Before things escalated any further Marisa snapped out of her trance and pushed Zac away.
"What's wrong?" Zac asked confused.
"I'm sorry. I can't do this. It's just too soon. I'm sorry. You seem like a really sweet guy and I really liked tonight but this making out is just too soon for me."
"I understand, I wasn't thinking. It's been a while since I've been with anyone."
"Yeah for me too. And after everything that happened I'm just not ready."
"Say no more, I completely understand. We'll just take it slow."
"I'd like that."
"Great."
Marisa grabbed her coat and Zac walked her to the door.
"I'll see you next weekend," Zac spoke.
"Yeah, I'll text you about the time and place."
"Great, I'm looking forward to it." He gave Marisa a soft kiss on her cheek. "See ya, drive save."
"I will. See ya."
Marisa got in her car and drove home. Callen was still up when she walked in.
"Hey dad," Marisa greeted him.
"Hey Marisa, how was your date?"
"It was fine. He seems like a nice guy."
"Just take it slow okay, you've been through a lot."
"I will dad, don't worry. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
…
The next day when Callen and Sara were at work Hetty stopped by.
"Hello Hetty, what are you doing here?" Marisa greeted as she opened the door.
"I was just stopping by to see how you're doing."
"That's nice of you, come on in."
"So how are you doing Ms. Mathews?" Hetty asked as she sat down on the couch.
"I'm feeling better. I still got a long way to go but I'm starting to deal with it."
"That's good. Mr. Getz told me he suggested you go to a support group."
"Yes he did. I actually went once already. I think I'll keep going to it. I think it'll help me."
"That's good. And how are you physically?"
"I'm doing a lot better. I know I still have to stay home for about 4 months. I just wished I could come back sooner."
Hetty chuckled as Marisa said that. "You really do look a lot like your father."
"I know."
"Well, I should get back to the office."
"Thanks for stopping by Hetty."
"Anytime, Ms. Mathews." Hetty smiled as she walked out the door.
…
Marisa had gone to 3 more meetings over the past 3 weeks. They were really helping her. She went out with Zac every weekend. She liked spending time with him. They were taking things slow. It was easy for Marisa to open up to him about what happened to her, since he had gone through the same thing. She felt so at ease with him.
"Good morning Hetty," Callen spoke as he walked into Hetty's office.
"Good morning Mr. Callen. How is Ms. Mathews doing?"
"She's slowly getting there," Callen replied as he sat down on the chair. "Nate advised her to go to a support group. She went to that meeting 4 times now and it seems to be helping her. She met a nice guy there who's been through to same so she can talk to him."
"That's good to hear. How's Ms. Gonzalez doing?"
"She's doing a lot better. She's been able to put it past her. It still bothers her sometimes but not that much."
"That's good. She's lucky to have you."
"I think that goes both ways."
Eric whistled them up for a new case and the agents got to work. Sara went with Sam and Callen.
At lunchtime Marisa met up with Zac.
"Hi Zac," Marisa greeted him.
"Hi Marisa." Zac gave her a kiss on her cheek. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing better. The meetings are really helping me."
"Yes, I can see that. You seem better than the first time I met you."
"I feel better."
"How are your injuries?"
"They are slowly healing. I'm able to do a bit more, but I'm nowhere near my old fitness."
"You'll get there, just give it time. Are you back at work already?"
"No, I wish. I still have like 3 months off before I have my first checkup to see if I can come back. Maybe just desk work at first. I really want to go back. I'm not really good at sitting around."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed but you've gotta give it time."
"I will. And my mom and dad will make sure I do."
"It's nice that they are taking care of you."
"Yeah it is. Although I don't like feeling so dependent on them."
"In a while you'll be able to do that stuff on your own again."
"I can't wait. I'm not someone who sits around all day."
They were enjoying their lunch together. Suddenly they heard some cars screeching through the street. Marisa looked up. She recognized Sam's challenger. Kensi's car came from the other side and they boxed the car in. Marisa saw guns.
"Gun! Everybody down!" Marisa yelled and she grabbed her own gun and ran closer to Sam's challenger. "You guys need a hand?"
"Marisa, what are you doing here?" Callen asked confused.
"I was having lunch with Zac."
"Where is he?"
"He's at the restaurant. Don't worry about him."
The guys fired at them and Sam, Callen, Sara and Marisa fired back from one side and Kensi and Deeks from the other. A little later the gunfire stopped. They went over to check on the guys. They were all dead.
"What happened to taken them alive?" Deeks spoke earning a look from everyone. "Just saying."
"Zip it Deeks."
"Hey Marisa," Kensi spoke when she saw Marisa. "What are you doing here?"
"I was having lunch just down the street, figured you guys could use an extra hand."
Zac watched from a distance. Marisa seemed to know these people. Maybe they were part of the team as well. Suddenly he saw a familiar face. He walked up to them.
"Hey Marty," Zac spoke as he approached the group. Marisa, Callen and Sam turned around. "Long time no see."
"Hey Zac, what are you doing here?" Deeks replied as he shook his hand.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. I thought you were a lawyer."
"Quit that a while ago. I'm with LAPD now."
"How do you two know each other?" Marisa asked, pretending not to know.
"We went to law school together," Zac answered. "How do you two know each other?"
"We work together."
"You know him, Marisa?" Deeks asked.
"Yes, we were on a lunch date actually. I met him," Marisa looked over to Zac as she spoke who nodded. "At my support group. We got along from the beginning."
"That's nice."
"We should get back to our lunch and let you get back to work."
"See ya later Marisa," Kensi spoke and they went back to their work as Zac and Marisa walked off.
"That was interesting," Zac spoke as they sat down. "Is your work life mostly like this?"
"Mostly yes."
"Much be exciting."
"It has it's moments. Sometimes we're just running on adrenaline."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Was that your team?"
Marisa thought what to answer. She couldn't tell him everything. But since he knew Deeks and Deeks had told her he was a good man she decided to tell him a little.
"Yes, that was my team."
"Seems like a nice team. Are you parents on that team too?"
"Why you ask?"
"It's just that you look a lot like two of the others."
"Yes, they are on the team too. I'm sorry but I can't tell you much about what I do. You don't have the clearance. And you have to know that if you do anything with the little information I do tell you, you will be sorry."
Zac was a bit taken aback by what Marisa said. He had no idea for which part of the government she worked for, but it must be top secret.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. I won't betray you like that."
"You better not," Marisa said with a firm tone. "I'm sorry. It's just very classified what I do. I wish I could tell you but I can't."
"It's okay. I understand."
"Okay."
They enjoyed the rest of their lunch before they went home. They agreed to go see a movie on Saturday.
…..
Marisa was feeling a lot better, physically and mentally. She felt like she could go back to work again but the doctor hadn't cleared her yet. She went to the office early to try to work out a bit in the gym. No one was there was she walked in. She got changed and she went to the punching machine. She got into the rhythm and hadn't noticed someone walking into the gym.
"What are you doing here?" Marisa turned around and saw Callen standing there.
"Hey dad, I'm just working out a bit."
"You shouldn't. The doctor hasn't cleared you."
"I know, but I just felt like it. I hate sitting around at home."
Callen smirked. "I know you do, but you have to let your body heal."
"I was coming to see how my fitness was."
"And?"
"It's not what it used to be."
"That's understandable. But you'll get there, in time. How long have you been working out?"
"I don't know. Half an hour or something."
"Alright, that's enough for today."
"Come on dad, just one more round."
"No, you've done enough for today. Don't overdo yourself."
"I know my own body dad."
"That's what I say too, but in this case the others know best."
"Fine," Marisa spoke. She grabbed her towel and walked to the dressing room. She mumbled something under her breath. "You never listen when the others tell you."
"I heard that," Callen replied. Marisa turned around and stuck her tongue out at him and walked into the dressing room.
Callen sighed. She was definitely his daughter, just as stubborn as he was. It wasn't always easy to be her father, but he wouldn't have it any other way. He loved her. He was glad that she was his daughter. Callen walked back to the bullpen.
Marisa walked through the bullpen on her way out.
"Hey guys," Marisa spoke.
"Hey Marisa," Kensi greeted her. "What are you doing here? Are you back to work already?"
"I wish. I was just doing some exercises in the gym."
"Can you do that already?" Sam asked.
"You sound just like me dad."
"You're dad's right."
"Really?" Callen said with a smile.
"Yes, you've gotta take it slow."
"I'm trying. I just hate sitting at home."
"I know you do, but you've gotta let your body heal, otherwise you'll be back in the hospital in now time."
"I know," Marisa replied as she sat down on her chair. "I just hate sitting at home, I miss you guys."
"We miss you too here," Sara told her. "But you've gotta heal first, then you can come back."
"I know I have to, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."
Eric whistled the agents upstairs. Marisa went back home. When Marisa got home she had received a text from Zac.
'Hey, how are you today? We're still on for Saturday right?' The message read.
'I'm good. How are you? Yes we're still on. Movie starts at 8.'
'I'm great now I've heard of you. Great, I'll see you there.'
Marisa smiled as she saw the message. 'Great, see you Saturday.'
'I can't wait.'
Marisa lay down on her bed for a while. She didn't like to admit it, but the workout was maybe a bit too much. After a while she fell asleep. She dreamed about Zac. She really liked him. She didn't know if it would turn into something but for the time being she liked spending time with him. She didn't know if it could ever turn into something. Could she ever tell him the truth about what she really did? She dreamed about the kiss and make out session they had. She wondered how it would've gone if she hadn't left. She woke up a little later and felt some wetness in between her legs. She couldn't believe she had actually dreamed about that. She got in the shower to try to wash the feeling off of her. But the hot water felt so good on her skin that it didn't really help. She felt a bit weird helping herself but she couldn't shake the feeling. She felt better after that. She wondered how it would feel if she actually did the stuff that she dreamed about.
…..
2 months later it was just 2 days before Christmas Eve. Marisa had just moved back into her own apartment. She was doing very well. She still went to the meetings. They really helped her. She and Zac were doing very well. They actually talked about spending Christmas together. Since this was the first Christmas with her mom and dad Marisa would spend Christmas Eve with her parents and Christmas day she and Zac would go out to dinner.
Sara and Callen were doing very well. Sara had dealt with everything that had happened very well. She had given it a place. It hardly bothered her. It was still there but not as much anymore. Sara was really grateful that she had Callen. Now Marisa had moved back into her own apartment Sara wondered what to do. She really liked living with Callen but she didn't know if Callen wanted it. The stuff from Sara's place was still in Callen's house. They were watching TV together.
"Sara, can I ask you something?" Callen spoke.
"Sure, what's up?" Sara replied as she sat up and looked into Callen's eyes.
"I was just wondering, since Marisa left, I would love it if you would stay here with me."
"You want me to move in with you?" Sara asked just to make sure.
"Yes, I want you to move in with me. These past months have been really good with you, I can't imagine not waking up to you every morning."
Sara sat on his lap and kissed him.
"I take it that's a yes," Callen told her as she stopped kissing him.
"Yes it is. I would love to move in with you permanently. I didn't know if you wanted me to."
"Of course I want you to. I love you."
"I love you too."
Sara kissed him again. Callen moved his arms around her and pulled her to him as he deepened the kiss. Sara made her way to his chest and started to unbutton his shirt. Callen noticed what she was doing and he lifted her shirt up over her head. Since Marisa wasn't here anymore they didn't need to worry about her finding them. Callen kissed her neck as his hands undid her bra. He moved the straps down her arm and threw it on the floor with her shirt. Callen moved forward a bit so Sara could take his shirt off. She threw it with her clothes. She moved her hands over his chest. He just looked so good. Sara thought that the scars he had only added to his handsomeness. Callen kissed her neck again and moved his lips down till he reached her breast. Sara arched her back as he kissed her. Callen turned her around so she was on her back on the couch and he hovered above her. He made quick work of their pants and underwear and buried himself inside of her. When they were almost there Callen sat back down on the couch with Sara on his lap. Sara collapsed against him when they were done.
"Wow, that was amazing," Sara breathed out.
"I'm far from done with you," Callen said in a teasing tone.
He stood up with her in his arms without pulling out of her. He kissed her as he walked them to the bedroom. They didn't make it to the bedroom. Callen had already pinned her up against the wall in the hallway. Sara wrapped her legs tightly around him and her fingers dug into his shoulders as Callen moved in and out of her. She was lucky that Callen held her so tightly otherwise she would've fallen on the floor. Callen pressed her to the wall hardly as they reached their peaks. Callen put his head on her shoulder as they came down from their high.
"G, do you think you can let go of me a little, you're kinda crushing me."
"Sorry."
Sara whimpered as Callen pulled out of her. He held her and carried her to their bedroom. He gently lay her down on the bed. He kissed her again and kissed all the way down her body until he was in between her legs. He worked her with his mouth and fingers. He lay down next to her once she came down from her high and he kissed her back to reality. Sara took control of the kiss and Callen didn't notice her hand was moving down until she grabbed him. Callen groaned as Sara worked him. When Callen couldn't take it anymore he pushed Sara back onto the bed. He moved her legs over his shoulders and moved into her. They moved in unison. Callen moved her legs around his waist and grabbed her waist as he slammed into her. Callen bent down to kiss her breasts and moved his hand in between them. That was it for Sara. She unraveled; she was quivering uncontrollably against Callen. That was enough for Callen to join her. Exhausted they collapsed next to each other.
"Oh my god. That was amazing," Sara uttered. "You were so good."
"You were not so bad yourself," Callen smirked.
"You did most of the work. Not that I'm complaining."
Callen turned on his side. "Next time you can take control," Callen told her with a cheeky voice.
"I'll hold you to that."
"Deal."
They kissed each other before they fell asleep in each other's embrace. Callen woke up the next morning and noticed Sara was already out of bed. He quickly pulled a shirt and some sweatpants on and walked out the bedroom. He smelled the delicious smell of freshly baked bread coming from the oven.
"Good morning," Callen spoke as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"Good morning," Sara replied and turned her head around and gave him a kiss. "Breakfast is done."
"It smells delicious."
They were already off work for the Christmas break. After breakfast they went to do some Christmas shopping. They went to the grocery store and picked up food for the Christmas dinner. Marisa had told them that she would bring dessert. Callen told her that Marisa's chocolate cake was the best. Also her chocolate chip cookies were to die for. After they got everything they drove back home. Callen helped Sara put the stuff away. It was only one day before Christmas Eve so Sara started with their Christmas dinner already, at least with the stuff she could already.
"I'm just gonna go for a run down the beach," Callen told her.
"That's fine. I'll be busy here for a while."
Callen grabbed his running clothes and shoes and put them in a bag. He gave her a quick kiss before he got in his car and headed to the beach.
Before going to the beach he went to the shopping center. He walked into the jewelry store. He wanted to pick out something nice for Sara since it was their first Christmas together.
"Can I help you?" One of the saleswomen asked.
"I'm looking for something nice for my girlfriend for Christmas."
"What did you have in mind?"
"A nice matching necklace and bracelet."
"We have some sets over here." Callen followed her to one of the displays. "What color do you want?"
"Silver or white gold. With maybe some diamonds in it."
"Alright, we have a few of those." The saleswoman pulled out some boxes with necklaces and bracelets. She showed Callen some necklaces. Callen eventually picked a 10k White gold 1/6ct double heart diamond necklace. The outer heart was just white gold, the inner heart had diamonds on it. It was perfect for Sara. The necklace was $160,-. Callen got the matching bracelet as well. It had a heart pendant on it with diamonds. The total cost was $250,-. The saleswoman wrapped them up in a nice box with Christmas decorations. Callen walked back to his car and drove to the beach. He quickly changed into his running clothes. He put the package in his glove box and locked his car before going on a short run.
About an hour later he walked back into the house.
"Hey, you've been away for some time," Sara greeted him.
"Yeah, I lost track of time." Callen gave her a kiss. "I'm just gonna go shower."
After Callen got out of the shower, Sara went to freshen up. Callen quickly went to his car to get Sara's gift. He hid it in his sock drawer. After Sara was done they headed to the mall to pick out some Christmas presents.
"Hey dad," Callen heard Marisa's voice say. Callen turned towards the sound of the voice and saw Marisa walking up to them.
"Hey Marisa," Callen greeted her.
"Hey dad, hey mom, what are you doing here?"
"Just buying some Christmas presents."
"Me too. I was wondering if I should get Zac a present too."
"I think it would be nice."
"Yeah, but I don't know if he'll buy me a present. And if I show up without a present and he has one it's weird. But so is the other way."
"Maybe you should just buy him something and then you can see if he bought you anything," Sara replied.
"Yeah I think I will. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"You're bringing dessert right?"
"Yes I am."
"Great, see you tomorrow."
They finished their shopping and went home.
….
The day of Christmas Eve Sara decided to go to the doctor. She wasn't feeling well for a couple of days. She probably thought it was just a stomach bug but the results the doctor gave her were totally unexpected to her.