Life For Rent

Chapter 25 : You

Author's Notes :
- Spoilers for S1E19. I played around with the timeline, so don't expect it to make too much sense. Long story short, this happens after the last chapter but before The Monday. Lol.
- Sorry for the delay-I graduate tomorrow! Whoo-hoo!
- Thank you for all my lovely reviews, you guys really are the best. This chapter goes out to Dini-good luck with the move!

"What's that?" Sam asked. They were driving to the alley where Lance Corporal Zuna was found.

Callen pulled the sucker out of his mouth, "What's what?"

Sam pointed to the candy in his hand. "That."

"… It's a sucker."

"Doesn't look like your normal kind," Sam commented.

"It's homemade."

"Homemade." Sam's voice had a touch of disbelief. "You made suckers, G?"

Callen laughed, "Are you kidding. Jared still won't let me boil water."

"There's a good reason for that too," Sam inserted.

"Anyways," Callen said, ignoring Sam. "Jared made them for me."

"Lover-boy makes suckers too? You must have won the jackpot with him."

"Want one?" Callen asked, offering one towards Sam. "There's a couple different flavors."

"I'll pass. Some of us like to pretend we're adults," Sam jibed.

"I think adults are just kids whose bodies grew up. Inside each and every one of us is a kid who wants a sucker and to be pushed on the swings."

Sam turned to look at him and paused. "You know, I'm not even sure I can deny that, G."

"I have strawberry and raspberry," Callen said, pushing a sucker into Sam's. hand. "Try the strawberry first."

Met your dopple-ganger today. Callen texted to Jared.

He waited three minutes for his reply. My dopple-what?

Dopple-ganger. Someone who looks like you.

It's starting already, you're leaving me for another man. *sigh*

Callen snorted at Jared's dramatics. Hardly. He's an ass. And Kensi has some sort of bad feeling about him.

Callen waited about ten minutes for Jared's reply. Sorry, Matt burnt the fucking duck. And what does a bad feeling entail?

Well if a duck was fornicating on your watch it deserved to be burnt. And I'm not sure, we're having Eric check him out.

Haha G you're so funny. Callen laughed and a few seconds later it was followed with Not.

I try. G sent back.

You coming over tonight? I'll be there by 12:30. Matt can stay late.

Callen hesitated then said, Yeah. I'll be there.

Good. I missed you these past couple days.

Callen didn't want to admit that he'd missed the younger man too. Good luck with the duck.

Thanks. I'm going to need it.

And with that he left the other man to his work and turned his attention back to the paperwork piling up on his desk.

Callen pulled up to Jared's apartment around one knowing that the other man would still be awake. He wouldn't admit it but he worried that Jared didn't get enough sleep since he had to get up for deliveries at four, but Jared hadn't said anything and he didn't seem tired whenever Callen saw him.

The agent knocked on the door and Jared answered in a sweatshirt and boxers. "Hey, G." He leaned in for a kiss and Callen obliged. After kicking off his shoes, Callen followed Jared back to the bedroom.

Jared sank onto the bed while Callen stripped off his clothes. The younger man gave him an appreciative look as he watched.

"See something you like?" Callen asked with a grin.

Jared's eyes roamed his body. "Oh yeah." He reached a hand down the front of his boxers and Callen watched amused as he started to jerk himself off.

"You just gonna play with yourself all night?"

The younger man licked his lips. "Well, I was hoping you'd play with me too."

"Oh you were, were you?" Callen asked salaciously. He sauntered across the room naked and leaned over Jared on the bed.

Jared's breath hitched and his eyes went dark. "G," he breathed.

Callen leaned down and covered Jared's mouth with his, trapping the younger man's hand between their bodies. He rubbed their bodies together and Jared's free hand settled itself on his backside, squeezing a cheek, pulling Callen closer.

When they broke apart, both men were panting and painfully hard. Callen was working at getting Jared out of his boxers and sweatshirt and Jared let him.

Jared reached a hand up and gently cupped the side of Callen's face, rubbing a thumb across his brow. "Think you'll be free by Monday?"

"Just got a new case," Callen said, tugging the jacket out from under Jared's body. He tossed it aside without care. "I'm not sure if we'll wrap it up in the next two days or not." Callen didn't miss the disappointment that flashed through Jared's eyes. "If it looks like the team can finish it without me, I'll take the day."

"Really?" Jared asked with a small smile.

"Yeah." Callen finally worked the boxers down Jared's legs and let them fall to the floor. "I'm going to do my best."

"I love your eyes," Jared whispered suddenly.

"I'm rather attached to them myself," Callen grinned.

"Jesus," Jared swore. "Fuck me, G. Please."

"Young people these days," Callen scoffed with mirth. "So impatient."

Jared thrust his hips up and ran a finger down Callen's crack. "Not that young."

Callen moaned, "I think you're right."

"You're gonna kill me, G. It's been days since you've been in my ass."

Callen leaned down and gently sucked on Jared's neck eliciting a moan from the younger man. He rolled their hips together, rubbing them against each other. Jared had been right-it had been days and that was way too long for Callen.

After what felt like hours of foreplay, Callen slid smoothly into Jared and they both paused and nothing had ever felt so right. Callen closed his eyes as Jared pulled him closer and deeper. He wanted to stay there forever. With Jared he broke all of his rules-and didn't regret it.

They slowly moved together, teasing each other to the edge and back. Then Jared let out a low moan and whispered Callen's name and Callen was coming and then Jared was shaking and then it was just sweat and skin and kisses and soft murmurs.

About to talk with your look-alike.

Zzz… G, I was sleeping. Jared sent back.

No rest for the wicked? When Callen's phone buzzed again it was with a multimedia message. Callen thumbed it open to see Jared giving him the finger. He laughed and sent back, I'm going to take a picture of him for you.

As long as I can sleep while you do so.

Yes, yes Sleeping Beauty you can sleep.

Later, G.

"That Jared?" Sam asked, taking a seat next to him.

"Yeah. I woke him up to tell him we'd be talking to his dopple-ganger."

"It is pretty uncanny," Sam agreed. "I doubt your boy can throw a punch like him, though."

Callen frowned as he thought about it. "Probably not. He can wield a knife pretty well, though."

"I'd be scared, G if I were a chicken or a pot roast."

Callen laughed. "He's pretty menacing against vegetables too."

"Who's menacing against vegetables?" Kensi asked, joining them.

"Jared," Callen answered.

Kensi wiggled her eyebrows. "If he ever gets tired of you, he can be menacing against me too."

Sam laughed while Callen made a face. "He's gay, Kensi."

"That's what they all say," She replied with a smirk. "We'll see."

Callen rolled his eyes. "Where's Deeks?"

"Late," Sam said. "Man, him being LAPD wasn't something I saw coming."

"Me neither," Kensi added. "I mean, I knew there was something off about him…"

Right then Marty Deeks entered and Callen discreetly took a photo with his camera phone. He grinned, Jared was going to get a kick out of this… when he was more awake.

Case closed, Callen knocked on Jared's door. He waited a minute and when Jared didn't answer, Callen frowned and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Jared's number and put his ear to the door. Sure enough, a few seconds later he heard Jared's ring tone.

"Hello?"

"I'm at the door," Callen said, by way of greeting.

"G…" Jared sighed. "I told you earlier, I'm not feeling well."

"So? Come let me in."

"I can't, G. Not tonight."

Callen reached into his back pocket and pulled out his lock picking kit. "So what exactly is wrong? And do we really have to do this with the door between us."

"I'm not feeling well," Jared repeated. "I'll be fine in a few days."

Callen held the phone between his ear and his shoulder as he carefully started in on the lock. "If you don't let me in, I'll just let myself in."

"You're going to break into my apartment?" Jared asked. He didn't sound amused. In fact, he sounded defeated.

"Yeah." Callen paused. "I thought you were going out with Brandon tonight. Did you not go?"

"Oh we went."

"Then what happened?" The lock clicked and Callen stood up, re-stowing his kit. He turned the doorknob and entered. The apartment was dark and he kicked off his shoes and locked the door behind him.

"Nothing, G."

Callen walked quietly to Jared's bedroom and stood in the doorway. Jared was laying in the dark with his phone in one hand. Callen ended the call and said, "Now what really happened?"

Jared jumped and sat up. "Shit, G. I didn't think you were serious."

The NCIS agent leaned sideways against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. "What happened?"

Jared sighed. "You know that Brandon's not exactly… subtle." Callen snorted. Brandon wouldn't know subtle if it hit him on the head. "Well, we were out drinking and he decides to hit on some guy. Except it turns out the guy was straight… and so were his four friends. And they really didn't appreciate being hit on by a queer."

Callen straightened up. "Jared, what happened?" He asked darkly.

"Things got a little physical and we were asked to leave and then we went our separate ways."

The older man hit the light switch on the wall by the door and Jared made an unappreciative noise and shielded his eyes. Callen walked over to him and his eyes zeroed in on the giant bruise on Jared's cheek. There were scratches and smaller bruises on his arms and Jared refused to look at him.

"Where else are you hurt?" Callen demanded.

"I'm fine, G."

"Jared."

"G."

"Why won't you tell me?"

"This isn't the first time this has happened, G." Jared sighed. "And it won't be the last. There's nothing you can do about it."

"Maybe there wasn't two hours ago, but there's definitely something I could be doing now."

"I already put some ice-"

"Not ice, Jared." Callen snapped. "Did it ever occur to you that I could be here with you? That if you needed to talk or cry or scream at someone I could be here? If you had said something I wouldn't have gone out to the pub with Sam and Kensi, I would have been here with you."

"I… I didn't want to bother-"

"Why would you even think that? When have I ever made you feel like you were bothering me?" Jared was silent so Callen continued. "I want to know when these things happen to you. You need to tell me."

"It's not a big deal, G." Jared said tiredly.

"When my partner comes home black and blue, it is a big deal!"

"I'm sure Sam doesn't let you-"

Callen shook his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You said when Sam comes home black and blu-"

"No, I didn't," Callen corrected. He carefully sat down on the bed next to Jared's form and moved Jared's hands from over his face, holding them in his own. "I said my partner."

"Which is Sam," Jared said slowly, as if Callen wasn't comprehending what he was saying.

"Which is you," Callen corrected quietly.

Jared frowned and his injuries looked painful. Callen brushed a hand across his forehead, swiping hair to the side. "I-I didn't think you felt that way, G."

"We've been together for six months, Jared. How do you think I felt?"

Jared shrugged and then winced and Callen guessed that the younger man had more injuries than he could see. "I tried not to think about it too much. I mean, you've never really even called me your boyfriend. I thought maybe you were biding your time with me or something."

"I told you before that I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be."

"You can want to be here and still bide your time."

Callen shook his head. "Jared, I've spent more time with you then I have anywhere else, with anyone else. You aren't just a stepping stone to me, you're… more."

Jared gaped. "I… I had no idea."

"Have you showered?" Callen asked gently. Jared just shook his head in the negative. "The hot water will feel good, c'mon." He tugged Jared up off the bed. "I'll get the water started."

Jared wasn't really sure what was happening. He knew that his head hurt and his stomach hurt from the fists he hadn't managed to dodge, but he was sure he had never felt better, never been happier.

G helped him into the shower and Jared stood there, letting G wash him. The other man was careful not to press too hard on any bruise or cut, and once he had rinsed him down, G had brushed his lips over every mark on Jared's body.

It hadn't been sexual, more like comforting, reassuring. Jared honestly hadn't known what to make of G's earlier confession and his use of the word partner. He wasn't sure what to make of how worked up G had been that Jared hadn't called him.

When the shower ended, G gently patted them dry and then put Jared to bed. He wrapped himself around Jared, cradling Jared's head on his chest. Jared felt like something big had happened tonight, but he couldn't put what it was into words.

"Sleep," G murmured.

"Can you get tomorrow off?" Jared asked, drowsily.

"Yeah," G said and ran a hand through his hair. "But I think we should go next week instead."

"But tomorrow's-"

"Our six month anniversary," G finished. "I know. But as bad as you feel tonight, you're going to feel worse tomorrow and I'd rather you be able to enjoy the rides and stuff. We can stay in, watch a movie or something. I have tomorrow off already, let's just spend it together."

"I don't understand," Jared said quietly. "What changed?"

G swallowed. "That guy… the one that looks like you… he was undercover with the LAPD and Sam went undercover at a gym where he was… they fought in a match and I watched it last night and had to keep telling myself it wasn't you. When I saw you tonight it just felt like it was you, it could have been you. And to think that you didn't call me because you didn't want to bother me? God, Jared you're so fucking important to me. If you're thinking that after six months, then that's my fault. I've made you feel like you can't bother me with this stuff."

"I'm sorry," Jared whispered.

G shook his head. "No, I am."

"I should have called you, G. I was just embarrassed."

"What?"

Jared bit his lip. "It's embarrassing. I mean, you see dangerous stuff everyday, fight off tons of people and I can't even handle myself against a few drunk guys? I didn't want to tell you because you would think I was weak."

"First of all, I wouldn't have thought that. Second of all, I'm trained to take care of myself. I don't think self-defense is a required course in culinary school. Third of all, the next time you and Brandon decide to take on five guys at once-you call me and Sam to even the playing field a little. And finally, I can show you some moves to use for next time, even though there won't be a next time and if there is I'll be there because you called me."

Jared laughed softly. "Deal."

"Good. Now, sleep."

"G?"

"Yeah?"

Jared glanced at the clock on his nightstand: 2:24. "Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary, Jared."