Callen was pretty much a loner. Not talking really much about his past - not that he knew a lot of things whatsover - staying on his own from one place to another. Add to the list being a CIA agent. Yeah, it wasn't really hard to be alone. Nevertheless, he loved taking a walk to the beach, it always calmed his nerves and put his mind at ease.

As he was walking, he stopped in front of a pet shop, deciding to enter just to gaze around. He always had a soft spot for animals, anyway.

"Hello. Can I help you?", a blonde woman asked with a kind smile.

"No, I'm just gazing around, thank you.", Callen told her. He looked at the multutude of kittens, parrots, dogs and other animals.

Suddenly, he heard whimpers from a corner. He turned around and saw a Golden Retriever pup whining at him and looking at him with big soulful brown eyes. Callen went in front of the cage and knelt.

"Hey, buddy.", he told the puppy.

The pup whimpered in fear and started going backwards, bumping itself in the process at the back of the cage. Callen just smiled kindly.

"It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you."

That's when Callen noticed the bruises on its little frame.

"It's a really sad story.", said the blonde woman from behind him. Callen turned around to look at her."He was brought to me in a much worse state. At that point, if he hadn't been treated soon, he would have a crippled leg permanently."

"What happened to him?", Callen asked

"Abuse victim and left in a tied garbage bag in the trash, as I later found out. As I said, a really sad story."

Callen turned around to the puppy again, who looked scared - hell, try terrified.

The woman opened the cage and got the puppy in her arms.

"He's very restless. I can't really blame him after what he's been through. I'm trying to calm him down every time, but I rarely succeed."

"May I try?", Callen asked

"Good luck.", the woman said giving him the dog.

Callen put the puppy in his arms. He was indeed restless. He calmed down a bit after Callen's loving strokes.

"I'll have you know you're either a lucky man or a natural. He's always been afraid of customers whenever he was held."

"Really?", Callen said surprised

"Yes", the woman said surprised, too

By the time they looked at the pup again, he was already asleep in Callen's arms.

"Maybe you should take him in. He sleeps really peacefully. Plus your wife would be satisfied, I'd like to assume."

His what? Oh yeah. He had forgotten for a moment the undercover assignment and the golden band around his middle finger. Maybe Tracy would indeed be satisfied.

"You convinced me. I'll take him in. How much?"

"To you, I'm giving him free." , she said smiling

"Right then. Well thank you."

At that point, he started shaking the pup with his free hand.

"Come on, buddy, wake up"

The pup opened its eyes immediately and started squirming in Callen's arms, who lowered him down on the pavement as he was walking out of the pet store.

"Just out of curiosity. What are you going to name him?", the woman called back

"I don't really know.", Callen said

The pup, excited as it was, was pawing on Callen's leg.

"Come on, buddy, stop it", Callen said and the pup stopped immediately.

On second thoughts..., Callen thought