A/N - Thanks so much for the reviews, alerts etc. I know I say it often, but they are really encouraging.
Just a note on the rating for this story. It will be changing to M in a few chapters time. For those on Story alerts, won't make a difference, but if you are just browsing to this story, you'll need to make sure you change the search to all ratings, not the default.
Disclaimer in Chapter 1
Chapter 8
Inside Kensi's Head
Two weeks.
Two weeks with the patient from ... Okay, so hell was probably too strong a word, but close.
Two weeks out of the hospital and she was this close to sending him back. And not just readmitting him either. He'd go back with some new injuries if he didn't settle down. It had only been a few days since the constant survelliance of him had stopped, since he had stopped behaving.
Two weeks and Sam could see it. Could see how frustrated she was with Callen. She was literally banging her head against her desk. It was obvious to everyone.
She went to Nate. Asked his advice for dealing with Callen. Told him what had happened in the kitchen. Nate's advice was to be patient. Callen was always going to be difficult. He hated depending on anyone. She'd protested about that. Callen depended on all of them daily with work. But as Nate reminded her, this wasn't about work. This was personal.
This was Callen's fight back to be Callen. The tough, invincible, slip away from the radar so well that you'll never find him again, G Callen. Work was his life and now, he was thrown into a personal battle with his own body and he didn't have his work to distract him. Adding to that, it was going to be a long, slow one. Nate was right. She needed to be patient with him. Plus, it would be good practice. She knew that she needed to wait for the right time before she could tell him how she felt.
Two weeks.
Two weeks of him in her home.
Two weeks of it feeling so right having him there.
Two weeks and then came the first sign that maybe, just maybe, he might be interested in more after all.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Back to Callen.
Kensi came home very late that night and he was already asleep.
He got up in the morning, carefully, and made his way out to the kitchen. Slowly, he pulled out the makings of breakfast, just toast, cereal, simple things. Moving them one by one to the table, resting whenever he needed to. He heard Kensi get up and the shower start and he sat down to wait.
Kensi came out, dressed and ready for work. She looked at the scene in front of her, surprised. He stood up and walked over to her.
"Kenz I'm sorry. I was an idiot yesterday."
"Yep," she agreed, making him smile.
"I know I still need help. It just so frustrating not being able to do simple things," he confessed. Kensi reached out and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You've done a pretty good job with breakfast," she said, indicating all the food on the table.
He smiled again. "Took a while."
"Sit down, I'll get the rest," she offered as she moved her hand off his shoulder. He could still feel the heat from her hand.
He shook his head. "It's okay, just need milk. I'll get it. I've been resting the whole time you've been in the shower."
Kensi nodded and moved out of his way. He went to the fridge, pulled out the milk bottle, turned and closed the fridge door. He dropped the bottle as the pain went through his side and he sucked in a deep breath which just hurt even more.
Kensi was by his side quickly.
"Callen." She put her arms around him and guided him gently to the chair.
"Callen, talk to me. You okay?" She'd knelt down in front of him, looking up into his face. Their gazes locked for a moment and he saw the care in her eyes, saw the concern on her face. The thought flashed through his mind that she had such beautiful eyes, even though they didn't exactly match. They were so warm. He shook his head slightly and moved so he wasn't looking down at her. She stood up too and stepped away.
"I'm okay. Moved the wrong way. Stupid. I've opened and closed doors all morning, no problem."
"So do me a favour?" Kensi asked, as she picked up the dropped bottle and moved to take a seat at the table.
"What?" He finally looked at her again.
"Don't make me breakfast again for a while," she said with a grin.
"You haven't even tasted it," he protested.
Kensi shook her head. "Not the taste that's the problem."
He looked at her, waiting for her to tell him exactly what the problem was.
"I like you with colour in your cheeks," she added.
"No more making breakfast. For now," he agreed.
They ate quietly and he couldn't help thinking about how well she was taking care of him and there had been a moment when their eyes had locked when he was in pain. He'd temporarily forgotten what was wrong.
Mentally, he shook his head. 'Don't date cops' he said to himself. Then he heard Alex's voice.
'Remember you were going to think about ditching that rule.'
He looked up sharply. Her voice had been so clear and he was sure Kensi must have heard it, but Kensi just stood up and smiled.
"See you after work. Thanks for breakfast," she said as she moved to put the things back in the fridge before she left.
"Yeah," he replied, absently as his mind was still on Alex's words.
