NaNo #16: Preparation (NCIS:LA)

[miss_lucy21]

"Oh, yeah," Kensi said as they were all leaving Ops. "I'm supposed to tell you that Steve still owes you a steak dinner, but you're gonna have to visit him in Hawaii to cash in on it."

Sam grinned. "Bastard."

Kensi shrugged. "Prickly, too."

"Yeah, he can be wound a little tight," Sam acknowledged. "See ya tomorrow."

"Yup," Kensi said as she followed Deeks towards her SUV.

"Steve?" G asked as they got into Sam's car.

"Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett. Used to be on my team back in the SEALs." Sam explained.

"Ah," G said.

Sam chuckled. "Actually, chasing his crazy ass around for three years was good practice for dealing with you, come to think of it."

"Are you calling me crazy?" G asked indignantly.

"Would I do that?" Sam asked.

"Yes," G huffed.

Sam smiled at his partner's indignation. But it was true, he thought as they drove. He would not have been able to handle G as well as he did if he hadn't known Steve first. Steve had taught him quite a bit about functionally damaged people- different damage, for sure, and Steve's was nowhere as severe as G's could be, but more damaged than "normal" people. Sam had known about the kind of issues that military service could cause, but he hadn't really seen what those issues could do when combined with someone who'd already been through trauma and come through the other side. Not up close and personal, and no one was as up close and personal with their teammates as a SEAL. Sam had pegged G's abandonment issues within 15 minutes of meeting him, mostly because he'd lived with Steve's for three years. The other quirks had taken longer to identify causes for, but he'd known how to be patient and not let G drive him away. It wasn't personal and it wasn't directed at him. That didn't mean it hadn't been annoying as all hell (G could be creative in how he tested people), but Sam had been able to see beyond it and hang in there where other people hadn't.

"Maybe I'll take you with me when I go collect on that steak," Sam said. "You ever been to Hawaii?"

G shook his head. "Just the airport. Didn't have time to see anything."

"I was stationed at Pearl for a year, before the SEALs," Sam said. "It's a beautiful place."

"That's what they say," G said as they pulled up outside of his house. "Thanks for the ride," he added.

"'Course," Sam said, nodding. "See you in the morning. Try to sleep more than an hour, ok?"

"Might go for a couple, tonight," G said, smiling a little. "Kinda tired."

"Good," Sam said. "Pick you up at 7?"

"Yup," G said. "Thanks."

"Night," Sam said, as G got out of the car. He watched until G was inside, then headed for home himself. Might be time to check the vacation schedule, he mused.