"I'm calling from Cedars-Sinai hospital. We have a patient here by the name of Joelle Taylor. She asked me to call you."
"What happened?'
"She's still in with the doctor but she wanted me to call you."
"Alright, I'll be right there."
Callen hung up the phone. "Everything okay G?" Sam asked concerned.
"That was the hospital, apparently Joelle's there."
"Is she okay?" Kensi asked.
"I'm not sure, I've gotta go."
"Yeah of course G, we'll cover for you here."
"Thanks."
Callen quickly grabbed his stuff and drove to the hospital. He parked his car and ran into the ER.
"Hi, excuse me, I was called earlier that my girlfriend was in here," Callen spoke to the desk nurse.
"What's her name?"
"Joelle Taylor." The desk nurse looked at the board. "She's in treatment room four which is down there to the left."
"Thank you." Callen walked over to the treatment room and saw Joelle lying on the bed but no doctor anymore in the room. "Hey honey."
"Hey G."
Callen walked up to her and gave her a kiss. "What happened? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?" Callen asked as he rubbed her stomach.
"I was getting my things to go and suddenly I fainted. I felt dizzy and then everything went black. Some of my colleagues must have seen it cus when I came to the paramedics were there."
"Did the doctor already check you out? Are you both okay?"
"She did an ultrasound and the baby is just fine." Callen let out a relieved sigh. "She took my vitals and noticed that my blood pressure was a bit low. She took some blood to run some tests on and she would be back later."
"Okay, but you're both okay?"
"Yeah, we're both okay."
"Okay good." Callen sat down next to Joelle on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. "You scared me. When I got that phone call saying you were in the hospital I got so scared. I worried that something had happened to either one of you."
"We're both fine G. It's probably my low blood pressure that caused me to faint. I feel better already."
"That's good."
"I'm sorry if I pulled you away from a case."
"It's no problem Jo, you're more important. Here is where I need to be right now to make sure you two are both okay."
"We're both fine G, I promise."
A little later the doctor returned.
"Well, there's nothing alarming in your test results other than the low blood pressure. Doctor Garcia would like to see you upstairs. She had a delivery earlier but she would like to examine and observe you upstairs."
"Alright, thank you doctor."
A few nurses took Joelle upstairs in the bed and Callen grabbed Joelle's stuff and followed them. She was brought to a room on the OB floor. Once in the room she had to switch beds, the nurses wanted to help her but Joelle could do it herself. Once Joelle was situated the nurses left and a little later Doctor Garcia walked in.
"Hello Joelle, my colleague filled me in on what happened. How are you feeling now?"
"Still a bit weak but it's getting better. What could have caused this doctor?"
"Sometimes pregnant women experience high or low blood pressure during the pregnancy, there's not always a definitive cause. All of your test results came back negative so there's nothing to worry about. I would like to keep you here a little longer just until your blood pressure is stable again."
"That's fine doctor."
"I know the doctor downstairs examined you already but I'm just gonna check too if that's okay."
"Yeah it's fine."
The doctor took Joelle's vitals before pulling the ultrasound machine closer. She put some gel on the wand and put it on Joelle's stomach. The doctor moved it around a bit so she could look.
"Everything looks very well here, the baby is very healthy." Both Callen and Joelle were pleased to hear that. "Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"
"Yeah please."
The doctor turned on the sound and Callen and Joelle heard the baby's heartbeat. It was a beautiful sound.
"It's so fast," Callen remarked.
"It's perfectly normal."
Callen turned to Joelle. "Listen to that honey, it's our baby's heartbeat."
"Yeah it is," Joelle replied with a smile. "It's amazing, isn't it?"
"Yeah it really is. It sounds perfect."
"Would you two like to know what you're having?" The doctor asked.
"Yes, we discussed it and we want to know what we're having," Joelle answered.
"Alright, let me just have a look." The doctor looked at the screen as she moved the wand. "Well, you are having a little boy."
Callen looked at Joelle. They were having a little boy, he would have a son in a few months. "A little boy," Callen spoke with a smile.
"Yeah, a little baby boy. He will be just as cute as his daddy, I just know it."
"Is he doing alright doctor?" Callen asked.
"He's doing just fine, there's nothing to worry about. Would you like to see a 3D image?"
"Yes please," Joelle replied.
The doctor pressed a few keys and the screen changed into 3D. They saw their little boy inside of Joelle. It was so amazing to see it like this. You could see some shapes already, see the little arms and legs. It was so freaking cute to see.
"Look at that," Callen spoke to Joelle as he looked at her.
Joelle could see the love in his eyes. He would be an amazing daddy, she just knew it. "Yeah it's amazing."
"He's so beautiful already."
"Yeah he is," Joelle replied with a smile.
"Everything is looking very fine, there's nothing to worry about," the doctor spoke as she removed the wand from Joelle's stomach. "The little boy is doing very well. We'll keep you here for a while to monitor your blood pressure but there's nothing to worry about."
"Thank you doctor, I was so scared something was wrong."
"That's understandable but you have nothing to worry about. I promise you."
The doctor cleaned Joelle's stomach up before leaving the room. Callen sad down next to Joelle on the bed and wrapped his arm around her as Joelle lay her head down on Callen's shoulder.
"Thank you for coming G."
"Of course honey. I'm just glad you two are both okay. I got so worried when I received that call."
"Yeah I worried too when I came to and saw the paramedics there. I'm glad everything's okay."
Callen gave Joelle a soft kiss on her head and placed his hand on Joelle stomach and Joelle placed her hand on top of it.
"There's a little boy inside of here," Callen spoke.
"Yeah there is, a little Grisha Callen. It's will be so cute to see you two together, daddy's little boy."
"Yeah and mommy's little boy too. You just rest up a bit Jo, I'll be here."
They sat like this for a while until Callen's phone started to ring. Callen saw it was Sam.
"Hey Sam," Callen answered the phone.
"Hey G, how's Joelle?"
"She's just fine and so is the baby. She had low blood pressure, doctor said that was the reason for her fainting. They are just keeping her here a little longer to make sure her blood pressure is stable again but she and the baby are doing just fine."
"That's good to hear."
"How's the case?"
"We just finished it. Nell and Eric were able to find them and we arrested them all."
"That's good."
"Anyway, I just wanted to check in on how Joelle was doing."
"Thanks Sam, but everything I just fine here. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah see you G."
Callen hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. "Just Sam wanting to know how you were. I was with him when I got the call so he was worried about you too."
"That's sweet of him. You two are really like brothers."
"Yeah, Sam, his family and the others of my team, they are all like family. Sam's always been there for me ever since we became partners. I've spent a lot of nights at Sam's place before I got my own place. Kamran and Aiden even call me Uncle Callen."
"That's sweet. So he and Michelle will be like an aunt and uncle for our baby too?"
"Yes they will be along with the others of my team. They are my family and you and the baby will be too. I will have my own little family."
"Yes you will and you'll be great."
Callen lifted Joelle's face up to him and kissed her. "I love you Jo."
"I love you too G."
"Thank you for coming back to me and giving me something wonderful. I never thought I would become a daddy but now I will be. I'm still a bit scared but I love it. Seeing the baby on the screen like that is so cute. I can't wait for him to be here."
"I can't wait either and don't worry, you'll do great. You're already a great daddy and he's not even here yet. You are so sweet to me."
"Well it's the least I can do, you're the one carrying him around for nine months. I'm here for you no matter what."
"Thanks G."
Callen looked at his watch. It was already 7.30pm. "How about I go get us something to eat? I think you can eat something right?"
"Yeah I think so too."
"I'll just ask the nurse to be sure and I will get us something from the cafeteria."
"Thanks G."
Callen gave Joelle another kiss. "I'll be right back."
Callen walked out of the room and asked the desk nurse if Joelle could eat already. She could eat already so Callen went downstairs to get something from the cafeteria. He returned to the room a little later with two plates of pasta and some orange juices. Callen put the tray on the bedside table and put it over the bed. He sat next to Joelle and the two had dinner. Once they were done Callen went to return the tray to the cafeteria.
Around 9pm the doctor came to check on Joelle again.
"Well, your blood pressure has stabilized again but I would just like to keep you here overnight, just to make sure. It's nothing alarming it's just standard protocol."
"Sure doctor, that's fine. Can Greg stay with me tonight?"
"Sorry, no visitors can stay overnight."
"Okay. I understand."
"There's absolutely nothing to worry about. You and the little boy are doing just fine, it's just standard protocol. I wanna make sure you're blood pressure doesn't drop again."
"That's alright doctor."
"The visiting hours are already over so I'm sorry Mr. Walinsky but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
"That's already. I'll just say goodbye and then I'll be gone."
"That's fine. I'll be back in the morning to check on you Joelle."
"That's fine doctor."
The doctor left.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll come by here before I go to work."
"That's fine G."
"Just to try to get some sleep okay and if there's anything, anything at all, you can always call me."
"I know G but I'll be fine. But I am gonna miss you."
"I'm gonna miss you too, but it's just for one night. I'm just glad you two are doing fine."
"We'll be fine G."
Callen gave Joelle a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Callen moved down to Joelle's stomach and gave it a kiss too. "Bye my little baby, be good to mommy. Let mommy get some sleep tonight. Daddy loves you. Bye honey." Callen gave Joelle one more kiss.
"Bye honey."
Callen really didn't want to leave Joelle here, he wished he could have stayed in the hospital. It was just for one night, he would see her again tomorrow. He was just happy that both Joelle and their baby were doing fine.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Call me if you need me."
"I will but I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
Callen gave Joelle another kiss before he left. When Callen got home he grabbed himself a beer and sat down on the couch to watch some TV before going to bed. He couldn't really sleep that night. So much was going through his mind. He was so worried when he had gotten the call from the hospital. He was beyond relieved that Joelle and their baby were doing fine. And they were having a little boy, Callen was getting a son. He couldn't wait to meet the little guy. He really hoped he wouldn't screw it up. Something that Sam had said to him popped up in his mind.
'Little lowercase g's running around.'
Yeah in a few months he would have a little lowercase g, as Sam had put it. It would be a big change in his and Joelle's life but he loved it. He loved the little guy already. It was so weird to love someone already who wasn't even here yet. He loved seeing the little baby on the screen and today they had heard the heartbeat and saw him in 3D. It was really amazing to see.
Callen managed to get some sleep before his alarm clock went off. He took a shower and had some breakfast before going to the hospital. Callen walked in quietly in case Joelle was still asleep.
"Hey G," Joelle spoke as she saw Callen peek his head around the door.
"Hey Jo," Callen replied as he walked into the room. He walked up to Joelle and gave her a kiss. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing fine. Managed to get some sleep last night."
"That's good. And our little boy?" Callen asked as he rubbed his hand over Joelle's stomach.
"Our little boy is doing just fine."
"I'm glad to hear. You can go home today?"
"Yeah I think so. Doctor hasn't been by yet but yeah I think I can go home."
"Alright, that's good. Let me know if you need a ride home."
"I will. Did you get some sleep?"
"Yeah a little. I missed you next to me."
"I missed you too. I wanted to cuddle up to you."
"You can do that again tonight," Callen replied with a smile. "I've gotta go to work."
"Sure that's fine, thanks for stopping by."
"My pleasure. Let me know when you can go home."
"I will."
Callen gave Joelle a kiss and then kissed her stomach. "Bye little guy, daddy will miss you. Take care of mommy." Callen gave Joelle one more kiss. "Bye honey."
"Bye babe."
Callen gave Joelle another kiss before leaving. When he arrived at work the others were already in the bullpen.
"Morning," Callen spoke.
"Morning," came the reply from the other agents.
"How's Joelle doing?" Sam asked.
"She's good. She had to stay overnight but that was just standard protocol. Her blood pressure has stabilized again. She can probably go home today. She and the baby are both doing fine."
"That's good to hear. Do they know what caused it?"
"They did some tests on her but they all came back clear so there was nothing alarming going on. The doctor said that it sometimes happens with pregnant women and that we didn't have anything to worry about. Both Joelle and the baby were doing very well."
"That's good."
A little later Eric whistled them up.
"What do we have?" Callen asked as they walked into OPS.
"This morning this happened at a bank," Eric spoke as he put a video up on the scream.
The team saw a few mask men making their way into the building. The video switched over into a camera on the inside. They shot into the ceiling and rounded up the people before shooting out the cameras.
"Why is this a case for us?" Callen questioned.
"Because Mr. Callen," Hetty spoke as she walked into the OPS center. "That bank is used as a federal reserve. A lot of money from different agencies including ours are stored there."
"And you want us to make sure it doesn't end up in their hands."
"Exactly Mr. Callen."
"Eric, Nell, find out everything you can about these men, see why they targeted this bank."
"Will do," came the reply from the techs.
"Let's go guys, we'll see what we can find out on the scene."
The four agents left and went to the bank. LAPD was already on scene. The team showed their badges to get onto the scene, they were already geared up, and they went up to the truck.
"Agent Callen, NCIS," Callen spoke to the Lieutenant as he showed his badge. "Anything from inside the bank?"
"No nothing yet. We've tried calling them but they are not picking up the phone. We haven't spotted any movement whatsoever but according to the snipers we have up there with thermal imaging they are still inside. The hostages are on the floor and the men are walking around them."
"Our techs are looking into the men, to see if they can find out who they are. This bank stores cash and stuff for several agencies including NCIS. It could be that they are after that or it's just a coincidence."
"We will wait a few more minutes, if there's no contact from inside we will breach. We'll give you the heads up when we're breaching."
"Thanks."
Callen walked back over to the others and told them what he had learned so far.
"Kens, go find a spot for your sniper rifle," Callen told Kensi.
"Will do."
Kensi grabbed her sniper rifle from the trunk and went to find a spot.
"In position," Kensi spoke a little later.
"What do you see Kens?"
There was a small window at the back where Kensi had set up. She had her eyes on the group of hostage.
"I count about fifteen hostages and four masked men. They still have their masks on, I can't see their faces. They are just walking around the hostages with their guns but they seem calm. None of the hostages seem injured."
"What's their play? And why are they not picking up the phone?" Sam wondered. "If they had demands they would pick up the phone and they must know that by now the authorities are outside. Why take hostages? If their plan was to steal money or something they would be in and out, so why stay inside with hostages. It's very unlikely they'll get away like this."
"We did it too with Dallas," Callen said.
"Yeah through an underground tunnel. It's possible but they are still inside. If they had a tunnel they would've probably escaped by now."
"Callen, we may have found something," Nell's voice was heard over the coms.
"Go ahead Nell."
"When they pulled up to the bank they were already wearing their masks. We scrolled back to see where they came from and we managed to get an ID on one of the guys. His name is Kyle Mason. All his info is on your phone. He was a former marine."
"What do you mean former?" Sam questioned.
"He was dishonorable discharged earlier this year."
"And now he's robbing banks with this crew?" Callen wondered.
"According to the records Mason hasn't had a steady job since he was kicked out of the marines. He has two kids to support so he could be in it for the money. He has to pay alimony, his wife filed for a divorce just after he got kicked out."
"Why was he discharged?" Sam wanted to know.
"He was caught drunk on duty and it was already the third time so they had to let him go," Nell informed them.
"Any idea on who he's hanging with?"
"No not a clue, yet."
"Alright, keep looking."
"Will do."
"How does a former marine get involved with these people?" Deeks wondered.
"Like Nell said, he could be in it for the money. Cus of his drinking he was kicked out of the marines and I bet his wife wasn't too happy about that."
Suddenly they heard a gunshot coming from inside.
