A/N

Again, sincerest apologises for such a long delay. I'm finally starting to get some me time now bub is starting to find a bit of a routine, so I'm hoping to move the updates to more frequently. Cross your fingers for the "me time" to continue and I just might get to fortnightly updates.

I'm a little behind in the admin department so thank you to all those who have favourited and alerted this story. I'll try and get to a personal response soon.

This is a nice long one so hoping it's enough to make up for the delay.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Chapter 8

Saturday 22nd January

"Hetty, what hap…." Callen stopped. Hetty had already hung up.

"G? What's going on?" Sam asked.

Callen shook his head, not that Sam could see. He slipped his phone back in his jacket pocket "I don't know. We need to go to the hospital though," he said quietly, not wanting to wake or scare Tabby.

"Which one?"

"Which one?" Callen repeated distractedly. Why would they need to go to the hospital?

"Yeah G. Which one?" Sam asked gently. An instinct born of the closeness the two had formed over the years telling Sam that Callen didn't need any teasing right now.

Callen retrieved his phone. "She didn't say. I'll find out." He dialled Hetty's number.

"Where are you, Hetty?" he asked when she picked up.

"At the hospital."

"I gathered that. Which one?"

"Oh. Salt Lake Regional."

"Salt Lake Regional, " Callen repeated to Sam who entered it into the car's GPS system. "Hetty, is everyone all right?"

"Just a couple of minor injuries. Aside from that we are fine. Goodbye Mr Callen."

Callen stared at the phone again after Hetty disconnected the call. Something had obviously rattled their boss. He felt a little of the tension leave him at her reassurance everyone was fine, but it didn't help much given how vague Hetty had sounded.

It was 4.30am by the time Sam parked the car at the entrance of the hospital. Callen carefully manoeuvred the sleeping Tabby out of the backseat and into his arms; somehow managing the feat while not disturbing her. As they stepped away from the car, a security guard came up to ask them to move the car. Sam showed him his badge and assured him they would move it soon. Callen, ignoring the guard, made his way inside, quickly yet smoothly. Tabby stayed asleep.

Sam caught up easily and they followed the directions to the emergency department. Hetty was standing in the waiting room alone. That didn't make Callen feel any better. Why was she alone? He glanced around the room. Where was Ally?

"Hetty?" Sam asked as Tabby started to stir in Callen's arms.

"Mummy?" Tabby mumbled sleepily softly.

"Shh," Callen said gently. "Soon." He hoped she'd drift back to sleep but he'd already used up all his luck tonight.

"Why are we at the hospital?" Tabby asked, instantly fully awake.

"Hetty?" Callen looked questioningly at her as he lowered Tabby to the ground.

Hetty ignored Callen's query and moved directly to hug Tabby tight. Callen could see the relief in her whole body as some of the tension seemed to disappear the moment her arms went around the little girl.

"Are you all right Tabby dear?" Hetty asked, still holding her close.

Tabby pulled back a little and looked at Hetty's face with a tired but happy smile and nodded. "I'm good. Where's Mummy?" she asked.

Callen chuckled quietly. Sam looked at him. Callen just replied with a small shake of his head and a look that Sam knew meant Callen would tell him later. Hetty might have been able to avoid his and Sam's questions and looks but there was no way she could avoid the plea in Tabby's eyes. Callen doubted even he could.

Hetty nodded. She glanced at Callen as she answered Tabby. "She's in Room 2. She's fine…." Hetty trailed off and watched Callen move through the doors quickly, ignoring the nurse calling out to him to try and stop him. The nurse looked over at Hetty who shook her head to indicate not to bother going after him.

Hetty turned back to the little girl in her arms. "Alyssa is fine Tabby," she assured her, gently stroking Tabby's hair to reassure herself that this precious little thing was all right. "She's just got a little bump on the head."

Tabby nodded and settled snuggly into Hetty's arms.

"Hetty," Sam said. "Is this over?"

Hetty looked up. "Yes. It is."

Sam believed her.

Callen moved swiftly through the doors and found Room 2 easily. He walked straight in without knocking.

Ally was standing near the bed.

Nate was on it.

Callen focused on Ally first. He took in the small blood stains on her shirt – nothing big enough to indicate she was injured there. He took in the small band-aid on her forehead and then the rest of her. Just the head injury he concluded.

Ally turned to him. The look in her eyes was mixed. Relief that he was there - He could see that easily, but it was quickly shrouded by concern and panic.

"Tabby's fine," he assured her quickly. "She's outside with Hetty and Sam. She's safe."

As he spoke he stepped over to her and put his arms around her. "What about you?" he asked softly as he breathed the scent from her hair.

"Just a bump on the head." Ally glanced at Nate as she continued. "Could have been worse."

Callen moved his attention to Nate. He was lying on the bed looking decidedly pale. There was a doctor standing next to him wrapping a bandage around his upper left arm.

"You okay Nate?" Callen asked.

Nate swallowed nervously. "Um… No." Nate glanced at the doctor with a frown. "It still hurts," he complained.

The doctor smiled gently at Nate. "Of course it's going to hurt. You've been shot Dr Getz. The pain killers will kick in soon."

"Shot?" Callen glanced from Nate to Ally, back to Nate and then settled on the doctor. "How bad?"

"Just a flesh wound," the doctor assured Callen. "He can go home as soon as he feels up to moving." She turned back to Nate. "Just make sure you take it easy, sit down if you feel like you're going to faint and give proper care to the wound and you'll be as good as new in no time."

Callen raised his eyebrows slightly at the fainting comment.

Nate nodded weakly. "No time."

"Come on Nate. Could have been worse," Callen said in a gentle teasing tone. Unfortunately Nate went a slightly lighter shade of pale.

"Listen, how about I get Ally back with Tabby and then come back and help you get out of here," Callen suggested to Nate. Nate nodded his agreement but didn't say anything. Callen briefly glanced around to see where the sick bags were. He had a feeling Nate might need one.

Callen guided Ally out of the room. Once the door closed he turned to her. "What happened?" he asked.

"It's a long story."

"Short now, long later," Callen demanded gently.

Ally smiled and reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "First. Thank you. You said you'd get her back."

Callen nodded and raised his eyebrows, prompting her to answer his question.

Ally nodded and thought back to earlier this morning.

Flashback – Previously at Ally and Tabby's house after the team left to get Tabby

Alyssa sat down on the couch. She glanced at Hetty. "I really want to be there Hetty."

"I know my dear, but this is for the best. Please trust me on that."

"I do," Ally assured her. "Doesn't make me change how I feel though."

"That's understandable," Nate said. "She's your daughter, of course you want to be there, no matter what."

"How about some tea?" Hetty said.

Ally nodded. "Sounds good Hetty." She started to rise but stopped when Hetty held out her hand.

"I will do it. You stay here with Nate."

Hetty sent Nate a look that Nate interpreted easily as "Make sure she is okay." He gave a brief nod of acknowledgment.

Hetty left the room and Nate turned to Ally. Before he could say anything though the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," said Officer Rowland said. "It's probably the next shift," he said around a yawn.

He returned shortly with Officer Kincaid and then left.

Nate turned back to Ally. "How are you doing? Aside from wanting to be there?"

"I don't know Nate. It's so unreal to think that Conrad could be a part of this. He's my brother and he's never done a thing out of line in his life."

"Don't think about that too much at the moment. When they get Tabby back, we'll work it out then. It won't do you any good worrying about that. Just concentrate on the fact that we've found Tabby."

"Have we?" she asked. "Have we really though. What if Caroline was wrong? What if Tabby…."

Ally stopped abruptly at something in the corner of her eyes. She looked toward it and froze.

Nate looked up also. He stood up quickly. "What are you doing?" he asked Officer Kincaid, who was pointing his gun at Ally.

"This is between me and her Doc, don't get in the way," he replied nastily. He looked at Ally. "You really think I wouldn't recognise you? You think I didn't know you that well after everything?"

Ally stood up slowly. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Come on Jennifer," Kincaid said, waving the gun a touch wildly. "You can fool everyone else but you can't fool me. I know Tabby is mine. You left, disappeared and took my daughter with you. I deserved to know. I can see myself in her. It's so clear."

"You're wrong. I'm not Jennifer… Are you the one who took Tabby?" she asked.

"Yes. And your sister-in-law was so easy to convince to get in on it." Kincaid smiled smugly. "Guess there was a good reason after all that I didn't do it with her in High School. Married to your goody two-shoes brother left her wanting a little excitement in her life."

Ally frowned. "Fiona was in on it?"

"Yes. That's what I said. Weren't you listening? Anyway, don't change the subject… Jennifer." He drawled out the name with a sarcastic tone.

"That was Paige," Ally said quickly trying to calm him down. "She's was an FBI agent undercover. That was her not me. I didn't know about you. She never told me."

"Oh, that's good. You really sound like you believe it."

"It's the truth. Paige is Tabby's biological mother. We're identical twins. Surely with everything that's been said around her you could work that out. Paige died when Tabby was born."

Kincaid shook his head in disbelief. "Oh, even better. Pretend that you died. Perfect." His aim focused more steadily on Ally.

Nate swallowed nervously. "Officer Kincaid, please put-"

Kincaid glared at Nate who shut up quickly. Nate could easily tell that Kincaid was on the verge of losing it. He needed to think a little more. Where was Hetty? Surely she'd heard all this.

Kincaid turned his attention back to Ally. "You've pretended to die, now you really will. You won't get her back. You won't see her again. You will die, knowing she will never see you again." Kincaid smiled. "And you don't even get to say goodbye."

Everything went in slow motion then. Some kind of instinct had Nate throwing himself at Ally and knocking her to the floor. He heard the shot. He felt something rip in his arm as he did, though he didn't know how he could have pulled a muscle. It hurt though. Then he heard another shot and everything went back to normal speed.

"Are you right?" Nate quickly asked Ally. She raised her head and shook it a little. He noticed the small cut on her forehead.

"I'm okay. Thank you Nate." She started to move to a sitting position but Nate stopped her.

"Wait." Tentatively he looked in the direction of Officer Kincaid. He didn't see him but he did see Hetty – standing in the doorway from the kitchen, gun in hand.

Hetty nodded. "It's all right Nate. Officer Kincaid won't be giving us any trouble – ever again."

Ally sat up then. "Oh Nate! You're bleeding." She reached out to his arm. Nate looked down.

"Oh," he said. "So I am." He looked at Ally. "I…" Everything went dark and he slumped to the ground. Thankfully he didn't have too far to fall since he hadn't gotten up yet.

"Nate!" Ally gently tapped his face and he started to stir. She breathed a sigh of relief when his eyes opened.

"Sorry," Nate murmured. "Never been shot before."

Hetty moved over to them. "Let's get him up on the couch."

"Here's fine," Nate answered.

"Couch,"Hetty said firmly.

Once on the couch, Ally disappeared for a moment. She quickly returned with a medical kit she handed to Hetty.

Hetty nodded. "Call the police Alyssa. We'll need some more assistance." She then turned her attention to Nate. "This is a first. I did not think that I would ever need to patch up a gunshot wound on you Nate."

"Neither did I," Nate replied weakly.

Hetty smiled gently. "Thank you Nate. For protecting Alyssa."

Nate nodded and closed his eyes while Hetty did what she could.

They started to move toward the exit as she finally answered, Callen's arm staying around Ally's shoulders.

"Officer Kincaid was Tabby biological father. He… went a little crazy when he realised Tabby had been found and decided to make sure that I wouldn't see her again after all. Nate pushed me out of the road but I ended up hitting my head on the table leg." She looked at him. "If he hadn't, that bullet would have found its mark. I'm guessing being a cop, his aim would have been pretty good, especially since I couldn't move." Ally swallowed and blinked back the tears that had surfaced in her eyes before continuing. "Hetty had gone into the kitchen just before he had arrived so he didn't seem to count on her being there. She shot him."

"Hetty shot him," Callen repeated. "How accurately?"

"Very. Can't go home at the moment." She shuddered a little in his arms at the memory.

Callen pulled her a little closer as they got to the exit door. He stopped them and turned her face to his. "I'm glad it's over and I'm glad Hetty did what she had to. We all did."

Hetty having shot someone dead could explain how vague she had seemed. It had been a while since Hetty had been out in the field and would have done something like that. Not to mention how close she had come to losing both Tabby and Alyssa. Knowing how she felt about those two girls, the events of the last few days would have most definitely shaken Hetty to her core.

"How's Tabby? What did they do to her?" Ally asked worriedly.

"She's fine. She was scared but not hurt," Callen assured her. "She's a trooper. She'll get through this just fine. She's got you."

Ally smiled in relief. Callen returned the smile and looked into her eyes. "And me," he added.

He lowered his head and kissed her. Softly yet thoroughly. When he pulled back she looked a little dazed.

"About time I got to do that," he said. "That's the first real kiss since Christmas."

"Really?" Ally asked. She looked thoughtful. "I guess we've been a little distracted."

"Rightly so," Callen agreed. "Now, you ready to see Tabby?"

Ally nodded. "Absolutely."

Callen opened the door and they stepped through.

Ally glanced around and found Tabby easily. After all, she was already flying her way across the room.

"MUMMY!"

Ally took a couple of steps away from the door, knelt down and caught Tabby in a tight hug. Callen moved over to join Hetty and Sam to give the two of them some time alone, though he did watch. He saw the tears spill over Ally's eyes and down her cheeks unchecked. But they were joyful ones so he didn't worry.

"I'm just going back in for Nate. Where are we going to go?" he asked Hetty.

"I've a place already organised. I've filled Sam in on the location in case we get separated in traffic. As soon as you and Nate are here we'll go. I think we could all do with some sleep."

"Agreed."

Callen went back through the doors and back to room 2. Nate was still on the bed but not quite so pale. Callen refrained from any joking. He simply stepped up to the taller man and helped him off the bed.

"I owe you Nate. Thank you." If Nate hadn't been there… Callen stopped the thought abruptly. He didn't want to go there.

"You don't owe me Callen." Nate sucked in a sharp breath and lent back against the bed. "How the hell did you manage to deal with the pain though?"

Callen raised his eyebrows. "Nate, you surprise me."

Nate frowned.

"You swore. Whatever would Hetty think?"

Nate's eyes widened. "Don't tell."

Callen grinned. "Nate, you just saved someone incredibly precious to Hetty. I don't think a little swearing is going to get you in trouble. I think you could probably write-off the Jag and get away with it."

"You think?" Nate asked looking a touch intrigued at the idea of being owed by Hetty.

"We both owe you big time Nate. But… just to be safe, I wouldn't test my theory. Leave the jag alone."

"Good idea."

Nate let out a small groan as he moved away from the bed. Callen held him a little firmer and gently steered him out the door.

"I can't believe I fainted," Nate muttered.

Callen raised his eyebrows at Nate. "You fainted." So the doctor was referring to something with that comment.

Nate blushed right to the tips of his ears. Callen felt a little sorry for him and, again, withheld the urge to tease.

"You know Nate, the first time I was shot," he said instead, "I threw up."

Nate glanced sideways at him. "You? You threw up?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yep." Callen nodded. "Hurt like hell and with all the blood, those donuts just came right up on the paramedics shoes."

"Really? You sure you're not just saying that to make me feel better?" Nate said sceptically.

"Is it working?"

Nate shrugged, grimaced and then admitted. "Maybe a little."

"Still want to be an agent?" Callen asked.

Nate paled slightly. "No. And you want to know something else? I really don't like being a patient in the hospital after all."

"I'm with you on that. Let's go."

Callen held the door open and guided Nate through to the waiting room.

By the time they arrived at the apartment Hetty had organised for them it was 6am. Tabby was asleep again and Callen carried her carefully into the main bedroom, at Hetty and Ally's direction, and laid her on the king size bed. Ally covered her up and kissed her head gently. Tabby smiled in her sleep but didn't stir. They quietly moved out in to the main living area of the apartment and joined Sam, Hetty and Nate. Kensi, Fornell and Derek hadn't arrived yet.

"So," Sam said. "What happened?" He looked at Hetty expectantly.

"You first," Hetty countered.

Sam shook his head but answered, albeit somewhat briefly. "We found Tabby."

Hetty raised one eyebrow and waited for more. Callen took over when it was obvious Sam was being stubborn – perhaps thinking the same thing that Callen had told Nate. That they could get away with a little more than normal since they had rescued Tabby. But this wasn't just about Hetty and Callen didn't want to keep Ally waiting any longer.

"Conrad wasn't involved. It was just his wife," he said, directing his words more to Tabby than Hetty. "Tabby was in the garage, being kept separate from the rest. Unfortunately Fiona … made her choice and paid the price."

"What price?" Nate asked.

Callen answered quietly. "She's dead. It was her or Tabby. I chose her." Callen completely accepted the responsibility for taking her life. If there was fallout from it he would gladly accept it, though he didn't think there would be given the circumstances.

"She's dead?" Ally repeated.

Callen pulled her a little closer. "Yeah. She was heading to Tabby. She had a gun. She fired at us and I wasn't going to give her a chance that she'd hurt Tabby."

Ally dropped her head briefly onto his shoulder and whispered. "Thank you."

She looked over to Hetty. "What's going to happen to Conrad and the children?" she asked.

Hetty shook her head. "I doubt anything will happen. As long as we're confident Conrad wasn't involved?" She looked to Callen and Sam for confirmation from their side of the story. They both nodded.

"Nothing then," Hetty continued. "We'll give them whatever help we can to them get through this."

"We should organise a counsellor," Sam added. "We were going to send Nate over after he'd seen to Tabby but we should probably get someone else." He added with a glance at Nate who definitely didn't look like he was up to much

Nate nodded. "I'll still be there if they need someone," he said a touch groggily. Callen smiled a little; it sounded like the pain relief was finally kicking in.

"Agreed," Hetty added.

"Now, Hetty," Sam said firmly. "You know what happened with us. What happened with you?"

Hetty glanced at Ally. "Are you up for this tonight or do you need to go to bed?" she asked.

"I'm fine Hetty," Ally said. "Probably better we talk about it now whilst Tabby isn't here."

"All right," Hetty said. "Now, where do I start…."

A/N Take 2

Remember, not a cliffhanger – we already know what happened with the flashback.

Thanks again for all your continued patience and support.