Chapter 7 – Two Empty Seats

Hanna House, Thanksgiving

"Mom, can I have more gravy for my turkey please?" Rachel asked her mom.

"Yes you may." Michelle poured it for her daughter and then asked Katie if she wanted some.

Katie shook her head, "No thank you."

The celebration of all that they were thankful for was overshadowed by the two empty seats at the Hanna dining room table.

"When are daddy and Uncle G coming home?"

That was the third time in two days that Rachel had asked her mom the question there wasn't an answer for.

"I don't know. And neither does Katie, so don't ask her."

The inactive CIA Officer was used to unexpected work assignments for her husband but as Rachel got older, his absences were more notable to their daughter. They ate the rest of their meal engaging in conversations about various things. After the table was cleared, except for the two untouched plates, Katie suggested Rachel get a board game they could all play.

"I love Callen but this worrying is going to give me premature grey hairs," Katie said apprehensively as she helped load the dishwasher.

"It's hard," Michelle said as she put soap in the dispenser, closed the door, then pushed the start button.

The often-gut wrenching worry, after days of not knowing whether he would come home to her in one piece or in a body bag, was the most difficult part of being in a relationship with G. Callen. Even his challenges to deal with and accept his past as being a part of who he was, didn't compare to the worrying. The daily bullet dodging he encountered wasn't as worrisome the dreaded unknown. She knew he had the best Agents watching his back but undercover assignments often meant he was alone. The current assignment was surveillance so that lessened the worry (but not enough to keep her from talking to Michelle about it) as did the fact that she (and Michelle) knew Callen and Sam were together. Emails from Hetty about the Senior Agent's situation weren't always sent. Katie so desperately wanted to ask Callen why but this was one of those things where Katie would have to take what she could get. Protecting National Security was more pertinent than her feelings.

As the women walked to the living room awaiting Rachel's return with a board game, Michelle took the opportunity to offer Katie some new advice.

"I've known Callen for several years and never have I seen him this happy. Then she said the words Katie didn't realize she had needed to hear. "Whatever it is that you are doing in your relationship, keep doing it." She paused a moment to take a sip of her drink, "It's working." The older woman could see her words had Katie thinking. Before Katie could say anything, Rachel appeared before them with the game Sorry."

"This is the SpongeBob version. Squidward is my favourite character."

The three women played the game with a little more enthusiasm than they ate their dinner with as their pieces were bumped off the board and forced to start again. Thoughts of the two empty seats faded, but didn't disappear, and that was welcomed by the two women and young girl whose husband, future husband and father were out protecting the metropolis they lived in.

Shortly after nine o'clock, Rachel went to bed and Katie helped Michelle put away the two unused place settings. The hope of Sam Callen making it home on Thanksgiving had vanished. Just as Katie was about to thank Michelle for dinner, her phone beeped alerting her of a text message. Then Michelle's beeped. The women looked at each other with the same big smiles. Their men would be home in twenty minutes.

"Thank you for having me over," Katie said as she gave Michelle a hug. "And the reassuring words."

"We both enjoyed having you and like I told you before, I'm here if you want to talk."

Katie nodded, said "Good Night" and walked to her car, the eagerness to get home, overwhelming – but this time, in a good way.

Callen's car in the driveway relieved the anxiousness that had stayed with Katie during her drive home. As she opened the door she noticed his bag wasn't in its spot. Then she heard his voice.

"I was repacking it," Callen said as he lifted the bag.

Katie didn't care that those words meant he would be dodging bullets next time he went to work. He was home, safe and with her. Shoes were left on as she hurried towards him in the archway between the living room and hallway.

He dropped the bag to his feet before wrapping his arms around her. As the hug ended, their eyes lit up, conveying love in the peaceful silence surrounding them. Lips were soon touching, then tongues, causing sensations neither wanted to end. But not wanting to have sex in the hallway, Katie sidestepped his bag as she led him to their bedroom where Callen eyed the sex toys on the dresser that were now in see-through plastic bags.

"I cleaned them, put in new batteries and made sure they worked. I wanted to try them together," Katie said after seeing the questioning look on his face.

He picked up both bags and set them on the edge of the bed before they started undressing each other. Katie halted the passionate moment.

"Not tonight," she said as she placed the sex toys back on the dresser. "Just us."

Having no problem with that, Callen resumed the tantalizing form of foreplay of undressing each other. As hands and mouths met body parts that had craved attention while he was away and proclamations of love were said.

After laying Katie down on her back and nestling his upper body between her legs, Katie verbally approved. "I like your thinking."

Katie's response was a welcome sound to Callen's ears as she wasn't always receptive to oral sex being performed on her and often offered to preform it instead. He respected her feelings but at times like this, he wanted to reciprocate the distinct pleasure she had often given him. Not just tell her, but show her how sexy and beautiful all of her was to him. It had gotten to a point that Callen asked Katie if he wasn't doing it right and that's why she didn't want him doing it. Katie reassured him that his hands and mouth were very capable of pleasuring her down there but reminded him that it is different for women and some, like her, aren't always comfortable with that act of intimacy.

Soft kisses on her inner thighs had Katie letting go of any inhibitions she might have had. The softness of his tongue on the skin around the patch of course hair sent her legs upward to his head and then back down, her feet digging into the side of his torso. A low, throaty moan told her he liked her movements. As his five senses honed in on her body, he let go of the guilt that he had missed Thanksgiving. And moments later it was Katie letting go as an orgasm rolled through her body and her vocal cords emitted a sound that had Callen smiling.

The feeling of knowing he was safe in her arms overshadowed (momentarily) the hotness of his mouth leaving traces of moisture over her breasts. Gazing into his eyes as his hand moved across her flesh, kneading breasts, tracing the outline of her lips and then circling around her belly button, Katie saw things she would never hear. The unspoken pains associated with his work, the unsaid traumas of his childhood and the secrets he kept guarded to protect her. It was after their conversation about the Christmas card from a prisoner that got Katie thinking about what it was that Callen wasn't telling her about his 'admirer'. Serving life sentences that would have Janvier never seeing the light of day confused Katie as to why Callen was worried about receiving the card. But having been a long-time watcher of movies that often-involved prisons, Katie knew that the reach of prisoners could be as great on the inside as it was when they were in society. But what could an inmate at one of the world's most secure prisons do to Callen? Or her? Being aware of Callen's true identity, observations of his acute attention to his surroundings and an expertise in skills many people could only dream about achieving, , Katie chose to accept that no harm would come to Callen, or her, at the hands of this crazy criminal.

The man he was when her legs were wrapped around his waist, their bodies connecting as one, was the man she would embrace. The safeness he brought to her life, the encouragement of pursuing her career in the direction she wanted it to go and him adapting to living a part of his life where criminals don't outshine law-abiding citizens.

"I'm thinking that what we just did is proof that absence makes the heart grow fonder," Callen said as he lay exhausted on his back, Katie resting her head on his chest.

"I agree," she replied with a soft kiss to his abdomen.

They laid in silence for several minutes, recuperating after a whirlwind of various sexual positions taxed their energy.

"I don't understand why people get upset that their partner falls asleep after sex," Katie said, her thoughts going back to the second orgasm she had right before Callen's body trembled with pleasure. "I mean, it's a compliment, you know?"

"I know what you mean. Right now, I could close my eyes and wake up in the morning. But I missed holding and talking to you more, so sleep can wait."

"Awe, that's a sweet thing to say. But you know how much I need my beauty sleep so I can't promise how long I will be awake."

That wouldn't be a bad thing for Callen as he often watched Katie sleep for a few minutes when he woke before her. He found himself envious of her non-restless sleeps and took those moments to appreciate that although his sleep was far from what he wanted it to be, it had improved since they started living together.

"I have an appointment to see a therapist on Tuesday."

Katie turned to face him, "That's great."

"Dr. Gerrard. She was a police officer with LAPD for ten years before she decided to go back to school and is now working with those in Law Enforcement."

Katie was relieved that he could finally talk to someone who could relate to the challenges of being in his line of work.

"You'll always be my favourite therapist though," he said with a kiss to the tip of her nose.

"And you'll always be my favourite client."

"So, what do you want to do tomorrow?" Callen asked as they both had Friday off work.

"I have plans with Taryn and Vita. We're going for manicures and pedicures. And maybe a little waxing," she replied as she pointed to her eyebrows.

"I didn't know Taryn and Vita knew each other."

"They don't."

"How about we go out for breakfast? We can go over what needs to be done for our party." Callen asked, slightly disappointed that Katie had plans but also relieved that she continued to maintain the social life she had before she met him.

"Actually, we're meeting at nine for breakfast. But I should be home around three, or sooner. I'd love burgers on the Barbecue. And I have everything planned for the party, with a special list just for you."

"Done, and Katie?"

"Yeah?"

"I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you do."

"I do and you know how much I love planning things and making lists." Her voice was quiet as not to stir up any feelings Callen had about missing Thanksgiving. She was going to say that she needed to keep busy while he was away but refrained as Michelle's words echoed in her head. "Whatever it is that you are doing in your relationship, keep doing it." Callen and Katie had their intense moments but one thing Katie tried to remain conscious about was that she wasn't the only one who worried when Callen was on undercover assignments. Several weeks ago he had voiced his concern about her. Even though she wasn't in anywhere near the high risk situations he was, something could still happen to her and it was possible that word wouldn't get to him for days.

He pulled her tightly against his body. "At least there's one thing I won't ever have to talk about in therapy."

"What's that?"

"How much we love and respect each other."

"That's what keeps me focused when I'm in therapy," Katie said before she closed her eyes, sleep soon coming after that.

Callen closed his eyes but his mind was still awake. It took about thirty seconds before yet another forward moving consideration came to him. He could act on it while Katie was out with her friends but first he had to contact his friend Ellie. He hoped that Ellie had received her invitation to their Christmas Open House/House Warming Party because he was apprehensive about going back on his promise that she and Katie would meet before he asked for Ellie's assistance again. But then he couldn't help but smile as he knew the older woman would relish in being a part of Callen's upcoming jewelry purchase.

The morning air was still cool but that didn't keep Callen from taking his coffee out on the deck and making his call to Ellie while Katie was still asleep. He had thought of going back to the store where he bought her family ring but he wanted a very specific ring style and Ellie was in the know of most everything when it came to this type of thing. At first she only planned events with knowledge on what she needed but as her clientele grew, their needs became more diverse.

\ "I know just the place. I'll text it to you. Oh, and Callen, thanks for the party invite. I'll be coming."/

"You're the best Ellie.

\" Don't forget that when you're planning the wedding."/

Callen ended the call and had a moment of unease. He wasn't sure if Katie would want someone else planning their wedding. Well, that's if she said yes to his proposal. Then another wave of unrest settled in. The where of the proposal was in his mind but he had no idea how to go about making it reality. He scrolled through his contacts until he got to the N's.

\" Hey Callen, what's up? /" Nell asked, surprised to hear from him on their day off.

"Sorry to bother you but I need to run something personal by you as I think it will need your skills to execute it."

Nell listened and assured her co-worker and friend that she would make it happen but it would have to wait until Monday as she was out of town. He thanked her and the sigh he let out felt good as he was now fueled with oodles optimism.

"Good morning handsome," Katie announced as she joined him on the deck with a cup of tea.

"Good morning beautiful." He turned his head to meet her lips when she leaned down to kiss him.

As he glanced at the time on his phone, a text came through with the name of the jeweler. He replied with a thank you and a smiley face.

"Someone is in a good mood this morning." The smile on his face was projecting the happiness she loved to see.

"Rachel sent me a joke." Little white lies were necessary at times. And since the young girl was often up at sunrise, Katie had no reason to question the youngest Hanna sending a text at that time.

"She sure does love making her Uncle G laugh." After taking another sip of her tea, Katie closed her eyes and listened to the quiet. "I'm gonna to miss this quiet time in the mornings, just the two of us."

Callen's raised eyebrows silently questioned her meaning.

"After we have kids."

Was that Katie's not so subtle way of saying she was expecting a marriage proposal so they could start a family after that?

He didn't care if it was. Callen stood, looked down at her with wonderment and came back with, "That's what friends and family are for. Babysitting while we sleep in. It'll be a rare occurrence but one we will greatly appreciate when it does happen."

"And what would we have been doing that would have us sleeping in?" Her eyes helped convey the playfulness of her words.

"What got us the kids."

They both smiled before Katie asked, "Where are you off to?" She wasn't being nosey, just curious as to where he was going so early in the morning.

"Just a few errands. I'll be back before you. Have fun." Another kiss, this one a few seconds longer took place. The warmth of her lips on his was a feeling he knew he couldn't live without. As he retrieved his wallet from the bedroom, his optimism about learning to let go of more of his past and live more in the present, increased.

Callen programmed Blue Nile Jewelers into the Jag's GPS before heading out to purchase an engagement ring for Katie. He had an image in his mind of what she would like and what he wanted to give her. Thankfully, they were similar. He'd 'heard' there was a rule about spending two months of his earnings on an engagement ring. After doing some calculations he couldn't quite bring himself to pay that for something to sit on Katie's finger - even if she was the most important person in his life. And for that amount, insurance would need to be considered. But most importantly, Katie would have his balls in a sling if she became aware of the dollar value she was carrying around with her every day. As he approached the store he reminded himself one month's pay was what he was going to spend. One month. If he couldn't get something in that price range, he would have to rethink the design.

An older man, probably in his sixties, greeted the now slightly perspiring Callen as he walked in the store. Ellie certainly was the woman in the know. It was a small shop with only rings and one sales person. Out of habit, the Special Agent looked around the establishment and noted the security cameras and alarms on the cases. He felt a tinge of awkwardness as he informed the sales man of his name and that he was a friend of Ellie's. He was accustomed to name dropping while working but this was personal. No mention of her last name was needed. The older gentleman in a blue shirt, somewhat matching tie and black pants, smiled and offered his hand and name. Raffie. Callen returned the gesture as his body relaxed.

It wasn't an upscale store like those in Beverly Hills and given the leather jacket, dark blue buttoned down shirt and somewhat faded jeans he was wearing, Callen couldn't help but appreciate Ellie's recommendation. Raffi asked Callen what he was looking for in way of gems and price range. After Callen relayed the information, Raffie nodded and scanned the case to his right. He then took the keys from his pocket and carefully opened the glass door. There were at least thirty rings in Callen's sight-line, all of which were all stunning. How was he going to choose one? Raffie then asked Callen a few questions about Katie to narrow down the selection. The questions were a bit odd to Callen but he had to trust that the longtime salesman knew what he was doing. When Raffie asked the final question of what colour Katie's eyes were, Callen's very surprised looked didn't go unnoticed by the older man. After Callen answered, Raffie hesitated a moment before he reached in and pulled out a Garland Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring.

A platinum band held a sequence of sapphire (that bore an uncanny resemblance to the shade of Katie's eyes), two diamonds side-by-side, sapphire, two diamonds side-by-side, a one carrot classic cut diamond in the center and the sapphire and diamond pattern repeated on the other side of the large diamond.

Raffie saw the very interested look in Callen's eyes so he turned the price tag to face his customer. Callen was mesmerized that he was going to buy the first ring he was shown. But as he put the ring on his pinky finger to get a feel for what it would look like, Raffie smiled and said that it would look much better on a woman's hand. Callen chuckled as he couldn't get it passed his knuckle. His vision to buy a ring that reflected Katie's beauty, inside and out, had been accomplished.

"You're right. It will look better on her finger. Sold."