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-Look at the state you're in! Your mother had just bought you this shirt!- said Hetty, trying to clean up Dom.
They were in an ice cream parlour on the promenade near the beach. The boy had knocked over his tub and now his mouth and part of his T-shirt were stained with chocolate.
-You dirty! Now she-daddy will mads you!- mocked little Michelle in those babbles that only they two understood.
-No! She-daddy no mads. She-daddy hugs!- Dom protested, kicking angrily.
-Stay still, Dom.- said the petite woman, pulling out another wet flannel.
The little boy resisted being wiped, wriggled, turned his head and kicked in a tantrum. She didn't know who he exactly was like - Kensi for messy? Deeks for sloppy? Sam for grumpy? Or Callen for stubborn? The woman snorted in frustration, still enjoying the moment and the funny faces the boy was making. Michelle, next to him in the double pram, watched and laughed. The fun didn't last long. Soon a shadow literally loomed over them and a shiver ran down her spine, though she hid it.
-Henrietta Lange?- asked a sinister voice, somewhere between surprise and amusement.
-I thought you dead, Vargas- she said, recognising the man even before she turned and saw before her a thin, older man, too elegant to be strolling along the Californian coast.
-I could say the same for you. But here you are. Alive and... Babysitting? You of all people? Who are the careless parents?
She looked at him over her glasses with a menacing expression.
-It turns out, Vargas, that these babies are my grandchildren. Needles is to say if you try something against them, I won't control my own actions.
-Against you? God save me, Henrietta. I've always been a fair man. And taking on a grandmother with two grandchildren wouldn't be fair at all, would it?- Vargas asked with a casualness, but there was something Hetty didn't like. She had lived long enough in her job to recognise the most discreet hints.
-Anyway, nice to see you again, Henrietta. I'll be on my way. I hope you enjoy this day with those little ones as if it were your last.
He said with an exaggerated bow and continued walking. Hetty's hair stood on end. She had to get out of there now. She had to get the children to safety. When Vargas disappeared around the corner, Hetty left the money for the ice creams on the table and walked away, pushing the pram, in the opposite direction to the man.
It didn't take her long to notice that unfortunately familiar feeling. The feeling of being watched, pursued. She used the mirrors of the shops and people's glasses to peer over her shoulder. Vargas was nowhere in sight, but she knew he never went alone. He could have his goons accompanying him in the distance. Or he could discreetly go after them himself. She tried to stay calm and think of something. Then she saw the Ferris Wheel. Maybe the Pacific Park crowd would help camouflage him.
-Tee-tee sad?- Dom asked, concerned.
-No. Tee-tee thinking fights, like strong daddy and taco daddy.
-We danger?- the boy asked his sister, pouting.
-No danger with Tee-tee. Tee-tee cool fights and we learns.
-Look! No danger, we to park!- he exclaimed.
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Hetty felt calmer when she reached the park, but her guard didn't drop. She stopped. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. Yes, Vargas would have a harder time spotting her, but she was still having trouble picking him out of the crowd. She had to think of something fast. Worried, she glanced this way and that, then at the pram in which... Oh no, where were the babies?
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-Tee-tee too still, wanna go there!- Michelle pointed as she watched the West Coaster pass overhead.
-No! Scary. Too young yet. Wanna there- Dom stretched his arms towards the Shark Frenzy.
-Too young too- Michelle scoffed.
-No if we go with Tee-tee.
-But Tee-tee still. Go alone- complained the girl and quickly got rid of her belt.
The children were very naughty and both had found a way to unbuckle themselves from their pushchairs. The little girl dropped to the floor and began to crawl towards her goal.
-Then I go to there!
Before Hetty knew it, the babies were crawling through the crowd towards their chosen attraction, each in a different direction.
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-Dom! Michelle! Get back here now!- shouted Hetty, not knowing which way to go first. Without hesitation, she left the pram there and ran, dodging people. The girl seemed absorbed in watching the West Coaster, not paying attention to the people. They, on the other hand, were so distracted by their walks and games that they didn't even notice the baby alone. How quick she was for a new crawler, or was she too old?
Michelle couldn't wait to get on that flying carriage, but where would she get on? Where would it stop? An unfamiliar female voice caught her attention.
-You're being so naughty today, lady!
The girl turned and saw a woman with dark hair and skin looking at her angrily, her arms crossed and her feet... where were her feet?
-Who you?
-Michelle, like you. You're in big trouble...
-You adult understands me? You fly? Can you take me there?- she pointed to the attraction again. Michelle's ghost sighed and slapped her face in frustration, trying to keep her patience.
-No, you're too Young for it. Wait here for Hetty and I'll make sure no one stomp on you!
It was a few seconds before Hetty, agitated, reached her and took the baby back to the carriage.
-Your parents shall not know about...-as she fastened her, she heard an easily recognisable scream.
Horrified, she watched as Vargas walked out onto the beach with little Dom.
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Moving alone was more difficult than he expected, especially in this place, but the sharks were moving, emitting music... it was impressive, he wanted to get a closer look. A tug on the back of his chocolate-stained T-shirt made him stop. Just before one of the irons holding a shark could crash into him. The little boy hadn't noticed.
-Enough, little gentleman! You don't abandon Grandma!
Dom saw the floating man, tall and thin, with a bald head, like a strong daddy, and prominent ears.
-You the owner of the sharks?
Owen Granger hid a half-smile.
-No, Hetty asked me to protect you, but you're not making it easy.
-But... but... I want sharks!- the baby began to pout, as if about to cry, and his eyes seemed to grow large and bright.
Damn Deeks' inherited puppy eyes!
-Wait here for Hetty and you'll see the baby shark at home.
That seemed to please the boy. If only he knew that sharks were not nearly as cuddly as he thought they were!
Suddenly he noticed a pair of hands on his body that lifted him up strongly. They were not Hetty's hands, nor were they Strong daddy's or Taco daddy's when they played Superman. It was the man Hetty had spoken to earlier. The boy screamed at the top of his lungs, calling out to the people for help, but the man pretended to try to shush him as if he were his father and took him away towards the beach. Luckily he saw Hetty with her sister following them. The flying man was following them too.
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-Young lady, time for your first mission. But... don't let your parents know.
-Tee-tee secret!- promised Michelle, who actually seemed to enjoy the idea.
And the race to the beach began. Vargas was running away with the little boy, and the pram made it impossible for her to go after them. The wheels got stuck in the sand. So she let go and continued her pursuit.
-Don't run away again!- warned the flying woman.
-Stop, Vargas! Give me Dom and maybe I'll let you go!- shouted Hetty, pulling out a gun.
The man stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly, without wiping that evil grin off his face.
-What if I don't, Henrietta? Will you shoot? I have your grandson, I know you wouldn't dare- he pulled a gun from somewhere in his jacket- Besides, you're not the only one who takes precautions on their day off.
Vargas wasn't aiming at Dom, but she knew better.
-What are you going to do, huh, Vargas?
-I won't lie. At first I thought about killing the three of you. Then I thought about killing them to make you suffer. Then I thought I owed you and not them. Finally I thought how unfair it was, after all this time, that you have had the blessing of two grandchildren and I have had none. A male to inherit my business would be a good reward for what you did to me. And better still if I turned him against you.
Hetty gave a sly half-smirk.
-Revenge, sexism and crime all rolled into one. You know I was just doing my job. You sold guns illegally, stolen from military bases. There was a school shooting with the guns you sold to teenagers. What did you want me to do?
-It was business. It was collateral damage- he said matter-of-factly.
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-Dom, what do you like to play with itchy daddy? asked Granger.
-Boo- said the boy between sobs.
-Peek a boo, that's right. Maybe this bad guy likes it too!
-Me proves!- he said starting to soothe, and stretched out his arms towards the man's face.
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-Hey, Micky, d'you like doing like mommy?- asked Michelle to her little namesake.
-Yes! She-daddy's amazing!
-And that man's taken your brother. What would mommy do?
-NO! Dom not taken. Like she-daddy, me hits from far!- she said determinedly, twisting, trying to reach the bag behind, in search of her rattle, with so much energy that the pram swung down to the wet sand.
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It was chaos! Hetty didn't understand. Suddenly, Dom blindfolded Vargas, shouting "boo", causing the man to sway in an attempt to see. The gun still dangerously in his hand. Behind her, the carriage fell behind her. Her instinct made her throw herself at the man, holding the gun arm with one hand. With the other, she released Dom. As she let the baby crawl away across the sand, they fought. The petite woman was experienced in battle, but he was taller and stronger, so it didn't take long for Hetty to hit her body on the wet ground. Vargas was already aiming for her head, right between her eyes with a triumphant smile when suddenly he was the one hit in that same part by another object, falling semi-conscious, allowing Hetty to snatch the weapon.
The woman looked behind her. The "twins" were finally together again, laughing happily, almost amused. Hetty watched in amazement as what had hit Vargas was Michelle's rattle. She ran to them and hugged them tightly, covering their little faces with kisses. No one had escaped getting mud on them. Not even the pram. She didn't care. She only cared that her little ones were okay. Now that she thought about it, they had saved her actually.
-You bunch of cheecky bastards! Your parents definitely don't need to know about this. You clearly have the NCIS genes after all. Let's look at it this way, the chocolate stain is now the least of our problems- Hetty said, discreetly walking away, leaving the bystanders to call the police. They would take care of Vargas. Maybe once and for all.
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-Long day, wan't it?- asked Michelle
-Don't even wanna think about when they reach puberty- complained Granger, shaking his head and ignoring Michelle's laugh before their figures blurred as they walked along the shore
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The arrival home was a little awkward, but soon everything was back to normal. Kensi was annoyed to see them arrive dirty, but she gave them a bath amidst laughter and games with rubber duckies, forgetting her initial annoyance. Sam made them a very nutritious dinner which Callen made sure to make up for with tidbits, starting an amusing discussion between them and their differing views on diet. Deeks took his little ones and put them to bed, kissing them goodnight. Dom made funny faces as he moaned "Argh! Itchy-daddy itchies lots!" at the rubbing of his beard, but he wouldn't move away. Michelle would exclaim "No itchy, tickles!" and laugh. Meanwhile, the others watched in amusement, including Hetty, who had switched the TV off to avoid the team to see the news about a fugitive criminal who had appeared semi unconscious on a Californian beach with a rattle near him. All in all, it's been a normal day, right?