Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: Los Angeles or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. I make no money from this.

Author's Note: Sorry, meant to have this up a couple of days ago but real life got in the way. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up today or tomorrow.

Callen paused in his attempt to put the toaster back together as a sound reached his ears. Putting the screwdriver down, he listened carefully before getting up and moving down the hall. He sighed, not surprised to see the light coming from under the door. This would be the third night in a row. "You okay?" he asked as he pushed the door open to see her sitting at her desk.

"I'm fine," Callie said, giving him a weak smile. But the bags under her bloodshot eyes told a different story.

"You want to talk about it?" He came into the room, leaning against her desk.

She shrugged. "Nothing to talk about, just can't sleep."

"Callie-" he started.

"Like you're one to talk," she interrupted. "I don't see you in bed either." She crossed her arms over her chest, staring at him defiantly.

"That's different."

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm an adult and I've been doing this for years. You are still a child, you need to sleep."

"I'm fine," she said again, harsher than she intended. She turned away, unable to meet his gaze.

Callen watched as she reached for her notebook, her hand trembling slightly. "I'm going to call the school later to excuse you for today." She looked up sharply at him. "You're in no condition to go. I want you to stay home and try to get some sleep."

"I said I'm fine!"

"Clearly," Callen said, letting the doubt come through in his voice. He watched as she slumped in her chair. "Come on, talk to me. I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"Just can't sleep," she mumbled again before tears started to form in her eyes.

He sighed before leaning down and gathering her into his arms. "Shh, I'm here." He gently pulled her toward the bed and sat down, holding her to his chest as he rocked her. Relief filled him as she finally fell asleep, though it was more like passed out from exhaustion. He placed a gentle kiss to her head as he laid her down on the bed. He stood, watching her for a few minutes before exiting the room, never noticing as her eyes opened to fix on a photo on her desk.

Later, after he had called the school and notified them that she wouldn't be in, he contemplated calling Hetty and taking a personal day. But glancing into her room, he saw that she appeared to finally be sleeping soundly. Deciding that she would sleep for the day, he left her a note on the kitchen counter and left for work.

Arriving at the office he started on his paperwork, allowing the normalcy of the others' bantering and antics to distract him from thoughts of Callie and her sleepless nights before Eric showed up with his 'unique' way of calling them to Ops.

Callie waited until she heard him leave before tossing the covers aside. Her eyes landed once more on the photo on her desk. "Mom," she said quietly, images from her dream playing over in her mind again. She shook her head, quickly changing and grabbing her bag. She hesitated on her way out the door, pulling out her cell-phone and fingering it before shaking her head once more and pocketing it. She made her way to the first bus stop, the route she had memorized clear in her mind.

Callen glanced briefly at Sam as Nate stopped him. As glad as he was to see the tall man, he'd rather not talk to him right now. He briefly thought about mentioning Callie and seeing if he had any advice, but that would lead to Nate questioning his own sleepless nights. Not a conversation he particularly wanted to have. So instead, he asked Nate about meeting someone. Like he really needed advice on meeting women, he thought smugly. He couldn't believe Nate actually fell for that, especially considering that with Callie in his life he wasn't exactly looking to meet anyone. He didn't need that kind of complication at the moment. But at least he'd gotten the psychologist off of his back for the moment.

While waiting for Nate to bring Rose to the boat-shed, Callen stepped to the side and called Callie's phone. He frowned when she didn't answer but hopefully it meant she was still sleeping, something she desperately needed. He'd try again later, he decided.

Later, as they confronted the funeral home director, Callen carefully kept his amusement off of his face as he listened to Sam talk to Hetty. Oh, she was going to make him pay for that later, he mused. They confronted the man, going after him when he ran.

Callen shook his head, did he really think he could get away. They cornered him near the stone tombs and he made a crack about reserving one as Kensi handcuffed the director.

Sam shook his head. "You keep making cracks like that and I'm going to sic Callie on your morbid ass."

"I'd worry about your own ass if I were you," Callen told him. "Hetty's not going to be pleased with you." He smirked at his partner.

"Please," Sam rolled his eyes. "She knows I was in character."

"Whatever you say." He walked away, pulling out his cell-phone. He frowned when there was still no answer. He called Eric. "Hey Eric, I need a favor. I need a location of a cell-phone." He gave him the number. "Thanks," he said as he got the response, sighing at the location. He turned to see Kensi and Deeks loading the funeral director into their car. "You got this?"

"We're good," Kensi confirmed.

He nodded and turned to his partner. "Need to make a stop on the way back."

Sam frowned. "Everything alright?"

"I hope so."

A little later he sighed as he got out of the car at the cemetery, carefully making his way to the correct grave and the figure kneeling beside it. "Didn't I tell you to always let me know where you'll be?"

Callie gasped, whipping around to look at him guiltily. "How did you find me?" she asked, hastily wiping at her tear streaked face.

"I have my ways," he told her, crouching down beside her. "You okay?"

"I miss her."

"I know baby girl, I know," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "This why you haven't been sleeping?"

She nodded. "I keep dreaming about her," she admitted. "Only, every time her face fades a little more and I have trouble remembering her voice. It feels like I'm forgetting her. I don't want to forget her." A sob escaped her.

"Shh, you're not forgetting her. You'll never forget her, she'll always be right here," he said, placing his hand over her heart. He held her, whispering words of comfort to soothe her. Finally she calmed and he stood, gently pulling her up with him. "Come on, let's get you home."

Callie hesitated, glancing back at the grave.

Callen noticed her hesitation. "We can come back and visit any time you want," he told her.

She nodded an let him lead her away. "Am I in a lot of trouble?" she asked quietly.

"We'll talk about it later," he told her. "But I think we can let it go this once. Just, next time you want to come here, talk to me. I'd never stop you, I just want to make sure you're alright."

"I'm sorry Dad."

"Like I said, we'll talk about it later. Let's get you home." He led her to where Sam waited with the car. He nodded at the other man and got Callie settled in the backseat before climbing back into the driver's seat. A few minutes later and Callie was out cold.

"She alright?" Sam asked as he looked back at her.

"She's had a rough couple of days. Should have seen this coming."

"You're still learning, give yourself a break."

Callen simply glanced at him before continuing on to his house. Once there, he carefully carried Callie into the house and settled her in her bed. He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead then left a note where she'd see it.

If you decide to go somewhere,
Call me first!
Love Dad

He returned to the car. "Come on, we'd better go before Hetty really gets angry." He put the car in gear, heading back to the office.

The next day, after the funeral for the marine, they returned to the office and filled Hetty in on the details. He wondered at the chess set she handed him to give to Nate but spotting the look she was sending his partner he wisely chose to just walk away. Reaching the bullpen, he glanced back to see Sam sitting in front of her desk as Hetty leaned forward in her chair. "I warned him," he said, shaking his head.

His phone rang. "Callen."

"Dad?"

"Callie? What's wrong?"

"Do you think we can go back to Mom's grave later? I forgot to bring flowers yesterday."

"Of course, any time you want to, we'll go. Actually," he glanced back at his partner's dressing down. "I've got time now. I'll come get you."

"Thanks Dad."

"Any time." He ended the call and started for the door. He bumped into Nate on the way out. "Oh good, here," he handed him the chess set. "From Hetty, she said you earned it." He watched with curiosity as a look of understanding crossed his face but chose not to comment. "You alright?"

"I'm good," Nate responded. At Callen's skeptical look he added, "Really." Callen nodded, letting the subject drop. "Where are you off to?" Nate asked.

"Callie called, wants to visit Erin's grave."

He nodded. "How's she doing?"

Callen smiled. "Better than she was," he answered, thinking of how she'd managed to sleep through the night.

"That's good. Let me know if you need anything."

Callen gave him a look. "You too." They exchanged goodbyes and Callen headed for his car.

Arriving home, he found Callie waiting for him. "Hey," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "You ready?"

She nodded. "Thanks Dad," she said as he led her to the car.

"Any time," he told her, placing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Any time."