I don't own NCIS LA

Chapter 11

It's been a week since they rescued Nell from di Angelo. For the entire time she was hospitalized, which Nell hated. Hospitals are not her thing, but more important Lucas wasn't with her. Of course they had worked out a routine somehow. Lucas and Callen would stay at her house and come after getting up directly to her. With a short stop for breakfast, so they could eat together. After that Callen would left for work and Lucas stay with Nell the entire day. Around six Callen brought Dinner for them and after they ate, he and Lucas went home for sleep. So the days were good, but the nights were horrible.

But today is different. Today is the day Nell would be discharged and could go home. Something to looking forward to, she missed her home, her bed, but most of all her time with Lucas before bed. The day would also bring new challenges of course, because Nell and Callen must figure out a way to make this work. She didn't want that Lucas would miss his father after the great time they had. That's what he told her every day. He spoke of Callen nonstop. On the other side she also didn't want that Callen would miss anything. But the question is how would it work, because they couldn't move in together only because they have son, absolutely not.

But first things first, she wants to get out of this bloody hospital. She hates it here, the smell, the furniture; the white walls it's not the best place to stay. So she is looking forward to going home. She puts all her clothes and things into her bag, Callen had brought her from home and after she was finished, she took a place on the bed and started waiting. Callen and Lucas should be here shortly.

She didn't have to wait long, after 5 minutes Callen arrives with a happy Lucas in his arms. He is as happy as she is, that she going home today. Lucas tries to get out of Callen's arms. It took him a moment to let him go and as soon as his short feet were on the ground he sprinted to Nell. She waited for him with open arms and embraced him as he reached her.

"Hey baby." she says and kisses his head.

"He Mommy."

"Did you have a nice time with Daddy?" she asks him curiously, like every morning he came to visit her.

Lucas giggles and answers. "Yeah, Daddy me food fight esterday."

Callen looked a bit shocked that his son has revealed that, after they promised each other to keep it from Nell. But he couldn't be angry with his boy. He playfully potted and says. "Buddy, that was a secret between us!"

Nell has to laugh at the scene in front of her. Her laugh made Lucas laugh too and after some moments Callen was carried away also. After Nell clamed herself down a bit, she asks. "And who won?"

"Me." Lucas states with a proud expression on his face.

"Good with you on my side I side; I can't lose against Daddy the next time." Nell says with a big smile.

Callen's laugh immediately died down and he said with a bigger potting face as before. "Hey you two are not ganging up on me." which of course made Nell and Lucas laugh harder.

If this is how family should be, he liked it, Callen concludes to himself. It was nice to share these moments with both of them. It gives him hope that he will not lose either of them. A fear which kept him up all night, yesterday, because he was afraid that after Nell was well again his relationship with her or his son would change. The only question is how or where they will go from here.

But first Nell has to get out of here; she has been too long in this sad hospital. "Are you read to go?" he asks her.

"Yeah all packed." she answers and points at her suitcase.

Callen takes it as he says. "Let's go."

Nell puts Lucas back on the floor takes his hand and together they walk into the direction of the exit. As Lucas reached Callen he uses his other hand to take his. The three of them left the room hand in hand with Lucas in the middle. Like a family, both parents thought and both independently from each other concluded that they are a family. But more important they both would like to remain this way.

Oh they have so much to talk about.


After a short drive they arrived back at Nell's apartment. Nell eagerly enters her home. Even if it was not different like the last time she was here, so felt it different and more important it smelled different. It smelled not only of Lucas, but also of a masculine scent which reminds her of Callen's after shave. She likes it to smell him in her home.

A glance at the living room told her, that Callen must have slept on the couch the entire time he was here. But why isn't clear to her, because he could have used her bed after all, without any problems. She would have liked that very much. A smile spreads on her face of picturing Callen in her bed. It is sad that she would go to sleep tonight without his smell on her pillows. It wouldn't been a problem to get him into her bed, but because of Lucas they have to be careful where they let their relationship go if this was an option for him. They have to think of him before they act on their feelings and both of them know it. But a girl can dream.

Callen follows Nell and Lucas into the apartment. It feels good to see her at home, like something had been missing until she stepped over the threshold. She smiled with her whole body and it made her more beautiful as she already is. Callen glanced slowly over her body while he closed the door. He likes what she he is seeing and is reminded of their night together. A night he couldn't forget, not that he tried.

They both were in their own world and didn't notice that Lucas reached for a glass to get some juice to drink. The shattering of glass as it hit the floor shakes them out of their stupor. They both looked at Lucas, whom had an apological look on his face. "Sorry." he told his parents.

Like it was nothing both of them switched into parents mode. Nell runs into the kitchen to take Lucas in her arms and brought him into the living area. So that he couldn't hurt himself with a broken glass. "Stay here. I bring you some juice, baby." Nell says to her son. Lucas nods embarrassed and took a seat on the couch. Meanwhile Callen started to take care of the broken glass and puts them into the trashcan. Nell fetched Lucas a glass of Juice and brought it to him into the living room.

"Here baby, but be careful." Lucas took the glass and started drinking.

Callen and Nell work together like they have done it for years. It comes naturally to them like breathing, but they didn't noticed how in sync they were with each other. Would have Sam or any other member of the team seen them, they probably would have pointed it out. But like this it was like nothing had happened to them.

"Play?" Lucas asks Callen after he has finished drinking and carefully placed the glass on the couch table.

"Later buddy. Mummy and I have to talk about some things." Callen answers him, as he put the last glass into the trash. Lucas wasn't really disappointed; he simply shrugs his shoulders and storms off into his own room.

Nell heard what Callen had told their son and at the prospect of their talk made her started beating a bit faster. She was nervous, how the talk would go or where it would lead them. She wasn't the only one with insecurities in the room, but Callen tried to ban them in the back of his mind as he walks to her in the living room. The agent in him could read her like an open book, she was nervous like him, but why he didn't know. He only knew that she didn't have a reason for it, because from where he is sitting she holds all the cards.

"Nell." Callen says at the same time as she says. "G." she started calling him that shortly after she had woken up in the hospital. He told her that as part of his team and more important family she should call him G instead of Callen. She liked it as well as Callen himself. His name sounded so good from her mouth.

They both look at each other and smile. Callen ever the gentleman that he is lets her go first. He has the feeling that they would be starting at the same page. So it didn't matter that much to him, who would have started their talk.

"G … amm … where … do we go from here?" she asks the most important question to her and Lucas as family and eventually for them as a future couple, if that would be in the cards for them.

"I don't know." he states truthfully, but ads after some moments. "I only know that I want both of you in my life."

As he said that Nell's heart skips a beat. That declaration made her happy and was what she hoped for. "I like that."

"Good." Callen answers and steps closer to her, their faces were now only inches apart. He takes it as a good sign that she didn't stepped away from him. So he leans in to kiss her beautiful red lips, but before he could reach them, she stops him with a hand on his chest. "We have to be careful." she says. Callen look a little bit irritated. He wasn't sure why she stopped him if she wants to be a part of his life.

Nell sees Callen irritation and clarifies. "For Lucas sakes. We have to take things slow … very slow."

Good point. For a moment Callen had forgotten what this could mean for the little guy. He couldn't understand if his parents make out but nothing more. For him it has another meaning then to Callen and Nell. Callen understands her reasoning, Lucas has to come first in every sense of the way. He should have a better life than Callen had as a child and that includes his parents and their relationship. But he wants to be with Nell.

"I understand … but I want to get to know you … I want to spend time with you … alone." he says sincerely.

"Because I am the mother of your child or … because you want me for me even if Lucas wasn't in the picture." For her it makes a huge difference because should he only want it simply because they have a child together then she knew they don't have a future together, it wouldn't work. A child isn't the right reason for a relationship. But sincere interest in her as a person would be a good start.

Callen couldn't understand her insecurities she is beautiful, smart, funny and tough and Lucas is definitely not the reason for his interest in her. Would have been the circumstances different in the past he believed that he would have seen here more than once. Whether a relationship would have blossomed he can't tell, but that's in the past. Here and now he likes her and there is something there that he wanted to explore.

He looked into her beautiful hazelnut eyes and says. "Nell I am not good with emotions or relationships for that matter, but I know my interest in you has nothing to do with Lucas." he says and cares her cheek.

"Ok."

"Good, but we keep it from Lucas."

"Agreed."

"That was the easy part." Callen says with a smile because he knows his next suggestion could lead to a heavy discussion.

"And what is the hard part?" she asks him curious, because she couldn't figure out, where he is going with this statement.

Callen takes a deep breath, before he starts his proposal. "I want you to move in with me."

"What?" Nell was shocked, certainly she has misunderstood him. He wouldn't want them to move in with each other. To take it slow in their relationship wouldn't be possible and not thinking about what ifs like if it doesn't work between them; that would be more than awkward.

Callen could see in her face, how her brain works with that suggestion and the impressions weren't all that happy. He knows it would be problematic and is sudden, but from his point of view the best option to protect them. Besides he would have more time with Lucas. He only needs to convince Nell about his idea. "Before you work yourself into a headache, let me explain why I believe it would be a good idea." he glances at her eyes and pleads with her to hear him out.

She didn't believe that his reasons could change her opinion that it wasn't a good idea and that they shouldn't do it. But that doesn't mean she wouldn't give him a change to explain himself. She also was quite interested in his reasons, because G. Callen wouldn't suggest such a thing without really thinking about it. He may be spontaneous during missions or other activities, but not with his private life. His private life was very important to him, at least that's her opinion on him. "Go on!" she encourages him.

"Let's start with the obvious one I would have more time with Lucas. I would bring him to bed and instead of leaving him for the night; I could be there for him should he have a nightmare or would he be ill. I already missed so much and I really don't want to miss more. It also would mean that you don't have to do all the work alone, we could be parents together. And in relation to us taking it slow you would have your own room and we would move at the same pace as we would shouldn't we not move in together. I know it wouldn't be easy, but I think we could handle it. And … and this way I could protect you better. I know that you are capable to protect the both of you, but call me old-fashioned, but I believe it should be my job. Especially because I am the one with more foes than friends, so I have to protect you, him and me. I also would give me the change to train you as an agent outside of OPS. Because I think Hetty wouldn't allow it."

Wow, literally, wow. He must have thought long and hard about his suggestion. His reasons are all logical, emotional and she couldn't find a good argument against them. Her logical brain comes with this input to the same conclusion. Damn sometime she hates how her brain works. But that doesn't mean that she would say yes to it. He had time to think about it, now she needs the same. "I have to think about it." Nell says after some moments of silence.

That was easier than Callen thought. He assumed that they would fight about it, but she is smart and logic is the weapon with which you can beat her, that much has he learned about her. "Ok, that's all I ask." he answers her with a smile.

"But why do you want to train me?" she curious wants to know.

"I know that you would want to be an agent no matter what argument I would bring against it. So my solution is that you learn from me everything I know and what helped me survive. I would made feel better should you someday work in the field." he says truthfully.

"But I will never be as good as you." she states, because being someone else is second nature to him. For her it means hard work.

"No you could be better."

"Funny."

"No I mean it. I may be able to change personalities like shorts, but your logical brain is a good point against my spontaneous suicide actions." She has to laugh at that. "But the important part is that you can survive out there without us."

"Ok."

"But that doesn't mean that the team and me won't have your back all the time. That is a promise." he states firmly.

"Good to know." she says with a smile Callen loves to see on her face.

They look into each other's eyes with so much emotions and it felt like time would stand still. Callen's first impulse would have been to kiss her, but with Lucas in the other room that wasn't a good idea. Instead he takes her in his arms and hugs her close to his chest. She fits perfect into his embrace and he loves it to have her in his arms. Nell feels the same way, she felt save in his arms. They could have stand in each other's arms for a long time, but their moment was interrupted by a small voice form behind Callen. "Mommy hungry."

Without embarrassment they step away from each other and Nell says. "Of course baby. What would you like?"

"Pi''a." he says with a happy smile.

"Did you have some pizza this week?" Nell doesn't have a problem with fast food, but a kid shouldn't eat so much of it. It should be the exception not the rule. As she asks that question she looked at Callen.

"No." was his answer and it was true. Because Callen knew that his normal way of life with only takeout food isn't good for a child. So he tried to cook easy things like macaroni and cheese. Surprisingly Lucas liked it. Callen wasn't a chef, but apparently he could manage.

"Ok." Nell looked back at Lucas. "Your normal favourite salami with extra cheese." Lucas nods enthusiastic to that suggestion. "Good I order it, but you know that it will take some time you could go back to playing."

"Come?" he asks with hope.

"In a minute buddy." Callen answers with that Lucas turns on his heel and heads back into his room.

"Are you staying for dinner?" she asks Callen as she went to call for the pizza.

"I like that." he answers honestly.

"What do you like?"

"A diablo please."

"Ok." with that she started her call and ordered. Callen took the time to watch her while she orders. Like every time in the last time, when he was thinking of her he asks himself the question, Why is she different from every other woman? He liked her, not only in a I-like-to-fuck-her-way. Especially since he already has done that and liked it very much, but as an extra he wants to get to know her. No, he wants to know everything of her. He is interested in her like in no other woman before. It brought him an idea and the thought of that makes him smile. All she has to do was say "yes". Taking it slow for Lucas sake would be hard, but also a new experience and the first step would be a date. A date to get to know each other and to learn to see things like the other one.

As she finished her call, he surprised her a bit as she felt him take her in his arms around from behind. In a husky voice he whispers in her left ear. "Go out with me?"

The question took her totally of guard. She knows that he is interested in her, but that he would ask her out so suddenly was a surprise. She tried to hide her excitement for the possibility of date as she casually answers. "Okay. When?"

"How about next Friday?" he answers. Friday is a little less than a week away. That means enough time for both of them to think of everything that happened and what probably could happen. Maybe she has an answer to his suggestion until then.

"Okay."

"I collect you at 8 from here." Her answer has warmed his heart, but whether to give her the change to overthink everything or because he was nervous about it himself. He simply changes the subject. "Come on I think our son wants to play with us." with that he took her hand and lead her to Lucas room. He was sitting on the floor in the middle of his toys. As he sees his parents enter, he knows they are here to play with him and so he starts to smile. Callen took a seat on one side of him while Nell took the other side. Together they played until the pizza arrived. They laughed, they joked, the simply had fun as a family.


It is some time after midnight and Nell is still awake. The events of the past weeks and combined with it the complications keep her up. Her life feels like a rollercoaster at the moment. Every time she thinks she is at the end of the ride, there comes a new turn, loop or slope. The newest turn is G's suggestion of moving in as well as their date.

His arguments for moving in are solid and her logical brain can't find any flaws, emotional things aside, and she tried. But that's what keeping her awake, how was it possible to take thinks slow while you live in close proximity. Especially when you know how the candy tastes and that you like it.

She is so unsure about everything in relations to G. Callen. What does he want with her? He is experienced, sexy man, who could have every woman he liked and apparently he likes her. That scares her, not only because of Lucas, no, because of herself. She was a burned child, when it comes to older and sexy man like him. For them she was only a plaything in the past something to bust their egos and nothing more. With Callen she hoped it would be different, but she didn't know. But she can't answer that all alone, she needs help. A glance at the clock told her that it is two in the morning. She knows it is late but she can't wait, because without consult someone else about her problem she wouldn't go to sleep this night and probably the following night as well.

She reached for her phone and dialled. It rang five times and Nell was already on the way to finish the call, as she picked up. "Yeah. I hope it is a matter of national security to call this late and disturb my beauty sleep at two freaking in the morning." Kensi answers in a sleepy but angry voice.

"Sorry, Kensi, but I need your help with something." Nell says.

"Ah." Kensi says as implication to go on as well as a question at the same time.

"It's about Callen."

For a moment there was silence on the other end before she asks curiously like sleep wasn't that important anymore. "What about him?"

Nell hated it to hide behind a bush so she directly says what she was thinking or more correct blurted it out. "Heaskedmetomoveinwithhim?"

"Come again. I didn't quite catch that."

"He asked me to move in with him."

"Wow." was Kensi more than surprised answer.

"Yeah I know its sudden and out of the blue." but she was interrupted by Kensi.

"No that's not what I mean."

"And what is it?"

"Callen isn't the guy to ask such a question. He is a loner. He didn't even have furniture in his home."

"And?" Nell interrupts her curious.

"That's a huge step like he would climb the Mount Everest in one go without training."

"Wow."

"What I said."

"What do I do?"

"That's up to you. But I have to tell you, that he has trust issues. No wonder after his time in the foster system.

"Ok." One point were Nell could relate. Not that Kensi knows that. She doesn't share often that she was adopted. Not that she was ashamed of it. No it was simply personal to give this information and trust is needed for it as well. It feels every time like she would give a part of herself away.

"He is a good guy and as soon as you have his trust you are part of his family. So this is a huge step on his account to let you in. He normally doesn't do that."

"Ok … But it gets more complicated."

"How so?"

"He asked me out."

"Really?" Kensi asks more perplex then about the moving in thing.

"Yeah. I guess that is also out of character for him?"

"Yeah. G. Callen doesn't date. He has sex with random woman."

"I know I was one of them." Nell interrupts her a little bit scared.

"Yes and no."

"What is that gonna mean?"

"Yes you slept with him, but you're different than any other woman for him. Otherwise he never would have asked you out." A long silence followed.

"So what do I do?"

"I don't know. What are your heart and your head telling you?!"

"My heart hopes that I am more to him and my head tells me not to get ahead of myself in point of the date."

"And moving in?"

"The logical part says yes but the emotional part is afraid."

"Do you like him?"

"Yes … more than that." Nell's answers without thinking and is surprised by her own revelations.

"There is your answer. Go out with him and find out where this could go."

"But …"

"No buts, just jump. Now go back to sleep. I have to work tomorrow."

"Ok. Good night Kensi and thanks."

"What are friends are for, night Nell."

With that she ended the call. Nell repeated the conversation in her head and concludes that she probably should give it a try, the date of course. The moving in part has to be considered from every angle. But as she closed her eyes she instantly falls asleep and had a peaceful dream about G. Callen.


PLEASE REVIEW - edited 01/17/18