A/N: As most of the story had already been written, I'm able to post the next chapters quickly. I hope you like the story. Please review as I'd like hear what you think.

Chapter 2

When Callen awoke, he was surprised how long he had slept. It was early evening and his stomach growled at the lack of sustenance. He did not feel much like eating but decided he would order something from room service as he did not particularly want to see anyone, especially the happy faces of the American family whom had just been reunited. Deep down he was pleased for them, just as his father was pleased that he could rescue some more people but it was at the expense of his and Alex's happiness. Alex. What was he going to do to rectify the awkwardness between them? He got up and changed into jeans and a casual shirt before tapping on the adjoining door to their rooms.

"Alex? I'm going to order something to eat. Do you want anything?" he asked. He knew she was in her room as he heard her moving around but getting no reply he added "You've got to eat Alex. If not for me or for your own sake, think of Jake, he'll need you." Alex continued to ignore her half-brother so Callen sighed and said "Fine but I'm gonna order something for you and they'll leave it outside your door. It's up to you whether you eat it or not."

Callen ordered food for himself and Alex and gave instructions for the hotel staff to knock on Alex's door to announce its arrival but not to wait for her to open the door but to leave her tray outside. Callen was not happy at the situation but felt it was all he could do for the time being. The food arrived and Callen was surprised at how hungry he was. He smiled to himself as he heard Alex's door open and close followed by the sounds of cutlery and plates being moved. He hoped it was a good sign and that by the time the morning came, she would have had time to reflect on what had happened and be more receptive to his overtures of comfort and friendship. Maybe Alex would even realise that he was hurting as well.

Callen was restless and his thought kept reliving his last moments with his father. Callen had so many questions but so little time in which to ask them and he regretted not being able to spend more time with Garrison. It always seemed that something conspired in keeping them apart and when they were together, pride, anger and a complete inability to know how to communicate with one another, stopped them getting to know each other. Callen was angry, frustrated and he had an ache in his chest, one that he rarely felt, the last time being when Michelle, Sam's wife, had been murdered. He knew the likelihood of ever seeing his father again was slim and he felt completely helpless. Callen paced up and down his room in an attempt to make sense of everything, before finally exhaustion took over and he lay on the bed and fell again into an uneasy sleep.

He woke in the morning with vague fragments of dreams assaulting his memory. Callen realised that he had fallen asleep fully clothed as he had the previous afternoon. After getting up Callen knocked on the door to adjoining room in the hope that Alex would speak to him. As before she did not respond but he heard her moving around. Sighing he gave up and busied himself getting ready for departure. Callen ordered breakfast from room service and showered while he waited for its arrival. Dressing in the same jeans and blue shirt he had changed into the day before, Callen ate breakfast before packing his suit away in his overnight bag.

The room phone rang and upon answering it, Callen heard the voice of Brian Bush, the State Department official. "Good morning, Agent Callen. Just to let you know, we'll be leaving shortly for the airport." Callen was surprised that his voice sounded sympathetic.

"Thank you" said Callen "I'll be down shortly. Do you want me to tell my sister?"

"Er, no, Ms Reynolds is already down here and ready to leave" said Bush.

Callen sighed and said "Okay l'll be right down." He hung up the phone and went to the bathroom to clean his teeth and ensure he had packed everything. Taking a final look around the room, Callen picked up his overnight bag and made his way down to the foyer, where everyone had congregated. As he appeared, the State Department officials told them they were ready to leave. Callen caught up with Alex as she was exiting the hotel and she grunted a response to Callen's greeting but walked ahead of him to the waiting car.

There was one car for the American photographers and their children, another for them and a third for the remaining agents. Alex got into the back seat after handing her bag to the agent who put it in the trunk and he did the same with Callen's bag as Callen got in next to Alex. The tension in the car was palpable and the journey to the airport was made in icy silence as Alex stared out of the window. Callen did the same as he was not about to air their difficulties in front of the State Department agents although it would be hard to miss.

The situation did not improve once they got on the plane as Alex choose a seat by the window and deliberately placed her purse on the vacant seat next to her. As Callen approached she glared at him in such a way that it was obvious what she intended. Slowing shaking his head, Callen took a seat further back in the plane next to the window but where he could keep an eye on Alex. He was thankful that no-one sat next to him. It was a private charter so there were no other passengers except Callen, Alex, the American photographers and their children plus the State Department agents. It would be a long flight but Callen did not want to sleep in case he had further dreams about what had just happened. Instead he found something to watch on the entertainment channel and when he got bored with that, he sat back and let his mind wander over all he had discovered about his father, which in truth was not much, and tried to work out what he was going to do about Alex.

When they landed at LA, the party was escorted to separate cars which would take them to their respective homes. When they approached their assigned car, Alex said with undisguised dislike in her voice "I don't want you here, Callen. Can't you make your own way home?"

"If you remember I left my car at your place, Alex so no, I can't" answered Callen in a quiet voice, not wanting the driver to overhear the conversation. He was getting a little fed up with her attitude towards him but he was not going to give her the satisfaction of backing down nor air their estrangement in public.

She continued to glare at him and then said "Fine but it doesn't mean everything's alright between us." She paused before adding "And don't try to talk to me because I'm not interested in anything you have to say."

They travelled in silence and the car pulled up outside Alex's house. As Callen went with the driver to get their luggage out of the trunk, Alex walked towards her home as Jake, who had been looked after by the neighbour, came running out to greet his mother. Callen, having thanked the driver before he had driven away, turned round and, carrying the luggage, watched with a heavy heart as Jake hugged his mother and then looked around for Garrison. On seeing Callen, Jake pulled out of his mom's embrace and rushed to throw his arms around Callen. Callen dropped the cases and hugged him back.

"Where's grandpa? Uncle Callen, where's grandpa?" he asked distress and uncertainty evident in his voice. They had told him about the deportation but Callen was sure Jake did not fully understand.

"I'm sorry Jake, he had to go away. He told me to tell you he loved you and will miss you" said Callen, with tears in his eyes.

"Are you sad too?" asked Jake fighting back his own tears.

"Yeah I am. So is your mom so you must be good and look after her" said Callen

"Jake, come here. I need to talk to you" shouted Alex from the front porch and he dutifully ran to her. He stood holding her hand and looked back at Callen as he came forward to the bottom of the stoop and handed Alex her luggage, which she took from him without a word.

"Is Uncle Callen coming in?" asked Jake, sensing something was not right between his uncle and his mom.

"No, he's not!" said Alex firmly. "Say goodbye. He's got to leave."

"Bye, Uncle Callen. Will you come and see me soon?" asked Jake clearly confused by the way his mother was acting.

"I hope so but that's up to your mom. Be good. I love you" Callen said sadly as Alex took a very upset Jake and virtually dragged him into the house. Jake kept looking back at Callen and waved and all Callen could do was wave back as he felt a tear trickle down his cheek.

He got into his car and sat for a long time just staring at the closed door of his half sister's house. He could hear Jake crying as no doubt Alex had reiterated that Garrison was unlikely to return. What Callen was not aware of was that Alex had told Jake that Callen would not be visiting either and that had started his tears anew. Unable to take it any longer, Callen drove off and went home.