Melissa moved through the crowd making sure everyone had a glass of champagne and that all the women were admiring the jewellery on display. Nora Jones was crooning one of the gentle ballads that Melissa's employer Gregory Dean had requested. The reclusive man was the best in the jewellery business and in high demand by all those who could afford to buy his designs. The elite of the jewellery world and the many rich from around the world were all gathered in the ballroom of the exclusive Sunset Tower Hotel.

As Mr. Dean's assistant, Melissa had organised the party according to her boss's express instructions and this was the result; a room full of wealthy guests, millions of dollars' worth of jewellery on display, the best in hors d'oeuvres and champagne money could buy, and the wealthy of the world flocking to buy G. Dean jewellery.

Melissa reached a hand up to the heavy collar of pear and marquise cut diamonds set into platinum circling her neck. Mr. Dean had been insistent that she wear one of his most expensive pieces for the night. She had been reluctant at first but she had been persuaded when her dress and shoes had arrived with the makeup artist, an armed guard in tow with the silver case handcuffed to his wrist.

"Mademoiselle Gordon." She was tapped on the shoulder by the maître d' of the hotel. He had been amazing to work with, every one of her requests had been followed to the letter and Melissa had come to enjoy their discussions about the service for the night.

With a smile she looked around, "Oh, Henri the ballroom looks magnificent." She complemented easily. And it did. The room was dripping with black satin and every piece of jewellery was perfectly lighted. The only damper on the whole night was the fact that Mr. Dean's daughter, Patricia had insisted that the waiters wear black masks. The overall effect wasn't ruined by the silly extra but Melissa still thought the idea had cheapened the drama of the night.

The tall skinny maître d' didn't look around, instead a small wrinkle formed between his eyebrows. "Forgive me Mademoiselle but there are three monsieur's and a mademoiselle out in the cocktail room. They are asking to see the host."

Melissa sighed. "Did you tell them that Mr. Dean doesn't see clients without an invite or booking?" she asked twisting the beautiful platinum ring on her middle finger. It was set with a radiant cut emerald with four marquise cut and one small round cut diamond running down either side of the setting.

"Oui Mademoiselle." The maître d' bobbed his head emphatically. "They insist that they must talk to the host." He added seeming annoyed with the four people in question.

Melissa let her gaze move over the party again and, seeing that Patricia was suitably caught up in a conversation with an oil magnate and his bottle blonde significant other, she sighed once more, brushed her hand over the full skirt of her black lace ball dress and lifted her chin. "Very well, Henri. These people want to see the host but they will have to be happy with seeing me."

The tall Frenchman bobbed a nod again and straightened his jacket, "Oui Mademoiselle." He affirmed before leading the petite but fiery brunette to the cocktail room.

Melissa had to shake her head at the sight of the four people standing to one side of the room; a loose circle of security personnel surrounded them. There were in fact three men and one woman. All four were dressed impeccably; the men in well-fitting tuxedos and the woman in a beautiful one shoulder black dress with a slit up the side of the skirt to mid-thigh. However, they looked tense and angry and although one of the taller men with messy blond hair looked more at ease and the shortest of the men looked stoic, the tallest man and the dark haired woman looked like they were about to try and fight their way into the party. Not wanting to deal with a brawl, Melissa stepped forward, her dress gathered in one hand to keep it from under her feet.

"Good evening. I am Mr. Dean's Personal Assistant, Melissa Gordon. I have been told that you would like to talk to the host. Is that correct?" she asked gaining the attention of the four newcomers as well as the security personnel.

The shortest of the men took charge and answered her. "I'm Agent Callen and this is my partner Agent Sam Hanna and Officer Marty Deeks and Agent Kensi Blye. We're from NCIS. We have information that points to the threat of an armed robbery occurring at this party by a group of ex-navy officers. We need you to evacuate everyone from the premises and allow us to sweep the area."

Melissa studied the leader of the group as he spoke. He wasn't extremely tall but neither was he short. His looked to be in his late thirties to early forties, with short-cropped hair. Smile lines around his blue-grey eyes and a well-built body gave Melissa pause but she shook it off. "I'm sorry Agent, but that isn't possible. We have employed the best security in Los Angeles. No one could get into this party without an invitation." A thought occurred to her as she remember seeing all four of the agents inside the party an hour or so ago. "Which reminds me; how did you and your team get in, I don't remember seeing your names on the guest list?"

Agent Hanna looked ready to get into an argument and Melissa wondered if any of her security personnel could stop him if he decided to barge into the party. By the look of him he was built like a brick wall and the petite woman wasn't too keen to see what he could do if he put his mind to it. Luckily, his partner pulled out a badge. "We have our own invitations." He said looking unaffected by the whole encounter.

Melissa nodded. "Of course. However, I don't have the authority to kick anyone out of this party. You may come in and look around if you wish." With her piece said, she stepped to the side and looked at the agents expectantly.

Agent Callen nodded to his team and he and his partner led the way back into the party.

A few hours later the evening was winding down. Melissa was organising the Hotel staff to clear down the room of drink glasses and canapé plates before moving on to ordering the packing up of the many pieces of jewellery.

"Well, I bet you're pleased with yourself." The slightly accented voice of Mr. Dean's daughter broke into Melissa's thoughts.

The shorter woman supressed an annoyed huff and turned to her boss's spoilt daughter. "Why would I be pleased with myself, Patricia? This was your father's vision. You have to admit, he does throw the best parties." Melissa waited for the outburst as she calmly pulled the pins from her hair. She had learnt that the best way to deal with Patricia's jealous rages was to be calm and to stay composed.

"My father's vision! Who do you think gave him that vision? I told him he needed a party to get more buyers in. I even went so far as to suggest that he put his newest and most expensive creation on a human model so that it could circulate through the room." The older woman pointed angrily to the heavy necklace at Melissa's throat. "But then you had to stick your nose in and this turned into a charity event and my father had that put around your neck." She sneered. "I should be the one wearing G. Dean's newest creation. I'm the bloody heiress for God's sake!"

Ruffling her hair quickly, Melissa pinned Patricia with a cold look. "Your father chose me to wear this piece. I only suggested that he should throw a charity event some time. I never suggested this should be that event. And finally Patricia, stop with the fake English accent. We all know you were born and raised in Kansas." At the pampered woman's disbelieving stare, Melissa turned to leave only to find Agent Callen and Agent Hanna standing behind her. A soft blush coloured her cheeks when she realised they had heard her scolding and she saw Agent Hanna's half-hidden smirk. "Agents." She greeted them her blush heating her face as Agent Callen raised an eyebrow.

He took a moment to glance behind her before he spoke, "We've finished our search. There's no one here that shouldn't be."

Melissa tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Thank you." Seeing the other two members of the team moving toward them, she added, "And thanks to the rest of your team as well."

A commotion at the ballroom entrance made everyone turn. The sound of a gunshot shattering the crystal chandelier in the middle of the ceiling made Patricia and many of the other women in the room scream.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Melissa. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Agent Hanna grab Patricia and pull her down behind one of the tables. The other two agents threw themselves down and over-turned a table for cover when a spray of bullets came towards them. Suddenly, Melissa was grabbed around the waist by Agent Callen and pulled down onto the ground under his body. The next few seconds felt like they lasted for a lifetime. Agent Callen pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked down at her. Blue-grey eyes met green-blue and Melissa felt like she couldn't breathe.

The moment was shattered by another round of gunfire and then Agent Hanna was shouting at them. "G!"

Melissa was confused when Agent Callen shouted something at her, tipped the table beside them onto its side and then, pulling a pistol from a holster at his hip, he turned on one knee and aimed over the edge of the table.

Squeezing her eyes shut as he pulled the trigger, Melissa covered her ears with her hands and prayed no one would be hurt. She could hear Patricia and others in the room screaming as glass shattered and the walls exploded under the shower of bullets. Suddenly Agent Callen threw his body over hers again. The table sheltering them splintered where he had just been kneeling and Melissa had to bite back a scream of fear.

Without hesitation, as soon as the bullets stopped, Agent Callen was up and firing at the armed men.

And then silence reigned.

Melissa's ears stared to ring and Agent Callen's next words to her didn't register. The feel of his hand on her arm, however, did. She looked down at it only to gasp when he pulled her into a sitting position.

"Are you alright?" he asked his eyes searching her gaze.

Melissa didn't answer right away; instead, she looked around at the carnage in the room. Inhaling sharply she glared at Agent Callen when he caught her chin and turned her face to him. "I'm fine." She huffed annoyed at his rough treatment.

He shook his head. "There are some casualties. You shouldn't see them." He told her gruffly before he stood up. "Just stay there and let my team make sure everyone else is alright." He slipped out of his jacket before putting it around Melissa's shoulders. Without any further explanation, he was gone.

Feeling slightly sick, Melissa stayed where she was until an EMT worker, led by Agent Blye, checked her for signs of shock. The next half hour passed in a blur. She was ushered down to the hotel's foyer and an LAPD officer took her statement. Mr. Dean was there comforting his hysterical daughter, the NCIS team handed the scene over to the LAPD but not before Agent Blye and her partner Officer Deeks moved to where Melissa was standing with Mr. Dean and Patricia, Agent Callen's jacket still wrapped around her.

"Sorry to have to ask this, but we need to take that necklace." Agent Blye said to Melissa.

The shorter brunette blinked before glancing at her employer.

"May I ask why?" Mr. Dean asked his arm tightening around his daughter's shoulders.

Seeing the suspicion on both Agent Blye and Officer Deeks' faces Melissa jumped in, "It's an expensive piece. Mr. Dean is protecting his investment." She explained.

"You also his lawyer?" Officer Deeks asked playfully only to receive an exasperated look from his partner.

With a smile, Melissa shook her head. "No, but a P.A. has the same privileges."

He grinned again before his partner answered Mr. Dean's question. "We think there might be another reason why this necklace was a target for the thieves. We need to analyse it to make sure. And if there is another attempt to get to it no one else will be hurt if we are the ones who have it."

"You must be highly trained in combat." Patricia simpered, smiling prettily at Officer Deeks.

Agent Blye cleared her throat, as her partner shifted uncomfortably not trying to hide the uneasy look on his face. "We like to think of it as a job like any other." She said before pressing her lips together to try to hide a smile.

Melissa wasn't inclined to hide her grin at all. After a final check with Mr. Dean, the dark haired woman slipped her arms into the sleeves of the jacket over her shoulders and reached up to unclasp the weighty piece of jewellery. Agent Blye took it from her hands carefully and laid it in its titanium briefcase before closing the lid and snapping the locks closed. Her partner then put one cuff around his wrist and closed the other around the handle of the case.

"You better have the key for this Kens." He mumbled as he and his partner left the jeweller standing with his daughter and his P.A. in the foyer of the best hotel in Los Angeles.