After such a positive response to my first story, I've started work on another multi-chapter Nellen story, but this little ditty was kicking around in my head so to satisfy all those Callen/Nell shippers, I've decided to post this while working on the other story. Not sure if it will turn into more than one chapter yet, it depends on my muse. So enjoy and please leave a review to let me know what you think. Zoe.
Nell Jones was in hell. For hours she had been sitting on the floor of her bathroom with her head in the toilet. There was nothing left in her to get out but she had kept heaving for what seemed like an eternity. It was like her stomach itself was trying to get out. She rested her aching head on the rim of the toilet and closed her eyes. She was thankful that for some time now she hadn't actually thrown up but worried that it wasn't over and that she would get worse before she got better. Nell didn't know what time it was, she didn't even know if it were morning yet because her bathroom had no outer window to indicate when the sun had risen. All she knew was that she had picked up a really nasty bug and death would be a welcome relief.
A sharp knock on her front door got her attention. Aching and exhausted she was unable to raise her head but she opened her eyes and listened carefully. There were three more sharp knocks then she could hear someone familiar calling her name. In that moment Nell realised three things. One, it was morning and she was late. Two, Hetty had sent him to check on her when she didn't turn up for work and three, in about thirty seconds, Special Agent G Callen was going to find her in her yellow ducky pyjamas on the floor of her bathroom with her head in the toilet. Not good.
Standing outside Nell's apartment door, Callen looked for signs of forced entry, evidence that something untoward had happened to prevent the analyst getting to work. He was relieved to see none. When Hetty had approached him at the office and explained that Nell hadn't come to work and wasn't answering the phones, Callen was worried, a lot more worried than he would have been if it were Kensi or Deeks or Sam. He knew part of that worry came from what happened to Dom and that while seemingly capable, Nell wasn't a trained agent and could be vulnerable. As for the rest, he wasn't sure just why he felt so protective over the young woman, he didn't know her all that well but he knew he liked her and the thought of something bad happening to her didn't sit well.
Callen raised his hand and knocked on the door then waited to see if she would answer. Nell was always on time, if not early, but everyone slept in every once in a while and he was sure Nell Jones was no exception. When there was no answer to his first knock, he lifted his hand and knocked again three times, loud and sharp. When there was still no movement behind the door, Callen called to her.
"Nell? It's Callen, you in there?" he paused, waiting for an answer. He was trying not to get too concerned. There was probably a reasonable explanation for why the young analyst hadn't made it to work, hadn't picked up her cell or landline, and now wasn't answering him, but he didn't take chances. Experience had taught him it was better to be safe than sorry. He called out again, to announce his intentions, giving her another opportunity to let him know she was alright.
"Nell, I'm going to pick the lock and come in so if there's some reason I shouldn't, you'd better tell me now." He said as he crouched in front of the lock and pulled out the tools he always carried. As he worked on the lock he heard the apartment door behind him creak open and when he glanced around an old woman was peering out.
"Hey, how'ya doin'." He nodded at her then turned back to what he was doing as if there was nothing in the slightest odd about breaking into Nell's apartment. The woman quickly pushed her door shut and Callen briefly wondered if she was going to call the Police.
Inside the apartment, Nell remained motionless on the bathroom floor. Her entire body ached, she was shivering but hot at the same time and her throat ached, partially through whatever virus was eating her alive, but also because of how much she had vomited in the last few hours. She could hear Callen opening her door and she knew he was coming in. There wasn't much she could do about that but she wanted to have some control over how he found her. Taking a few deep breaths, she summoned all the energy she had left.
It only took Callen a few seconds to unlock Nell's front door. He pushed it open, making a mental note to remind her it would be safer to have a chain over the door also, then stepped inside cautiously. He held his gun in his hand but kept it loose at his side. The situation didn't seem to warrant a full on Agent entry.
"Nell?" he called as he walked down the hall and peered into the first room he encountered - her bedroom. The bed looked slept in but Nell wasn't in there. He moved a little further into the apartment and called out again. This time he heard an answer.
"Don't you dare come in here." A weak and very hoarse voice was barely audible.
"Nell?" Callen walked to the source of the voice, realising it was coming from behind a closed door. A quick look around indicated it was the bathroom, as the rest of the apartment was an open plan living space. "Nell, are you alright?"
"I swear Agent Callen, if you come in here I'll…" she trailed off, not really sure what she could threaten the agent with.
"Hetty sent me to check up on you." Callen tucked his gun into the back of his jeans and leaned against the wall by the bathroom door. "You didn't turn up to work and you weren't answering your phone." He said. "She worries."
"I'm a little sick is all." Nell replied.
"A little sick?" He chuckled, realising Nell was probably in the bathroom throwing up. "Nell, I know the last thing you want is me here, but I promised Hetty I'd make sure you were okay and to do that I kinda need to see you." He was met with silence. "So I'm going to open the door now." He pushed himself off the wall and reached for the door handle. With no further protestations, Callen slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open. When the door swung open, Callen saw Nell curled up on the floor, her head resting on her arm which was draped over the toilet. A smile tugged at his lips when he took in the blue pyjamas with yellow rubber ducks that she was wearing. He walked the few steps over to her and crouched down, clasping his hands together.
"I think you're more than a little sick Nell." Callen reached out and brushed a lock of hair from her face. "How long have you been throwing up?" he asked. She looked so vulnerable his protective instincts were kicking in and he wanted to make everything better for her.
"Don't remember, it was dark." She whispered.
"You've been on the bathroom floor all night?"
"I guess." Nell summoned all the energy she had and propped herself up, feeling the need to show Callen she wasn't completely helpless.
"Okay." Callen shifted his weight and knelt on one knee. "First, we get you into bed. Then I'll call Hetty and let her know you're alive."
"I'm good here." Nell mumbled.
"Nell, you're on the floor of your bathroom with your head on the toilet." Callen reminded her. He could see her thinking for a moment.
"You have a point." She acknowledged.
"Okay, let's get you up." Callen shifted again and moved to hoist Nell to her feet. With his hands under her arms and her slight frame, he easily brought her up off the floor but he could tell she barely had the strength to stand. Slipping one arm around her back, he held onto her arms and slowly walked her out the bathroom and across the hall to her bedroom.
Nell was not one to play the damsel in distress. The last thing she wanted was for a man she admired to find her like this and have to take care of her. It went against everything she strived for in life. As Callen pulled her to her feet, she was embarrassed, no, she was mortified. But she couldn't deny that she needed him. Her legs were shaking like jello and she wasn't sure she would make it across the hall to her bed, even with him holding her up.
Callen moved slowly as Nell shuffled along. He noticed she was leaning into him and he could feel her body shaking. Whatever bug she had caught had really knocked her for six and he tried not to worry about how ill she actually might be. As they reached her bed, Callen turned Nell around and slowly sat her down on the edge.
With a sensitivity that had Nell thinking about Callen in a whole new light, he gently helped her get situated in the bed and tucked the sheets around her. She watched him as he tugged the sheets around her then for the second time, brushed her hair from her face. She had never seen him act in such a tender way with other female colleagues but then again she didn't know if he dropped by and broke into their apartments when they were also sick.
"I'm going to make you some hot tea while I call Hetty. It'll help settle your stomach. Just rest okay." He stepped away from the bed and hovered by the door for just a moment. Nell nodded at him and closed her eyes, her hands gripping the sheets at her chest.
Once in the kitchen, it only took a moment for Callen to find the tea and a cup. Nell was an organiser and logical, and her kitchen set up reflected that. He boiled the kettle and prepared the cup before pulling out his cell to call Hetty.
"Hetty, it's me." He said as he poured the water into the cup. "Nell's sick. She's got a nasty bug and has been throwing up all night." He listened for a moment as Hetty spoke on the other end asking about symptoms. "She just needs rest." Callen sighed. "I'm making her some tea then I'll be back and she can sleep it off." Hetty spoke for a few more minutes about what kind of tea Nell really should be drinking to feel better, then Callen hung up and tucked his cell back into his pocket. After gathering a few more essential items for Nell, Callen made his way back to her room with a tray. He placed it carefully on the bedside table and perched on the edge of the bed.
"Hetty told me I've to make sure you drink the tea and take some Tylenol before I leave so why don't you sit up a bit, get this into you and then I'll be on my way." Nell dragged her body into a more seated position and leaned her head back against the headboard. She watched as Callen lifted the cup of tea and brought it towards her. As she stretched out her hands and took hold of the cup, both she and Callen noticed how much her hands were shaking. Without saying anything about it, Callen just kept hold of the cup as Nell brought it to her lips and took a sip.
"That's good." Callen nodded. He was surprised at how normal it felt to be here doing this for Nell. He was usually quite uncomfortable with sick people and at playing 'nurse' but something about her was bringing out a side of him that was new, he felt like she needed him. "A little more." He encouraged. Nell took another small sip then leaned her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes as Callen took the tea cup. "Painkillers now." Callen reached over to the tray and popped a couple of Tylenol out the packet, handing them to Nell. She nodded, put them into her mouth then swallowed them with another sip of tea when Callen brought the cup to her lips.
"I'll probably throw up again now." Nell sighed.
"I thought you were a glass half full kinda girl." Callen smiled at her. "I'm supposed to be the pessimistic one."
"When you've spent the night turning your insides inside out, talk to me about optimism." She replied sarcastically. Callen chuckled, hearing a little of the familiar feistiness he was used to. He found himself staring into her glassy eyes and a smile crept into his face. Nell was staring right back at him and Callen felt his heartbeat quicken just a little.
"Right, you're all set here." He said suddenly. "There's water on the table, and your cell too. If you need anything you call me or you call Hetty. Okay?"
"Okay." Nell nodded.
"Get some rest." Callen instinctively reached over and cupped her cheek, stroking her flushed skin with his thumb. He wasn't sure what possessed him to do it but it felt right and natural, and Nell didn't seem to shy away from the gesture. "We need you back on top form." He gazed at her for a moment before finally pulled his hand back.
"Remember, if you need anything." He told her as he rose to his feet and crossed to the doorway.
"Callen." Nell said hoarsely.
"Yes Nell?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Callen smiled and started down the hall. After just a few steps he paused, rubbed his stubbled chin and with a sly grin called out to Nell.
"Cute PJs by the way." He couldn't quite hear her response but he was pretty sure that Nell Jones had just cursed at him.