A/N – Three weeks isn't too bad. Getting better. Haven't had a whole lot of time to write but managed to pull this together tonight as, finally, the littles ones are sleeping nicely. Fingers crossed it continues. So, this chapter may not be quite as polished as usual. Hopefully there won't be too many mistakes. I would've liked to have made it longer but figured at the moment, longer in length would mean a longer update wait.

Once again, thank you for the support and patience with this story.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Chapter 9

Saturday 22nd January – approximately 7am

"At least it's over," Sam said when Callen had finished telling his side of the nights escapades.

"Not entirely," Nate mumbled, somehow having managed to stay awake for what was essentially a debriefing.

Sam glanced at Nate and gave a small grin. "I guess we're not going to forget too easily with you complaining."

Nate poked his tongue out at Sam which caused a slight chuckle to run around the small group at the childish gesture.

"There's a lot to recover from," Nate added. "For everyone." Nate's glance lingered on Callen and Hetty.

Callen stood. He'd been filling the others in on his part of the story when Ally had left. He'd been at the part about shooting Fiona when she'd left. Now he'd done that, it was time to make sure she was okay.

Callen found her standing in the doorway watching Tabby sleeping. With the light from the hall, he caught the glisten of the tears on her cheek. He slipped his arms around her waist and rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.

"She's safe. She's back with you and she's gonna be fine."

Ally gave a small nod before she pulled her gaze from the sleeping child and looked at him. In a soft voice she asked, "What was Fiona going to do? What was she thinking?"

Callen turned Ally around in his arms. "I can't answer that. And I can't second guess my choice out there tonight."

Ally put her finger on his lips and shook her head. "I wouldn't want you to do that and I'm not asking you to. You saved my daughter, the most precious thing I have. I don't know how to even start to thank you."

"You don't need to. Tabby is almost as precious to me as she is to you. Give me time and I'm sure I'll catch up. Probably by lunch tomorrow," Callen told her with a grin at the end.

Ally smiled. "I know she is. I just…. Fiona was family. I know my family is pretty messed up but…" Ally trailed off for a moment. "I guess I'm just confused. My parents thought Fiona was perfect wife material, perfect mother material. How could they be so wrong?"

Callen rubbed the back of her neck lightly. "Probably for the same reason they thought you weren't the perfect one to have custody of Tabby – They're crazy and don't have an ounce of commonsense."

"How do you know just what to say?" Ally asked closing her eyes as he continued to massage the knots out of her neck.

"Because I'm perfect," Callen joked. Ally opened her eyes and caught his gaze with an intense stare.

"You joke, G Callen. But you aren't far off the truth. No one is perfect." She lowered her voice and smiled softly. "But there isn't anyone out there who is more perfect for Tabby and I than you."

Callen caught the nervousness in her words, even though her look was strong. He lowered his head and kissed her lightly before responding just as softly. "I'm glad you feel that way."

Ally yawned.

"Go to bed," Callen told her. "Get some sleep. It's going to be a big day. We have a birthday to celebrate."

Ally nodded and glanced at Tabby before returning her gaze to him. "Will you stay in there with us? It's a big bed."

Callen nodded. He had a feeling it would be a while before Ally felt completely safe again and was glad that she seemed to be indicating his presence would help. "I'll just let Hetty know … if she doesn't already. I'll be in soon." He watched Ally step inside the room and head toward the pile of clothes on the chair. He slipped back to the lounge room quietly.

Hetty stepped up behind him just after he entered the room and he jumped, just a little startled. Her expression said it all.

"She's fine Hetty," he answered her. "Just a little confused about everything. She's gone to bed. I'm heading in there now to stay with them."

Hetty nodded. "Mr Callen. Thank you."

"For?"

"More than adequately proving point one and two to me."

"That will depend on three things. One - Whether you love them. Two - Whether you can be there for them and protect them."

"How did I prove point one?" Callen asked curiously.

Hetty smiled. "The way you are with the two of them speaks volumes Callen. I have no doubt you love my girls."

"So I just have to prove point three and I'll be off your watch list?"

"Oh no Mr Callen. You will never be off my watch list." Hetty had a twinkle in her eye. "No one who those girls care about will ever be off my watch list because I will protect them from being hurt with everything that I am."

"As will I," Callen agreed firmly.

Hetty nodded. "I have no doubt. Being off probation is one thing. The watch list is a completely different matter."

"And how will I prove point three?"

"Whether you are able to move on from Faith."

Hetty studied him for a moment. "If you have, you will find a way."

Hetty turned to the others effectively ending the conversation and Callen left as she started to hand out the sleeping arrangements.

"Sam, you share with Nate. He will need to be watched through the night. Kensi will be in with me and it looks like Derek with have a room to himself. I will leave them a note…" Hetty trailed off as the door to the apartment opened. Sam stood quickly and reached for his gun but relaxed as soon as he saw Kensi walk in.

"Don't shoot," Kensi joked, followed by a yawn. Her eyes ran over everyone and settled on Nate. She frowned and moved over to him. "What happened to him?" she asked, concern clear in her voice.

Sam raised his eyebrows a little, but a shake of Hetty's head had him simply answering Kensi's question rather than delving for motive behind the concern that seemed far more than a simple team mate being injured would call for.

"He played the hero and saved Ally whilst Hetty took out the bad guy. Needless to say, Nate isn't interested in becoming an agent at the moment.

"Hurts," Nate mumbled, almost asleep.

Sam moved over. "Come on Nate. Need to get you to bed."

"Don't want to go to bed with you," Nate slurred out. "Kensi's prettier."

"You're not going to bed with me," Sam tried to explain. "I just need to get you to your bed."

"Why not Kensi's?"

Kensi blushed. "Must be the drugs talking. He'd never say anything like that normally," she protested.

"Yeah. The drugs," Sam agreed with a roll of his eyes. "Come on Nate."

Sam hoisted Nate out of the chair and Nate stumbled along. "Kensi's hair's prettier than yours," he muttered.

"No kidding. She's got hair."

"And she looks better than you in heels."

"You've never seen me in heels, Nate. I pull them off quite well."

"You wear heels?" Nate asked, slurred and confused.

Sam chuckled. "Just shut up Nate and go to sleep," he said and he deposited him on the bed and covered him up with a blanket. Before he had finished tucking the blankets around him, Nate was snoring.

Sam settled himself in the other bed and thought over Kensi's reaction and Nate's comments. There was definitely fodder there for some teasing and interogration that could be very interesting once Nate was no longer under the influence of painkillers. Oh he was going to enjoy watching the psychologist squirm but for a little while, he'd let Nate enjoy his hero status.

Callen slipped under the covers on the other side of Tabby. Ally reached her head over to him, above Tabby's head and in the dim light he saw her smile.

"Good night, Ally" he said softly.

"Good night G," she replied.

Callen closed his eyes and for the first time in a long time, felt that everything was all right in his little world. He smiled and drifted off into a light sleep.