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Chapter 4 (TSS)
The rest of the day was spent with poking, prodding and countless tests. After twenty-four hours of being uncomfortable and (if he were to be honest) scared, G had reached the end of his tolerance level for hospitals.
"Sam, I'm fine. They stitched up my shoulder, they've done enough tests to know I'm not brain dead, what's the problem here?" Callen rationalized with his partner as he started to get out of the hospital bed, only to be body blocked by Sam. "Sam, come on."
"No you come on, G." Sam shot back, "You have a serious head injury!"
Callen's expression went from annoyed to annoyed and frustrated as he leaned back against the bed for support. The attempt at standing had caused the world to spin with the motion, but he did his best to hide the fact from his over protective friend.
"Alright, what if we made a deal?" G compromised in a civilized way. Inside he felt like screaming yelling and stomping his feet. But a tantrum wasn't going to get him anywhere. All the special gent really knew was if he spent one more hour in the hospital undergoing some stupid test he was going to fight back. And it wasn't going to be a pretty sight.
Sam seemed to contemplate this idea, crossing his muscular arms over his chest defensively, "What deal?" The big agent humored his partner, but the hardening of Sam's eyes told Callen to choose his argument wisely.
"I can sign out against metical advice if the doctor says I'm not in immediate danger of dying." Callen offered, of course he already knew that Dr. Freedman had already declared him 'out of danger' an hour earlier during a scan of some sort. Apparently there was some sort of oddity they were checking on, but the doctor had stressed it was simply odd, not life threatening.
At least the annoying speech impairment seemed to be all but clear. Still Callen found himself having to think a bit harder before he spoke to keep things straight, but he rarely stumbled over his words anymore. That was a good sign if any that he was ready to get the hell out of the hospital.
Sam contemplated the offer and nodded slowly, "Okay, but only if Dr. Freedman agrees, and I stay with you."
"Sam," G started to protest only to snap his mouth shut when his partner glared back stubbornly. With a sigh Callen gave in, "Fine, if you insist on being my mother for the day."
"Someone has to look after you." Sam growled back, not amused at the comment.
The two glanced over at the door when Dr. Freedman entered the space. G smirked a bit when the doctor caught their intense glares, "Am I interrupting something?" He asked, but didn't make to leave, instead he walked over to Callen, handing him the clipboard. "Sign and date here and here."
"You played me!" Sam shouted suddenly, causing the doctor to jump a bit from the sudden raising of voice. Callen played it cool, as if he hadn't even heard his partner speak. With a quick scribble of the pen the task was done.
"Here you go, Doc." G said cheerfully, a smug smile lighting his pale face. Handing back the clipboard Callen stood, waving his partner aside. "Now, if you two would excuse me I'm going to change." He spoke casually before slipping into the safety of the bathroom.
Sam sighed as he watched G disappear and turned to the doctor for answers. "Why exactly are you agreeing to this?" He demanded lightly, knowing there had to be some logical explanation. Most doctors were on his side when it came to his partner's health.
"The scans and tests we've preformed have shown no signs of bleeding or additional swelling in the brain. Actually, the swelling he had sustained has gone down to an acceptable, nearly normal level. Your partner is well on his way to recovery." The doctor nodded, though his expression and tone didn't exactly make Sam feel any more confident that G was in the clear.
Giving the older man a cautious look before crossing his arms in an intimidating gesture, "So what aren't you telling me? Why the impressive list of tests?" When the doctor hesitated again Sam's eyes narrowed dangerously and his hands fell to his side, as if he were getting ready to attack the man before him, "What are you not telling us?"
Slowly the doctor nodded, "We are not as much concerned as we are curious," Dr. Freedman started, "Your friend's brain is functioning fine, there is no problem there. However, there is a very small section of his brain that appears to be lit up."
"Huh?" Sam blinked, "And that's bad?"
"No, not necessarily. I've heard cases of this before. Our brains are mysterious things. Most people only use a third or less of their natural brainpower in every day life. Those portions with activity show up on our scans looking lit up. I've checked his previous scans from past injuries, this area of his mind, although small had never been lit up before. We are just curious what this means. Nothing in your friend's actions seem to indicate that it's something that will change his personality or cause him any danger. We're just…"
Sam sighed, "Yeah, Callen's mind will do that to you."
"Talking about me?" G asked, sounding like his normal self. Sam looked at him, than at the patch taped on the back of his head to cover the stitches Dr. Freedman had administered. He wanted to ask the doctor if he should be worried about signs of changed personality or other odd behavior.
When Sam didn't answer right away Dr. Freedman stepped in, "I was simply explaining to your partner about the scans we took. It is nothing to be worried about," he turned to face Sam again, making Sam wonder if they even had told Callen about the scans. His question was answered when the Doctor spoke to G again, "As I told you, we don't really believe the activity will last. More scans would monitor the activity but honestly they are more my curiosity than anything else."
G grinned, "Sorry I'm not a more cooperative lab rat." He shrugged, tossing his hospital shirt into a bin before slapping Sam on the back of the shoulder, "Let's head out, before this guy comes up with some reason for me to stay." He pointed his finger in Dr. Freedman's direction. The doctor smiled lightly at the agent's antics.
"Although your mind is fascinating, I hope not to see you for a while, young man." Dr. Freedman nodded towards the two before exiting the room.
Sam glanced at his partner when they were alone and shook his head, "Only you would have been hit in the head so hard it wakes up an inactive part of your brain." He scolded playfully, slipping back into the typical banter before he brought up the real issue he wanted to deal with. Guilt.
"Hey, I told you before. If you're natural, I'm supernatural." Callen grinned before leading the way out of his 'cage' and towards his freedom.
"Yeah, and that still doesn't make any sense." Sam rolled his eyes. The familiar banter continued to the parking lot and as they sat in Sam's Challenger he paused.
G glanced over at his partner, a bit impatient to get as far away from the hospital as possible at this point. "This is normally the part were you turn the car on." He teased lightly, when Sam still didn't move G let out a sigh. "Look, if this is about what happened…I'm fine. Sometimes operations go wrong. It wasn't your fault, it wasn't mine either." Callen attempted to console his friend.
"You said you didn't like it, I should have listened to you. I willingly put you in danger and things went wrong. It was my fault." Sam disregarded his friend's soothing words easily. "What I did was borderline…"
"Shut up Sam," Callen interrupted with an eye roll. "I was just complaining. I do that from time to time. You call it 'banter' remember? If I didn't want to do the plan I would have told you. I wouldn't have gotten into that trunk if I didn't trust you."
"But it went wrong, how can you trust me for next time?" Sam asked desperately his eyes finally finding his partner's face.
G actually smiled, "Sam, I got hit in the head and shot in the shoulder. I'm fine. I'm out of the hospital and got a clean bill of health from my doctor. I've had worse."
Sam visibly flinched at the memory that surfaced. Of his partner's body jerking as five bullets hit their mark.
"Hey," Callen's sharp voice brought his partner from his stupor, "I'm okay."
Slowly Sam reached up his hand and twisted the keys in the ignition, turning on the vehicle. "Yeah, just keep reminding me." Sam offered a weak smile. "Maybe I'll be alright to."
G made a scoffing sound, "You? Alright? Please." He joked lightly, springing back into their normal banter.
"Shut up," Sam shot back with a grin, pulling out of the parking garage and heading towards G's home.
Did I break your open heart? After ten years together we're still ten years apart…
Sorry…song is stuck in my head. It's awesome though, The Submarines. I recommend.
Anyway, sorry for the shorter chapter but I'm trying to get something out today because I know tonight I might not have time. My dad is coming to town and we're doing a father/daughter night out thing with another family. I'm excited!~
Reviews are loved! And Reviewers are the definition of AWESOME: look it up, it's true. (in my dictionary anyway)
-Strawberrywaltz
PS: Forgive me on any mistakes, I wrote this fast and I didn't have a chance to look over it.
Coming up is more of the 'plot' this was just the 'beginning.' The real fun has yet to begin!