A/N Thank you for your reviews, sorry it's been a while, just one more chapter to go i think...but we all know what happens when I say that! lol

Disclaimer...maybe later.

Chapter 10

Callen, driving down the PCH and not willing to talk to Eric pulled up sharply and pointed "There!" he said.

Eric was ashamed to say he would have missed it if he had been driving. A small boy in oversized jeans, a grubby T-shirt and carrying a bag tightly to his chest was keeping his head down and shuffling along the side of the road.

"Todd?" Eric said getting a better look at the boy. "How did you know to look for him? We left him at the hospital."

"Because he's doing exactly what I would have done. You didn't tell him he was wanted, which in his mind says he's not. So he's doing the only thing he can do which is to remove himself from the situation and fine somewhere else." Callen snapped.

"Of course I want him!" Eric exclaimed. "He's my son!"

"Tell him that!" Callen said. "Think Eric, what did you do when your father didn't want you…he threw you out did you stay?"

Eric realized Callen was right. He had left and started again, but he had been 17 and had had Myra with him.

"How do I make this right?" He asked Callen as they watched the child shuffle painfully along the sidewalk.

"Get out of the car….go talk to him, tell him you want him, I'll call the hospital we'll swing by and pick up Summer and then you can take him home. Tell him you're taking him to your home...Do NOT tell him you're taking him home. He needs specifics; he needs to know he's safe and that Klaus won't get him."

Eric got out of the car and walked up behind Todd who hadn't even noticed him.

"You wanna rest a bit?" Eric asked.

Todd yelped as he realized he was being talked to.

"I'm sorry; I'm going as fast as I can." Todd said assuming Eric was there to tell him that he should have been gone by now.

"Where are you going?" Eric asked.

Todd stopped, "Away." He said not understanding the question. "Like you wanted."

"Did I say that?" Eric asked his voice even and his heart breaking for his son.

"I….."

Eric gently held his son's arms, "I love you, you are my son and you are important, I want you to live with me and be the part of my family that you should always have been. I will NEVER let anyone hurt you again. I promise." He said looking his son in the eye.

Todd looked hopefully at his father and cried as Eric pulled him into his embrace, "Your safe son, it's all over." Eric said.

Callen leaning against the car looked away at the moment he himself longed for but would never get. He got out his phone and called Hetty telling her of the situation and giving them the address of the new house Eric had brought.

"Can you arrange for Todd to be discharged and for Eric's bike to be delivered to the new house and you and Summer can meet us there, I think Eric needs to take his son home." He said to Hetty.

"Very well Mr. Callen. Are you ok?" she asked concerned for him.

"This is a good day Hetty, I'm going to drop them home now." He said.

He leant by the car as Eric and Todd talked.

A police car pulled up behind him and he turned as the policeman got out.

"Is there a problem sir?" The officer said.

Callen turned and walked over to him showing him his badge. "Just my partner's kid, he's been through a lot as they just got reunited the other day,"

"Is that Todd Beale?" The officer asked, "He was reported missing from the hospital an hour ago."

"Yeah, that's his father Eric Beale." Callen said. "Todd's in a fragile emotional state right now, my boss, Hetty Lange is signing him out at the hospital now, so you should hear from them soon."

"Hetty Lange? You guys work with Deeks then?" the officer asked.

Callen smiled, "Yep."

"Pat Johansson," the officer said introducing himself. "Deeks is a good guy, gets shit on a lot, but a straight up honest cop. I'll let dispatch know the kids been found. You guys need anything else?" Pat asked.

Callen shook his head, "Nope gonna take them home in a sec."

Pat nodded and turned away, "Oh before I forget, Tell Deeks I said, Thanks,"

"Sure," Callen replied, "What for?"

"He's been reading to my kid, she's in the cancer ward at the same hospital as his mom. He's been stopping by once a week and she loves his visits."

Gob smacked Callen nodded. Pat waved and got back into his patrol car.

As he left Eric and Todd walked over. "Everything ok?" Eric asked.

"Yeah, just a friend of Deeks' saying hi…So." He said turning to Todd, "You ready to see your new home?" He asked

Todd nodded and Eric opened the car door for him to get in.

"I squared it away with Hetty, you guys just need to go home, and Todd has to pick his room after all."

Todd looked up at Callen "I do?"

Eric smiled, "I think I have the perfect room for you but you'll have to tell me if you like it."

By the time they arrived, Deeks and Kensi and a team of people Deeks had rounded up from the LA office were helping move stuff into the new house.

"Hey Eric!" Deeks called.

"Deeks, thanks for this man," Eric said stunned.

Deeks took Eric aside, "I know you probably wanted Todd to pick his room, but I figured if you didn't then this might do?"

He showed Eric the room he had already hoped Todd would have, it was light and airy and had a huge floor to ceiling picture window that looked out over the ocean. Eric noticed the surf board in the corner.

"Where did that come from?" He asked.

"It was one I had lying about, if you don't want it…." Deeks said.

Eric smiled, "Thanks man Todd's going to love it." He hoped.

Todd looked around the house, it was smaller than his grandfathers home and more airy although he had spent most of his life with his mother in the basement so it was a vast improvement.

Eric noticed Todd and called him over.

"This could be your room?" He suggested.

"It's huge!" Todd breathed.

"Not so much, but it has a great view and the door locks as well," Eric said knowing Todd would want to feel safe.

Todd walked quietly across the room and sat cross legged at the window looking out to the ocean.

"Thanks Dad." He said with the biggest smile on his face "I'll be able to see the stars." More than anything on nights locked up in the basement with his mother she had told him all about the stars, he'd never seen them till his first night in hospital, but then he could only see one or two, Summer said there were millions and they were easy to see at the beach, she had talked to him about the stars until he had fallen asleep last night. His mother promised if anything happened to her she would watch him from the stars. Klaus had told him he'd never see stars or his mother again after she died.

A tear rolled down his face, Eric saw it and was worried he'd upset Todd again.

"You ok?" he asked crouching down next to his son.

"I love you dad." Todd said simply.

Callen who had been leaning against the door watching them gave a small smile and walked away, father and son would eventually be fine.