Chapter 3

Callen woke up and stretched, he was in a familiar comfortable bed.

Hetty's…He smiled as he remembered her talking to him late into the night, memories of his mother that she'd imparted, nothing startling, just small things starting with her love of cooking, her favorite perfume, (Of which Hetty had a small used bottle which she gave him, so he could have a sense of what his mother smelled like.) Her favorite gun and how she and Hetty had on occasion tried to outdo each other on the range. Descriptions of her laugh, her smile, the pride in her voice when she had told Hetty about her children. Things that would not mean much to others but to Callen every morsel had been savored like a starving man.

He had dreamt about her last night, she had sat with him as he had reach Reinhardt's diary, soothing him, crying at some places laughing at others; Just holding him as and when he needed holding reminding him he was not alone.

This morning he felt refreshed and ready to read more, knowing he had Hetty and his team to have his back.

He walked downstairs as Hetty was cleaning up after her breakfast.

"Good morning Mr. Callen, I left you a meal in the microwave." She said with a small shudder at the fact she actually owed one of those abominations.

Callen smiled, "I was just going to have coffee." He admitted.

She shook her head, "You may not be coming into the office, Mr. Callen, but I think we can both agree that it will be a very challenging day for you nonetheless and I feel a good breakfast is key to a good day." She said and pointed to the microwave which contained a cooked breakfast of Eggs, bacon, mushrooms, pancakes, sausages and hash browns.

Callen looked wide eyed, "I have to eat all of this?" he asked stunned.

Hetty grabbed her keys and handbag.

"All of it Mr. Callen, busy day." She said and left a very bemused agent staring at the biggest plate of food he'd ever seen in his life.

He put the plate on the table and looked after his boss, "I'm gonna get as big as Sam." He said with a grin as he shook his head and sat down to eat.


He stood up after eating, washed up and put away his things and turned to see the diaries stacked neatly on the coffee table in the large sunny living room.

He smiled at Hetty's foresight and picked up the one book he hadn't wanted to read.

1984 – 85

Nikita for your son today was a sad day.

He had to be moved from the one family where he had grown so much.

Mrs. Rostoff had cancer; she hadn't told anyone believing instead that she would be able to control it by diet and new age means.

Callen had woken up late, as Anatoli and Alina had gone for a father daughter shopping trip. According to the reports he walked into the kitchen to find her unconscious on the kitchen floor.

He called the paramedics and was found sitting with her holding her hand and talking to her until the paramedics arrived and took her away.

It was another hour he was alone in that house before his social worker turned up, I was not happy the look of utter bereavement on Callen's face as he walked alone out of the house was heartbreaking.

The worker had called Mr. Rostoff and told him to stay away with his daughter while they removed him. Callen looked totally lost.

I was shocked by the attitude of the neighbors who watched as he was led away. They seemed to think he had killed her. I tried putting some of them right, but the police did take statements from some of them although they did say to me that they were not charging him, it was more to keep the neighbors happy.


Callen sat back shocked, he remembered finding Mrs. Rostoff on the floor that day and the looks of horror and pity and sadness on the neighbors faces as he walked out the front door to the car.

He was heartbroken when she had died and he had wanted to get to say goodbye to Alina and her father.

The thought now that they may have died thinking he had killed Alina's mother hurt him deeply.

He took a moment to put the book down, walking to one of Hetty's large windows he opened it and let the warm Californian air breeze over his skin as if he was being comforted by an unseen being.

He sat back down and picked the book up.


Nikita, it has been a month since the tragic death of his last foster mother. Callen is refusing to go into any home environment right now; preferring instead to stay in orphanages or group homes. I sent a file through to his social worker, suggesting different therapists but so far he has managed to annoy every one he's seen.

(Callen smiled at that.)

I am hoping that he will forgive himself, even though he didn't do anything, and allow himself back into a family style environment as soon as possible.

I went to Callen's end of year graduation this year.

(Callen pulled out an old photograph of him looking bored at his graduation; it was taken from far away)

As usual, he looks like he'd rather be anywhere but there. I know you'd be proud of him, apparently this is not the first year he was offered Valedictorian but he declined saying that it would be better for another child to have the honor. I know you have copies of his transcripts for each year and you will see he's been offered it three years in a row.

From what I can tell he sees the other students who have loved ones at these things and feels that they would get a 'kick' (His word not mine Nikita) out of having a child with a parent get the honor as he thinks no one cares whether or not he graduates.

Last year he managed to just pick up his certificate after the event having broken into the system and wiped his name off the roster. He waited until the parents were busy congratulating their children and went up to the principal and quietly picked up his certificate.

He's so smart, he pulls in straight A's and is usually on the honor roll, his excuse being he has nothing better to do than study. He does not give off the air of a high achiever and will help other students who are struggling. I have seen him find some of the kids and help them after school in the big apple tree outside the main building.

I am hoping he thinks about going to college, I have been working on a fund to pay his way through college and when he shows an interest in which one he wants to go to, he will find he has a full scholarship.

I have seen a number of pamphlets, for UCLA, Boston College and possibly MIT. I am hoping he picks Boston; it is near where I have another house and will make it easier to keep watch on him. But it is his decision, I know education was an important thing to you and I know you will be pleased to hear that your son is working hard and will despite his disadvantages so far have as many advantages I can slip to him, without compromising his safety or yours.

He has another two years to go before college and I am hoping before then he finds the perfect foster parents to help him out and encourage him on the right path.

More than anything Nikita, I hope to hear him laugh again.


Callen closed the book and took a break for lunch. He walked into the kitchen opening the fridge looking for a bottle of water when he noticed a wrapped plate of sandwiches.

'Lunch Mr. Callen – eat it. Hetty!' he saw written on a note on the plate.

He smiled as he picked it up, still thinking about Mrs. Rostoff, he picked at the sandwich and then he picked up the phone.

"Hetty…Can I ask you a question?" he asked.

"Of course, Mr. Callen." She replied.

"Is there a police report…was I accused of killing Mrs. Rostoff?" he asked.

Hetty looked up his juvenile file, knowing her computer was not linked to the main NCIS grid. "No, Mr. Callen, there were a few neighbors at the time that had that opinion, but it was not entertained by the police department."

"And…Mr. Rostoff?" he wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

Hetty smiled, "Mr. Rostoff did not blame you, he tried to get you back as a foster child numerous times, but he was declined as a single parent and I believe at that time you were refusing to go into a fostering environment."

Callen nodded.

"Be assured Mr. Callen, they held no ill will towards you, Now I suggest you stop staring at that sandwich and eat it, I believe you still have one more book to read today." She said.

Callen laughed, "You are right as usual Hetty. I will eat, rest and get back to it after lunch." He assured her.

He looked at the book sitting on the coffee table. "Later." He said to the book, picked up the sandwich and the drink and walked out onto the patio, he was going to take his break and enjoy Hetty's garden in the sunshine.