"Ooh that's really pretty, Uncle Callen," Kamran said, openly admiring the picture he was coloring. "So many colors. You're very good at coloring."
"Thanks." He would never admit how much he was actually enjoying doing this. He actually found it to be a somewhat soothing activity. The day was going by relatively quickly. He had gotten up early and worked for a few hours, then had called it a day and had given in to Kamran's desire for him to color with her. He was working on a colorful jungle print while she had chosen an underwater picture to work on. "Yours is really nice too. You're doing a terrific job, Kam."
"Thank you," Kamran said with a smile as she admired her picture. "I'm going to give it to mom and dad."
"I'm sure they'll like that," Callen said. He glanced over at the clock on the wall and saw that it was already after 1 o'clock. "How about some lunch?" he asked. "There's leftover chicken from last night or I can make you some soup or mac & cheese."
"I'll just have a piece of chicken," Kamran said. "And maybe some ice cream afterwards?" she asked hopefully.
"Sure," Callen said with a chuckle as he got up to go get the lunch items. He was actually feeling pretty proud of himself. He'd managed to get through the week with a sick child and he really hadn't messed up at all. Sam was going to be pretty impressed with what he'd done.
xxxxx
"I can't believe the week is almost over," Kamran said and then gave a dramatic sigh. "We didn't even get to go anywhere except to the mall."
"I know, Kam. I'm sorry," Callen said, his eyes sympathetic. "We'll do something fun together really soon though, okay? I'll take you to a movie or a show, whatever you'd like."
"Really?" Kamran asked, her eyes lighting up. "We can do whatever I want?"
"Well, within reason," Callen said with a chuckle.
"Maybe we can go to Universal Studios?" she asked, giving Callen a hopeful look.
He considered that for a few moments and then slowly nodded. "Sure, Kam. If that's what you'd really like to do, I can take you there. "
"I think that would be really fun," Kamran said happily.
"And I was thinking that maybe we could go to In-N-Out for dinner a little later? We'll have to order from the drive through but we can eat in the car and go somewhere to people watch if you'd like."
"Yes! That would be totally awesome," Kam said. "You're just the best, Uncle Callen."
"Well, I'm glad you still think so after this week," Callen said, smiling at her.
"Oh I definitely do," Kamran said as she hugged him.
xxxxx
A couple of hours later, Callen and Kamran were situated on some large rocks by a beach. They could view people down on the sand and in the water, but it was far enough away that there was no danger of Kamran exposing anyone to her chickenpox.
"You must be excited to see your parents tomorrow," Callen said before taking a healthy bite of his double-double.
Kamran nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. "I am. I miss them."
Callen nodded. "Yeah, work wouldn't have been the same without your dad around this week," he admitted. "But I got to spend time with you, so I didn't really have to miss him too much."
"I'm so glad you and my dad are friends," Kamran said. She thoughtfully ate some French fries and then looked over at Callen. "You're the best friend he's ever had. He's said that before. You're like a brother to him."
"Yeah, well… I feel the same way about your dad…" Callen said.
"Cause he's your family?"
"Uh huh…" Callen stared off at the water and spoke softly. "You're all my family…"
"I know," Kamran said smiling at him. "You're our family too."
Callen smiled back at her, knowing he couldn't have been closer to these people than if they really had been his family.
xxxxx
"They're going to be here soon!" Kamran said, hopping around the living room excitedly.
Callen watched her in amusement from the sofa. "Wearing a hole in the carpet isn't going to make them get here any quicker, Kam."
"I know, but I'm just sooooo excited," she said. "I wonder if they brought me anything. Do you think they brought me something?" she asked.
Callen chuckled. "I'm pretty sure they'll have gotten you something."
"I'm pretty sure too," she said, nodding in agreement. "Whenever daddy goes away, he always makes sure to bring me back a present."
Callen nodded. He'd been alongside his partner for a lot of those gift- finding missions for Kamran, Aiden and Michelle. If it was at all possible, Sam would always search for some kinds of trinkets for his family in their travels. He glanced around the living room and was satisfied that everything looked pretty much the same as when Sam and Michelle had left. He didn't want them to come home to a messy house.
"Uncle Callen, everything looks fine," Kamran said, giving him a knowing look. "I'm not a baby. I don't make messes anymore."
"I know you don't, Kam," he said, his cheeks coloring slightly.
"You're the only one who made a mess when you were trying to make the pancakes," she continued, laughing. "That was so funny. Wait til I tell daddy."
"Uh, you really don't have to tell your father about that, do you, Kam?" Callen asked, his eyes pleading, knowing his partner would tease him mercilessly over that.
"I don't know…" Kamran said with a sly grin. "Maybe I will and maybe I won't."
"Hmm…" Callen said. "I've got to say, you sure are a lot like your father."
xxxxx
"Oh Sam, will you stop being such a grump?" Michelle said to her husband who had just beeped at someone as he steered the Challenger through the streets. "We're almost home."
"I still don't know how you managed to sleep with that creepy guy sitting between us," Sam said. He had opted for an aisle seat and Michelle had taken the window in the hopes that no one would be between them. But as luck would have it, someone had sat between them and he had talked to Sam incessantly throughout the trip. Sam had even offered to take the middle seat so he could at least sit with his wife, but the guy had refused.
"He wasn't that bad, Sam," Michelle said.
"Yeah, because he wasn't talking to you."
"That's because I closed my eyes and ignored him."
Sam sighed heavily, not wanting to talk about it anymore. The lack of sleep had his head pounding ferociously. At this point, he just wanted to go home, relax and give his daughter a hug.
"You'll feel better after you get some rest," Michelle said with a sympathetic smile.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right," Sam said.
Finally, he turned his car into the driveway, grateful that they were finally home.
xxxxx
"Mom! Dad! You're finally home!" Kamran screeched as Sam and Michelle came through the front door. "I missed you so much!" She flung herself into Michelle's arms and then into Sam's.
"Hey guys, welcome home," Callen said with a smile as Michelle gave him a hug. "How was your trip?"
"Don't ask," Sam said, forcing a pained smile in Callen's direction. "I see the house is still standing."
"I have chickenpox!" Kamran announced proudly, unable to keep the news to herself any longer.
"What?" Michelle looked immediately at Sam and exchanged a concerned look with her husband. "You do?" She looked toward Callen for confirmation who nodded.
"Seriously?" Sam asked. He could already feel the pain in his head increasing. "When did his happen?"
"She woke up with them Monday morning," Callen explained. "She's a lot better now."
"You should have called us," G," Sam said.
"Sam…" Michelle gently put her hand on her husband's arm as she looked at Callen. "Did you call the doctor?"
Callen nodded. "Yeah, she actually came to the house that morning. She said it was likely going to be a mild case because Kam had been vaccinated and she turned out to be right."
"Uncle Callen took really good care of me," Kamran said, looking up at her parents.
"I'm sure he did," Michelle said, giving Callen a grateful smile. "Did you have to take the week off from work?"
Callen nodded. "I did, but it was fine. I was able to do some work here."
"Hetty even brought us dinner one night," Kamran said. "And new coloring books and colored pencils."
"I guess you've had quite the week," Michelle said, smiling at her daughter. "Why don't we go to your room so I can take a look at you? I might have a couple of surprises tucked away for you as well." She turned towards Callen. "I'm so sorry this happened, Callen. Thank you for taking such good care of our daughter."
"You're welcome," Callen said. He smiled as he watched Michelle and Kamran head for the staircase.
"Really, G?" Sam asked, as soon as his wife and daughter were out of earshot. "Chickenpox?"
"Yeah, I know," Callen said with a smirk as he turned to his partner. "I could hardly believe it either."
"You think this is funny?"
"No…" Callen's expression turned to one of bewilderment. "Of course I don't."
"You should have called us."
"I asked the doctor about that, Sam…she said it wasn't necessary."
"I think it was necessary," Sam stated. "Our little girl needed to be with her parents. You should have called."
"I asked Kamran, Sam… I told her I'd call you. She didn't want me to…"
"Because she was being brave. She didn't want to ruin our trip," Sam's voice was rising as he spoke. "You were the adult, G. You were in charge. You made the wrong decision."
Callen stared back at Sam, shocked at how quickly the situation was deteriorating. "Everything went fine, Sam. Kamran is fine…I don't understand what you're so upset about…"
"Yeah, I know you don't…You just don't get it, G. My baby girl needed to be with her family, but you don't understand that, do you?"
The remark stabbed Callen like a knife. A flicker of hurt appeared in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up and his features hardened into a stone-like mask. "I think I should go," he said coldly.
Sam nodded. "I think that's a good idea."
"Tell Michelle and Kam I said goodbye," Callen said. He grabbed his duffel bag off the floor and with one last look at his partner, left the Hanna home.