match maker again with Callen, with a fellow NCIS Agent, Paris Summerskill from the Red Team? Hetty’s behavior on the screen on Callen and Sam’s first night with the Red Team was out of character for the petite Operations Manager:
Moscow, Idaho
[Hetty moves closer to the camera so she appears very large on screen]
Hetty: “So how is everyone getting on in Idaho?”
Granger: “Everything’s fine Henrietta.”
Hetty: “Mr. Callen?”
Callen: ” All good.”
Hetty: “Miss Summerskill?”
Paris: “Um..it’s great to have company for dinner.”
[Hetty disconnects]
Paris: “What was that all about?”
Callen [eyes squinted as he thinks over Hetty’s weird behavior]: “Something.”
Sam: “Something she’s not telling us.”
Granger: “Something she may never tell us.”
[In the bedroom]
Callen: “Hetty’s checking up on us.”
Sam: ” Yep.”
Callen: “Take a stab at guessing why?”
Sam: “Maybe she was seeing if you and Paris hit it off. That’s a good looking woman G.”
[Callen doesn’t respond, only flicks his boots off his feet]
(S4E18 ‘Red, Part 1’)
El Centro
[Claire and Sam sit in a cafe looking out across the street to where Callen and Paris are]
Claire: “You know Hetty thought they’d be good for each other. That’s why she was checking up on the the night you arrived. Did you notice that?”
Sam: “I noticed.”
Claire: “Did Callen?”
Sam: “No. Did Paris?”
Claire: “Maybe Hetty’s right, perhaps they do have something in common.”
Sam: “Hetty’s always right.”
But was Hetty right in this instance? Was she aware of Callen’s no dating cops rule like Sam was? So why did Callen say to Paris that he could do complicated? Was it the fact he knew she would be on the road solving cases, so there wouldn’t be any pressure on him for commitment? Did he see something of himself in her, that perhaps Hetty saw in them both?
Outside of El Centro by the trailers
Callen: “What exactly happened that night Roy got shot?”
Paris [has flashbacks to the night in question]: “I shot a guy and he didn’t stay down. He was wearing a vest. Roy saved my life.”
Callen: “So what’s the problem?”
Paris: “It’s complicated.”
[Sam pulls up. Roy exits the trailers]
Callen: “I’m good with complicated.”
Paris [whispers]: “It’s really complicated.” [returns to normal voice] “So I guess that beer’s going to have to wait.”
Callen: “I guess so.”
Los Angeles
[Hetty and Owen sit either side of her desk drinking scotch]
Hetty: “Here’s to Paris and Callen.”
Granger: “You mean Roy.”
Hetty [lifts her glass and laughs]: “Of course.”
(S4E19 ‘Red, Part 2)
Tracy is not the only woman from Callen’s past that we’ve met on the show. In the middle of Season 1, Callen has to reconnect with a woman that he got too close to when he was undercover as Jason Tedrow; Kristin Donnelly. However, in this circumstance, Callen is the one whose done the hurting and Kristin admits to him that she’s moved on from him. But not after she lets him sweat over whether or not he was Michael’s Father.
Kristin: “You hurt me. So I wanted to make you suffer.”
(S1E12 ‘Past Lives’)
When Hetty finds Callen reminiscing over old photos of him and Kristin, she tells him that she believes that Jason Tedrow was his favourite alias of all that he had been. We can see he had for at least a few months some form of normalcy, in a happy relationship with a non-criminal woman, who he formed feelings for. That became apparent over his need to do a background check on her fiancé and rough him up a little. We also saw this desire in ‘Search and Destroy’, when Callen was driving Walton Flynn to a safe house. He can relate to Walton Flynn from their backgrounds of Foster Homes and in seeking a “normal” life but from his reaction after this conversation it seemed kind of obvious that he, too, like Walton Flynn, never expects to live a life like that:
[Callen driving Flynn to a safe house]
Flynn: “And one day we’ll both live in the ‘burbs, barbecue with our neighbors, and coach Little League.”
G: “I don’t know. Teaching your son how to play baseball sounds pretty idyllic.”
Flynn: “Yeah, it does. But that’s why we do what we do, so others can live those lives.”
(S1E04 ‘Search and Destroy’)
All through the five seasons we have seen Sam and Hetty at the forefront of trying to get Callen into a relationship. Grace highlighted in ‘The Raven and the Swans’ (S4E21) the only time they had any relationships were with criminals. She asked him if he had a girlfriend. When Callen replied with “Not at the moment,” Grace pushed further with “Just how many moments have their been?”
So what has Callen said to Sam and Hetty when they’ve asked him about it?
Hetty:
Hetty: “Where’s Sam?”
Callen: “He went home to spend time with his family.”
Hetty: “Ah, that’s good. He needs that… especially now.”
Callen: [Long pause] “What about you? You ever regret not settling down – and having a family?”
Hetty: “I think about it sometimes. Maybe when I’m older.” [Hetty chuckles]. “And you?”
Callen: “I think I’ll keep looking for mine first.”
(S3E07 ‘Honor’)
[Callen joins Hetty in her office at the end of the day, talking about Nate]
Hetty: “That man hasn’t taken a vacation in years. And what about you? When was the last time you took a day off that wasn’t caused by a bullet? I don’t want you waking up one morning, wondering if it was all worth it. I’m sorry if I was…a tad strident today. I just want to make sure that you all take the time to smell the roses.”
Callen: “How about Saturday? There’s a Rembrandt exhibit at the Norton Simon Museum. I’ll pick you up at 11:00?”
Hetty: “Rembrandt, Mr. Callen?”
Callen: “Don’t get too excited. I just go there to meet chicks, so… essentially, you’ll be my wingman.”
Hetty: “I relish the assignment. If only it were true. What about tonight?”
(S1E11 ‘Breach’)
Sam:
Callen: “You know what, I slept in.”
Sam: “With who? You barely sleep.”
Callen: “There’s nobody.”
Sam: “Come on I think it would be great for you to be in a relationship.”
Callen: “Sam, how many times are we going to have this conversation? You’re my partner! Not my mother!”
Sam [puts on a funny nasally voice as if he’s Callen’s Mom]: “I just want you to be happy and find a good girl!”
(S1E16 ‘Chinatown’)
Therefore it is no surprise to see Sam set Callen up on a blind date in ‘War Cries’ (S5E14) last week telling him to wear a suit and tie for dinner. Callen was clearly expecting to see Sam and Michelle at the restaurant when he was shown to his table. It was evident that Callen was surprised when there was a red head sitting at the table waiting also for Sam and Michelle; but with all the nagging by Sam over the years, he shouldn’t have been surprised at all. He carried himself respectfully towards Joelle who had taught Sam’s daughter in Kindergarten.
We at Callen’s Corner have noticed a similarity between three of the women mentioned in this post:
Sam may be onto something with this woman, especially after hearing Callen reveal his general attitude towards relationships:
[Callen and Sam are searching Valdiva’s home and finds lots of pictures of women on the fridge]
Callen: “Meaningless sex with an endless stream of beautiful women. How empty.”
(S1E06 ‘Keeping It Real’)
Sam is the closest person to Callen out of anyone. He knows what he likes, dislikes, what he spends his free time doing, his bad habits, and Callen does spend a bit of time at the Hanna’s home. Setting him up on this blind date shows to Callen that he does care enough to believe in him, that he too can have that normalcy of life he shares with Michelle. He and Michelle would know better than anyone else, what would be the right kind of girl for him.
I would like to thank the following members of Callen’s Corner Dream Team for their assistance in this post: ChrisDaisy, Richtsje, Serena and Mary. A special thank you to ncislosangelesfan.com for the screencaps.
Callen’s Corner: Callen And Food
It’s not very often that we see Callen or any of the team eat on the show, but when he does, it’s usually something unhealthy. Sam doesn’t hold back having a go at him about his unhealthy eating habits either, taking on a motherly role for his partner:
Sam: “We were supposed to meet. Go for a run before work.”
Callen: “We were supposed to meet at Patrick’s Roadhouse for breakfast.”
Sam: “If we try, we can still get a few miles in.”
Callen: “No way. I just had Pigs-in-Blankets, and waffles. Little bit full.”
Sam: “You’re full of something. And it ain’t waffles.”
Sam [later, after narrowly escaping some guard dogs]: “How are those waffles feeling now?”
Callen: “Ha. Ha. You know what’s really funny? Your car’s still in there.”
(S2E09 ‘Absolution’)
Sam [lowering Callen down a skylight to save Abbey Scuito from a psychopath]: “You’ve got to lay off the donuts Buddy.”
(S1E09 ‘Random on Purpose’)
At the beginning of Enemy Within, Callen shows little care in his attitude to take care of himself, which annoys Sam immensely:
Sam [scolds G for not taking care of himself]: “This is what I am telling you, G. If you don’t take care of yourself it becomes cumulative. Every broken bone, gun shot, stab wound…”
G: “Camel bite.”
Sam: “It starts to add up. You need a real bed, a real diet, some flaxseed oil, maybe a little Pilates.”
G: “You know what? I’ll stick with coffee and aspirin.”
(S2E19 ‘Enemy Within’)
There aren’t very many times (except when in the Hawaii Five-0 crossover and Recruit) that Callen has actually engulfed his food like he did while enjoying Agent Giordano’s Double Double Burger. Our hero doesn’t have much time to eat, but when he does, he apparently enjoys it very much. Also, Red part 1 is the only time besides Hawaii, where we’ve seen Callen sit down for a meal with others:
Callen [organises to meet Agent Giordano late down by the pier. He waits for her leaning on his car, when she pulls up. He leans into her open window]: “I need paper.”
Giordano: “Look at you, you got in with Pargo.”
Callen [looks down on the passenger seat and sees her burger and fries]: “Is that a double double?”
Giordano: “I missed lunch.”
Callen: “We’re sharing right?”
[Giordano shakes her head as Callen climbs into her car. She sips from her soft drink]
Callen: “Aah!”
Giordano: “So how much paper do you need?”
Callen: “Two thousand sheets.” [bites into Giordano’s burger] “Mmm! Mmm! By tomorrow.” [wipes his mouth with serviette] “That’s good.”
(S1E06 ‘Keeping it Real’)
[Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks are outisde a food truck]
Callen: “You sure you’re not hungry?”
Sam: “Not now. What the hell is that?”
Callen: “Fish tacos.”
Sam: “What kind of fish?”
Callen: “The kind that swims in the ocean.”
Sam: “Ho-how could you eat something without knowing what it is? That could have been last weeks bait for all you know. Even looks like chum.”
Callen: “Carlos is the Iron Chef of food trucks.”
Kensi [walking up]: “Smells good over here, what’s for lunch?”
Sam: “Mystery fish.”
Deeks: “Ah! Deep sea surprise is back?”
Callen: “Help yourself.”
Deeks: “Seriously? Nice!”
(S4E02 ‘Recruit’)
It could be argued that Callen’s not the most discerning person when it comes to cuisine, but at least he’s got Deeks on his side. Callen probably got more enjoyment out of his “mystery fish” because of how disgusted his partner was with it. So it was surprising that Callen commented on Kensi’s health from the cheese in her breakfast burritos:
Kensi: “If you and Sam have been exposed to something, the medical officer has to take a look at you. Your health could be at risk.”
Callen: “So could yours if you keep eating the breakfast burritos.”
Kensi: “How did you, umm…?”
Callen: “The cheese. Makes your voice phlegmy. Not good.”
(S1E14 ‘LD50’)
There’s one other occasion where we have seen Callen make a comment on “unhealthy” food. Usually he’s the one to eat it, not to comment on it. However, maybe Callen does have a problem with dairy:
Callen: “I’m actually allergic to dairy.”
Sam: “Oh, since when?”
Callen: “Since… that thing.”
Sam: “What thing?”
Callen: “That thing. Allergic.”
(S4E21 ‘Resurrection’)
Unless it’s cheese on a pizza in Skin Deep (when Deeks buys them all peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and they run off for the last remaining pieces of pizza left in the kitchen. Unfortunately for them, Eric has already beaten them to it) and in the Chosen One:
Callen [as his alias]: “You’re going to throw away a pizza? Do you know how much I have dreamed about American pizza since I left?”
(S4E13 ‘The Chosen One’)
Perhaps Callen always longs for pizzas and other fatty foods that make Sam get annoyed with him:
Callen [walks into the mission with bacon and eggs for breakfast]: “Hi.”
Sam: “Bacon. Third time this week.”
Callen: “U-huh!”
Sam:” When was the last time you got your cholesterol checked?”
Callen: “Last Month.”
Sam: “What was it? 250, 275?”
Callen: “Not even close.”
Sam: ” If it’s 300, I’m interviewing new partners.”
Callen: ” Sorry pal, you are stuck with me. Genetically gifted. 170.”
[Sam creases his brow]
Callen: “Bacon is my friend.”
[Kensi enters looking for Deeks]: “What are you eating?”
Callen: “Eggs, bacon.”
(S3E06 ‘Lone Wolf’)
There have been some occasions when some great banter between Callen and Sam have entertained us, that have involved around the subject of food:
Sam: “SEALs eat pirates for breakfast.”
Callen: “Uh-huh. What do they taste like, chicken?”
Sam: “Fish sticks.”
(S2E23 ‘Imposters’)
[Callen has offered to take Sam out to eat. And you can just see Sam licking his lips]
Callen: “You’re always trying to milk it.”
Sam: “Is it truffle season yet?”
Callen: “Okay, a couple ground rules though: No weird expensive fungi. No eggs that don’t come from a chicken. No scotch that’s older than you or me.”
Sam: “I can still order a Seafood Tower.”
Callen: “Great.”
(S2E20 ‘The Job’)
Callen [feeling rejected by Sam]: “Suit yourself. Come on Kens. Hey, what do you say we, uh, stop for some donuts.”
Kensi: “I love donuts.”
Sam Hanna: “You didn’t say anything about donuts!”
(S1E17 ‘Full Throttle’)
[Callen and Sam are driving Lily to a safe house]
Callen”: “What the hell is slow food?”
Sam: “It’s eating what’s around you. Watching it grow. Knowing your food G.”
Lily: “Impressive”.
Callen: “I know my food.”
Lily: “Oh yeah? What’d you have last night?”
Callen: “Burger.”
Lily: “Do you know the cow’s name?”
Callen: “Mac. And he was big.”
(S5E12 ‘Merry Invasion’)
[Sam and Callen are in the shooting range firing their weapons for practise. Sam is trying to get G to come out with him and Michelle for dinner]
Sam: “Well?”
Callen: “It’s last minute.”
Sam: “No it’s not. It’s tonight. That’s hours from now.”
Callen: “I’ve got stuff to do.”
Sam: “Doing what?”
Callen: “You know, stuff.”
Sam: “Please! You’re going to leave here and go and get some takeout. Probably Indian. Go home and open a beer. You’re going to turn on the history channel and you’re going to play chess against the computer.”
Callen: “Oh, you’re so off base.”
Sam: “Oh yeah?”
Callen: “I’m having Greek food.”
Sam: “No you’re not. You’re coming out for dinner with us.”
(S5E14 ‘War Cries’)
He’s also used food or in this this case salt mixed with tequila and lime to cheer Hetty up:
Callen [walks over to Hetty]: “Something I can do?”
Hetty: “No. No. This one’s stuck squarely in my lap, I’m afraid. Oh it…it’s just all a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense anyway. We must take it all with a grain of salt.”
Callen: “I find that it helps if the salt is followed by a shot of tequila and some lime.”
Hetty: “I like the way you think, Mr. Callen.”
(S2E23 ‘Imposters’)
From Sam’s comment while searching a suspect’s apartment, it’s common to only find beer and not much else in Callen’s fridge. However, this was back in the day when Callen didn’t have a place to call home:
[Sam and Callen are searching a guy’s apartment. G opens the fridge]
Callen: “Beer and mustard.”
Sam: “You sure you don’t live here?”
(S1E06 ‘Keeping It Real’)
That being said, there is evidence that Callen has dabbled in eating expensive Japanese food, even though he was being one of his many aliases:
[Callen walks into Hetty’s office]
Hetty: “I already sent the others upstairs.”
Callen: “Good morning, Hetty.”
Hetty: “Well that’s a matter of perspective, Mr. Callen. Uh, I’ve been doing some accounting and I came a crossed anomaly in your expenses. This is a fourteen hundred dollar restaurant bill from Matsukisa.”
Callen: “Um-hmm, that’s from the Miygomi case.”
Hetty: “You mean it’s not a mistake? You actually spent fourteen hundred dollars on raw fish!”
Callen: “Not me, my alias Tony Z did.”
Hetty: “Ah, ah, ah and is Tony Z going to reimburse me?”
Callen: “Well, you’ll have to ask him.”
Hetty: “Uh-huh”
Callen: “Hetty, when I go undercover as a beach bum, I eat off the Kogi truck. When I’m going after a high roller, I’ve got to hit it a little harder.”
Hetty: “Try ordering soup, player.”
(S1E11 ‘Breach’)
What’s your opinion on Callen’s diet? Do you think Sam has over reacted on his poor choice of foods, seeing Callen looks healthy and fit? Or do you agree with Sam that Callen needs to start looking after himself more, before it catches up with him and it’s too late to take care of his health? Are you a junk food addict like Callen or a healthy salad person like Sam?
Lastly, but definitely not the least, we leave you with some images of Callen with what he likes to consume the most.
I would like to thank the ladies from Callen’s Corner: ChrisDaisy, Bee, Mary and Richtsje for having a food fight with me on this topic. Also a big thank you to ncislosangelesfan.com for the screencaps.
Callen’s Corner: The Blog [Fan Fiction]
The Blog By I Feel Possessed
Post-script to S05E06 “Big Brother”. The team relax at a bar after their latest case and Callen’s blogger comes back to haunt him.
It had not gone as expected, but then how many operations actually did? A fifteen year old girl had inadvertently compromised the cell phones of two Federal Agents after her boyfriend deliberately hacked her cell. Teen angst and imposters on social media had just been the start of the problem, leading to a near massacre of the joint agency task force sent to take down a cell of the Molina Cartel…Callen shook his head and smiled as he wondered how Sam would cope when his kids reached their teenage years.
Deeks as usual had provided the comic relief for the day with his walking workstation, and had continued to be a source of amusement when the team hit the bar for a ‘debrief’ afterwards. The four of them had headed down to Venice Beach for beer and burgers at the Surf Shack, a ramshackle hut of a bar that had a sprawl of tables and chairs that spilled onto the boardwalk. The team had sat outside in the far corner, enjoying the last of the evening’s sun and each other’s company.
“So why doesn’t it surprise me that Deeks claims to have finished High School in the style of Ferris Bueller?” Sam asked, kicking off the conversation with a level of intelligence which would be maintained throughout the evening.
“Yeah, I can just see him now, high-jacking a float and shaking his bootie to Twist & Shout, just like the rock star he used to be…” Kensi said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“I’m surprised he even managed to finish High School,” Callen added before snapping his head round to look at Kensi. “And what’s this about Deeks being a rock star?”
“Hey guys,” Deeks interrupted. “Not only did I finish High School but I finished Law School and passed the Bar Exam for the State of California. Did any of you do that? Anyone? Anyone? No, I thought not.”
“That wasn’t the question Deeks,” Callen answered with a grin. “Were you a High School rock star?”
“He claims to have had his own band called Touching Wood,” Kensi laughed, unable to keep a straight face any longer. Sam and Callen too both burst into laughter at the absurdity and double entendre.
“Really? Touching Wood?” Callen asked. “And Kensi, you knew about this for how long?”
“A few months or so,” Kensi replied cagily as she stirred her Mojito with a straw.
“And have you found any erm, evidence of said band?” Sam said, wondering how Kensi had not let this gem of information slip out earlier.
“I have conducted some discreet investigations,” she admitted slyly. “But so far, no luck.”
Callen pulled out his cell. “I bet Eric and Nell can find footage of you. My money’s on Nell beating Eric to it. Ten bucks on it, Sam?”
“I’m in.” Sam said with a smile.
“No wait, you guys, you can’t do this?” Deeks protested.
“I think it’s too late.” Kensi smiled. “But be careful or I might just have to reveal some more of your secrets.” She winked at Deeks, who suddenly looked extremely worried.
“Oh yes, what’s this about secrets Deeks?” Callen asked. “We’re a team you know, we don’t keep secrets from each other.”
Deeks looked at Callen and almost spat out his beer. “You gotta be kidding me, right? You saying we don’t have secrets?” He turned towards Sam. “Sam, you kept your wife and kids from the rest of us for how long?”
“True, I did – but it’s no longer a secret. And I’ve even let you and Kensi babysit, and you all came to my baby-girl’s party.” Sam quickly pointed out.
“And Kensi, you didn’t trust me enough to tell me you were investigating your father’s death,” Deeks said, feeling slightly guilty he was using something so personal to demonstrate his point.
Kensi squirmed in her chair. “It wasn’t so much that I didn’t trust you guys,” she said, taking in the three faces which were now looking quizzically at her. “It was just something I had to do on my own. Callen, you understand that.”
Everyone now turned to look at Callen who had been interrupted mid-bite of his burger. He deliberately took his time to chew and swallow before answering. “I certainly do.”
Sam smiled, “Is that all we’re going to get from you?” he asked.
“Yep,” Callen said as he leaned back in his chair and observed his team. Deeks was quite right, they were a secretive bunch of individuals and he was unsure how any of them had developed the ability to trust one another and work as a team. Well, for Sam team-work was everything, but as for the others?
Deeks had sort of been forced on him by Hetty, however he had more than proven to be a quick learner and a great fit for the team. His past life as an undercover LAPD detective had seen him working alone though and even in his role with NCIS as their LAPD liaison, he was still shunned by his former colleagues. He had clearly been an outsider in the force, which was strange, Callen thought, as Deeks’ most notable characteristic was to use humour to make people to feel at ease. Well, that and using it as a defence mechanism – and to antagonise people.
And Kensi, well she’d run away from home when her parents split up, her father had died when she was a teenager, she was paranoid that all men she developed relationships with would leave her as her fiancé did and she had a reputation as the queen of first dates. But the same as Deeks and himself, she didn’t give away her secrets freely and rarely opened up to others about her feelings.
“So,” Callen started to move the subject away from himself. “If Deeks was a Ferris Bueller ‘wanna-be’, and Kensi was, erm, teased in High School, what were you then Sam?”
“Well you know G,” Sam said with a broad smile. “I was the star football player, quarter-back, a team player and a winner.”
“Oh yes,” Callen said with a slow smile of his own. “You were indeed a winner, but weren’t you a wide receiver and didn’t you say you were a mathelete?”
“Junior math Olympian G, we’ve had this conversation before,” Sam acknowledged in exasperation, deliberately ignoring Callen’s jibe about his little white football lie.
“So tell me, how did you manage to be a jock and a geek at the same time?” Callen asked.
“Raw, unadulterated talent, physique, brains and natural good-looks,” Sam answered, placing his hand over his heart in sincerity and causing Kensi to snort a little with laughter.
“And from the size of you, no-one would argue if you had wanted to captain the Netball team,” Callen’s comment this time caused Deeks to actually spit out his drink as he failed not to laugh at the same time as taking a swig. He was glad it was Callen who came out with that as he couldn’t see him getting away with that remark.
“Ok genius,” Sam said turning to face Callen, deliberately putting his antagoniser on the spot. “What about you? What were you like in High School?”
“You just said it Sam,” Callen replied with a sly smile. “Genius.”
“Aw, come on now, you’ve got to give us something more than that!” Deeks exclaimed. “We’ve all bared our souls today so give us something in return…”
“Yes, come on Callen,” Kensi said as she leaned forward and stared in to his eyes. “Were you a jock like Sam? Or a geek, like Sam?”
Sam shot Kensi a look, to which Kensi tilted her head to one side and raised her eyebrows.
“Nah,” added Deeks. “I reckon he was more like me, in the style of Ferris Bueller. Not up to my level of course, but close…”
Callen observed his audience and thought for a minute. His High School years were fraught with change, anxiety and uncertainty. He was lucky if he stayed in the same school for more than three months sometimes. Deeks was right. In fact they all were. Depending on how he felt at any given school and the type of family he’d been placed with, he had naturally slipped into any American High School stereotype he fancied. His favourite was the jock, although he had brains and did not partake in the social subculture of bullying that was so frequently associated with that particular label. But he had loved sports. He loved the physical freedom, the adrenaline rush, the challenge and winning. He decided to answer them honestly, but maybe leave out the fact he had not attended school consistently for a variety of reasons, and had actually been expelled from one – all down to a misunderstanding of course.
“I went to about thirteen different High Schools in this State, and no Deeks, I was never the class clown – class smart-ass at times though,” Callen said with a smile to Deeks, who nodded his head in appreciation. “Star baseball player in one school in my Freshman year, best swimmer in seven of them, and I was pretty hot at track and field. And not to boast Sam, but top of the class too.”
“See,” Sam said with a shake of his head.
“See what?” Callen asked, looking a little puzzled as he was convinced he had just bested Sam.
“Most of those sports are individual sports, G, as is being top of the class,” He replied.
“So? You never said you were going to assassinate my character with this information. And anyway I was never at a school long enough…” Callen attempted to pull off his best ‘hurt-puppy’ look and failed dismally. “I’m hurt. This is why I don’t talk to you.”
“Ha, what goes around…” Sam added, pleased to have gotten his own back after the ridicule he always received from his partner, although on reflection today he’d generally had the upper hand.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Callen asked in amusement.
“Woah guys,” Kensi interrupted, before the two could go off on an argument about who was best, worst, most annoying, most talented and the most natural agent…she’d heard it all before and didn’t care to go through it all again this evening.
“Hm,” Sam shook his head and took a swig of his beer. He caught the attention of the waitress and signalled another round of drinks for the table.
“So Callen,” Deeks changed the subject a little. “You were only undercover for what, five minutes as a teacher today? What would you have done if you’d had to teach all day?”
“Well first of all I’m clearly the only one of us capable of such an assignment. I still can’t believe you were all too scared to stand in front of a bunch of kids at school.”
“No,” Sam interrupted. “I think you’ll find that you asked each of us first as you were being your typical lazy self so you didn’t have to go in.”
“Lazy?” Callen questioned, secretly peeved that Sam knew him all too well at times. “I have more undercover assignments under my belt than all of you put together.”
“Really?” Deeks challenged. “I think you’ll find me and Kens have had more than our fair share in the last three months…”
“Well that’s because you need more practice than I do,” Callen retorted, causing Deeks to smile and shake his head.
“Really?” It was Sam’s turn now. “How many times have you been made in the last six months? I had to save you from being blown up with that suicide bomb vest, you were made to drink cyanide…do you really want me to continue?”
Callen looked into Sam’s eyes and caught a glimpse of the seriousness behind the remark. No, he thought, he did not want Sam to continue. Although no one had verbalised it – yet – it had been his plan to bring the Janvier back to the US, which of course had led to the horrendous torture of Sam and Deeks. He quickly pushed the thought to the back of his mind and instead said pointedly, “Clearly none of you were up for the challenge today. Thanks Kensi…”
“Oh yes,” Kensi’s eyes gleamed as she remembered the undercover alias that had been created specifically for her, a woman. “What was your alias’s name again, Callen?”
Callen looked at her, sighing dramatically as he raised his eyebrows and said, “Valerie Bellridge…”
As soon as he uttered the name ‘Valerie’, his team cracked up.
“Yes, laugh it up, the class did too until they realised not to mess with me”
“Ah, so you went in as a strict teacher then?” Deeks asked. “The kind that all the kids are scared of. You’ve probably scarred them for life!”
“Do you really think I want a bunch of fifteen year old kids walking all over me?” Callen asked Deeks, as he had a brief flash of what he’d been like with substitute teachers – in fact most teachers – when he’d been at school.
“Ah, good point,” Deeks conceded as he too recalled the havoc and mischief he used to cause in class.
Callen’s cell vibrated on the table and he leaned forward to check the sender. It was Eric. “Message from Eric,” he announced, hoping they weren’t about to be recalled to ops for an urgent case. He opened the message and shook his head in dismay.
“What is it?” Kensi asked as she shared Callen’s concern they may have to return to work.
“Neither he nor Nell have so far found any evidence that Deeks’ Touching Wood exists.” Callen said looking up at his team, his gaze lingering on Deeks.
“Ha, that sounds so wrong when you say it like that,” Deeks said, running his fingers through his hair. He was convinced that no footage existed and was relieved that Eric hadn’t tried to fabricate some. It had just been him and two other guys and in reality, they had never gotten further than jamming a few times in someone’s garage.
“Eric will pull through for me,” Sam said turning to Callen.
“You wish,” Deeks grinned.
“Nah, Nell will come good,” Callen said, taking a swig from his fresh bottle of beer the waitress had just delivered to them. He was convinced that Nell had a crush on him and he was sure he could wrap her round his little finger if necessary.
“You reckon? Has she taken down that blog yet?” Sam asked, his eyes glinting with amusement as he stole the opportunity to once again get one over on his somewhat annoying partner. This was a moment to relish.
“What?” Deeks asked as Callen looked sharply at Sam. “Ah yes, the blog. It’s a good job your stalker doesn’t live in my neighbourhood; she’d be blogging, tweeting, instagramming and facebooking about me permanently.”
“I think you’ll find she has more discerning tastes, Deeks,” Callen said as he watched Kensi pick up her cell phone and tap away furiously. She scrolled down the screen a few times, paused and looked up at the team triumphantly.
“Well Callen, I agree she has more discerning tastes but you must have done something to upset Nell as this blog is still running – last updated – thirty minutes ago,” Kensi passed Callen her phone.
He took hold of the handset and saw there were already five new blogs about him from today. He raised his eyebrows as he read how Elise had finally built up enough courage to accost the postman to find out his name. Callen was thankful that he lived there under an alias. The thanks was short lived as he read the next entry. She now had his post and a reason to knock on his door to make direct contact. The next blogs were about how she had fallen asleep in the afternoon sun and dreamt she was laying in his arms, his strong embrace keeping her safe and warm. She had dreamed that she had awoken and found herself staring in to his beautiful blue eyes. Callen cringed as he realised that within minutes the rest of his team, and probably Nell, Eric and Hetty would be reading this. His eyes moved to the latest blog and his eyes widened as he knew this had to stop now.
Elise had grown impatient that he’d been out since early morning and not yet returned. She’d knocked on his door and when she didn’t get a response, she had peeked through the windows. And of course to her surprise and confusion she had found an empty house; a shell. Now she was questioning exactly who her handsome, enigmatic and lonely neighbour was. Her last sentence had her fantasising about whether he was could be a fugitive from the law or a secret agent, hiding out in suburbia.
Callen quickly finished his drink and made excuses to leave. His harmless blogger had just turned into a stalker and whilst she may still be harmless, he was knew that cyber-terrorists scanned the internet for certain types of ‘chatter’. He left his team to their banter as he pulled out his cell and phoned Eric to call in all favours to get his neighbour’s blog removed permanently.
Callen drove home under the cover of darkness. He parked his car around the block and jumped some fences to arrive undetected. He opened the back door, walked in and kicked the door closed behind him. Without turning on any lights, he dropped his bag on the floor and headed straight to the fridge where he grabbed a bottle of beer. He twisted off the cap and threw it in the sink as he turned and headed to the living room. Barely glancing at his sparsely decorated surroundings he sat down in his only chair and leaned back with a sigh. He’d recently started sleeping in the gym and on the couch in the bull pen again. Three years in the same place had made him sloppy. His neighbours were obviously getting too familiar with him and though it pained him to even think it, it looked like it was time to move again.
Read more chapters of this awesome story on fanfiction.net and make sure to leave a review for the writer… 🙂
Callen’s Corner: Callen Versus The Chameleon
G. Callen: It’s all about revenge.
(S5x01, Ascension)
Legendary agent versus criminal mastermind.
Callen’s nemesis – he is powerful, unpredictable and he knows how to play psychic games.
Crimeleon (S3x15)
“The Chameleon” (aka Zahid DeGramont aka Marcel Janvier) made his first appearance in “Crimeleon” and soon it became clear that he is no ordinary criminal. No matter what the team does – he always seems to be one step ahead.
And Callen is impressed by his skills and abilities.
G: He’s the best I’ve ever seen.
G: He also has an amazing ability for physical transformation.
Kallstrom: You seem impressed by him.
G: I’ve spent my whole life pretending to be somebody I’m not.
Kallstrom: Perhaps he’s better at it than you.
G: Maybe. Until I catch him.
Kallstrom: Confident.
G: Resolute.
Callen was the one who shot DeGramont (the name under which he is known in this episode) in the jaw – leaving him permanently affected by this injury. And leaving him craving for revenge – which he made very clear during his phone call with Callen:
Chameleon: My mouth still doesn’t work right. I can’t breath, I can’t sleep.
My brain throbs, thanks to the bullet you put in my head.
G: My heart breaks for you.
Chameleon: Agent G Callen, I know where you work.
I know where you live.
I know who you care about.
G: What do you want?
Chameleon: One day, I’m going to kill you. Soon.
That’s all I live for. It’s all I care about.
After that phone call, Callen seems worried – something we rarely see with him, especially not when it comes to his own safety. And again, “The Chameleon” seems to be one step ahead as he claims to have private information on Callen – information that should be classified. And there’s more: “The Chameleon” has not only threatened Callen’s life but also the ones that are close to him, the few people he cares about – and in this episode “The Chameleon” left no doubt about what he is capable of and that he has no scruple whatsoever.
Sam: What did he say?
G: That he’s gonna kill me.
Sam: Heard that before.
G: Yeah. But this guy’s pretty good.
Callen is always the one to have everything under control. He has unrivalled skills and is one of the best agents out in the field. No opponent he’s had to deal with so far was a match for him but with “The Chameleon” things are different…
Sans Voir (S3x23 + 24)
In “Sans Voir” “The Chameleon” arranged for his and G’s paths to cross again – as always being ahead of the game and with devastating consequences for the team. It is in this episode that we learnt “The Chameleon’s” real name: Marcel Janvier. And the two men meet face to face for the first time – after Janvier had killed Renko and Hunter, leaving Callen emotionally shaken as we have rarely seen before.
G: What do you want? The right to remain silent?
That’s fine, we’ll give you that. It’s not gonna help you.
Because we both know, sooner or later you will talk to me.
Because that’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You and me.
The scenes in the boat shed between Callen and Janvier grew increasingly intense by the minute.
Janvier is driven by revenge. He says that he “chose” Callen because he was the one who shot him, but maybe there’s more to it. Janvier likes to play games and he probably realized that in Callen he found a “worthy opponent” – maybe for the first time ever – an opponent who makes the game worth playing.
G: Why me?
Janvier: You shot me.
G: But you came back.
Janvier: Curiosity.
G: I almost caught you.
Janvier: But you didn’t.
And so their “game” began – it is fascinating to watch these two strong characters interacting, creating some of the most intense Callen-centric scenes we have seen in the show so far.
Janvier: Welcome to the game, Agent Callen!
G: This is a game to you?
Janvier: You play chess, Agent Callen?
G: A little.
It is obvious right from the beginning that Janvier clearly knows Callen’s weakness: The people he cares about, first of all Sam and Hetty. And Janvier knows that Callen will go to any length to keep them safe – so he provokes him, raises the stakes.
Janvier: Same way I got to you, Agent Callen. Every one has a weakness.
Even Vaziri acknowledged that in “Endgame” (S4x01):
Vaziri: I’m intrigued, Agent Callen. Why would you do such a thing?
Janvier must have found your weakness.
Seeing the usually so calm, composed and focused Callen struggle with his emotions makes the duel with Janvier so intriguing to watch.
One could literally feel the tension building up and reach its climax.
G: You wanna kill someone, try me. In fact, here. Use this. (hands Janvier his weapon)
All you gotta do is squeeze the trigger. Take it. Take it.
Janvier: And give you an excuse to break my neck.
G: I don’t need another excuse.
They came to a point where it looked as if Janvier finally turned out to be the winner of this encounter when in the Season 3 finale Callen went rogue, shot an unarmed Janvier in cold blood in front of a television crew and got arrested.
Janvier: You kill me and I win.
At the end of “Sans Voir” that’s exactly what things looked liked.
Endgame (S4x01)
Callen in prison, facing a criminal charge, the team shattered – or so it seemed. But in the Season 4 premiere “Endgame” we learnt that Callen had not given in to Janvier’s psychological games at all, that everything was a ruse.
Yet, G was determined to go to any length to defeat his nemesis – even jeopardizing his own health, safety, career and life. To Callen it was worth the risk.
During the exchange with the Iranians we see a bruised Callen who had suffered some injuries from being held captive but look of triumph of having won over the Chameleon is clearly visible in his face and expressed with only one word:
G: Checkmate!
Game over!
Or so we thought…
Descent (S4x24)
Then, in the finale of Season 4 Janvier resurfaced – severely mutilated by the Iranians – because NCIS needed him to cut the deal with the stolen nukes. Despite all doubts Callen had to bring him back from Iran – work with him and trust him – at least to a certain extent.
Janvier: You need me for something. What? Oh – chess match begins again.
Trouble is – this time I don’t wanna play. You have nothing to offer me.
But Callen does have something to offer – the one thing that drives Janvier forward: revenge. Revenge against the Iranians for taking his hand. And of course never forgetting the fact that Janvier will also want to take vengeance on him.
Yet Janvier has another request to make – he asks Callen to kill him.
Janvier: Let me put your mind at ease. This is my first requirement.
When it’s all done I need you to finish what you started
when you put that bullet in my face.
G: You want me to kill you.
Janvier: You owe me that.
G: As much as I’d like to, I don’t do that.
Janvier: Maybe I can seduce you into it.
It was a dangerous plan they had come up with and Hetty and G knew that they were playing with fire.
G: You do anything to jeopardize this mission or my people and you’ll get your death wish.
Janvier: And no protected vest this time?
G: No.
Janvier: See, I told I would seduce you.
As much as they were trying to keep everything under control, things went terribly wrong – almost giving Janvier what he really wants above everything else: Getting to Callen by hurting the ones he loves, by seducing G into killing him and thus succeeding over him in the end.
Janvier: You can’t hurt me anymore. Not after what I’ve gone through –
which by the way Agent Callen I blame you for.
Janvier: I still live for only one thing – to kill what you love.
Sidorov is going to kill your beloved partner.
Janvier: And the game continues. Oh, by the way,
have you recovered agent Hanna’s body yet?
(“Ascension”, S5x1)
Callen on the edge again – this time for real. And even Hetty realizes how close he’s become to crossing the line.
Hetty: Mr. Callen, control your emotion. We need Janvier alive.
Ascension (S5x01)
Callen and Janvier share an obsessive relationship – and a dangerous one.
And it will only end when one of them is dead, they both know that.
Janvier: We make a good team.
Janvier: It’s a complicated relationship we have. I consume you and you consume me.
G: It’s not complicated, it’s obsessive. Sad.
Janvier: You might be right.
Hetty: Janvier is obsessed with you.
It might be wise not to be obsessed with him.
G: I have to be. Janvier’s a threat. He lives for revenge.
He’ll come after me. Or any agent I’m connected to.
But once again – despite everything Janvier has done and despite all feelings that his actions have triggered in G, he manages to keep his emotions under control, to not let his hatred get the better of him.
Janvier: Finish it, we both want it.
Janvier did not manage to seduce Callen into killing him – yet. He did not manage to make G betray everything that he values and everything that he stands for, thus leaving G as the winner of their ongoing duel for the moment.
Their final confrontation (for now) took place in Janvier’s prison cell – an awesome scene that sums up their obsessive relationship perfectly.
G: Eight feet wide, eleven feet long. 23 hours a day lockdown. Triple life sentence – priceless.
Janvier: I didn’t think I would see you again.
G: I just had to see this with my own eyes.
Janvier: Two hour plane flight just to see me step into a cell.
Not much going on at home, I guess.
Janvier: Did you ever read „The Count of Monte Cristo? It’s the story of a man who
spent 21 years in prison only to escape and exact his revenge.
The scene (and the episode) ends with a sentence that leaves hardly any doubt that Callen’s nemesis will return – sooner or later.
Janvier: Agent G Callen – the game is not over.
What are your thoughts? Will Janvier escape from prison? Will he be back, haunting Callen and the ones who are close to him? Will there be an ultimate confrontation? And will G kill Janvier in the end?
You’re more than welcome to share your thoughts with us in the comments!
On a personal note:
Having done extensive research for this post I can only encourage all Callen fans to watch all six Janvier-related episodes in a row. It is fascinating to see the “relationship” between Callen and Janvier growing more complex and intense with every episode. I am looking forward to seeing the two of them meet again and continue their duel as those episodes promise a lot of intensity, emotional struggle and suspense concerning our hero G Callen.
Very special thanks to Vicki and Richtsje and also to FanGCallen and sindee for helping me putting together this post and for sharing the „tough task“ of having to rewatch the respective episodes! Also thanks to ncislosangelesfan.com for the screencaps. And of course thanks to Keviana!