(In the Main Room of the Boatshed)

(Callen's P.O.V.)

It was silent as we all thought about what Hetty just told us.

Sam was the first to break the silence, asking:

"How the hell did he get away with murder in the first place?"

"I asked myself the very same question, Mr. Hanna." Hetty said. "Turns out, Emily and Ryan's father was a cop."

"And since he was a cop, people let it slide and didn't ask questions." Deeks concluded. "Most likely because back then you couldn't question someone doing something like that without causing trouble and becoming suspicious yourself. Plus, actually believing a cop did such a thing, is something other cops don't want to believe despite how true it might be."

"Which is more than likely the same reason with the restraining order." I said. "Davis was a cop, and the father of Ryan. Anyone would believe him over a kid."

"Does Emily know you know this?" Kensi asked Hetty. "Did you tell her any of this?"

Hetty as silent for a moment, then she said:

"She knows that I know her father killed her mother….I told her I found out the truth about her mother's death, and put him behind bars….However, when I started to question her, I pushed too far, and she didn't speak to me unless she had to, for a week...As for her brother, she doesn't know I know about him. Nor does she know about the restraining order her father put on him."

"What did you ask her?" I asked.

"The question I believe pushed too far, was, if her father ever abused her." Hetty said.

"…What did she say?" Deeks asked quietly.

"….She never answered me." Hetty said.

It was silent once again. Each of us letting what we just heard sink in.

I remembered being abused in a couple of my foster homes.

I hoped the answer to Hetty's question was no.

But I had a bad feeling it was far from it.

Suddenly, I heard a door open, followed by footsteps.

I looked toward the noise and saw Emily close the interrogation room door. Then, she began to walk toward us.

Once Emily entered the room, she looked at all of us, and stopped walking.

"Judging by the looks on your faces, I can safely assume Hetty told you some things." Emily said.

"She did." Sam said, nodding. "I think I speak for all of us when I say, I'm sorry."

Emily looked away from us.

"Have Eric and Nell search for a Stewart Annabel." Emily said.

Then, Emily began to head toward the exit.

"Emily, wait," Deeks called after her. "Where are you going?"

Emily stopped, but didn't turn around, as she said:

"Home….I'll see you tomorrow."

Then, Emily left the boatshed.

Deeks made a move to go after, but Hetty put her hand up to stop him.

"She needs time, Marty." Hetty said. "Let her go."

Worry showed clearly on Deeks face as he nodded.

"What should we do, Hetty?" Kensi asked.

"Eric and Nell should do what Miss Taylor asked, and find a Stewart Annabel." Hetty said. "You four should go home, get some rest, and Eric and Nell will report what they found in the morning. I'll take care of Mr. Taylor."

We nodded.

Then, Sam, Deeks, Kensi, and I left the boatshed.

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(At Emily's Apartment)

(Emily's P.O.V.)

I had just gotten ready for bed, when I heard a noise.

I grabbed my gun off my nightstand, and walked cautiously to my bedroom door.

Once I reached the door, I heard another noise. Closer this time.

I backed up from the door a little and aimed my gun at it.

A couple seconds went by, then the door opened. A person coming in, and stopped walking upon seeing me.

I recognized the person, who was now grinning at me, amused.

"Damn it, Callen!" I snapped angrily at him, as I lowered my gun. "How many times do I have to say to NOT sneak into my apartment?!"

Callen just continued to grin at me, as he said confidently:

"You wouldn't shoot me."

"You're pressing your luck." I said.

Then, I walked over to my nightstand.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I sat my gun back down.

"I came to see how you're doing." I heard Callen say.

I turned around and jumped a little.

Callen was literally a poke away from me.

"What did I say about sneaking up on me?" I asked.

"That you like it more than you're willing to admit." He said.

"Funny." I said.

Callen smiled. Then, he held up a white bag.

"Thought this would make you feel better." He said.

I took the bag, opened it, and looked inside.

There was two chocolate glazed doughnuts in it.

I smiled a little, and looked up at him.

"Thanks." I said.

It was silent for a couple seconds, then, I heard my neighbors begin to argue again.

I sighed.

"Why don't you move?" Callen asked.

"Oh, did you find another place for me to move into?" I asked.

"No." He said.

"Then it looks like I'm staying here." I said.

Then, I sat down on the bed.

Callen took his shoes off, crawled across the bed, and sat down beside me.

I took one of the doughnuts out and offered it to him. Callen took it.

Then, I took the other doughnut out and sat the bag down on the floor.

It was silent between Callen and I as we ate our doughnuts and listened to my neighbors argue.

After we ate our doughnuts, I heard Callen ask:

"You want to tell me what happened between you and Ryan?"

"It's not important." I said.

"It must be." I heard Callen say. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have kept him a secret."

I looked at Callen, and Callen looked right back at me. Not backing down.

I looked away from him.

"Ryan wasn't just my brother….He was my best friend. My only friend." I said. "We always had each other's back, we watched out for each other, we stuck up for one another…Especially after our mom died."

I paused for a moment. Pushing the memories of the day my Mom died away.

"You already know how our father was." I said. "…Because of that, Ryan and I knew we only had each other…It was two years after our Mom died, when our father came home one night and…..He came into our room and grabbed me out of bed, and just started to hit me….It happened before, but this time, he was actually drunk, and I swear he hit harder then, than he was sober….And unlike before, Ryan woke up…..He was normally a heavy sleeper, so when our father came in and hit me, he never woke up."

"But that time he did." I heard Callen say.

I nodded.

"That time he did." I said quietly. "…..And when he did, he saw what was happening, and he got out of bed, tackled our father to the ground, and beated him up. Protecting me."

I felt Callen slip his hand into mine.

"The next day, our father got one of his cop friends to arrest Ryan for assaulting him." I said. "But, two days later, he ended up dropping the charges, Ryan came home from jail, and we spent time together…..That night, I went to bed with Ryan next to me….But when I woke up, he was gone."

Callen squeezed my hand softly, as tears came to my eyes.

I blinked them away.

"I looked everywhere in the house for him, but he wasn't there." I said. "Three days later, when he didn't show up, I got the courage to ask our father where he was…..He told me he found Ryan dead beside me, and that I somehow killed him in my sleep….I didn't believe him. At least….I didn't believe I killed him….But I remembered how Ryan protected me, and thought our father killed him because of that….Then, years later, I see Ryan in Montreal. Alive and well….And I found out he left me there with our father willingly, with no excuse…..Needless to say, I was heart broken."

It was silent for a couple seconds, then, I heard Callen say:

"He didn't have a choice."

I looked at him.

"You're defending him?!" I asked in disbelief.

"Nell found something." Callen said quickly. Then, with his free hand, Callen took a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket. "Take a look."

Then, Callen held the piece of paper out to me.

I took the paper from him with my free hand, unfolded it, and looked at it.

It was a restraining order.

I read the paper.

"Our father put a restraining order on Ryan." I said, as I processed what I was reading.

"He put both of your names on it." I heard Callen say.

"So, Ryan left because of a restraining order?" I asked.

"It looks that way." I heard Callen say softly. "It was either obey the restraining order, or stay in jail until you and your father moved somewhere else."

I shook my head indisbelief.

"I spent years thinking he was dead." I said. "Spent a couple more hating him because he was actually alive and willingly left me…And now, I find out he was taken away from me all because of a retraining order…."

Callen let go of my hand, wrapped him arms around me, and pulled me to him.

And I let hm. Resting my head on his shoulder.

"Why didn't he tell me?" I wondered out loud quietly.

"That's something you're going to have to ask him." I heard Callen say just as quietly.

I buried my head into Callen's neck, as I began to feel better.

Just like I always do when he was around.

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(The Next Morning)

(Emily's P.O.V.)

I was sitting in a bar in a red silky strapless dress and red high heels.

I was sipping a martini at the bar counter, watching a man in the VIP section of the bar, where two of his body guards were standing outside of, keeping a watchful eye on everyone in the room.

"Hello, beautiful." I heard a familiar voice say.

"You're late." I said.

"Yeah, well, if someone helped me find my shoes, I would have been here a LOT faster." I heard Him say.

"You're REALLY going to blame that on McGee?" I asked, as I looked at him.

Tony, who was sitting beside me in a white button up shirt, suit pants and jacket, just looked at me.

"He knew where they were, and didn't tell me." He said. "And because of that, I'm GLAD that we're leaving tonight."

"Let me guess," I began. "He doesn't know you're NOT going to work tomorrow?"

"No." Tony said. "I told him I was going on vacation and that Gibbs already knows about it."

"And the reason why he didn't help you find your shoes?" I asked.

"He didn't believe me." Tony said.

"Well, you ARE lying to him." I said.

"He doesn't have to know EVERYTHING I do." He said. "Plus, Vance said to keep this on the down low."

"If only you weren't so slow." I said.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Tony said, sarcastically.

Then, he picked up the toothpick that was currently through an olive, which was in my drink, and ate the olive.

"I was going to eat that." I said.

"No you weren't." He said. "You don't eat olives."

"Ever thought it was because you eat them before I can?" I asked.

Tony narrowed his eyes at me.

"Touché." He said. "So, where's our guy?"

"Your nine o'clock in the VIP area." I said, as Tony glanced around the room casually.

"And those two from 'The Replacements'?" Tony asked.

"Two of his body guards." I said. "I think there may be more around us that aren't so obvious."

"I agree." Tony said, as he looked back at me. "And Vance just wants us to tail this guy and find out what he is doing in Montreal?"

"Correct." I said.

"Do you know why?" He asked.

"Vance was…..withholding, when I asked about this guy." I said. "All he said was to keep a close eye on him until further notice."

"I got the same response." Tony said. "What's his name?"

"William Gutierrez." I said. "Ring a bell?"

"Not even a chime." He said.

I woke up with someone's arms around me from behind.

I opened my eyes and quickly realized I was lying down in my bed, and someone was cuddling with me from behind.

I turned around slowly, and saw Callen was the one with his arms around me.

He was sleeping. And he looked quite peaceful.

I smiled a little. Wishing I could wake up next to him like this every day.

I made a move to get up without disturbing him, but when I did Callen pulled me closer to him. His arms getting more secure around me.

"Don't go." I heard Callen say in a sleepy voice, as he nuzzled into my neck. "Stay with me."

Oh Callen, I thought, You're killing me.

"We have to get to work on time." I said.

"Screw it." I heard Callen say. "We'll call in sick and stay in bed all day."

I swear, if I knew Hetty wouldn't put a BOLO out on us, I would DEFINITELY call in sick, and stay in bed with him.

But since I knew Hetty would send someone out to find us…..

"Callen," I began.

Callen lifted his head up, and looked down at me. His eyes finally open.

We stared at each other in silence for about a minute or two.

Then, Callen began to lean in.

But before his lips could touch mine, his phone began to ring.

Callen rolled over onto his back, took his phone out, and answered it.

"Hey, Sam!" Callen said.

Damn you, Sam! I thought.

"I'm on my way, I promise!" Callen said quickly. "I didn't forget to pick you up….Bye, Sam."

Then, Callen hung up.

"….I have to pick up Sam." He said. "He's waiting for me."

"Of course." I said. "I understand…..You better go before he tears you a new one."

Callen laughed a little. Then, He looked at me.

"See you at work?" He asked.

"See you at work." I said.

Then, Callen got off the bed, headed toward the door, and left.

Once Callen was gone, I let out a heavy sigh.