Something To Call His Own
Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.
Chapter 3
When Callen arrived back at his partner's home, Pete had arrived home from work. "Wow, look at the two of you, hey! Out on the town, or beach should I say." When he saw sand in the pup's coat. "How did it go?" Pete inquired.
Callen shrugged. "I don't think he likes the beach, Pete. You're going to struggle with him. He's a stubborn one."
"Like someone else I know." Pete responded with a smirk.
Callen raised his brow. He knew his partner was referring to him. He shrugged in response. "He's a great chick magnet though. So who knows Pete." He patted his partner on the back. "There's hope for you yet." Now it was his turn to smirk. He enjoyed the jesting he had with Pete. He made him feel like family, which meant a great deal, seeing he had none to call his own.
"Very funny G." Pete smiled at the younger man. "Well if you can't get him to like the beach, I'm not going to have much luck either." Pete admitted. "He likes you more than me, that's for sure."
"I'm sorry Pete." Callen suddenly felt terrible. "I've taken over. I thought you wanted me..."
"It's cool G. I knew instantly, when I passed him over to you, that he bonded with you. It's good to see you like this with him. I don't think I have ever seen you with anyone or anything like this before. It makes you human, with emotions." Pete smiled as he gently slapped him on the back. "Want a beer?" Pete wandered over to the fridge and pulled two out.
"Thanks." With beer in hand, Callen gulped, as he chatted with Pete telling him about their day at Rehoboth Beach. They spent the evening out on the patio watching the sun dip behind the horizon, as the pup curled up on Callen's lap. "So have you thought of a name yet?" Callen was eager for the pup to have a name. Especially with him not knowing what his name was for over thirty years. He felt the need to ensure the pup didn't live too long without one.
"Nope." Pete replied with a grin.
Callen frowned. "He needs a name Pete."
"He has one." Pete smirked over at his partner, as he saw his confused look on his face.
"What?" Callen was frustrated with Pete's riddles.
"Looks like you've already named him G." Pete continued. He wondered when Callen would realise the pup responded to his calling with the name he had given him."
"Can you please not speak in riddles, Pete." He pleaded with him. He still hadn't clicked.
"Hey Buddy." Pete called the pup.
Instantly, the small brown pup, climbed down from Callen's lap and wandered over to Pete, hoping for some attention. Pete rewarded him with a good rub behind the ears.
"Buddy?" Callen asked, amazed that he had given the pup his name, without realising it.
The pup bundled back over to Callen and tried to climb up his leg.
Callen laughed. He was blown away by it. He never intended on Buddy being his name. He just wanted to call him something until he was given a name. "Well looks like you're a lucky guy to have a name." Callen told him, as he picked him up and rubbed his tummy. Buddy flipped back over and licked Callen's face.
Pete laughed at the pair. Not only had the week he'd spent with the pup been good for his partner's emotional health, he realised how much healthier he looked after his injuries from the last mission. "You'll be back at work sooner than we all thought G, if you keep this up. You looking after Buddy has been really good for your recovery. You look really well."
Callen looked over at his partner. "Thanks Pete. I feel a hundred times better than I did a week ago, that's for sure." He continued rubbing behind Buddy's ears. "But you Buddy, need a bath. You're all sandy." The pup looked up at him and tilted his head, unsure of what he meant. "You're too cute for your own good Buddy." Callen laughed at him.
Pete and Callen gathered everything they needed to wash the pup. Callen placed Buddy in the large tub Pete had placed on the lawn. He instantly jumped back out of it. Both men laughed as they tried again. After ten minutes of trying, Callen ended up holding Buddy, while Pete gently rubbed his coat down with water and shampoo. His brown wavy coat looked even curlier wet. Callen quickly stood back as Pete grabbed the hose and washed Buddy down. He shook the water off his coat and ran towards Callen for protection. Callen ran away from him, not wanting to get water shaken over him. Pete was left alone in the backyard laughing at the two. He wished he had filmed the whole event. It had him in stitches.
Eventually Callen managed to grab a towel ready to rub the pup dry. "You'll get used to it Buddy." Gently he dried the pup's coat. "That's better. No more sand in your coat." He had been leaving sandy deposits wherever he went. He cuddled Buddy close to him as he and Pete returned to the chairs they had been sitting on, and watched him fall asleep. There was something special, Callen noted. A feeling he had never felt before inside of him, whenever the pup fell asleep in his arms or lap. 'Was it love he felt for the pup?' He wondered. He wasn't sure, but whatever it was, G Callen liked the feeling. It gave him a purpose. Made him feel special.
Over the next three weeks, Callen trained Buddy the best he could. He had never trained a dog before, but from Pete's perspective, Callen had done an amazing job with him. He barked if he needed to go outside to pee or poo and he was mostly a happy and quiet dog, who never barked, unless there was a good reason for it. He loved to go for walks, except if it was on the beach. Callen and Pete had tried on numerous occasions since to get Buddy to love the beach. But to no avail. So they tried the estuaries closer to home, parks and pathways, and Buddy loved it. He would sniff at other dogs and was sociable with them, which made it easy to take him out and about. He would chase any cat that would venture into Pete's backyard and any bird that tried to fly into the yard, soon flew away for fear of the furry brown dog that would chase them away.
The closer Callen came to returning to work, the sadder he felt, knowing he was going to miss Buddy. He ached at the thought of having to say goodbye on that first day back. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, as he spent every possible moment with him. He watched him grow, and grow he did, doubling in size already. He could run without stumbling over his oversized feet.
"What's up G?" Pete had noticed his partner had become quiet.
Callen remained focused on Buddy. "I'm going to miss him, when I return to work." He admitted.
"Buddy will too." Pete replied. "You're going to have to stay here for longer, until Buddy's used to you going off to work. I don't think I'll be able to handle him, if you leave at the same time." Pete watched his partner's face brighten.
"For real Pete?" Callen's hopes raised at the idea.
"For real G."
Buddy ran over to Callen, as if he understood what Pete had told Callen. He was excited and wagged his tail enthusiastically. He was too adorable to refuse. Callen knelt down beside him and gave him a good rub as Buddy licked his face. "Did you hear that Buddy. Your Daddy has allowed for me to stay here longer with you." He whispered into the pup's ears.