Well...I finally managed to get my head back into this one after an unforgivably long time. I'm really sorry about the delay and I'm so grateful to everyone who has been reading and commenting up until this point. To anyone still reading (If you're still out there) I'll try to do better and I appreciate your patience.

xxxxx

Callen slept for a couple of hours and woke up late in the afternoon. Hetty was dozing in the reclining chair by his bed. Sam was sitting in the other, not so comfortable chair, awake.

"Hey," Callen said, setting his eyes on his partner.

"Hi buddy...how are you doing?" Sam spoke tentatively, unsure as to which version of his friend he was going to get.

"I...I'm okay, I guess," Callen said. As he spoke, he realized that he really did seem to be feeling better. Then again, he'd felt better before and then would feel like crap again just as quickly, so he wasn't going to get his hopes up. "You should take Hetty home. Both of you should get some rest."

"I'll decide when I need to rest, Mr. Callen," Hetty said as she opened her eyes and peered at him, a faint smile on her face. "Are you feeling any better?"

"I am," Callen replied with a nod.

"Would you like some water?" Hetty asked.

Callen nodded and Sam quickly handed him a bottle of water. "Thanks, Sam." Callen opened the bottle, took a couple of long sips and then replaced the cap. "Seriously...you two should leave."

"Why the big rush to get rid of us, G?" Sam asked curiously. "You planning an escape?"

Callen shook his head. "Even if I was, I'm not up to trying it," he admitted, then smirked. "At least not yet."

"Not funny, Mr. Callen," Hetty said, trying not to smile. He really was incorrigible, but she could see that he did seem to be doing a bit better.

"You know you love me, Hetty," Callen teased.

"Yes, I do," Hetty said seriously. "But, I hope you're not planning on leaving the hospital before you're officially released."

Callen sighed. "Don't worry, Hetty. I won't be trying anything like that." He was still feeling far from his normal self, but not having a headache or feeling like he was about to throw up were huge improvements as far as he was concerned.

"Are you hungry?" Sam asked. "I could get you something, anything you want, just name it."

Callen quickly shook his head, not yet willing to test the limits of what his stomach could handle.

"You really need to start eating," Hetty urged gently. "You're not going to regain your strength if you don't."

"I know, and I will," Callen said, trying to reassure her. "Just not yet."

"Alright," Hetty agreed. She could see the anxiety in his eyes, as much as he tried to hide it. She didn't want to make his recovery any more difficult on him than it already was.

Just then, Dr. Carlisle came into the room. "Hello. Mr Callen, how are you feeling this afternoon?" he asked as he approached Callen's bedside.

"Better," Callen said.

"Good, good." The doctor glanced at the notations on his chart. "You feel up to eating anything?"

Callen made a face. "I don't think so."

"Tomorrow then," Dr. Carlisle said. "Even if it's just nutrition shakes to begin with. You need to start to build yourself back up. It's the only way you're going to get well."

Callen nodded. "I'll eat something tomorrow."

"Okay. Someone will be in to draw your blood soon. I want to keep close a close eye on your labs."

"Thanks," Callen said.

"I have to say I'm pleased with how you're doing," Dr. Carlisle said. "I'm heading home for the night but Dr. Madison will be covering for me. If you have any problems at all, make sure you tell a nurse. We want to keep on top of this. Keep up the good work. " He then headed out.

"Good work?" Callen mumbled after he had left. "What am I doing that's so good? I'm just lying here doing nothing."

"Come now, Mr. Callen," Hetty said. "Think positively. Now, I think you should try to get some more sleep. It's the best thing for you."

Callen nodded and fussed with his pillows before settling back against them. He hated feeling so tired all the time, but he couldn't seem to keep awake for very long at all. He hoped that wasn't going to last long. "I still say you two should go home," he said before closing his eyes and falling back to sleep.

Hetty watched him for a bit, a fond smile on her face before she turned to Sam. "I think I'm going to go pay Mr. Deeks and Miss Blye a visit and then I'm going to grant Mr. Callen his wish and head home."

Sam nodded. "I think that's a good idea. I'm going to stay with him...Unless he kicks me out," he added with a grin.

"Let's hope that doesn't happen," Hetty said as she stood up and made her way to the door. "I understand you want to stay with him, but do try to get some rest, Mr. Hanna. That reclining chair is actually quite comfortable."

"Drive safely," Sam said. He then went over to the recliner and settled down to see if he could get a bit of rest.

xxxxx

Hetty quietly entered Deeks' room and smiled when she saw the two junior team members cuddled together on the bed, fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb them, she turned to leave but was stopped by Kensi's voice. "Hetty? Is everything okay?"

"I'm so sorry, dear," Hetty said softly. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Kensi carefully moved away from Deeks and sat on the edge of the bed. "I was just dozing. Is Callen okay?"

"I'm happy to say he's doing better right now. How about Mr. Deeks?"

"He was running a fever earlier. His doctor changed his antibiotic so hopefully he'll start improving."

"You've all had quite a time," Hetty said, then sighed. She couldn't help but feel guilty whenever she thought about Bart's twisted reasoning for what he had done to them. She didn't think it was anything she'd ever be able to totally get over, especially when she saw how badly they were all affected. She knew they had all gone through hell.

"Hetty? We're going to be okay." Kensi took the older woman's hand and squeezed it gently. "It's just going to take a bit of time, but I promise we're all going to get through this."

"She's right."

Hetty and Kensi both turned their eyes toward Deeks, his hair tousled and his eyes heavy-lidded from sleep. "I'm sorry we woke you, honey," Kensi said, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"It's okay. I'm kind of hungry anyhow," Deeks said. "What time is it?"

"It's a little after 5," Hetty said. "They were delivering dinner trays on the other side of the floor. They should be here soon. Unless there's something I can get for you?"

Kensi shook her head. "That's not necessary, Hetty. You should go home before it gets too late."

Hetty chuckled lightly. "Everyone is telling me to go home. It's making me feel unwanted."

"You mean Callen?" Deeks asked. "How is he doing?"

"He's improved quite a bit since earlier today," Hetty said. "Mentally he seems to be pretty much back to normal and he says he's feeling better."

"Well, that's good to hear," Kensi said. "I'm glad he's finally doing better. Sam must be relieved."

"Yes," Hetty said with a nod. "Mr. Hanna is most definitely glad to see his partner improving."

They chatted for a short time and then Hetty decided to leave the couple on their own. "I'm glad to see you doing better, Mr. Deeks. Do as the doctors say and you'll be out of here before you know it."

"Thanks, Hetty," Deeks said. "We'll see you soon."

"I'll be back tomorrow," Hetty said. "Good night."

After Hetty left, the dinner tray was delivered shortly afterwards. "Care to make a wager?" Deeks asked, looking at the domed plate on the tray.

"If it's edible, you mean?" Kensi asked.

Deeks nodded. "You read my mind." He reached over to the cover and removed it from the plate. Underneath he found what looked like salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, a mixture of peas and carrots and a dinner roll with a pad of butter. There was a cup of chocolate pudding off to the side. "Uhhhh...it looks okay…"

Kensi smiled at Deeks trying to put on a brave face. "I can go get you something. I need to get something for myself anyway."

Deeks breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, baby. Just a sandwich or whatever. Just something edible would be good."

"Okay. I'll be back soon. You be good," Kensi said.

"Always," Deeks replied, watching as she left the room, and thinking how lucky he was to have her in his life.

xxxxx

Callen awoke at a little after 6 pm and saw Sam fast asleep in the recliner. Feeling chilled, he pressed the call button for a nurse.

"What can I do for you?" a perky young nurse asked as she entered the room a few minutes later.

"Could I get a blanket, please?" Callen asked.

"Of course," she said, smiling at him. "I know you didn't have dinner. I could get you something light if you feel up to it. Toast maybe?"

Callen considered the question briefly and then nodded. "Okay...I'll try some toast, thank you."

"I'll be back shortly," she said.

Callen nodded and pulled the covers more tightly around him before focusing on his partner again. Sam had to be really exhausted not to have heard the nurse come into the room. He knew he couldn't be comfortable and wished he'd go home and get some rest. It appeared that Hetty had done so. At least he thought she had since she wasn't there.

A short time later, the nurse came back into the room carrying a blanket and a plate with two slices of toast. "Here you are," she said, placing it on his bedside table. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

Callen shook his head. "No thanks. This is perfect."

The nurse left the room and Callen took a tentative first bite which tasted good to him. He then proceeded to eat with a bit more enthusiasm.

"Good to see you eating, G," Sam said after a few minutes.

"Hey, Sam. You're finally awake," Callen commented after finishing the last bite of the second slice of toast.

"Guess I was a little more tired than I realized." Sam gazed at his partner thoughtfully for a long moment. "So...you feel up to talking?"

"About?" Callen was partly curious, but also apprehensive, not wanting to get into any heavy topics.

"About what happened...about me hurting you…"

"What? No. I don't want to talk about that," Callen said emphatically. "It wasn't your choice, Sam. You need to just forget about it. I have."

"No you haven't," Sam said. "You might even believe you have, but inside, on some level, it's eating away at you."

"So you're saying Kensi is feeling the same way about Deeks?" Callen asked. "That's simply not true, Sam. She doesn't blame him and I don't blame you. Choices were made. Hard choices that were forced on us. Bart's the only one to blame in all of this."

"And I chose to hurt you over Deeks."

"And Deeks chose to hurt Kensi over letting that freak beat me to a pulp. Come on...I don't blame you. You should know that."

Sam sighed heavily as he met Callen's gaze, his eyes filled with guilt. "You said it, buddy," he said softly.

"What did I say?" Callen asked, his eyes filled with confusion. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I know you don't," Sam said. "It was when you weren't doing well. You were afraid of me. You were upset because…" Even now Sam had a problem really facing what he had done. "Because I whipped you. You said you couldn't trust me. You were sorry we were ever partners…"

"Sam…" Callen shook his head slowly as he absorbed what his friend was telling him. "You've got to believe me...I don't feel like that. Whatever I said was because of the drugs or whatever. I would never feel that way. You're my best friend. I know you had no choice. In any case, I told you to do it. It's not like I didn't want you to."

"Even so…"

"Please," Callen said, his eyes intense. "Don't let Bart win this one too, Sam. I think he's won enough battles in all this. We need to get ourselves together now and win the war. If anything, we need to give him back at least some of what he deserves. That's what I want. Then we need to try to put all of this behind us once and for all."