"They're alive!" Kensi's voice said, through the coms, "Sam, Callen, they're alive!"
Nell about collapsed from relief. He was going to hold her in his arms again.
When Callen stepped out of the helicopter at the small airport, Nell ran towards him and literally jumped into his arms, not worrying about him possibly having a concision.
Callen wrapped his arms around Nell.
"G Callen don't you ever do that to me again!" Nell said, years threatening to spill out of her eyes, "I thought I'd never see you again."
"Hey," Callen said, placing a spare strand of Nell's hair behind her ear, "you're not getting rid of me that easily."
"This is not the time for jokes," Nell said, swatting at his shoulder.
"He has a knack for that," Sam laughed.
Nell and Callen sat on the couch in the boat shed, after everybody had left.
"This is nice," Callen said, as the two sat in silence.
"It is," Nell sighed, in contentment.
They sat in silence for a minute.
"Today," Callen started, "when I realized there was almost no chance..." Callen paused for a second, "it got me thinking..."
"About what?" Nell asked, sitting up so she could look Callen straight in the eyes.
"Lots of things," Callen replied, playing with Nell's hair, "one in particular but she isn't a thing."
"Oh?" Nell smiled.
"Yeah, there's this intelligent, strong, feisty, beautiful, woman who has me very smitten," Callen smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Callen said, looking her right in the eyes, his hand falling to her cheek, "and I don't know how to tell her I'm in love with her."
Nell gasped, "you mean it?" she asked.
"I love you Nell Jones," Callen said.
"I love you too," Nell said.
Callen kissed her passionately. Never did he think he'd fall in love with someone. Especially not Nell of all people but as Sam had told him, love always finds you when you least expect it and it had.
::
A/N boy! it's good to be back again! Sorry that this was so late after the premiere it's just that school is a lot more demanding this year. Hoped you liked it.