Author's Notes – Not mine!
Guess I'm on a roll with this one! I have one more chapter started for this story, so I thought I would update this one a bit earlier than I normally would. Thanks to everyone who has read the story so far! Thank you for the comments as well.
I wanted to let you guys know the underlying drama/trauma in this story has definitely already been decided, but I want to encourage any suggestions in regards to the Callen/Eric dynamic. This story started with a simple exchange that popped in my brain. I was actually working on my other story while listening to music and one of the songs gave me that start. I wrote down the basic outline of the argument and then came back later to add details. Thus the story was born.
I hope everyone enjoys!
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Having taken the day off after the blow-up with Callen, Eric settles his body against the back of his couch waiting for the movie to start. Well aware of how completely out of character the outburst was for Eric, Hetty didn't need much convincing to let him leave even with a pending case. Honestly, he was just happy Callen hadn't pummeled him. Sure Sam was right there, but Eric is pretty sure Callen could have gotten at least one hit in before he could intervene. Not a thought he likes to dwell on.
Just as the opening credits finish, Eric hears his phone ring from across the room. "Damn," the man mutters to himself as he crosses the living room to reach the offending device. Seeing the name on the screen, he immediately relaxes before answering with a chipper hello. That sense of relaxation immediately dissipates as he hears her voice going a million miles a minute asking questions about what exactly happened between him and Callen that morning.
Trying to get some words in between the constant barrage coming from the other end, Eric only gets a few broken phrases in before her voice interrupts his. Finally finding an opening that seems may last for longer than three seconds, he speaks quickly. "He was being completely unreasonable, Nell." Listening to her words, he speaks again. "Yes, he wanted me to track your phone." Silence once again. "Of course, I said no."
Then she brings up the last statement Eric made which briefly makes him wonder if she hacked the mainframe and watched the footage. "How did you even know about that Nell? And don't tell me Hetty told you because she didn't get there until after everything was done." Waiting as she fumbles for what might pass as a reasonable explanation, he finally determines it isn't worth whatever story she was going to make up. "I know I shouldn't have said that. But, in my defense, I saw absolutely no reason to encourage his push to look for you right now. You don't need to extra stress. The next couple days are going to be hard enough without you having to deal with his baggage."
After talking to her for a few more minutes, Eric is once again struck by her insistence that she go through this process on her own. At least initially. He knows this is her way of trying to process everything before the others find out. Before she feels like she has to be strong regardless of how she really feels. She was also hoping to keep everyone from worrying, but really it was having the opposite effect. "You know you can't stay away the whole time. Right, Nell. You know that, don't you?" Nodding his head to no one in particular, Eric knows it useless to try and argue with her. Once her mind is made up, he has yet to have met anyone who can change it. "You are going to have to at least contact Callen or he is gonna to go off the grid and track you down himself."
The next request is one he isn't expecting. Especially in light of the current circumstances. "Seriously, Nell. How exactly do you expect me to pull that one off? The man is ready to rip me in half. How do you expect me to convince him of anything?" He knows she is right. She needs them on the same page. She already knows she can count on Sam, Kensi, Deeks, and Hetty. The only hitch is Callen and Eric. And he has to find some way to move past this little tiff. If for no other reason than she needs him to do just that. Find a way to be on the same page as Callen. She needs to know the two men can at least be in the same room without a layer of tension causing added stress.
"Ok. I will." He nods his head a few more times. "No, I'm not just saying it. Yes, Nell. I promise I will talk to Callen." After convincing her he will reach out to Callen, Nell finally tells Eric she has to go. "I promise I will call him and get this figured out. Love you, Nell. Call me if you need anything else." After disconnecting the phone call, he tosses the device against the couch. So much for watching the movie.
While Eric is well aware of all the rumblings that swirl around OSP about his supposed crush on Nell Jones. Sure, he had been interested in the possibility of being with her when she first came. But that's been quite some time ago. She quickly became an invaluable friend and he was unwilling to give that connection just to see where things ended up. He sees her as a little sister and is fiercely protective of her. Definitely more so than any other woman in his life which is why he understands why people get the wrong idea. He has long since given up on pleading his case because it just comes across as him being in denial.
When she and Callen started hanging out every night, Eric counted himself amongst the only person who knows them both that was privy to the information. He could see the excitement in her eyes when she would talk about how close they were getting. Unfortunately, he was also on hand to see the disappontment when she couldn't understand why Callen wouldn't make the next move. After over a week of seeing him every night, she said it was obvious he wanted to be with her. But something always stopped him from taking things to the next level and she had no idea what it was.
By the third week, she had begun to wonder if maybe she was the problem. That was when Eric started to get frustrated with Callen. He spent one too many nights on the phone with her after he had left trying to convince her there was nothing wrong with her. It was Callen. It's who he is. He doesn't get close to anyone. Never really has. Nothing Eric said seemed to really stick though. Nell was quickly convincing herself she needed to be something different in order for him to want her.
By the fourth week, Eric was convinced Callen was just stringing her along. It was bordering on ridiculous in his mind. Here was a beautiful, intelligent woman constantly questioning herself. It took everything he had to not confront Callen himself, but he had promised Nell he would keep quiet. She swore that if nothing changed after another week, she would finally just lay everything on the line and ask for some sort of commitment from Callen.
Then she got the call. Everything happened so quickly after that. She called him at six thirty in the morning catching him as he was heading out the door. Crying uncontrollably. He rushed over to her apartment without even having a clear picture of what was wrong. Sitting alongside her on the couch, he listened as she explained everything. His own mind was spinning, so he knew hers had to be bordering on shutdown. After holding her for the next hour while she cried, they formulated a plan. Or rather, Nell formulated a plan. The only other person who needed to know was Hetty. She made him promise not to tell anyone else what was happening. No one. Especially not Callen. Nell wanted to get her brain wrapped around the information and attempt to come to some sort of peace with the news before bringing him, or the others, into the fold.
She left within an hour of formulating the plan. Ever the planner, Nell packed enough for several days; just in case she needed more time. She told Eric she would have her phone turned off until she came home. Use cash only. Stay inside unless she absolutely needed to go out. Nell knew the perfect location. She also knew exactly what was necessary to stay hidden. She had little doubt the team could find her if they tried, but she counted on them blaming Hetty for her impromptu vacation. And Hetty was more than happy to take the blame in order to give Nell time to process everything.
Eric was the sticking point for her. Nell knew she would have to be able to talk to him; she couldn't lose that lifeline. He was like a brother to her. The one she called when things were amazing. The one she went to for advice and to cry with when things went wrong. She quickly came to realize he was like a grounding wire for her. Whenever her mind went into overdrive, Eric could talk her through it.
They never fought. At least not until this whole Callen thing. And even in regards to him, it wasn't a fight. It was more a refusal on her part to listen to reason. She knew he was getting more and more frustrated. She knew he was right and she wasn't the problem. It was Callen, but she couldn't bring herself to admit he was right. That would mean the past month was built on sand. A foundation that had no prayer of ever holding. Nell had become entirely too attached to Callen for the whole thing to fall apart before it ever really started.
Eric knew how much she was counting on him to mend fences with Callen. To find a way to be ok with the pace of this dance Callen and Nell were doing. He honestly isn't sure how he is going to get Callen to listen to anything he has to say. At least not unless he agrees to give the senior agent what he wants. Nell. And there was no way that is ever going to be an option; he would protect her at all costs. Even if it meant another showdown with Callen. Not that he is looking forward to the possibility, but if push came to shove. The thought makes him cringe. He doubts Callen would ever actually hit him, but Eric is pretty sure the man is getting desperate. Eric has to admit if the roles were reversed and he wasn't able to have any contact with her, it would make him crazy. Much like the man who confronted him this morning.
"Damn," Eric mutters under his breath. How the hell is she always right. Even when she isn't here to see how things played out, she's right. Whether Eric wants to admit it or not, he and Callen are in the same boat. Intrinsically, they are tied together. He needs to find a way to push past his frustration with the man; for Nell's sake. She is going to need both of them through this. Whether Eric likes it or not.
Looking at the clock on his wall, he sees it is inching towards noon. Eric picks up his phone and dials Callen's number. Hearing the man pick up, he immediately comes to two conclusions. The case is still be in the beginning stages of investigation and Callen is be distracted. Distracted enough, Callen actually makes the mistake that Eric is calling to give him information about the case. Even though Callen knows Eric is not the tech on the case. "Uhm, Callen. I need to meet with you. When you have some time." Nodding his head, Eric feels the nervousness creeping in as he agrees to meet Callen at a local cafe in twenty minutes.
Knowing they aren't getting very far on the case, Callen lets Sam know he has an errand to run. "An errand huh? Where exactly is this errand, G?" The large man is all too aware Callen is distracted. Hell, for all he knows maybe this errand will get his head screwed back on straight. "This have something to do with Nell?" Still getting no answer, Sam chuckles as he shakes his head.
He is aware enough of his partner's tendencies to guess this whole thing with Nell isn't just everyday concern for a co-worker. Sam knows they have been getting closer. Callen is good, but Sam has caught the way he looks at her when it appears no one is paying attention. Even if he isn't ready to talk about it with him, Sam knows it's just a matter of time. He decides to offer up some unsolicited advice in the hopes it will provide the push Callen so obviously needs. "Someday you have to let someone in, G. You can't stay closed off forever." Locking eyes with his partner, "You risk losing too many good moments by keeping people at arm's length."
Walking away, Callen smiles as he makes his way to his car. The man knows something. He isn't oblivious enough to think Sam hasn't noticed anything. He just wasn't going to be the one to bring it up. Callen knows how much Sam worries about him. Worries that he will never take a chance. A chance to have a family of his own. A chance to let someone love him; really love him. A chance for him to love someone back. And Callen is sure he has found that with Nell. He just hopes he hasn't wasted too much time.
This meet-up with Eric is the first step. Callen has no idea what is happening with Nell, but it occurs to him it must be fairly significant for Eric to stand up to him. Never before has Eric ever stood his ground against one of them, let alone go off on any of them like that. Sure, he has seen the man angry before; however, it's never been directed at him. Typically, Eric's anger is towards a piece of electronic equipment. Callen briefly wonders if Eric somehow knows he has been meeting up with Nell.
The thought lingers in the back of his head as he spots Eric sitting at a small table outside the cafe. Approaching him, Callen hopes they can actually get somewhere with the conversation. Obviously, Callen lost his temper earlier and that didn't go well at all. The tech proved his loyalty to Nell once and Callen doubts that will change for this conversation. Callen knows he has to find her though and telling Eric the real reason isn't exactly an option, so .
"Eric." Callen greets him with a nod of his head before taking the seat across from him. Eric returns the nod without saying a word. The two sit in awkward silence for the next few minutes. Callen stares at Eric waiting for some idea of why he called him here. When Eric starts shifting uncomfortably in his seat more times than can be counted, Callen decides to start, "Look, Eric. I'm sorry I lost my temper this morning. I never should have got in your face like that. I should have found some other way to get the information. One that wouldn't have put you in the hot seat."
In yet another rare move, Eric stays silent choosing to simply watch Callen. He waits for him to continue, praying to whatever god is hanging around right then what he is hearing is being misinterpreted in some way. That maybe he is just missing the point Callen is trying to make. Seeing the look on Eric's face, Callen tries to clarify. "It's just really important that I get in touch with Nell. I know it wasn't fair to ask you to track her, but" Callen leans forward hoping to emphasize his point sufficiently, "I really need to talk to her, Eric."
Trying to keep his rapidly increasing levels of irritation at bay, Eric pushes for his own clarification. "You need to talk to her. Like about work. Because, really what else would you two have to talk about other than work, right?" Eric locks eyes with Callen before continuing, "Except Nell is taking some vacation time, which means she obviously doesn't not want to talk about work."
Trying to figure out where exactly the underlying hostility is coming from, Callen sits up in his chair as he studies the man in front of him. It is quickly becoming another battle of wills and Callen knows he need to diffuse the situation. "It's not about work, Eric. It's a personal matter. Something that I need to let Nell know." Leaning forward allowing his arms to come to rest on the table in front of him, Callen speaks again. "Can you help me, please?"
Eric shakes his head before speaking, "No, Callen. I can't help you." Callen sits back in his chair trying to mask his reaction, but Eric is well aware that answer isn't going to impress him. "Look, I already told you. If she wants to talk to you, then she will call you." Eric takes a breath, knowing this conversation is not going much better than the one this morning. Thinking back over the conversation with Nell, Eric knows he has to find a way to get on the same page as Callen. "I get you have things to say to her."
Eric knows the olive branch he just offered was more like a twig. A really small twig. But baby steps are better than no steps, right? Hoping to ease Callen's mind a bit more, Eric adds another twig to the pile doubting it will be enough to keep him at bay. "Look, Callen. Nell is safe. She wants you to know that." Realizing how that sounds and knowing Callen will key in on it immediately, Eric adds more hoping to cover his misstep. "She wants everyone to know she is safe."
Callen leans forward once again as everything becomes perfectly clear. "You know." He locks eyes with the tech, "Don't you?" Hoping to keep his reaction neutral, Eric simply shrugs in response. Callen chuckles slightly to himself, "That's what this is all about. You refusing to help me find her. You standing up to me this morning." Callen leans back in his chair shaking his head again, "You're jealous because Nell and I have been spending so much time together. Jealous because she isn't with you."
Eric stares at the man across from him and he really wonders if Nell has completely lost her mind. He immediately feels his blood boiling and decides the conversation is officially over. This whole idea of them getting on the same page is not happening. At least not right now. Getting up from his chair, Eric doesn't even bother to address what Callen said. He reaches in his pocket and leaves a couple dollar bills on the table for the waitress and walks away from Callen.
Eric doesn't even make it off the outdoor patio before he feels Callen's hand on his arm. Without any regard to where his actions may land him, Eric simultaneously uses one hand to shove Callen's off its perch while his other hand makes contact with Callen's chest shoving him. Not having even remotely anticipated a physical response from Eric, Callen's body is momentarily catapulted into a nearby table knocking over a chair on impact.
"I said it once, Callen and I won't say it again." Eric manages to keep his tone even and completely clear of any emotion as he speaks to the stunned man, "Everything isn't always about you. Other people have battles too. Until you can find a way to make this about Nell and not yourself, don't even bother talking to me. You've already spent enough time being selfish, Callen."
Author's Note 2 – I wanted to give a little insight into the way I am writing Eric. While the portrayal of him could be perceived as completely out of character, I firmly believe that if push actually did come to shove, Eric would be every bit as protective in regards to Nell as he is showing in this story. Please feel free to offer any opinions on the matter and let me know what you think of this version of our favorite techie!