A/N: Thanks again to all who continue to read and review. You know who you are and how much your comments mean to be. Another chapter in this saga but still a little way to go before the end I believe.
Chapter 24
Callen was still sleeping peacefully when Hetty returned with the coffee for Gibbs as promised. She handed Gibbs his cup and placed her own on the bedside table. Hetty stood over Callen watching him closely before reaching to touch his forehead and sensed Gibbs tense. As she gently placed the back of her hand on Callen's forehead she murmured softly "Не волнуйся, это только я. Я не собираюсь причинять тебе боль."
Satisfied that Callen was not running a temperature, Hetty nodded and smiled and said "He doesn't appear to have a fever. I think he's just exhausted. At least that's what I hope is the matter." She turned and looked at Gibbs who had a look of amazement on his face.
"You'll have to teach me that trick" he said quietly, smiling at his host. As a fluent Russian speaker, Gibbs understood what Hetty had said to Callen. "I've never managed to wake him up without almost losing my head" he chuckled.
"Indeed" said Hetty smiling and settling down in the chair beside the bed. "I learnt the hard way long ago not to try and wake him using any conventional method as I think we all have. He was always most apologetic and devastated by any injury he'd caused me or others. For self preservation, I discovered that speaking to him in Russian in a non-threatening voice calmed him. I've used it time and again over the years to great effect" she explained.
Gibbs smiled at the obvious bond that the two had and knew that Hetty referred to instances in the past when Callen had been seriously injured or shot in the line of duty. Gibbs wondered why he had never thought about using Russian before but realised that Hetty knew a great deal more about Callen's past than he did even though he had known him a number of years and had worked together in the past. They continued to chat in hushed voice so as not to disturb Callen.
"Michael should be here any minute" said Hetty. "I'll go downstairs and wait for his arrival." As Gibbs prepared to get up and follow her, Hetty added "No, stay here with Mr Callen, please Jethro. I'll be much happier knowing you're watching over him even though I don't believe he's in any immediate danger medically. I'll let you know as soon as Michael's here" she promised as Gibbs nodded and sat down again.
Hetty took one last look at Callen and left the room. Hetty did not have to wait long for Michael's arrival. He let himself into the house as before and found Hetty busy preparing lunch.
"Hello, Hetty" said Michael, announcing his presence. He walked up to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug. "How are you?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking" she replied.
"Good. More importantly, how's our patient?" he asked.
"Both he and Jethro were asleep on the couches by the time I'd returned from seeing you out last night" Hetty said and Michael raised an eyebrow at the news. "According to Jethro, Mr Callen slept through the night until about 4am when he tried to get up to get a drink. Jethro made him stay where he was whilst he got it for him. They chatted until I got up at 7 and cooked breakfast."
Michael digested all the information and asked "How was his appetite?"
"Good" answered Hetty. "I did eggs and bacon and he ate most of it."
"Where is he?" asked Michael, looking around failing to see anyone else in the house.
"He's upstairs sleeping" answered Hetty. Michael raised an eyebrow and frowned. "He went and had a shower, supervised by Jethro and when he was dressed suggested that Jethro take the opportunity to freshen up as well seeing as he'd only arrived yesterday morning. Jethro made him promise not to go downstairs until he'd finished and when he came back, Mr Callen was fast asleep on his bed" explained Hetty.
"Is there any signs of a fever?" asked Michael.
"No I don't think so" said Hetty. "He's not clammy to the touch although I haven't actually taken his temperature. I think he's just exhausted. He did quite a lot yesterday as well as the excitement of having Jethro and Sam's family here."
"Perhaps" said Michael not quite convinced. Seeing the look of concern on Hetty's face he added "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'll examine him and run some tests which will give us a definitive answer to whether there's any underlying problem."
Hetty nodded. "Do you want a drink or lunch first?"
"No thanks, I think I'd better check G over first" Michael said.
"Alright but before I go and tell Jethro that you're here I want to warn you. Mr Callen was quite agitated this morning about why you were coming back. I tried to play it down but you know how he is. He's extremely intelligent and can detect nuances as well as being a trifle paranoid." Hetty chuckled and continued in a more serious tone. "He's already suspicious that you're keeping something from him. You need to be completely honest with him about what may have caused him to collapse and his sleepiness. Also you need to be totally upfront about any potential consequences of the injury to his hand."
Michael looked at Hetty and saw the worry etched in her face. "I will. I had no intention of lying to him and I will explain everything to him. Thanks for bringing it to my attention though I'm not surprised knowing G as I do."
"I'll go and let Jethro know. I think he wants to talk to you as well before you see Mr Callen" said Hetty before she went upstairs.
"Michael's here" said Hetty as she entered Callen's room. "How is he?"
"Still sleeping peacefully" answered Gibbs.
"Good. I've told Michael everything that's happened this morning and about Mr Callen's suspicions. He's fully onboard but I've told him you want to chat to him as well. I'll stay here until Michael comes up."
Gibbs, being a man of little words, just nodded his understanding and went downstairs to see Michael. The two men shook hands and welcomed each other warmly.
"I understand from Hetty that G's been sleeping a lot" said Michael without preamble.
"Yeah, much more than normal but he doesn't appear to be ill or in distress" said Gibbs.
"Well, that's what the tests are about. They'll find anything which may be causing his symptoms" said Michael.
"Callen's also concerned as to why you're really coming back to see him" said Gibbs. "He feels it's unnecessary but y'know how he feels about doctors in general and showing weakness in particular." Michael nodded. "He also senses that something's being kept from him. He doesn't like secrets so you need to tell him the truth even if it's potentially bad news" warned Gibbs.
"Hetty has already told me but I fully understand. This isn't my first rodeo with Callen so I know how difficult he can be. I promise I'll explain everything to him and give all possible scenarios. I'll also explain to him why I didn't say anything last night" said Michael. Gibbs nodded his approval.
"Callen can be very unpredictable when woken from sleep. Do you want me there?" asked Gibbs.
"No. I guess Hetty's with him at the moment so she'll help me if need be although I won't have her there during the tests unless he wants her to be. I'll take up a cup of tea for him though" said Michael.
After making a tea and coffee Michael made his was upstairs and gently tapped on the door to announce his presence. "Still asleep?" he asked.
"Yes" said Hetty. "He's hardly stirred. I'm getting worried."
"I'm sure it's nothing" said Michael putting the drinks down on the bedside table.
"Do you need assistance waking him up?" asked Hetty.
"No thanks. I'll manage. Please go downstairs. If he wants you or Jethro to be with him during the tests, I'll let you know" said Michael.
If Hetty was put out by what Michael said, she did not show it but just nodded and did as she was asked. Michael sat down by the bed and watched Callen for a few minutes before saying "G". As he got no response, he spoke again this time a little louder "G!" and was rewarded to see Callen stir.
"G" said Michael again and Callen awoke, a little groggy from sleep. Callen looked at Michael and with a bit of struggle managed to sit up, resting his back against the headboard. "There's a cup of tea for you" said Michael indicating the tea on the table. "It should still be hot."
"Thanks" said Callen as he reached for the cup with his left hand. He took a sip and murmured "Nice! It's just right."
"How do you feel? I understand you slept well last night albeit on the couch?" asked Michael.
Callen smirked and said "Yeah, out like a light, which makes a change."
"How are you feeling now? I understand you've slept quite a bit again this morning" asked Michael, keeping his voice neutral and non-threatening.
"Good, I guess. I had a good breakfast and then had a shower. Gibbs watched over me and when he went to freshen up I laid down on the bed to wait as I'd promised I wouldn't go downstairs or outside without him. Next thing I remember is you calling my name" answered Callen. "I don't know why I'm so tired."
"I understand you've also got reservations about the tests I'm going to run" said Michael.
"Yeah, a bit. I thought everything was okay so why more tests?" asked Callen.
"It's just a precaution. Hetty's worried about you and is concerned that there's an underlying reason why you collapsed last night" explained Michael.
"Well she worries too much" said Callen, a little dismissively.
"Perhaps she does but she almost lost you after the mission and doesn't want to run that risk" answered Michael.
Callen grunted as if to say she needn't worry about me.
Michael interpreted the response correctly. "Don't sell yourself short, G. There are a lot of people who care about what happens to you. Hetty's one of them as is Gibbs, which is why he's here I imagine."
Seeing Callen was uncomfortable with the fact Mike continued. "Whether you like it or not, it's the truth. I also care but you're also my patient so I have a duty of care towards you. I'm hoping it was nothing untoward which caused the incident last night but I have to check. In order to do that, I need to run tests. You yourself have just said that you're still feeling tired in spite of all the sleep you've had" he added.
Callen looked in Michael's face and eyes and only saw concern and honesty. He begrudgingly consented to the tests.
"Thank you, G. Unfortunately for you, I need to take some blood" said Michael knowing Callen's dislike of needles. Callen rolled his eyes. "I'll make it as quick and painless as I can" promised Michael.
"I'd like Gibbs to be with me. Are you okay with that?" asked Callen.
"I'm happy with whatever makes you comfortable" and seeing the look of mischief twinkling in Callen's eyes, Michael quickly added "as long as you allow me to run the tests."
Callen shrugged having been caught out and said "Okay, you win. I'll let you do the tests and I'll behave."
"Then I'll go and get Gibbs for you" said Michael as he disappeared downstairs.
Finding Gibbs and Hetty chatting in the kitchen, Michael said "Callen's consented to the tests without too much fuss but he'd like you to be with him, Jethro."
Jethro tilted his head to one said and looked at Hetty. "It's alright Jethro. I know he's had too much of me fussing over him but he needs you to watch his back so to speak" said Hetty obviously not upset in any way by Callen's request.
Michael turned to go back upstairs with Jethro following him when Hetty caught Jethro by the arm stopping him. Jethro took down at her and saw the worry in her face as she said "Just be there for him, Jethro. I think deep down he's scared there's something wrong with him but doesn't want us to worry."
"I know" said Jethro. "I picked up on that as well though he's trying hard to hide it."
"Yes" said Hetty. "He's always been stubborn." Gibbs' mouth twitched into a half grin and he went upstairs. Entering Callen's room, he found Michael taking Callen's temperature.
"You've started without me" said Gibbs eyeing Callen for any signs of distress.
"I said Mike could start" said Callen. "I knew you wouldn't be long."
Gibbs sat down on the chair by the bed so that he could see both men clearly but not impede Michael whilst he executed the tests. Michael had seen that the bruise had formed on Callen's cheek and that his eye was bloodshot. Gently Michael pressed around the bruise, which caused Callen to wince.
"Sorry but I needed to check whether the cheekbone was broken, which it isn't" explained Michael, "How's your sight? Any double vision?" he asked. Callen shook his head. "Okay. Follow my finger with your eyes but don't move your head" instructed Michael and Callen did as he was told.
Michael checked Callen's pupil reactions to light and then took an ophthalmoscope to examine the interior structure of the eye, especially the retina. He sounded Callen's chest, front and back and then took his blood pressure, writing the results down in a notebook.
"I'm going to look at your hand to see the extent of the injury in daylight" said Michael. "Gibbs, get that cushion and place it under his hand. Now G, put your hand on the cushion with your palm facing upward. That's good" said Michael as Callen did as he was asked. Michael took a pair of medical scissors from his bag. "I'm going to cut off the bandage. Hopefully it hasn't stuck to the wound but I'll be careful if it has."
Gibbs could see that Callen was a little tense as Michael gently removed the bandage to reveal the wound which was still red and angry looking. Callen's eyes flickered up to meet those of Gibbs and he realised that the possibility of not being able to use the hand properly had already crossed Callen's mind. Gibbs smiled encouragingly and was relieved to see a slight twitch of Callen's lips as he responded.
Michael looked at the wound carefully and reached for his surgical magnifying glasses to get a better look. "Please wiggle your fingers" asked Michael and was pleased to see them move. "How does it feel?"
"Painful and they feel a little stiff" answered Callen.
"That's understandable" answered Michael. "It only happened last night. I don't think there'll be any permanent damage." Callen breathed a sigh of relief. "But don't overdo things. You need to give the tendons time to heal. I'll can give you some gentle exercises that will help."
The last test was to take blood. Callen had been generally relaxed whilst Michael performed the other tests but Jethro noticed that he visibly tensed when Michael produced the needle.
"You know how this works, Callen. I'll put the tourniquet on to raise a vein and then insert the needle to get the sample. It'll be over before you know it. You just need to relax" said Michael softly, trying to lessen Callen's anxiety.
"I can't do this, Mike, not right now!" said Callen, trying to pull his arm away. Michael hesitated unsure as to whether he should force the issue or give in to Callen's wishes as he was started to hyperventilate.
"G! Look at me" said Gibbs in a commanding voice and was relieved when Callen looked at him and saw the tension leave his body. "That's good. Tell me what you want for lunch" asked Gibbs.
Callen frowned and said "Lunch?"
"Yes, what do you want to eat for lunch?" asked Gibbs again.
Callen raised his eyebrows and said "Oh I don't know. Whatever Hetty's made will be good enough for me." He looked at Gibbs and then at Michael to find both men grinning. "What?" he asked, a trifle confused.
"Are you coming downstairs now?" asked Michael.
"I'll go downstairs when you've finished the tests" answered Callen.
"I've finished" announced Michael.
"What about the blood tests? You decided not to do them?" asked Callen.
"No, I've done them already" said Michael still grinning.
Callen looked down to see a small piece of cotton wool taped to his arm. A look of surprise and confusion flickered across his face before realisation dawned on him. "Gibbs! You tricked me!" he said.
"Not really, G. I just distracted you at the right moment" answered Gibbs. "C'mon, let's go downstairs and join Hetty. She'll be anxious to know what the verdict is."
Downstairs the three men joined Hetty who was waiting for them in the lounge. She looked at each of them in turn her face etched with concern.
"How did it go?" she asked quietly.
"I behaved" announced Callen with a cheeky grin and was pleased to see Hetty's features relax although she did not smile.
"I should hope so" she said. "After all you're not a child any more although you sometimes act like one" she added, her mouth twitching into a smile. Callen had no answer to her statement so he just shrugged.
"I won't know for sure until I get the results of the blood test but I don't believe there's anything seriously wrong." Hetty let out her breath which she did not realise she was holding and it did not go unnoticed by the men. "All G's stats are within the normal range although his blood pressure is a little low. There's a blood pressure monitor here so you keep a record of it for me. He tells me he fell asleep in the sun the other day so he may have suffered slightly from heat stroke and he's a little dehydrated. He possibly over exerted himself yesterday exercising and then playing with Sam's kids which would have been a contributing factor mixed with dehydration and low BP. I'm going to check on his medication as well to see if they could be causing the problem" explained Michael.
"What about his hand?" asked Hetty, a little worried about what she would be told.
"It looks good and although it's obviously very sore and stiff, Callen can move his fingers easily" answered Michael. "It'll be a little while before he gets any strength back and he should refrain from clenching his fist, especially hitting things" he said eying Callen
"You don't have to worry Mike" said Callen, rolling his eyes. "I've a feeling there'll be at least two people who aren't too far away who'll make sure of that!"
"Too right!" said Gibbs and Hetty echoed the sentiment saying "You can be sure of it, Michael!"
Michael grinned He was under no illusion that Callen would be anxious to get back to normal but he also knew that he would be frustrated in any attempt to overexert himself by Hetty and Gibbs. "G, just be prepared for the eventuality that I may need to x-ray or scan it just to be on the safe side but I'm confident there's no permanent damage."
"That is good news" exclaimed Hetty beaming. She did not know what she would have done or indeed how Callen would react if it the verdict regarding the hand was different. She looked at Callen and saw only relief on his face and she knew that he had been secretly concerned about his future.
"Now we know everything is hunky dory, well relatively, whose for lunch?" asked Hetty and was pleased when they all signalled that they were.
…
A/N: Не волнуйся, это только я. Я не собираюсь причинять тебе боль translates to "Don't worry, it's only me. I'm not going to hurt you." As per Google Translate.