Here in the Netherlands we've got a thing called veterstrikdiploma which translates to shoe lacing diploma. I don't know if it's something kids can get elsewhere in the world but here it's a diploma that kids can get at school around 5 or 6 years old get when they can tie their shoelaces by themselves. I thought it'd be fun to incorporate it into this one-shot. I'm not completely happy with how this turned out, I hope you guys enjoy it anyway and the next chapter will be better.

Callen has dinner with the Hannah's after being beaten up by Sam (S3 "Partners)

"Sam" Callen all but whined the name.

"No discussion G. She said you have to come over for dinner, so you're coming." Sam told him from the driver's seat.

Sensing that Callen was going to protest he continued talking. "You're going to let her patch you up, don't even bother with the excuses. She cares about you G. That's what family does."

His tone signalled the end of the discussion and Callen didn't feel up to challenging him. He wasn't joking when he told Sam that he could've pulled his punches a bit. He understood why Sam had to hit him like he did and didn't resent him for it but damn had it hurt. He hadn't even been able to stop from bending over, gasping for breath and falling to his knees after they'd taken down the bad guys. Now, several hours later, on the way to Sam and Michelle's place, everything hurt. He could feel the bruises forming on his face and all over his chest and abdomen.

When they arrived at the Hanna household, about fifteen minutes later, Callen tried to get in a deep breath without hurting his ribs too much. He winced before breathing out deeply and struggling to get out of the car. His muscles felt stiff after sitting still for a while and he was thankful, but surprised, when Sam didn't comment on his less then graceful exit of the car. They walked to the front door in silence and it opened just as they got there. Michelle gave them a warm smile before looking Callen up and down and tutting, shaking her head in a "what did you do now?" kind of way. Callen gave her what he hoped was a charming smile but her disapproving look told him she wasn't fooled in the slightest.

Sam who'd watched their exchange snorted.

"Told you G." He simply said before clapping him on the back. Callen couldn't help but notice that he did this slightly gentler than he normally would.

"Uncle Callen!" Came a yell from down the hall and Kamran came running to the door.

Callen let out a soft "Oompff" as Kamran collided with him. He recovered quickly, not letting her know how much her 'hug' hurt him as he picked her up off the floor.

"Banana-Hanna" He grinned as he squeezed her sides, making her squeal with laughter and wiggle in his hold. He stopped quickly, realising that it was a bad idea. As she calmed down and looked at his face her expression turned slightly confused.

"Uncle Callen, did you fall?" She asked him before carefully touching the butterfly strip above his eyebrow and then his lip.

Callen playfully bit her finger, making her laugh.

"Yeah, I tripped over my own shoelaces and I fell. Pretty clumsy huh? That's why you've always got to tie them properly." He told her in a sing-song voice.

She nodded enthusiastically, her whole body moving in his grip. "I've been practicing! I'll show you uncle Callen. I'll tie your shoelaces properly for you."

Callen put her down and just managed to receive a kiss on the cheek from Michelle in passing as Kamran dragged him down the hallway towards the living room.

Last week Kamran had told him excitedly that she was learning to tie her own shoelaces and that they would have an exam at school to get a shoe lacing diploma. Like a true Hanna she'd attacked this challenge with fierce determination and she'd been practicing every day.

Fifteen minutes later she'd tied the laces on both of his shoes perfectly. Callen had had to hold in his laugh as she'd stuck out her tongue in concentration. Michelle and Sam walked in sometime later, Michelle carrying the first aid kit and announcing that dinner would be ready in half an hour. Sam took Kamran to go play outside, leaving Callen behind with Michelle.

"Shirt off" Michelle told him, motioning him over to a chair. Callen sighed, knowing that there was no other way to get her off his back than to indulge en let her patch him up. He sat down and she inspected his chest, prodding his ribs to check if none were broken. She didn't speak as she walked away and Callen waited patiently until she returned with two ice packs, a glass of water and some pills. She handed him the water and pills. "Take these"

He took them without argument and winced as she pressed the ice packs to his chest. He finally looked down at his chest to see the damage as she grabbed his hands and pressed them on the ice packs. The bruises were even more impressive than he'd expected, going from his lower stomach until just above his midriff.

Michelle studied his face before breaking a small leaf off of the aloë vera plant on the coffee table. Callen knew she was up to something, whether she was going to tell him off for something or she wanted to have a serious talk he did not know. This made him nervous though, she scares him almost as much as Hetty.

"Your teddy bear packs quite the punch" Callen finally joked, breaking the silence. She held his jaw and checked out the cut on the side of his lip as she spoke.
"You know, he feels guilty for doing this to you."

Callen tried to protest but she didn't give him the chance as she held his jaw firmly. He narrowed his eyes, realising that she'd waited to speak when he wouldn't be able to talk back. She directed more attention onto pressing the juice from the leaf onto the cut on his lip than needed as she spoke again.

"I know what you're going to say G. That he doesn't need to be, that it's part of the job. Maybe even that you've had much worse. None of these things make it any easier, especially not on Sam. He's different."

Callen knew she was referring to the fact that Sam was and always would be a SEAL at heart. Michelle and Callen connected on a level, as agents, that Sam had trouble understanding.

"But different or not, seeing the people that we love in pain is one of the hardest and most painful things we could ever go through. And intentionally being the reason for their pain makes it so much worse."

She put down the leaf and brought both her hands up to his face, framing it and making sure that he looked her in the eye.

"We love you G, we all do. You're family and we don't like to see you hurt. I know that deep down you know that too. Just to be sure though, we'll keep reminding you." She told him with a soft smile before wrapping her arms around him in an uncharacteristically motherly hug.

They had all enjoyed the lovely dinner that Michelle had cooked for them and were now sitting around the coffee table in the living room playing rummikub. Kamran again had her tongue out in concentration and the grownups shared a smile while she concentrated on the tiles on the table. Callen felt content and blessed to be there as he looked around at the little family. After another game it was time for Kamran to go to bed and she gave Callen and Sam a goodnight hug and kiss before her mother led her upstairs to bed.

Sam got up and went into the kitchen and Callen switched on the tv and grabbed the controller, finding them something to watch. When Sam came back he sat down on the sofa besides Callen, passing him his beer and putting his feet up. They were silent for a minute before Sam looked at him seriously.

"You good?"

"No need to worry about me big guy. I'll be just fine."

Sam hesitated before offering him the couch to sleep on, just like he'd done a hundred times before, obviously expecting him to decline again.

"Alright I'll stay here, as long as you make pancakes in the morning." Callen smiled a genuine smile. He knew that being able to keep an eye on him and making sure he ate a good breakfast would lessen Sam's worrying. That's the least he could do.

"Deal"