So after a terrible period of writers block I am finally back on track and blazing a trail towards the end of this story. The pace picks up here, I hope you enjoy the ride! Zoe.

Nell Jones was a control freak. When she didn't feel like she was in control of a situation it unsettled her and since her recent encounter with Special Agent G Callen she was definitely feeling out of control. Only this time it exhilarated her. But she didn't know what to do next. She had never been in this position before, least of all with a man like G Callen, and despite her resolve to show him how she felt, she had no idea how to go about it. Aside from throwing him what she hoped were meaningful looks, she hadn't actually worked up the courage to do anything else and as the days passed she worried that she was losing the chance. They were so wrapped up in work she barely even spoke to him except to relay information.

G Callen was a patient man but he worried he was being too patient. It was coming up on a week since he felt that 'thing' with Nell and he hadn't done a damned thing about it. For the first few days he blamed it on work. Monday morning started out quiet and after Nell's 'Good Samaritan' comments to the team and their curiosity as to whether that was why she was in such a good mood, he had every intention of following through with his plan to let her know how he felt. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, a case came up and he had to switch into work mode. Now it was Wednesday night and he had barely spoken to Nell other than to ask for or receive information. But as he made his way out the office to go home, he overheard a conversation a couple of staff were having and he thought he just might have his opening.

Nell was at her desk at the back of the bullpen when she saw him arrive for work. Her eyes followed him as he walked in, entranced by the casual, relaxed walk he had. It was like nothing bothered him. He glanced over in her direction and instead of looking away and pretending she hadn't been staring, Nell kept her gaze on him. He shot her a smile, dropped his bag at his desk and made his way over to her.

"Morning Nell." He greeted her warmly before leaning against her desk.

"Callen." She nodded.

"Here. I thought we could enter." He handed her a flyer and when she read what was on it her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"A marathon." She sounded sceptical.

"It's for charity." He added.

"But it's in three weeks. I can't be ready to run 26 miles in three weeks." She exclaimed.

"So we'll just have to do more training." He smiled slyly and Nell finally picked up on what he was doing. This wasn't just about running a charity marathon. It was his way of spending more time with her. She hadn't expected it but Callen had made the first move and it was a bold one. Now it was up to her to follow.

"I don't know…" she shook her head, teasing him.

"Come on Nell." Callen shifted positions and crouched next to her, leaning in close. "I thought you'd be up for the challenge." Nell snapped her head around to look at him and found herself staring straight into his bright blue eyes. For a moment she was completely lost in them.

"Well." She drew the word out.

"You should know what you're getting into." He told her as he stood up and leaned back against the desk again. "We'll need to be out for longer, and every day, either in the morning or after work. It's going to be hard work." He paused. "And I've never done this before, I can't promise I'll know what to do all the time." Nell knew his words had a double meaning and she understood completely.

"I can handle it." She assured him.

"Okay then, if you're up for it we can start tomorrow."

"Morning." Nell stated. "Pick me up at six thirty."

"Okay." Callen nodded with a smile.

It was dead on six thirty am on Friday morning and Nell was looking out her window for Callen to arrive. She spotted his car coming down the street so she grabbed her keys, locked up her apartment and jogged down in time to meet him as he pulled up.

"Where are we going?" she asked as he stepped out of the car.

"I thought we could just start from here."

"Sure." Nell nodded. "What's the plan?"

"Well, allowing for time to get ready for work, we've got about an hour and half so I say we try and run for that long, no stops."

"No stops." Nell nodded. She was suddenly feeling a little nervous. On all their previous runs she had never run for that long without at least slowing to a walk. As she and Callen took off at a steady pace, she hoped she could keep up.

An hour and half later and Nell thought she was going to die. She actually felt like her lungs were going to burst out of her chest and her legs fall off. She could see her apartment block in the distance and she knew the torture was nearly over but part of her wanted to just give up right there and then. Suddenly she felt a hand on her back pushing her onwards.

"Come on Nell, you can do it." He said. She turned to look at him and he flashed an encouraging smile. She was a little annoyed at how relaxed he looked. Sure, he was sweating and his face was a little flushed but he still ran with ease. She on the other hand was sure she looked like a ripe tomato and she barely felt in control of her limbs anymore. With Callen's hand still on her back, propelling her forward, she kept her legs moving, kept breathing and in just a couple of minutes they reached her apartment. As they got to the path leading to the main entrance, Nell came to a sudden stop and dropped down onto the grass, rolling onto her back and taking deep heavy breaths.

"Oh…my…god." She gasped as she lay spread eagle on the warm grass. Callen loomed above her, his hands on his waist.

"You alright there?" he laughed.

"I'm dying."

"Nah." He said as he crouched down beside her. "You'll be fine."

"I can't feel my legs."

"You just need a hot shower." Callen told her. "Speaking of, I don't really have time to go home before work, mind if I use yours?"

"My shower?" Nell raised her head and shoulders a little. "Sure." She lifted a heavy arm and pulled her keys from her pocket, half-heartedly throwing them at him. "Tell Hetty I'm paralysed and won't be in today." She sank back down onto the grass.

"Nell, Nell, Nell." Callen shook his head. "What am I going to do with you." He said as he grabbed one of her arms and in one swift move, lifted her off the grass and slung her over his shoulder.

"Hey!" Nell protested. "What are you doing?"

"I can't very well leave you out here on the grass." He laughed as he walked towards the door. With a strange familiarity he opened her front door, carried her up the stairs and deposited her back on her feet outside her apartment door.

"I'm going down to get my bag from the car, leave the door unlocked for me, okay." Nell merely nodded, still a little thrown by what he had just done.

When Callen returned to Nell's apartment he let himself in and could hear the shower running. While he waited for Nell to get out, he helped himself to a bottle of water from the fridge. She didn't take long and emerged in a fluffy pink bathrobe, pausing just long enough in the hall to call out to him.

"All yours." She said as she headed straight into her bedroom to get dressed. Callen grabbed a few things from his bag and went into the steam filled bathroom. He showered quickly and as he dressed, he realised he left his shirt in his bag. Wearing just his blue jeans, Callen stepped out of the bathroom and walked into the lounge. Nell was in the kitchen area, pouring two cups of coffee. Her hair was damp and her cheeks were still flushed but she looked refreshed. She glanced up as he walked towards her and he saw her eyes widen.

"Forgot my shirt." He told her as he rooted around in his bag for it. Nell couldn't take her eyes off him. A shirtless Callen was a sight she had often thought of these last few months but seeing it for real took her breath away, and not for the reason she thought. She could clearly see the five scars left behind by the violent attempt on his life. Callen saw her staring and knew what she was staring at.

"I don't even notice them anymore." He commented.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to…" she trailed off.

"It's alright Nell. It happened but I'm still here." He said as he pulled on a light grey cotton shirt.

"Uh, coffee?" she asked, pushing a cup towards him. "I'm just going to finish getting ready, you good?" she asked.

"I'm good." He nodded. His eyes followed her as she headed back to her room. Nell lived her life inside the safety of the ops room and while she saw what went down in the field, she didn't experience it first-hand. He was worried that seeing his scars had freaked her out.

As Nell went to her room she couldn't stop thinking about Callen's scars. It had happened a long time before she joined NCIS but she had read his file and she knew what had gone down. It was hard not to think about what life would be like if he hadn't made it. And it was even harder not to think of what could happen every time he and the others went into the field. She always put the danger of the job out of her mind, locking it up in a little box so it didn't interfere with her work, but seeing the damage that can be caused up close was unsettling.

When Nell emerged from her bedroom just a few minutes later Callen was ready to go, his bag slung over his shoulder while he drained the cup of coffee. She could see him watching her as she came through to get her bag and she knew he wanted to say something to break the strange awkwardness that had come between them.

"Nell." He began.

"Callen, you don't need to…"

"I do Nell. I can see it bothers you." His jaw was tight and his eyes narrowed with intensity.

"It doesn't bother me." She told him. "It just makes me think about how dangerous what you do is." Callen crossed over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"That's why it's important we have something outside of work that's an escape." His face softened and he lifted one hand and cupped her cheek. "Running with you Nell, spending time with you away from there, it's become my escape." She felt herself lean into his hand a little and she closed her eyes for just a moment before a smile came to her face.

"And my escape is dinner. So since you get to torture me with these runs, I think you owe me at least one dinner." She saw a smile creep onto Callen's face as he lifted his hand away.

"Okay Nell. You come running with me tomorrow afternoon and I'll take you to dinner after."

"Deal." She grinned. "Now, we should go or we'll both be late and Hetty will not be happy."

"You taking your car?" Callen asked.

"Probably best." Nell nodded as she led the way out her apartment.

As the pair headed down the stairs and out to their respective cars, Callen thought about what had just happened. They had agreed to a date. It wasn't a conventional invitation but nothing in their developing relationship had been conventional. He watched Nell as she got into her mini cooper and started off down the street, knowing that in agreeing to dinner the following night, they were both taking a massive step forward and things were really about to change.

Thanks for all the reviews you have left so far. I appreciate the feedback and your reviews motivate me to keep going so please let me know what you think.