Alright, Hetty, I will finish this little psych exercise. I know you are worried about our mental health since Nate left us; although I can assure you we are just fine. I could just say a collective 'I am thankful for my team because they do their jobs, have each other's backs, and have a good sense of humor.' It's the truth, but I know you won't accept that, because that is not what you want. You want to know what we really think of each other. Hey, if you want to know what I really think of the people on my team…here you go.

Hetty looked embarrassed. "You could have skipped that part."

"You said every word."

Kensi is one of my favorite people, period. She knows right what she wants from life and takes it. She doesn't require special treatment because she is a woman and would probably hit me if I even suggested it. She has incredible insight into people and can get witnesses to open up to her in moments when it takes Sam or me hours. She is the only woman I know that can take down suspects in stilettos and look completely calm doing so. She is only one in this entire office that isn't hounding me to get into a relationship; maybe because she understands. She is fearless, and I am always glad to know she has my back.

"I am one of your favorite people?" Kensi sounded happy. "That's…I've never heard you saw anything like that before."

Callen gave a sideways nod, tilting his head slightly. He continued.

Deeks is a good man. He may be annoying, frustrating, and one-track minded, but he works hard and seems to care for this team. He has become one of us, and I think that is a good thing. It is healthy for Kensi to have a partner that pushes her, and it is good for all of us to have someone who thinks outside the box. Deeks learns fast, and doesn't let anyone push him around. He's got a lot to learn, but I think he can make it. His talents are wasted at LAPD; I am glad he works for us now.

Deeks was grinning ear to ear. "I knew it! You do like me! You admit it!"

"Don't push it." Callen muttered. "It took a long time for me to warm up to you. It wouldn't take much to change that."

Deeks wasn't buying it.

I constantly expect Eric to perform miracles and he constantly comes through. I know I don't thank him half as often as I should, but his ego is intact enough I don't think it bothers him. He rarely takes sides in a fight, and sometimes helps the team work something out while remaining neutral. He is the best at what he does, and there are many times I am glad he is on our side; if he chose to use his talents for crime we would probably never catch him. I admire him for never apologizing for who or what he is. His computer skills and logic might be brilliant, but his jokes need work. And if he ever uses a duck call on us again, I will let daylight between his ears.

"Point taken." Eric said quickly. Callen smirked before moving on.

Nell is nice to work with and I am glad she is around. She honestly cares about people, and is the kind of person that goes out of her way to make others happy. She doesn't play politicking games and isn't out to make a name for herself-very refreshing in this organization. She respects my authority, maybe a little more than she should. She brightens the place up regularly with her quick smile or seriously chipper attitude. The best thing about her is she knows her position isn't vital to our team, but she has made herself essential without even meaning to. We would be a sad place without her, that's for sure.

Nell was blushing happily; Callen never really talked to her that much. She was surprised he thought so highly of her.

Okay, Hetty, here is what I really think of you. I'm sure you're dying to know. You are the entire reason I even stay here. You are like my guardian angel, always looking after me and protecting me from myself. You may scare me and mess with my head on a regular basis, but I know you are always covering me and defending me at the same time. You let me run my team the way I feel it should be run, and you have never yanked my leash without me deserving it. You push me to go farther then I think I can go, you make it obvious you would listen but never push me to talk. When I was younger I sometimes pictured what my family would be like, and you would be the grandmother I always wanted; feisty but loving and always there.

Callen froze at the end of the statement. He had never told anyone-not even Nate-about how he pictured Hetty. He hadn't even realized it had slipped into his writing. He swallowed hard; if that had snuck in on him, what else could unconsciously been added during the others?

Hetty looked touched.

Callen moved on slowly.

And that leaves me with Sam. Why am I thankful for Sam? What do I think of him?

He knows.

When Callen did not continue, Deeks exploded. "What? We all pour our hearts and souls out about each other and all you have to say about your partner is 'he knows?' That's not right, man!"

Hetty glanced at Deeks with a small smile. "Patience, Mr. Deeks. Callen will continue in a moment."

Callen glanced at Hetty pleadingly, but she would not back down. "Either he will, or I will finish it for him."

Callen clutched the paper and started reading, not meeting anyone's eyes.

He knows things no one else knows about me. He knows when I am hurting, when I am faking, when I am teasing, when I'm actually angry and when I am just playing. He knows about my sleeping problems and some of my past foster homes. He knows my fears, my anger, and my stupid little pipe dreams. He knows exactly how many heartbeats it takes me to reload my gun in a firefight and covers me during every one. He knows when I am forming a dangerous plan before I even say it and tries to talk me out of it. He knows why I am restless and knows not to let me beat myself up. He knows when I am sorry without me saying it, and always forgives me. He knows when I am about to self destruct and doesn't let me. He knows when I blame myself for something and how to get me out of it. He knows when I have been bottling something up and when I have just had a meltdown. He knows I actually listen when he talks about something bothering him. He knows I know exactly when he is about to lose it and when he is about to laugh. He knows when I don't want to say anything and exactly how to make me say it anyway. Hetty, you know how hard I have worked to build walls around myself, but Sam came in with a battering ram and forced me to open up to him. He knows that I don't trust people easily. I hope he knows I trust him more than any other person in my life. I hope he knows I'd die before I let anything happen to him on my watch.

There…happy, Hetty?

-Callen.

Callen crumpled the paper and suddenly walked very, very quickly away. Hetty made to stand up but Sam stopped her.

"I got this one, Hetty." Sam hurried after his partner, leaving the rest of the team to look at each other. Eric and Nell said their goodbyes and headed up to the communications center, a small smile playing on Nell's face.

Kensi turned to Deeks and saw him hurrying to the bullpen. She apologized to Hetty and started after him.

Hetty, left alone at her desk, stacked the papers neatly except for Callen's wrinkled one. She grinned to herself; the talks that were sure to be going on at the moment were the whole point of the exercise. It had been a success as far as she was concerned…although she wished she could be a fly on the wall for the reactions.