Chapter 17: Partner

As soon as Hetty had left for the office, Sam pulled the straight-back chair from the corner and sat down next to the bed as close as he was able to. With Callen still lying on his left side, Sam was now practically face-to-face with his partner.

Callen tiredly stared up at Sam, some distress still in his eyes, leftover from when Sam had raised his voice at Hetty, insisting that he remain at the hospital.

Sam sat silently, watching his friend for a few moments before speaking, "You with me, G?"

Callen's features relaxed at his words. There were no longer signs of fear, distrust, or even confusion in his vacant gaze.

Sam leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. "I wish I knew what to do for you," He confessed softly. "I know you're in there, buddy… but it's like… it's not even you. You're not eating." The corners of Sam's mouth turned up a little. "You're not talking. Now, that's a first. And, you've probably slept more the past few days than in the last six months put together. I don't understand what's going on. G Callen's not supposed to be afraid of anything." Sam leaned back in his chair. "Well, except when people are shooting at us… and then there's needles… and Hetty." Sam's small smile faded and his eyes narrowed. "And, you're afraid of me… you're partner. I've never seen you like this. My partner would be demanding his clothes, so he can get out of this place. You should be fighting mad that you're tied to this bed." Sam shook his head sadly. "It's like you've… just… given up."

Callen just lay there, blinking slowly, staring blankly back at Sam.

"See what I mean? This is the part where you're supposed to change the subject, or make some wisecrack about me not being your mother." Sam reached to his waist, and pulled out the wallet that contained his credentials. He flipped the wallet open, holding the now exposed metal shield up for his partner to see.

Callen squinted at the badge, glanced up at Sam, and then looked back down at the wallet in puzzlement.

"It looks familiar, doesn't it? You have one of these." Sam put the wallet away, and once again focused on the vacant blue eyes looking back at him. "You're my partner. Sure, sometimes I think about knocking you smooth out… when you go all lone-wolf on me… You… against the world. But, I guess that's the way it's always been for you… G Callen versus the world. You have some real trust issues." Sam leaned in closer to the bedside. "But, we're family. You're my partner, G," He explained, his eyes and his voice now pleading. "And I need my partner back."

The air was silent as both men regarded each other.

Interrupting the moment, there was a quick tap on the door, and Nurse Landon entered the room. "They're here to X-ray that wrist." He scooted the portable bedside table and the trashcan out of the way, making room for the huge mobile X-ray unit that was being wheeled in by two young female techs. "This is Sandy," Landon said, pointing to the young lady with short blonde hair in front. "And, I'm sorry, I don't know your name," He apologized, looking toward the girl with dark hair and Asian features.

"I'm Nikki."

"Agent Hanna, we'll need to step out for just a minute." Landon gestured with his hand.

Sam had come around to where the nurse was standing, when he and Landon noticed the techs were still stationed near the doorway, just behind the X-ray machine, and weren't moving.

Landon tilted his head to the side. "Ladies, is there a problem?"

Nikki bit her bottom lip. "Yeah? Maybe?" She said timidly. "Is the patient restrained?"

"Two points; left ankle and wrist."

"I'm sorry," Sandy said, looking cautiously toward the bed. "But this is the guy who broke Adam's nose this morning. Could you please restrain the right side, as well?"

Landon scrubbed his faced with his palm and then looked over at the ex-SEAL with an apologetic grimace. "It is written in his orders. We'll untie him as soon as they're done."

Sam paused, and then motioned to the bed with a tilt of his head.

The nurse went around to the side of the bed his patient was facing and slowly pulled the covers down to the footboard. After located the ties to the cuff attached to Callen's right ankle, he squatted down and secured them to the frame of the bed.

Landon pointed to the wrist restraint that was lying on the small table beside the head of the bed, and Sam handed it across to him.

When the nurse reached for his arm, Callen responded by pulling his right hand up to his neck, holding it there in a guarded position.

Sandy and Nikki watched from the doorway. With the patient's back now exposed, they could see that his breathing was becoming more distressed.

Sam stepped up behind Callen and put one hand on his partner's shoulder. "It's okay, G. Nothing's going to happen to you. You're safe.''

Callen relaxed enough for Landon to slip the cuff around his forearm. While fastening the restraint to the rail, Landon glanced up briefly at the two young women, still hovering near the entrance. "I'm leaving some slack in this one so you can position his arm for the X-rays." Landon stood up straight and rounded the foot of the bed. "We'll be right outside, if you need us."

Sam reluctantly followed the nurse out into the hall, closing the door behind him.

The brunette tech went around to the side of the bed Callen was facing and Sandy began moving the large machine into place.

Callen cut his eyes to the right, looking up at the huge equipment now towering over his body. And when Nikki slid the film cassette up under his hand and forearm, he startled.

It was apparent to the young techs that having all four extremities now restrained, and including the sudden encounter with new faces and huge, noisy equipment, the patient was getting overwhelmed.

Callen looked up at Nikki with watery eyes, gasped for air, and made a feeble attempt to move his arms and legs.

The techs exchanged worried glances, as they spread the lead, protective cover over the patient.

"It's okay," Nikki tried to reassure him. "We're not going to hurt you. We're just going to take a couple of pictures of your wrist. Then we'll be done."

The heavy blanket seemed to have a calming effect on Callen. He became still, and after several slow blinks, closed his eyes.

Sam and the nurse were allowed back into the room as soon as the X-rays were completed, both a bit surprised to see that Callen's eyes were closed.

"Did he do alright?" Landon asked the strangely-teary-eyed techs, as they removed the heavy cover and folded it.

Nikki, unable to speak, nodded at Landon and steered the large machine through the doorway.

Sandy cleared her throat. "As it turns out, he was much more afraid of us, than we were of him." After a faint, "Sorry…" she quickly joined her coworker in the hall.

As promised, Landon released his sleeping patient's right wrist and ankle. He had just pulled the covers up when a hospital employee knocked and stuck their head in the door. "Landon, there's a call for you on line three. It's Dr. Lee."

"Thanks, Wendy. I'm headed that way." Landon nodded his farewell to Sam and left the room.

Ten minutes later, Landon returned to find the patient was awake. He held up a white, wrist splint and looked across to where Sam was standing. "Dr. Lee wants him to wear this until he can take a look at the X-rays."

Sam stepped aside for the nurse who was coming around to his side of the bed. "That's a good idea. He keeps trying to use that hand."

Landon removed the restraint cuff from the patient's forearm. "With all the moving around he's been doing, he really needs to be in a cast. Dr. Lee just wants to make sure the bone doesn't need to be set first. Let me get this on him, and then we need to turn him onto his back."

Callen hissed when his hand and wrist were placed in the splint. He frowned at his hand, then narrowed his eyes and looked up at the nurse.

"Sorry, man." Landon apologized quietly.

G continued to stare at Landon until the straps of the splint had been fastened, and his hand was released back down to the pillow.

The remaining restraints were unfastened, the side rails lowered, and the pillows removed, in preparation for repositioning the patient. One on each side of the bed, Sam and Landon grabbed the draw sheet.

But, as he was being turned, Callen tensed, taking in a gulp of air, and grabbed a fist full of Sam's t-shirt with his left hand.

"We got you, buddy. We're not gonna let you fall."

When Callen seemed to be convinced he was stable, he released Sam's shirt, and lowered his head to the pillow.

"That's it, G. Just relax."

Sam watched the nurse raise the head of the bed, elevate Callen's arm on a pillow, pull the covers up, and lift the rails. Landon was about to leave when Sam commented on a step that seemed to be omitted. "We're not going to tie off the restraints?"

Landon stopped at the door. Without turning to face Sam, he responded. "Just keep a close eye on him."

After the door had closed, Callen flinched from apparent pain.

Concern filled Sam's eyes as he looked down at his friend. Without pain meds, the next fifteen hours were going to be tough for his partner.

Within a few seconds, Callen grimaced again. This time, he held his breath, and bent his left knee, pushing his hips up off the mattress just a little.

Sam placed his palm on Callen's left shoulder. "Take a breath, G."

Several seconds passed before Callen let out a breath.

"There you go. Take deep breaths."

Still breathing hard, G looked up, searching Sam's eyes for a moment, as if pleading for help.

"I've got you." Sam gave Callen's shoulder a light squeeze. "Hang in there, buddy. You've got to fight this. Remember? I need my partner back."

Callen's breathing eased and his body relaxed.

"That's it." Sam patted Callen's shoulder. "You're gonna be fine. I have your back."

G lay there for a few moments, blinking owlishly up at Sam.

A small smile formed on Sam's face. He had seen a flicker of recognition in his partner's exhausted eyes, just before they closed.