Disclaimer: Now here's a surprise… I don't own NCIS: LA or any of its characters. If I did Callen would get hurt more often and would wear a thigh holster in every episode.

A/N: Well, this is it. Time to wrap it up. I hope everyone enjoyed the story cus I sure had fun writing it! Thank you to those of you who reviewed every chapter, you made me very happy with all your comments ^^

And now, without further ado, I give you the conclusion.

Chapter 5

Opening the curtains, looking at the world outside his window, and staring at the Ferris wheel going round and round like life with its ups and downs. People walked around, oblivious of the man watching from a distance. His eyes were capturing every detail, but he wasn't really seeing anything. Instead his mind was playing a familiar scene yet again.

He was staring out of the window, reflecting about how much his life had changed since that fifth of May. The sounds, the smell, and the struggle were clear as day for him. He could still hear Sam's voice, even though he couldn't remember the exact words. He remembered feeling the comfort of having Sam next to him so he wouldn't die alone, like he always feared.

But he didn't die.

He didn't need to see the scars covering his torso to be reminded of the world of pain he had been in for the last several months, or how the outcome might have been different with a little less fight from his part. Truth was, he was standing. Not in a crappy hotel room with the very few personal items scattered on a bed he didn't feel like sleeping in, but standing tall, alive. Ready to go back to his life.

Sam teased him about how many places he had lived in since he got out of the hospital. He told himself he was going to stay in one place until rehab was done, but he just couldn't. He had been used to moving around since he was a kid, but back then he didn't have a choice in the matter. Now, he felt like he was suffocating and that he wasn't safe. It was hard to explain, so he made up excuses and moved on to the next one. Sam knew better than to try and pry information out of him, so he just joked around. It made it easier for the both of them.

It's been four months and even though he still has another month of leave he needs to go back. He's got the papers to prove he can do his job, so there's no reason to wait anymore. Everyone knows that Sam doesn't like the decision, so its no surprise when he voices his concerns.

"You sure you're ready to come back?" he asked. At first Callen doesn't really know how to answer the simple question.

What could he say? "I've been ready for a while," or "Of course I am, who are you kidding," or "I'm not sure but I need to know I can still do this job." He opened his mouth, blew a breath and closed it again. Weighting his options, he finally ended back at the joke.

"Who are you, my mother or something?" avoiding the lie he's tempted to make, and managing to get half a smile from his partner. It lightens the mood before they head out to the new office.

The environment might be new but he craves the warmth that's in the air. He appreciated Hetty's welcome, no questions and no pressure. Sure the comment about his wardrobe he could've done without, but that's Hetty for you. As he keeps taking in the new building, his fears dissolve. The moment he starts seeing familiar faces, Eric being his usually geeky self, Kensi his favorite tough girl, and even Nate's questions are welcome, not that he would answer them straight. Even Dom's (the new kid on the block) eager introduction makes him feel glad to be back.

Yeah, he needed to be back, and just like that he jumps into the newest case.

The day goes by very normal, checking the deceased's place, chasing leads and looking for suspects. It's when they're looking for Bobby J. that his fears return. When Sam asks him if he was feeling lucky he thought he ought to answer with the truth this time.

"After last time, not particularly," he replied, and with that they went in. When the bullets started flying, he reacted the only way he knew, he ducked for cover and started firing back.

Sure he had to qualify for his service weapon again; it was a requirement for going back on duty. Just like there was the doctor's final checkup and the psych evaluation. But those last two were a piece of cake compared to this. Facing his fears head on.

Hearing the shots had a different effect on him than words did. The sound of bullets being fired brought back memories he thought he had buried. When he stood in that narrow road, having guys shooting at him and Sam, something felt off. He reacted fast, assessing the situation, searching for the targets and neutralizing them. He'd done it a million times before. After the incident, being in a shooting left a bitter taste.

Once the fire had ceased, he noticed for the first time his heart had practically climbed up into his throat, and his stomach had done an unexpected roll. When he was a rookie, it had been the lack of experience, after years of training it had been the rush of adrenaline, but now it was the realization that he had already faced his mortality once and survived, until then he wasn't sure he would a second time.

He was breathing hard, blood racing through his veins and eyes wide open. But he kept going because the job wasn't done. They found Bobby and he stayed with him while Sam cleared the house. He assessed the injuries and called for an ambulance, and then it hit him. Watching the man in front of him bleeding and struggling to breathe made him think how four months ago, this was the sight Sam was living. Not a pretty one either.

Things worked out that time, they found a location for Manny Cortez, and things were improving a bit. There was still a big question surrounding whether or not the girl was still alive, but he would risk it if he thought he could save her. This is why he liked this job, because it allowed him to save people and put the bad guys behind bars.

Things took a wild turn, the bad guy turned out to be not Manny but the little girl's father, who also happened to know about it being a set up. When he sent the Emma away and took out his gun, Callen's heart began to hammer against his chest for the second time in the day. Starring down the barrel of a gun, all Callen could thing of was that he wasted so much of his life recovering, just to be killed as soon as he was back.

That didn't happen though. Dom turned out to be good in high pressure situations, and was able to give him an opening. A fight ensued, and he wasn't sure how he could handle hand to hand so soon but he was about to find out cause there wasn't much of a choice.

Once he took down the girl's father, he saw the only guy standing aiming his gun at Sam and his heart dropped to his stomach. It was his duty to watch his partner's back there was never a question about that. Sam had saved his life, and now it was his turn. He didn't hesitate; he shot the guy, effectively stopping him from harming Sam. A look of gratitude passed from one partner to the other, no words needed. Together they went looking for Emma and handed her the phone so she could speak to her mother.

All in all it was a good day. Sure, he got shot at, fought hand to hand with the bad guy of the week, and saved his partner's life, but they also returned a little girl safe and sound back to her mother. It was a hell of a first day back…

But he was definitely back.

Finis