AUTHOR'S NOTE: Happy start to another week. So, missed yesterday… but I figured since it was Sunday, people are busy, you wouldn't miss it… so now I find myself in this debate over the fact that this is a much smaller chapter. No less important in the scheme of things but still… do I post a second chapter to make up for yesterday or just continue on. I'm in no hurry to see the end coming down the pike… I hate when it's time to post that last chapter… but… anyhoo, that's my problem, not yours. Ha! Here we go… You know the drill.
"Before you even start… YOU aren't going ANYwhere… you have no business being up running around… you have no home to go to from what I've been told and don't even try to convince me that a rooming house is a good idea. You have the starts of an infection… you can't even reach HALF of those wounds in order to treat them and no one who can help change them for you so just lay down there and relax or I will call back every individual that went in there to save you and have them track your butt down and drag you back and don't think for a second they won't. You have a group of people out there who are worried about you… you will not give them more reason than you already have… GOT IT?" Marcus scolded him taking Callen by surprise.
"Fine!" Callen scowled as he gingerly sat back down on the bed
"You need help with your shirt?" Marcus asked watching him carefully.
"No, I'm going to leave it off for now." Callen replied as he laid back against the pillows and closed his eyes, "You planning on sitting there watching me the whole time?"
With a sigh Marcus answered honestly, "I don't know, can I trust you?"
Callen opened one eye to look at him in reply, "I said I wouldn't leave and I won't… for now."
He said nothing more and by the time Marcus finished cleaning things up he could hear the deep relaxed breaths and soft snores that told him he had drifted off to sleep. Quietly, he closed the door and moved back towards the main part of the house. Breakfast had transitioned into a clean table and a fresh round of coffee which he accepted readily.
"How's our boy?" Hetty asked what everyone was wondering.
"Sleeping. I gave him some antibiotics to ward off what appears to be the early signs of infections in several of his wounds. Hopefully one round will be sufficient in keeping it from progressing further." Marcus sighed.
"Is something bothering you, Marcus?" Hetty gently pushed.
Marcus looked straight at her and then Garrison, "I have managed to convince him to stay put for the time being but I'm not sure how much time I can buy you. He was more than clear last night when we spoke that he was not supposed to have survived this and he is obviously unsure of where he belongs now at this point. He's not going to stay if you don't give him a reason to… and soon."
As if to accentuate the moment, a sudden yell could be heard coming from the library turned bedroom followed by a crash then silence. Hetty put a hand on Marcus's arm stopping him from moving to check on the man in question, followed by a look around the table as a warning to everyone else. No further sounds were heard as the morning passed by leading into lunch.
Kensi had excused herself from the group as they gathered once more on the deck to eat a small bite that Deeks and Eliot were busy pulling together. She quickly made her way down the hall to the closed door at the end. She paused for only a moment before carefully turning the handle. Quietly she slipped in and closed the door behind her. He was lying on the bed breathing evenly. Moving forward, she was stopped short by the sight of his many wounds… taking note of the multitude of scars that eluded to prior injuries since he had left. She cringed inwardly at the thoughts that invaded her mind… all that he must have gone through… alone. She watched him for a moment before retreating back to the hallway, leaving him to sleep… praying that it was a peaceful one.
NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA === NCIS LA
"You really are good in the kitchen Deeks", Eliot admitted. Surprisingly, he had grown to like the scruffy detective. Callen had mentioned the fact that he was hard to take sometimes but ultimately, he was a valuable member to the team and he respected him as such. After the events of the past few days, Eliot could see why Callen felt that way.
"Thanks man… you too. Callen said you knew how to cook. He doesn't throw compliments around lightly…" Deeks grinned, trailing off as he became lost in thoughts.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine… just thinking. You know, this all happened because of me… if I had just listened to him and trusted the plan… I wouldn't have gotten shot the second time and Callen wouldn't have had to deal with all the backlash". Deeks had felt the guilt of that day nearly five years ago now every day since.
Eliot stopped what he was doing and turned to face the man, "You know, Callen told me how you had really turned into a valuable member on this team. He apparently wasn't always so sure you would make the cut." Eliot chuckled at the shocked look on his face. "Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me you are surprised?"
Deeks returned the chuckle, "no, guess not. He didn't really like me when I first came on board… Sam either for that matter… actually Sam was far less impressed with me than Callen."
"Yeah, well, you proved yourself, apparently. Look, you know Callen isn't one to share much but he's mentioned how you dared to stand up to him in some of his less controlled moments. Takes guts. He respected that."
Deeks thought back to the day they had found out Joelle had been working with the CIA the whole time she and Callen was supposedly dating… He hadn't taken it well and the sight of him destroying the furniture she had bought for his house and stuck with him. They had had an interesting conversation that night and their relationship had become more of a friendship after that. "He is one of the best agents I have known since joining NCIS. I was lucky to be on his team. I've learned a lot from him. I just feel bad that I was the reason he may now choose to leave."
"Listen to me. You ARE NOT the reason he left. Sam and Kensi… especially Sam… would be the reason he left. Sam was his partner. He should have known Callen was not capable of what they accused him of… Look, regardless of what happened back then… what's happening now is something entirely different. If it's one thing I can say… Callen doesn't hold onto things. He won't forget who crossed him and trust lost is hard to regain… but not impossible. But a lot has happened since then… no, if he leaves now… it's more to do with his demons than anything your team did. Grab those plates and let's get this crowd fed… someone else is doing the dishes." He growled as he headed out the door ahead of Deeks who just grinned his approval.
With the meal done, Sophie, Nate, Ziva, and Anna had all said their goodbyes and headed back to their respective homes in an effort to alleviate the obvious tension it caused Callen, having so many people around. Parker and Hardison excused themselves to a walk on the beach while everyone else lounged on the deck. To their surprise, Callen finally made an appearance.
