Reflections
Finally an update for this, sorry it took so long but I've had a serious problem getting motivated. I hope everyone enjoys it and thanks for sticking with me.
It was almost dark by the time Sam dropped Callen off at home. The week had been long and grueling; the team had spent a lot of time tracking down a couple of marines trying to sell military weapons to terrorists before finally closing in on them earlier that day. The mission had ended in a warehouse where the marines refused to surrender and forcing a shoot out before the warehouse exploded with the marines inside. None of his team had been inside but they had all been in close enough proximity to blow them off their feet and pummel their bodies with debris.
His body felt bruised and battered as he unlocked the door and went inside, stopping to deactivate the alarm system before throwing his bag on the floor and heading to the bathroom. Pulling the torn dirty t-shirt over his head he threw it on the floor as he moved over to check his wounds in the mirror. There were a few spots on his chest already turning blue while the cut above his right eye was swelling at an alarming rate.
Callen reached in to the shower to turn on the water so it would be hot by the time he got in. Toeing off his boots and socks he unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them to the floor before stepping into the blessedly hot water pouring out of the shower head. For a moment he stood there with his arms braced against the pale aqua tiles, the hot water pounding down on his shoulders and back giving thanks that even if the bathroom looked like a holdover from the fifty's with its aqua and brown tiles and fixtures at least the shower head worked like it was brand new.
After washing the dirt and grime from his body he stepped out of the shower and picked up a fluffy brown towel, drying off his body before stepping back up to look in the mirror at the scruff on his face. Deciding to forego shaving until the next day Callen left the bathroom to head into his bedroom for clean clothes knowing the ones he had been wearing earlier where headed for the garbage. Thankfully they had not been from the wardrobe department but his own closet; at this rate he was going to have to replenish that closet very soon.
He pulled a pair of soft worn out jeans over his blue boxer briefs before reaching in the closet for an old white cotton shirt missing most of its buttons leaving it hanging open as he walked down the hall to the kitchen.
Getting a beer out of the fridge he looked over at his living room with its lonely chair sitting there. With a frown on his face he wished he had a comfortable couch like the one in the bullpen to collapse on. Maybe he should rethink the whole no furniture thing and buy one. On that thought he turned and left the living room heading to the back of the house picking up his gun as he went by where it lay on the table.
Unlocking the back door he stepped outside into the back yard; checking to make sure there were no unusual shapes or figures hiding in the shadows. Satisfied that he was alone Callen crossed over the brick patio before his bare feet sank into the velvety grass that blanketed the entire area. Sinking down onto a cushioned chaise lounge he secured his gun into the corner of the cushion adjusting his body into a comfortable position.
Gazing around the yard in waning light he smiled to his self at the small oasis he had created in his back yard. The grass was green and soft; the old rose bushes along the back fence let out a sweet fragrance now that he had pruned them into shape. The solar lights he had installed shed small pools of light around the perimeter of the yard reflecting off the shiny grill stationed in a corner near the house. The garden furniture he had picked up at a second hand store one Saturday. Once he had repaired a few broken slats and added some new cushions it looked as good as new. He had been considering putting in a fire pit but hadn't made a final decision on its placement yet.
Taking a drink of his beer he rested his head against the blue and brown plaid cushion and gazed up at the sky enjoying the peace and quiet. The cooling breeze blew gently over his body, his unbuttoned shirt fluttering in its wake as his mind wandered away from work to the projects he was planning; from the bed he wanted to build out of the reclaimed wood Deeks had helped him find and bring home, the entertainment center that Eric coveted and wanted him to build to the chairs needed for his new table.
Of course, the chairs would have to wait until he figured out how to get Gibbs to come to the West Coast and give him some help. The bed he could manage on his own especially if Deeks helped with the construction like he said he would. That left the entertainment center for Eric, it looked much more complicated than it was so that would be what he started next. Tomorrow he would make a materials list and pick up Eric before heading over to the lumber yard; afterwards they could get started on the project.
The basic construction of the entertainment center was no problem but when it came time to do some of the more intricate details he was going to need a few more specialized tools than he had in his garage. Callen knew where to find the tools he needed; they were in his storage unit packed away. He just had to decide if going back to the storage unit would be less painful than buying new tools. It would be silly to spend money on tools he already owned; however he would pay an emotional price if he went back to the unit. The memories that were attached to some of the items in that storage unit were ones he didn't want to deal with, it was the main reason he had packed the stuff up and walked away.
Rubbing his forehead Callen pushed the dark thoughts away and concentrated on his plans for the next day. Taking the last sip of beer he contemplated going in for another but decided to stay where he was and enjoy the cooling breeze for a while longer. Setting the empty bottle on the table next to his chaise lounge he thought of putting a small fridge out on the patio so he could have a beer whenever he was in the back yard and not have to go back inside.
As he glanced around the patio he rejected one idea after another on where to place the fridge before settling on the spot by the grill. His blue eyes drifted shut as the night breeze wafted gently over his body as he fell into a light doze dreaming of saws and carving tools instead of guns and bombs.
I want to thank everyone who reads, especially those of you that take the time to leave a review.