Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth - Nell Jones pretends not to be bothered when the scent of waffles and maple syrup follows Eric into Ops. It'd just been a damn long time since lunch yesterday - almost twenty-something hours, actually, and she'd really like something more substantial than the stash of Oreos, Eric keeps hidden. She's really not up for rotting her teeth before noon but between the massive amounts of data to mine through until she struck gold and making sure paperwork was distributed to the proper people, she hasn't had time for breakfast. Or, dinner. Or even a snack.

No food in Ops.

Brilliant.

Hetty's rule.

With a defeated sigh, she continues mining through the digital life of some asshat, who decided a military fundraiser was a good place to test out his homemade explosive device. Needless to say, he'd be in handcuffs before the day ended - if only so Nell can catch a long enough to sneak away for food.

The doors slide open and, without even looking, she knows it's Callen. Not only are his footsteps lighter than anyone else's - Kensi, included - but his cologne is different. Sam tends to bring the smell of fresh, white soap with him while Kensi is vanilla and something, and Deeks' cologne of choice is saltwater.

"Callen, do you need something?" her fingers never pause over the keyboard.

Eric's head tilts as for all he knew, she hadn't looked to see who came into Ops, but Callen seems unphased, used to it, apparently. "Actually, I do." he turns back to Eric. "Can you take over for her for a while?"

"Sure. But, why?"

"Because," he makes his way over to Nell. "She hasn't eaten since lunch, yesterday."

"I'm fine, Callen." Nell insists, even though her stomach is screaming at her to let him take her to get something to eat. "I have a lot of work to do."

"Work that Eric can handle while you eat." Callen reaches around to take one of her hands. "Come on, Jones. Up. Let Eric do it."

"Callen - "

"Nell." his voice is stern, hand slipping to wrap around her wrist. "I know you. You get hungry and you get distracted. Come on, now. Me and Sam are going to breakfast, and you're coming with us."

It's useless to argue with him.

Despite wanting to grit her teeth and push through, she already knows Callen won't hear of it, so she gives in and stands up from her chair. Eric wastes no time in taking over her job, even with his own work to do. Callen releases his wrist and takes her by the elbow, guiding her out of Ops, and down to the bullpen to meet Sam. She tries really hard not to think about how nice it feels to have contact with something other than a computer. But, Callen is warm and strong and there and she feels a little more cared for than she might have up in Ops with Eric.

…

The diner is a mutual favorite of Sam and Callen's and she sees at least three different things she wants to try as G is guiding her to his usual booth. She's tucked between him and the wall with Sam on the opposite side. While it's not something that she would usually think about, it does occur to her to wonder if he ever brought Anna Kolchek here.

She can sort of picture it without gagging but contemplating it beyond a simple breakfast is almost enough to make her lose her appetite. Anna would have looked like a damn supermodel, so very out of place, sitting by a window with the sun slipping like liquid gold through her blonde waves.

"I can hear the gears, Nell." there's that damn smirk and those blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "What's on your mind?"

"D- did you ever bring Anna here?"

Hazel eyes stare up at him curiously, tracing the line of his jaw, wanting to laugh at the twitch of discomfort her question brings with it, but holding back. In her peripheral vision, Sam shakes with silent laughter.

"Yeah, G, you ever bring Anna here?" he contributes when his laughter is under control.

"No." he grits his teeth. "This isn't really Anna's thing. I wasn't either."

Oh.

Anna Kolchek must be a newly acquired sore spot. If she's being honest, Nell can't say she has much sympathy for him. The younger Kolchek always struck her as a gold-digger. That's not to say she didn't have any good qualities - she was useful, when she wanted to be - but when it came to relationships, she didn't seem to want anything that wasn't superficial.

Before anything more can be said, the waitress comes around with a pad and pen, ready to take their orders back to the kitchen. Much to his surprise, Nell asks Callen to order for her. It might be nothing to some people, but to them, it's a show of trust on her part. The conversation is minimal while they wait for the food to arrive because Nell's exhausted and hungry and barely able to function.

...

Sam's breakfast is little more than scrambled eggs, whole grain toast, and a bright mixture of citrus and melon while Callen's gone for the heartier waffles, it is Nell, who practically salivates at the sight in front of her. Two sizable buttermilk biscuits smothered in thick, peppered white gravy, with a side of bacon and hashbrowns. It is something her Mom would make on a frosty, drowsy Sunday morning, and she almost can't help the tears that fill her eyes.

"Nell?" it is Sam, who notices it first. "You alright, baby girl?"

"Nell?"

"I'm sorry." she laughs it off, swiping at her eyes in a futile attempt to dry them. "It's just - "

"Just what?" Callen questions softly.

"My Mom used to make breakfasts just like this on Sundays." she explains quietly, looking up at Callen. "And, I'm tired and hungry and I got a little homesick for a minute."

"It's okay." G. reaches for her hand under the table, lacing their fingers together.

It's comfortable, feeling his large, warm hand wrap around her smaller one. Feeling the tight interlock of their fingers. It's nice to have contact that isn't the awkward hugs or high-fives that Eric prefers, but rather, actual physical contact with someone she doesn't feel strange sharing such a small space with.

They eat in relative silence.

Although Sam does notice that Callen's right hand appears to be otherwise occupied as does Nell's left, but he wisely chooses to keep quiet on the matter. Whatever's going on between them, wherever they take their relationship is up to them.

Of course, he's anything but quiet when they finally tell the team, six months later, that they are seeing each other and quite happy. Both Sam and Deeks are rather quick with their exclamations of it being, "About damn time!" and Kensi just laughs and says, "God help you, Nell!" Callen couldn't even be offended at that.

For the record, and for any man who dare claim otherwise (Deeks), Sam Hanna would, hereby, like to state that he bore witness to the beginning of the relationship.

It started with breakfast.