Chapter 22

Todd came running down the stairs and crashed into his father who was walking out to the kitchen sending plates crashing all over the floor.

For an instant he froze and then grinned "Sorry Dad, but I found it!" his grin grew wider at the picture Todd had found.

Eric looked at his son with pride, he hadn't freaked or overreacted at the accident, he hoped this would continue and wasn't just because his son had been totally obsessed for the last month in a 'secret-project' with Summer and Sam.

As they had been for the last few nights in a row, they were sat, cross-legged around the coffee table in the living room, Sam handed them a box of stuff that he had dug out of his garage.

"I'm off now!" Eric called after cleaning up the broken plates and washing up the rest of the breakfast things.

All three of them waved absentmindedly, all of them engrossed in their 'project'.

Eric jumped on his Ducati, and rode off down the driveway off to his meeting, he loved these times when it was just him and his bike, his children where safe, finally and he was able to use this time to get his head straight and think.

Todd and Summer were ok, they were safe and well. Todd had gone back to Dr. Peterson and had done some more counseling sessions. Callen was still an inpatient although, Sam had pretty much been caught up with Todd and Summer's project, Finally for the first time in three weeks Callen was allowed visitors, Dr. Peterson had asked for him to attend a meeting with himself, Callen, Ray and Hetty. Not knowing why he was invited Eric had agreed and really hoped that Callen had healed, at least in some way.

He pulled up in the car park outside the center to see Hetty talking to a man in a janitor's uniform. Feeling Eric's eyes on him the man turned and looked at him and walked off.

Eric started looking at the man, there was something familiar about him, but he couldn't place it.

"Hetty!" he called pulling off his helmet and gloves.

She turned her attention from the man who had walked into the building and smiled at him. "Mr. Beale, I am so glad you could join us."

Eric caught up to her and they walked into the building.

"Is it today? I promised to call Todd if it was, I mean I'm still ok to have him and I think it would be beneficial if he stayed with me." Eric said, he realized he was rambling but he was excited and he knew it.

"I think after today maybe soon, but we should not expect much Mr. Beale; Now Mr. Peters arranged to meet us in the cafeteria before our meeting." Hetty said steering him away from Callen's room as the janitor pushed his cart past him.

Callen, fully dressed but tired under the new medication was leaning against the wall, his knees tucked under his chin dozing but still ready to move if needed.

There was a knock on the door and a familiar face walked in.

"Harry?" Callen grinned as the familiar janitor walked in, "You're working here now?"

Harry shrugged, "You know me Callen, have to go where the work is…How come you're in here? Did you get shot again?" he asked

Callen shrugged with a small smirk, "You know me Harry, and I've always been trouble."

Harry emptied the trashcan and swept the floor while he talked. "You have that boy." He agreed with a small smile of his own.

Callen looked at the janitor, "You know Harry right now you are my oldest friend…I mean, I was what, 13 when we first met?"

"You remember that?" Harry said leaning on his broom, his knuckles a little whiter than they needed to be.

"Sure, that was the first time…" Callen stopped talking

Harry smiled, "It was a mistake of youth son, all those teenage hormones and you just needed a friend."

Callen laughed, "Yeah and every time, I've been ill, in hospital there you are."

"Like a virus…" Harry smirked.

"I'm on rotation all week, you in for long…I can get the wife to bring you some cookies again."

Callen laughed at that, "You ain't married Harry, you always told me that and besides your cookies are from a packet, but I still love em all the same…I don't know when I'm getting out, have a meeting with Dr. Peterson and my foster brother and Hetty, my boss…you remember her right?" Callen asked.

Harry smiled, "Little creepy woman?"

"Harry!" Callen chuckled, "She's lethal you know."

"So you say Callen, so you say…I gotta carry on, I'll pop by before my shift ends." Harry said

"See ya later." Callen smiled.

He liked Harry, he had met him as a teenager, and he had been in hospital after 'accidently' taking too many pain killers for an 'accidentally' broken wrist. Harry had come in whistling a tune and Callen had thrown a bedpan at him which Harry had caught twirled it in the air and then plonked it down on his bed, "You lose something kid?" he had asked.

Callen had scowled at him, but as soon as he realized he wasn't a doctor or child services he found himself opening up to the man, it seemed that whenever…wherever he was in hospital Harry seemed to pop up as a Janitor.

As Callen had got older he had investigated the man, Harry was a widower who worked for an Agency who floated between all the hospitals in Los Angeles. There wasn't much on the man, but Harry told him he had lead a quiet life.

Walking outside the door, Harry turned back and sighed, "You will be well soon son."

He walked along the hall giving Hetty a small nod as he walked by.

Hetty, Ray and Eric stood outside Callen's door waiting for Dr. Peterson to come down, "HI!" Corey Peterson's voice boomed down the hall as the large man caught up to them. He pulled Hetty aside before they went in, "Did he come?" he asked quietly

"He did, I passed him in the hall on his way out." Hetty replied.

"And he still doesn't know?" Corey asked

Hetty smiled, "No, not yet, how is Mr. Callen?" she asked him in return.

Corey let out a small sigh and looked at her, "I think he's ready to go home I just need to see how he will be with you guys, Eric I hear you are taking Callen in until he recuperates."

"I am his room is all ready, I gave him the ocean view one next to Todds room," He smiled.

They opened the door.

Callen started a bit, but covered it as they all walked in.

"Hey G!" Ray smiled.

"Hey Ray, how are you?" Callen gave a small smile.

"I'm good man," Ray sat on the end of his bed. Callen turned so his back was 'protected' by the wall.

"Right Gentlemen and Hetty shall we start…" Corey Peterson said as he took his seat next to Hetty.

The next morning Callen was sitting on the wall outside the center with his bag waiting for Sam to pick him up and take him to Eric's where he had promised to live for the next three months. The meeting had been lively and Corey after a lot of arguing, (Mostly from Callen who thought he was fine to go back to his house) had agreed to let Callen go, but he had to live in a family environment for three months, the idea behind it was not to leave Callen alone too long with his thoughts and allow depression to resettle.

So here he was resigned to staying with Eric, which although he was uncomfortable about being part of a family again, he had to admit, he loved Eric's house. He looked up as Sam drove up and grabbed his bag.

"Any chance of swinging by OSP first?" Callen asked.

"You need something G?" Sam asked.

Callen nodded, he had left something in his desk before he went away, he felt stupid for asking but he didn't want to go to Eric's without it.

Sam nodded, knowing Callen wouldn't ask unless it was important.

"Ok we will go, but I swear, you pick up a case and I will handcuff you to your desk G." Sam promised.

Callen laughed, "Sure Sam, I promise I will not touch the top of my desk or a single file."

"I'm gonna hold you to that." Sam said and they drove to the mission.

For the middle of the day, Ops was quiet, a few agents working over the other side of the building, but not much else, Hetty, Nate, Eric and Nell were not around, and there was no sign of Kensi or Deeks.

"You guys got a case?" Callen asked as he walked in, he was disappointed he had hoped to see them.

"Dunno." Sam shrugged non-committally.

Callen walked up to his desk and opened his draw and took a box out, Sam recognized it as the box that he had seen on the mantel in Callen's house, he raised an eyebrow hoping that Callen would explain, but he said nothing.

"OK Sam, Let's get this over with."

Arriving at Eric's house Callen found himself gripping his bag tightly.

"Uncle G!" Todd yelled running down the front steps to meet him.

Callen brightened at the sight of the boy, "Todd." He hugged him.

"We have a nice surprise for you; do you want to come in?" Todd asked

Callen nodded, he didn't and his gut clenched, but Todd looked so happy and he didn't want to let him down. Sam put a hand on his shoulder, "It's good G, and Todd's been working on this for weeks."

Taking a deep breath, Callen took his first step towards living with a family for the first time in years.

The door opened and the team was sitting in Eric's living room, there was cake and Callen could smell double double burgers, something he had missed for a while.

Todd grabbed a parcel and handed it to him. "Welcome home Uncle G." he said smiling.

Callen backed up a bit but taking a deep breath he sat down with Todd sitting nearby looking as he opened the present.

"What is it?" He asked.

"It's your family." Todd said,

Callen opened the book, it was a family album, there were pictures of Callen, Sam and the rest of the team, Todd and Summer with Callen, various members of the team with Callen in them.

He stopped as he looked at the last page, "I got these from Hetty, G." Sam told him

There was a picture of Clara and a picture of Amy, "I managed to get hold of these for you." Hetty told him.

Callen turned with tears in his eyes, "Thank you…all." He said.

Eric spotted how uncomfortable he was feeling and knowing what he was going through he nudged Todd, "Can you help Uncle G find his room?" he asked his son.

Todd nodded. "Sure dad….Uncle G, you really should come and see your room!" he said.

Callen nodded smiling at Eric gratefully and left the room.

Nell turned to Eric, "Did we do this wrong; we just wanted him to know he had a family."

"It's all good," Eric reassured her.

"I think Mr. Callen understands we are all here for him, but now I think he needs to rest." Hetty said and with that they said their goodbyes and left.