A/N: Thanks to all who are following this story and have R&R. It is much appreciated
Disclaimer: NCIS LA is owned by CBS, Shane Brennan and R Scott Gemmill. Thanks for creating the wonderful characters and allowing us to have fun with them.
Chapter 16:
Hetty sat reading her book for a while and then decided to do some paperwork as Callen was still slumbering peacefully. Getting her laptop she went and sat at the table where she could still see Callen. Having worked for an hour or so, Hetty got up and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Thinking Callen should be hungry when he awoke she decided to prepare one of his favourite meals. She was just about to put the meal in the oven, when she heard a yell and a thud coming from the sitting room.
Rushing in with her derringer in hand, she saw Callen, clearly disorientated, on the floor struggling to get up. Cautiously she approached him so as not to alarm him, well aware of what he was capable of, even in his weakened state.
"Mr Callen, are you alright?" she said calmly, putting her derringer in her pocket. "What happened?"
Callen looked up at her, realisation of where he was and why filtered through his consciousness. Managing to get himself into a sitting position, he took a deep breath.
"I guess I had a bad dream and fell off the couch" he told her.
Coming over to his side, Hetty reached out to him. "Are you hurt?" she asked, obviously concerned.
"No, I don't think so. Just a little shaken, that's all." His mouth twitched into a slight smile as he said sheepishly "A bit of a shock to the system, getting woken like that!" he said.
Hetty smiled back. "I would imagine it is" she said. "Come on; let's get you back on the couch."
Hetty's small stature belied her physical strength and taking Callen's good arm she supported him as he raised himself back onto the couch.
"Comfortable?" she asked. He nodded. "I'm just about to put our meal in the oven. It'll be ready in about 45 minutes. Do you want anything now?"
"More tea would be nice" he answered.
"Certainly; the same blend as before?" she asked. Again he nodded and Hetty went to the kitchen to get it.
Callen sat quietly with thoughts of his nightmare running through his brain. He could not seem to forget the vivid images which had caused him to wake so abruptly.
Hetty came back carrying a tray with a teapot and cups and saucers. She placed it on the table in front of Callen.
"It needs to brew a little longer" she advised. Looking at Callen, who was clearly still shaken she asked "What's bothering you, Mr Callen?"
Not one to express his emotions, he tried to bury the memories of the nightmare but they kept returning. Hetty's question brought him out of his reverie and he found himself answering her truthfully, all the time looking at his hands clenched in his lap, not making eye contact with her.
"It was the dream, a nightmare really" he said. "I was seeing the killing of Charlie Connor over and over again. It was like it was on automatic replay and each time it played out, his final gaze got more accusing. Like it was my fault and he was blaming me." His voice hitched as he struggled to keep his emotions under control.
"Oh Mr Callen, this is just survivor's guilt. You did all you could for Charlie Connor but you were in no position to prevent what happened. Dallas Alder was a depraved, evil man who used a young man's desire to a part of a family against him. I'm just glad that Mr Hanna was able to reach you in time otherwise the outcome would have been much worse. We would have lost you too" she said, full of emotion herself.
Finally Callen looked at her with unshed tears making his eyes bright. "I know, Hetty. I just wish I could've saved him like you saved me."
"I know, my dear. Unfortunately we can't save everyone however much we want to or how hard we try. Now, the tea should be ready" and Hetty poured the hot liquid into the two cups, handing one to Callen and keeping one for herself.
They chatted amicably for a while before Hetty said "I'll be back in a bit. I've got something for you."
Hetty left the room leaving Callen wondering what on earth she meant. She returned shortly with a box which she placed on the table in front of Callen. He looked between the box and Hetty with a slight frown and an unspoken question on his lips.
"Open it!" she said. When he took off the lid, he saw piles of cards and letters inside. Hetty continued "These cards and messages came for you whilst you were in the coma. Whoever was sitting with you at the time read them out to you but I kept them safe so that you could look at them yourself, at your leisure, when you were better" she explained.
Callen flicked through the pile of brightly coloured cards, most were Get Well and Thinking of You cards depicted with joyful pictures of landscapes, flowers or bowls of fruit but a few were comical ones. His hand rested on two cards that caught his eye. One depicted a sun emerging from a cloud with a rainbow and it said 'Wishing you Sunshine and Rainbows'. He opened it and discovered it was from Abby Sciuto from the NCIS DC office. It said to my favourite NCIS LA Agent, Special Agent G Callen. I'm so sad to hear you're hurt. You've got to get better so you can come to see me. Sending you healing vibes and all my love Abby xxxxx
He felt a lump in his throat and a single tear trickled down his cheek but he smiled at her words; he could hear her saying them in her characteristic frantic babble.
The other card was black and the words on the front said "At Least You're Not Dead". Callen burst out laughing, receiving an enquiring look from Hetty. He opened it and discovered it was signed by all the Five-0 team he and Sam had met when a case involving the Comescus took them to Hawaii and then brought Danny Williams and Chin Ho Kelly to LA. He read each hand written message and could feel his emotions getting the better of him again.
Wiping his hand across his eyes, he looked up at Hetty, who was smiling warmly at him. He handed her the two cards to read. She smiled when she read Abby's card and rolled her eyes in disbelief at the card from the Five-0 team. It never failed to amaze her when anyone whose jobs brought them into jeopardy resorted to gallows humour.
"Thank you for keeping these for me. I think I'd better read them later" he said.
"Of course. They are yours to read whenever you feel able and do with as you like. I suddenly remembered I had them for them and hoped they would take your mind off the nightmare" said Hetty. "Now I suggest we drink our tea before it gets cold. I don't like cold tea; not unless it is supposed to iced tea" said Hetty, smiling.
"Me neither" confirmed Callen as he picked up the cup in his right hand and took a sip, relishing its refreshing and soothing benefits as the warm liquid slid down his throat.
Lowering the cup but not replacing it on the table Callen looked at Hetty and asked "What do you have in mind for me?"
"Well, in a few minutes we'll have dinner and because of your arm, you're let off washing up duty but you can still load the dishwasher" she said with mischief twinkling in her eyes.
Callen rolled his eyes and his features broke into a huge grin.
"That's better!" said Hetty. "I've waited a long time to see you smile like that once again." She coughed to hide her obvious emotion before continuing. "Seriously, I just want you to rest for the next couple of days and get used to being at home; they'll be time enough for the intensive rehabilitation after that. Do whatever you want – within reason of course and nothing dangerous! Lie in bed and read, sit down here or by the pool, whatever you want. Unfortunately until your cast comes off you won't be able to swim but I believe you have an out patients appointment soon regarding the break so maybe you will be able to swim soon. However I do want you to do light exercises and continue taking your meds as prescribed."
Callen made a face at Hetty's last words. It was more of a twitch than anything else but Hetty noticed it.
"It was the main condition of you being released from hospital, Mr Callen. I wouldn't want to but you know I would not hesitate to get you readmitted if you defy me" she said seriously.
Callen looked at her and smirked "I know and you wouldn't take one ounce of enjoyment from it either! Hetty, I gave you my word and I will honour it" he said.
"Thank you, Mr Callen, I knew I could count on you. Now, dinner should be ready. I'll need a few minutes to serve it up and then perhaps you'd join me in the dining room. Will you need any help getting up?" she asked.
"I should be fine, Hetty. Can you get the crutches for me please? I think it'd be wise to use them until I'm not so unsteady on my feet" Callen said.
Hetty went to hall where Sam had left the crutches and brought them to Callen before going to the kitchen.
Whilst Hetty was laying the table, and serving up the meal, she was listening intently for signs of distress and hoping that she did not hear the sound of Callen crashing to the floor. Everything was ready and she was just about to check on Callen when he appeared at the door. Smiling warmly at him, she was pleased that he appeared to be managing with the crutches, although she noticed he was a little red in the face.
"This is harder than it looks" joked Callen "and quite tiring too." He made his way to the table and sat down in the chair proffered to him by Hetty. "Hetty, this is wonderful. I hope I don't disappoint you. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to eat."
"It doesn't matter as long as you're able to eat something" Hetty answered. "I don't want you overdoing it though and making yourself ill. Just eat what you think you can manage" she said. "It'll keep and can be heated up tomorrow if need be."
Hetty loaded Callen's plate with the items he indicated and placed it in front of him. "Do you want me to cut anything up for you or can you manage?" she asked.
"I think I can manage" he answered "but thanks for the offer. I might have to eat with just my fork though" he apologised.
Hetty smiled at him. She was taken back in years when he had first come to live with her and everything was new to him. Whilst she knew deep down there was good in him, he was rather defensive and brash which she understood to be a mechanism to avoid being hurt. She had fought tooth and nail with him in order to polish his manners. She had also taught him the finer details of table etiquette ensuring that he did not eat with just his fork.
"That's quite alright, Mr Callen, considering the predicament you find yourself in. Please don't get used to it though" she said with a grin.
"I wouldn't dare, Hetty" said Callen grinning and they eat their meal, chatting amicably and Callen was pleased that he had agreed to Hetty's term for he had missed living at Dovecote.
Having eaten more than he thought he would, he and Hetty sat chatting before Callen got up and started to clear the table.
"What on earth are you doing, Mr Callen?" asked Hetty dismayed.
"Clearing the table; you said I had to load the dishwasher" said Callen in all seriousness.
"I was joking! I certainly didn't expect you to take me seriously" she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Callen looked hurt and dejected. "Hetty, I may've been injured but I'm quite capable of clearing the table and loading the dishwasher!"
"Of course you are and I didn't mean to suggest otherwise but I think it would be best to leave it until you no longer require the crutches, don't you? After all, this is the first day you've not been in a hospital bed and have been up and about" she said soothingly.
"Perhaps you're right" he acquiesced. "But when I can get about without the crutches then I'm going to help you around the house" Callen stated.
"Thank you. I will indeed be welcome of your assistance. Now go and sit down in the sitting room whilst I clear up. Do you want anything else – cocoa or a night cap?" Hetty asked.
"Not just yet, perhaps later" Callen answered and he made his way slowly back to the lounge where he settled down on the couch and waited for Hetty to join him. He felt bad that she was waiting on him but he had to admit that he would not have been able to carry anything whilst using both crutches and he did not feel strong enough to manage with just one at the moment. He hated feeling so helpless. Hopefully he would get stronger day by day and so be able to dispense with the crutches altogether. At least he had managed to use them; at the first attempt he thought he would have to use the wheelchair and he did not like the idea of that at all so he persevered.
When Hetty came in from the kitchen, Callen was dozing so she sat quietly reading until he woke up.
"Do you want to go to bed?" she asked. "You don't have to stay up on my account" she said.
"No, I'm fine. In fact would you mind if I slept down here tonight? I'm not sure I can manage the stairs with the crutches; maybe tomorrow when I've had more practice I'd be able to go upstairs" he said.
"If you're sure you'll be comfortable, I don't mind in the slightest" said Hetty. "As I've said before, this is your home and you can do whatever you like. When you're ready I'll go get a comforter for you. I can just as easily go and read in my study or in my bedroom so I don't disturb you" added Hetty.
"I don't want to chase you out of your own home, Hetty. Please stay and read in here. You won't disturb me at all. I like your company and it reminds me of the old days. I miss it" Callen said, switching positions so he was laying down.
"I do too" replied Hetty and she sat and read until she noticed Callen had fallen asleep. Quietly she got up and returned with the comforter and placed it over him. She gently kissed him on the top of his head and whispered "Good night, my son" and he murmured "G'night, mom" in his sleep. She smiled warmly as she sat back down and watched him for a few minutes before reading her book again. Everything is going to be alright, she thought to herself.