THE HANGED MAN…Write about someone who calmly makes a huge sacrifice.

Callen still didn't understand. Today's events had baffled him, completely thrown him for a loop. He ran a hand across his face and sat down in one of the chairs in his kitchen, putting his head in his hands.

Sam, Sam Hanna, his partner for a record number of years, was prepared to put his career completely on the line. And for what? The word of men he didn't even know.

He sighed heavily. Except Sam did know them. Not them personally, their characters, their way of thinking. They were Seals after all, just like Sam.

That's what bothered him. Sam thought that all Seals were made from the same mould. That they were just like him; loyal, honourable, protective. He couldn't seem to see that they were people too. Not that Sam had ever been wrong when it came to Seals but that didn't make Callen convinced. Like he had told his partner that afternoon, they were still men. Highly trained and, quite frankly, terrifying men but still men. They had urges and impulses like everyone else. Which were a lot more dangerous because of what they were. That's what he was trying to get across to Sam when Callen had argued about how trustworthy their accounts were.

In the end, he had trusted Sam, trusted his partner. Because of course he did. Sam's judgement was always sound. And he had been right. The Seals hadn't done it and they were released for their mission.

It still didn't stop that awful feeling he had got in his gut when he realised that Sam could and would sacrifice his career for these men. Why would he do that? Didn't his team mean anything to him?

("Don't I mean anything?" a small voice pleaded at the back of Caller's mind which he immediately squashed.)

And he did it without batting an eyelid. Didn't even have to think about which was so uncharacteristic of Sam. It was worrying

He wasn't sure he wanted to know the fallout from all of this. Sure, Sam was right and they had got the job done but it had been such a risk. What would have happened if it had all gone south? That's what the bureaucrats would be thinking. Sam would have been the scapegoat and would have probably had to leave NCIS. He would be considered a Risk.

Callen groaned. He actually felt sick to his stomach at the thought of losing Sam.

Beep beep.

That was his phone. Callen frowned at the screen. It was a text from Hetty.

'Your partner will be fine. Go to bed.'

Callen rolled his eyes; he had given up trying to figure out how Hetty always seemed to know what he was thinking. How she knew he was still awake was beyond him as well, he wasn't near any windows and no lights were on. Though, she had a point. Sam was OK. He still had a job and was still on the team. No point in thinking of 'what might have been'.

He hesitated before sending back a reply.

'I know.'

'Good. Bed.'

"I'm going, I'm going," huffed Callen out loud and made his way towards his mattress.

Beep beep.

'Sweet dreams.'

Sam thought back over the day as he lay in bed, feeling remarkably calm despite what he had done. Some would say that he had been incredibly stupid. Naive even. Risking anything and everything just like that. All because of the words of a few men. Men he didn't even know or work with. He smiled to himself. He knew better. As hard as it was to believe, especially for his partner, Seals were a different breed. Sam had full confidence in his decision because of that.

He also knew that his partner thought he was crazy. That he was throwing his whole career away for a bunch of people he didn't even know. Over something that even they weren't sure was true. G didn't get it. Sam didn't think he ever would. It wasn't something that you 'got' it was some you were, something you lived through. Those guys were, still are, Seals. Just like him. They were just different from other men. They were a level of integrity, skill, ruthlessness and brotherhood that you just didn't get anywhere else.

He sighed softly, not wanting to wake Michelle, and stared at the ceiling. It had been an easy choice to make, trusting them. What else could he do? Of he couldn't trust his instincts with them how could he ever trust himself with his team?

His team.

That's what it came down to, didn't it? Ensuring that the team he was on worked to the best of their ability on the right direction. Like any good Seal would do.

Did that Seal team deserve his loyalty, his trust? Sam didn't even have to think about it. Of course, they did. A Seal's word was his oath. It was an easy decision.

He had made sure to thank his partner for going along with everything he did, even if he expressed his doubts and concerns. He could have taken Sam off the case for a conflict of interests but he didn't. Sam understood. G was trying to walk the fine line between trusting his partner, leading his team and making sure that justice happened.

Hetty was displeased with him, he knew that. Or had been. Maybe. She was hard to read, as usual. She didn't appreciate needless sacrifice. That actually felt worse than risking his career. She had done so much for him, given him so much rope but didn't let him hang himself with it. Instead, she gave him the opportunity to be hauled home if needed.

If he thought about it, Sam supposed it was rather odd how calm he was about the whole thing. He couldn't even put it down to adrenaline or being focused on the job. Even now, hours after everything had happened, he didn't feel any different. No regrets at all. No second guessing or anxiety. It had to be done.

With that settled, Sam settled down and allowed himself to doze off.