"I needed you and Savannah because you are both extremely qualified, both with weapons, but also common sense," he started. "I needed you, because I knew you could make all this equipment work, just like I knew that Savannah could get this place in shape before we arrived. I was also convinced that the two of you could protect yourselves and each other. Who would you have sent in your place? Donovan? She's not really trained and she's too new for me to trust. Eric? He can make things work, but he can't take care of himself like you can. What about someone who could do what Savannah does? Who could clean up an island while smiling and keeping you from overworking?"
Leon sighed. "Also, which death would be more credible. If Donovan had died, there would have been a nice memorial and then people would just go on about their business. You and Savannah have impacted everyone, and there was no way that you weren't dead. Anyone watching would have believed it, because people reacted like I expected them. I knew that it was a gamble, but I know my people, better than anyone thinks. I know Mr. Callen, and I know that as angry as he was, everything is fine now. He did what he had to do and now we work as we've always done. I trusted that if he lost sight of things, Sam would have been there to help. I know that Mr. Morgan and Ms. Prentiss have had to face a similar situation so they'd understand, just like I relied on them to take the slack while Mr. Callen was not on top of his game. People reacted as I expected and I know that because I was watching them closely, even more so than normal.
"Mr. Kinney makes it really hard to help him. I'm not blaming him, but I also know that he created a vacuum around him. There wasn't much I could do for his mental well being, but I was making sure that he was fine physically, that the alcohol was there, but it was never enough to cause blood poisoning. That he spent the night where he wasn't supposed to, but that we knew where he was and we would have made sure that he was all right. I stopped him from leaving, because I knew that it was a reaction from losing you." He wished he could say that it'd never happen again, but Leon knew that he'd do whatever it took to help this group of people. "He's not collateral damage, John. It would have been much worse if you had been found and killed for real. I needed to protect everyone. It wasn't prefect, but it was the best I could do until the circumstances. And I know you'll hate me for this, but maybe it's not completely a bad thing. Mr. Kinney has lived too long trying to detach himself from life. Not today, or tomorrow, or even this month, but maybe when he's healed, he can start appreciating the important things, like the friends he has around him, friends that tried to help. I know you aren't Savannah, but now it's your turn to be the sociable one, bring him out of his isolation."