Chapter 21.

Todd walked up to the bed and sat on the edge.

"Go home kid," Callen said not looking at him.

"I was wrong Uncle G, I didn't realize what I was saying, I'm sorry it hurt you." Todd said looking at him sadly.

Callen turned and looked the boy in the eye, "What I said right there, that was not your fault. You are not to blame for what I am saying to them, to her, it needed to be said; only these Damn painkillers are just making me talk too much."

"Neither are you, You did not betray your mistress, you were a kid like me, but there are people around now who love you, who care about you, and who you care about, and you are pushing them away when you need them most. They love you uncle G, let them help you…please."

Callen sat up and looked at Todd, "Thanks kid," He smiled and hugged him, "You wanna give me a few minutes?" he asked.

Todd nodded and went to find his family.

The second the door shut, Callen went to work. He pulled out the IV and tied it in a knot so as not to make a mess on the floor, grabbing his clothes he put them on and slipped on his shoes. He opened the door a crack and saw Sam sitting with Hetty and he seemed to be consoling her, hurt flashed across his face at the fact that he may have hurt her, she meant more to him than anyone else, which made his mind up more.

Callen slipped through the shared bathroom and slid out the door, "Going somewhere?" Eric asked, having taken up residence in an armchair in the vacant room next door.

"I…I was…" Callen couldn't think, 'damn painkillers'

"You were running away weren't you?" Eric admonished.

"So what if I was?" Callen asked on the defensive.

"You think Hetty deserves what you said; you know how much she cares for you?"

Callen shrugged, "Dunno."

Eric sat up straight, "You're on painkillers and probably still a bit anemic after that bonehead stunt you pulled so I'm gonna let that slide, but you are also a role model to my boy, just how do you think your running away will affect him, he already feels bad about what he said to you, he's just a kid and doesn't know any better…you're an adult," Eric stood, "Listen, Callen you're a grown man and I'm not going to tell you what to do, but if you think I'm gonna let you upset my boy, by running away and making him think all your behavior is his fault, you got another thing coming, now get back in there!" Eric turned him around and guided him to the door back to his room.

Eric lowered Callen back to the bed, "You wanna go lone-wolf, wait till you're officially out of here…please." He said looking at Callen who wouldn't look at him.

He sighed and turned to go.

"Eric…Wait!" Callen said quietly.

Eric turned and looked at him, he suddenly realized just how broken the man in the bed seemed. If they hadn't helped Todd he could have been just like him. Eric looked at him kindly.

"Help me." Callen whispered.

Within seconds Eric walked across the room, not caring if anyone saw them, he wrapped his arms around Callen, "I will, we all will, it'll be ok…there is an end to this and I promise, you won't do this alone."

Finally, after years of holding all the pain in, Callen's dam broke.

He sobbed, big heart-wrenching, body racking sobs that he had never been allowed to let out before. Eric levered himself onto the bed and pulled Callen to him.

The door opened a crack and Todd stuck his head in, Eric mouthed "Get Hetty" to him and he nodded.

Todd turned to the others who heard the sound from Callen's room.

Moving to stand near his sister for support, Todd took a deep breath, he needed to do this, he owed Callen and he needed to repay his debt.

"OK, listen…please." Todd said his bravado starting to falter.

The others looked over at him in surprise. "Is everything ok?" Sam asked, starting to move towards the door, Todd reached a hand out to stop him, "Uncle G is going to need all of us but right now, he's gonna need Hetty and Ray."

"Why you, I'm his partner?" Sam complained.

"Yeah! I'm his brother and I know what he's going through…I've been there, what he's going to need is a family, to him you guys are a family, so if you can be there for him as that then step up, otherwise, just leave, he needs this." Ray said, "Could you fetch Doc Petey kid?" He asked Todd.

Todd looked at him… "You're one of us?" he asked.

"Yeah, did all my therapy, I didn't hide it like your uncle G," Ray said, "There is an end, you're doing great, now it's time to help your uncle."

Todd smiled and grabbed Summer's hand, "Come with?" he asked,

Summer nodded and the two siblings headed down to Dr. Peterson's office.

Ray and Hetty opened the door slowly. Sam stood behind them, acting as a buffer between his partner and the two junior agents.

They stood stock still at the sight that greeted them, In the ten minutes it had taken to sort themselves out, Callen had moved on the bed and Eric was holding him, the same way Hetty had seen him holding Todd during one of his nightmares.

Moving to the bed Callen hadn't even noticed them come in, he couldn't stop the tears that were now flowing, he tried, and he needed to put his masks back up before he was seen. He felt someone holding him and realized with a shock it was Eric, he tried to pull away, but Eric rubbed his back and made a comforting noise that only made him sob harder.

Hetty walked up to Eric and tapped on his arm.

"May I?" she asked.

Callen looked up and saw her there, a look of sorrow on her face, not because she was full of sympathy, but because she was full of love, her child was hurting and he needed her. It was just that, plain and simple.

"G, we are here for you, I made a mistake, please…I'm sorry." Hetty said holding her arms out.

Callen moved to her, he held her tight, "I…I'm…S…Sorry….so….use…useless…Shouldn't….be…like …a…baby…" he sobbed.

"You are not a baby, you have had things happen to you, you need to work them out, with family and not alone." She said to him.

"Don't…..Don't have family…." He sniffed, "Too broken…my fault…Should have saved her…"

Hetty looked at them all, "May I have a moment with Mr. Callen please?" She asked.

Sam nodded and backed out of the room, he couldn't wait to leave, seeing his partner like this was unnerving and he didn't like it, he liked enemies he could shoot…this not so much.

Ray and Eric lingered, concerned - one for his friend the other for his brother.

Hetty looked at them again and they too eventually left the room heading in the direction of Dr. Peterson's room.

"Mr. Callen….Callen….G, please look at me," Hetty said softly.

Callen's sobs had subsided to small sniffles now and he wiped his eyes and looked at her. "You were not too broken, there is nothing wrong with you, Clara was my friend and what happened to her was not your fault, you were only four years old. If I could have prevented you going into that home, I would have, but they were watching me…I couldn't go to you for fear of them finding you and your sister and killing you."

"How long were they watching you?" Callen asked his curiosity peaked.

"I think till you were about 35," she replied honestly. "I watched you for all those years; I was horrified when I found out what she did to you." Hetty said avoiding the use of the name, not wanting to upset him.

"Dr. Peterson and Todd, both said I would need to talk to my family to heal…I couldn't then and I can't now." Callen sighed, "I am alone. I am always alone and I HATE IT!" Callen thumped the nightstand by his bed and Hetty looked at him.

"You have never been alone. I always watched over you and your…." Hetty stopped talking realizing what she had nearly said.

Callen caught it and looked up, "My?" he asked as the door opened.

"Mr. Callen, I am glad to see you're awake, shall we check those meds?" Dr. Peterson asked.

Callen looked at Hetty, but didn't move, "My…What?" He prodded.

"I need a few moments with Mr. Callen alone." Dr. Peterson insisted.

"No! Wait… Hetty!" Callen pleaded.

Hetty turned, "I just meant your sister Mr. Callen, please, and I don't know anything more," she lied as she left the room to allow the doctor to talk to him.

Todd sat outside on the chair, "Ms Hetty is he going to be ok?" Todd asked Eric standing behind him with his hands on his sons shoulders in a show of support.

"Dr. Peterson is in with him now, I think he will be," she said excusing herself and walking away.

Sam followed her to the car park.

"It has been long enough…" Hetty said talking into her phone as she walked to her car, "Your son needs you, it's time you told him who you are." She leant against her car and sighed. "Please, a lot has happened, there is a lot here that needs fixing, He doesn't need to know who you are but you need to see him, as you…he still thinks you're his friend and right now he needs those." She waited as the man on the other end talked, she smiled, "Do svidanya." She said and closed the phone.

Turning to see Sam standing there she cursed silently.

"How much did you hear Mr. Hanna?" She asked.

"Enough…You know who his father is and right now he needs that."Sam said standing up for his partner.

"No, He does not need that right now, however, his father may, as he has done oft in the past, turn up to see him in the hospital and give him some support."

"In the past?" Sam couldn't help but ask.

"You have met him once or twice I believe; he also assisted Mr. Callen and Mr. Beale with the extraction of Young Mr. Beale and Miss Beale from Klaus. He is, as he has always been, close by to render assistance."

"SAM!" Todd's voice carried across the parking lot.

Sam turned as Todd came running up, "Summer and I have an idea for Callen, will you help?" he asked, excited with a smile on his face.

Sam couldn't help but return the boy's excited smile, "Sure kid, lead the way," he said turning to follow Todd. He shot Hetty a look, "This isn't over." He said as he walked away.

Hetty watched her agent get led by the hand by the excited boy and sighed, "You know Mr. Hanna I think you may be right." She said to herself and got into her car.