Chapter Eleven
Again guys you are seriously awesome, the way that you review and give me your feedback is overwhelming thank you so much! Seriously I am on nights all weekend so should be able to get all my stories updated during the day (UK time). Please continue with your support, it means the world!
My season three boxset has just arrived, so at last I will be able to actually be up to date on my viewing! Got to cram in as much as possible before starting my nightshift tonight!
And special note to Lizard- thanks for all your reviews- I can't wait to read whether Callen's plan works in your story or not (subtle hint for an update!)
Chapter Eleven
Sam barely moved from his partner's side during the next few days- the scene so reminiscent of a few months prior that it sent shivers down his spine. His partner was still heavily sedated and hooked up to a number of machines that were keeping his overtaxed body working to keep him alive. He hated seeing his partner so still, he was usually so vibrant and full of life- a sharp retort always on the tip of his tongue, yet here he was for the second time in twelve months fighting for his life. All Sam could do was sit back and watch the battle and hope to god his friend was strong enough to win.
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Days passed and the team took it in turns to remain at the hospital- the only constant being Sam's refusal to leave his partner's side. The younger man showed no signs of improvement, but had not deteriorated either. The doctors were hesitant to give any guarantees and the experienced agent was unable to dispel the sense of dread that remained deep in the pit of his stomach. He was a very lucky man that his wife was understanding, and had always loved Callen- else she would have forced him home days ago.
"You really do need to go home and spend time with your family Sam" Hetty told her senior agent softly as she walked into the room. Her eyes glanced over the unconscious man that meant so much to all of them before falling back on Sam.
"They understand Hetty" he replied.
"That as may be, but they also deserve some time with you. Mr Callen would understand, besides I will remain with him whilst you go home for the day" she responded, her tone leaving no room for argument. Sam got to his feet- he had been at the hospital for a week solid and the sterility of the walls was beginning to drive him a little crazy, but he still did not want to leave his friend.
"You'll call me if anything happens at all?" he asked softly, his eyes locked on his partner's still face.
"Of course" she replied, understanding Sam's hesitancy, but wanting him to leave regardless. He reached over and gently squeezed his partner's shoulder, before finally leaving. He walked robotically towards the exit, his mind still in the hospital room with his friend, and as he stepped out onto the street he felt the fresh air hit him like a bucket of water over his head. He walked on, his mind a whirlwind of if, buts and maybes as he pondered his partner's condition. He couldn't believe that he was once more forced to face his partner's mortality- unsure whether his best friend would wake to fight another day, never mind be back at his side on undercover ops. He sat down on a nearby bench- suddenly his limbs felt very heavy and his emotions were overwhelming him. He thought of all of the close shaves his partner had, whether it be a gun in his face, a bang to the head or even actually getting shot- and every time the top agent had bounced back, mostly as if he had never been gone. Sam couldn't help the churning feeling in his stomach that this time it was going to be different.
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Hetty smiled lightly as the doctor came to check on her friend.
"How is he doing?" she asked softly, looking at the young man that she was so fond of.
"The congestion in his chest seems to be easing and his oxygenation levels have come up significantly" the doctor replied with a cautious smile.
"When will he wake up?" Hetty asked, keen herself to see her friend's bright blue eyes.
"We will start to reduce the sedation this evening and he should hopefully wake up in the next twenty four hours or so, and then we will be able to fully assess the level of damage" he replied, honestly as he scribbled on the chart that he held.
"What are the likely after affects?" Hetty asked worried that Callen would be forever altered.
"Reduced lung capacity, increased tiredness, shortness of breath to name a few- but we need to cross that bridge when we get to it, Mr Stewart will need complete bed rest for some time to come though" he warned. "And I do mean complete rest this time" he finished with a light smile. Hetty chuckled lightly.
"I am afraid rest doesn't seem to be in his vocabulary" she stated with an affectionate smile.
"Well Mr…er Stewart will have to learn, I don't intend on having all of our hard work undone again" the doctor stated, and the operations manager didn't miss the hesitation on the patient's name. The doctor was clearly no fool, but she couldn't risk him knowing the full details of Callen, not whilst he was so vulnerable. She nodded to agree with his words.
"I will make sure of it" she finally agreed.
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Sam managed to stay away for a mammoth eight hours before he was back at his friend's side. Hetty had been replaced by Kensi, who smiled in greeting as he arrived.
"How's he doing?" Sam asked softly.
"Better" Kensi replied with a smile. Sam nodded as he took his usual seat, Hetty had text him to update him once the doctor had been around.
"Good, I told you he'd pull through just fine" he stated with a smile, hoping to god that he would be proven completely right. Kensi returned the smile before getting to her feet and gently kissing Callen on the forehead, before waving at Sam and leaving the partners alone again. Sam scraped his chair closer to the bed and carefully squeezed his partner's injured hand, hoping he would know that he wasn't alone.
End Chapter Eleven
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