Sam sighed. The name that Callen had given them was doing little to help with their case. James Lowden was off the radar. His last run in with the police was over a year ago, soon after he was let out for a technicality in his trial. The man was now a ghost and they had no clues has to how to find him.

"Kensi, Deeks, you two go talk to Emily's parents, I'll talk to the sister."

They nodded and left, muttering to each other and he followed soon after. He'd told them who Emily was when Callen had gone to the hospital, told them about his little meetings with her. Whilst both had been surprised by his ability to get along with a stranger, they'd accepted it and agreed to find out who'd go out of their way to try to kill her.

The forensic reports for the explosion in her apartment came back with nothing more than C-4 rigged to the gas line with a timer. He shook his head as he climbed into his car. He hoped that someone knew something and soon. He didn't want to know what Callen would do if they didn't get answers and fast.

Callen POV

His fingers twitched against the arms of the chair, eager to be doing something. His knee jumped up and down, the same neediness resonating through them. One thing he told himself was that he wouldn't sleep until he caught the guy who was behind this. The sound of footsteps just outside of the curtain made him lift his eyes and wait.

The person that pulled it back was the last person he expected to see. "Lowden," he said.

The man gave a scowl before closing the curtain behind himself. "You're the guy she's been seeing." It was a statement that didn't require an answer, but he nodded, eyes fixed on the older man. "She never did tell me your name."

"What are you doing here?"

James offered him a chuckle. "I'm here to see my daughter; I thought that much was obvious."

Callen glared and stood to stand on the other side of Emily's bed. "Are you responsible for this?"

This time the man glared and a growl entered his voice, "Why would I want to kill my own daughter? Hell I chased whoever tried to shoot her."

His eyes widened at that comment. "That was you? So you got a good look at the shooter?"

James nodded and stood next on the other side of Emily. He looked down at her with a sad smile and took her hand in his. "Some guy who'd been in the army, navy or some such."

"Did you see a uniform?"

He shook his head. "No. But he had that look about him, like he'd seen stuff ya'know. The bad kind. I've seen that look several times when I've looked in the mirror, a man can recognise that a mile away."

Nothing but the sound of machines filled the space between them. Callen let the beeps surround him for a few moments before adverting his gaze to Emily's face. She seemed almost peaceful, unaware of what was going on around her. "What makes you say military rather than criminal?"

The meaning was clear; was it someone getting back at James on a more personal level? Callen felt eyes stare at him, question him and scrutinize him. "Trust me boy, if anyone were to get back at me through her, they'd be dead before they tried. He nodded but kept his gaze down.

"Would you recognise him if you saw him again?"

He lifted his gaze to meet the older man's, who nodded. "Yeah, I would. Hell, I gave him a black eye when I got hold of him."

"Nothing more?"

He shrugged. "Didn't get the chance to when his friends showed up."

"Friends?" That was another interesting comment. "Did you ever keep tabs on Daniel? Her brother?"

He nodded. "I always tried to when he came back from a tour."

"He's a Marine."

"Likely chance the guys who took him are too."

"Any idea why?"

James shook his head. "Wish I knew." Callen nodded. Something about the man seemed to put him at ease. It may've been the fact that he'd looked out for Emily without her knowledge, had gone out of his way to keep her safe.

"Tell me," one thing still plagued his mind. "What would she have that somebody in the Marines would want?"

James shrugged, "You tell me."

Callen stared at the man, a silent stand-off. James didn't move his gaze away from his but quirked one eyebrow as though challenging the man to call him a liar. Instead, Callen asked, "Can I trust you to take care of her while I catch the men who did this?"

"You have my word, I won't let any more harm come to her."

He nodded, still refusing to let his gaze fall. It was only when a nurse entered, a bag of clothes in hand did he remove his gaze. He frowned at the clothes. Maybe…. He thanked the nurse, grabbed the bag and looked through to pockets of the jeans. In one of the pockets he pulled out a pen drive and a look of relief crossed his face. He dragged his phone out of his pocket and nodded to Lowden once more. A silent truce had been formed between them, at least until the case was over.

In the car park he dialled Nell's number. "Nell, I need you to pick me up from California Hospital Medical centre. There's something I want you and Eric to look at."

"I'm on my way."