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Smith, R.

"Emma, remember your breathing exercises we learned!" Annie shouted as her parents, son, and daughter-in-law rushed out of the room to get immediate treatment as she sat helplessly in her bed still hooked up to the wires and IV as well as mindful of her stitches.

"Hetty, Aisha, and I will go wait with your parents so we can update you on any news." Travis said as he registered the look of apprehension on Annie's face because she couldn't be there for the birth of her grandchild herself.

"Thanks TJ," Annie replied and watched as the three of them left next leaving her with the NCIS: OSP agents.

"Annie, everything with Emma is going to be fine." Sam broke the silence when he noticed that Annie still had the nervous and torn look on her face between going to Emma's side herself and staying in her bed because she knew that she needed to stay where she was at. Callen backed his partner's claim by squeezing her hand once more.

"I know, I just can't help be worried. I want both of them to be ok; all of us have been waiting for this day since that baby was conceived." Annie explained with a strained smile and squeezed Callen's hand back.

"Is there anything we can do to make it easier for you, I know I can be a great distractor." Deeks asked her and this made Annie's strained smile turn into a real one as she and everyone else rolled their eyes with a laugh. But Annie stopped short when an idea struck her.

"Actually, could one of you go get the head nurse?" Annie asked, apparently both Eric and Nell volunteered to go together which made Annie suspicious but she let it slide for now. She will tease them about that when she was back to over 60% health.

"Why Annie, what are you thinking?" Kensi questioned and Annie was about to open her mouth when Carson cut her off.

"No, you are not getting out of that bed until you have your stitches out or you need to go to the bathroom and even then don't they have bedpans for that?" Carson ranted with a stunned audience and Annie raised one eyebrow.

"Thank you for the delightful thought but that is not why I wanted the head nurse." Annie replied and Carson narrowed her eyes in obvious disbelief.

"This coming from the girl who sprained her ankle while jumping on a trampoline, went bowling on it turning the basic sprain into a fracture and a torn ligament, and then wanted to play DDR all before we got you to the nearest hospital." Carson stated and Annie turned sheepish with the looks of astonishment coming from the remaining NCIS agents. Annie was going to respond when she was cut off once more with the head nurse, Eric, and Nell walking into the room.

"Hello Ms. Smith, my name is Ivy what can I do for you?" The nurse-Ivy-explained after she looked at Annie's charts on Ivy's clipboard.

"Oh yes, see my daughter-in-law just went into labor and I was wondering if I could get updates seeing how I am confined to my bed." Annie answered and this seemed to appease Carson's suspicions that Annie was going to try and visit Emma and injure herself in the process.

"I'm sorry Ma'am but I would have to ask your daughter-in-law for permission to tell you this information and as you have already told me, she probably has her mind on something else so I cannot tell you any information unless she was in danger." Ivy told Annie and Carson chuckled at that as she shook her head.

"Why are you shaking your head?" Callen asked Carson.

"She should have not said no to Annie." Carson continued to chuckle as everyone then noticed Annie's glare directed towards the head nurse. Callen smirked knowing that Nurse Ivy was going to learn that Annie nearly always got her way from his past experience of listening and watching Annie negotiate with fashion designers during his month on desk duty. It was something else to see Annie get the deal she wanted no matter what tactic the designers tried to use, Annie always turned it around and came out on top. There was a reason why Hetty always commended Annie for staying within budget unlike the rest of the NCIS: OSP agents.

"I understand that I would need Emma's permission and that she is a bit busy bringing my grandchild into the world, but there is also my son who you could ask seeing how he is the father of the child and not going through labor at the moment. Thus he probably could answer your question and I can get the updates I need on how my daughter-in-law and grandchild is doing." Annie countered and Ivy began to stutter not sure how to respond to Annie's logic. The nurse stood there opening and closing her mouth with no audible sound coming out.

"Well, what are you waiting for? My grandchild to be born?" Annie scolded the young woman who bolted out of the room at the end. Annie then noticed the incredulous and amused looks coming from her friends and sister.

"What? At least I am not asking to commandeer a wheelchair or move my cot." Annie replied indignantly and out of all the smirks and chuckles she received, Annie noticed Callen's the most. It was that sexy lopsided smirk that made Annie smile back even though she was supposed to have a serious and annoyed look.

"I'm just proud of you for not running out of this hospital as soon as you woke up." Carson countered which made Annie roll her eyes.

"I may hate hospitals but that doesn't mean I am stupid enough to bolt when I need physical therapy and have stitches across my stomach that can rip open at any time." Annie stated and received grateful smiles from her visitors. It was then that Annie felt truly uncomfortable with all the wires hooked up to her just to monitor her heart beat when she was clearly conscious and alive.

"Alright boys, either turn around or leave the room so I can remove some of these wires." Annie said as she released Callen's hand and made shooing motions with them.

"Annie, what are doing?" Carson had a warning edge to her voice that made Annie roll her eyes once more.

"I just told you what I am doing; I am removing the wires to the heart monitor because as you can all clearly see, I am awake and stable. I do not need to suffer through having uncomfortable suction cups placed all over my chest. Also, it is really weird to hear my own mechanical heart beat." Annie explained and started to tug on one of the wires.

"Alright, how about the boys and I leave; I will go get Ivy so she can help you and so that you don't mess anything up." Kensi spoke up before Carson blew a gasket by the look on the CIA agent's face at Annie's actions. Callen hesitated in leaving but with a smile from Annie, he got up and left. As soon as the door closed behind him, Carson gave Annie the death glare.

"Come on Carson, I will wait until Ivy comes back and I am staying in the hospital no matter how much I hate too. Can we just move past my perchance to annoy hospital staff and celebrate the fact that I am healthy enough to do so." Annie appealed to her adopted sister and knew she won Carson over when Carson fought not to smile and failed.

"Just be thankful that I am so happy that you are alive right now or else I would totally kick your ass so you would have to stay here longer." Carson replied and both sisters laughed at that. They stopped briefly for Ivy to come in with Kensi while the guys remained outside thankfully although Annie swore she heard Deeks try to get in.

"I did talk to your son, Mr. Jason Smith, and he said that you could be updated so I will have a nurse come in every couple of hours or so to update you on your daughter-in-law's status." Ivy reported after she had removed all the wires connected to the heart monitor leaving Annie with an IV for which she was grateful for.

"Thank you Ivy, although I do expect to be notified when Emma begins to push not just how dilated she is." Annie clarified. It looked like Ivy was going to protest when the head nurse thought better of it and nodded before leaving Annie's room.

"Ivy is one smart lady." Kensi said as the boys walked back into the room to join the girls again.

"And why is that?" Sam asked once he entered the room and took up his position behind Callen who sat back down in his seat and grabbed Annie's non-bandaged hand again.

"Because Ivy just gave up and listened to Annie and her orders about what she wants to be notified about in regards to Emma being in labor right now." Carson explained and all the men just laughed at that which made the ladies laugh with them. After that the group began to make small talk, Annie could see that they all were walking on egg shells not to bring up her abduction and Annie appreciated that because from earlier ago it was clear that she wasn't ready to do so.

All of them stayed with Annie through brunch, because she woke up so late into the morning, they stayed with her through dinner and all the way until visiting hours was over. Annie normally would have confronted Ivy and tried to convince her to let them stay but Annie knew she was already pressing her luck with Ivy for the day and if Annie wanted to get anywhere with Ivy over the duration of her stay at the hospital, then Annie needed to hold back on pushing all of Ivy's buttons until Annie was discharged. She watched everyone file out, probably heading to where Hetty and the others were camping out in the maternity ward, before Ivy came in and gave Annie an entire check-up including removing the IV from Annie's arm and bandaging the arm up.

"Now I want you to get some rest, I promise you that I will come in personally and tell you when Emma is starting to push." Ivy promised her and Annie gave the woman a real smile.

"Thank you Ivy, I very much appreciate it especially with how difficult I have been for you."

"You're right, you have been very difficult. But I understand and I thank you for acknowledging and apologizing for it. Now go to sleep." Ivy replied before leaving the room.

Annie took this time to finally get a good look around her new bedroom for the next two weeks. It was pretty basic with white-washed walls and tiles, white blinds on the windows, an outdated but still functional T.V. in the upper corner of the right side of the room, and alongside the opposite wall from Annie was the long table holding all of her bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals, and 'Get Well' cards. When she was done with her scan Annie finally closed her eyes and let her mind play any song that came to mind. She was about to drift to sleep when the door to her room opened. Annie's eyes bulged open as she zoomed in on the door and she didn't even breathe until it registered that it was Callen at the door.

"You scared me," Annie sighed and placed a hand over her chest.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. I just wanted to make sure you were still here." Callen apologized but at the last part Annie shot him a confused look.

"Why wouldn't I still be here?" She asked as Callen sat back down in his seat that he occupied most of the day.

"You did trick Hetty into letting you go home and after I dropped you off, you went straight to Stryker. I am not going to let that happen again." He said sternly.

"Well has anyone I care for and love been abducted by a raving lunatic who will exchange them from me recently?" She countered.

"No," Callen replied.

"Then I guess there should be no reason for why I would leave the hospital right now." Annie stated in amusement and got a chuckle with Callen's lop-sided smirk.

"Good," He said in between laughs and the two of them settled on smiling at each other. Annie's mind was too consumed on the fact that Callen cared so much about her that he made sure she was still with him and the others. Callen's mind was focused on how he was going to breach the fact about his feelings for Annie.

All he could think about was the conversation he had with Director Smith. Callen was still didn't fully believe he was in love with Annie. But the happiness and calmness that Callen felt today just talking to Annie, seeing her laugh, and smile made him rethink his conversation with her father. Because of this Callen thought about telling Annie about his feeling towards her at least. He knew he needed to tell her soon, but he debated on how soon.

Annie just found out that the two men she had a serious relationships with in the past were murdered because of a man wanted her attention. She learned that the innocent people connected to these men were killed because of this same man. This man who murdered her best friend's lover and kidnapped two of the closest people to her. This man only released those two in exchange for her so he could torture her for the next three days in the hopes she would be under the influence of Stockholm syndrome. This man ultimately failed but he said he did everything because he was in love with Annie. That must have left some damage on Annie and Callen didn't want to reopen those wounds unintentionally by telling her his feelings too soon.

On the other hand, Callen didn't think he could hold back around Annie anymore. Seeing her sacrifice herself and get tortured made Callen realize that he needed to tell her, to find out if she felt the same way about him. He couldn't help but dissect every memory he has ever had with her and see if she was reciprocating his feelings with him being too wrapped up in his mind on not being obvious to her. To his surprise there were plenty of moments between him and Annie where Annie gave him lingering looks or be near him more than anyone else at NCIS: OSP. Every time Annie came to join Callen and his team in paperwork or to just distract them, she would always take up her spot next to his desk. Whenever she went out to get food for everyone, she would always ask Callen to help her out if he or nobody else offered their assistance. Then again, maybe he was over thinking this as well. When it came to Annie, anything was possible in Callen's mind.

"Hey Annie," Callen started to say but stopped himself to gather more courage. He opened his mouth to continue but was cut off by someone else entering the room.

"Excuse me Ms. Smith but-oh." Ivy stopped mid-sentence when she noticed Callen sitting there. The nurse then began to glare at him.

"Stop giving my friend the snake-eye, he came in here to make sure I was being a good patient. So, what is it Ivy? Oh, and please call me Annie from now on." Annie protected Callen while re-directing the nurse's thoughts which was pretty brilliant in his opinion.

"Al-right then," Ivy elongated the word as she gave Callen one last stare down before giving Annie her full attention. "Emma is beginning to push, we should expect the birth of your grandchild any moment now."

"Thanks Ivy, do you mind if Callen stays here with me?" Annie asked and Ivy nodded before leaving once more.

"Go on G, what were you going to say?" She encouraged him to speak up again. She was definitely curious as to what Callen wanted to say to her that was making him hesitate. Was it about his conversation with her father? Was he going to tell her that he cared for her or if he just wanted to be friends now that he knew just how messed up her life was and had time to re-think it thanks to her father's persistence that Callen was in love with her?

"Never mind, don't worry about it." Callen replied instead of giving her a real answer. He decided that he was going to tell her, and soon. But he was going to wait until after Emma has given birth and Annie has gone through a physical therapy session. Either way, Callen wasn't going to bring it up now.

"No really, what were you going to say?" Annie persisted but he shook his head in a negative. She was going to continue when Callen decided to change topics and ask Annie if she was going to have a grandson or granddaughter.

"I don't know, Emma and Jason don't even know. They want it to be a surprise." She shrugged her shoulders and gave up on getting Callen to tell her what is really on his mind.

"Then what do you want it to be, boy or girl?" He asked.

"I don't care, it's my grandchild and I am going to love him or her no matter what gender." She answered with a sweet smile that made Callen's own smile soften as well. Callen continued along this track of conversation for the next thirty minutes. He was able to distract her long enough until someone else knocked on the door.

"Come in!" She called out in midst laughter after Callen got done telling her about Sam and how he plays princess tea party with his daughters. Director Smith was the one to open the door but all of Annie's attention was focused on Jason and the little blue bundle in his arms. There was awe and wonder in her eyes as she held her breath as Jason walked closer to her bedside with the rest of their party minus Emma in tow.

"Meet Riley Pierce Smith. He is 7 lbs. 10in. and healthy according to the preliminary tests." Jason said as he stopped right by Annie's bedside and handed her the baby. Annie looked stunned at the choice in name but happy as she cradled Riley close to her. All Callen could tell was that Riley had a nice thick patch of black hair on the top of his head.

The image of her holding a baby would forever be seared in Callen's brain. The look of joy on her face was mind boggling but there was something else simmering there. It was relief, relief that she was really there and not dead or hanging from the ceiling still in Stryker's grasp. Relief that she did keep her family together for the infant in her arms. It seemed that it truly set in that Annie was safe and that she got her life back.

"Oh Jason, he's perfect. Even down to the name." She murmured and a few tears escaped down her cheeks. But she wiped them away quickly with her free hand and with that hand she let the baby grip her index finger.

"Hey Riley, I'm your grandma." Annie nearly burst from laughter at that but was able to contain it.

"Now you are not going to call me that until I am old enough to be a grandma, or if I feel like a grandma. I prefer Nana or Nona to be honest, it doesn't sound too grandma-y to me." She continued to talk to Riley who just blinked up at Annie but was entirely focused on her.

"As your grandma that means I am going to spoil you rotten to the point where your parents are going to be begging me to stop." At that part everyone was laughing along with smiling.

"But in exchange for spoiling you like that, I get the permission to embarrass you in front of all of your friends. I especially get permission to scare off all potential and actual girlfriends. I also get your unconditional love despite doing all of that because I am your Nana or Nona, depending on whichever you prefer. So, is it a deal Riley Pierce Smith?" Annie asked the baby seriously.

"Annie, you do know that you can't make a deal with a baby." Deeks said midst laughter.

"Ah, look Riley just blinked and yawned. We have a deal and I have witnesses." Annie didn't even bat an eyelash at Deek's remark. Everyone was definitely laughing at this. But when this happened Riley began to cry and shriek.

"Oh, ssh Riley, I know, ssh," Annie said to Riley as she bounced the baby lightly.

"I think he wants his momma because he is hungry." Annie this time directed to Jason as she handed the baby over to the new father. Jason smiled and left the room to head towards wife leaving everyone in the room.

"So, how does it feel to be a Nana?" Carson asked.

"Well, I don't feel any older if that is what you want to know." Annie answered.

"I still can't believe you made a deal with a baby, you do know that it won't stand up when he gets older." Deeks continued and this had the entire Smith family, well minus Carson, laughing.

"It's a family tradition started by Papa Henry when Annie was born. He made the same deal with her when she was just a new born. Held it over her head until he passed away before she entered high school." Director Smith explained.

"Oh yes, Papa scared off any boy I hung out with when I was little even though none of us were thinking more than playing power rangers. Carson, you would have loved Papa Henry." Annie stated.

"Yeah, he would have. Unfortunately he died from lung cancer before you guys could meet. Although I think he would have had a heart attack first with all your serial dating in highschool." Mom remarked and Annie blushed a subtle pink at this and rolled her eyes.

"I actually always imagined Papa Henry chasing after my dates with his awesome collection of knives and daggers." Annie mused and her parents nodded in agreement once they thought about it.

"Excuse me, I think it is time or you all to leave now that it is so late and that the Mrs. Emma Smith has given birth, both Ms. Smiths need their rest." Ivy walked in and everyone nodded reluctantly. All of Annie's visitors said good-bye to her and filed out to leave, a few heading to say good-bye to Jason and Emma. As soon as Carson who was her last visitor to leave said good-bye, Annie just closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep.