A/N: Thanks to all who have read and reviewed. Your support and words mean a lot to me.

Chapter 12

Callen and Mike rushed into the bedroom and found Hetty, now wearing a towelling bathrobe, sitting on the edge of the bed. Callen eyes darted around the room assimilating information as he sat down next to her. Thankfully she appeared to be alright but the occasional table had been knocked over.

"Are you okay? What happened?" asked Callen clearly concerned.

"I'm fine" answered Hetty, feeling a trifle embarrassed and not wanting to be centre of attention.

"Let me be the judge of that" intervened Mike. "The table didn't fall over on its own." His tone was light but his words earned a glare from his god mother. However he did not waiver under her gaze and raised his eyebrows as a gesture of impatience. "Well, I'm waiting for an explanation Hetty."

Hetty pursed her lips but finally, in a voice that was edged with anger, as if she had been caught out in a lie, she said "Alright, if you must know I became a little dizzy when I came out of the bathroom. I put my hand out to steady myself and knocked the table over."

Callen said "Hetty had a couple of dizzy spells in the hospital. The doctor thought it might be vertigo."

Hetty glanced at Callen and frowned at him in annoyance before she turned back to Mike, looking into his eyes and held his stare. "Satisfied?"

Mike ignored her tone and Callen decided to stay out of it. This was a battle of wits between a doctor and his patient. "Did you fall over?" asked Mike. Hetty refused to respond. "Hetty, .fall?"

"Please don't talk to me like that, Michael. I am not a child" said Hetty.

"Well stop acting like one and I'll treat you accordingly" replied Mike and Callen had to stifle a chuckle. How many times had she spoken to him like that?

Clearly deflated Hetty sighed and replied "No, I did not fall."

"That's a relief. Are you still feeling dizzy now?" Mike asked.

"No, I feel fine" replied Hetty.

"I was going to wait until after breakfast to examine you but in the circumstances I think I'd better do it now" said Mike.

Satisfied that Hetty had not fallen and injured herself, Callen got up from the bed. He moved across and stood the table back on its feet. "I'll leave you two alone" he said as he went to leave the room.

"Thanks G" said Mike. "Will you bring Hetty's breakfast and some tea up in about 15 minutes? I'm going to confine her to bed." Hetty made to interrupt but Mike held up his hand. "You should still be in hospital Hetty. You're only here because you agreed to let your own doctor take care of you. Will you please allow me to do that or do you want us to take you back?"

"That will not be necessary Michael" said Hetty. "I will do as you say."

"Thank you. I need to get my bag from my room. Do I need to have Callen watch you whilst I'm gone?" Hetty shook her hand and Mike nodded as he and Callen left the room.

They exchanged glances and Callen whispered "Do you think she's okay?"

"I'll know more after I examine her but it's likely she just got light headed from a hot shower although it could just as easily be vertigo" answered Mike. Callen nodded and went downstairs to get himself a coffee and finish preparing the breakfast which had been abandoned when they heard the crash from upstairs.

Mike returned with his medical bag to find Hetty exactly where he had left her. "Are you decent under the robe or do you need to put some underwear on?" Mike asked. Mike was her doctor and had treated her many times but he was well aware that he was also her god son and that Hetty had old fashioned values.

"Thank you but I managed to put on some underwear and a camisole top. I have problems putting on a brassiere" said Hetty. Mike nodded his understanding.

"Are you comfortable where you are?" he asked and Hetty nodded. "Okay, please open the robe so that I can sound your chest? Take a deep breath." Hetty tried to do as she was asked but a sharp pain hit her which caused her to gasp. "Alright don't try any more, just breathe normally. Dr Mills said you had cracked or broken ribs. Your chest is a little congested which is entirely normal with a rib injury but you're already on medication to help with it." Mike looked at Hetty's wrists and was pleased that they had responded to treatment although they were still sore and inflamed. He redressed them and then took Hetty's temperature. "Hmm, it's a little high which denotes you've still got an infection which we know about. Can you slip your arm out of the robe so I can take your blood pressure?" Hetty did as she was asked. "Hmm, your BP is a little lower than normal. I understand you were severely dehydrated when you were rescued so you may still be suffering the after effects of this, which could be another reason you felt dizzy. Please drop the robe so that I can look at your back" Mike asked as he continued his examination.

Hetty had been silent throughout but now she said in a quiet voice as she started to pull the robe up "I don't want anyone to see them not even you."

Mike sighed and took her hands. "Hetty, I understand how you feel but I'm here not just as family and friend but as your doctor. I've seen many nasty injuries, most of them on you and Callen I might add, so I'm no stranger to treating family and friends. However I'm always stunned by what people can do to one another but I won't judge you in any way by what you've had to endure. I'll always admire you for your strength, courage and integrity. I'm here to help you get better but you need to let me do my job." He paused and smiled tenderly at her. "Will you do that for me?" Hetty nodded. "I need to look at your back." Hetty looked into his eyes and without saying a word, dropped the robe to reveal her back.

Mike was aware that the hospital had treated the lacerations, applying anti-sceptic cream before covering them with self adhesive gauze with a water proof covering. The dressings were mostly in place although a couple had started to come away. Mike gently eased the dressings off one by one trying to minimise any pain or discomfort for Hetty. When they were all revealed, Mike examined each one carefully mindful to keep his anger at what Hetty had been subjected to at bay. A couple of the shallowest cuts had started to scab over but the others were raw and weeping with raised and red edges indicating an infection. Callen had crept upstairs to see how Hetty and Mike were getting along and through the partially opened door Callen caught a glimpse of Hetty's back. He had seen the covered injuries when he had helped Hetty get dressed but he had not seen them uncovered, although he had good idea what the injury looked like. He clenched his teeth, angry that someone had inflicted the pain and humiliation onto someone he loved. However, he was pleased that they were no longer able to hurt anyone ever again. Talking a deep breath, he made his way downstairs as quietly as he had come up. Gently Mike cleaned each cut in turn, being a gentle as he could but knowing that they were still painful. Hetty did not utter a word and sat silently whilst he treated her but he felt her winch a couple of times. Mike finally applied soothing cream before redressing the wounds with a medicated self adhesive covering.

Gently pulling the camisole top down, Mike said "There it's all done. How does it feel?"

"Better, thank you" replied Hetty.

At that moment Callen arrived with a padded lap tray holding a pot of tea, cup and saucer and a plate of scrambled eggs. "You ready for this?" he asked, putting it down on the table as Hetty made to get up.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Mike. "You're confined to bed for today." Hetty shot him a look but decided against arguing with him. Quite honestly, she did not have the energy and she knew Callen would side with Mike. Sighing in resignation of her fate, Hetty got into bed and Mike helped arrange the pillows so that she was sitting up comfortably. When she was settled Callen brought the tray over and put it on her lap, having first poured her a cup of tea and leaving the teapot on a placemat on the bedside table.

"Thank you Mr Callen" said Hetty.

"You're welcome Hetty" he said before he turned and left the room, leaving Hetty a little confused as to why he had left.

Callen soon returned with another tray that held plates of egg and toast and mugs of coffee for Mike and himself. Finding seats for themselves they ate their breakfasts with Hetty in companionable silence. Both Mike and Callen finished their breakfasts before Hetty but they were pleased that she was at least eating the small amount of food on her plate. When she had finished Callen took her plate and lap tray away and placed it on the occasional table.

"How do you feel?" Callen asked. "That wasn't too much for you?"

"No it was quite sufficient thank you and I'm quite full now" replied Hetty. She paused and let out a big sigh. "I think it may be a little while before my appetite is back to normal."

"You had very little to eat or drink for months Hetty so it'll take time" said Callen smiling at her. "It's baby steps for now."

Callen saw a twinkle appear in Hetty's eyes and knew she was about to give him some back chat. "Not satisfied with calling me a child, and confining me to my room, are you now suggesting that I'm baby Mr Callen?" Hetty said with a smile pulling at her lips.

"I wouldn't dare!" Callen answered, pleased that Hetty had got some sparkle back. "We just want what's best for you so that you can get better."

"Mmmm, I wonder" said Hetty eyeing the two men as they sat and looked at her. "Haven't you too got anything better to do?"

"Right now? No" said Callen. "We're happy to sit with our favourite lady and keep her company." Hetty looked at him suspiciously trying to decide whether he was being sarcastic.

"We'll stay with you regardless so you may as well get used to the fact. We may leave if you feel tired" said Mike. "If you get some rest, perhaps I'll reconsider letting you get up this afternoon."

Hetty pursed her lips in an attempt to stop herself from smiling as she secretly enjoyed their company. "I can see that I will have my work cut out getting the better of you two."