The office had been decorated for Christmas. And the party was about to begin.

'Where you off to, Callen?' Eric asked.

'Off to get Hetty. Remember, this party is for her?' Callen answered.

'Oh. Right.'

'I'll be back soon.'

Hetty was sipping tea, and being miserable.

She had gone to Vietnam to find someone she had known a long time ago, and had unknowingly fallen into a trap meant for her. It had been a few weeks, and then her team saved her.

It had been a couple of weeks since. She hadn't been hurt badly, thankfully. But the horror of it all had stuck with her, and was affecting her dreams, and her feelings about doing much. One example: She had gotten a Christmas tree, but hadn't decorated it.

Callen came over.

'What are you doing here, Mr. Callen?' She asked.

'The office is holding it's annual Christmas party, and you're invited, and I've come to take you to it.' Callen answered.

'Oh! Oh. How nice.' Hetty answered, awkwardly.

'Are you okay?'

'Yes. Just give me a minute to change my outfit.'

On the ride to the office, Callen showed Hetty the sights of LA decorated for Christmas. She seemed to enjoy it. Callen could suspect though, that something was wrong with her. He couldn't blame her, What she had gone through, the fact that this would be the 1st year without her work partner. It was natural that she wasn't in a festive mood.

Still, she was usually the one team member in the most festive mood. He hoped that the party would lift her spirits up.

At the Party

'Hey! She's here!' Kensi said when Hetty and Callen walked in.

Everyone gathered around them, wishing her a Merry Christmas.

'Did you do all this?' Hetty softly asked Callen.

'He noticed you were feeling down after everything that has happened, so he decided to throw this party for you.' Nell said.

'Thank you.' She softly said to Callen.

The party was going smoothly, up to the gift giving.

'We all got you gifts to show our appreciation for you.' Kensi said.

Silence.

'I, need a minute alone.' Hetty said, then ran off.

Baffled by that, 'Did we do something wrong?' Nell asked.

'No. I'll, I'll talk to her.' Callen said.

In the gym

Hetty was sitting on a bench, crying, feeling ashamed of not being happier at her team's kind gesture. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

'I knew there was something up, care to explain?' Callen asked gently, then sat down next to her.

'Sniff. It's none of you, it's me. You all saved my life, and I've been miserable trying to process what had happened. You saw the undecorated tree in my place, I'm not even in my usual Christmas spirit! I don't even have anything to give any of you because, well.' Hetty blubbered.

Squeezing her hand, 'Hey. We all get it. Going through what you went through is awful, and it wasn't your fault. You were just trying to help someone.' Callen responded.

'And, I really, really miss Owen!'

'We all do. Mosely is, different. But she's not you.'

'And, I feel like I've let you all down these past couple of months! The leaving abruptly, all of you risking your lives and jobs to save me, sigh. I feel like you're all secretly disappointed in me.'

'1st off, No one is disappointed in you. We all love you, and we would walk through fire for you if we had to. You could never let us down!'

'Sniff. How, do I feel better after all of this?' Hetty asked.

'Well, you can start, by coming back into the bullpen and seeing what everyonr has got you!' Callen said.

They went back to the bullpen.

'I'm, incredibly lucky to have all of you. I've been feeling guilty the past couple of weeks. And, it took Mr. Callen doing all of this to help me feel better. To which I'm very grateful for. Otherwise, I'd still be at home with my undecorated tree! It'll be hard moving forward after what happened last month, and, without Owen. But, I know you all love me, and will be here for me when I need it. Merry Christmas, everyone!' Hetty said, after getting all of her presents.

'Merry Christmas to you too, Hetty!' Everyone said.

They came to her house the next day to help decorate her tree.