Chapter 20
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Thank you so much for leaving your reviews! I sure hope this chapter brings what you expected. I struggled a lot with what I wanted this chapter to be, and once I was satisfied, somehow I lost every single word I typed. So, it took a while and honestly, I still don't feel happy with what it is right now. But hey… That's the way life goes! And, ever since, the world has changed a lot... As you all know.
Wotumba1: To be honest, I like Ellie as well. She's stronger than you would have thought of, don't you think?
snowprincess77: Why, that is such a nice compliment you left! Perhaps not being a native speaker costs more energy to be confident enough to complete a chapter and a story. And next to that, there are many gaps between writing bits and pieces. There's a full time job, being a parent, doing cores in and outside our house…
trscrny: thanks! It's good to see you back in here and being so kind to leave a review. Holidays were okay, though quite short since I was on duty as well. Don't know how things are in your country, but in here people were near to mutiny and turn against authorities. And it's not always easy to find the right advise to handle those matters. Still, there was time to have some enjoyable time with family and friends too!
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- I guess Callen still struggles with his Superman issues, thinking he's forever young. But don't we all? -
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Los Angeles || Sherman Oaks Hospital
Hetty stared ahead at Sam's words and only after a few long minutes she said "Well, we all know nobody is immortal, don't we, mister Hanna?"
He shrugged as an answer, not knowing if or how to respond.
"From what I heard, you all worked a case which wasn't particularly NCIS related and mister Callen was the only one not in the field. Was there a specific reason for this at all?"
Slowly, Sam shook his head. He didn't mind if Nell let Hetty know but he doubted that she'd done so at all. Like in all the years he had worked with Hetty as the operations manager, she had a mysterious way of knowing things and he assumed she still had.
"Hetty, please tell me you didn't install some secret microphones near G?"
The minute the words left his mouth, he regretted them. He literally saw how they hurt the former handler.
He put his hand on hers and added "I'm sorry, Hetty. That was an impropriate remark. It's just that, well, you were spot on. We thought this was a case for us, simply based on the uniform the other agent wore. It was only later we understood that was pure coincidental. And Callen, well, we discussed the matter of making a change in our way of working. A change in leadership as well, ever since Nell doubts if she wanted the job or not."
He leaned back now and his eyes met those of the older woman.
"Actually, Hetty, I suggested working differently, with the new people. Callen never even disagreed. Nor did he agree, mind you. We've talked things through ever since though. After you left, there's nobody really in charge. Rogers left, you were back for a moment, left again. Admiral Kilbride has been around every now and then. You probably were aware of that too. Callen tried the desk work, but it makes him unhappy and tired, actually. It's not his thing."
"Then what is, mister Hanna? Field work and wait until he is, or both of you are, too old to outrun the bad guys or too stiff to escape the final bullet?"
He shook his head. "My goal is different. I want to coach new, young agents. G, I'm not so sure. Maybe Anna can persuade him into a complete different career, I don't know."
There was something extremely sad in her eyes, something Sam couldn't remember from all the time he worked at NCIS.
"Is that what miss Kolcheck favors too?"
"How would I know? Ever since she's 'back', we hardly ever talked. They're both quite withdrawn."
Again, Sam wondered why he never asked his partner about this. Was it because Callen was scared that he'd hurt Sam because he was in a more serious relationship? Or because he hated all the speculations and banter of everyone around? Sam figured it was best to talk about it with Callen, whenever he had the opportunity. Also, he decided not to share with anyone, not even with Hetty.
He let his gaze rest on their former boss and shook his head. "Hetty, whatever you do, don't interfere with their lives. Nor with this case. Whatever happened when you and Callen last had a discussion, it hurt him."
He mulled on what he recalled and noticed ever since and added "Perhaps it hurt him even more than the loss of Nikita."
"Will he... Sam, do you think he will forgive me, eventually?"
Could he speak for his friend? His hand gently covered hers and he noticed how fragile she was. "Just... let him see you care. Tell him how you feel, what he means to you. But also where you went and why. Above all, Hetty, be completely honest with him."
She looked up, her eyes bleary and watery. Something he couldn't remember having seen before. "He's the only one I ever considered as my boy, Sam. Despite the others I trained like I trained him, the others I cared for, with him, it's just..."
Sam waited, not sure if he was interrupting her considerations or not. Frankly, he understood how delicate the relation between Hetty and Callen was nowadays. Only a few years ago, Sam would call it a 'mother - son' relationship. But he also saw how that deteriorated and Callen felt betrayed by the fact he was only one of the many orphans and in that matter, not special at all.
However, Sam never noticed that Hetty favored anybody else better than she did his friend. He knew there were others. Hunter, Sullivan, Grace and Ahkos. But everybody knew that Callen had been the only one she really took under her wing. Maybe because she felt guilty that the young boy lost his mother, Sam didn't know.
After a few minutes of silence he said: "He's been abused emotionally and physically, and also manipulated during a long period and at an early age, Hetty. You of all people know about that. I remember that when we met, Callen and I, distrust was his middle name. Even though I don't know what reasons you had and why you decided to keep things from him, but he deserved better. He's grown up, he's clever, intelligent. You never needed to protect him from finding out where his roots lie. Because Hetty, if he had known earlier, I think you wouldn't have lost him."
He shook his head, thinking of the few lines he overheard Killbride mention to Callen: 'The others worked for her. But she created you.'
"There are seeds that were planted, Mr. Hanna. Not only by me, but some of them were. He drew his conclusions, based on what he recalled, what he heard and what he read."
She looked up, heaved a deep sigh and nodded. "Thank you, Sam."
Then she got up, as straight as possible but still stiffer than he remembered.
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Minutes later, Anna stood next to him in the family room in between the nurses desk and the private patient's rooms. Her stance was relaxed.
"He's asleep, and the nurse more or less threw me out. Hetty's going through some things with one of the nurses who she miraculously seems to know."
She slowly let her breath escape and added "Thanks for alerting me, Sam."
He grinned and said "He wasn't as grateful for doing so as you are, Anna."
"Hardheaded as ever, I get that." She send him a full smile and fiddled with a small rubber band until she wore her long, loose hair in a ponytail. "But he explained his worry for me losing my job, you see. Which is unnecessary, since I was granted a few days off earlier this period and as long as I catch up with the hours and days as a whole, it's okay."
Both of them sighed, lost in thoughts for a couple of minutes.
Again, Sam sighed heavily. "By now, the others are interrogating the ones responsible for this." He gestured at the cubicle they sat close by.
"Has he been sloppy, Sam? Overestimated his role in this all?"
He shook his head. "No. It was carefully thought out and Nell told me the whole sting worked out well. This is all… I'd call it revenge. Revenge for outsmarting this Poliakoff, and for helping, uhm, Ellie."
"Who is she, this Ellie, and can we trust her?"
Sam chuckled at the way she posed the question. "No need to feel jealous, Anna. Callen trusts her and honestly, my gut feel says the same. She simply once was at the wrong place at the wrong time and perhaps if the two of you met, you'd understand her motives and background. But my guess, G told you more already and you're trying to find out even more."
He chuckled even louder now he noticed how she blushed and shook his head.
"You wanna stay with him?"
Anna hesitated. If necessary, she knew she could protect him. Not that she expected any trouble, nor did Callen. At least, that's what he told her. On the other hand she felt like freshening up. She'd left the place where she worked suddenly after the late and worrisome message from Hetty. Because of the hurry she hadn't showered and wore the same clothes she worked in the day before.
She recalled what she discussed with Callen only minutes ago, and shook her head. "Later... I'll be back later and take your place in a couple of hours. Hetty's tired too and I need a car of my own. Right now Hetty's driver is outside waiting for us."
They both got up and caught the older, small woman staring through the glass window of the hospital room.
"Look at him… I still see the boy in the man he is right now."
Her aged hands, covered with liver spots, wiped over her eyes and Sam figured she shed some tears which she tried to hide.
"First time ever he spend in my house, he was about 15 years old. When I checked how he slept, he lay on his stomach just like he does now. Hugging the pillow when asleep, as if it were the last thing he'd ever hold on to."
"Which probably was true too. He once told me the older and stronger boys teased him by taking away blankets or let him sleep on the floor," said Sam. He continued "Well, I'll be here when you come back later, Anna. And Hetty, remember what we talked about. See you."
He turned to return to the chair he just vacated.
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Three hours later, Sam still occupied the chair in the private room where his friend had been asleep for a full few hours.
"You know, I was thinking..."
"Goodness... G!" Sam looked up from his phone, startled now he saw his friend awake and alert, slightly frowning. He slowly exhaled and asked "What is it you were thinking?"
"Kensi 'n Deeks saw Poliakoff?" His voice croaked after a decent sleep.
Sam slowly exhaled and said "To answer your question, they did. She had a fancy lawyer and hasn't said a word."
A hum came as a reply, followed by a few silent minutes from both the men.
"Y'think it would be different if I talked to her?"
"You. Yeah, sure," Sam shook his head, nonverbally showing he seriously doubted about the remark of his friend. "C'mon, when was the last time you were on your feet? No, G, you got to trust your team. Besides, with those connections with the Mexican mobsters, the Romanian..."
"Coincidental, big guy," Callen replied. "She got connected with a chapter in here. And all we know for sure, there was a price on Elisabeth's head."
"And on yours, now, too."
"What's new... But Sam, we got those away Poliakoff knew of. It was just part of that sting, and sure, it turned out okay, except for this…" He gestured with his hand at his own body and the hospital room. He hoisted himself up, groaning since it was not going as agile as he wanted it to go. To address his motions he said "But hey, this is just collateral. Makes me wonder, how's Fatima doing?"
"A through and through. She's recovering at home, with her parents and I assume she'll be back at the Ops' center any time soon. I should've seen that coming, I mean, her getting shot was more or less to lure me away from you, the moment Poliakoff realized she was entrapped due to your plan."
"So it worked. We now know where her real loyalty lies, Sam. And honestly, I still think the link with Romania was purely coincidental. But Anna doesn't, nor does Hetty."
Sam hummed.
"Trust your own feeling, G. Remember how surprised you were yourself when you ran into those men who spoke Romanian."
"Yeah." He fell silent for a minute. "My idea is that she went for the big bucks and ruthlessly decided to get rid of anyone who got in the way."
"Including you."
"Including me," Callen agreed. He let his mind go over what he remembered by now. "But listen, Sam, Elizabeth has the right to find out if that guy she had to protect, a man called Lupu, really was going to expose names he knew of to a judge or someone else. If there is a list at all." He sighed and slowly got up, grateful he already wore a loose fitting shirt. "Could you hand me that pair of trousers, Sam?"
Sam reached for the item Callen asked for and handed it at his friend.
"Thanks," Callen said. He rubbed his eyes, yawned and said "Maybe you need to get some rest too, Sam. Anna will be back any time soon. And actually, I agree with what we just discussed, it has all been a coincidence and probably nobody knows I'm here. If anyone shows up in here, I'll handle them myself."
"Right." Sam stretched and yawned too, understanding how contagious that was. But Callen was right indeed.
"Promise me that when something suspicious happens, you call me."
"I will," Callen said.
Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try, try, try
Gotta get up and try, try, try
You've gotta get up and try, try, try
[Try ~ Pink]
-TBC-