HAUNTED DREAMS

Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.


Chapter 11

Boat shed

Granger looked over as Callen, Emily and Blake entered the building. He had just completed the transfers of Luca and his men to a secured prison, awaiting trial. Charlie Simmons, also known as Vladimir Comescu, sat in the interrogation room, prowling like a caged leopard.

Blake noticed the video feed of his father immediately, walking over to the screen for a closer look. Callen nodded over to Granger, who stepped back and allowed the boy in further.

Charlie looked up at the security camera angrily. His demeanour was unlike anything Blake had ever seen on his dad. It was like he was possessed. Charlie growled, indignant of his capture. He cast out threats in English and Romani, like he'd been doing since removing the tape off his mouth. He hissed like a snake, and all Blake could think of was Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter.

Blake looked to his uncle. "Can I go in?"

Callen was unsure, seeing the angry state Charlie was in. "I'll come in with you. Just to make sure you're safe."

Blake looked to his mom for reassurance. "I'll be here when you need me, sweetheart."

Emily sat down at the table, her eyes fixed on the screen. Kensi walked over and sat beside her. She placed a glass of water in front of her, incase she needed it.

She saw the door open and her son and brother enter. Charlie turned and saw them together. He halted. He looked from Blake to Callen and back again. "My sister tried to tell me how much of a Callen you were. He tried to move his hands, but they remained tied behind his back. He screwed his face up in frustration of his restraints. "I tried to ignore it, but she is right. You are a Callen," he growled.

"Dad!" Blake took a step closer, but hesitated, unsure of what to do next. "I'm your son. Blake. Do you not recognise me?" He spoke to him as if he was in some sort of disillusioned state. "We just flew home from Seattle. We arrived home to Mom."

The mention of Emily, sent Charlie in a fit of rage. "That bitch. For twenty-three years, I've wasted my life luring her and pretending I loved her. For what? For my son to to become one of them?" Anger rippled through him. He kicked the leg of the table.

"I don't understand." Blake continued on, as if he had no idea who his father was. "Why did you marry my mom, if you didn't love her?"

Charlie looked up at his son, with hatred in his grey eyes. "I had no choice. My Mama arranged for me and my sister to be exiled into this country, to lure her. From the age of eight, my life was planned out before me. Who I was to become, my purpose, all for the family. I've had to live in a foreign country, away from my family for that bitch," he snarled. The pressure of the plan was obviously taking its toll on Vladimir Comescu. He wasn't strong like his sister. And he knew it.

"But you loved mom. You loved Ruby and I. We were happy. Why would you want her dead?" Blake's heart pounded heavily in his chest. The man before him was a stranger, and it scared him.

Charlie turned his face to the table in front of him and became still. His breathing escalated, worrying Callen over his fit state of mind. He wasn't like the other Comescus he'd come across. From what Blake was saying, it sounded like Charlie really loved Emily, Ruby and Blake. The emails showed his love for his children. That was certain. He wondered whether Charlie was suffering multiple personality disorder from being forced into this situation of a fake happy family. But was it fake? For now, Callen was uncertain.

Emily sat out in the main room, with tears streaming down her face. She turned to Kensi. "Please! I need to go in." She stood and walked to the door of the room, knowing what laid on the other side of the door. She could hear the pounding of her heart in her chest, as she opened the door.

Callen looked concerned when Emily appeared. He stepped towards her, but she shook her head. He nodded and moved over to the corner, sitting down on the chair. He became the silent observer, ready to step in if it was needed.

"Charlie." Emily's voice cracked with emotion. He turned and looked at her. He fidgeted in his chair, feeling uncomfortable.

She sat in the chair opposite him, with the table between them. She took a deep breath, knowing she needed all the strength she could muster to talk to him. "Charlie, please, look at me."

At first, Charlie refused. Emily was patient, giving him the time she knew he needed. Blake leaned back against the wall behind his mom. When he looked up, for a moment, he forgot where he was, and he only saw his wife and son. His face softened. The old Charlie returned. He looked lost. He went to open his mouth to speak, only to close it again. He shook his head before lowering it again.

Emily leaned over the table and lifted his chin, forcing him to look at her. "Who am I Charlie?" She saw turbulence in his eyes. He was fighting the emotions that rippled through him. "Charlie? Please!"

Slowly Charlie looked into her cerulean eyes, and he saw the love she had for him in them. His gut clenched in the pit of his stomach, as he wrestled the war within him. "You are my wife."

Emily smiled, she had achieved something, at least. It was a start. "Why do you want me dead?" Her face became more serious.

Charlie shook his head. "No! Don't do this to me."

"What am I doing to you, Charlie?" Emily gently prodded.

He shut his eyes tight to block his vision, a tear escaped them. He chewed on his lower lip, trying to get a grip of his emotions.

"Do you love me?" Emily questioned him further. The fact he hadn't answered the last question, gave her hope.

Charlie hunched over the table and broke down. He choked on the emotions that rumbled through his body. He shook his head and cried. "I'm sorry, Em. I'm so sorry."

Callen watched in amazement over the transformation of Charlie before him. He had gone from a wild animal, to a broken man.

Emily stood and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She looked over to Callen. "Can you untie him?"

Callen studied the broken man before him. He was unsettled by his sister's request, unsure of what to make of Charlie. He looked over to Blake, who also pleaded with him. He nodded and uncuffed him.

Freed from his cuffs, Charlie wrapped his arms around his wife and wept. He absorbed her scent that was so familiar to him. His life had been a confused mess. He was forced into doing what his mother had instigated. But over time, he had fallen in love with his wife. He adored his children, and had become very happy. The pressure of his duty from family played heavily on his shoulders. His hands had been tied. Now, with the truth out in the open, he felt free, for the first time in his life. "Please forgive me, Em."

Blake walked over and joined in the family hug. Callen wiped a tear from his eyes, from the emotional reunion of his sister and her family. He had wanted a happy ending for his sister. But with the evidence gathered on Charlie, he had no choice but to act. However, now he saw the man, Emily loved. The man Blake had told him he was. He really does love them, he concluded.

"I forgive you, Charlie." Emily brushed her lips over Charlie's. She felt the warmth from his lips and his love.

"I don't deserve you, Em." He searched her eyes for clarification that she truly forgave him. He felt like the scum of the earth.

"You're a good man, Charlie. You have proven that to me over the past twenty-three years." Charlie looked over at Callen and then back to his son. "I can't believe how much they're alike."

"I know, it's weird, hey," Blake replied. Everyone relaxed a little from the tension that had previously filled the room.

"What's going to happen to me now?" Charlie asked Callen. "Will I go to jail?"

Emily looked over to her brother, he had a puzzled expression on his face that she couldn't decipher. "Gav?"

Callen ran his hand through his short hair and took a deep breath in. "We need your help." He turned to Charlie. "If you want to make amends, we need your help to get Ruby away from Estelle, and to stop any more of your family and Stelmakhs from coming after us."

"Anything, to get my family back, safe." He held onto Emily's hand for reassurance. He felt that his life would fall down a dark tunnel without her. He realised now, that it was Emily who saved him all of these years from the despair that fought a battle within him, over family duty and what he really wanted to be.

"Where's Estelle taking Ruby, in San Francisco?" Callen sat in the chair Emily had vacated and got on with business.

"Ruby has a few days before she has to go back to college, so she'll be staying with Estelle at her place," he admitted.

"Estelle's been living in San Francisco?" Emily asked surprised. "For how long?"

Charlie looked into Emily's eyes and was completely honest with her. "Ever since Ruby started at college."

"Why didn't you or Ruby tell me about this? I thought she was still living in Seattle." Emotions welled up again inside of Emily, from the deception. She saw surprise in Blake's eyes also. She knew then that Estelle had Ruby in sight and not Blake. Blake was safe. He was on their side. Fear returned, over her daughter's safety.

"Agent Callen?" Owen Granger felt the need to interrupt the family reunion. Callen excused himself and exited the room. Kensi came into the room and sat in the corner, just in case.

Callen walked out and saw Granger's need to tell him something. "What is it?"

"Earlier, when I was hiding in Ruby's bedroom, waiting for Charlie and Blake to return," Owen paused, not sure how to continue. He swallowed hard and placed his hands in his pant's pockets. "I found a journal."

Callen knitted his brows closer together, as he waited for Granger to continue. "It appears, from what I read that Ruby has been having lessons in Romani. She talks about her aunt, as if she is her mentor. Her best friend. Estelle has been revealing family secrets to Ruby behind her parents' backs. I'm afraid Ruby is going to be a challenge to bring around."

"What are you saying?" Worry returned to Callen's eyes.

"She talks about trips to the gun range with her aunt, and hand combat lessons, since she left for college," Owen continued. "And her hatred for her family's enemies."

"She knows about the blood feud?" Callen asked surprised.

"And who her mother really is. Estelle has been training Ruby to become a Comescu, through and through. She says some nasty things about the Bälans and Callens who have destroyed her father's family. I don't think Charlie is aware of any of this. Going by his reaction to all of this, Charlie is just an innocent used as a tool for the Comescus to destroy your family."

"So you believe he really loves Emily and his kids?" Owen nodded. "I do. There's no way he could be that good of an actor. He's not got the gaul. He was only eight when he was ripped from his family and moved to Seattle. He wasn't in the family long enough to become one of them. Also, I don't think its in his nature. I saw him greet Emily when he arrived in the taxi earlier. He really does love her. To pretend for that length of time, all the time? He loves her and is happy with her. Whereas Estelle, it's evident that she has been pressuring Charlie all of these years."

Callen frowned. "It's going to be hard to tell Emily this. That her daughter hates her."

Owen handed him the journal. "This will help you."

Callen took it and entered the interrogation room, handing the journal to Charlie. "Do you know anything about what Ruby's written in here?"

Charlie was puzzled. "What's this?"

"Ruby's journal," Callen replied. "Apparently, Estelle has been preening Ruby to be a mini version of her. Taken her to the gun range and to hand to hand combat classes. She states inside here her hatred for the Bälans and Callens. She even knows who her mother really it."

Emily gasped with emotion, grabbing the journal from the table and looking inside. She scanned the pages, for evidence of what her brother told her. Tears spilled down her cheeks, one dripping onto the pages of Ruby's journal. Her hands shook as fear for her daughter's mental state of mind and emotional well being. "How could she do this to me? To us?" Emily looked over to her husband. "She was my best friend. I don't understand any of this!"

Charlie stood and wrapped his arms around her, for comfort. He took the journal from her and had a look himself. A new form of anger bubbled inside of him. "I'm sorry, Em. I had no idea she had gone to this length to turn Ruby against you. I would have said something to stop her, had I known."

"But you knew she was living in San Francisco, and kept that from me." Doubt returned to Emily's thoughts over her husband. She stood back to clear her mind.

Charlie lovingly cradled her face in his hands. "I didn't know about any of this, Em. I promise."

"Dad's right." Blake moved forward. He looked to his dad. "We saw the emails between you and aunt Estelle."

Charlie looked over to Callen. "You have my laptop?"

Callen nodded. "Since the airport."

Charlie drew his brows together in confusion.

"Someone on uncle Gav's team bumped into me at the airport, remember?" Blake filled in the gap.

Charlie nodded as realisation over the incident at LAX had been organised by these Federal Agents. "So you read my email to Estelle, telling her I could never kill my children, then." His shoulders sagged from the weight over the whole situation.

"Yes we did." Blake moved closer to his dad. "That's how I knew you weren't the man uncle Gav was saying that you were. It gave me hope, us hope," Blake held his mom's hand, "that you were the man we knew and loved."

Charlie looked between Emily and Blake. "I'm so sorry that you ever saw them. But I needed to keep them, to prove that I didn't want to hurt any of you."

"It's also proven to us, that Estelle is dangerous," Callen added. "We need to move fast, Charlie." He turned to his sister. "You and Blake need to stay here with Granger. I cannot afford for anything to happen to you, if you come with us. I promise I will take good care of him." Callen's eyes were serious as he looked straight into Emily's eyes.

Emily nodded. She hugged Charlie, before he was led out with Callen. Blake comforted her with a hug, watching them leave. It was hard for them to deal with everything, who Charlie really was, especially for Blake, over who both his parents really were. His world had almost come crashing down around him, but thankfully, he saw hope. And it was that hope, which had come to fruition. His dad showed his true colours, that he really loved them, and had no desire to hurt any of them.

Callen's cell vibrated, it was time to contact Paris. The timing was perfect, with their latest developments, and the fact that he, Sam, Deeks, Kensi and Charlie, were on their way to San Francisco to help extract Ruby Simmons.

San Francisco

Callen was thankful the flight to San Francisco had been short. Granger had come through again for them and arranged for a private jet to get them there, urgently. They pulled up outside a two storey tudor styled red brick home, with immaculate pruned gardens, under a canopy of age-old Monterey Pines. Lanterns situated around the property greeted them with a gentle glow around the front of the house.

Deeks raised his brow over to their team leader, wondering why they were outside such a beautiful suburban home. It was situated in amongst a hidden treasure, up on a hill, south of the city. The streets surrounding this home, had a country feel, very unlike the streets lower down the hill, or the areas they had travelled through from the airport. "Wow!" Deeks stepped out of the hired SUV and followed his team and Charlie to the front door.

Claire greeted them at the front door, with a broad smile. "Hi guys! What took you so long?" She jested. "This house is amazing." She led them to the rear of the house, which overlooked more immaculate gardens.

Paris looked up from her laptop, when she heard them come in. "Hey!" She stood and greeted her old friends and colleagues. She nodded her head over to Charlie. It was weird for her and Claire to be back under the same roof as Charlie, after what had previously gone down back in Seattle. It wasn't like they hadn't gotten along while they were protecting him and his children, far from it. It was the knowing who he really was. But Callen had reassured her that he was just a much a victim in all of this as Emily and her children were.

"How," Deeks stuttered, "how did we end up in a place like this?"

"It belongs to a friend," Callen offered, but he kept closed on any further details.

"Don't tell me it's Hetty's?" Deeks continued. "How many does she have?"

Callen shrugged. "No idea. But this isn't hers." His words even caught Sam's attention. Curiosity piqued inside the house, as the agents tried to think whose it could be. He smiled, knowing that the truth was killing them. He smirked, before walking off to check the perimeter.

"Callen." Paris caught up with him. "Why is Charlie here?"

"Because we need him to help us get Ruby back. And he needs to do this, for his own guilt. This whole situation has been killing him inside. He really loves his wife and kids." Callen rested his back onto the side brick wall, inhaling the scent of the pines. "It's beautiful up here." He quickly changed the subject. It had been a blur of a day. Crickets chirped in the garden, signalling the nearing of summer.

"You've been here before?" Paris asked him, surprised. Even she had almost queried the address when Callen had given it to her.

A warm smile appeared on Callen's face. "I have." He was short to the point, but left it at that. He had fond memories in this house, that he was going to hang onto for the rest of his life. It was a big risk for him bringing Charlie to this address, but they needed him there, and this house was the perfect location to keep an eye out on Estelle and Ruby, who were only two streets away. He couldn't believe it, when Charlie gave him Estelle's address. A shiver had run down his spine at the proximity of it to this house. A place he had felt safe and hidden away in. But now, it was a safe house for him and his team, Red Team and Charlie, until this part of the operation was complete.

Paris realised she wasn't going to get any more from him, so she left the subject be. "Look Callen, it's been a really long day, you must be exhausted. Why don't you get some rest. Estelle and Ruby appear to have settled in for the night. it's going to be a big day tomorrow." Paris watched Callen stifle a yawn.

"Thanks." Satisfied that he'd checked the perimeter, and that Paris' was right about Estelle and Ruby, he walked back inside. He found Deeks, Kensi and Claire wandering around the upstairs. "Found a bed yet?" He inquired. The five bedroom house was plenty big enough for all of them.

"I was thinking of the master," Deeks winked at Kensi, but after seeing Callen's expression, he changed his mind. "I'm good with this room. He slid inside the room and stopped still. "Um Callen?"

Deeks caught the attention of Claire and Kensi, who quickly followed him in. All three turned around and looked at Callen for an explanation. Callen mentally head slapped himself for forgetting about this room. On the far wall were photos of Callen as a child, teenager and as an adult. This had been his bedroom, when he came here for somewhere to get away from the horrors of his foster families.

Sam walked in behind him and stopped also, staring at the images on the wall. "Gonna explain yourself, G?" To them, it looked like Callen had lived here all of his life.

Callen knew his secret was out, that he had spent some time there over the years. This was his escape. No one knew about this place, except for the owner. "This was my escape, when things got too bad," he finally revealed.

"Who owns this house?" Kensi inquired.

"Now? Me. Before, someone dear to me." He knew he was being cryptic, and it wouldn't suffice their curiosity.

He tried to escape, but Sam pegged him in. He wanted answers, that was for sure.

He sighed. "It was my grandparents'. It was the one place our mom told Amelia and I about, incase we got separated. I'm surprised I'd never bumped into Amy here," he capitulated.

"You couldn't remember your name, but you remembered this address?" Sam was surprised.

"My life depended on me to remember this address. This is where I ran off to, whenever Hetty couldn't find me," he admitted. A smirk appeared on his face, over how much good times he'd had here. There were treasures from his family he'd found and learnt a great deal about them. Unfortunately, there was nothing about him and his sister or father, to help him in his search for either of them.

"That's pretty cool, Callen," Deeks admitted. "I'll leave this room for you then."

"Thanks." Callen rubbed his hand over his face. He was exhausted. He'd been awake for almost twenty-four hours, with only two hours sleep, due to his nightmares.

The rest of the them found themselves a bed and crashed. Charlie was placed in the adjoining room to Callen, to ensure he knew where he was. Although his gut instinct told him Charlie was genuine, he needed to be sure.

Estelle's home

Roy had sat outside the house for the first shift, Deeks and Kensi rotated for the second and third. As far as they were concerned, neither had been burned by either Estelle or Ruby. It had been a boring stakeout, with both occupants asleep. But come morning, Kensi was jolted awake by a visitor. Damn! What's he doing here? Kensi watched Charlie Simmons knock on the front door. He held Ruby's journal in his hand and he looked furious. A good night's sleep had cleared his mind and given him the determination to get his daughter back.

Estelle's expression was of surprise, when she found her brother on her doorstep. "Charlie, what are you doing here?" She looked behind him, to see if anyone else was with him.

"It's just me, Stel." He pushed himself inside. "Where's Ruby?" He looked up the winding staircase and saw his beautiful daughter emerge from the upper level. "Hi beautiful."

"Dad!" Ruby looked confused over to her aunt. "What are you doing here?" She greeted him with a warm hug.

Charlie held her journal out to her. "You've got some explaining to do on what you've written in here." He turned to his sister. "Both of you do." His voice lowered, into an almost growl. He struggled to control his emotions.

"You've read my journal? You've been into my bedroom?" Ruby was horrified.

Estelle led Charlie away to the family room to talk to him quietly. "You cannot just walk in here and talk to Ruby or myself this way. What has got into you? Why are you even here? I thought we agreed for you to return home and play the doting husband for a while."

"Oh I did," Charlie admitted. "But this has to stop. You cannot turn Ruby against her mother. It's part of who she is. Or have you forgotten that?" His jaw was tense as he spoke. Estelle was taken aback over his behaviour.

"Of course I haven't forgotten that you married a Callen and that your children are quarter Callen and quarter Bälan. But they are half Comescu, so we have more right to them than the Callens or Bälans do. What better revenge than to make the heirs of our enemies, one of us?" Estelle had a look of triumph on her face.

Charlie gripped her arm. "You need to stop this now," he growled.

"Or what?" Estelle was used to being in control of her brother, so she worked her way back into control using manipulation. It had worked in the past. Charlie had always proven to be the weakest link.

The rear door opened and a familiar face stood in the doorway, holding a SIG at her. "Federal Agents," Callen announced. "Kneel down on the ground and place your hands on your head."

Estelle felt the betrayal of her brother and grabbed him by the throat. Charlie wrestled to get clear of her. He was stronger than she realised, and he threw her onto the floor. "You are no longer my sister," he snarled. He looked up and saw Ruby holding a weapon on him. "Ruby, you need to put that gun down. It's okay now. You are safe."

Around them, stood both the L.A. and Red Team who had chased after Charlie, when he told Callen his plan. He acted so fast, Callen had no time to fill Kensi in on what was going down.

"No!" Ruby shook with fear, looking between her aunt, who she adored, her dad, who she loved, and the Federal Agents who surrounded them. "I will not let you hurt her or take her away from me."

"Rubs." Charlie took a step closer towards her. "Look at me." He held his hand out, hoping she would drop the gun. Fear for her safety grew within him. "Estelle was wrong to brainwash you with hatred of your mom and her family. They did nothing to deserve to be hunted and killed. We love you and want you home with us. Please."

"Shoot him," Estelle spat out, sending Ruby on edge even more.

"Ruby. We're here to help you. All we need for you to do is to put the gun down. We know what Estelle has done. No one blames you." Callen stepped closer, worried that Ruby just might pull the trigger on her father. His promise to Emily clung to the forefront of his mind.

Ruby looked up and furrowed her brows, her hands wavering. She wasn't used to holding the heavy metal weapon out at arms length for this length of time. "Blake?" Her eyes were blurry, sweat beaded on her forehead.

"I'm not Blake, Ruby. I'm your Uncle Gav. Your mom's younger brother. Just like Blake is to you." Callen took another step closer. "Put the gun down, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that." Ruby tightened her grip on the weapon.

"Tell me why I can't, Ruby? You're my niece. We're family." Callen stood beside Charlie, hoping to bring Ruby around. No one there wanted to shoot her.

"You're a Callen." Ruby stated sternly, like she had been brainwashed by her aunt.

"So are you. Don't you think your aunt won't kill you if she has the chance? She doesn't love you. She's using you to get to your mom. We have proof that she will kill you and Blake if you don't do what she wants. You don't want that for Blake do you? He's your baby brother." He hoped triggering younger memories for Ruby, might help snap her out of this uncharacteristic behaviour."

"How did you know I called him that?" Her voice dropped to a whisper. He had thrown her.

"Your mom used to call me that all the time. Until we got split up." Callen's breath hitched over his emotions that tore through him, from his own memories.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "No she didn't. You're lying." Her voice pitched higher as she tried to control her emotions.

"It's the truth, Ruby. It's why I forgot my name. I was only five when the Comescus killed our mom in front of us, on the beach. One minute she was laughing, then she was so quiet and still." Callen swallowed down the hard lump that formed in his throat from the emotions from that day. The day that changed the course of his life. "I couldn't wake her up. Your mom, she was only nine, she grabbed my hand and took me somewhere safe."

"Stop!" Ruby shouted. "It's not true. It's the Callens and Bälans who destroyed our family. They killed members of our family." Ruby looked straight into Callen's eyes. Cerulean met cerulean. A shiver ran down her spine. "You," she pointed the gun now at him, "you killed my grandmother and some cousins. You are not going to kill my aunt."

"I didn't kill your grandmother. Alexa Comescu tried to kill me though. She orchestrated the kill on your other grandmother. My mom. Your mom's mom. Don't you think it's time for all this bloodshed to stop? I had no choice but to kill Dracul, he was going to release a small pox virus on the people of Hawaii. It's my job to save the innocent. He was going to kill millions of people."

"Lies." Estelle spat from her location on the floor. She tried to move closer to Ruby, in hope to grab the gun and shoot Charlie and Callen. But Sam moved in and tied her hands behind her back with a zippy tie.

"You can shut up," Sam advised her.

She wiggled, trying to free from the ties, unsuccessfully. She kicked Sam in the shins, causing pain to run up his leg.

Deeks moved in and lifted her up onto her feet, dragging her screaming obscenities in Romanian. Kensi came to his aide, pleased to take the Comescu woman from the scene. They hoped her removal would appease Ruby.

Ruby shook her head. "Don't take her away from me. Please!" Ruby dropped her gun and ran after Estelle. Callen bent down and took possession of the gun, placing the safety switch on.

Charlie went after her and wrapped his arms around her as she broke down in tears. "Shsh! It's okay now, Ruby. It's all over."

Relief spread over the remaining agents, that the situation had been contained.

"No, Daddy, it's not over. It will never be over," Ruby cried. "I hate half of myself. How can I ever be over this?"

Charlie looked over to Callen grief-stricken. Both he and his daughter had been subjected to so much all for the sake of the Comescu's revenge over something that had happened before they were even born. It was crazy.

Callen moved closer and knelt down beside Charlie and Ruby. "Actually, Estelle got it wrong. You only hate a quarter of yourself. You've got a quarter Reznikov in you also."

"What?" Ruby raised her brow in confusion.

"Our dad, he's Russian. Your mom and I are Reznikovs, not Callens. That was our mom's family name." Callen smirked, which brought a small smile from his niece.

"You think you're so funny," she sniffed. "That makes me feel so much better already."

"I got a smile from you, so yeah, I think I'm funny." Callen pulled her up from the floor.

Ruby shook her head. "She told me to hate them all. But it wasn't until you said that I was one of them, that it hit me." She looked up at him. "I don't know how I can get past this?" Fear entered her heart, from all that her aunt had brainwashed her with. "How do you know that I won't hurt you or mom? She's trained me for the past four years."

"We can organise some counselling for you. I think your dad's going to need some as well." He looked over to Charlie, who nodded.

"We can get through this together, Rubs. You're strong. And you're a very caring young woman. You went into medicine to help people. That alone proves that you've got a big heart," Charlie comforted her.

Ruby turned and hugged her dad again. "Thanks, Dad, for rescuing me." She stepped away and looked back to Callen. "So if you forgot your name, how come you know your name now? Have you seen my mom?"

"The only name I had was G, Callen, until just over a week ago," he admitted.

"You remembered your name?" Ruby and Charlie were amazed.

"Only when I heard my Papa's voice," Callen admitted. "I found my Papa for the first time since I was five. It was then I remembered my name. He filled in the rest. Your mom confirmed it to me yesterday." Ruby and Charlie narrowed their eyes, puzzled. "I needed to confirm she was really my sister. I was told she had drowned when she was eleven."

"Oh!" Ruby began to realise what a tough time her mom and uncle had been through. "And this is because of the Comescus?"

Callen nodded. Charlie gently squeezed Callen's shoulder. "I'm sorry, for all that my family have put you through."

"That means a lot, Charlie. Thanks. Let's go home, so we can end this blood feud for good," Callen suggested.

Ruby smiled. Callen's heart melted, when he saw how beautiful she was. Just like his sister.

Los Angeles

It wasn't even lunch time, and the Simmons family were reunited, safely. Ruby ran over to her mom and wrapped her arms around her, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, mom. I never meant to hate you."

Emily pulled her daughter in close and cried. "No, baby, it's I who should apologise, I should have protected you from harm. I had no idea who Estelle or your father really were."

Blake moved in and hugged his mom and sister. The emotions were running high for all of them. Charlie hung back, unsure of what to do. Callen moved in and urged him to join his family. "They're your family, Charlie. Make the most of the time you have with them, and keep them safe for me."

Charlie raised his brow. "So I'm not going to jail then?"

Callen smiled. "No, Charlie. You're just as much a victim as my sister in all of this. But there is one thing we have to do though," Charlie looked expectantly at him, "and that is to relocate you."

Charlie nodded, although his shoulders hung low. "Yes, of course. More will come, now that we've put a stop to the plan my mother set in place."

Charlie walked over and joined in the family hug. Sam joined his partner, checking he was okay. "Are you good, G?"

Callen crossed his arms over is chest and shrugged. His eyes remained focused on his sister and her family. Their reunion had gone better than expected, but he worried how they would go under witness protection. He scratched his head, wondering what to do.

"Something's on your mind, G. Care to share?" Sam gently prodded.

Callen turned his head and looked straight into his partner's caring brown eyes. "I'm just thinking about them going into witness protection," he chewed on his bottom lip as he mulled over his own thoughts, "I was wandering about seeing if Arkady could take them to wherever our dad is. I was going to send Amy and Blake there anyway, another two…"

"Call him. Update him on all that's happened. I'm sure your father would love to see your sister again, after all of these years, and meet her family. Especially his grown up grandchildren," Sam suggested.

Callen nodded. "Thanks Sam." He walked out of the boat shed and dialled his old friend.

"Aah Callen, my old friend. Long time no hear." He jested. "How's it all going?"

"Better than we had anticipated." Callen updated Arkady Kolcheck on all the latest developments and they agreed to arrange for the Simmons family to relocate and be given new identities. They ended the call and he returned to advise his sister of the plan.

Blake and Ruby's eyes widened at the realisation that they would have to leave their old lives behind. "But what about my degree?" Ruby, although happy to be reunited with her family, was in shock at this news.

"I'm suppose to be going to Seattle in the Fall, and about to graduate from High School," Blake added in. He'd been looking forward to his graduation alongside his friends and peers for months.

Callen rested his hand on his nephew's shoulder. "I'm sorry about all of this, but its the only way we can guarantee that you will remain safe. We may have locked away the threats from the Comescus," Callen paused, as he looked over at Charlie, "but the threat from the the Stelmakhs is still a risk, we are not willing to take. We've got to get you away from Los Angeles straight away, before someone comes for revenge." He stressed the urgency. "My team can collect some personal items for you from your home, but that is all."

Emily gently squeezed Charlie's hand and nodded. "Will we know where we're going?"

Callen smiled. "I don't know where, but I know with whom."

"Papa?" Emily's face brightened.

Callen laughed. "Yes. With Papa. A good friend of ours will arrange for your departure within the next hour. Now, what do you want us to collect from your house?"

All four quickly wrote things down and Callen took a photo and sent via iMessage the details to Kensi, Deeks, Granger, Eric and Nell, who were all waiting at the Simmons' family home. The five of them got to work, ensuring all items on the list were collected and brought back to the boat shed as quickly as possible.

Arkady arrived at the boat shed an hour later, with an limousine to escort the Simmons away to their new life. Callen hung back as he watched all their items placed in the large boot and inside the cabin of the car.

"Hey, Gav," Callen turned to see his sister standing beside him. "You look lost. Is everything okay?" She looked concerned at him, like she had when he was little.

Callen wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. Emotions bubbled to the surface, as he tried to keep inside his true feelings over having to say goodbye to his sister and her family, so soon after reuniting with them. "Stay safe," he whispered, unsure if his voice would give himself away over how he felt.

"You too, baby brother," She whispered back, choked with emotion.

He stood alone, with his arms across his chest, as he watched the limousine drive away. Sam stood silently beside him for support.

The team disbanded for the day, Deeks took Kensi home to rest, Eric took Nell home and Granger left to visit Hetty in hospital to update her on the latest developments. He hoped the good news would help her on her recovery. But as he drove away, he worried over the man left behind. Arms still crossed over his chest, Callen kept himself at arms length. Owen sighed, knowing how he was feeling —- like he was being abandoned again by his family. At least he has Sam. That he was thankful about.