As always, thanks for those of you still reading this story. I very much appreciate your comments.
xxxxx
Kensi was about to go back into Callen's room, but she stopped short when she heard the two men inside laughing over something. Instead, she decided to give them some more time together and she concealed herself along the side of the doorway. It was obvious to her that Deeks was succeeding where she had failed in making some progress with Callen.
"Kensi? What are you doing out here?" Sam asked as he came up behind her. "Is the doctor in with G?"
Kensi shook her head. "No, he's…" The sound of Callen and Deeks laughing again interrupted her train of thought.
"Who's in there with him?" Sam asked.
"Deeks."
"Oh…" Sam couldn't help the small twinge of jealousy that flared up inside of him. "So, why are you out here?" he asked again.
"I don't know," Kensi said with a shrug. "They're getting along so well...I guess I didn't want to spoil it."
"Well, we can't stand out in the hallway all day," Sam said, feeling irrationally annoyed with Deeks. He was also bothered by the throbbing pain in his leg. "Come on." He entered the room with Kensi walking reluctantly behind him and was stunned when the smile left his partner's face and he looked warily at Sam and Kensi. It hurt more than he wanted to admit.
"Hi G," Sam said, suddenly feeling somewhat unwanted.
"Hi Sam…"
"Hey, Sam, it's good to see you," Deeks said with an easygoing grin.
"Good to see you too," Sam replied. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing much better," Deeks said. He then gave Kensi a questioning look. "I didn't realize I'd been here that long."
"You haven't," Kensi told him, "but the doctor came in and says he needs to examine you before they discharge you. I didn't know if you'd want to go back to your room so you can get that done."
Deeks nodded. "Yeah you're right, I do. Thanks Kens." He then turned to Callen and gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry man, I have to go, but I'll be back to see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay, Deeks. Thanks for coming." Callen looked disappointed that Deeks was leaving, but he managed to pull off a half-hearted smile. Sam, watching his partner closely, took all of this in and wondered how Deeks had been so successful in connecting with G.
"Take care of yourself, Deeks," Sam said as Kensi began pushing his wheelchair out of the room.
"Thanks, Sam."
With that, Deeks and Kensi were gone, leaving Callen and Sam together in what already was awkward silence.
xxxxx
Hetty sighed softly as she got herself ready to go to the hospital. Her team was in poor shape and she wished there was some way to help them. She hoped that Ms. Blye and Mr. Deeks would be able to work through whatever problems had cropped up between them and as for Mr. Callen...she really hoped he would regain his memory soon. Her boy had already suffered through so much in his life and this was going to heap more pain upon him in a whole different way. It had taken him a long time to really trust his team and think of them as family. Now, if things didn't change, he was going to have to start all over again. Not only would it be hard on Callen, but she knew it would be difficult for the team as well.
xxxxx
"You and Callen seemed to be getting along well," Kensi commented as she pushed Deeks' wheelchair down the hallway.
Deeks shrugged. "I guess so. He's just really confused about everything. I would be too…"
"Anyone would be," Kensi said, nodding in agreement. "I know I wouldn't want to go through that." They arrived at Deeks' room and Kensi pushed him in through the doorway. "I'm going to go tell the nurse that you're back here and maybe she can track down the doctor for you."
"Okay...thanks." He rolled the wheelchair back and forth with his feet as he waited for Kensi to return. His mind was going in a thousand different directions. He wanted to make everything fine again with Kensi, but hadn't quite figured out his own expectations and he wasn't sure what she was feeling either. He also felt bad for Callen and didn't want to ignore that situation. He felt like he couldn't leave it all on Hetty and Sam, especially since Sam's kids would be back from school any day now. He couldn't help wondering how the three of them were going to cope with spending the summer on Sam's boat, but he supposed that was none of his concern.
"Deeks?" Kensi's voice startled him and he jumped slightly, looking up at her.
"The doctor will be here soon," Kensi told him. She then looked at him speculatively. "Where were you just then? You looked like you were about a million miles away."
"Not a million," Deeks said with a shake of his head. "Closer than that...I was just thinking about Callen and Sam."
"What about them?" Kensi asked as she sat on the edge of his bed.
"Sam's kids will be home soon for the summer. I wonder how Callen is going to fit into things. There's definitely not enough room on Sam's boat. I don't even know if there's enough room for the three of them."
Callen will probably stay with Hetty," Kensi said gently. "He used to live with her. That's probably the best chance for him to get his memory back, to be in a familiar place with familiar things."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. You know he can't even really remember her name. He called her Betty."
"Well...that's pretty close though. He'll get there, Deeks. It's going to take time. Anyhow, I thought you were worried about leaving here. Don't you want to go home?"
"Of course I do," Deeks said. "I'm just thinking is all…"
Just then, the doctor came into the room and after examining Deeks he was pronounced fit to leave the hospital and return home. The doctor told them that the nurse would be in soon with his discharge instructions and wished Deeks well. "I'm so glad you can go home," Kensi said with a smile as she went to close the door and pulled out a bag with sweatpants and a t-shirt that she had bought at a small store right next to the hospital. "These will be nice and loose. I'll help you change."
"Thanks," Deeks said as he carefully managed to get out of the loose-fitting hospital gown he was wearing and allowed Kensi to assist him. It was a little difficult getting him dressed, but they managed, and by the time the nurse came back with his paperwork, he was ready to go home.
xxxxx
"I brought you some breakfast pastries." Sam finally broke the silence and handed Callen a brown paper bag. "It's from one of your favorite place...Stella's Bakery."
"Thank you." Callen smiled politely as he looked into the bag to find two pastry sticks, one raspberry and one apple. "Which one would you like?" he asked Sam, holding the bag out to him.
"They're both for you," Sam said as he sat down heavily in one of the chairs by Callen's bed and rested his cane on the side of the chair. "I try not to eat too many sweets."
"Thanks." Callen debated momentarily before choosing the raspberry pastry and taking a bite of the flaky treat. "Mmm...this is really good."
Sam smiled. Although his partner liked both pastry flavors, he always tended to favor the raspberry. It was good to know some things hadn't changed. He waited for Callen to finish eating the pastry and watched as he carefully closed up the bag and placed the remaining pastry on his nightstand. "I'll have the other one later," Callen explained. "Breakfast wasn't all that great and I'm not expecting lunch to be much of an improvement."
"I can bring you anything you want for lunch," Sam said. "Just ask, G and you've got it."
Callen nodded, but looked down at the bed, appearing to be somewhat uncomfortable again.
"What's the matter?" Sam asked in concern. "Did I saw something wrong?"
"No...you didn't say anything wrong…" Callen sighed then lifted his head and met his partner's gaze. "I just… I know you said we're partners and best friends, and I believe you, but…"
"But what, G?" Sam prompted after Callen fell silent.
"But...it still feels like you're a stranger to me. I'm sorry and I feel terrible about it, but that's what you are to me and it just seems like I'm putting you to a whole lot of trouble when I shouldn't be…"
"But that's just it, G… you're not putting me to any trouble. You're my best friend...my brother. Even though you don't remember it, I do...and I can't forget...I don't want to forget. My feelings are here to stay. They're not going anywhere, buddy." He took Callen's hand and squeezed it, feeling glad when his friend didn't try to pull away, nor did he seem to be uncomfortable with the gesture.
"Thanks Sam…" Looking at the other man, Callen really wished he could remember their relationship. All he knew now was that in spite of all these people who said they cared about him, he still felt very much alone...