Turn of Events

Two weeks later

The day had arrived for the Father-daughter picnic at UCLA Sunset Canyon Recreation Centre. Callen had been nervous for weeks over the event, but Sam had gone over things with him and reassured him how well he'd settled in as Emily's father. They had become close in a short time, as if they'd known each other for all of Emily's life. Callen agreed that getting to know Emily had been easier than he'd thought and he looked forward to every moment he got to spend with her. No pressing cases had come up, he had no excuse not to go. Hetty had assured Elise, that no matter what happened, she would make sure Callen was free to go. Everyone knew how important this picnic was to the two of them.

"At least you can now go as your real self, G. No more aliases when real life is at play," Sam assured him.

"What do I tell people what I do for a living? There's only so much one can say about securities. He'd given that excuse to Joelle and felt she'd seen through his story straight away.

"You've used that cover for years, G. Why is it important for you to change it now. Hasn't it worked for you before?" Sam watched his partner become unsure of himself. He understood it had to do with his nerves of being around wealthy families at the Marlborough school. "What was your cover, when you and Elise went in as Matthew and Alyssa Summers, sixteen years ago?"

Callen raised his brow as realisation hit him. "Of course! That makes perfect sense." He dialled his cell and asked Elise what had she told Warren and Emily what he did for a living, although they knew now that he was a federal agent for NCIS. "Hey Elise, what cover did you give to Warren and Emily on what I did for a job?" He was intrigued to see what story she'd come up with, seeing he felt his securities one was lame in comparison to lawyers, CEO's, celebrities, sporting agents, brokers, etc.

Elise laughed when she realised Callen's predicament. "Remember our old aliases as the Summers?"

"How could I forget." His mind returned to happy days as Matthew Summers, sixteen years earlier, with a smile.

"That's what I had told them." A smile spread across Elise's face, thinking back to those days.

"Thanks, Ellie."

"Good luck for today. Emily's changed her outfit five times already."

"Thanks, think I'm going to need it." He licked his lips as his nerves put him on edge. He knew he needed to relax. "Tell Em, I'll love her in no matter what she wears."

"I will. See you soon."

Sam looked over at Callen, he was dressed in a blue polo shirt and denim jeans. Elise stressed it was a relaxed occasion so there would be no pressure on dressing up. With sport activities assigned for the day, he needed to be prepared to work out. "What did Elise say?"

A grin formed at the edge of Callen's mouth, as he tried to hide from Sam his cover.

"It wouldn't take me much to call Elise myself, you know?"

"Pilot." He grinned. "It was what started me in learning to fly in the first place."

Sam chuckled and patted him on the back. See, that wasn't so bad. I knew you'd have it in you to be something worthwhile. You can relax now, G. Be yourself and enjoy spending the day with your daughter."

"Thanks, Sam. At least this is one cover I can actually do and not worry about anyone scrutinising me." He shook his head and wondered why he hadn't used that backstory before. It made sense and he realised Elise knew him better than he knew himself.

Callen pulled up outside the Mitchell family home and stepped out of the car. Hetty had procured him the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide. It had been a while since he'd driven the British made car, and now he knew his father was British, he felt more at home behind the wheel. Emily squealed with delight when she saw the silver Rapide and couldn't wait to sit inside it. She hugged her mom and waved to her sisters and step-father. Warren and Sally were right behind them, leaving in Warren's Land Rover Discovery.