A/N - Sorry for the wait. Christmas things happening over the weekend and time ran away from me.
Thanks again for the support.
Disclaimer in Chapter 1
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Chapter 36
Previously -
The next thing Sam knew he was flat on his back on the bed with G seemingly trying to strangle him.
"G, it's me, Sam," Sam choked out as his hands pulled on G's, managing to keep the pressure to extremely uncomfortable instead of lethal.
.
Callen was running; hard and fast, his gun ready. He saw a figure of a man up ahead. That was who he was after; who he had to catch. Somehow he knew whoever he was, he was one of the keys to finding out about his past. The figure turned a corner and Callen stepped up his pace. The buildings started to blur at the edge of his vision, the muscles in his legs burned from the exertion and his lungs sucked in air as quickly as they could. He made it to the corner and his arms flew out for balance as he rounded it sharply and kept running. He could still see the figure moving. He tried to yell out, to make him stop, but his lungs stole the air from his voice as they tried to feed his body enough oxygen to keep going. He briefly wondered where Sam was, but he couldn't remember Sam being a part of this pursuit. Sam would be around if he could, he knew that. The figure ahead stopped, looked back at him and then disappeared through a door. Callen didn't know where it came from but he found more speed, more energy. He made short work of the distance to the door and slammed his shoulder into it to open it, not caring that it would hurt. He didn't want to lose too much time trying the handle first. He seriously doubted it would be unlocked. He groaned at the pain but pushed through into the building. It was completely dark, except for the light that came in through the open doorway. As he started to look around and move forward, that disappeared too. Pitch black. Not even a glimmer from around the door.
Callen's harsh breathing echoed through the room, giving him the impression it was big and empty. He heard footsteps from behind him and spun towards the sound, gun raised even though he couldn't see. There was a chuckle that came from behind him yet again. It sent shivers up his spine as he turned again in its direction. Then he was temporarily blinded when a bright spotlight focused on him.
"So, you want to find your mother," drawled a voice; a flat un-emotional voice that restarted those previously felt shivers.
"Who are you?" Callen asked as he tried to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. It was in front of him ... somewhere.
"The one who has been playing with your life," came the answer from behind him, causing his heart to skip as he spun around. Couldn't whoever he was just stay still?
"What do you want?" Callen's heart raced; pounding so hard in his chest he was sure that it would break a rib if it didn't settle down.
"To help." The voice had moved.
Callen turned around, slowly this time, trying to listen for more sounds, anything extra to give his unknown companion's location away. More lights came on, making him blink quickly as his eyes adjusted to them. He saw seven people standing on his left, their heads covered, hands behind their back. None of them appeared to be moving and they all looked the same.
"Who are they?" he asked.
"They ... Well, one of them is your mother. You get to choose. You get to try and pick the right one."
"Pick?" Callen was confused. He couldn't make sense of this.
"Yes. Pick. It's a game. Haven't you figured that out yet?" the voice taunted. "I like to play games with peoples lives."
Realisation came swiftly. "You're the one behind this. Behind the threat, Mitch and what happened to Annabel."
"Of course." The man sounded almost proud of himself. "It's the ultimate game - life and death. My favourite kind. So. Which one do you choose?" The man stepped into the light as he said that, but his face remained hidden. His arms swept out, encompassing the seven covered faces. "The reunion awaits."
Callen looked at the people. One of them was his mother. He had to choose, but he, whoever he was, said this was a game. There had to be more. Callen felt cold inside. It couldn't be this simple. There was a catch, one he was sure he wouldn't want to pay.
"I don't know anything about them, how can I choose?" Callen asked, stalling as he tried to figure out the rest of it.
"There are only seven choices, Callen. How hard can it be?" This time the voice whispered in his ear and Callen spun quickly. "Choose." It came again, this time from far away. How did he move so quick?
"No. Not until you tell me the rest. What's the catch?" Callen demanded.
"Catch?" A chuckle again. "You are smart, I'll give you that. Yes, there's a catch."
More lights came on and Callen froze as he saw the rest of the people who were occupying the room. Gibbs, Hetty, Sam, Kensi, Eric and Nate. All standing there, heads dropped and obviously unconscious.
"What have you done to them?" Callen growled.
"They're just sleeping … for now." The man started walking along in front of them as he continued. "Agent Gibbs, the one who could be considered most like a father to you. Hetty, your little protector. Sam, ever faithful partner. Kensi."
Callen was frozen to the spot, he couldn't move.
The man ran a finger down Kensi's unconscious face. "Your beautiful team mate. Like a sister to you, isn't she. You'd do anything to protect her." He moved on. "Eric, the little geek brother and of course, Nate. Is Nate the one you are most willing to sacrifice? He is the one you know the least about. You don't like talking to him after all."
"What are you talking about?" Sacrifice? He couldn't possibly be serious.
"But wait," the man continued. "That's only six. There are seven options on the other side. We need someone else." He clicked his fingers and another light came on and there was Annabel, the same as the others. Fury burned inside Callen, directed entirely at this man who was playing with the lives of all of his family.
"Ah, the delightful Annabel," the man said, stepping closer to her. "So vulnerable after everything that she's learned. I do wonder what she would feel about this. How would she react knowing you were contemplating sacrificing them just to find your mother? Do you think she would still love you if she knew?"
"I won't," Callen denied. "I won't lose any of them. You can't make me play this game." Annabel love him? He could only hope he'd get the chance to find out if she did.
"Yes, I can." The man sounded so confident. If only Callen could see his face, but he kept in the shadows. "You take your pick on who your mother is. Get it right, everyone lives. Get it wrong, you lose one of them. You keep going until you get it right."
How could he get something right when he didn't know anything about her? How could this man even think that he would be willing to play along?
"I'm not doing this," Callen yelled. Suddenly the man was right in front, but still Callen couldn't see his face. He tried to make his body work, but nothing seemed to respond. He still felt frozen to the spot.
"Yes … you … are. I make the rules, you play by them or you lose ... Everything." His voice was menacing. "Now, make your first choice."
"No."
The man took two steps away from Callen and raised his gun, letting it drift over those who he knew.
"Eeny meeny miny-" He stopped and turned to face Callen and, even though he couldn't see his face enough to be able to describe it, he saw the evil smile that was lurking there. "Moe," came the final word.
Callen reacted, somehow desperation and determination to save his family finally breaking whatever invisible bonds there were and allowing him to move. He raised his gun and fired, except nothing happened. The clip was empty. Callen dropped it and flew at the man, hearing the shot just before he could knock the gun out of his hand. Callen's heart froze yet his fury raged hotter and his hands went to the killer's throat and slammed him into the ground as he hands tightened with everything he had in him. The lights went out as they hit the floor, but he didn't care. The man who had been after him, who had hurt Annabel so much, who had threatened his family, those he loved. He finally had him and he wouldn't let him go, wouldn't let him do this to anyone else.
"G, It's me, Sam." Callen heard the familiar voice. At least Sam was alive, though his voice sounded like something was wrong. He tried not to think who he had lost as his hands tightened even more.
"G, wake up." The stern voice and words of his partner snapped Callen's eyes open and he looked into Sam's wide eyes that were right in front of him. Where was the man? Callen shook his head as the darkness of the nightmare tried to settle again, but it was too late. Callen's grip loosened slightly as he started to come back to the room. His eyes finally focused on where he was.
Seeing his hands on Sam's throat, Callen pulled back abruptly; both his hands and his body. He moved off the bed and stood against the wall, as far away from Sam as he could get.
"Sam?" Callen's voice was nowhere near normal.
"It's okay, G," Sam reassured him, his tone surprisingly gentle for someone so large. "It was a nightmare. You're all right now." Sam stepped closer to his friend, watching every movement Callen made.
Callen managed to slow his breathing back to normal though his heart was still racing. His gaze slid to the bed and he frowned, fear tightening in his stomach. Annabel? His eyes flicked around the room until he found her. She was standing next to Kensi, her gaze fixed on him. That knot in his stomach disappearing as he saw she was all right. But what had he done to her before Sam had come in? He expected fear in her eyes after what he had done to Sam. But there wasn't any. Not that he could see from where he was. Concern, that was what filled her eyes, concern and care.
"G?"
Callen turned back to Sam. "Sorry," he said shakily, glancing at Sam's neck where Sam was absently rubbing it.
Sam dropped his hand away from his neck. "I'm fine," Sam assured him. "Are you?"
Callen flexed his fingers, trying to figure out how much control he had over his reactions before he moved. He seemed to be back. "Yeah," he said after a moment.
Slowly, Callen moved toward Sam, closer, to see for himself that his partner was all right.
"You sure you're okay?" Callen asked. He was pretty sure he had a good hold of Sam. He hated to think what could have happened if it had of been someone else, someone not as strong as Sam.
Sam nodded and, relieved by the answer and what he saw for himself, Callen kept moving to Annabel.
Annabel moved away from Kensi, stopping a couple of steps away so Callen could close the rest of the distance if he wanted to.
Callen stepped up to her, his hand going gently to cup her face so he could focus on her eyes. He could read them so easily and he needed to know she was okay. "You shouldn't be in here with me. I could've hurt you," he said. Could have been so much more.
Annabel shook her head. "No, you wouldn't."
She seemed to have so much confidence in her words and in him.
"I didn't know where I was. I didn't know who was with me. I hurt Sam." Even though Sam had said he was fine, Callen had seen the marks he'd left on Sam's neck.
Annabel placed a finger on his lips to stop him. "Mitch hurt me. Whoever is after us has hurt me. Deliberately. I guess my definition of being hurt has changed. You," she shook her head. "It would've been an accident if you'd struck out at me. That doesn't count, not after everything that has happened. Besides," she said with a small smile forming on her face, "I'm not entirely crazy. I knew I couldn't help you. I certainly didn't have the strength to bring you out of that. Sam did."
"You'd be safer in another room," Callen continued. Annabel straightened up at his words, determination flaring in her eyes.
"If you want me to go, you tell me," she said firmly. "But if you leave it up to me, I'm not going. I'm right where I want to be ... where I need to be." This time her hand reached out to his face and cupped his cheek and her voice softened as she held his gaze with those emerald green eyes of hers. "So, ball's in your court, Callen. You want me or not?"
Callen moved his fingers to run gently through her hair as he let her question run through his mind. She had to phrase it that way. There wasn't any other way for him to answer that question.
"Yes."
He couldn't send her away. It was selfish, in the opposite way to what he usually did. He'd push people away, supposedly to keep them safe, but in reality - and for some reason right now he could admit it to himself - he pushed them away to keep him safe. To keep his heart safe. Not knowing about his parents, the life he'd lived growing up with no one, it had affected him deeply, keeping people at arms length or beyond. Everyone left at some point and he didn't want that pain. He'd let someone in once, but when he'd lost her, he went back to his old ways, even given that he had loved having someone that close to him. Annabel had pushed past that wall, so easily. Or maybe he'd just finally found another woman who could handle him and his demons. One who, if he was lucky again, would love him despite them.
Annabel moved closer and wrapped her arms around him. "Good, it's settled. I'm not going anywhere."
Callen rested his head on hers. "Did I hurt you?" he asked softly.
"No," she replied.
Callen smiled, in spite of everything that had just happened. Somehow he knew. "Liar."
Annabel gave a one shouldered shrug. "So, your arm bumped into me once. No big deal."
Callen tilted her head up so he could look at her. "I'm sorry."
"I know."
Callen looked closely, studied her eyes. He couldn't find what he was searching for; there wasn't a shred of fear of him anywhere in their green depths.
"Anyone else hungry?" Sam asked, pulling Callen from his musings about why.
They all were, so Sam took care of ordering some room service. There wasn't much on offer as late as it was, so they ended up with some toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and a few packets of chips. Annabel put in an additional request for a slice of chocolate cake.
"Not worried that it will keep you awake?" Callen asked.
"The chocolate?"
"Yeah."
Annabel shook her head. "It's weird. Chocolate actually helps me sleep," she replied as she moved to sit back on the bed. Callen settled next to her, moving close enough that his arm was touching hers. Sam sat on the end, whilst Kensi went out and let the agents on guard duty know that they had ordered and were expecting the food soon.
Callen could tell Sam wanted to know what the nightmare was about. He also knew his friend wouldn't push. Neither would Kensi or Annabel.
Kensi came back in and joined them. Callen put his head back against the headboard and took a deep breath. They were all in this with him. It couldn't hurt to tell them his fears. Because he knew that was what the dream was about. His fear that his past would cause him to lose them. Normally it was just his past, the things he had done, but with the information that he'd just discovered, it was more than just his past that put them, his family, in danger. Somewhere along the lines, over these last four or five days, things had become clearer to Callen, not that he hadn't known that his team were his family. He'd just always pushed it to the back of his mind, let other things cover it up. He couldn't do that anymore and if they continued on this path with him, helping him, he knew that they would be facing even more danger. He also knew they wouldn't let him do this alone, even if he disappeared.
Right now, Callen's biggest hurdle wasn't trying to find some unknown person out to get him or to find his long lost mother.
Right now, turning from lone wolf depending only on himself, to one of a pack, a family, who defended each other and fought to protect each other - who stayed together. That was his biggest fight. He glanced around at the three who were there with him.
Sam. He'd been through so much with him. Sam had never given up on him, even when he'd been riddled with bullets. He always had his back, even when Sam was irritated with him and thought he was being an idiot or doing something reckless. Which he did have to admit, could be fairly often.
Kensi. So talented, yet with so much to learn and so much to give, if only she'd let them all in. He knew she held back, just like he did, even though they were like family. She didn't like to show weakness to them. Thought she needed to be tough, just like them. He didn't want her to be like him though. She deserved better.
Annabel. Unlike Sam, he'd barely known her a week, but that didn't matter. She'd been through so much at the hands of whoever was behind this. Yet she was still here. She'd reached out to him, helped him, been there for him, even with everything else. Just like the rest of his family had. He couldn't push her away, couldn't run from her, or them, anymore than he could cut out his own heart and still live.
Something had switched inside him. Lone wolf to one of the pack. As much as part of him still fought to be alone to deal with this, the majority of him was holding on to his family, his team. Fighting himself to depend on them, to let them help, to trust them completely. For once, the pack wolf in him was determined to win the war, not just this fight.
"I'm scared," Callen admitted to them, taking that first step. He saw the shock on Sam and Kensi's face at his admission. It wouldn't surprise Callen if it was the first time Kensi had heard him admit that. "Scared that whoever is doing this, is going to hurt all of you. That's what the nightmare was about."
"G. You're not going to run are you?" Sam asked, his eyes narrowing in concern at his partner.
Callen looked at Sam for a moment. Another step forward. "I want to. If you're not a part of my life, he's got no reason to hurt you." Except even as he said that, Callen realised that it wasn't true. Whoever it was, wouldn't care if he left. He'd still use them, would still know that he could get to Callen through them. After all, he'd used Annabel, someone he didn't know, had never met. And even if he did leave, the moment he knew any of them were in trouble, he'd be trying to find them.
"Tough," came Sam's response. "Got your back. He wants to hurt you, he'll have to answer to me."
"Don't even think about it," Kensi warned, when Callen looked at her. "We're in this together."
The determination in Kensi's eyes was stronger than he'd ever seen it.
"You just don't like it that he had someone shoot at you," Callen teased her a little.
"There's that, too," Kensi replied with a shrug and a hint of a smile. "You're family, Callen. Doesn't matter whether you run or not. That's not going to change."
Callen felt something in him at her words. Hope. He'd wanted Kensi to let them in. Looks like he wasn't the only one taking a step forward tonight. He nodded at Kensi, a small satisfied smile drifting to his lips, then his gaze turned to Annabel. A picture flashed through his mind from his nightmare of her standing there, what that man had said, the gunshot. He'd wanted the chance to find out where this was going with her. He could only get that if he didn't run from her. His determination to stay grew.
"He's already hurt me, Callen. I won't let him take anything else from me," Annabel said, holding his gaze. Three little words were right there on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to say them, knew she felt it, knew nothing would change that. She just didn't know if he was ready to hear them.
Callen's heart did a funny little jump in his chest as hope rose that she felt something for him. Something more than just the physical attraction that was obviously between them.
"I don't know what I would do if he hurt any of you," Callen admitted pulling his gaze from Annabel so he could look at the other two as well.
"The same thing we'll do if hurts you ... Take him down," was Sam's response just as a knock on the door came signaling that the food had arrived.
They ate in companionable silence, so much having just been said that they seemed to be digesting that as well as their food. Annabel even shared her cake with Callen. Sam and Kensi left, after making them promise again to knock if they needed them.
Callen closed and locked the door, turning off the lamp on the table before moving back to the bed. The bedside light was still on so he could easily see.
Annabel looked over at him and smiled.
"You know a girl doesn't share chocolate with just anyone, right?"
Callen looked at her and returned the smile slightly. "But I'm not anyone." He was a lot of people yet no one at the same time. He wasn't sure of the statistics but he was pretty sure he'd spent a huge amount of his adult life pretending to be someone else.
Annabel moved across to him to brush her lips across his. They were warm and soft and most definitely didn't stay there on his long enough for his liking.
Callen looked at her face, saw the dark circles that were under her eyes. He wondered if they had been there when he first met her, or it was all because of this mission.
"No. You're definitely not just anyone," Annabel said. "You are one of a kind, G Callen. A very special one of a kind. Good night." She kissed him, her lips lingering for a moment on his cheek, before she settled back on her pillow.
Callen watched for a moment as she tried to get comfortable.
"Come back," Callen said. Annabel frowned looking slightly confused. "You'll be more comfortable over here. You were the other night, right?"
She remembered waking up that morning. It seemed so long ago now. She been shocked to find herself there and she'd pulled away quickly, not wanting to admit how good it had felt waking up in his arms. She moved back and laid her head on his shoulder, her injured arm resting much more comfortably on his chest. "Is that the only reason you want me here?" she asked softly.
Callen's fingers gently touched her arm as he held her and he slid them over the soft skin. "No. Don't think I'll be sleeping much for a bit. At least this way, I know where you are."
Annabel lifted her head and looked at him. "I'm not afraid, Callen. Not of you. Not of your nightmares."
"You should be," Callen said seriously. Why wasn't she?
Annabel shook her head. "There are plenty of things out there to be scared of. You are not one of them." She looked into his eyes, "I trust you." After a moment she moved her head back to his shoulder and snuggled in.
Callen reached out and turned the light off, then placed his hand over hers on his chest. He lay there listening to her breathing relax and even out as she settled into sleep. He found his breathing falling into sync with hers and, surprisingly, he drifted off to sleep.
Callen woke up a couple more times after that, but exhaustion pulled him back to sleep quickly. Exhaustion and comfort. Her warmth, the gentle sound of her breathing, the feel of her hand resting on his chest and her head on his shoulder, became a comforting reassurance that he was safe, that they were safe, at least for now. He wondered if it was her presence that helped him sleep. Because it was real sleep, not naps or drifting like he normally did. But a deep sleep. Perhaps it was her, perhaps it was his mind trying to process everything; making him sleep to keep his conscious mind from messing with the information whilst that was trying to happen. It could also be the exhaustion. It was probably all of the above, because in one form or another, he'd had all the others and hadn't slept this deeply because of them.
Once, he jerked awake, another nightmare pricking at the edge of his sleep. He'd woken Annabel with his movements.
Callen started to apologise, but she stopped him.
"I'm here, don't worry. What do you need?" Annabel asked, her soft sleepy voice doing funny things to his heart.
"You, right back where you were," Callen answered. She'd moved when they'd woken up, and he missed the comfort and security of her being there. He could almost feel the lone wolf part of him howling and slipping further away with that admission. It had slipped out so easily; that he needed her. Annabel settled back down against him.
"Thank you," Callen said softly. He was grateful that the nightmare had stopped almost before it started. He didn't want to hurt her. Maybe there was a part of his mind that was focusing on protecting her that had woken him up so quickly.
"Anytime," she replied as she drifted off again.
The next time they woke it had been Annabel's turn.
Annabel sat up quickly, gasping for breath, her fingers gripping the covers tightly. She was fighting the nightmare that was wanting to pull her back; fighting to stop the images that were flickering before her eyes before they could settle into sequence and play like a movie. Callen woke and sat up, laid his hand against her back.
"I'm here," he reassured her softly, just as she had for him. Annabel turned to the sound of his voice.
"Need light ... need to see you," she begged desperately. Callen could hear the fear in her voice, the uneven, heavy breathing, and quickly did as she requested. When he turned back to Annabel, Callen saw the relief in her eyes when she initially focused on him. His hand went back to its original place on her back, the other to her face to gently hold her gaze on him.
"You're safe," Callen assured her. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but he would hazard a guess that it had something to do with what happened that time with Hetty or Zoe. He could see the rapid flickering of her eyes as she fought to look at him and not something that wasn't there.
Annabel managed to focus on Callen, register he was there. The pictures in front of her eyes slowly receded the more she could look at him. She was surprised how easily she'd been able to get away from it. She hadn't had one of those kind of nightmares since before she was pregnant with Zoe. When her breathing finally settled, Annabel tested out closing her eyes. When all she saw was black, she let out a sigh of relief and opened them again.
It was her turn to whisper, "Thank you."
"Quite a pair aren't we?" Annabel added. "Beaten, bruised and nightmares."
Callen moved back against the pillow and pulled her down gently. She snuggled in close, her body fitting so easily with his.
"Perfect fit," he added, trying to take her mind off the negatives of them as a pair. He felt rather than heard the slight giggle that escaped her lips.
"It's been a while," Annabel said softly.
"Perfect fit or something else?" Callen asked, gently stroking her shoulder as her fingers moved slightly on his chest.
"Both," Annabel admitted, yawning as she did.
"You want the light on or off?" Callen asked.
"On, just in case," she replied.
Callen tightened his arms around her slightly. "On it is. Sleep well." He closed his eyes and listened, not letting himself drift off to sleep until he could hear that she was sleeping peacefully again.
The next time they woke up it was morning and light filtered through the curtains. Callen glanced at the clock. 7.30am Aside from the fact he didn't tend to sleep for long, he wasn't surprised by how much time they had spent sleeping. He also wasn't surprised at how hungry he was, considering their dinner hadn't really consisted of a lot. Annabel stirred in his arms. He felt her eyelashes flutter against the skin of his shoulder as she opened her eyes.
"I take it it's morning." Her breath drifted across his skin as she spoke sleepily before she lifted her head to look at him.
"What makes you say that?" Callen asked. He was glad she hadn't had another nightmare, she really need the sleep. The dark circles weren't so bad this morning. Still there, but at least there was an improvement.
"Bedside light, not as bright," Annabel replied. "Is it just me or are you hungry?" she managed to ask before the yawn took over.
"Not just you," Callen replied. Annabel smiled and moved back to her pillow just as the hotel room phone rang. It was on her side of the bed, but Callen thought it was highly unlikely that she would be able to answer it easily, given that it was on the same side as her injured shoulder. Not really thinking, he moved and reached over her to get it, bringing him into a position right above her, his lower body pressed against her side. He heard her quick intake of breath and looked down, almost forgetting about the phone in his hand at the look in her eyes as she looked up at him.
"What?" he asked distractedly into the phone, as he thought it had been way too long since he had kissed her properly.
"Good morning, Mr Callen," came Hetty's voice in his ear, enough to temporarily bring his thoughts back to the phone call, away from the woman beneath him and his body's reaction to her.
"Morning Hetty. What's up?"
"We have secured a table downstairs in the dining room for breakfast should you and Annabel wish to join us. Unless of course, you are having room service," Hetty replied. The was a wealth of undertones to her words and Callen almost laughed at his boss' implications, especially considering how he was feeling right now. Tempting as room service was, he was happy to join his team for breakfast. This time.
"We'll be down soon. Just woken up, need a few minutes," Callen replied for them both.
"See you then," Hetty said and ended the call.
Callen reached over and hung up the phone, but didn't move away from Annabel. He looked down at her, wondering just where to go with this. He could see the heightened colour still in her cheeks, the look in her eyes that suggested she wasn't opposed to the position they were in. She led the way, reaching her hand up and stroking his cheek.
"Thank you for everything last night, this morning, whenever it was," Annabel said, her voice soft and inviting. Inviting him to do what he wasn't quite sure, but he was definitely interested in finding out.
"Same to you," Callen replied. Annabel's glance moved to his lips and back to his eyes. He raised an eyebrow in question.
"Girl can hope," Annabel said tentatively, as a smile formed on her face.
"For?" Callen asked. He moved his head closer to hers as watched as her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.
"A good morning kiss," she replied.
"Think I can managed that," he said as his lips gently caressed hers. Nothing deep, he wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to resist if it went too far. So he kept it to just a light, lingering brush, but the touch still sent sparks through both of them.
Callen pulled back slightly and cleared his throat before he spoke. "Everyone's already at breakfast."
"We should join them," Annabel agreed though she didn't move. That probably had to do with the fact that he still had her trapped under him. It took him a moment to get the urge under control to kiss her again, one that would definitely make them late for breakfast, before he reluctantly moved away and they both quickly got dressed, avoiding looking at one another, and went to join the others.
"Enjoy your sleep?" There was a cheeky and suggestive tone to the question Grey asked Annabel as she sat down across from him, Callen next to her. Annabel blushed slightly, grateful that Grey didn't know the truth about last night. She much preferred her brother in teasing mode rather than worried. She rose to the challenge though, having noticed a small, but telling mark on her brother's neck as he turned to face Olivia when she elbowed him for his question.
"Lot more than you two got, I'm sure."
"What can I say," Grey answered, not at all embarrassed by the implications of her comment. "She's my wife and I'll take advantage of her any chance she'll let me." Adding truth to his words, Grey turned and kissed his wife soundly.
Annabel smiled at the two of them, at the familiarity of the affectionate scene, as she reached for the juice that someone had already placed in her spot. It was only when she lifted the glass and her arm hurt, that she realised she hadn't put the sling on. She rested the arm back in her lap and changed hands.
"Disobeying doctors orders already, Bel?" Grey teased, though she could see the concern in his eyes.
"Forgot. Hunger was more on my mind," Annabel replied, sending Grey a glare when he glanced at Callen and raised his eyebrows suggestively. Thankfully Callen, and everyone else appeared to have missed the look, though she was still tempted to kick him under the table, except that he was sitting between Olivia and Hetty and she wasn't entirely sure how accurate she would be.
Hetty turned to face Callen and gave him a brief smile. Callen noticed that she looked unsettled and unsure. Similar to what he had seen on her face before the big revelation yesterday. The wheels turned quickly, sleep having given his mind the time to process things and he smiled back at his boss to reassure her.
"I don't blame you, Hetty. For not telling me sooner. I don't like it, but I don't blame you," Callen said. He could visibly see Hetty relax at his words. She'd only been protecting him, trying to keep him safe. After all, that is what the leader of the pack did.
"Thank you," Hetty replied, relief clearly evident in her tone.
"What are we going to do next?" Callen asked Hetty, as he reached for some pancakes that were on the table. It looked like Hetty had organised a buffet for them for breakfast, probably with the hope that it would keep the waiters away from the table and give them time to talk. Callen hoped she had more of grasp on their situation at the moment. He wasn't quite ready to delve into his mind yet.
"There are a couple of options. We go to London as you seem inclined to do. Or we trust Graham and his team to investigate that side of things and work it ourselves from this end."
"London," Callen answered easily. He hadn't changed his mind since yesterday. The files were his priority, it was what he felt would give them a better idea of who was behind this and it was something he needed to do himself. He didn't mind help but he needed to see everything with his own eyes. Gibbs he trusted to take care of things back here. He pushed down the idea of going on his own, of ordering his team back to L.A, back to their lives. Sam cocked one eyebrow at him curiously, as if he too was expecting that. It helped him not say anything. He knew nothing would be different in Sam's mind. He'd made his choice too last night. He wouldn't run from them. Defend them, protect them. Yes. Run from them. No. Not anymore.
"As I suspected," Hetty said with one of her knowing smiles. "We can fly out whenever we are ready, using the plane that Olivia and her team came over on."
Callen finished his bite of pancake before replying. "You know what Hetty, I almost think I'd prefer to fly commercial rather than private." Memories of fights, jumps and explosions still fairly fresh in his mind.
A chuckle went around the table.
Annabel lent close to him. "I promise I won't blow up the plane again."
Callen was slightly distracted as she brushed against his arm. The warmth and softness of her reminding him of what had almost started upstairs in their room. Right now he was more than happy to be distracted. The sleep, the time with her. His mind hadn't kicked in fully with everything else that was going on yet and he liked the calmness that came with it. Though he knew it wouldn't last much longer.
"It will be easier and quicker if we take the private plane, but I certainly understand your reluctance," Hetty said.
"It's okay, Hetty." Callen turned back to her. "I'll be fine. When do we go?" The sooner the better, but he wasn't sure how quickly things could be arranged.
"I'll contact the pilot and get a time," Graham said, standing up and stepping away from the table.
"So we're all going?" Sam looked around the table at his team, his focus ending on Callen who gave him a reassuring nod.
"Yep," Kensi and Eric agreed simultaneously. Hetty nodded as well.
"What about Nate?" Callen asked.
Hetty smiled. "Nate is a little stressed after having to run the office and trying to keep things together whilst we have been on our little adventure. He is going to take some time off and if we need him to, he'll join us in London later, otherwise we'll fill him in on everything when we get back."
Sam chuckled. "See, the place does fall apart without you, Hetty."
"I'll remind you of that next time you try to resign." Callen teased, though only partially. He really didn't want to know what it would be like to work without Hetty at the helm steering their ship through the troubled waters that they were bound to go through.
"I doubt you will let me get that far, Mr Callen. Though if it does, don't pull the same stunt you did last time," Hetty warned. "I might just take you up on it."
Annabel looked at Callen curiously.
"We lost a team member a few months ago," Callen explained. "Hetty tried to resign over it."
"I'm sorry," Annabel said sincerely, her eyes taking in the entire L.A team. She turned back to Callen. "What did you do to stop her?" The Hetty she knew, rarely changed her mind. She was a confident woman who knew generally knew exactly what she was going to do and why before she even spoke a word about it.
"Handed her mine. She wouldn't accept it. Said the team needed me." *
"They do," Hetty replied.
"They need you too," Callen added, looking back to the leader in question.
Graham returned to the table and all eyes turned to him.
"Plane will be ready to leave in two hours, or whenever we arrive at the airport after that. Hetty, what do you need to organise for your team? Passports? I.D?"
Hetty nodded. "Those and some clothes, unless they want their own and we detour via L.A."
"That'll take too long. It's eight or nine hours from here, further from L.A. We'll just go from here," Callen added. Taking them home first would more than double the time.
"Agreed. Eric," Hetty turned to him as she spoke. "I need to you to work with Abby for I.D's for everyone. Graham, I.D for Annabel and Grey. Do you have any? They left theirs in the locker at the airport in L.A."
"Yes, I brought additional ones," Graham assured them.
"What about a place to stay over there?" Kensi asked.
"We have an apartment available that I have assigned for you," Graham informed them. "I've invited Hetty to stay with me. The rest of you will be staying in the same apartment block as Annabel. It's an MI6 controlled complex. Security is tight. You will be safe there."
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A/N 2 - * This little bit references a story I wrote called Dr Callen, doesn't actually reference the show.
Hope you liked it.