A/N: SO very sorry about the longer wait, I'm still trying to adjust to college and balancing between homework and friends. This next week is only extra busy but by next weekend I can start working on the next chapter. I'm really trying to post every week, promise! I didn't get to everything I wanted to in this chapter because Im super tired right now (I blame any mistakes on that)but I wanted you guys to have something for now. Wish I had tons of free time but thats nonexistent in college :/
Also, let me know of things you think I need to include next or that the story would benefit from, I love your input so my story can be even better!
The premiere is only two days away! Finally! :)
The four team members headed downstairs to regroup while Sam insisted on tending to Callen's shoulder, under much resistance, of course.
"It's just a scratch, I'm fine." Callen protested as he sat on the kitchen counter, his suit jacket and white, lightly bloodied shirt lying next to him. He had a slightly annoyed look on his face as he obliged to his partner's wishes. Sam was currently applying pressure to his wound while Kensi and Deeks sat at the kitchen table nearby.
Sam gave him an incredulous look as he checked if the gunshot was still bleeding.
"Oh sure, we'll see when you pass out from blood loss."
"It's not that bad, I can hardly even feel it." Callen nonchalantly replied. Sam looked towards his partner.
"I may not have seen you for a while, but I still know when you're lying to me, G. Now, quit complaining and let me patch you up." Sam sounded a little irritated. He briefly paused and looked down, trying to relieve the stress that had continuously built until now. He just needed to figure out how to get through to his stubborn partner. "Just do this for us, Okay?"
Wordlessly, Sam turned away and began to clean out Callen's wound, which he luckily found to be through and through. At least he wouldn't have to dig a bullet out of his partner.
Callen grew silent after recognizing the sincerity of Sam's statement. He suddenly considered something that had only briefly crossed his mind. He knew that they were a team who would do anything for each other, but he didn't know just how much his disappearance would've affected them. Searching for so long only to believe they were too late must've been weighing on their minds for months. Now, once they had finally found him, they were almost too late. The cumulative stress of the whole case was now taking its toll on them.
He glanced at his junior agents sitting at the kitchen table. Deeks was looking through the window, seemingly staring off into the distance. It took Callen another second to realize he was watching the road, making sure no one would make a surprise visit. Callen had always been good at reading people, and as he took a few seconds to notice the small, but crucial details etched in his teammate's face, he could not miss the stress and sheer exhaustion evident by the lines around his eyes and dark circles underneath them.
He moved his gaze over to Kensi and immediately caught her already looking in his direction. Kensi looked him in the eyes. She was trying to appear strong, but Callen knew she was attempting to subdue the fear and frustration he no longer wanted her to feel. Kensi broke eye contact and looked away, trying to get her jumbled thoughts together as the events of the past day finally started to hit her.
Callen glanced off to his side, but he didn't even have to look at Sam to know just how he was feeling. After seven years, you know a person so well that you read each other's thoughts, whether you want them to or not. He knew Sam was worried, for he always was when Callen was injured, but he also knew Sam was beyond relieved to find him alive. Callen felt a little guilty for not considering the stress his teammates were facing, especially knowing it was because of him. He quietly let Sam patch up his shoulder, slightly wincing every time new pain would shoot from his shoulder. However, he was so concentrated on catching his breath once Sam finished that he didn't realize what was in Sam's hand until it was too late.
"Ow!" Callen grunted. He looked up with an accusing face.
"You don't want it to get infected, do you?" Sam countered as he dropped the empty needle. "Here, take these." He dropped two pain killers into Callen's hand. Sam watched his partner carefully, trying to figure out how he was doing not only physically but mentally as well. He had no idea what had happened to his partner since that night he was forced into the van, seemingly lost forever. Sam knew he needed to talk to him and make sure he could handle going after a man who'd betrayed him.
Callen sighed and took the offered pills, silently grateful for something to take the edge off. With not very many options, he stood and slipped his bloody shirt back on, followed by his suit. He and Sam joined Kensi and Deeks around the kitchen table, ready to plan their next move.
"First off," Callen started, looking at his team, "I want to thank you guys for coming for me."
"We're a team aren't we?" Deeks said.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Sam agreed with conviction.
Callen nodded and glanced at Sam, sharing one of their knowing looks. As he turned back, Kensi spoke up.
"You sure you're okay, Callen?" Kensi asked, concerned about her teammate. She was so relieved to have him alive, sitting across from her, but she knew this nightmare wasn't over for any of them and she needed to know that he'd still be there for them to take him home when this was all over.
"Kens, I'm good." Callen promised, and for the most part his words were true. She thought a second before accepting them and nodding her head, and Callen was inwardly glad when she agreed. He didn't want to waste time focusing on himself, he needed to catch Iverson.
"So, what's our next move?" Deeks asked, determined to support his returned leader.
"I assume you've all been read in?"
"Hetty had the files for us within minutes." Sam revealed. Callen let out a small chuckle and briefly wondered if there was anything Hetty couldn't do.
He quickly decided where to begin. "Our priority is Iverson. This is his final deal. After this, he could disappear for years, and I won't let that happen again", Callen vowed. "That money isn't enough for this to be his last deal. He has something else planned."
"Any idea what that is?" Sam asked, somehow knowing that Callen already knew the answer.
"Once I return with the money, he plans to trade me over to one of my enemies," he admitted. "Whichever pays the highest." He didn't miss the silence that followed nor the concerned faces of his teammates. "It gets worse. He has an inside man both in the CIA and on a military base who can track down the whole team. He threatened to kill everyone on the team if don't do what he wants."
"G, I know that look." Sam said, shaking his head. "I don't care what you're planning, you're not going lone wolf on us this time."
"You will all be right behind me. We need to find out who his sources are and bring them in before our team is further compromised. I have to finish this." Callen reasoned.
"You plan on going back?" Kensi asked, surprised.
"We can have Eric and Nell find these guys, you don't have to do this." Deeks pleaded
"By the time we catch Iverson and find these guys they could already be long gone. Iverson has many resources and no one's been able to find him for fifteen years. We need to do everything we can to finally bring him in. I won't let him get away this time." Callen said with great conviction, his face conveying detest for the man he spoke of. At that moment, they knew trying to change his mind would be fruitless.
"So, you're just going to go back to this guy?" Sam said, raising an eyebrow. "Then what? Assuming he doesn't kill you as soon as you walk through the door." He hated it when his partner purposely placed himself in dangerous situations.
"Once I give him the money, I'll get him to reveal information about who these guys are, then we take him in. You guys will be nearby if something happens. It's simple." Callen reasoned.
Simple but dangerous, Sam thought. He didn't like the plan at all, but they had very little time left to come up with anything better. He just had to make sure to have his back.
"Alright." Sam reluctantly agreed.
The junior agents were not huge fans of him returning, but they followed their teammates' lead and nodded their heads in agreement.
"Let's gear up, we don't have much time before I should be leaving." Callen ordered. The other agents stood, beginning to grab their gear and ready their weapons. Sam walked over to him and nudged him.
"G, can I talk to you for a sec?" he spoke lowly. Callen turned and followed Sam to an adjourning room off to their right. Kensi and Deeks noticed the exchange and gave each other an apprehensive look, each hoping their team would be alright as they packed their gear.
Up next: Callen/Sam talk, Callen returns to Iverson, but plans are never as easy as they seem...