Okay, so I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this but I can't wait any longer. I've been stringing it out enough. Here is what you have all been waiting for. I hope it lives up to your expectations. Zoe.

Nell awoke from a troubled sleep with a start. She had been having a nightmare and though it didn't have her crying out and thrashing around in her sleep, it left her with her heart racing, her breath coming in short sharp gasps and a cold sweat on her brow. It was a feeling she had grown accustomed to over the past two weeks having rarely had a night's sleep without a nightmare of sorts. Glancing over, she was relieved to see she hadn't disturbed Kensi. The agent appeared to still be sleeping soundly, lying on her stomach and tucked up in her sleeping bag with her long brown hair splayed out across her back.

Sitting up and flicking on the small lantern at her side to take the darkness away, Nell pushed her sleeping bag down to her waist and ran her hands over her face. The nightmare never changed and it led her to look down at the angry red scar on her forearm. Pushing up the sleeve of her shirt, she traced a finger over the raised flesh. She took a few deep breaths and reminded herself that it was all over and she had come out the other side in one piece. But her mind was buzzing and she was now wide awake. Experience had taught her there was little point in trying to go back to sleep right away and glancing at her cell phone and seeing that it was a little after 2am, she decided to take a walk to clear her mind and calm herself down so she could try and go back to sleep.

Careful not to disturb Kensi, she crawled out of her sleeping bag and unzipped the tent. Taking a look out into the darkness, she immediately noticed there was a fire burning at their fire pit. She stepped out into the cool night air and took a closer look as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She could see a figure sitting by the log but was entirely unsurprised at who it was. What did surprise her was the feint sound of a guitar being strummed. It answered her question from Friday morning. The guitar belonged to Callen.

After the first nightmares shook her to her core, Nell had found comfort in Callen and she found herself needing that same comfort now. So Nell began to walk quietly across the grass towards the fire pit with her arms crossed over her chest. She was still a few feet away when he seemed to sense her presence. He ceased his strumming but he didn't look around.

"Don't let me stop you." She said quietly as she moved closer and dropped down onto the ground at his side, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

Callen gave Nell the once over and just knew she'd been woken by a nightmare. In the days after Valdez's attack, he had seen her have several and her face always had that same pained look when she woke. It was the look of someone reliving the worst moment of their life. He turned back to look down at the guitar, his fingers ghosting over the strings, not playing a song, just strumming chords.

"I didn't know you played." Nell looked over at him.

"I don't. Not really." He shrugged and set the guitar on the ground at his side. "Want to talk about it?"

Nell shivered a little, knowing he was asking her about her nightmare. He had asked the same thing each time she had woken with one when he was staying with her at the safe house and that first night back in her apartment. She'd never shared before - it was hard enough for her deal with them without vocalising the terror she felt to someone else. But maybe now was the time. Maybe she needed to let him in completely.

"Only if you share that blanket." She smiled weakly, gesturing to the blanket Callen had draped loosely around his shoulders.

"It's a little small, might not reach all the way over to you." He replied in a low husky voice. Nell didn't need a more formal invitation. She crouched and moved herself between his legs, settling back against his chest as he pulled the blanket around them both. She felt his arms encircle her and his chin come to a rest on the top of her head. Her body was flooded with warmth from him and she felt safe, a feeling she found herself increasing seeking and only finding with him.

"It's always the same." She said quietly. "You don't get there in time." She felt Callen's arms tighten around her as she spoke.

"I have the same dream Nell." He whispered in her ear causing her to shudder as his breath caressed her skin. "But that's not how it worked out."

"I know." She nodded and shifted a little, the blanket falling away from her left arm. Realising her scar was on show, she quickly grabbed at the sleeve of her shirt to cover it up but Callen's hand stopped her.

"You hide it." Callen said. Nell couldn't disagree. She had been wearing long sleeved tops since that night, first to cover the bandage and then to cover the scar when the stitches had been taken out. She hated seeing it and she didn't want anyone else to see it either.

"It's a constant reminder." Nell sighed heavily. Every time she looked at her scar, she felt the knife cutting her, saw Valdez's face above hers ready to plunge the knife into her body. Callen's hand moved from hers and he ran his fingers slowly down her forearm along the length of the raised scar. Nell hitched in a breath as his touch sent shivers through her body.

"The doctor says it will fade, in time." She added, her voice barely a whisper.

"Some people see scars and it's being wounded that they remember. To me Nell, scars are proof of the fact there is healing." Callen murmured in her ear.

Nell twisted in his arms and tilted her head up to look at him. She hadn't consciously intended on entering into a deep and meaningful conversation with Callen but perhaps deep down she knew that's exactly what would happen when she came over to him. And maybe it was what they needed.

"There wouldn't have been any healing it if weren't for you." She told him softly as she reached up and touched his cheek with her hand, gently brushing her fingers across his rough facial hair. "You saved me that night and you've saved me every day and every night after." She whispered. "I wouldn't have made it through without you."

"You're special to me Nell." He whispered. "I'd do anything for you." He leaned closer and as she slid her hand down to rest on his neck, he raised his and took her cheek, his thumb brushing her soft skin. It was in this moment that Nell realised what was going to happen. They had been dancing around it for weeks but the last two days had brought them here and she knew if something was going to happen, this was the moment and there was nothing to interrupt them this time. Everyone else was asleep and they were all alone.

Nell's eyes fluttered closed as his thumb moved from her cheek and brushed across her lower lip. She was completely at his mercy as he traced his fingers along her jaw and back to her lips. Callen was so close she could feel his breath on her skin and she inhaled a sharp breath as his lips came tantalisingly close to hers.

Callen knew exactly what he was doing. He had wanted to do it for weeks but the moment was never right. But it seemed like now was the moment whether he was ready for it or not. He had let something stop him earlier but he wasn't going to let anything stop him this time.

He leaned in close to her, his lips hovering above hers, savouring the moment but teasing her at the same time. And then with the lightest of touches, he finally brushed his lips against hers. Nell let out an almost inaudible gasp at the feather light kiss. He swept his lips across hers in another light, sensual kiss, as he moved his hand to cradle the back of her head. He felt her hand gripping the fabric of his t-shirt as he kissed the corner of her mouth then placed several butterfly light kisses on her cheek. Pressing his lips against hers again, he parted them and ran his tongue across her lower lip, eliciting a soft whimper. Nell slid her hand to the back of his neck and pulled him closer, craving more. Giving her what she wanted, Callen deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue and feeling her respond to him. He pulled her tight against his body and for several minutes they were totally lost in each other.

Callen finally slowed things down, knowing this was not the place to get too carried away, and he peppered her lips with several short kisses before pulling back. As he watched her slowly open her eyes, he noted the slightly dazed but happy look on her face and he grinned. Blinking several times, Nell smiled nervously and buried her face in his chest for a moment. Callen placed a soft kiss on the top of her head then turned her back around so she was once again resting against his chest. Tightening his arms around her, he leaned down and nuzzled against her neck, dropping slow, soft kisses on her skin. Neither felt the need to talk, to explain or to analyse what was happening. They didn't need words to know they were both right where they were supposed to be.