"You're not going to make this easy on him are you?" Michelle asked her husband as they sat in their daughter'shospital room.
Sam's reply was short. "Nope."
"But he did save our daughter."
"Yep."
"And he got hurt protecting her."
"Yep."
"Which is why he needs medical attention."
"Yep."
"Which he won't seek."
"Nope."
"Cause he's Callen," Michelle concluded. "Sam, you know he can't help it."
"Maybe." Sam sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's just so aggravating."
Michelle leaned against her husband as they watched Jasmine snoozing peacefully in her hospital bed. "Do you think his hatred of hospitals stems from all the time he had to be in one recovering from those terrible gunshot wounds?"
"Nah. It started way before that. I am sure Hetty knows why. My guess, something that happened to him as a child in an abusive foster home. But she's not saying and neither is he and I'm stuck trying to keep him alive and well."
"Well do you think it is a good idea, considering his condition, to keep him waiting in the hallway to sneak in here to see Jasmine?"
"The fact that you know he is lurking out there waiting to 'sneak in' is a testament to how badly his trade craft has slipped. Normally, no one knows when he is around, except me."
Michelle smiled up at her husband. "Do you have some sort of Callen radar detector?" she gently mocked.
"Yeah. I get this buzzing in my ear. Like an annoying gnat."
They both laughed and then turned serious. "Really Sam, I think this has gone on long enough. Last I saw, Callen had fallen asleep at the nurse's station with a clipboard in his hand."
"Asleep or passed out?"
Michelle shrugged. "I'm sure Hetty is tired of waiting too."
"She didn't have to wait. I told her I could take care of my obstinate partner."
"I think that is why she waited. To ensure you still had a partner after you got a hold of him."
"Humph. I'm not gonna hurt him...much."
Michelle smile as she stood. "Shall we go to the cafeteria and get a cup of coffee sweetie?"
"Sure. Why not. Jasmine will be alright for a few minutes."
"And she won't be alone for long," Michelle predicted as they walked down the hallway towards the elevators.