'How long has it been?' Hetty asked, frantically.

'It's only been like, 20 minutes! Do you have a watch?' Eric asked.

'No. I must have taken it off earlier.'

'Please, and I mean please calm down somewhere else so I can work! And I'm saying this in the nicest way possible.'

'Okay okay. I get it. Just let me know when you hear from Mr. Callen.' Hetty said.

'Will do.'

Callen and the team had gone into an area with no reception to look for Granger, who had gone missing after going after dangerous criminals. And needless to say, Hetty was beyond worried.

While at her desk sipping tea as a stress reliever, she looked in her desk and pulled out an old photo of her and Granger from a long time ago. She still remembered when it was taken and why. A photographer had noticed them talking, thought they looked like a cute couple, and offered to take a picture of them.

She sighed, and wished for him to be alive.

'Hetty! Callen is online!' Nell called out.

She rushed to OPS as fast as her legs could carry her.

'Please tell me something good!' She said.

'He's alive!' Callen said.

'What?! Are you sure?!'

'Yes! We found Granger, and 2 other squad members. They were captured. He's in tough shape, but he'll be okay once we get him back to camp.'

'Oh my! Thank you! Thank you so much!'

'You're very welcome, Hetty!'

2 hours later

Granger was trying to process what had happened the past couple of days. Ambushed, was able to hide, and then went after the captors. And as a result, was taken captive himself.

3 of his squad members were killed, and he had to watch 2 of them die.

He wasn't injured badly, but he wasn't sure if he was going to sleep peacefully that night.

'A friend wants to talk to you.' Callen said, giving him a phone.

'Hello?'

'Are you okay?! I was so worried!' Hetty cried out.

'Chuckle. Well, hello to you too, Henrietta.'

'Do you have any idea how worried I've been all week about you?!'

'I can imagine. I'm okay, no bad injuries. I'll be home tomorrow morning.'

'I'll be waiting for you. And if you ever scare me like that again mister, I swear I will…'

'I love you too.'. And gave Callen the phone back.

'I'll pay for that.' He amusingly thought.

The whole ride home, He thought of what he went through, and worried that he was going to be impacted deeply. Deeply enough that even Hetty wouldn't be able to cure with her warm embraces and food.

It was on his mind as Callen took him home.

'Sigh. Will coming home help?' He thought.

Then he saw Hetty rushing up to give him a hug.

'Welcome home, dear!'

And then, in that embrace, he knew the answer.

'Thank you. Sniff.'

'I made you breakfast, if you're interested in eating.'

'That sniff, sounds amazing.'

'I know I worry, maybe too much. But it's because I care about you! I want to be able to do things for you each day. I want you to be okay.' Hetty said.

'I know. And what I really need, after all of this, is to come home to you.'

'Aww. Now, let's eat! Food's getting cold!'