She lies in bed next to her partner. His messy hair has meshed with his pillow, and he is sawing logs. She rolls onto her side, exhaling. She wonders if sleep will come anytime soon. As she stares at the red digits from her alarm clock, she knows sleep won't come easily. Some nights she can't seem to shove the demons that haunt her back to where they came from. Her heart, and her mind races as the ceiling fan whirs overhead. She prays for sleep, but it doesn't come easily.

When she awakens the following morning her sleep has been short, and fitful. She acquires an exceptionally large cup of coffee, and heads off to work. She expects that today will be like any other. She anticipates flying bullets, and rushes of adrenaline. She has barely placed her messenger bag on the floor when Eric whistles, and the team is called into ops. As they are briefed on a case she finds a nagging feeling at the pit of her stomach.

On the way to the scene she nearly turns onto the wrong street. Eventually they arrive at the scene, and she pulls onto the curb. She reaches for the keys, and feels her partner's eyes on her. She turns to face him.

"Are you okay?" He asks her.

"Fine," she nods.

"You just seem distracted," he points out.

"Just tired," she stretches the truth, as she exits the vehicle.

She steps onto the street, and surveys the scene before her. It is a quiet suburban neighborhood. She can hear kids at the intersection racing towards the school bus. She looks around, and finds neighbor's out on their lawns, staring at the body lying in the street. She moves forward, stopping between Deeks, and Hanna. She casts her eyes in a downward trajectory.

"Forty two year old marine colonel," Sam begins reading the information on his phone sent by Nell from OPS.

"Kevin Grant," Kensi continues as she stares at the face of the murdered marine.

All eyes fall on her, as she stares at the victim without a hint of emotion.

Deeks clears his throat, "You know him?"

"He tried to recruit me," she admits.

"Into the Marines?" Sam questions.

"It was a long time ago, and I wasn't old enough to join."

"He was working with the department of justice in a classified operation. As Nell mentioned we aren't allowed any information on the matter other than that."

Kensi stares at the bullet wound to Kevin's forehead. He is dressed casually in a pair of sweatpants, and a green t-shirt.

"Kensi, Deeks, you take that side of the street, and Callen I will take this one. This happened at six forty six this morning. There were people out walking their dogs, collecting the newspaper, and kids headed to the bus stop. Witnesses reported seeing him come out for his morning run. They heard a shot, and he fell to the ground. He lives over there," Sam points to the house behind him, "and his brother lives two doors down."

Kensi feels her heart skip a beat. Sam, and Callen turn towards their side of the street. She turns towards her partner. Deeks shoots her a look.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," she nods, as she follows him to the first house.

They collect witness statements, and find that no one can give enough detail regarding the location of the shooter. As they exit the last house, a car moves towards the crime scene tape. The entire block is blocked off with yellow crime scene tape. A grey sedan honks the horn at the agents. Kensi, and Deeks move towards the end of the street, towards the car.

Kensi ducks under the tape, and approaches the vehicle. The driver rolls down the window. A teenaged boy with hair cropped close to his scalp looks up at her.

"Excuse me, ma'am, what is going on?"

"Who are you?"

"I live at the other end of the street. My dad called me, and told me to pick up my brother from the sitter, and bring him home. I had just gotten to school. He is at work. He said he would meet me at home."

Kensi looks in the back, and sees a bright eyed elementary school aged boy who smirks at her from the backseat.

"You can't drive down the street. If you go to the other end of the street you can try to park there, and I'll escort you to your house."

"My dad said something happened to the neighbor."

"Go around to the other side of the street," she instructs him.

He nods. She meets him at the other end of the street. She escorts the two boys to their front door. The door opens, and their father stands inside. She smiles at the stranger.

"I just got home. When I heard I wanted them to come home. I am going to take them to their grandmother's he explains."

"What is your name?"

"Todd Smith," the man answers.

"We aren't sure what happened here, or who the target was."

"I would just feel better if we left the neighborhood until this is cleared up."

"I understand."

Hours later they are deep into their investigation. The team is sitting at their desks comparing witness testimony.

"I spoke with Kevin's brother, Michael. Michael lives a few doors down, and is a former marine. He currently works as an accountant. He said that his son was in their driveway, getting ready to go to school when it happened. He didn't want his son to be home when the police arrived, so he sent him to school. He did agree to let us talk to him when he gets home from school," Sam explains.

"That sounds far more promising as a lead, than any of the people we talked to," Deeks admits.

"Callen and I are going to head over to the department of justice to do a little bit of digging."

"As yourselves?" Deeks queries.

"No," he shakes his head, "As Jack," he points to Callen, "the janitor, and Jim the IT guy. Kensi I want you to go through the crime scene photos with Nell, and see where you think the sniper could have been…"

Kensi interrupts him, "I already reviewed the crime scene photos with Nell."

"Anything stick out to you?"

"Yeah," she nods, "There was a tree at the end of the street."

"There was a playground," Deeks recalls.

"Kensi you should go back to the scene and scope it out. Take Deeks, and see if it pans out. Head over to Michael Grant's house when the son gets home, and find out what he knows."