The four agents entered the building, carefully. SIGs drawn they searched through the building. Suddenly a few men came out of nowhere and started shooting at them. The agents ducked behind the first thing they could find.

"Federal agents!" Sam yelled. "Throw down your weapons!"

The agents fired back whenever they could. After about ten minutes the shooting stopped. The bad guys had been either killed or wounded. The agents walked up to the men and cleared the weapons.

"Eric, we need some ambulances. Some of the men got hurt," Deeks spoke.

"Copy that Deeks."

Sam noticed that Callen wasn't around. He had seen Callen duck behind a crate but now he didn't see him anymore.

"G," Sam called. "G, you good?"

Kensi and Deeks went to check the men as Sam went to find his partner. He had seen Callen duck behind a crate so he walked there.

"G!" Sam called again but still no answer.

Sam walked around the crate and found his partner on the floor and he noticed his partner was bleeding.

"Eric, we need an ambulance, G's been hit."

"On its way."

"Come on G, don't do this to me."

Sam checked his partner to see where he was bleeding. Sam noticed he had been hit in the chest. Sam used his hands to keep pressure on the wound.

"Come on G, stay with me."

Kensi and Deeks had heard it over the coms. After they had secured the men Kensi and Deeks went over to Sam.

"Is he okay?" Kensi asked.

"I don't know. He's unconscious."

In no time the ambulances were there. Two paramedics came up to Sam and Callen. Sam stepped out of the way so the paramedics could do their job. Other paramedics were busy dealing with the men the agents had shot. Sam really hoped his partner would be okay. Once all the men had been taken away the agents went to search through the building, but their minds were all on Callen. They all hoped their team leader would be okay.

Callen was quickly brought to the hospital and into surgery. Hetty had gone to the hospital to see how her agent was doing. When Sam arrived at the hospital Hetty was waiting in the waiting room.

"How's he doing Hetty?" Sam asked, desperate to get an update on his partner.

"He's still in surgery. Doctor said it's touch and go. But they are doing everything they can. Where are Ms. Blye and Mr. Deeks?"

"They are in the boatshed questioning the men who didn't need that much medical attention."

"Okay. Don't worry about your partner Mr. Hanna. Mr. Callen is strong, he will pull through."

"I don't know what happened. We entered the building, we were careful and we looked around. Out of nowhere they came out and shot at us. We dove behind the quickest thing we could find. In the commotion G must have been hit."

It was about two hours later when the doctor approached Hetty and Sam.

"How is he?" Sam asked, desperate to know how his partner was doing.

"There was some internal damage but we managed to repair it. With some rest he should be fine." Both Sam and Hetty were relieved to hear it. "He's being situated in his room right now. He's still unconscious right now from the surgery but he should wake up soon. Once he's settled into his room I will ask the nurse to come get you."

"Thank you doctor."

The doctor walked away and Sam and Hetty sat in the waiting room waiting for the nurse to come get them.

It was about ten minutes later when the nurse walked up to them. Sam and Hetty followed her to Callen's room. Hetty and Sam stepped in and looked at the senior agent lying on the bed. He had some wires attached to his body and they heard the beeping of the heart monitor. Sam walked up to the bed and placed his hand on Callen's arm.

"You're gonna be okay G."

"Yes he will Mr. Hanna. I've gotta go back to the office. Please keep me updated to Mr. Callen's condition."

"I will Hetty. Keep me updated on the case. Let me know if I need to come back to the office."

"I will Mr. Hanna."

Hetty left and Sam sat on the chair next to Callen's bed. He hoped his partner would be okay. He knew how Callen felt about hospitals and being sidelined so it should be fun once he woke up.

It was about an hour later when Sam's phone rang. Sam looked at the display and saw it was Kensi.

"Hey Kens," Sam answered the phone.

"Hey Sam, how's Callen?"

"He should be fine. There was some damage but the doctor repaired it. He's still out cold but he should wake up soon. How's the case going?"

"It's all wrapped up. We questioned those men. They were using James. They were having him sell drugs for them. They threatened his family, if he didn't dealt drugs for them his family would get hurt. But James wanted out, he didn't want anything to do with them anymore. They pulled a gun on him and James ran."

"How did James get involved with them?"

"Probably overseas. Nell and Eric checked and these men have ties with some men in the area where James was stationed. They could have gotten to him there. They sent everything we had to the Navy so they can check it out overseas, maybe there's a mole or something."

"Alright, thanks Kens."

"Keep us updated on Callen's condition."

"I will."

Sam hung up the phone and now it was just waiting until his partner would wake up.

It was about two hours later when Sam noticed his partner waking up. Sam saw Callen's hand moving and then his eyelids started to flutter.

"It's okay G, I'm here. Everything is fine," Sam spoke to his partner. Slowly Callen's blue eyes appeared. "Hey, welcome back partner."

Callen looked around and noticed he was in the hospital.

"What happened?" Callen asked with a soft voice.

"You were shot but don't worry, you're gonna be okay. Doctor fixed you up. With some rest you should be fine."

"How much rest?" Callen asked, his voice a little better now.

"I don't know G, a few weeks I guess."

"Great." Sam could hear the sarcasm in his partner's voice. "Did we at least get them?"

"Yeah don't worry. The case is all wrapped up." Sam filled his partner in on what had happened with the case. "Just rest up G. I'll go get your doctor."

Sam stepped out of the room to get Callen's doctor. Callen looked up to the ceiling. He couldn't believe that he was in the hospital once again. He hated hospitals. He couldn't wait to get out of here but that probably wasn't a good idea right now. He didn't like to admit it but he felt tired and weak, probably because he was shot and had surgery. Callen hoped he would be back on his feet soon and back at work again.

A little later Sam stepped back into the room with the doctor.

"Good to see you're awake Mr. Callen. How are you feeling?"

"Could be better, but I'm okay."

"You were lucky sir. The bullet missed all vital organs."

"How soon can I get out of here doc? No offense but I don't like hospitals."

"You had surgery sir, your body has to heal. I'd say maybe in a few days. But you still have to stay at home for at least two weeks I think."

"Great, just great."

"Sir you have to let your body heal."

"He knows he does," Sam interjected. "Don't worry doc, I'll make sure he takes his rest."

"Alright."

The doctor did some tests on Callen, all seemed good, before leaving the room.

"You scared me there partner."

"Don't worry Sam, you're not getting rid of me this easily," Callen joked.

….

Four days later Callen was released from the hospital but he still had to stay at home for at least two weeks. He had to come back for a checkup and then the doctor would determine if Callen could return to work.

Callen couldn't wait to get out of the hospital. He really hated hospitals, he hated being confined to the bed. There wasn't much to do in a hospital. When Callen walked out of the hospital he saw his partner standing there, leaning against the challenger.

"Morning Sam," Callen spoke as he walked up to his partner.

"Morning G. Come on, get in, breakfast is on me."

"Thanks Sam. I could do with some normal food."

Callen got in the car and Sam drove them to Patrick's roadhouse.

"How are you feeling G?"

"I'm good."

"Just take it easy okay. I know how you get, I don't like to see you back in the hospital anytime soon."

"Don't worry Sam, I'll take it easy. Just wished I could be at work again. I hate sitting around at home."

"I know you do but you have to let your body heal."

"I know Sam, I just don't like it."

After breakfast Sam dropped Callen off at his house. They had already brought Callen's car back home and his bag was inside.

"Thanks Sam."

"No problem G, just take it easy and you can always call me."

"I know and I'll try."

Callen got out and walked up to the front door. Sam looked at his partner. He was glad that Callen was out of the hospital but he hoped his partner would take it easy. He knew his partner all too well. Once Callen was inside Sam drove off and went to work. Callen walked into his house. It was good to be back home again. He saw his bag standing next to the couch. He sat down on the couch and looked through his mail. Callen grabbed his laptop and logged onto the NCIS server. He looked through his emails and answers the ones that needed answering. Callen looked into some cases to see if he could do something but Hetty's face popped up on the screen.

"Hello Mr. Callen," Hetty spoke.

"Hello Hetty."

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I thought it could maybe do some paperwork or something."

"You just got out of the hospital Mr. Callen. You need to rest. I'm locking you out of the server for now."

"Hetty please, I need to do something. I can't sit around doing nothing."

"Read a book or something. I mean it Mr. Callen, you have to take your rest."

Hetty ended the call and locked Callen out of the system. If he could log into the system he could at least do something. Well he could go learn his languages now or something, running or anything really physical was out of the question for now. Callen opened up a program an brushed up on his languages.

In the afternoon Callen went to the store to buy some groceries.

After a week Callen already had enough of sitting at home. He felt fine and he wanted to go back to work but Hetty was very strict. He couldn't come back yet, not until he had his checkup next week. He hated this, he hated being sidelined. He wasn't good at sitting on his ass the entire day. Sam had come by a few times to check up on him, to make sure he was taking his rest. Callen hoped he could return to work after he had his checkup next week. Maybe for a few days a week perhaps. Even if it was only desk work Callen would be happy about it. It was better than staying at home all day.

This Friday Callen had an appointment with his doctor. He sat in the waiting room for a few minutes until the doctor called him in.

"So, how are you doing Mr. Callen?"

"I feel good. Ready to go back to work again."

"No more pains? Fatigue?"

"No not really."

"Alright, let's just check you over and we'll go from there. You may go in there and take your shirt off."

Callen went into the exam room and took his shirt off. The doctor examined the wound before removing the stitches. He pulled out his stethoscope and listened to Callen's heart and lungs and he also took his blood pressure.

"Everything seems normal here."

"So I can go back to work?"

"You seem fine but Ms. Lange asked me to send you to a physical therapist, to see how your condition is, if you're fit again to return to work."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Ms. Lange's orders, she was very specific."

"Alright then I guess."

Callen realized going against Hetty's orders in this case wasn't the wisest decision.

"Alright, I've already made an appointment for you. It starts in twenty minutes."

"Alright thank you."

Callen left the office and went down the physical therapy wing. He sat in the waiting room until he was called in.

"Good afternoon Mr. Callen, my name is Pete. There are some clothes over there, you can get changed there."

"Thanks."

A little later Callen came out in his workout clothes.

"Alright, let's get started on the treadmill."

Pete attached some wires to Callen before firing up the treadmill. He started the treadmill off slowly and increased its speed with time. After about thirty minutes he stopped.

"Was that okay? Not too much?" Pete asked.

"No it was fine."

Pete wrote down Callen's vitals. He did some more exercises with Callen.

"And? Can I go back to work?" Callen asked once they were done.

"Everything seems find so far. Your vitals are all good. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't go back to work."

"Great, thanks."

"Just take it easy the first couple of days and if you experience any pains or fatigue or something please contact your doctor."

"I will do that."

"Alright, you're all done here."

Callen went to grab a shower before going home. He was glad he could start work again on Monday. He hated sitting at home.

….

"Morning," Callen spoke as he walked into the bullpen that Monday morning, only Sam was there.

"Morning G, you're already cleared for work?"

"Yes I am. Had a checkup this Friday and I was deemed fit enough to return to work."

"That's good, welcome back partner."

"Thanks, it's good to be back. Anything exciting happen here while I was gone?"

"Nah not much, just your average cases."

Callen looked at his inbox. His inbox had gained quite the amount of paperwork while he was gone. Callen grabbed the top folder off of it and got started.

Luckily today was an easy day so Callen could ease back into work. Callen stayed a little longer than the others to catch up on his paperwork.

"Go home Mr. Callen," Hetty spoke, walking into the bullpen. "This will still be here tomorrow. Don't overdue yourself on your first day."

"Just gotta finish this one Hetty, then I'll go home." Callen looked at Hetty. "I promise Hetty."

"Alright, goodnight Mr. Callen."

"Goodnight Hetty."

Callen finished the report he was working on before logging off. He packed up his stuff and went home. Before going home he picked up some pizza.

The next morning Callen was at work early. He went to the shooting range to get some target practice in. He hung up a paper target, put dummy bullets in his gun and put glasses and headphones on. He took his stance and emptied the magazine on the target. After three magazines he left the shooting range and cleaned his gun in the armory.

"Morning G," Sam spoke as he walked into the armory a few minutes later.

"Morning Sam."

"You're here early."

"Yeah just did some target practice and I have tons of paperwork to catch up on so."

"Alright, but you're doing good?"

"Yes Sam," Callen spoke and looked at his partner. "Don't worry Sam, I'm good."

"Alright."

Sam went to the shooting range as well. Once Callen was done cleaning his gun he went back up to the bullpen and got started on his paperwork again.

Today was another quiet day. They did get a case but it was only a small one and they managed to wrap it up in a couple of hours. After Callen was finished with his paperwork he went down to the gym, the others had already gone home. Callen changed into some workout clothes and went to the punching machine. He practiced for about thirty minutes before hitting the showers. Once dressed again Callen grabbed his stuff and went home. He just lounged around his house for the rest of the evening. He was about to go to bed for the night when there was a knock on his door and more knocks. This person seemed desperate. Callen wondered who it was. With his hand ready on his SIG Callen walked up to the door. Carefully Callen opened the door. He was surprised to see Joelle standing there, she looked terrified.

"Joelle? What are you doing here?" Callen wondered.

"Oh thank god you're home Callen," Joelle spoke really terrified.

"What's wrong Joelle?"

"You got to help me."