Chapter Ten
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Chapter Ten
"You found him?" Kensi asked, mixed emotions playing across her face. "Well how is he? Is he coming back?" she questioned.
"Yes he is safe and well and hopefully returning to assist in the latest case- however it will purely be in an advisory capacity, he is in no way fit to return to operational duties" Hetty stated emphatically.
"Does Callen know that?" Deeks questioned with a quirked eyebrow- knowing full well that the experienced team leader would need keeping on an extremely short leash if he were to be kept in the office.
"He will be left in no doubt Detective" Hetty responded. With one final nod she turned and headed back to her desk and left the partners to their own conversation.
"You don't seem very pleased Kensi?" Deeks commented- concerned by his partner's reaction to the news.
"Of course I am pleased- this team needs Callen, and more importantly he needs us" she stated. "I just don't want him to rush back into something that he clearly isn't ready for. This is personal- and I just worry that he's going to be opening even more old wounds when the last ones aren't even heeled yet" she explained. Deeks nodded, understanding her reaction- and agreeing with the concerns that she raised.
"I know, Callen is a stubborn one- we just need to make sure that he doesn't push us away again" the canny detective stated.
"He doesn't tend to give us much of a choice Deeks- you push too hard and he bolts, we need to maintain the balance between the two" the junior agent stated with a sigh. "Hey Hetty didn't say where Sam was" she observed, noticing the absence of the senior agent for the first time.
"My bet is he is chaperoning Callen" Deeks guessed with a smile, not realising how accurate his throwaway comment was.
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"You don't need to babysit me" Callen stated with a sigh as his partner collected him from his boarding house.
"Hey I may as well save you the cab fare" Sam reasoned with a shrug.
"I'm not going to run Sam- I owe it to Craig to get his nephew back safely and make them pay once and for all" he vowed as he eased himself into the challenger.
"And what about you G?" Sam asked his partner gently, as he drove towards the hospital.
"Me? I'm just fine Sam" Callen replied, his voice carrying the familiar self-assurance that the team leader possessed and Sam had not heard for a while. Without arguing the point the former seal continued driving, deciding to choose his battles one at a time. Within no time at all he was parked in the all too familiar car park and letting his partner out of the car.
"I have changed doctors Sam" Callen stated as he stepped out of the car and limped over to the doors of the hospital.
"I know that G- but an old friend would prefer to check your progress for his own piece of mind" Sam responded as he continued to walk towards the entrance.
"You don't need to come in with me Sam- you're not my mother" the team leader argued as his partner walked determinedly beside him.
"Thank the lord for small mercies" the seal muttered under his breath as he kept pace with the slower man towards the consultation. "Left here G" he instructed and was relieved when his partner did as he asked without further argument. "This one" he prompted as they got to a closed door and he knocked before waiting patiently. As soon as the call to enter came he pushed open the door and allowed his partner to step through.
"Ah Agent Callen- good of you to come and see me" the familiar doctor greeted one of his favourite and more frequent patients.
"Hello Henry" Callen greeted with a sigh.
"Come in and let's have a look at you" the aging doctor invited gesturing to the seat in front of his desk. "Mr Hanna I am sure that your partner will be fine from here" he stated turning to the large man beside him. Sam took the none too subtle hint and stepped out of the room- electing to get himself some water and wait in the waiting area.
"So how have you been Mr Callen?" the doctor asked softly as he gathered some equipment from around his office.
"Fine, I am doing just fine" Callen responded, dreading where this was leading.
"I see that you have been having regular check-ups with another surgery- was it something I said?" Henry asked dead panned and the agent couldn't help the smile that escaped him.
"No, sorry doc- nothing personal, I just needed some time and space" he responded, surprising himself with his partial honesty.
"And now you have had that you are gracing us with your presence once more?" he queried as he gestured for his patient to sit himself down on the nearby bed.
"What can I say? I knew you would have missed my sunny personality" Callen replied with a grin, appreciating the light-hearted approach that the doctor was taking.
"Yes, I was just thinking the other day how I missed having a certain pain to my neck area" he responded with a wink. "Now, let's have a look at this leg of yours- have you been doing your exercises?"
"Of course"
"And not overdoing the exercise?"
"Hey, you know me doc- I always follow instructions to the letter" the agent replied with a straight face.
"Hmm, I do know how well you follow instructions, that is precisely why I am asking the questions. Now my bet would be that far from gradually increasing your walking you have been going for runs on the beach" he wagered.
"Ok I give, how did you know?" Callen asked in confusion at the doctor's lucky guess.
"The sand in your socks" the doctor responded with a grin. Callen couldn't help but chuckle at being so royally caught out. "In all seriousness Callen you are not doing yourself any favours by pushing too hard. I know it's frustrating, but you are making remarkable progress and I am confident you will fully heal, but not if you push yourself before you are ready" Henry continued.
"I know" Callen admitted sheepishly.
"Are you getting enough rest?" he asked.
"More than usual"
"And you are still off work?"
"At this moment" Callen replied carefully.
"Hmm which means you will most likely be planning on battling with some terrorist or other in the next week or so am I right?" Henry asked, his own frustration carried in his voice.
"What can I say- my country needs me doc" Callen responded with a grin.
"And will you be able to help your country when you are medically retired with a bum leg?" Henry asked, finally a hint of anger entering his voice.
"Doc I promise you I am not going to be out chasing armed terrorists- I am just looking at an investigation, nothing more strenuous than sharpening a pencil" Callen told him, wincing as his leg was probed.
"Hmm, I'll believe that when I see it" the doctor muttered as he conducted his examination.
"Scout's honour" Callen told him with a grin.
"Why is it that I don't believe you have ever been a scout Agent Callen?" the older man commented, not missing the wince from the agent at his actions. "I see there is still tenderness- have you been taking the medication?" he asked.
"Mostly" Callen responded with a sigh.
"It is really important that you take the anti-inflammatory and the pain killers, otherwise it adds extra stress to your body that makes it harder for you to heal" the doctor lectured gently.
"The pain killers make me spaced out" Callen admitted softly.
"Ah, you don't like the feeling of being made to rest?" he questioned, knowing that one type of tablets issued were certainly designed to also assist in sleep.
"It's too dangerous" Callen responded quietly. "I can't take the risk of not being able to wake up" he admitted. Henry paused, suddenly understanding the issue- the man in front of him was a highly skilled government agent- who had undoubtedly made a number of enemies throughout his life.
"No problem- I will write you a new prescription, with my word that it will not make you feel spaced out, drowsy or sleepy- and you give me your word that you will take them?" Henry offered as he reached for his pad.
"Deal" Callen agreed readily.
"Now let's finish up with this examination before your partner paces his way out of the hospital shall we?" he asked, leaving Callen with no option other than to nod with a smile.
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Sam was desperate to ask his partner exactly what had been said between him and his doctor- but he daren't. He was fully aware that his friend was with them by some sense of obligation to an old friend, and could easily disappear once more in a heartbeat if he was pushed too far.
"You ready to see the team?" Sam asked him instead.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Callen queried- he knew exactly what his partner meant, but he refused to even admit to himself that he might feel awkward.
"You know they will be asking questions about Samuels"
"Of course- it's an active case Sam, that's why I'm here" Callen stated, almost as if speaking to a small child. Sam sighed- and indicated to turn into the parking area of the mission.
"Right then, let's get started" he invited as he opened the car door for his partner and lead the way into the office- knowing that his friend was limping closely behind him. Callen barely had time to take a steadying breath before the door was opened and he was ushered inside. He clenched his fists at his side as a panicked sweat covered his forehead. He paused for a second- breathing in deeply and repeating a mantra in his head to quell the panic. He cast a gaze around and noticed the hum of activity and the familiar faces that had yet to notice him. He reached out and rested his palm against the wall whilst his emotions hid behind the walls that had taken years to secure.
"G?" Sam questioned, observing his friend's actions. His partner failed to answer him initially and Sam immediately felt his concern rising. "G? You good?" he queried as he rested his hand on his friend's shoulder- confused by the fact that he clearly startled the younger man Callen glanced at his over his shoulder- unable to shield his emotions immediately Sam caught a rare glimpse inside his partner's head before he managed to put his infamous shutters firmly in place.
"I'm fine Sam" Callen responded- his tone firm and leaving no room for argument- his blue eyes showing no trace of any emotion whatsoever. "Ops or bullpen?" he asked, keen to make a start on his investigation.
"Bullpen" Sam stated leading the way to the two rows of desks and the other pair in the team that had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of their team leader.
End Chapter Ten
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