Author's Note: Surprise!!!! Didn't make you wait that long, right? The other chapter was too small and I would feel bad to leave you guys with only that after such a long time with no updates. Please let me know what you think!

VII

Two weeks had passed since Callen moved to Kensi's place. They were both enjoying each other's company. Kensi could not believe how good it felt to come home to someone, especially him. And Callen loved waiting for her even though he spent all day wishing he could go to work with her. He feared for her safety more than he had ever let himself feel. She was his friend and… he couldn't bear the thought of one day not having her by his side watching late night shows and sharing Chinese food with some red wine.

But some things were left unspoken. Kensi's feelings were still a mystery to him and his sleepless nights were not discussed even though she probably heard all the tossing and turning.

***

That night she woke up from one of her own nightmares. She had been dreaming of death: her father's, Callen's and hers. It was confusing since she was so at ease during the day but the nights were making her restless.

She usually laid on her so empty bed listening to Callen's own nightmares, wondering if his fears were that different from hers. But this night was different. She could hear him moaning as his uncontrolled movements made a cracking sound on the bed.

She tip toed through the corridor and stopped listening from the other side of his door. His moans were getting louder and without anymore hesitation she opened the door and run to his side. She held on to his face trying to bring him back, calling his name.

When his eyes snapped open he tackled her down to his bed, ending up on top of her with his hands around her neck.

"Callen!" her voice failing, "I can't breathe!"

Suddenly he let go of her jumping out of his own bed and steadying his body against the cool wall.

Kensi sat still trying to catch her breath. Tears were threatening to fall.

"I'm sorry" his voice was so low she doubted he had said anything at all.

She just nodded.

The room was dark only the moon lit their scared faces.

She stood and walked carefully toward him as his eyes looked up into hers. She saw so much regret in them mixed with raw fear she almost did not recognise the person in front of her. She had never seen Callen so vulnerable and exposed.

She involuntarily caressed his cold rough cheek. He leaned into her touch and put a hand on her waist to steady his shaking body and just for the sake of touching her, "I didn't mean to hurt you, Kenz"

"I know…" her voice trembled as his hand left a trace of warmness on her skin.

He couldn't stop staring at her beautiful face. He found himself doing it more and more in these past few days. He had always noticed her beauty but now was different. It was like she made everything easier… even the nightmares. But he couldn't forgive himself for what he had just done. He could just tell that her neck would have marks of his own hands by tomorrow morning.

He gently traced with his fingers the place where his hands had strangled her.

She held his hand away, "Don't worry. I'm fine"

He nodded defeated.

"Let's go back to bed"

As she was helping him stand he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen which made him fall back into the wall moaning.

"What's wrong?" she panicked.

Before he could answer her, she saw some blood staining his grey t-shirt. She carefully put her hand over it and felt the fresh blood touch her fingers.

"Oh my God! Callen, I think your stitches just opened" she told him noticing as more blood came out and his face became paler, "I have to take you to the hospital"

She tried to calm herself as she put his arm around her shoulders and her arm went around his waist to steady his weak body.

"Just stay with me, Callen"

For the first time since the day he was shot, Kensi felt an overwhelming sense of fear.

***

When she arrived in the emergency room some doctors came and took Callen in a wheelchair telling her to stay in the waiting area.

It was then that she realised that she was dressed in her pyjamas. Good thing it wasn't too revealing just a white t-shirt and baby blue trousers.

She sat on one of the vacant chairs and collapsed her hands together entwining her fingers so that her nails would be spared. Her heart was still accelerated and she was sure that her breathing would only normalise when the doctors came to tell her that he would be ok.

"You're boyfriend... he will be ok" she heard the girl that was sitting next to her say.

Kensi turned to look at her smiling as politely as she could, "He's just a friend"

The girl nodded smiling, "Sorry..."

"It's ok...Thank you"

***

A nurse came to get her after what felt like an eternity. She entered the room he was in and she couldn't have been more surprised as she saw him already on his feet talking to the doctor.

His eyes turned directly to her and his tender smile made her melt.

"You need to be more careful, Mr. Callen" the doctor told him and then turned to Kensi, "Don´t let him go around the house like there are no bullet wounds in his body" he teased.

It was then that Kensi realised that it was Dr. Ford, Callen's ICU doctor.

"I keep telling him that" she said as she walked toward them shaking hands with Dr. Ford.

"How are you, Ms. Blye?"

"Better now" she confessed looking at Callen who smiled apologetically back at her.

"Good. I already gave Mr. Callen the instructions. I hope he follows them thoroughly" he looked directly at Callen, "I have to go now... Take care"

Kensi and Callen smiled before he left the room.

She turned around to face him, "So what are the instructions?" she asked curiously.

"Nonsense..." he teased her.

"Don't do this to me again" she pleaded as her eyes avoided his, "You scared the hell out of me" she faced his blue eyes again.

"I'm sorry..."

She couldn't help but smile, "Alright, let's go home"

She couldn't even begin to imagine how good that sentence sounded in Callen's hears. Home...

***

That night, when she laid back on her own bed and felt her body finally relax, she cried herself to sleep.