Here There Be Dragons

G. Callen looked down at the slip of paper that Hetty had surreptitiously slipped to him as he was leaving the office. The sly wink she gave him should have been his first clue that he might be out of his league on this one.

He had no idea the list would be so long and the instructions so complicated, but he was determined that this assignment would end successfully, so he dusted off his hands and got down to business.

Four hours and two failed attempts later, he finally succeeded and fell into bed exhausted but self satisfied.

It was strange that sleep didn’t claim him right away – he was a good sleeper, years in the field and undercover had taught him to sleep in a variety of positions and conditions.

As he lay in bed his thoughts began to wander and when they did they led inevitably to one person.

Earlier in the day he had heard Nell mention to Eric that she had never had a homemade birthday cake,  all her cakes as a child had been store bought.

He was sure that Hetty must have heard the same conversation because when he announced he was knocking off early for personal reasons, she slipped him the note with the recipe of her famous German chocolate cake. Nells’ favorite.

He would have to remember to ask Hetty about that tomorrow, but tonight he preferred to think of Nell’s reaction when she arrives at work tomorrow morning to find the cake on her desk.

Oh yes, it would be a first for her – but if he had anything to say about it - it would be the first of many.

Title: Second Chance at Good-bye

Author: Kytivafan

Written for: proseac1 ’s birthday

Note: Because Tony and Jeanne never did get to say a proper good-bye