A/N: Thanks to all you wonderful people who are still supporting and reviewing this story. It means a lot to me.

Chapter 27

"What did Jethro say?" asked Hetty as Callen disconnected his call. He was grinning.

"He never says much but he's pleased for me" answered Callen turning to look at his diminutive boss and mentor. "He said it'll make his job easier" joked Callen.

"And mine, son" Hetty added, smiling

"Hetty?" said Callen

"Yes?" answered Hetty.

"Can we stop by Ops on the way home please? I'd like to see everyone" he asked

"Especially Sam?" surmised Hetty.

"Yeah, he doesn't know about the hand yet. Y'know how he gets if he feels I'm keeping anything from him" explained Callen.

"Indeed. I know exactly how he feels" answered Hetty, with a twinkle in her eye.

Callen shot her a look and Hetty took her eyes off the road for a second to look at her boy. When Callen saw her smile, he broke into his characteristic lopsided grin. "Yeah I guess you do" he admitted.

Callen was relieved when Hetty changed direction and he knew she was heading towards the Mission. When they reached their destination, Hetty pulled into her allotted parking space and turned off the engine. Callen reached over with his left hand and opened the door and got out. He walked round the car and met Hetty at the entrance. She opened the door and went inside but Callen did not follow her. When she realised he was not behind her, Hetty went back to the door and saw him just standing outside.

"Is anything wrong son?" she asked a little worried as she went out to him and clasped his good hand.

"No, not really" he said. "It's just that I've not been here since I left to go back undercover." His voice waivered slightly as the emotion of the entire experience that almost killed him washed over him.

"You don't have to do this" said Hetty gently. Callen looked down at her and smiled but it was tinged with sadness.

"Yeah I do Hetty" he said. "I know it'll be a long time before I'm back at work but I've got to face my demons. I think seeing the guys and stepping inside the Mission will help. I just need a minute."

Hetty stayed with Callen to provide support. She sensed the moment that he made his decision to enter and she asked "Are you ready?"

Taking a deep breath, Callen answered "Let's do it" as he stepped forward and opened the door for his boss and mentor and he followed her into the dim hall way that lead into his place of work.

Although it was late in the afternoon, there were still plenty of people around and the hustle and bustle nearly overwhelmed him. Again Hetty sensed his discomfort and gently took his hand and gave it a squeeze. Callen looked down at her and smiled, mouthing "Thank you".

"Let's go to my office and I'll make you a tea" she said. Callen nodded and as he walked with her he glanced over to the bullpen where his team mates were sat, working and joking.

At that moment, Kensi looked up and saw him. "Hey Callen!" she cried in joy as she jumped up and went over to him, giving him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. "What've you done to your hand?" she asked her voice full of concern.

Before Callen had a chance to answer, Hetty smiled in encouragement and said "I'll be in my office when you're ready for the tea."

Callen nodded and was practically dragged to the bullpen by Kensi where the others were waiting. Deeks jumped up and shoulder hugged his team leader and Sam gave his friend a heartfelt hug, which left Callen a little embarrassed. Eric and Nell appeared on the stairs and when they saw Callen, rushed down and joined the throng. Sam insisted that Callen sit down and they ushered him to the couch where they all found seats around him.

"Tell me what you've done" said Sam indicating Callen's bandaged hand.

"I collapsed the other night and cut it on some glass. It's nothing" said Callen trying to make light of it.

Sam was not having any of it. "Don't give me any of your bs, G. If you don't tell me, I'm sure Hetty will" Sam threatened.

Callen sighed deeply and looked at the expectant and worried faces of his friends. "The glass pierced the tendon." There were gasps and Callen could see the concern in their eyes especially Sam's. "I've just come from having a MRI scan. Mike, Hetty's godson who's been treating me arranged it and he's pleased with the results. It doesn't need surgery and it'll heal perfectly well."

There were mutterings of relief from the team but Sam eyed Callen suspiciously. "If you don't believe me Sam, ask Hetty" said Callen a little annoyed at his friend's lack of trust.

"Ask me what, Mr Callen, Mr Hanna?" asked Hetty, appearing suddenly and silently causing everyone to jump. How does she do that? thought Callen.

"Sam doesn't believe me when I said the hand will heal perfectly" said Callen, his annoyance showing in his voice.

"Well going by your history of playing injuries down Mr Callen, I can understand Mr Hanna's scepticism" said Hetty and received a look from Callen. "However on this occasion, Mr Hanna, he is telling you the truth. Michael has confirmed that he's seen nothing on the scan that would suggest anything to the contrary."

Sam shot Callen a look and said "Hey man, I'm sorry I doubted you but you do have a tendency to make light of your injuries." Callen grinned in acceptance to Sam's statement and his apology.

"Mr Callen, are you ready for your cup of tea?" asked Hetty giving her boy an excuse to escape from all the attention even though she was secretly pleased to see him joining in the banter.

"Yeah, I'll be over in a minute" he answered thankful for her intervention. "It's been good to see you guys. I'll catch you before I go" he said as he prepared to join Hetty.

Eric shoulder hugged him. "We'll be up in Ops, so unless you come up, we won't see you" said Eric.

"It's good to see you Callen. You're looking good" said Nell, giving him a hug and a kiss.

"Better than last time you saw me" he joked referring to the time she visited him in the hospital.

"Eh yeah" she answered, not quite sure what to say in response to his gallows humour.

"It's okay Nell. I'm joking. I'm good, really" Callen added.

She smiled and said "See you later I hope" as she hurried to catch up with Eric.

Sam shook his head and smiled. "You shouldn't tease her like that, G. Y'know she's new to all this field agent and black humour stuff." Callen just grinned.

"Don't be a stranger" said Deeks. "It's good to see you man."

"You too" said Callen as he shoulder hugged Deeks. "You take care of my girl while I'm away" added Callen nodding his head towards Kensi.

"Really? Your girl?" stammered Deeks. "You're talking about my partner, my Kensilina."

"Yeah I know, surfer boy, but I've known her longer than you!" said Callen, laughing at Deeks' obvious discomfort.

"Don't pay any attention to him Deeks" said Kensi laughing as she grabbed Callen and hugged him fiercely. "You're a bad man, G Callen for teasing him like that" she added as she gave him a kiss.

"Yeah I know" said Callen "but it's fun." Kensi laughed as she released Callen and went to snuggle up to her boyfriend, who was still flabbergasted by the exchange.

Sam was grinning too and hugged Callen fiercely. "You make sure you don't overdo things G" said Sam. "I want you back here as soon as possible."

"Yes mom" answered Callen.

"I'm serious man" said Sam, releasing his friend.

Callen looked Sam in the eyes and said "I know you are. I'll behave I promise. Give my love to Michelle and the kids. Catch you later" and he turned to join Hetty.

"I thought you could do with being rescued" said Hetty as Callen joined her and sat in the seat opposite her desk. "I know how you hate being the centre of attention" she added.

"Thanks. It did get a little uncomfortable" he said.

"They're worried about you and were pleased to see you" said Hetty passing him a cup of tea which he took gratefully.

"I know" he admitted. "I just wish they wouldn't show it quite so enthusiastically."

Hetty smiled and shook her head. While he had made great progress since she first took him in all those years ago, she knew he still had difficulty in accepting that people genuinely cared for him and loved him. She also knew that being the target of all those people, albeit his work colleagues and friends, openly displaying their feelings for him still made him uneasy. They sat and chatted quietly whilst drinking their tea, Callen occasionally turning his head to the bullpen when the volume of laughter rose.

"Don't be disheartened. You'll be back in the fray before you know it" said Hetty, a little concerned that he still looked so vulnerable and lost.

Callen turned and smiled sadly at her. "I know, it's just that …" His voice tailed off as he appeared to struggle with his emotions. "It's just that I'm not there to keep them safe, to bring them home after a case."

Hetty thought There you go again, thinking of others rather than yourself but instead she spoke out loud "You will, sooner than you think" said Hetty encouragingly. "Besides they're coping well without you but they want you back too." Inwardly she knew that as a team they were struggling without him. They all understood and accepted the dangers of their chosen line of work but what had happened to Callen had brought it home to them. This was not the first time nor would it be the last that one of the team had almost lost their life in the fight against evil. Hetty also knew that however good they were as individuals, Callen was the glue that bound them together and made them great.

"Are you ready to go yet?" asked Hetty, glancing at her watch.

"Yeah, I just need to pick up some latex gloves" said Callen. "So I can swim" he added obviously excited at the prospect.

"I've already taken the liberty of getting a box for you" said Hetty indicating the box on her desk, which he had not seen until then. "Extra large should be big enough. After all you don't want it to be too tight" she added.

Callen smiled at her. "What would I do without you?" he said giving her a hug.

"Oh I'm sure you'd muddle through" she answered, blushing a little.

As Callen turned round to go over and say goodbye to his team, he came face to face with Granger. Hetty saw him tense and hurriedly walked over to be by his side. Granger had been the one to insist that Callen go back undercover even though they thought he might have been compromised. She did not know whether Callen blamed Granger for what happened to him but she did know that they sometimes did not see eye to eye. She not been happy with Granger's decision once she was aware of it and originally laid the blame for Callen's condition squarely at his feet However she had also been in the game long enough to know that the mission takes priority and unfortunately sh*t happens.

Looking a little uncomfortable himself, Granger stopped in front of Callen. "Agent Callen, it's good to see you up and about" he said holding out his hand. There was a little moment of tension before Callen smiled and shook Granger's hand with his left hand, indicating the bandage on his right. Hetty could see the team watching from the bullpen, anticipating a problem.

"Yeah, I'm getting there" said Callen. "Just a little set back. I just popped in with Hetty to see everyone but we're going now."

"Well it's good to see you. Let me know if you need anything" Granger said.

"Thanks" said Callen. As he began to walk over to the bullpen, he stopped and turned his head back towards Granger. "Granger?"

"Yeah Callen?" Granger replied.

"What you said, I appreciate it" said Callen with his characteristic smirk and a smile twitched on Granger's lips as he nodded his acknowledgement.

"Henrietta" said Granger as he turned to look at the Operations Manager.

"Owen" said Hetty in acknowledgement. "That went well considering" she added.

Granger broke into a smile, what he called his happy face and said "It did. Henrietta, I meant what I said. If he needs anything, you only have to ask."

"Thank you Owen" she answered. "It means a lot to me" she added as she went to join Callen who was saying his farewells to his team. Hetty waved to them as Callen joined her and they walked out of the Mission to the car.

She unlocked the car and Callen opened the door for her before trotting round to get into the passenger seat.

"Thank you my dear" she said. "Have you got your seat belt on?" she asked.

"Yeah" he answered showing her.

"Good. Then let's go home. Jethro will start wonder where we've got to" she said. As she manoeuvred the car out of the parking lot onto the highway, she asked "I don't suppose you're hungry?"

"Actually I'm starving" Callen said. "What are we going to eat?" and they drove home discussing their culinary options.