Author's Notes – Not mine...
Once again, thank you for the comments and reviews. Here is another smaller chapter. I generally try to keep the chapters about the same, but this story seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to natural breaks.
As also comments and reviews are greatly appreciated!
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He knows it's a decision he will probably regret. On the big scale of things, this is huge. But it is a necessary step and he will just deal with the aftermath when it comes. And maybe pray that it won't actually come. Looking at the laptop screen, Eric hits the last button necessary to track Callen's phone. A move that will likely piss two of the people he is least interested in pissing off; Hetty and Callen.
While waiting for it to process, Eric decides to track Nell's phone as well. Just in case. Maybe the two of them finally talked or are currently talking. However, the distance between the two dots on his screen tells Eric they are clearly not talking. Not yet anyway. He hopes to change that sooner rather than later. Looking at his watch, Eric sees he only has a couple of hours left to convince Callen he needs to talk to Nell. Or at least listen to Nell. Talking is optional he supposes. At least at this point.
He had tried to find Callen through conventional means. Well, conventional for him. As in he pulled Callen's personnel file, pulled his address, and showed up on his doorstep. No luck. Probably a good thing, honestly. The odds of Callen reacting positively to his unexpected arrival are not high. At all. Then, Eric checked out all the places Callen was known to frequent. Nothing. Hell, he even checked Nell's house. Neither were there.
After getting frustrated with his lack of luck, Eric decided to track Callen's phone. He is well aware if the man doesn't want to be found, then he won't be found. But he also knows Hetty would have his head if he went completely off-the-grid. Which meant his phone was the only option left.
Using his laptop as the guide, Eric maneuvers through the side streets until he arrives at a small park nowhere near any of the previous places Eric had tried. As he moves closer to where the dot had shown Callen's phone to be, he is momentarily confused. Callen hadn't moved from this location for the forty-five minutes it took for Eric to arrive. Yet, upon inspection, he doesn't seem to be able to find him. As he is scanning the area, the sound of Callen's voice just about gives him a heart attack.
"You tracked my phone, didn't you?" Callen doesn't address the height to which the man in front of him jumped. Serves him right in Callen's opinion. What the hell gives him the right to track him. Not needing an actual confirmation of his suspicion, he speaks again. "Why are you here Eric?" Shouldn't you be with Nell."
Eric, having heard both questions, opts to ignore the first knowing Callen really doesn't need confirmation. "I could say the same thing about you Callen." He sees the man's shoulders fall for the briefest of seconds before he recovers and slides back in control. "Whether you believe it or not, she needs you. Now more than ever."
Eric knows he needs to find some way to make Callen understand. He knows how it looks. He isn't that far gone. Nell talking to Eric first is just a fraction of the equation though. There is so much more to come. So many more moments that he is sure will have Nell calling Callen before him. He just has to find a way to get Callen to see that before he walks away permanently.
"Sure doesn't seem that way now does it?" The words carry no emotion behind them. Callen knows when to give up. He doesn't have the strength to put himself in a place where he is the only one fighting for the relationship. He's already been there before and he won't go back. And this thing with Nell, well, he doesn't see where she is doing much fighting for him.
Eric ignores the response from the man in front of him and continues speaking, "She needs to know you will be there. See that you aren't going to walk away, even when things don't make sense."
Well, that didn't last long. Callen's resolve was obviously not fully set before Eric came in and poked a hole in the foundation. "Seriously, Eric! She walked away. Not me. Without even saying a word." The hurt is now front and center. "And when she came back, the person she called was you. Again. Not me, Eric. You!"
Eric is immediately angered by the reappearance of Callen's jealousy and strikes back matching his tone, "Damnit, Callen! This isn't you! It's about her. Her needing time to figure things out. Her needing time to process what is happening. Find her strength. Find her voice." He makes himself stop and take a breath. They have already tried this conversation more than once when mad. It didn't go well then, and is unlikely to go well now.
Callen shakes his head trying to understand why this is so hard for Eric to see. "Yet she came to you. Called you, Eric. Talked to you. Why would she do that if she needed time to process whatever is going on?" It's perfectly clear in Callen's mind. "Why would she do that if I'm really the one she needs right now?"
Eric starts to answer the question, then stops himself. He decides to go at the conversation at a different angle in an attempt to break the same circle they have been going around every time they talk. "Why are you even in this..." he stops as he struggles to define what exactly is happening between the two of them. "this whatever it is you two are doing?"
Unimpressed with the insinuation, Callen takes a step so he is standing directly in front of Eric. Locking eyes with the tech before speaking, "Go to hell, Eric." Callen walks around Eric as he heads towards the parking area only stopping when he hears Eric's voice.
"You first, Callen." He has to give him credit. The man can stand his ground when it comes to protecting someone he obviously cares about. And that is impressive, even if nothing else about this situation is. Eric's voice is tinged with an anger Callen knows he has never heard before all this happened. "What the hell else am I supposed to think? Tell me I'm wrong because god knows, for Nell's sake, I hope I am. But you aren't exactly giving me much evidence to the contrary."
He turns and faces Eric, "What kind of man do you think I am, Eric? Do you really think I would do something like that to her?" After watching Eric's reaction, Callen is immediately struck by the thought that maybe he has it all wrong. Maybe Eric is simply protecting his best friend's honor.
"I didn't at first." Eric takes a breath before continuing, "But then I wasn't so sure. Do you know how many times Nell called me wondering if she was losing her mind? Wondering what must be wrong with her because you weren't willing to commit to a relationship with her. As close as you guys had gotten, it was like you were still just in the same place." Eric stops talking knowing he is on the verge of babbling. "So, yea Callen. Now I don't know."
Callen looks at the man with a new understanding. He may not get all the emotional stuff, but he gets loyalty. He knows all about protecting those he cares about. To look past everything, including your own safety, in order to ensure the people you care about are safe. He shakes his head as he speaks in a matter-of-fact tone, "You really thought I was just stringing her along until something better happened."
Locking eyes with Callen, Eric addresses the statement. "The evidence certainly was pointing in that direction." Callen sees the seriousness in his eyes. And he is suddenly thankful that Eric is in Nell's life. On her side. That she has someone who is willing to put himself in the line of fire if it means she will be protected.
Now it's Callen's turn to make amends. Let Eric know just how wrong he is. "I'm sorry I gave you that impression." As he says the words, he says a silent prayer that Nell doesn't think the same thing. And if she does, he is starting to see why she may not have reached out to him first. Closing the distance between the two, Callen extends his hand to Eric, "let me assure you my intentions are nothing but honorable." He says the words in an attempt to lighten the mood, yet he also hopes Eric sees he has no intention of hurting Nell.
Feeling the light slap of Eric's hand against his, Callen knows the words have had at least one of the intended effects. "We good?"
Eric nods his head, "Yea. We're good, Callen." Suddenly remembering the time constraints they are under, he checks his watch and lets out a not so quiet swear word. "Damnit, we've got to go."
He moves quickly towards his car before inquiring with Callen as to where his vehicle is, "I walked. Well, walked and ran." Of course he did. Motioning for Callen to get in the passenger side, Eric quickly gets behind the wheel and waits for the man to comply.
Waiting to ask questions until they are pulling away, Callen finally speaks. "Where exactly are we going, Eric?"
"The hospital."