Chapter 7
Pins, Bullets and Journals
A/N Thank you, LostForeverInHisEyes, Guest 1 and Guest 2, countrygirluk56, Linda Wigington, ssl71 and Wotumba1 for leaving your reviews to the previous chapter!
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Los Angeles || UCLA Medical Center, VIP section, 9thfloor
Like Eric had foreseen, Mosley had been nasty in wanting to hear from Callen why he had gone in, all alone. She didn't really listen and she never truly understood how in a situation like this, Callen felt the responsibility to never sacrifice anyone else's life because of him.
"You let your feelings rule instead of logic, agent Callen. No agent ought to do that, especially not a team leader," Mosley had argued. And no matter that Callen was wounded and hurting and he told her what he'd done and prove the opposite —Mosley simply didn't want to hear. However, she did more or less order written reports about Paul Angelo. Callen confirmed it was Angelo he dealt with. And Frankie, whose last name he didn't remember.
Then Mosley had wanted to hear why it had taken so long before Nell informed her about the situation inside and about wounded, and again it was as if she never wanted to hear arguments which did not fit her own ideas.
Once Mosley left, Nell rolled her eyes. "Discussing this case with her is even more difficult than working in the field."
"You bet!" Callen chuckled. Then, more seriously, he added "I'm grateful for the decision you made Nell. If any had come in, fully armed, I'm pretty sure there would've been many more kids hurt. Right now it was —"
He bowed his head now, suddenly caught by more emotions than he wanted to show. "This girl… You know how she's doing?"
"Critical. She's in the ICU, her family's the only ones who are allowed in. They're not too sure if she'll make it."
Both were silent for a minute or so. They started speaking at the same time "Thanks…" Nell started.
"You were doing great Nell. I'm glad Mosley trusts you like she does."
"She won't say it to you, Callen, but I'm sure she thinks of you better than she's showing. I mean, I'm not blind and I certainly don't like the way she's treating you and I still don't know why she does. You were the one she trusted first, telling you about her boy and the way you offered her your help. I don't know what changed and why, but if you'd ask me, she has had trouble letting you know she's thankful for what you did."
"Sure is the worst way of showing how grateful she is, I'd say. I don't think she really fits in here. But for now, we'd better deal with it. Even if a normal conversation is out of the question, I'll try and listen between the sentences. If only she wasn't that stubborn…"
Now Nell started to giggle. "Stubborn… That's what she calls you too!"
He was going to shrug but moaned softly when the wound on his left shoulder was obvious on this movement.
"You okay?" Nell asked, worried now.
He simply nodded. "Been better, but I shouldn't complain I guess."
"I'd better go then." She hesitated a moment. "Do you want me to call Hetty, Callen, or perhaps Sam?"
"No. Not necessary, Nell. I prefer not, actually. You know how Sam is. There's no need for him to rush in, he should be with his kids, they're the ones who need him. And Hetty… no. She'd feel all guilty and besides, I'm afraid Paul will find her, anticipating on the, well, on the special relationship between the two of us. But thanks anyway, thanks again, Nell."
A broad and well-meant smile came his way and then she was gone. It left Callen with the many thoughts about the kids he saw today. Their scared faces. And he hoped above all that those kids had a place to call home, with parents who loved them and who would be able to help and chase the nightmares those children would suffer from.
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Perhaps he regretted it that he didn't have the heart to share all of what he'd heard and went through. But he did remember Paul Angelo's words about Hetty, and how he figured he'd find her anyway.
He was going to leave this place as soon as possible and despite a pretty bad night he knew he would have to deal with the pain in his left shoulder. Before six in the morning, he got up to take a shower. Getting out of the hospital gown wasn't that difficult. Getting dressed, however, was a burden. The jeans he'd been wearing were far from clean, but he managed those. His shirt was ruined.
So he pressed the call button next to his bed, and waited patiently for a nurse to enter. A quarter of an hour later, his wounds were re-dressed and the nurse offered a short sleeve button down shirt in a pale green color. He'd never chosen it for himself but it was clean and the former owner of it probably never missed it.
And despite the fact the nurse explaining how he should apply and wear a sling, and she suggested the surgeon would see him before Callen left the hospital, he was leaving the same room as soon as he could.
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Boatshed || early that day
Nell had let Callen know they had Frankie in the boatshed for interrogation.
Right outside the hospital, he'd halted a cab and gave the directions to the boatshed. Fifteen minutes later, he was where he needed to be, in his opinion.
Before he excited the taxi he observed the surroundings. Nothing stood out. He opened the door, hoisted himself up and left the fee to pay with the driver.
Outside the boatshed, he was met by Williams, the officer on duty. Never uniformed, there'd always be someone on guard. There was only a small but friendly nod as a greet.
Inside, officer Garcia looked up when he entered and when he'd passed the small corridor he was surprised to see Eric.
It was the other way around as well but in matters of seconds it was clear that the tech was listening intensely to what was said inside.
Frankie was talking to Mosley.
Callen read some of Eric's scribbles. Frank Smith. One of the most common surnames yet he forgot it. He concentrated too now on what he saw and heard.
"He was always the weakest one of us. Callen, I mean. Scared that the other kids might get hurt."
"He's one of the best agents we have," Mosley countered.
The other man frowned, then nodded. "Paul mentioned something like that. Still, when we were younger, he was the cry-baby. That's how we knew he'd come."
Nell posed the next question. "How about Angelo and you? Where... How did the two of you meet?"
This time Smith just smiled and as he shook his head he said "No need to know. Paul has his ways to find people he wants to work with. Let's just say that Paul will find him, find Callen, again. Either by taking other kids and forcing him to come and save them. Or by finding his other weak spots. Deep down he's still vulnerable and so easy to influence."
Smith now looked straight into the camera and smiled rather cruel. "If it's not soon — the moment will come anyway."
Callen bit his low lip and suddenly felt the urge swallow away some insecurities. Was he really that easy to read?
There were some uneasy few seconds and he simply felt the gaze of the younger technical analyst go over his slumped shoulders and his face, his eyes wider and bluer than Eric remembered.
Then it was him, Eric, who got up, clenched his jaw and — without a single explanation — just busted into the interrogation room.
"He's not weak, not scared, not vulnerable. Nothing like that at all. He's strong, wise, a great leader and someone who made sure, time after time, that this city with its inhabitants stay safe. He probably saved your miserable life too, more than once."
"Enough, Beale," Mosley said, her voice kinder now than the others were used to. "We've got this in control."
Twenty seconds later, Eric was back in the main room.
Callen blinked several times and let his hand go over his eyes several times.
"I'm... perhaps he's right, Eric. I mean, I did go in just like that. Without thinking."
Eric shook his head. "I practically sent you, remember?"
"Whatever. Frank knows how to get to me, and weaknesses or not, Paul knows... Beale, I think I'm losing it. Things've changed lately. With Mosley in and Hetty who more or less left. Deeks, well, I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to get fired. Hidoko gone forever, Michelle..." he heaved a deep sigh.
"Callen," Eric started. Then he realized he didn't quite know what to say. He too sighed but continued "I meant what I said. You're better than they say and you proved it."
He didn't add the thoughts he had. From the first start in this office, he worked with the legend G. Callen was, and Callen never failed. His decisions were the right ones and although he had been betrayed begore, it seemed that right now the hero was less certain than he remembered.
Eric changed his stance a little and realized with a pang "You were shot and probably left the hospital before it was allowed. Why?"
Not letting his gaze leave Callens nearly defeated posture, he noticed the dark stains in the rims of the fingernails of the other man. Dried blood, he realized. Blood from a randomly picked child that was shot, simply to punish Callen.
"Hetty. Paul figured she'd come and visit me. She mustn't know Eric. Right now she's relatively safe. Paul Angelo doesn't know where she lives and we need to keep it that way."
"Nell heard the name Paul and I've digged into the files we have on him."
"Redacted files?" Callen asked. "How about this Frank Smith, you think we can find out more about him, or the connection between those two?"
"I'd need to get to my own stuff at the office," Eric said. "But Mosley won't even notice whether I'm around or not. I could give you a ride."
"Thanks Eric, I'd appreciate that."
It was different from usual, Eric thought, with not the sharp Callen he was used to, but they'd manage, as a kind of partnership he never figured they'd could have but had right now.
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NCIS main office || an hour and a half later
He entered her office without knocking and simply stated "We've found out Paul Angelo must've used files of other agencies, CIA for example, to find out about my past, and about Hetty's. That's how he came across Frank Smith. Who, by the way, has several prior convictions, from juvenile court to now on. Assaults, mostly conflicted to younger kids. 'Rücksichtlos', they call it in other countries."
"Agent Callen... have I asked you to inform me?" Mosley scanned the posture of the man in front of her and she wondered how he did it, go on and on, even after a terrible day he'd gone through. She added, softer now, "I just let Jones know she is in the lead in this case."
He raised his brows. "Nell? She'll be in charge?"
Mosley nodded. "You, Callen, are in no position to work this case no longer. You are on official sick leave so I've been told." She cocked her head just slightly and immediately checked her hair with her hands. She continued. "Besides, you are involved, since this is all about you, whether you like it or not. I contacted Henrietta Lange to find out what exactly happened between her and former agent Angelo. I'm just telling you — let it go and see to it you take some rest. This agency needs you sound and alert."
Callen shook his head. "No way you're calling and let Hetty come in here because of what went on. Not gonna happen. It'd be naïve to ignore Angelo's words."
"That, agent Callen, is your opinion. However, as you are well aware of, in the end I make the decisions, and it's my call. Not yours. And personally, I don't see any harm in inviting her in the office."
Callen stepped forward even more and said, as calm as he could "I explained before how Angelo wants nothing else but to punish Hetty. The only way he can find her is through me, or by checking the office, even though I told Paul she doesn't work here any longer."
He simply stood, trying to cross his arms, but all to soon remembered it would not work with the pain in his shoulder.
"Before she'll arrive, you'll have left already agent Callen. I don't get it, what's the deal of talking to Hetty?"
"I understand that you don't understand, dammit. When éver did you even try to be as polite to ask about any of our personal lives? Even Paul Angelo understands. Or should I say 'at least' he understands? All he wants is to revenge Hetty's decision. But finding her has been the issue so far. Because Hetty doesn't want to be found. And now you're doing it - making her come here is exactly what he wants."
She stood up and leaned forward, her hands flat on the desk in front of her and her eyes spit fire. "We'll handle it my way, Callen. Thank you for your intel. Are you able to travel home on your own or should I take measures for that as well?"
He set his jaw. "I'm not disabled, thank you. But let me tell you this, assistant director Mosley, this was our mess. I'm rather sure we could've handled it in one way or another and keep Hetty safe and out of this. Instead, you decided to interfere and I can't imagine the mess you're making of this will work. At all."
Then he turned, feeling he failed and wondered how he could shake off the feeling he should do something to warn Hetty. But he refused to wait outside, just like that. He'd just inform Eric, but never, never, within the reach of Mosley's ears or eyes.
Before the first call the younger tech answered already. "Yeah, Callen?"
"I'm grabbing a cab, Eric, to Hetty's place. And no, not telling you which one. It's just... well, on case you see her first, be sure you'll keep her safe."
"Of course," Eric replied. He paused a beat and added "Callen? You stay safe too."
He hummed something back before he hung up.
Callen felt drained. Maybe Mosley was right and he should take some days off to recover properly. Still, his gut feeling told him he should be anticipating on some kind of cliffhanger.
Still, figuring out how and what it was, was impossible.
And it sucked.
Thanks again for reading!
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