A/N: Thanks to all who have read and reviewed. Your comments are greatly appreciated. Just a reminder that this story is set in season 6 before the terrible events that took Michelle & Owen from us.
Chapter 18
After Hetty left for work, Callen, tucking a book under his arm and ensuring that he had his cell with him, made his way to the garden. It was slow progress and Callen felt fatigued by the time he reached the patio area by the pool where there was a table with a parasol and a different array of chairs from which to choose. On the table an insulated water jug and a glass had been placed. Callen smiled. Hetty, you really do think of everything he thought.
Callen chose a sturdy recliner in its upright position, which was sited at the table in the shade. Although early in the morning, the sky was clear of clouds and the sun was already flooding the garden with heat. Callen knew it would get hotter as the day progressed and he did not think it would be wise to sit in the sun as he feared that he may well fall asleep. To add sunburn or sunstroke to his list of injuries was not a good idea.
Manoeuvring until he was in a position where he could drop the book on the table, Callen poured himself a drink and placed it in easy reach of the chair. He then carefully lowered himself into the chair, placing the crutches on the floor and fidgeted until he was comfortable. Callen ensured that the foot rest of the recliner was up before he reached for the book and started to read.
Whether it was because of his injuries from which he was still recovering, the exertion of moving around or the heat, or indeed a combination of all three, Callen felt his concentration flagging having read the same paragraph three times. He rested the book in his lap and closed his eyes, meaning to have a quick nap.
Callen was rudely awoken from his slumbers by his phone ringing. A little disorientated, Callen looked around him frantically wondering where he was. He breathed a sigh of relief when he recognised Hetty's garden and home and, noticing the caller ID, quickly snatched up his phone and answered before Sam could hang up.
"G, are you alright?" asked Sam anxiously. "I've been trying for ages to get you. I was just about to rush round afraid I'd find you at the bottom of the pool or the foot of the stairs or something" said Sam, still clearly worried despite the fact that Callen had responded to his call.
"I'm good, Sam, really. I was asleep. I guess I didn't hear the phone ring before" answered Callen, trying to ease Sam's fears. He glanced down at his phone and saw four missed calls. "This is the fifth time you've phoned?" asked Callen incredulously.
"Yeah, I was worried, man. Hetty said to ring and let you know when I was coming by to sort out the shower issue and to keep you company" said Sam. "You want me to come over? If you're tired, I can come another time" said Sam.
"Hell, no, come on over Sam. I'm fine. It'll be good to see you. I'll still be out in the garden" answered Callen.
Callen reached out and took a sip of the water. Urgh! It's warm. Throwing it away he poured himself a fresh glass of water. Meaning only to take a sip, Callen found himself drinking it all in one go. God, I'm thirsty. It was then he noticed that the chair was no longer fully in the shade. Damn, I must've been asleep longer than I'd intended. The sun's moved round. Crap! Don't tell me I've got sunstroke! Hetty'll kill me! Moving his chair so that he was in the shade again, Callen poured himself another glass of water, which he made a point of drinking slowly.
It wasn't long before Callen heard the Challenger coming up the drive, followed shortly by Sam rushing towards Callen, evidently still not convinced that his friend was telling the truth.
As Sam stood in front of Callen, closely studying him, Sam let out a sigh of relief. "You are okay" he said.
"I said I was, didn't I?" answered Callen a little irked by Sam's overreaction.
"Yeah, I guess so, but I know you, G. When you say you're fine, you rarely are. I was worried, that's all" said Sam.
"But I didn't say I was 'fine', Sam, I said I was 'good'. It's totally different" answered Callen smirking.
"Don't get smart with me, Callen, or I'll kick your skinny butt around this garden" said Sam, secretly pleased that Callen was well enough to joke.
"You wouldn't kick a man on crutches would you? That doesn't seem fair. I guess I'd better call Michelle and tell her what you threatened" said Callen still teasing his partner.
"Just keep it up, G! You'll see what I'll do to you!" warned Sam but he couldn't help but smile, pleased that in spite of all Callen had gone through because of the undercover mission, Callen was beginning to act like his normal self. The bantering came easily and he was already playing down what had happened to him. Sam only hoped there would not be consequences further down the line.
Sam chose a seat and placed it opposite his partner so that he could study him.
"You good, G?" You look a little red in the face" Sam observed.
"Damn, I hoped I'd got away with it" sighed Callen. "I fell asleep and I guess I was out longer than I intended. Does it look like sun burn, Sam?" asked Callen.
"Is it sore?" asked Sam as he peered closely at his partner's face.
"No" answered Callen and rolled his eyes when he saw the expression on Sam's face as he raised his eye brows in disbelief at his friend's statement.
"Really, Sam, it doesn't feel sore" reiterated Callen and Sam nodded.
"Okay, then I think you've gotten away with it" said Sam.
"I'd better go in now, Sam. I know you're here to watch me but I don't want to tempt fate" stated Callen as he tried unsuccessfully to get up out of the chair. "Hmm, think I need your help here, buddy" said Callen.
Sam got up from his chair and bent down to pick up the crutches, holding them in one hand, whilst he held out the other for Callen to grab.
"Swing your legs over to one side, G" instructed Sam.
Callen did as he was told and using Sam's hand and arm as a support he slowly pulled himself up into a standing position. Sam waited patiently until he was certain that Callen was steady on his feet before offering him the crutches. Taking one at a time and still using Sam's strength to steady himself, Callen finally got himself ready to walk back to the house. Again it was slow progress but Sam stayed by his side in case of a mishap.
Once inside, the cool of the house hit Callen and he instantly felt better. They made their way to the lounge and Callen took his favourite place on the couch.
"You gonna join me?" asked Callen, surprised that Sam did not sit down.
"I'm gonna fix up the shower first, then I'll be back" answered Sam. "Do you want anything?" asked Sam, pleased to see that Callen's face was not as red as it appeared when they were outside.
"I'm good, perhaps when you're finished" responded Callen.
"Won't be long" said Sam. "Shout if you need anything."
Sam returned after five minutes and Callen looked up from his book.
"You done already? That was quick" he said.
"Well, it wasn't exactly a hard job, G. It was only putting a stool and a hand rail in place. You can have a look later on and see if it works for you. I'm gonna make a coffee, do you want one?" asked Sam.
When Callen shook his head, Sam added "I've bought you a couple of your favourite doughnuts as a treat."
"In that case a coffee will go nicely with them; thanks" added Callen with a smile. Sam did not normally pamper to Callen's unhealthy food indulges.
"Don't get your hopes up, G, you're only getting one of them. Save the other for later" said Sam as he turned to go to the kitchen.
Callen shouted after him "Aw, c'mon Sam, they go hard if you don't eat them straight away!"
Sam returned shortly with a tray which held the mugs of coffee and a box containing the doughnuts and placed it on the table. Sam sat down next to Callen and handed him the box of doughnuts.
"Don't expect treats like this all the time. If you're to get well and back to work, then you've got to get fit and that means eating properly" Sam said.
"Yes, mom" said Callen with his mouth full of doughnut. Sam shook his head and rolled his eyes but he couldn't help smiling at Callen's obvious delight.
"At least eat them slowly; you'll give yourself a belly ache" admonished Sam.
It was Callen's turn to roll his eyes but he did as he was told, taking a sip of coffee before picking up the second doughnut and taking a bite.
"Oh this is so good, Sam. You don't know what you're missing" enthused Callen.
"Yes, I do. Pure fat and sugar!" answered Sam, the health nut.
"Mmmm, perhaps but they're still good" answered Callen, licking sugar off his fingers. Callen looked at Sam and sighed. "Look, Sam, I know what you're saying and I will, I promise. Just let me enjoy some crap first. In hospital I was fed intravenously for a long time but even when I was allowed solids, it wasn't much better. Hospital food isn't particularly nice y'know" said Callen.
Sam sympathised with Callen. "Yeah, I know, bud. It sucks but you'll never get cleared for work if you don't eat properly" said Sam.
"Well you bought them and gave them to me. I wasn't not going to eat them now was I?" answered Callen.
"Okay, wise guy, you got me there" said Sam laughing. "Hey do you want to have a look at the shower? I thought you were keen to have one?" asked Sam.
"Sure" answered Callen as he picked up the crutches and followed Sam to the shower room. Sam stood aside and let Callen go in.
"It's great, Sam, thanks; I think it'll work just fine" said Callen eyeing the small sturdy stool and a hand rail that was attached to the shower wall by strong suction pads. "Y'know, I'm going to have a shower now" announced Callen, who felt a little silly getting so excited about taking a shower.
"This minute?" asked Sam.
"Yeah, why not?" answered Callen. "Hetty wouldn't let me have one when I was alone; you're here so you can help me if I need it" Callen added.
"Hang tight, G, you can't get the cast wet. Let me find something to wrap round it first. Oh and I assume you want to put clean clothes on as well?" asked Sam.
"Eh, yeah I guess so" said Callen. "Can you get them for me please Sam?" asked Callen pointing to his downstairs bedroom.
Sam trudged off to get Callen fresh boxer shorts, socks and a t-shirt, knowing that Callen would wear the joggers again. Then he went to the kitchen and found that Hetty had left a tube of cling wrap on the counter, which Sam hoped was for this purpose. Going back to the shower, Sam placed the clean clothes to one side where they wouldn't get splashed.
"Take your shirt off, G, then I can wrap the cast in this" said Sam.
Callen sat down on the stool and held out his arm and Sam proceeded to cover it with the cling wrap.
"You're good to go,G. Got everything you need?" asked Sam.
"Thanks, Sam. Yeah, got everything" said Callen looking round to check that he had shampoo, shower gel and a towel.
"I'll wait outside. Shout if you need help. Be careful" said Sam as he closed the door behind him.
Callen kicked off his shoes and eventually got out of his joggers and boxers. He was damned if he would ask Sam to undress him! Using the hand rail, Callen pulled himself to his feet so that he could reach the shower controls and turned on the shower, waiting for the water to get hot before stepping back into the shower cubicle and lowered himself on the stool. Callen took his time and luxuriated in the warmth of the water. It was only when he heard a tap on the door and Sam's voice that Callen pulled himself up and shut off the water.
"G, you alright?" asked Sam.
"Great! Why?" asked Callen.
"You've been in there so long, I thought you drowned!" said Sam.
"It's only been a couple of minutes" answered Callen "Hasn't it?"
"You've been in there nearly half an hour! I was getting worried" answered Sam.
"Really, thirty minutes? Doesn't time fly when you're having fun" said Callen, laughing. "Let me dry off and get dressed and I'll be with you shortly. I can't have you getting withdrawal symptoms from being apart from me!" added Callen.
"Keep it up, fella" warned Sam but he could not help but chuckle at his best friend's verbal antics.
Callen joined Sam on the couch and Callen saw that Sam had prepared a light meal for them both and had made fresh coffee.
"That smells good" said Callen eyeing the food on the coffee table, realising that he was quite hungry in spite of having the doughnuts earlier.
"Yeah, thought you were looking a little skinny" answered Sam. "I take it you enjoyed your shower?"
"Man it was heaven" answered Callen. "Can you get this off please? It's not a good look" said Callen holding his arm out so that Sam could get off the cling wrap, which he screwed up and placed on the table.
The two friends ate their meal and chatted amicably until Hetty came in from work. She greeted them warmly and went to change into her home attire. She then made a pot of her favourite tea and brought it into the lounge, pouring the hot liquid into three cups.
"Gentlemen, I trust you had a good day" said Hetty as she came and sat down opposite them and listened to them recount the day.