Angelprincesslilac's 2010 Summer Challenge to, "Write a short, or long, or terribly drawn-out, Hurt/Comfort fic involving G. Callen. No pairings."
This is really short because, right now, I can only dream about long and terribly drawn-out ones.
It was Friday, 29th May, 2009.
Sam was running on the beach. He liked the beach best. The sand made it a 30% harder workout, good for endurance, plus it had its visual rewards. But not today. It was late afternoon, grey and blustery, and the usual array of bikini-clad women were absent.
Up ahead was the beachside café. G was already sat at an outside table, and pretty much had the place to himself.
Sam sat down next to his friend and pulled out a water bottle. "Hey, G."
"How many miles?"
He drank half of the water. "Five so far."
"Not bad. And you're running tonight because...?"
Sam was looking out to the horizon.
"Come on, you've got that 'I need a run' look on your face."
"Dunno. Just felt like a run."
G tried again. "So, what's Kensi been up to today?"
"She came out with me and the new guy. We were tailing a couple of marines selling C4."
"Yeah? How's the newbie doing?"
"He's good, G"
"Did you get the bad guys?"
"Yeah, we took them out in a grocery store on Washington Boulevard."
"Everyone ok?"
"Yeah."
"So…?"
Sam shrugged. "I dunno… I guess it was at the store... the vegetables."
"You're going to have to help me out a little here, Sam."
"The peppers and onions and stuff all over the floor. It was just like that day."
That day. Tuesday 5th May, 2009. They only ever referred to it as 'that day'.
"Do you still think about it, G?"
"It was different for me. I don't remember much."
"I can still see those vegetables on the street. There was this orange pepper and your blood was – "
"Sam, I –"
"It was everywhere. Warm and sticky and I couldn't do anything to help you."
"Yes, you did."
"…It wasn't like we were even on a case. I was just taking you home. I should have been paying more attention, I should have seen them earlier. I should have been –"
"Sam, don't. There's no point in doing this. Listen. If you hadn't been there who'd have called 911 straight away? Talked to me? Done the CPR? You were there for me that day."
"Sometimes I think about where we'll all be in another five years. I want a family, kids maybe, and this job doesn't really go with that."
"If you feel like that maybe you should think about a change."
"No… Oh, I don't know, G. I guess those damn vegetables just got to me a little bit."
"It's ok. We all have those days. It's how you feel tomorrow that really matters."
"You've been hanging out with Nate too much, you know that?" Sam smiled and turned to look at him.
But G wasn't there. He'd died on that day.