When All Is Said & Done:

Conversations in Healing

Chapter 7

a/n: changed to title to something little closer to what this story is turning into…I realized I may have written myself into a corner with regards to one of the characters-Deeks, no doubt, has a broken jaw—gonna be a little hard for him to talk…but even with your mouth clamped shut you can still make out a majority of words, they're just a bit slurred & no doubt painful to do (after all ventriloquist's do it)

This is going to be a very short chapter kicking off the healing process between our team…I don't do sappy well…so, if I'm too off the mark please feel free to offer "any" opinions on characterizations…also, these are going to be random conversations between all the characters over the course of several weeks/months, so they might not always appear to be in any chronological order and some my overlap (time wise)

..NCIS LA….NCIS DC….HAWAII 5-0….

Gibbs stood just inside the doorway of the dimly lit room as Callen made his way over to Deeks bed.

"Hey Kens, how is he," Callen asked as he laid a hand on her shoulder.

She looked up from where she had been sitting, and Callen could make out, despite the dimness of the room that his junior agents eyes were red rimmed and puffy and exhaustion poured from her as she answered tiredly, "still sleeping…he hasn't…he hasn't regained consciousness since they brought him in…"

Callen nodded, his own eyes burning as he looked over to the man on the bed. He patted her shoulder again, saying blandly, "I suppose telling you to go home and get some sleep is wasting my breath….?"

She quirked on eye at the SFA, countering, "…you're still here."

Callen had no answer other than to shrug his shoulders.

Kensi stood from her chair and stretched tired, cramped muscles, asking with equal concern, "how's Sam?"

"Sleeping," Callen said, looking over to Gibbs for confirmation as he gave Kensi an update on Sam's condition.

While he was talking Kensi followed Callen's line of sight and was surprised to see the DC agent, "Agent Gibbs…what are you doing here…"

"Back up…" was all he said in response.

Her face hard, she looked back at her injured partner, intoning angrily, "…a little late for that."

"Kens…!" Callen exclaimed quietly, reaching out to gently grasp her arm.

For his part, Gibbs just shook his head lightly, responding quietly, "not for the Deeks…or Hanna; for you…Callen…anyone that wants to talk…"

Kensi sighed heavily, bringing her hands up to cover her face, then rubbing at her tired eyes, she said, "sorry…sorry, really, I didn't mean it…"

"I know…" Gibbs replied in the same knowing, but quiet voice. "Callen and I are going to the cafeteria, you should come with us."

Shaking her head forcefully, Kensi turned back to the man on the bed, "No. No, I should…I should stay here…in case he wakes up ya' know. Gonna need someone to help him…and no one understands Deeks-speak like me…and now…now, he can't…he can't…"

"Kens, you know the doctors are keeping him sedated for at least the next forty-eight hours…" Callen said quietly, "come with us, let's get something to eat…at least get some coffee…"

Kensi shook her head again before dropping it heavily into her hand, the tears she had been keeping at bay, again threatening to fall, "I…I can't…."

Callen moved up and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Kens…please…"

That's all it took for Kensi, hearing Callen's broken plea, so lost…just like how she felt; and all of the emotions, and the fear, and the worry of the last thirty-six hours finally came to a head. The next thing Callen knew his arms were wrapping around the sobbing woman as she suddenly turned and buried her face in his chest. Thought startled by the outpouring of emotion from the young woman, Callen instinctively raised a hand to gently run through her tussled hair.

He held her tight for a moment, "I know…I know, but they're gonna pull through this…both of them, and we're gonna be here for them, every step of the way…" Callen finally said, his hoarse voice cracking, and his own eyes burning with unshed tears, "and we need to be strong for them…so we need to take care of ourselves…so we can help them…"

For the next few minutes, Callen continued to awkwardly offer what little comfort he could to his junior agent, as uncomfortable with her open display of emotion as he was with his own. He looked to Gibbs for his own support, and from the shadows, Gibbs just gave him a small nod.

It could have been minutes, it could have been hours…but at that moment time meant nothing to two people in such desperate pain. The only thing that mattered was the shared understanding and comfort they could give each other. Finally, Callen heard Kensi's sobs lessen to sniffles and he felt as she started to pull away.

When Kensi stepped from his embrace and tried to look away, Callen was quick to gently grab her chin and guide her face so they were looking at each other, catching her embarrassed eye, he said with a small smile, "there is absolutely nothing for either of us to be ashamed of…we have every right to be afraid…."

She just nodded, her face showing none of her surprise, as she reached a hand up to wipe away the few stray tears from Callen's face, saying with quiet certainty, "we'll get them back…"

It was Callen's turn to nod, as he wiped the tears from her face, "we'll get them back…"

For the moment it was enough…her SFA's resolute assurance that her partner…her team could get through this: and for Callen, that at least one member of his team still needed him…still trusted him…

Gibbs quietly opened the door, the light from the hallway flooding the dim room, causing the two younger agents to squint against the glare, "I need coffee…"

Callen turned to Kensi, a small smirk on his face, "you heard the man…"

Kensi wiped the last of the tears from her face, "I could do coffee…and maybe a donut…"

Gibbs followed the two younger agents out of the room and down the hall as Kensi began to ponder the cafeteria choice, her voice getting stronger as they went, "…wonder if they have any with sprinkles…maybe a candy bar for later…"

Gibbs just smiled lightly as they stepped into the elevator, watching the doors close.