DISCLAIMER: Nope, they aren't mine... at least not any of the NCIS LA characters. I do, however, own all the crazy little characters popping up throughout. Should they even remotely appear familiar to someone who is living or ... it is entirely by coincidence.

AUTHOR NOTES: Hi! Thank you so much for all the lovely and supportive reviews. I try to respond to everyone who reviews... to the unnamed guests who leave reviews, thank you. "Skippy" Thank you so much! I appreciate every reader and review. I have to give a shout out to "countrygirluk56" for the 'great minds think alike' moment. It appears we both chose the name Andrei Petrescu for a character. Of all the names...

I know you are all very concerned for Callen. I know it seems so intense and hopeless. All I can say is, don't lose hope... Give them time to figure this out. It will be well worth the ride.

Okay, here we go! Chapter 10. A bit longer than the norm...so Bonus? Please stop by and let me know what you are thinking! I would love to know. So go ahead, read and review.

Eric kept facial rec going but no one ever expected much to come from it. They were facing nearly two years since he'd left. Aside from the rare sighting, he'd not been back.

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"Deeks, Kensi, back door. Anna and I will take the front. We need one alive." Sam looked pointedly at Anna.

"You look at me?" Anna stated feigning shock.

"Yes, you." Sam grinned. "On three."

Sam kicked in the door and Anna ran ahead as they cleared the rooms one at a time. When Sam hadn't heard from Anna who had gone upstairs he followed only to hear the sound of gunfire. Running up the stairs they found her lying on the floor, the window open and the shooter gone.

Eric, we need an ambulance, Anna's down!" Sam yelled into coms.

Deeks, Kensi, Sam and Hetty sat huddled in one corner of the waiting room while Arkady had chosen to sit by himself with his body guards every vigilant to their surroundings. As they awaited word from the doctors, Arkady, never one happy to sit still, looked around anxiously. His eyes settled on a now darkened corner of the room nearly blocked from sight of the rest of the group. After several moments of debate, he sent one of his men to get some coffee. Before slowly working his way toward the figure that paced nervously like a wild animal. As he moved closer his bodyguards moved effectively blocking his escape.

"I knew you couldn't stay away from my Anna" Arkady's Russian accent a near whisper.

"Walk away, Arkady." Callen hissed, his focus on the four people across the room.

"Is this how you treat friends now?" Arkady chuckled.

"I don't have friends… not anymore." Callen growled, ready to run when Arkady's man walked up with two cups of coffee.

"Perhaps I should have had him get tea… more relaxing, no?" he stated as he handed a cup to Callen, "When have you last eaten or slept, my friend? Never mind. Why don't you go to my place and get something decent to eat and maybe some sleep while you're at it. I will send news when there is word." Arkady said with an appraising look of the man in front of him.

Callen considered arguing but the longer he stayed, the more likely he'd be seen. Finally he agreed… to leave. With the help of Arkady's bodyguards blocking their view, Callen was able to slip out relatively unseen.

Sitting back down, Hetty was quick to ask, "Another visitor, Arkady? Anyone we know?"

"No Henrietta. No one you'd recognize" He stated cryptically.

Hetty raised her brows in response but said no more.

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"Hey there" Sam said softly as he entered Anna's room. Arkady had been first to see her before excusing himself allowing her team to visit.

"Hey Sam." She greeted between yawns, "Hello, Hetty"

"How are you feeling, deary?" Hetty asked cheerfully.

"I'm fine. The doctor says I'm lucky. The bullet didn't do much damage. A few weeks and I'll be good as new." She replied.

"mhm, you were very lucky, indeed. Do you remember what happened?" Hetty asked.

"We had cleared the rest of the house. I was first to go upstairs. He took me by surprise…" Anna was quiet for a moment.

"What is it dear?" Hetty asked, concerned by the look of fear that crossed the young woman's face.

Anna debated a moment as she looked from Sam back to Hetty. "I wasn't just lucky… It was meant as a message… for Callen."

"For Callen?" Sam growled. "Now what's he gotten himself into?"

"He said it was from Mihai Comescu." Anna replied, staring straight into Sam's eyes. "This has nothing to do with what Callen has `gotten himself into'… unless you call being born his fault" Sam broke away from her stare… he was so angry and tired of constantly losing people he cared about or coming close to losing them… in the end, while not by death, he still lost not only his best friend but his brother. It was a loss that was only out pained by the loss of his wife Michelle. The only difference was he was a part of the cause for Callen's leaving. Unfortunately, he couldn't seem to stop being mad at Callen for not being able to see beyond the job in order to put those he cared about first… the job be hanged.

"Oh, bugger!" Hetty sighed, shaking her head.

"So, this was his way of calling him out. Why you though? Callen's been gone nearly two years." Sam asked more to himself than anyone else. Two years… he missed his friend. He'd even go so far as to say he missed the candy wrappers in his car. Callen had always left them behind for Sam to fold into any number of things later when they'd be stuck on a stake out. He'd say he didn't miss the constant concern for his safety but then that would be a lie. The only difference… he wasn't there to have his back. Still, Callen wasn't the only one who had a write to be angry. Callen left… he left the team, his brother, and most importantly… he abandoned Aiden and Kamran when they needed their uncle most.

"Anna took Mr. Callen's place." Hetty surmised.

What makes him think this will work? We don't even know where Callen is." Sam replied.

"Have you told Arkady?" Hetty looked to Anna.

"No, are you crazy? He's impossible on a good day." Anna responded as a slight grin graced her face.

Sam chuckled as Hetty replied, seemingly distracted, "Indeed"

"I'll have Deeks and Kensi stand guard tonight." Sam said as he headed for the door.

"If you will be okay for a moment, I will call Eric and Nell to see what they have found on Cameras." Hetty told Anna who was slowly losing her battle against the pain medicine.

"I'm fine, Hetty." Anna assured her, "Arkady will be back soon."

"Very well, we will be back shortly." Hetty pat her hand gently before taking her leave.

Anna closed her eyes and was soon asleep, completely unaware of her next visitor. Callen stood there watching her. He'd already tapped into the system to read her file. He knew she'd be okay. He was tempted to wake her but then thought he would maybe leave a note, until Arkady came in smiling. "My Anna is a beauty, yes?"

"Yes" Callen answered simply.

"Do you love her?" Arkady asked equally matter of fact.

"Does it matter?" Callen replied, walking to the window.

"Perhaps, for her it might." He answered.

"Don't Arkady. That chance has long since vanished. She wouldn't want me now, anyway." Callen finished softly, dropping his head down briefly before lifting his eyes back to the view out the window.

Arkady chuckled as he squeezed Anna's hand lightly before going to stand near Callen. "You, my friend, under estimate her feelings for you."

"Arkady, not now. If anything you should protect her from me. She deserves better." Callen stated. After everything he'd done the past two years, the enemies he'd made… he would never put someone in the position of constant danger.

"You got that right!" Sam said standing by the door, Hetty by his side. Kensi and Deeks, who were stationed outside the door, peeked in.

Callen swung around, gun pulled, to face his old partner. Sam couldn't help but be shocked by the cold look in Callen's eyes. He knew they probably deserved some of it but this went beyond just being angry. This came from somewhere deep inside. It was as if every bit of trust he ever held for them or anyone was just gone. It hurt him to realize he could no longer read him…

Arkady put a hand on Callen's arm. He could feel the muscles tensing beneath his fingers… sense the nervous energy radiating from him. Once he lowered the gun Arkady gave him a reassuring clap on the back. The instant stiffening of his shoulders and clench of his jaw did not go unnoticed.

"Are you hurt, Mr. Callen." Hetty asked.

Callen slowly put his gun back in its holster as his icy stare moved to his old boss, "I'm fine."

"That's not what I asked." She tried again, her concern growing.

"It will have to do." Callen retorted coldly.

"Seriously Callen? Still a stubborn ass. How dare someone show you any concern. Bet your boss now doesn't care if you are hurt or not, so long as the job's done, huh? How's it feel, no one having your back?" Now wasn't the time to get into it all but at nearly two years gone he couldn't stop himself. Truth was, he didn't really know how he felt about Callen… angry, worried, sorry, all the above? What he did realize, too late, was that the Callen he knew and the Callen before him were two different people. While the prior had control and patience. This one did not.

"I'm no longer any of your concern. As for who has my back? You gave up that right as well. So keep your judgments to yourself. I'm not the least bit interested." Callen growled, his body tense and ready.

"Callen?" A soft voice called from behind. Callen immediately stilled before turning to face Anna, now wide awake.

She put her hand out, beckoning him to take it but slowly let it fall to her side when he refused. "Did Hetty say you were hurt, Callen" She asked.

"It's nothing. Just part of the job." Callen shrugged before he could stop himself but quickly schooled his facial features to hide the pain it had caused. "I should go. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"How did you find out?" Anna asked curiously.

"I was here for a job." He let it go at that.

"There's something you need to know." Hetty began when Nell and Eric joined them.

"Hetty, I think we've figured… Oh… Callen" Eric stopped in his tracks.

"Hi Callen" Nell greeted, surprised.

"Nell" was all he responded. He couldn't help be amused by the way Eric tilted his head upon seeing him… like a puppy who just heard his favorite word.

Eric looked back to Hetty, not sure if he should continue.

"Go on, Mr. Beale. Mr. Callen has a right to know." Hetty ordered, "and be quick, dear. Mr. Callen was preparing to leave."

"Right, well, we ran facial rec on the man we believe shot Anna." This caught everyone's attention, especially Callen's.

"Who was it?" Deeks asked.

"Oh, yeah, Andrei Petrescu"

"You know that name, G?" Sam asked.

Having not heard anyone call him by that in so long, Callen didn't respond at first, "G!" Sam said louder before Callen finally paid attention.

"What? No, why should it?" Callen asked, his voice tight.

"Because he knows you? Sam answered. "Busy making new enemies?"

Callen's eyes seemed to darken to a cobalt blue, his voice threatening, "They have to be alive to be enemies."

Eric swallowed then cleared his throat. "Actually, it's an old enemy. Well, family of an old enemy."

"Spit it out, Eric" Callen growled.

"Comescus… they're back. Seems there's an unending supply to pick up where they left off." Eric replied.

Arkady rolled his eyes to the ceiling. He knew what this feud had done to the son of his dear friend and every time they thought he could finally move on something always happened to send him either running head long into danger or running into the shadows. Now, between what had happened within the team and this… he was doing both.

"Comescu…" Callen hissed, "Will they never stay dead" he paced what little space the crowded room allowed.

"Andrei Petrescu is the grandson of Alexi but he was sent by his cousin, Mihai Comescu" Eric explained.

"Of course he was." Deeks groaned, reliving the memory of their trip to Romania… that had really sent Callen down a dark road. He hated to think what this was going to do to him. He was far more volatile than he had ever been before.

"Do we have any idea where they are now?" Hetty asked.

"No, we lost them shortly after leaving the house. Sorry" Eric apologized.

Callen was seething. No matter how many they killed, they just kept coming back. If he had questioned the validity of his leaving NCIS, which he hadn't, but if he had, this changed everything.

"Callen, where are you going boy?" Arkady asked as he felt more than saw his intent to leave.

"None of your business, Arkady." Callen turned to shake his hand, "Take care of her." He spoke softly.

"You are in no shape for battle, my friend." Arkady replied.

"I'm fine for what needs done." Callen said lowly.

Turning to leave, Sam stepped in his path.

"Get out of my way, Sam" Callen warned. He was beginning to feel cornered and claustrophobic. This was probably the longest real conversation, off the job, that he'd had in the past few years on his own.

"Can't do that, buddy." Sam stated evenly.

"Let's get one thing straight, I'm a lot of things… your buddy isn't one of them. Now, I'm going to tell you one more time to get out of my way." Callen's voice deepened with the unspoken threat.

"Why? So you can go off half-cocked and get yourself killed? Can't do that." Sam replied, "Your feud with these people keeps putting you and the people around you in harm's way."

"All the more reason for you to step aside" Callen stated.

"Anna and Arkady like you for whatever reason and they would not be happy if I let you go get yourself hurt or worse." Sam said firmly holding his ground.

Callen's whole demeanor changed right before their eyes. "Don't do this Sam. This is none of your business."

"I'm making it my business. They came after my team." Sam braced himself mentally for Callen's response.

His eyes narrowed, his jaw clinched. Tired of all the battles. He was just plain tired, to be brutally honest. The risk of injury was great on this job but lately it was happening more and more. At the moment he simply wanted to go somewhere shut off from the rest of the world and heal. However, thanks to his family's blood feud, that wasn't going to happen now. He wasn't entirely sure when it happened but anger and hate seemed to be at a constant boil beneath the surface like an itch that needed scratched and at the moment it was begging. He needed out of there. He needed to think… to plan. He needed to see that the comescu's were put down… for good.

Sam could see it in his eyes, the cold stare that sent a chill through him. Before he could react, Callen had him pushed to the wall with a force Sam didn't realize Callen had. Two years on his own had done more than sharpened his senses, which were already hyper vigilant… but he'd added muscle and new moves to his arsenal.

"Understand this… my business is not YOUR business anymore. You gave up that privilege a long time ago." Callen hissed.

"Okey Dokey, Okey Dokey," Arkady spoke up. "Come, my friend, we will go get some air." He went to put a hand on Callen's shoulder when he saw him tense and pulled them up in a sign of surrender.

"Anna, you will be good while I take our friend to get some food, yes?"

"I'll be fine, Arkady. Just make sure he comes back."

"Come Callen" Arkady motioned Deeks and Kensi away from the door.

Callen looked Sam in the eye, giving him another shove before turning to Hetty, "You'll call your team off if you know what's good for them."

"Mr. Hanna is correct, Mr. Callen. They came after our team. Our family. They have every right to be involved. You cannot do this alone, my dear boy. We know what lengths they will go to." Hetty replied, wishing as always that he would realize that he was part of that family… that team… despite recent and not so recent mistakes.

"Their rights ended when Petrescu claimed the message was mine. So do yourself a favor. Keep your precious family at home. You underestimate my abilities, my sense of self preservation. You always have. Walk away while you still can." Callen's demand left no room for argument. One that Sam didn't heed.

"So you're going lone wolf?" Sam challenged.

Callen let out a heavy sigh as he loosened the reigns on the anger towards his old partner.

"What I do and how I choose to do it is my business and mine alone. I am not answerable to you for anything. You want to protect your family… then you do it from here by keeping her safe… otherwise, stay out of my way."

"Who keeps you safe Callen? Who makes sure you come home?" Nell asked.

Callen schooled his emotions before he turned to face Nell. He liked her. She had guts, she was smart and she wasn't so quick to judge as the rest. He did miss that friendship.

He offered no smile and the chuckle he gave held no humor, "I keep me safe. I either do the job right or I don't come back. Simple as that. After all, that's what a lone wolf does, right Agent Hanna?" Callen stated before looking to Anna.

For the briefest of moments, Anna saw the old Callen looking out through the deep blue eyes she had always loved… but just as quick it was gone.

"Good-bye, Anna… Take care" Callen said as he turned and walked away, Arkady close behind.

"Watch him, Arkady" Hetty said as he left.

The room sat in silence…

"Is that what he was like when you first found him?" Kensi asked.

Hetty gave a heavy sigh as she shook her head slowly at the mess this had become.

"Very much so… a boy who never had a safe place to fall creates a man who trusts no one. The closest thing he's ever had to that safety was with NCIS. With that gone…" Hetty explained.

"He's nearly feral" Sam chuckled.

"You find this funny, do you, Mr. Hanna?" Hetty asked in disbelief.

"What we did? What this job is doing to him? No, not in the slightest. However, he's right that we underestimate him. He's been doing a job for two years where few survive the first. He's picked up a lot of new tricks and techniques and no doubt many of them… deadly. Comescus picked a bad time to piss him off." Sam replied.

"He is not always alone, either. Most of the time he is, but there are times when he will have a team join him. Every member equally dangerous and deadly. I worry what he may do, now." Hetty added.

Hetty, he's been injured. How many times before it's permanent or worse. They keep him going with no chance to recover." Anna stated.

"Yes, my dear. He cannot keep going like this. I've been doing some looking. I need to speak to Leon and get a message through. We can't risk him doing something that would go against even Blackguard's A-moral beliefs." Hetty agreed.