AN: Requested by /u/LostForeverInHisEyes

Set at the end of "When Boys Play", after their punishment.

"I'll say it again, Hetty. We didn't mean it to go that far."

"That is what you always say, Mr Callen."

"What can I say, we get caught up in the moment," Mr Callen explained offhandedly with a shrug.

"Hmm."

Mentor and protégé stared at each other over cups of tea; one actually drinking it and the other sniffing their cup suspiciously. One was sitting upright with perfect posture and the other was slouching dangerously low. Didn't he know how bad for his back that was?

"It's chrysanthemum tea, Mr Callen. Very relaxing," Hetty informed him.

"Nothing stronger?" he asked hopefully.

Hetty peered at him over her glasses, "You don't deserve to be rewarded today."

Her boy didn't even try and conceal his pout. It was quite pathetic looking.

"We were dragged in by LAPD and had to clean all those weapons," he complained.

"All that could have been avoided," Hetty scolded mildly, taking a sip of her tea. "Ah that's good. Drink up, Mr Callen. It will do you good."

"It might poison me," he muttered, suspiciously poking the tip of his pinkie finger in it.

"Stop being dramatic."

"Apparently that's my thing for today," Mr Callen cheekily replied, pushing the cup away from him.

Honestly, did the boy not appreciate it? She didn't share her tea with just anyone.

"Yes, about that," Hetty said, straightening her glasses.

"I'm good to go back to the tea," he said hastily.

"Oh no, you are not getting out of this discussion so easily," she informed him.

His face fell. It was almost comical the speed it happened.

"I've already been punished," he complained.

"I never said anything about more punishment," Hetty said blandly before raising an eyebrow. "Unless you have done something, I am not aware of?"

"Unlikely," Mr Callen muttered under his breath.

"What was that, Mr Callen?"

"I haven't," he said quickly. "Honest" he added when she gave him a disbelieving look.

Oh, she was completely aware that he hadn't done anything else but Hetty had found that with Mr Callen, the more chances you gave him to talk the more likely he actually would. Of course, certain parameters had to be met to get him in that state of mind in the first place and it had only happened a few times but he always gave something away. She had always been already aware of it but it was good for the boy to open up.

"I wanted to know if you had learned anything today?" she asked him, honestly curious of his answer.

"Don't let Deeks poke around in unmarked drawers," he said automatically.

Hetty couldn't conceal her chuckle which made Mr Callen smile.

"We had already learnt that lesson," she reminded him. "Shortly after he started."

"I don't think Eric has forgiven him for managing to power down Ops," Mr Callen said thoughtfully, thinking over the memory.

"I don't think Mr Beale has," confirmed Hetty. "Though why Mr Deeks was left alone long enough to empty that particular drawer has yet to be explained."

"Kensi had to talk with Nate and Sam had already threatened him twice that morning," Mr Callen admitted. "I thought it was a good thing when he wasn't bugging him anymore."

"Hmm, and you didn't give any thought to what he was doing?"

He shook his head.

"Rather like today."

"Hetty- "

"Oh no, Mr Callen, there is nothing you can say that will make me believe that you had actually thought this ill-conceived plan through."

"We did!"

"Really?"

Mr Callen scrunched up his nose as he thought of the best way to answer that. Did he really want to dig himself into a deeper hole?

He just stayed silent, lapsing into tried and true habits. She had to give him props for that. Not many people refused to answer her.

"You didn't answer my question," Hetty reminded him. "Did you learn anything today? That does not involve your teammates." She added when his smirk appeared again.

He shrugged carelessly, deliberately misinterpreting it, "LAPD Officers need anger management training and possibly mandatory yoga sessions."

Hetty struggled to hide a smile she barely managed it. She settled her face back into a stern look.

"You know that is not what I meant."

Mr Callen just looked at her blankly, trying to get her to believe that he didn't understand what she meant. Her eyes narrowed, he knew exactly what she wanted. She bit back a sigh, why was it so hard to get him to admit his feelings? Yes, it made him want to bolt but it wasn't healthy to not think of them of to bottle them up.

He should know that if he wasn't going to respond to Mr Getz that it would have to be her. She suspected he preferred this arrangement. Normally.

He shifted in his seat and refused to look at her. Maybe it was too soon to be prying. It appeared that he hadn't fully realised what she had anyway.

"Did you have fun?" she asked, deciding to let him off the hook.

As they had told her, they hadn't done any real harm and those officers really had no business reacting like that. It had mainly been for a bit of harmless fun. Hetty had made a few pointed comments to their superior when she had contacted the LAPD before picking them up. She so hoped that they would make use of them.

She'd get back to him on his feelings later. A more appropriate time would come, she was sure of it.

"We did," Callen replied with an honest smile lighting his face before he realised what he had said. "I mean, no. We were um, focused and determined and- "

He petered off at her amused look. Now he just looked confused, Hetty resisted the urge to give him a triumphant look. It was always nice to get him a bit off-kilter. Good for him too, the boy was far too stoic.

"Drink up, Mr Callen. It looks like you could use a clearer mindset."