A/N: a (very) short one off post scene of Goodbye Vietnam and what I read into the ending. It's lovely to see the close relationship of Hetty and Callen on the show once again. Please read and review. Your comments are always welcome
Finally tracking down where Hetty was being held and tortured, Callen and the team burst into the room having first received news from Chegwidden that Harris Keane had been found alive. No mercy was shown and all her captors were killed. Callen called out her name and rushed to undo the rope that held up her right hand and arm akimbo as Sam did the same to the left whilst she admonished them for taking so long to rescue her. Callen reached out for her and held her tightly but gently before she was able to collapse. Hetty grabbed hold of his strong hand with both hands, reassuring herself that he was in fact real, almost afraid to let go. At last Hetty could allow herself to relax and she placed her head against Callen's hand, resting her head on his arm in a tender moment, grateful to be safe and free from her tormentors.
On the helicopter Hetty sat next to her boy. She looked around and gazed at the tired faces of her companions as they tried to rest as best they could in the cramped and uncomfortable but reassuring space of its cargo area. She was safe and on her way home as was Harris Keane, the missing member of her team from way back, whom she had risked all to find. Hetty looked down at him lying on the floor in the middle of the helicopter. She exchanged a few words with him before allowing him to rest. Hetty smiled and let out a sigh as she settled back in the uncomfortable seat.
Callen had been watching her closely. In fact the only time he had left her side since rescuing her, was when she despatched Dang to Hell at the hands or rather the teeth of the tiger he had kept in captivity and tormented as he had done to her. Hetty glanced up at Callen and smiled softly. Her boy had come for her as had the rest of the team as well as her former colleagues. Hetty snuggled up to him, resting her head on his arm, preparing herself for sleep. He in turn laid his head back until it was resting on the interior fuselage of the helicopter and closed his eyes. A moment passed and then without moving or opening his eyes, Callen said in a whisper so quiet no one else but Hetty could hear "I never stopped looking for you."
"I know, my dear. I had complete faith in you and that gave me the strength to hold on until you did" Hetty said.
He sighed softly and said with emotion evident in his voice "It's good to have you back mom."
"It's good to be back son" she replied with equally heartfelt emotion.
Hetty closed her eyes safe in the knowledge that she was finally going home and that as long as there was breath in his body, her boy would fight with all his heart and might to keep her from harm. With that reassuring thought foremost in her mind, for the first time in months Hetty fell into a peaceful sleep.