Only one more chapter to go. Thanks to those of you still reading and as always, I really appreciate your reviews. :)

xxxxx

"That was really good," Callen said after he and Deeks were back in the car. "I don't really know that we needed the chocolate mousse for dessert though. I was already pretty full."

Deeks grinned. "You ate every bite of that mousse, Callen. I told you how delicious it was. I didn't want you to miss it."

"You're right, I did eat it all," Callen said, smiling as he thought about the decadent dessert. Deeks had insisted that it was not to be missed and he had been right. "Maybe we should come up here as a team some weekend. I know Hetty would really like it."

"That sounds like a plan."

"In any case, thanks for taking me here. It was really good to get out of the house and this was the perfect place to come to. I've been going kind of stir crazy."

"No problem at all," Deeks said as he started up the vehicle. "Is there anywhere else you want to go, anything you'd like to do? Your wish is my command."

"I don't know," Callen said, shrugging. "I can't really think of anything."

"We could go to a movie if you want," Deeks suggested, trying to think of things that Callen would actually be able to do.

"Is there something you want to see?" Callen asked. He wasn't exactly up on the latest movies.

"We could see the new Avengers movie," Deeks said. "Only thing is, it's kind of long, close to three hours. Maybe that's not the best idea."

"It's up to you," Callen said, entirely ambivalent about the idea. He was a little bit tired, but if Deeks wanted to go see a movie, it was fine with him.

"I think we should head back to your house," Deeks finally decided, realizing that Callen likely wasn't all that invested in seeing the movie. Thinking about it, he couldn't remember Callen ever really talking about any current movies he had gone to.

"Okay." Callen contentedly settled back in his seat and just quietly watched the passing scenery. Deeks was going to try to start up a topic of conversation, but ended up just concentrating on his driving and listening to the radio. If Callen wanted to talk, he figured that he would. If not, there was nothing wrong with a bit of quiet downtime.

xxxxx

That night, Deeks made some spaghetti and meatballs for dinner with a sauce which Callen found to be delicious, in spite of the fact that he hadn't been particularly hungry for dinner after their big lunch. "Thanks for cooking, Deeks. That sauce was incredible."

"You can freeze the leftover sauce and then heat it up next time you want spaghetti. Or, it's really simple to make," Deeks said. "I could show you sometime."

Callen smirked. "Cooking is not exactly my forte."

"This sauce is super simple, Callen. Just a few ingredients. Trust me, you could make it."

"Okay, sure," Callen said. "When my leg is better, you can teach me and the team can come over for a spaghetti dinner." Talking like this, made him feel that it wouldn't be long before he would be back at work with the team. He was going to talk to the doctor the following day about being released back to work for office duty. He didn't know how that was going to go though.

"Sounds good," Deeks said with a smile. The day had ended up being much better than he had thought it was going to be that morning. He was relieved that he had brought up his feelings of guilt. Callen had made him feel much better about things.

xxxxx

"I think I'm going to head to bed," Deeks said at a little after 11 p.m. I'm going to pick up Kensi in the morning when Sam gets here. Do you need anything before I turn in?"

"Uh…" Callen hesitated and then shook his head. "No that's okay."

Deeks rolled his eyes. "That was really convincing. What do you need, Callen?"

"Could you get me a pain pill from my room?" Callen asked. His leg was throbbing again and he was too comfortable to think about making the required effort to go to his bedroom.

"Are you sure you don't want to just go to bed?" Deeks asked, looking at the other man doubtfully. "I can help you."

"No thanks...I'm good here for now," Callen stated.

"Okay." Deeks shrugged and went off to Callen's bedroom to get a pill and then took a bottle of water from the refrigerator. "Anything else?" he asked as he handed the pill and water to Callen.

Callen shook his head. "No thanks. I'll see you in the morning."

Deeks nodded. "Good night, Callen. Don't hesitate to give a shout out if you need anything."

xxxxx

Callen started to get really drowsy shortly after taking the pill. He had meant to head to his bedroom before that happened, but the couch was very comfortable and he decided it was just as easy to sleep in the living room. He turned off the lamp, but left the television on with the volume turned down low. He then pulled down the throw blanket from the top of the couch, covered himself with it and sank into a deep sleep.

The sudden, sharp blow to the right side of Callen's face abruptly jarred him out of his slumber. "What the hell!" Callen rubbed his face gingerly and stared up into the face of Eddie Guthrey, who was holding a gun pointed at Callen's head.

"Surprise, surprise, Agent Callen," Guthrey said with a malicious smile. "What happened to your leg? Skiing accident?"

"How did you find me here?" Callen asked.

"I have my ways," Guthrey said. "You meet lots of interesting people in prison. Some of them have very useful information. A little bit of money goes a long way in there."

"I would have thought you would have been happy to be out of prison," Callen said, as he tried to figure out who could have given Guthrey his personal information. "Seems kind of stupid to get released and then risk going back there, probably for life this time. Then again, I never exactly mistook you for a brain surgeon."

"Shut up!" Guthrey said as he gave Callen two more hits to his face,, this time with his pistol, busting open Callen's lower lip.

"Or what?" Callen asked, smirking as he inwardly braced for the next hit, really hoping Deeks would hear what was going on.

"I can keep this up all night, you pompous bastard," Guthrey yelled, as he pistol whipped Callen again, this time on the left side of his face. "Maybe I'll break your other leg and your arms too. I'll torture you until you beg me to end your life."

"I don't think Callen wants to stay up all night being tortured by you." Deeks entered the room, his gun pointed at Guthrey. "He needs his sleep and so do I."

Guthrey smiled as he shook his head. "You can shoot me if you want to, but I'll still shoot your friend here. Whether I go back to prison or down to the burning fires of hell, it doesn't matter to me." He then smiled as rapidly raised his gun towards Callen, but Deeks was just a little bit quicker. One gunshot rang out and Guthrey fell to the floor, a result of the gunshot wound to the center of his chest.

xxxxx

Deeks knelt down next to Guthrey and felt for a pulse, but there was none. "He's dead," he said to Callen as he got to his feet. "I'll call LAPD." He pulled out his cell phone to make the call but the sound of approaching sirens stopped him. "I guess one of your neighbors did it for me."

"Probably Mrs. Ramirez."

Just then, a knock on the door sounded. "This is the police, put any weapons that you have down and come out with your hands up."

Deeks recognized the voice of the officer who had spoken. "Hey Blake, it's me, Marty Deeks. You can come in. I shot the perp. He's dead."

Blake entered the house with another officer and Deeks and Callen filled him in on what had happened. The officers then processed the scene and called the coroner. While they were working, Deeks looked at Callen and shook his head. "Man...your face is a mess. Do you have an ice pack?"

Callen nodded. "It's in the drawer underneath the counter, next to the refrigerator."

Deeks went into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with the ice pack which he handed to Callen. "Your eye is going to swell up really pretty by tomorrow," Deeks remarked. "Do you think you need to get it looked at?"

"No, I'm good," Callen said, wincing slightly as he held the ice pack to the right side of his face. "I'll be seeing a doctor tomorrow anyhow."

"An orthopedic doctor."

"I'm sure he's qualified to look at my swollen face. Speaking of which…" he looked at Deeks seriously. "If it wasn't for you, I'm pretty sure I'd have a lot more than a beat up face by now. Thanks for saving my ass."

"No problem. You would have done the same for me," Deeks said, casually shrugging off Callen's words.

"Come on, Deeks, I'm serious," Callen said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Deeks said, looking embarrassed.

"This should take care of any of those guilty feelings you were having for good."

Deeks sighed softly and nodded. Callen was right about that. He still felt bad about his friend's leg, but at least he was alive and he had to admit that was the important thing.