Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: Los Angeles or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. I make no money from this.
Author's Note: And here we go with the first chapter of the sequel to Blast from the Past. As you can tell from the title, this chapter deals with the events of Season 4 episode The Fifth Man. Short I know, but it was mainly a Kensi episode.
"She's smart, she'll figure it out," he said when asked about Astrid. But even as he said it he didn't really believe it. His mind was too busy comparing her to Callie and more importantly, Hoffman to himself.
The similarities were there if you looked. He and Hoffman both came into their daughters' lives later in life. While he still partially blamed himself, because he should have known, Hoffman was the only one to blame for not being there for Astrid. Both girls had lost their mothers before being thrust into their fathers' lives. And both girls had known who their father was while neither man had known a thing about their daughter.
But that was where the similarities ended. Because he had stepped up, provided for his daughter, looked out for her from the moment he'd found her. Whereas the most Hoffman had done was provide her a room to stay in, a computer to play on, and showed a small amount of concern for Astrid's well-being.
But Callen couldn't help but wonder, if the circumstances had been different, would he have ended up like Hoffman? Would he have knowingly walked away from Callie?
He shook those thoughts off, suddenly feeling the need to get home and assure himself that Callie was alright. He called his goodbyes and left.
Reaching his house, he headed straight for Callie's room, pausing in the doorway to watch her at her desk, music playing as she worked on some homework assignment. He sighed. She must have heard him because she turned around.
"Dad," she grinned at him before it faded to be replaced by a frown. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he shook his head, stepping into the room. "Hey, you know I love you, right?"
She tilted her head, studying him. "Of course. I love you too."
Callen leaned down and hugged her, placing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "Just wanted to be sure," he said. "Just wanted to be sure."