Authors note- Sorry if this isn't perfect. I didn't really like this chapter. I just have a bunch of insane stuff going on in my life right now so please forgive me.

Disclaimer- I own only the characters you do not recognize.

Secrets and Lies

Two weeks had gone by without any new information about the case close to home. After finishing up a tough case early on the Friday evening Nell and Callen decided to catch the next flight back to Ferndale. They came up with a plan of action on the plane before Nell fell asleep in Callen's arms. Neither of them had any idea where their relationship was or where it should be but one thing was for sure; it wasn't where it had always been.

Nell took in a deep breath when the happy blonde receptionist told her that the doctor was ready to see her in his office. She had no idea how what she was about to do would turn out. She stood up and walked towards the room which she had been in many times in her life but never for something so serious. She closed the door behind her and smiled at the happy green-eyed man who, shed noticed had rapidly begun aging.

"How's it going Doc?" She said cheerfully.

"Nelly! It's been ages. It's so good to see you again. How's that ankle doing?"

Nell laughed and moved into the empty chair tucked under the wooden desk. Doctor Joseph Edwards had been her family's doctor and her dad's best friend for as long as she could remember. Given his age and undying ambition he had studied in many different medical fields and had the degrees to prove it. She was told that he was the doctor who had delivered her from birth all those years ago. She'd been to see him many times in her life, including when she had broken her ankle halfway through a ballet recital when she was twelve.

"It's doing great Joe. Just like it was the last fifty times I've walked into this room."

Joe laughed, "Alright then, what is it you want to see me about?"

Nell's happy expression dispersed immediately as she thought about the real reason she was there. She sat on the edge of her chair with her elbows resting on the desk in front of her. "Joe, you have known me my whole life. Well, at least that's what I've been told."

"Yes, yes of course. Mike and I were the closest of friends from the time we first met in kindergarten, not once did we grow apart. I even helped your mom through her seventeen hour labor to get you out of her body."

Nell bit her lip and tilted her head slightly. "Yeah, see, that's what I am here about. My father disappeared for fifteen years after leaving high school. There is no possible way you didn't grow apart."

"Who told you this, Nell?" Joe asked, concern overtaking his face.

"Were you really there when I was born?"

"Yes, yes I was."

"And when was that?"

Joe looked away from Nell nervously. "Uh… well how old are you now? Twenty seven, twenty eight? You have to give me a break, it was a long time ago."

Nell sat up straight now and stared at him, not believing one word he had said. He was much too nervous to be telling the truth.

"I am thirty. I have known you my whole life and one thing I know for sure is that doctor Joseph Edwards never forgets anything. Especially not the first time he performed a medical procedure out of his norm. I was the first infant you delivered, right? Why can't you remember when it was?"

Joe stopped all movement and locked eyes with Nell. He knew he couldn't fool Nell. She was the most intelligent person he had ever come across and in his line of work there were many intelligent people.

"Alright Nell, tell me what is going on here?"

Nell crossed her arms over her chest. "Before my dad's funeral you insisted that mom brought all of her children here so that you could take some tests. Now I'm guessing that was just innocent care for my family members, right?"

"Yes, I don't need to discuss with you the risk of all of you inheriting an illness passed down from your unfortunate genetics. You know how many have taken the lives of your previous family members. I didn't want any of you to have any problems caused by the stress of the whole situation."

"Yes I understand that but I need them. I need a blood sample of everyone in my family."

"Nell what on earth are you up to now?"

"I know you and the loyalty you had for my father. You aren't going to tell me what I want to know because knowing my father he had sworn you to secrecy. All I am asking is that for one day you be as loyal to me as you have been to my father. Please Joe?"

Joe looked at her uncomfortably and then sighed, "You're playing a dangerous game here Nell."

"I happen to be aware of that."

"I will. But only because I know that Mike wouldn't hide anything from you if he knew you had a suspicion. That was his parenting style. All I can tell you, Nell, is that I don't know anything about what happened in those years he wasn't here but he came back with more troubles than anyone I'd ever met."

Nell nodded trying to force herself to believe him. Joe left the room silently. She clenched her fists again. He didn't think she was talking crazy. He knew exactly what she was talking about and didn't try to convince her that her idea was nonsense. She didn't need it to be confirmed. She already believed that she was adopted. It made sense now as she thought about it. Why she was short and the rest of her family was tall. Why she'd rather read while the rest of her family were running marathons. Why she was smarter than all of them. But as it made sense it also made absolutely no sense.

Soon Joe returned with a box, "There are blood samples of your whole immediate family in here. I couldn't be your father's doctor anymore after he was diagnosed with cancer so I have nothing for him."

Nell nodded slowly. She had expected that. Unfortunately it would be harder for her to get hold of his DNA. She wanted to get up and walk out of the office but something held her there.

"I get if my dad asked you not to tell me but please can I ask what happened when he came back?"

Joe stared at Nell searching for words. He had sworn to his only best friend that he wouldn't tell her any of what had happened in the past but looking at his damaged daughter he couldn't fight it.

"All I can say is that he wasn't the same person when he returned. He had so many troubles. I had never seen anyone look like that. He refused to tell us anything about what had happened or where he had been for the previous fifteen years. Eventually your mother and I left it. If he wanted to tell us he would. If we kept bringing it up he would keep remembering and his condition would get worse. I gave him a few numbers of psychologists I knew and after a year he started going. He was diagnosed with PTSD and once he was taking his medication regularly he started to recover. Your mom and I were always there for him and I knew he appreciated that. He loved you Nell. I know he would want you to know that."

Nell clenched her fists in the annoying habit she had started to notice. She looked down at the wood pattern in Joe's desk. "I know he loved me, I always knew, that's what made him so special to me. So you don't know anything about what had happened in those years he was gone?"

"Nothing. Nell just know that looking into all this isn't a good idea. What ever happened to him was beyond bad and he wasn't the same person. I'm worried that if you do somehow find out what happened that you may not remember him as the same person."

"What ever happened to him in the past does not change what we had. I'll always remember him and the things we did together the way I do now."

Joe nodded understandingly, he knew the bond between Michael and Nell was strong. Suggesting that information could change that was on some level stupid. "Well I wish you good luck with whatever it is that you are doing."

Nell smiled brightly and held up the box Joe had given her. "Thank you for these. I'm meeting someone for lunch soon but it was great to see you again

"Likewise," Joe said as the door closed behind Nell.

###

Callen sighed. He knew that what he was about to do was illegal but it needed to be done. He made his way into the building and after asking for directions he finally found the place he needed to be, Autopsy. He knocked on the door and a voice inside shouted for him to enter. He stepped inside the cold room and found a tall blonde woman leaning over what was probably a dead body.

"Doctor Smith?" Callen said nervously.

The blonde turned to face him, revealing stunning green eyes and smiled. "Janet, call me Janet."

He nodded. "Janet, I'm agent Callen NCIS." He held up his badge, Janet observed it carefully and nodded.

"Yes, of course. How can I help you agent Callen?"

"I'm here regarding an ongoing investigation involving Michael Jones."

"Oh no, that poor man was tortured. Do you think it had anything to do with that?"

"It is possible but highly doubtful. Do you have any DNA samples we could take a look at?"

Janet smiled and made her way to a metal cabinet in the corner of the room. After scratching around she returned with a see-through bag that said 'Evidence' over the top and a clipboard with a pen. She handed it to him.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Sign for chain of evidence," She said as if it were obvious.

"Right," he said. He took a deep breath before reading and filling in the form. He knew that he could get into so much trouble with Hetty and even the director if they found out. It was the price he was willing to pay for Nell Jones. He just hoped no one looked into it.

"It's such a shame," Janet said. "Mr. Jones was a great man. Most people in this town knew and loved him. He fixed my car every time it had a problem. He was the kindest man I had ever met. I just can't believe he want like that."

"Have they found the person who did it yet?" Callen asked.

"As far as I know they have already hit a dead end. Like I said he was loved by many. A man like that had no enemy's. They have started looking into his old records but I doubt they will find anything."

"Alright. Thank you for this. It was lovely meeting you, Janet." Callen said and left the building.

###

That night Nell and Callen flew back to Los Angeles and left the samples they had gathered at a research lab before returning to Callen's house. Upon arriving Nell hopped into the shower then immediately climbed into bed. Callen had noticed that she hadn't been herself the whole day so he climbed into bed with her and said, "Okay go."

"Go where?" Nell mumbled with her face turned into her pillow.

"Talk,' Callen said. "Let it out."

Nell sat up and looked at him irritably. "Let me sleep, Callen. We can talk in the morning."

Callen shook his head at her. "Nell I'm not letting you go to sleep upset without telling me why."

Nell sighed and covered her face with her hands, wanting to stop herself from crying. She moved her hands to her neck and stared down. "Well I think I have the right to be upset. My dad is dead. I'm never going to have the opportunity to see him or hear him laugh ever again. On top of that it doesn't help that I feel like everyone knows something about all this that I don't, my mom, Joseph, Hetty and even you."

Callen stayed quiet for a few seconds not sure what to say. He knew Hetty knew something. Hetty always knows something. Monica and Joseph may have known something due to the fact that they were the closest people to Michael but he doubted it. As for him; he knew nothing.

"You may be right. This case is all about secrets and lies. It's what every case comes down to. But I promise you that I only know that I need to protect you and I don't know why. It's something I will always do without question. I really know nothing but I do want to help you find something. You deserve that much."

Nell forced a smile and lay back in the bed. She had nothing else to say to him. Callen lay back beside her and propped himself up on his side with his elbow. He stared at her quietly. Nell felt his gaze on her and after fighting the urge to look back at him, she did. "Now what do you want?"

Callen chucked. "I want absolutely nothing."

"So why are you staring at me like that?"

"It's hard not to. You're just so beautiful. I don't want to forget all your perfect features."

Nell giggled at his reply that was quickly stopped by a tender kiss from Callen. She smiled at him and kissed him again. He always knew exactly how to handle her. That's one thing she loved about him.