Two hours later Joelle sat in Callen's room, next to his bed, waiting for him to wake up. Sam had joined her too in the waiting room and was now in the room with her too.
"Why don't you go get some sleep Jo, I'll keep an eye on G," Sam spoke.
"I need to be here when G wakes up."
"Why don't you go lie on the couch? I'll wake you up when G wakes up."
It was now 5am. Joelle didn't much sleep last night. She needed to be here when Callen woke up but she was actually pretty tired.
"Okay," Joelle gave in.
She went to lie on the couch. It wasn't really comfortable but it still didn't take her long to fell asleep. Callen kept an eye on his partner and on her. He really hoped Callen would wake up soon, this situation wasn't good for Joelle at all.
Just after 9am Sam stepped out of the room to call Hetty and update her on Callen's condition.
Just after Sam had stepped out of the room Callen started to come to. Slowly his eyes opened and he noticed that he was in the hospital. Then he remembered what had happened last night.
"JO!" Callen yelled, sitting upright, the sudden movement causing pain in his stomach.
Joelle woke up when Callen yelled. "G?"
Callen looked to the direction of the sound and saw Joelle lying on the couch. He wanted to get out of bed but he was too weak. Once Joelle saw that Callen was awake she got up as quickly as she could and walked over to the bed.
"G, you're awake."
Joelle sat down on the bed and fell into his arms. Callen wrapped his arms around her tightly, relieved that she was okay. Callen pulled her up from his shoulder and cupped her face.
"Are you okay honey? Is the baby okay?"
"We're both okay honey," Joelle replied as she couldn't help but cry. "I was so worried."
Callen pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry Jo. I'm so sorry honey. It's okay, I'm right here. It's okay honey. I've got you. You are safe. I'm okay honey."
Callen tried to calm her down as he rubbed his hand over his back. He felt so bad for putting Joelle through this.
A little later Sam stepped back into the room and saw the two of them hugging each other. He decided not to disturbed them right now.
Callen looked up and saw his partner standing by the door and gave him a small nod. Sam nodded back and left the room.
"I was so worried about you," Callen told Joelle. "I'm glad you're okay. I'm so sorry for everything."
"I'm just glad you're alright too. I was worried so much when I saw you got shot."
"I'm really sorry honey."
Callen released Joelle so he could put the headrest up so he could stay in a sitting position.
"Are you sure you and the baby are okay?"
"Yes he didn't hurt me and the doctor checked me over. Our little boy has a good strong heartbeat and there was no sign of trauma."
"Okay good," Callen breathed out relieved. "I'm really sorry about all of this Jo. If I had known….."
"You couldn't have known G. I mean it wasn't all that pleasant but it's not your fault."
"Yes it is Jo, he came after you because of me. I'm so very sorry about this, but this is and will always be a part of me. I don't want you or our little boy to get hurt because of me."
"Stop that G. You protected us."
"I can't be the reason something happens to you or our little boy. I love you both so much, I don't want anything to happen to either one of you."
"We're both safe G, you protected us. It was no fun being taken and I was really scared, scared for my life and that of our little boy but it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known."
"I'm so very sorry about this Jo. I'm so very sorry."
Joelle could tell that Callen was really feeling guilty about this all. It was no fun being taken and she had been really scared. She knew this could happen when she went back to Callen but this wasn't going to stop her from being with him. She loved him too much, she wanted to be with him and wanted him to be with her and their little baby. She felt safe with Callen, he would always protect them.
"We're both fine G. You protected us. We're okay."
Callen sat up a little more so he could kiss Joelle. He was beyond relieved that Joelle and their baby were okay. He was so worried about them.
"I'm really sorry honey, just promise me you won't go anywhere."
"I'm not G. I knew what I was signing up for when I came back to you. It's no fun and I was really scared but I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay good."
Joelle got up so she could sit next to Callen. Joelle still had her shoes off so she put her feet on the bed. Callen wrapped his arm around her and pulled her face to him so he could kiss her again. As they were kissing Callen moved his hand down to Joelle's stomach and let it rest there. He smiled against her lips when he felt the baby move underneath his hand.
"I love you Jo."
"I love you too G. How are you feeling?"
"A little bit weak but I'll be okay. Don't worry about me Jo."
Joelle rested her head against Callen's shoulder and the two of them just lay there. Callen noticed a little later that she had fallen asleep. He felt really bad for putting her through this. He was glad that she and their baby were okay and that she wasn't going anywhere. Callen fell asleep a little later too.
It was a few hours later when he woke up. He noticed that Joelle was still asleep in his arms. He wondered what had happened to Comescu. Callen really hoped the others had killed him. He was shocked out of his thoughts when he heard Joelle wake up.
"Hey Jo."
"Hey G."
"Are you sure you two are okay?"
"Yes we're fine G. Don't worry about us. I'm just glad to see you're doing okay. I was so worried about you."
"I'm really sorry Jo, this all must have not been good for you."
"No, it wasn't but I'm okay. You protected us."
Callen pulled Joelle closer and gave her a soft kiss on her head. "I love you Jo."
"I love you too G."
"I'm really sorry for leaving you in the hotel room. I thought you would be safe with the guard. I had no idea that he was a Comescu."
"You couldn't have known G. Where did you go actually?"
"I had the cameras in our house open and saw that the man had come back. I texted Sam to come meet me at house. I called down and asked for security to watch you. I figured you'd be safe with him until I returned. You were so peacefully asleep, I didn't want to wake you. I thought you would be safe here in the hotel room. I checked when we drove there and nobody was following us so I thought it would be safe but I called security just to be safe. I had no idea he was a Comescu. So I went to the house with Sam. The man was still there. He shot at me so I shot back. Then I heard my phone ring and saw it was you. I got so scared when Comescu answered your phone."
"Yeah, I was sleeping and I didn't hear you leaving but then I woke up when this man, Comescu, put his hand on my mouth. He told me to keep quiet, he had a gun. I wondered where you were. I didn't see you. I was so scared when he pointed that gun at me. He told me to get dressed and leave with him. He had his gun pointed at me as we left the hotel through the backdoor. I had no idea what was going on. All I could think about was where you were, I was afraid he had done something to you. We got in his car and drove to the place you later joined us."
"I'm really sorry Jo. I really thought you'd be safe there in the hotel room."
"You made sure I was, you even put the guard there. You couldn't have known that he was a Comescu."
"I still do blame myself for all this."
"Don't honey. Don't blame yourself. I don't blame you. You saved us, you made sure we were alright."
Joelle crawled against Callen as he wrapped his arms around her. Callen held her close and gave her a soft kiss on her head. He was so glad that Joelle and their little boy were alright, if Comescu had hurt them he would bring him back from the dead and kill him over and over again.
"I love you honey," Callen softly spoke to Joelle.
"I love you too baby."
Joelle stayed with Callen the entire day, she just didn't want to be without him. In the evening Sam came by too.
"Hey Sam," Callen greeted his partner.
"Hey G, how are you doing?"
"I'm okay, little bit weak but I'm okay. What happened to Comescu?"
"We shot him after he took a shot at you, he's dead."
"Okay that's good."
"Are you okay too Jo?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Little bit tired but I'm okay."
"That's good."
Sam stayed until visiting hours were over.
"Sam, can you do something for me?"
"Of course G. What is it?"
"Can you take Joelle home and keep her safe?"
"Of course G."
"I'm staying here with you G," Joelle argued.
"You need to get some sleep honey and the hospital bed is not really comfortable. And I don't think you can stay here tonight."
"I wanna stay here with you G."
Callen cupped her face. "I know honey, I want that too but you have to get some sleep for our little baby. I'll be fine Jo. I promise I'll be here in the morning. You just get some sleep and don't worry. Sam will keep you safe."
"But what about his family. He should go home to his family and not be stuck with me."
"You can come home with me. We have a guest room. I'm sure Michelle won't mind and I think Kam would like to see you again."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's no problem. You're family."
"Go honey, go get some sleep."
"Alright."
"I have my phone here, you can always call me even at night, I don't mind."
"Okay." Joelle gave Callen a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Joelle stood up but Callen pulled her back to the bed so Joelle was standing next to the bed. Callen bent down and placed a kiss on Joelle's stomach. "I love you too baby, take care of mommy for me."
"I'll see you tomorrow G."
"Yeah see you tomorrow."
Joelle gave Callen one more kiss before she left with Sam. They went to the house to get some of Joelle's things before going to Sam's place.
"Hey Jo," Michelle greeted her. "Sam told me what happened, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sam said I could stay here tonight. I hope that's no problem."
"No, not at all. The guest room is ready."
"Okay good. Thank you."
"How's G?"
"He's okay. If you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Of course, I'll show you to the guest room."
Michelle took Joelle's bag from Sam and showed Joelle to the guest room.
"If there's anything, anything at all. We're just down the hall."
"Thank you for letting me stay here."
"Of course, you're family."
"Thanks."
Michelle left and Joelle got changed for bed. She went to use the toilet before crawling in bed. Once she was settled in the bed she pulled out her phone and called Callen.
Callen was watching some TV when he heard his phone go over. He reached over to the nightstand and quickly picked it up when he saw it was Joelle.
"Hey Jo, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Callen asked concerned.
"I'm fine G, I'm fine. Don't worry." Callen let out a relieved sigh. "I just wanted to hear your voice before I went to sleep."
"Oh that's fine. Are you all settled in?"
"Yeah I'm in the guest room, I just got in bed."
"That's good. Did you pick up your pregnancy pillow?"
"Yeah I did. We went by our house first to pick up some of my things and I grabbed my pregnancy pillow too."
"Okay that's good. I hope you can get some sleep. Sam and Michelle are just down the hall and I'm only a call away."
"I know G, I just wished you were here with me."
"I know honey, me too. I'll be out of the hospital soon enough. I'm really sorry about all of this Jo."
"I know you are honey but it's not your fault. Me and our little baby are fine, you protected us. We're all okay honey."
"I'm really glad about that. I'm glad he's dead now so he can't hurt you anymore. Just try to get some sleep tonight okay honey."
"Yeah I'll try."
"Feel free to call me or wake up Sam and Michelle if you need."
"I know, but I'll be fine."
"Alright, I'll shall let you get some sleep now. Goodnight honey."
"Goodnight honey."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Say goodnight to my little boy too."
"I will, you will try to get some sleep too, you need it too."
"I will. Bye honey."
"Bye G."
Joelle hung up the phone and placed it on the nightstand. She grabbed her pregnancy pillow and snuggled up to it, pretending it was Callen. She would've loved to feel his strong arms around her right now. She had been so scared when she was taken but everything had turned out fine, well mostly fine. She and the baby were doing fine and Callen was only mildly injured, he would be fine too. She was pretty tired so it didn't take her long to fall asleep.
Callen just lay in his bed watching some TV but his mind was Joelle. He really hoped she would be fine with all of this. He really hoped she wasn't going to leave him. This was the second time that someone went after her because of him. He really hoped this would be the last time, he never wanted to see her or their little boy hurt. Maybe he should've stayed in the hotel room and let Sam go to his house alone. That way he wouldn't have needed to contact the security guard and Joelle wouldn't have been taken. Joelle told him she didn't blame him but Callen blamed himself. He was the reason why Joelle was taken, he was the reason why she almost got shot. At least he had protected her by taking the bullet for her. He just hoped she would be alright with this all. Before going to sleep he send a text off to Sam.
'Hey Sam, how's Jo doing?'
'She's doing very well. She's asleep, haven't heard anything from the room. I just went to check on her.'
'Okay that's good. Thank you Sam.'
'It's my pleasure G, you just rest up so you can come home to her.'
'I will Sam, goodnight.'
'Goodnight.'
Callen placed his phone back on the nightstand and shut down the lights so he could try to get some sleep. He wished Joelle was next to him and he could hold her in his arms. Perhaps if he had asked the doctor she could've stayed the night but Callen knew she needed to get her rest and in this hospital bed together with him she wouldn't get enough sleep and the position wouldn't be good for her to lie in. At Sam's place she would have a normal bed and she could sleep in and she was safe there too. Sam and Michelle would keep her safe. Callen really hoped this situation wouldn't affect Joelle or the baby much. He couldn't stand to see them get hurt. He knew it was probably stupid to jump in front of her to catch the bullet but he couldn't let her get hurt. He would rather die then let anything happen to Joelle or their baby. He would keep them safe no matter what. Callen wondered how Comescu found his house. Callen had talked to Sam about it and he had Eric and Nell look into it, so far nothing had turned up yet. And how had he found them at the hotel. Surely he wasn't working there for real. He must have found out that Callen was there and when he called for security he came up, pretending to be from security. Callen had told everything to Sam who in turn had told it to Eric and Nell. The wonder twins were busy finding out how Comescu had found Callen. Callen thought back but he couldn't remember seeing anyone following him. Had he gotten sloppy? No, he always looked if he was followed, he always checked for anything suspicious. He had checked on the way to the hotel too, right? Yeah sure he had, it was an automatism. He always did that. Callen tried to think but he couldn't remember seeing anything suspicious. How did Comescu know he was at the hotel? He had checked in under an alias and paid in cash. He had been away for the weekend so Comescu couldn't have planted a tracking device in the car. Perhaps Comescu tracked him via his cell phone or laptop or something. Callen would let them all get checked out by Eric.
Eventually Callen managed to fall asleep but he was woken up about two hours later when his phone went off. Still a bit sleepily he reached over to the nightstand. He sat up in the bed when he saw that the call was coming from Joelle.
