Been inspired over the last few days... so here's another chapter.
Not sure when i'll have the next one ready, so enjoy

After Nell had fallen back asleep, Callen had stuck around… not wanting to leave Nell alone.

Mike also stuck around to deal with Eric when he reappeared in the morning. Despite the fact that he wasn't a guy that believed in true love, he could recognise that his 'brother' and Nell were the closest to it that he had ever had the fortune to witness.

When Mike called, Kensi to let her know the situation, she was ecstatic, and agreed to bring grace to the hospital the following morning.

Mike would stick his head in to check on his friends every few hours, and made sure no doctors or nurses would disturb them.

When he had first stuck his head in to check on them, Callen had been sat asleep in the chair by Nell's bed, holding her hand. When he had checked on them a few hours later, he found Callen had climbed onto the bed and was laying back with his arm wrapped protectively round Nell. Who in turn was resting her head against Callen. Mike pulled out his cellphone and took a quick picture before sending it to Kens.

….

When the doctor showed up in the morning, Callen was already awake and had popped down to the cafeteria to grab aa coffee for himself, Nell and Mike.

He suspected that Mike wouldn't have left his 'station', so had grabbed him a roll and bacon to help refuel his 'batteries after a night slept, on what he knew from experience, would have been a thoroughly uncomfortable chair

"Mike. Come on, buddy. Breakfast time"

Mike began to stir, spurred on by the smell of 'fresh' coffee and the bacon roll

"You didn't need to stay here all night"

"What sort of friend would I be if I didn't have your six, huh"

"appreciate it, mike. But I think you can go home… get some proper sleep. I'll call you if I need anything."

"If you're sure, brother. Better let you know, Beale's coming back this morning to see , Nell. Had to scare him off last night, so you may get some attitude from him"

"I'm not worried 'bout, Eric. I'll call you later"

Mike got up from his seat and made his way home.

Callen entered, Nell's room and shut the door before walking over to her bad and wafted the coffee cup just under her nose

"Wakey, wakey" and the smell of coffee, was all it took to wake Nell.

She still looked tired, but Callen expected that was more to do with the operation she had just been through than having had a rough night

….

Kensi showed up at about 10am with Grace. Callen was glad to see the younger special Agent, having not felt able to talk to her before his departure to Moscow, given that she was Nell's best friend.

"Hey"

"You look like hell, Callen. You okay"

"I'll be fine, Kens. Just … really glad to be home, know what I mean?"

Kensi gently nodded, acknowledging her understanding.

"I know you've met, but this…" Kensi began, indicating to the young kid in the pram "…is Grace. Isn't she adorable!"

"Yeah. She looks just like her mother" Callen replied, Sadly

"I think we all hoped she was yours. Even Mike did"

"Yeah?" called replied with a slight chuckle "Well, doesn't matter now"

"Hey. If you're back for Nell… they're a package deal. You can't be in Nell's life without being in Grace's. Anyway… we all know you'd be a better father than Eric. And just 'cause you're not her father by DNA, doesn't mean you can't still be a father"

"Thanks, Kens. I think you should take Grace in to her mom. Probably been apart for long enough"

….

"Look who's here. Think she's missed her momma"

"Thanks for watching her, Kens" Nell thanked, Kensi "I take it you spoke to G?"

"Yeah. Is him being here… good?"

"Yeah, I think it is. At least… I hope it is"

"You know he's crazy about you, and we all know you're crazy about him. So, I don't see any reason to be unsure"

"There's Grace…" Nell paused, trying to prepare herself for the expected conversation "and Eric's involved now"

"How does that matter? Do you love Eric?, or do you love Callen?. Sure, Grace is part of the equation now. But you know, Callen. He's great with kids… so there's no doubt in anyone's mind that he'll be great with this little one"

"My mom said I should be with Grace's father. Give her a stable upbringing. Maybe that's what I should do"

"Nell!. Do you love Eric?"

"No" Nell replied, not needing a single moment to give it any thought

"So you think it'd be better to let Grace grow up in a home where her mother isn't happy?"

….

Eric swaggered into the hospital, a box of chocolate and a bunch of roses . Confident that he was finally going to make Nell Jones his.

Reaching the hallway that Nell's room was on, Eric wasn't surprised to find Kensi sitting outside the room. It had been the norm on all his previous visits that Kensi, Renko and occasionally even Sam, were there for Nell's protection. Not that there was any expected threat to her wellbeing, but it's what the field agents had been doing ever since Nell had been in the hospital for whatever treatment she was undergoing.

Quite why she wouldn't tell him about what her treatments were for, escaped him. Normally there were no secrets between them. They were friends…. Best friends, partners, even lovers… next they would be husband and wife. All she had to do was say yes. But Eric was confident that now that the paternity of Grace was over and done with, there was nothing stopping them becoming what he had wanted for oh so long.

"Hey, Eric. They for Nell?" Kensi asked, meaning the flowers and chocolates

"Yeah. Just gonna pop in and say hi"

Kensi stepped between Eric and the hospital room door "I think you'd be better off coming back. She's busy just now"

"If it's just the doctor, I'm sure Nell won't mind me slipping in. You know what we are now"

"It's not the doctor. She's just busy. Maybe come back in an hour. Why don't you pop down to the canteen and get a cup of coffee. I'll text you when she's free"

"Why don't I take Grace with me. Give Nell a break!"

"I think she want's some alone time with Grace. I'll text you when she's ready"

….

I'm telling you Kens… that guy creeps me out. I mean whatever Nell and him had… it's over. Been over a long time. Jones is just recovering… last thing she needs is her stalker pestering her"

"Come on, Mike. He's harmless. You know he's always had a crush on her…"

"Yeah, well she ain't available"

"She tell you that, or has your heart finally melted?"

"I'm serious Kens. I had to pull out my service weapon to get rid of him last night. Does that strike you as being well balanced?"

"well, I guess you're right. But I still think he's harmless"

….

"You need anything, Jones?" Renko asked, having popped his head in

"No thanks, Mike. G's already running about for me"

"You mind me asking something?"

"Sure"

"Do you have feelings for Beale?"

"What! No, of course not. Why?"

"Does he know you don't have feelings for him?"

"Eric?, pretty sure he knows we're just friends"

"Look, I'm sorry I asked. But I don't think your buddy knows you're just friends"

"Because of last night?, He's just excited about being a father"

"you say so. Just make sure that's all it is"

….

"Hey, Kens. Who's that that just left Nell's room?" Asked Eric, having just briefly caught sight of a man leaving her hospital room

"That, was her landlord. Probably just popped by to get her signature on her new lease" Kensi replied a little too quickly, raising Eric's suspicions

"Here, got you a coffee" Eric offered, gently thrusting a cup to Kensi "Nell okay?"

"Thanks. Yeah. Think she's recovering just fine. Few more days and I'd bet she'll be back to normal"

"Let me ask your opinion. Do you think Nell'll like this?" Eric asked as he opened a ring box

Kensi was floored. She hadn't expected that.

"You not think it's maybe a bit soon?"

"Well, we have Grace. So it makes sense"

"I'd maybe wait a bit before asking her" Kensi replied, remembering what Mike had said

….

"It's getting to that time I guess. I'll be back in the morning. Maybe we'll be able to talk the doctor into letting me take you home"

"Maybe. I'll see you in the morning, Eric"

Watching Eric disappear as he closed the door behind him, Nell couldn't help but feel like she was leading him on. Sure, she hadn't actually said anything to suggest she wanted them to be more than friends. But it sure seemed like he was expecting more from their relationship. Nell kept thinking about what she had said to him since she came back to LA, eventually getting lost in her own thoughts until distrurbed by Kensi, asking her something… not that she had actually heard Kensi ask her anything, never mind remembering seeing her friend enter the room.

"Nell. Are you okay?"

"Huh?. Umm yeah. I think so"

"You sure? You look like your head is somewhere else"

"I feel like I'm leading Eric on. I mean he doesn't know G is back, and … I don't know, I feel like I'm giving him signals that I'm interested in him romantically"

"I told him it was too soon" Kensi replied

"Too soon for what? Kens…"

"So he didn't show you the…" Kensi began, before finishing her sentence at a much lower volume "Ring"

"Ring!. Kens, did you say he had a ring… for me. Like a definitely not friends ring!?"

"You look so much better today" Kensi said, trying to pretend she had said nothing

"Kens! Are you telling me Eric has a ring… a marriage… a freaking wedding ring for me!?. We're just friends… I mean sure, there was that night.. obviously, or Grace wouldn't be here. But we're just friends!"

"You said that twice"

"Yeah… because we're just friends. I knew it was a bad idea coming back to LA"

"You don't mean that. You wouldn't be back with Callen, if you hadn't come back. I wouldn't have seen you again… and oh yeah, you wouldn't be back together with Callen. Also worth repeating, I think"

"And now I can't just run for the hills… I'd be keeping Eric from his daughter… I'd end up in trouble with the government"

"So, just tell him you don't have those feelings for him"

"And while I'm at it… why don't I kick a puppy" Nell responded sarcastically