A/N: Sorry about the delay. It has been busy and I had a bit of writer's block. Tried to write but not much came out. Hope to do weekly updates now again.
Callen watched as they wheeled her off to the OR. Callen followed them and waited in the waiting room at the surgical floor. As he sat waiting there Callen's phone rang.
"Hey Hetty," Callen answered the phone.
"How is Ms. Moore?"
"She's in surgery right about. They took her in about an hour ago. They said she had some internal injuries but she should be okay."
"Okay, please keep me informed."
"I will Hetty. Have the others found out already who the guys were that took Zoë?"
"The two bodyguards are dead and Mr. Hanna and Ms. Blye are questioning the boss right now, but so far he's not really talking. Mr. Beale and Ms. Jones did found out his name. His name is Yuri Malenko, he's Ukrainian."
"And what did he want with Zoë?"
"It's not quite clear yet but Ms. Moore did spend a few years in Ukraine as a profiler for the navy so perhaps it's from one of her past cases. Mr. Beale and Ms. Jones are looking through the case and Mr. Hanna and Ms. Blye will get him to talk."
"Okay, please keep me in the loop."
"Will do Mr. Callen, you just make sure Ms. Moore is doing okay."
"Will do Hetty, talk to you later."
Callen hung up the phone and sat there waiting for the doctor to come out. He really hoped Zoë would be okay. She was probably taken because of an old case but as team leader Callen still felt responsible for what happened to Zoë. It was his job to protect everyone on the team, not just the agents but the others as well. He really hoped Zoë would be alright.
It was about two hours later when Zoë's doctor came out into the waiting room. As soon as Callen saw him he stood up and walked over to the doctor.
"How is she doing?" Callen asked.
"She had a few internal injuries, luckily nothing major was hit and we were able to repair all the damage. We also took her for a scan and she has a few cracked ribs but she should be just fine in a few weeks."
Callen let out of deep sigh. "Thank you doctor. Can I please see her?"
"Of course, right this way." Callen followed the doctor to Zoë's room. "She's still out from the surgery but she should wake up soon."
"Thank you doctor."
"I'll be back later to check on her," the doctor said and left the room.
Callen walked up to the bed. Zoë lay there on the bed, still unconscious and Callen could already see some bruises starting to form on her face. Callen sat down on the chair next to the bed and just looked at Zoë. Callen really hoped she would be okay. Zoë wasn't an agent so she wasn't trained to handle situation like this. He hoped she would be okay and that they would learn why they had taken Zoë in the first place.
It was about an hour later when Zoë started to wake up. Callen saw her eyes adjusting to the room she was in.
"It's okay Zoë, you're in the hospital. It's okay," Callen told her.
"Callen?" Zoë asked with a confused face.
"Yeah it's me. It's okay. You're in the hospital, you're safe. We got the men who took you. How are you?"
"A bit sore."
"Yeah, you had to have surgery. But don't worry, the doctor fixed you up. You have a few cracked ribs so those have to heal, but you're gonna be alright."
"Thank you for coming for me."
"Of course. I'm sorry you got taken. Would it be okay if I asked you a few questions?"
"Yeah sure."
"Do you know the men who took you?"
"No, they didn't look familiar to me. Do you know who they are?"
"Eric and Nell find out that the boss is Yuri Malenko, he's Ukrainian. Does the name ring a bell?"
"No, not really. But I did spend some time in Ukraine, perhaps it's connected to that."
"Yeah Eric and Nell are already looking through your past cases in Ukraine and Sam and Kensi are questioning him."
"What about the other two men?"
"They are dead, we shot them. Don't worry, we're not gonna let Malenko hurt you, we'll make sure of that. You just rest up, I'm gonna just call the others to update them. I'll be right outside if you need me."
Callen stepped out of the room and called Hetty.
"Hello Mr. Callen, how is Ms. Moore doing?" Hetty answered the phone.
"She just woke up, she's still a bit tired and weak but she should be okay."
"That's good to hear."
"Have the others found out something more?"
"Mr. Hanna and Ms. Blye finished questioning Malenko. It was related to Ms. Moore's time in Ukraine. Malenko was a person of interest in a case she was working on. They had managed to catch him but he escaped. Ms. Moore managed to get his family out of the country and relocated them in America under new names."
"So he was here to find his family?"
"It looks that way yeah. Mr. Hanna and Ms. Blye will personally transport him to prison, he's going away for a long time."
"That's good to hear."
"Take care of Ms. Moore please Mr. Callen."
"I will Hetty."
Callen hung up the phone and walked back into the hospital. Callen was pleased to see that Zoë had fallen asleep again.
A few hours later the doctor came into the room to check on Zoë.
"How are you feeling Ms. Moore?"
"I'm feeling okay, just a bit weak and tired and like someone is sitting on my chest."
"Yeah you fractured a few ribs, they will take a couple of weeks to heal. I would like to keep you here for a few more days, just to make sure."
"That's alright. How long will I have to stay at home?"
"About two-three weeks I think, depends on how fast your ribs heal."
"Can my friend stay with me perhaps overnight?"
"Normally I wouldn't allow it but under the circumstances I will allow it for tonight."
"Thank you doctor."
"Just rest up, I'll be back later to check on you."
The doctor left the room.
"You don't mind staying here tonight right? I feel safer with you here," Zoë spoke as she turned to Callen.
"Yeah it's no problem. But you don't have to worry. We caught Malenko and his bodyguards are dead. Malenko is going to prison, he can't hurt you anymore."
"I know but still I would feel better if you stayed here tonight."
"It's no problem Zoë, I'd be happy to stay here. Just try to get some sleep, I'll be here if you need me."
"Thanks Callen."
It was already around 9pm so Zoë tried to get some sleep. Callen momentarily stepped out of the room to update Hetty on Zoë condition.
..
Two days later Zoë was cleared to go back home. She still had to stay home for about three weeks. Callen came to pick her up from the hospital before he had to go to work. Callen dropped her off at her place.
"Thank you for everything Callen."
"No problem, just rest up and feel better. And if there's ever anything I can do for you just let me know okay. You can call me day or night."
"Thanks Callen, but I think I'll be alright. I'll see you later."
"Yeah see you."
Zoë got out of the car and walked into her house. Her ribs still hurt a bit and she still had some bruises but she was feeling better already. Her other injuries had started to heal a bit already, just her fractured ribs were bothering here. She went into the bedroom to change into a pair of sweats.
After work Kensi and Nell dropped by.
"Hey, come on in," Zoë said as she opened the door.
"How are you feeling?" Kensi asked.
"I'm okay, just a bit sore but I'm getting better."
"That's good to hear."
"How's work?"
"It's good. Not really an interesting case today."
They sat there chatting for a while until Kensi and Nell went home. Zoë stayed up for a little longer before going to bed. It wasn't really handy to sleep with her cracked ribs, lying on her side hurt too much so she lay on her back. She was glad to be home again and be out of the hospital bed. She fell asleep soon.
A few hours later Zoë shook up with a scream and sat upright in the bed, the sudden action causing pain in her ribs. She looked around confused and relaxed once she realized she was in her own home. For a moment it was like she was back in that dark room where she was held. It wasn't something she hoped she'd ever have to face again. Realizing that she was safe in her own home she lay back down on the bed but sleep didn't want to come this time. Every time she closed her eyes she was back at that place. She felt really tired but she just couldn't seem to fall asleep without being back in that room again and the fear that she would get taken again. She reached for her cell phone and looked at the time. It was 3am. She opened her contacts list and paused at Callen's name. She just held the phone in her hand for a few moments, contemplating what to do. Sure, Callen would probably be awake because he never slept much, but should she really call him?
..
Callen was in his living room practicing his Russian when his phone rang. First he thought that he was called in for a case but then he saw Zoë's name.
"Hey Zoë, what's up? You okay?" Callen asked concerned.
"Hey Callen, I'm sorry to call you at this hour. I hope I didn't wake you."
"No, not at all. What's up?"
"I don't…. I don't know…. I just had this horrible nightmare. It was like I was back in that room again and I now I can't seem to fall asleep again. Every time I close my eyes it seems like I'm back in that room again. I thought that perhaps talking to you would help. I'm sorry to call you."
"It's okay Zoë. I told you, you can call me day and night."
"I just feel so scared and I don't know what to do."
"Would you like me to come over?"
"Oh no, that's not necessary."
"It's no problem at all. I'd be happy to do it."
"I'm fine Callen," Zoë told him but Callen heard in her voice that she wasn't.
"I'll be right there Zoë." Before Zoë had a change to respond Callen had already hung up the phone.
Callen put his shoes and jacket on and got in his car. He still remembered how to drive to Zoë's place after he had dropped her off after she came out of the hospital.
Zoë had pulled a robe and some slippers on and sat on the couch when there was a knock on the door.
"It's me Zoë," Callen spoke.
Zoë stood up from the couch and opened the door. "Hey Callen, you really didn't have to come all this way."
"It's no problem at all," Callen replied as he walked in.
Zoë closed the door and with a sigh she sat down on the couch. "I just can't help but shake this feeling. Every time I close my eyes I see them."
"It's only normal to feel this way. You're not the only one who feels this way," Callen replied as he sat down next to Zoë.
"How do you deal with it?"
"It doesn't bother me now anymore but the first time I was taken it did. I was only a junior agent and it was my first solo assignment. I was captured and tortured pretty bad. Once I was safe I still could feel exactly what it was like to be in that room and to be tortured. It took a while for me to deal with it but I can promise you that it does get better."
Once Callen had finished talking Zoë could help but start to laugh a bit. "I'm sorry, this is not a funny story you told but it's…. this is a bit funny. I'm the shrink. I usually tell this to people and now I'm the one it's being told to. I'm usually the one who gives the answers and now I can't even help myself figure this out," Zoë spoke and ended with a bit of tears in her eyes.
"If this was the other way around. If it was me with this problem and I would come to you for help, what would you tell me?"
Zoë took a deep sigh and tried to focus her thoughts. "First I would get the exact cause of the fear and the nightmares and then I would say that it wasn't their fault that they were caught. That they don't have to blame themselves. Then I would say that they have to accept it happened if they are going to deal with it. If they don't accept it then they won't be able to move on from it and that it's hard in the beginning but they eventually learn to deal with it and move on from it. And don't keep it bottled up, talk about what you're feeling."
"See, you know exactly what do it."
"Knowing what to do and actually do it are two different things."
"That's true. But you know where it came from and what to do. I'm positive you can do this."
"Thanks Callen, but at the moment I'm not so sure."
"You will be able to get over this Zoë. I know it's hard right now but it will get better I promise," Callen spoke and he put his arm around Zoë and pulled her in for a comforting hug.
"Thanks Callen and thanks for coming here."
"It's absolutely no problem."
Sitting there with Callen's arm wrapped around her and her head resting on his shoulder made Zoë feel safe. She was going to deal with this but it would take some time.
"Callen?" Zoë spoke after a while.
"Yeah Zoë?"
"It might be a bit of a weird question but would you mind staying here with me tonight, right now I'd just feel safer with someone here."
"Yeah of course, it's no problem."
"Thanks."
"Just try to get some sleep."
Not having the desire to stand up Zoë stayed there sitting next to Callen and it didn't take her long to fall sleep. Once Callen noticed she had fallen asleep he carefully picked her up and carried her to the bed. Zoë stirred a bit as Callen picked her up but she stayed asleep. Carefully Callen placed her down on the bed and pulled the covers over her. He quietly closed the door and lay down on the couch in the living room.
Callen hated that Zoë was going through this right now, she should've never been taken. They hadn't known each other for long but Callen felt at ease with her, more than he ever did with Nate. Someone she made him feel relaxed and willing to share more. He told her more in the short time he had known her than in the long time he had spent with Nate. She was a really good addition to the team and Callen really liked having her on the team.