I had to do a little something based on last night's episode and I think it fit in well enough with the first part of this. I'm planning to add a Thanksgiving chapter, which I will hopefully have finished by tomorrow and then may just add to this here and there. Each update will just be a stand alone so no cliffhangers or having to wait for additional parts. Thanks for reading :)

xxxxx

Sam quickly grabbed his cell phone as it buzzed and glanced at the caller ID. "Good morning, G," he said as he held the phone up to his ear. "How are you?" He'd been half expecting his partner to call during the night, but the phone had remained silent until now.

"Hi, Sam. I'm good. I just wanted to tell you I won't be in today."

"You're not sick are you?" Sam asked with concern.

"No…nothing like that. Today is Katerina's funeral. I'm going to take my fath…Garrison to it. I was going to come in late, but Hetty told me just to take the whole day off, so I'm going to do that."

"I think that's a good idea," said Sam. He knew Callen had a lot to process with his father. A day off could only help. "Well, thanks for letting me know…You hang in there and call me later if you want."

"I'll likely take you up on that…you have a good day, Sam."

"You too. Take care, G."

xxxxx

For Sam, the day went well. He partnered up with Deeks and they spent a good part of the day out in the field, tracking down people of interest for a case. Deeks had just left to go pick up Kensi for dinner and Sam was about to head home when his cell phone buzzed. "Hey, G," Sam said, grabbing his bag and walking towards the exit. "Everything okay?"

"Hi Sam…I was wondering if you could meet me for dinner or a drink or something?" Callen asked. "I know I'm not giving you any notice, and if you can't, that's fine…"

"I can meet you," Sam said quickly. "Where do you want to go?"

"It doesn't really matter. You can pick. You're the one going out of your way."

Sam tried to think of a place his partner liked where they would be able to talk freely. "How about Ray's?" he finally asked. It was a casual restaurant, which they both liked, and it wasn't too busy during the week so they would be able to talk.

"Okay, see you in about a half hour?"

"Sounds good, G. I'll see you soon." Sam dialed his phone on his way out to the Challenger to let Michelle know that he wouldn't be home for dinner. His wife was very understanding, as he had known she would be. His partner was almost as important to Michelle as he was to Sam.

xxxxx

Callen was already seated at a table, nursing a beer, when Sam walked into the restaurant. "Hey G, hope you haven't been waiting too long," Sam said as he took a seat across from his partner. He studied his friend closely, but couldn't really tell how he was doing from his expression.

Callen shook his head. "No, I just got here a few minutes ago. How was work today? Anything exciting happen?"

"Not really. Deeks and I went out and interviewed some people about the Harrison case. Still haven't come up with much though."

Callen nodded and took a sip of his beer, but Sam could tell he wasn't really interested in the case. Just then, the waitress came over and handed them menus while Sam ordered a glass of wine. When the waitress returned with Sam's drink, they ordered their food and then Sam looked at Callen speculatively. "So…"

Callen sighed heavily as he met Sam's eyes and Sam could see how tired he looked.

"I don't even know where to begin," Callen admitted.

"Was the funeral rough?" Sam asked quietly.

"Yeah…well, you know, funerals are always hard…my…Garrison was pretty upset as was Alex… Ironically, Katerina was buried pretty close to where my sister's grave is…"

"Guess you had a pretty rough day…" Sam gave Callen a sympathetic look. "Has Garrison had a chance to talk to you?"

Callen nodded. "He had a lot to say…maybe not so much in the amount of words, but what he said sure packed a wallop."

Sam inwardly braced himself. He really hoped that Callen's father wasn't going to throw his life into complete turmoil. G had gone through enough.

"To begin with…Garrison said that I was better off on my own than being with him as a child…" Callen shook his head. "I told him I understood, and to a point maybe I do. I understand that his work with the refugees, all the lives that were saved, was important, but…I don't know Sam…I feel like I keep rehashing the same things over again and I should probably just get over it, but when I go back in time to that boy who was alone, getting bounced from foster home to foster home, I know he wouldn't have understood it and a part of me still doesn't either, no matter how selfish that may sound…"

"Come on G…give yourself a break," Sam said gently. "You're certainly not selfish. You had to go through a lot of years of crap. I don't care what anyone says…you're not just going to get over it."

"I told him I didn't forgive him…that I don't know if I ever will… It's not even just me…its Amy too. I can't help but hold him accountable for that… My feelings aren't just going to change overnight."

Sam nodded. "Like I told you last night, you don't have to forgive him, G. You are allowed to feel how you feel and you shouldn't feel guilty about it."

"I guess you're right…" Callen sighed and met Sam's eyes. "There's more…"

"Okay…"

"Garrison was involved with Katerina."

"Involved how?" Sam asked, "You mean involved, involved?"

Callen nodded. "He was in love with her…"

"And?" Sam prompted. He could see from Callen's expression that there was obviously more.

"And…he had a daughter with her…"

Sam's eyes widened as he stared back at Callen, stunned. "So Alex…"

"Is my sister…"

"And her son is your nephew…"

Callen took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Yeah…"

"Wow…"

"Yeah…wow… I still can't even believe it myself…"

"Does Alex know?"

Callen nodded. "She does now…"

"You told her today?" Sam asked.

"Yes…I told Garrison no more secrets. It wouldn't have been fair to her. She had a right to know."

"So, how did she take it?" Sam asked, hoping for his partner's sake, that she hadn't taken it badly.

"Considering everything that's happened, I guess she took it pretty well," Callen said. "It was a little awkward and then she cried and that made her son upset…but after she calmed down…it was better…it was good…" He smiled, his eyes welling as he gazed back at his partner. "I can't believe I have a sister, Sam. After all this time… I just… part of me still doesn't even believe it…"

"I'm very happy for you, G," Sam said, giving his partner a heartfelt smile. "After all these years of, well basically hell…you deserve to have some good news finally."

"We're going to try to make it work…the whole family thing," Callen said. "Garrison is going to be staying with me for a while…I'm not really sure how that's going to go, but we'll see, I guess. We're all going to get to know each other and just see what happens…"

"That's good…it's really good news…"

"Anyhow…I wanted you to be the first to know, Sam, because you…you're my brother. And you've been there for me through so much of this. And I really appreciate it...everything you've done." Callen took a couple of deep breaths, obviously overwrought with emotion. "I think I'd better stop talking about this now," he said with an emotional smile. "I don't think I want to lose it in this place. It'd be a little bit embarrassing and I want to be able to come back here."

"Okay, but you know you can talk to me anytime G…" Sam said. "You're my brother too and I will always be there for you, no matter what."

Callen nodded. "I know that, Sam…it's the one thing I know I can always count on for certain."