A/N – Apologises for the delay. Life got complicated and busy. Can't guarantee the speed of updates at the moment, but can guarantee I'll keep updating as soon as each chapter is done.

Thanks so much for the great support and response to this story

Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 3

Callen was out of the rental car almost before Sam had stopped when they pulled up at Alyssa's small single-story house. He flashed his badge at the police officer as he barged through the door looking for her. When he heard raised voices he slowed his progress just a touch to give him some time to figure out what was going on. He needed to know what he was walking into so that he didn't make things worse.

"I don't want you here anymore. Leave please," he heard Alyssa say to someone

"This is our grand-daughter we are talking about. We're staying. You have no right to try and send us away."

"I have every right this is my home and since when have you considered her to be your Grand-daughter?"

"Excuse me!"

"No. When was the last time you voluntarily spent any time with her? And what in heaven's name possessed you to tell her it was her fault Paige died? She's just a child and it wasn't her fault."

Alyssa's parents Callen figured.

"Paige would have lived if she hadn't been pregnant!"

"You weren't there. You don't know that. Get out now."

"No."

Callen stepped into the room and, though his gaze was focussed on Alyssa, he took in the rest of the room as well. There were two other people in the room and he was easily able to confirm that they were Alyssa's parents. Her mother even looked a little like Hetty only slightly taller.

He heard a soft noise from Alyssa as she turned and saw him. He saw the fear and tears in her eyes and he also saw the relief in them that they were there. He moved to her side quickly and she raised her head to look up at him. He cupped the back of her head gently and studied her face for a moment. There he saw the weariness, fear, pain and the streaks tears had left on her face. It hadn't taken him long to realise that the feelings he felt were genuine. Between Faith and Martha it was hard to deny the intensity of them and what it was he was feeling. It was different, but similar to what he felt for Faith.

"It's going to be okay," Callen assured her softly before he pulled her close.

There was a snort from behind him; from her father Callen guessed.

"Just how many men are you sleeping with at the moment?"

Alyssa tensed and pulled away. "Get out!"

"No. And don't even think that we'll let you have her if they find her. With the parade of men you've already shown us today."

"They're friends. Good friends," Alyssa said.

"You can't be friends with men. It's always turns physical for a little who-."

Alyssa opened her mouth to say something to stop the words but Callen beat her to it.

"OUT!" The abruptness and danger lacing his voice stopped the words coming out of her father's mouth. Callen reluctantly moved away from Alyssa and stepped menacingly toward her parents.

"Who do you think you are?" her father asked, standing up to his full height, which was just slightly taller than Callen, though it wasn't as intimidating as Callen suspected her father meant it to be. After all, height wasn't really a factor in intimidation when you knew Hetty. "You can't come in here and tell me what to do," Alyssa's father continued. "Do you know who I am?"

"I don't give a damn who you are," Callen said. "Alyssa asked you to leave. I'm making you." He pulled grabbed both of them by the arm and dragged them out of the room and out of the house almost ploughing over Nate before he came close to physically throwing them out the front door. They made a move toward him to return inside but he pulled his gun out and aimed it at her father. They stopped immediately and glanced at each other nervously.

"She doesn't want you here," Callen said. "Stay … Away."

"Mr and Mrs Lachlan," Agent Fornell said as he stepped up behind them. "Just the people I needed to see."

Alyssa's parents turned to face Fornell who handed them a piece of paper which Mr Lachlan took without thinking. "What's this?"

"A restraining order," Fornell answered. "You are to stay two miles away from this house and you are not to contact Alyssa."

"What!" they protested together. "You have no right –"

"I have every right," Fornell interrupted forcefully. "I am in charge and you are not helping the situation. You are causing distress and making things far more difficult for the mother of the missing child-"

"She's not her mother," Her father spat out. The tone had Callen wondering why the father seemed so hostile to Alyssa.

"She is." Fornell stated in a no-nonsense tone that told them not to protest. He also held up his hand to Callen who had taken a menacing step toward them at that comment.

Mr Lachlan glanced at Callen before turning back to Fornell. "You really should keep your agents in line better, Agent Fornell. I could sue for the rough handling he gave us just now."

"He's not mine."

"Whose is he then?"

"Mine," Hetty replied, stepping out from behind Fornell.

"Henrietta," Mrs Lachlan said shocked.

"Margarette." Hetty nodded slightly in a stiff greeting. "I would say it is a pleasure to see you again but that would be stretching the truth somewhat that it would break."

"What are you doing here?" Mr Lachlan asked.

Hetty turned to face him. "Richard, I am here because I care about Alyssa and Tabby. Unlike you. Now, I believe you have somewhere else to be."

"We're not –"

"Leave now voluntarily," Fornell interrupted, "Or Agent Callen and Officer Kincaid here," Fornell nodded to the officer Callen had recently barged past, "can escort you from the premises and I assure you any force they need to use will be condoned."

The Lachlans left, though they did glance back often. Callen watched and waited until they were in their car and pulling away before he turned to Hetty.

"I'm starting to understand your feelings about your family Hetty."

Hetty nodded but didn't say any more. "Sam and Kensi are checking the perimeter," she told him. "Perhaps you should go inside, Callen. I'm sure Alyssa needs you right now."

Callen nodded and returned quickly inside.

Hetty looked at Fornell. "Thank you Tobias, for allowing us to help. I think we all would have gone crazy just sitting waiting for news."

Fornell nodded. "Not a problem Hetty. Paige meant a lot to us all and so does Tabby. Just a pity that when she joined NCIS she moved so far away."

"Yes," Hetty nodded. "San Diego was a little far to keep up with many of you. Is Derek here?"

"He arrived a couple of hours ago, though he has just gone out to get some food supplies for the masses. He should be back soon. Unfortunately Georgia isn't able to get away at the moment."

Hetty sighed. Derek and Georgia were very close to both Alyssa and Tabby. "Pity," she said. "That would have given Alyssa some additional support when we go out to get Tabby."

"Positive thoughts Hetty?"

"The only kind I want to have right now, Tobias."

Fornell placed his hand gently on Hetty's shoulder. "I'm glad you're here, Hetty. She needs family she can count on. She shouldn't have to go through this alone."

"She's not alone, Tobias. She's got more than just me now. How is she doing?" Hetty asked as they started to move inside to join the others.

"Surprising well," Fornell admitted, "especially considering the issues with her parents. She's held it together remarkably." He frowned. "Honestly though, I am a little worried about how well. Most parents lose it in a situation like this."

"She does have similar strength to Paige; it just usually manifests itself slightly differently."

Alyssa's was more a quiet strength. Paige had been a little more obvious.

Fornell nodded in agreement as they stepped into the living room. He looked at Hetty as they heard crying coming from the kitchen. They moved quietly over to look and Alyssa was on the floor with Callen's arms around her. They stepped back quickly so as not to disturb the two of them.

Hetty smiled saddly at Fornell. "Perhaps it was simply a matter of having the right people around her to allow her to lose it."

Callen stepped through the door and made his way back to the living room where he had left her. Nate was talking quietly with Officer Kincaid and nodded toward the kitchen at the questioning look from Callen.

He stepped into the kitchen and she was at the sink filling the kettle.

"Do you want tea or coffee?" Alyssa asked. "I'm sorry. I'm not really sure what you prefer."

Callen could hear the trembling in her words and stepped up behind her. He put his hands gently on her shoulders hoping not to startle her. The kettle shook in her hands as she reached to put it on the burner. Callen stopped her before she could light it and turned her around.

"Ally," he said softly. Before he could say anything more she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck as a sob shook what little of her body wasn't already shaking.

"I don't know what I'll do if I lose her." Her voice was muffled but he heard her.

"You won't."

She shook her head. "We've got nothing to go on G. We have no idea who he is or where she is."

He tilted her head up. "We'll find her. We do have some things to go on. Eric is going over everything. Fornell has agreed to let us help so that's more heads trying to figure this out. He's also placed a restraining order on your parents. You won't have to deal with them anymore."

"Thank God," she sighed in relief at that news. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're here."

"Wouldn't be anywhere else," he told her as he stroked her back gently in an effort to help calm her down. Neither would Hetty."

Alyssa looked up at him, the tears falling from her eyes. "It hurts G," she admitted. "So much more than if it was just another day, I'm sure. It's just so close…"

"I know," Callen said quietly, stopping her from having to say more. "Hetty told us about Paige. I'm sorry. I had no idea you lost her like that."

"It still hurts. I don't know if can handle this too," she said before the sobs took over again. Callen held her tight and, when she started to collapse, lowered them gently to the floor and pulled her into his lap and let her cry. It might not have been that long since Tabby had disappeared but he knew it had been hard, especially considering her parents. At least now though, she had some support.