Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters

Dear countrygirl56, Yena167, guest and ssl71: Thanks a lot for still supporting me, it makes writing so much more fun!

Chapter 11

Sam had been looking for his partner until late at night but he couldn't find the slightest trace of him. He was tired and had run out of ideas where to search for Callen. Between the anger and worry for his partner the worry definitely had won the upper hand. He finally made his way back to OPS and was astounded to find Hetty still there sitting at her desk, obviously waiting for him.

"Mr Hanna, any news?" Hetty asked.

"No Hetty, no trace at all," Sam answered frustrated, "G did a very thorough job."

"I didn't expect any differently from him," Hetty said, taking off her glasses and focussing on Sam. "That is just who he is, Mr Hanna. He has a strong independent streak which is annoying at times but equally makes him the resourceful operative he is, the one that is strong and inventive even in a hopeless situation. Please keep that in mind when you find him," Hetty warned, "and trade carefully." She sighed, "You'd better go home for the remaining night now. Mr Callen will let us in, eventually. Then will be the time to help him through this."

Exhausted Sam went home but proper sleep seemed to elude him, where was Callen and what was going on in his mind?

Callen slept for a solid 8 hours until he woke up in the middle of the night, feeling clammy and dizzy. He drank some water from the tap and downed some light painkillers which he had found in his cabinet. He felt incredibly scruffy and he had to get out of the bloody clothes and clean himself up. Callen had difficulty making his way to the bathroom and shakingly managed to take a shower. He was careful to avoid the dressings of his wounds and found some comfortable clean clothes in his drawer to put on. He knew he should eat but he didn't feel like it. This was just as well as he had only little food in the house and he couldn't be bothered with it, anyway.

Exhausted and out of breath after the small exertion he lay down on the couch, his mind wandering around painfully. When had Sam started not trusting him? He had done everything he could to safe him, but somehow it hadn't been enough. Sam had left him behind and the thought hurt. Sam was his family, was he not? How come it had all fallen to pieces? Callen wasn't in any shape to make decisions right now but they would have to be made, eventually. Deep in his muddled thoughts sleep claimed him, once more.

Early in the morning Sam gave up the attempt to sleep. He could just as well head into work early and started to get ready. Sam couldn't stop thinking about Hettys words, about what made his partner the friend he cherished and the brother he trusted his life with. Maybe Hetty was right, though he didn't like it one bit. Callen needed someone to get through to him with tough love.

On his way in to work Sam kept on thinking about Callen's whereabouts when his gut feeling made him turn in his tracks. He hadn't checked Callen's house, yet. He was sure he wouldn't find him there but he had to try, just in case.

The house lay in a quiet neighbourhood and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Sam rang the doorbell and nobody answered, so he took out his spare key and unlocked the door. "G, are you here? G, it's me, Sam!" Sam knew how dangerous his partner could be when being surprised, so he wanted to announce himself, just precautionary.

There was no answer, so Sam went in, maybe he could find a hint to where G was. Sam glanced around the living room when he made out the form of G Callen on the couch, hidden under a thick blanket. Sam stopped in his tracks to take in the unusual sight of his partner being out. It was disturbing that Callen hadn't woken up at the noise Sam had made. Usually he was aware of his surroundings even in sleep as he never truly let his guard down.

Carefully Sam reached out to Callen's arm, "G, are you with me, G?" Callen felt hot to the touch, maybe he had a fever. "G, can you hear me, buddy?" Callen felt somebody touching him, jerking awake he lashed out due to his training. His movements were far too sluggish and slow, though and he couldn't stiffle a moan when pain shot through his body due to the sudden exertion. Sam easily caught Callen's fist, "Easy, G, it's me, Sam, stay down." Callen let himself fall back into the couch, hissing and shielding his eyes with his forearm.

It worried Sam to no end that his partner was obviously very much off his game and in pain. He was debating with himself whether to call an ambulance straight away or speak with his partner, first. But Sam was determined to make up with his friend and get trough to him, so he decided on the latter and paitently settled down on the coffee table.