Chapter 2

Mira


A/N Thank you all for reading and for leaving your reviews. I appreciate it a lot!
I'm sorry it was a very short chapter, this one is only slightly longer. The idea of writing this down was the simple fact that Miriam (Miri, on twitter) told me she rewatched Reznikov. Thinking back on that episode, it was easy to come up with - with this!


With his thoughts still with Hetty and the situation she, and he himself, were dealing with, the buzz of his own cell phone startled Callen.
He took the item and immediately recognized the number that appeared on his screen. "Not now, Arkady," he said.

With the still audible Russian accent, the older man replied quickly. "Yes, Callen. Now is the time. I have to let you know that there are men looking for you."

Gone was his reluctance. "How do you know? Did Hetty called you?"

"Henrietta? Hell no." A short and huffing laugh sounded. "No, my friend. There were three men who called at my door this morning, demanding everything about your whereabouts."

"Who were they? And what did you tell them?" Callen wanted to know.

Now a loud laugh sounded. "Me? I told nothing. You see, I wasn't even there, since Ivanka asked me to spend the night with her."

"No need to know that. Who were they?"

"Vlad was there. He tells me that he never saw these men before. Eastern Europe, definitely, he said. But that's all he explained to me. You see, it doesn't matter. All they told Vlad was to let me know that they wanted to know, well, to tell more about you. Your work, places you spend your day, perhaps making some appointment, you know, right? Things some people want to know."

Callen sighed as he let Arkady's words sink in. Then he decided he might just as well share what he knew with the older Russian. "They're Comescu, Arkady. All I knew is that they were at Hetty's place too."

An awkward whistling sound reached his ear before Arkady replied. "Comescu? Again? Wow... So they are still around and thhey smelled your blood again and decided to hunt you down am I right? You better get a head start then and make sure they don't find you."

"I know, Arkady, believe me, I know. Kensi and Deeks are checking on Hetty's place."

"Which one?" The older Russian asked.

"No need to know," Callen replied with a deep sigh.

"After all those years of being your friend and you still do not trust me? You should know better than that. You know I forgive you on ending your relationship with my daughter, and I let you know before that it won't affect our, ehm, friendship."

"It's not that I don't trust you," Callen said. "It's just that... well, my team is checking already, and you know how they feel about you. I don't think there's anything you can do in there, Arkady. And just to let you know, it's her Beach House."
"Alright," Arkady said. "You just stay put until I let you know what I can find out."

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Callen started to really worry when after over an hour, none of his friends had called back. Worse, none of their phones were answered when he tried to reach them.
He paced through the empty and desolated dormitory, wondering what to do next. He glanced at his plain black Fossil watch. 9:30 on a Saturday morning. Perhaps he should contact the wonder twins. They probably would want to assist, in whatever way.
He sighed deeply, then decided it was much easier to go and check on the place himself.

o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)

Callen drove one of the unnoted cars he owned, this time an older Ford which he had parked near his hiding place. He headed straight to Hetty's place, wondering whatever might have gone wrong and why Deeks hadn't made the call he promised before. His mind was in a whirl — how could any of the Comescus find out about him still being alive, and who of this Romanian family knew? Which one of them was still alive? After all, their family was so large, and he was... No longer alone. The thought hit him hard. Unlike before, he had only his work family to take care of. Now, there were more; people who were connected by blood. Relatives.
Suddenly, there was the fear for his father and Alex, her boy... He drove his car to the right, slowed down and finally pulled over. Then he took his phone once again, scrolled through the numbers and dialed.
"Dad, you're okay?" he asked the moment his father answered the phone. He could practically sense the curiosity with the answer his father gave.

"Grisha, something may be wrong? We're doing fine in here. And it sounds as if you are surprised to hear so. Tell me, what is wrong?"

Callen shook his head, unseen for the other side of the line. "Too much to explain. Do me a favor, and take Jake and Alex to let's say San Diego or somewhere else, out of town."

Garrison didn't answer but came up with another question. "Son, tell me what is wrong and what it is you're not telling me."

Callen paused a second, then decided to reply with one single word 'Comescu'.

"Whàt? How'd..." Garrison stopped talking. In the line of work of his son, and his own work before, he simply knew. There was danger, responsibility and secrecy. And Garrison hated it.
All his life, he'd experienced the same dangers as his son went through too. Dangers which cost the loss of his wife. It was only during the past few years, he had tried to retire. With his latest lover being so sick and about to die, he realized that having children was something he needed to cherish.
He'd lost too much — Clara, the love of his life. And their children, or so he'd thought. It had been a miracle that he found his son, alive, and was reunited with him before it was too late, but until now, their relationship was far from normal.
With Alex, things were less complicated, more relaxed. It still was painful to see how the young son he used to know grew up in another country and had such a troublesome life so far. Garrison wished things would turn out differently for his son, soon, before his own life was over. Still, he hesitated as he tried to find the right words.
"Dear son, of course I will protect them from whatever danger may occur, but the Comescus will not know of them. They will be safe."

"No they won't," Callen argued. "Not when they know about the connection between them and I. No matter they are not related to my mother, to Clara, to the Callens, the Comescus will find out. They will want to use them, 'moya semja', to get to me, or worse, they're gonna be killed anyway." Callen nearly snapped now. "Listen, I don't feel like explaining. I gotta go and I can't use any distraction or worry about the three of you, so please just do what I asked." He emphasized the word three.

This time Garrison sighed deeply, and it was Callen who felt the reluctance of his father. "I'll keep them safe, Grisha. Just... be safe too, please."

Callen did not respond as he wasn't the person for comfortable chit-chat. He simply disconnected, then switched the gear of the car from neutral to drive, checked his rear view mirrors as he planned to go ahead, when his phone rang, again.
He felt the tension leave his body the moment he recognized the number. "Deeks," he said, with a sigh of relief.

There was a short pause before the response came.


Thank you so much for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this story!

Kni®benrots