Season 2, Episode 14: Lockup
After Moe's death, Hetty left Callen a single message reminding him that it had been 48 hours and he was needed.
He didn't call her back for another twelve hours, so she called again. And left another message:
"Mister Callen. Even if you believe you need more time, I order you to check in. Some things have transpired and your team needs your help. Do not make me send them after you."
He called her back four hours later.
"What's going on?"
"Oh, Mister Callen." She sighed and explained about the prison and Moe. She told him how Sam was grieving, and how he was overworked and handling it very much on his own.
Callen was too quiet on the other end of the line.
"Can your investigation not wait?" she asked.
"I…" He sounded so unsure. "I don't want this to be for nothing."
"But if your team continues to struggle without you, then anything you find may well not be worth the price you pay to attain it."
"I know. I know."
"Do you, Mister Callen?" She dared raise her voice a little. "You are the leader of his team. That is not a ceremonial position. You are also the rock they all stand on, their unmoving point in the storm."
"No, that's you, Hetty. I'm just the guy with the gun who goes in first."
"You are very much mistaken if you think so." She shook her head even though he couldn't see it. "Come back, Mister Callen. Your partner needs you, and not just because of Moe."
"I will," and she could hear the promise in it, "but not yet. Just...give me a little more time."
Hetty knew she could order him back, and he would come, but she sighed instead.
"Two more days, Mister Callen. And then I want you back on the job."
"Thank you, Hetty."
"But there is one condition."
"What?"
"You will check in with me every six hours for the next two days. I don't like not knowing what my agents are up to."
He chuckled. "Fine. Talk to you later, then."
After he hung up, Hetty stared at her phone. The great problem of looking after G Callen was that he made it very difficult for anyone to help him sometimes. He could help others almost effortlessly, almost tirelessly, but at times it took a miracle to get him to accept help in return. Sam could manage it, and Kensi now and again, but Hetty's help was more complicated.
She had been helping him for so long, he felt it was a debt that he had to repay, and he instinctively shied away from making the debt any deeper. To say nothing of his entirely misplaced but ardent desire to protect her or "not bother" her.
"Two days, Mister Callen," she said under her breath. "And then I bring you in myself."