Sam tried calling Callen as soon as he got home and when he got no answer, a few hours later. Each time the phone went directly to voicemail. Michelle found her husband sitting on the couch in the family room jabbing the off button on his phone. She laid her hands on her husband's shoulders and gave a slight squeeze. "Still going to voice mail?"
Sam growled an affirmative then realized he was taking out his frustrations on the wrong person. In way of an apology, he leaned into his wife's embrace and gave her a quick kiss on her hand. Michelle understood the deep and complicated bond between her husband and Callen and was happy it existed because in their line of work, a strong partnership often meant the difference between life and death. She gently kissed the top of his head. "He'll be alright."
"This is Callen we are talking about. He is never alright," he replied and they both chuckled.
"Callen has ticked off Granger before, quite a few times, I believe. Why is this time any different?"
Sam sighed and pulled his wife down on the sofa next to him, wrapping his big strong arms around her. "It's not. Callen and Granger are oil and water; they can coexist, but don't try to mix them." Stoking his wife's brown hair, he continued. "I'm frustrated because Callen wouldn't open up to me. I know how upset he is over the death of that woman and her child. I gave him a chance to talk and he shut me down.
"Their deaths. That was horrible," Michelle affirmed.
"Then why won't Callen let me help? Instead, he deliberately picks a fight with Granger. Granger suspended him, I know it. Maybe if he had talked to me..."
"Nothing would have changed." Sam shifted his position to stare at his beautiful wife. "You have known Callen for more than 5 years Sam. You know him better than almost anyone and that is saying a lot."
Sam nodded in concurrence.
"And you have been good for him Sam Hanna. You have gotten him to open up, trust you. Maybe, not as much as you'd like but it is a damn sight more than anyone has ever been able to do. You, Sam, have breached Callen's walls and touched the inner man. You should be proud."
Sam smiled gently at his wife's pride in him.
"So what are you really upset about Sam? You honestly didn't think Callen was magically going to pour all his feelings out to you this time, did you?"
Sam ducked his head a little and sighed. "No. You're right. I just hate..." he grimaced and looked away. Michelle reached over and gently turned his face back towards her. "I hate when he goes lone wolf on me. It is against everything I believe in; everything I was trained for; he is gonna get himself in trouble and I won't be there to save him. I'll have let him down."
"Sam, you could never let anyone down, especially not Callen. Your heart is a big as the ocean, your loyalty endless. You and Callen are alike in as many ways as you are different. That's what makes you such a stellar team. There will never be any 'letting down' from either of you. Callen is off licking his wounds. Let him be for a bit then tomorrow go after him like only you can. In the meantime," she added seductively, "with Jasmine at her Grandmas getting ready for camp, maybe we can go upstairs and..."
Sam picked his wife up, kissed her hard on the mouth then carried her up the stairs where Michelle did her best to help him forget about his wayward partner, if only for a little while.