A/N: Sorry for the long delay in updating this story, and my others. No excuse but real life has got a bit busy recently. Hey ho! Thanks to all who are still reading this story and supporting my writing endeavours. You mean a lot to me so thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please read and review as I love to read your comments.
Chapter 34
Tuhon could sense that Callen was getting tired. "I should go and let you rest."
"Don't go on my account" said Callen, genuinely surprised at Tuhon's suggestion. Callen paused before speaking again. "Look, it's been so long since we've seen you, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Tuhon looked uncertainly back at the house where Hetty had gone minutes before. "I don't want to impose" Tuhon said with an air of uncertainty.
"C'mon man, you won't be imposing" said Callen with a chuckle. "Hetty loves to cook and I know she'd want you to stay."
"If it's alright with Henrietta then I'd love to stay, thank you" answered Tuhon, smiling at Callen.
"Good" said Callen. "I'll go and tell her" and he excused himself and headed back to the house to find Hetty.
"Is anything wrong?" she asked as she came out of the kitchen to see Callen hurrying towards her.
"No everything's good" replied Callen. "I've invited Tuhon to stay for dinner. I hope that's okay?"
"Of course it is, my dear. This is your home too so you can invite whomever you like, but I was actually going to suggest it myself" answered Hetty smiling. When Callen did not immediately leave but lingered with a familiar expression on his face, she looked at him suspiciously. "What else do you have in mind?"
"I thought it might be nice for Sam, Kensi and Deeks to come over too. Sam hasn't seen Tuhon since that case in Mexico and although Deeks met him, Kensi was in Afghanistan" said Callen. He gave her his warmest smile and said "You don't mind do you? I'll help with the meal if you'd like."
Hetty reached out and took his hands in hers. "It's an excellent idea" she agreed. "But I won't need any assistance from you my dear. Go ring the others and make the arrangements. Shall we say 7.30 pm?"
Callen nodded and hugged her. "Thanks" he said as he released her. "Do you need them to bring anything?"
"Thank you but no. I've got everything I need" said Hetty and she smiled warmly at his retreating back as he disappeared into her office, leaving her to go back to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
"Hetty, what's up? Is Callen alright?" asked Sam, concerned when he saw Hetty's name on the caller ID.
"Sam, it's me. I'm using Hetty's home phone. I'm good. I'm just ringing to see if you can come over for dinner tonight?" replied Callen.
"Don't do that to me G! I thought something was wrong" said Sam, relieved that all was okay with his partner and friend. "Sure. What time?" he asked.
"Around 7.30 pm" announced Callen.
"What's the occasion?" asked Sam, pleased to be asked but curious as to why as it had not been too long since he and his family had been there for a meal.
"You'll see when you get here" replied Callen cryptically.
"Okay, if you're not gonna share, I'll see you later" said Sam as he disconnected.
Callen then called Kensi, knowing Deeks would be with her. "Hey Kens" said Callen by way of a greeting when she picked up. "Are you and Deeks free for dinner tonight at Hetty's? Say 7.30 pm?"
"Don't think we've anything planned but Deeks is out with Monty so I can't check with him" replied Kensi. "I'll call if there's a problem, otherwise we'll see you then. Do you want us to bring anything?"
"No thanks, Hetty's got it covered. I'll see you both later I hope" said Callen before he disconnected.
As he went back out to join the others he met Abby coming down the stairs. "Hey you had a good time today?" he asked. Abby hugged him and told him that she had. Taking her by the hand he led her outside. "I've got someone I'd like you to meet" he said as they walked towards the group sitting by the pool. On seeing Callen and Abby approaching, Tuhon got to his feet. "Abby, this is Tuhon, a good friend of mine and Hetty. Tuhon, this is Abby. She works with Gibbs and is the best forensic scientist ever." Tuhon took her hand and kissed it causing her to blush and giggle.
"Pleased to meet you" said Abby. "Any friend of Callen's is a friend of mine."
"Likewise" answered Tuhon.
Abby was given a brief rundown as to how they knew each other before the conversation turned to more mundane subjects such as what she and Gibbs had been doing on their visit as well as what had been happening since Tuhon had last worked with Callen and Sam. Callen excused himself from the conversation and went indoors. As Tuhon suspected, he was tired and decided to take a nap before dinner. Callen went to the kitchen to let Hetty know and she promised to wake in good time if he did not wake up on his own accord.
By the time Sam arrived at 7.30 pm, Callen was back down with Tuhon and the others, feeling refreshed from his nap and shower. Sam made his way out to the garden where Tuhon, Callen and Abby were talking, Gibbs having gone inside to help Hetty with the final preparations for the meal. Sam greeted Tuhon warmly and shot his partner a look as to why he had not told him that their friend was visiting. Callen just smirked causing Sam to roll his eyes. Kensi and Deeks arrived shortly afterwards and after being greeted by Hetty, went outside to join the others by the pool as the evening was still warm. Deeks and Tuhon greeted each other warmly as Callen and Sam watched.
"You still looking after that knife?" asked Tuhon as he remembered an incident with Deeks following the Mexico mission.
"Naw" grinned Deeks remembering the interaction as well. "I returned it back to its rightful owner when she came home" indicating Kensi, who looked at Deeks quizzically.
"Is this Donald Blye's little girl?" asked Tuhon incredulously turning to face Kensi. When Deeks nodded, he continued as he took her hand in greeting "She's certainly grown a lot since I last saw her."
"You knew my father?" asked Kensi excitedly.
"Yes, he was a good friend of mine. I was extremely sad to hear of his death" said Tuhon. "Long ago I made a knife for him and I saw it recently in this man's hands. He told me he was looking after it for someone" explained Tuhon.
"Yeah I gave it to him when I was out of the country. The knife was one of the few things I had of my dad and I wanted Deeks to have it to remind him of me and to help keep him safe" said Kensi.
"As if I need help or would ever forget you, Fern!" muttered Deeks and Kensi playfully punched him on the arm, causing him to yelp.
Kensi and Tuhon continued to speak about his friendship with her father and she listened intently as she had not remembered him at all. The others enjoyed the stories too and Callen was pleased that he had thought to invite her to meet Tuhon.
Deeks silently thanked Callen too as he knew she had gone off the rails when her father had died when she was a teenager and it had been a driving ambition to avenge his death which she had done a few years earlier. The investigation she had undertaken had almost cost Kensi her career but she also had come close to being killed herself. Her father's murderer had recently killed, one by one, the remaining members of his black ops team, framing Kensi for their murders. When confronted with him, Kensi and he had fought but her sense of justice and what was right had ultimately outweighed her need for revenge, and she lowered her gun refusing to kill him, knowing he would finally go to prison for his actions. However when he pulled a gun to shoot her, Granger was on hand to kill him, reinforcing her father figure relationship with the Assistant Director.
Gibbs walked into the garden and announced that dinner was ready. The group made their way into the dining room where Hetty had placed plates with meat loaf as well as piping hot bowls of vegetables on the table. As they made their way to the table and picked where they would sit Hetty said "Sit down everybody, Tuck in before it gets cold." There was wine, beer and water on the table and everyone made their choice.
The meal was interspersed with conversation and when the main course was over Callen helped Hetty take the empty plates and dishes out to the kitchen. Out of sight of the others, he turned to Hetty and hugged her and in a quiet voice said "Thank you Hetty for doing this. You've excelled yourself again."
Whilst still in his embrace, she replied "It was my pleasure. I'm always pleased to have friends here and it warms my heart to see you happy. It's also good to see Tuhon again."
Releasing Hetty but holding her at arms' length, Callen said "I'm glad he came and I was able to thank him personally for his gift but is it safe for him? I don't want to be responsible for anything happening to him."
"Tuhon knows what he's doing and he's taken every precaution" said Hetty. "Don't worry about him and he would not want you to feel responsible. Now do you think anyone will have room for apple pie and custard?"
Callen chuckled. "I'm sure they'll find space for your apple pie. I know I will." Hetty laughed as she knew apple pie was his particular favourite.
Callen took a pile of bowls and a jug of custard out to the dining room and placed the bowls at the head of the table where Hetty had been seated and the jug in the middle of the table where everyone could reach it. Hetty followed him in carrying a large apple pie and a pie slice. She placed it down and looked at the beaming faces of her guests. "I hope you've all got room for apple pie" she said as she proceeded to cut open the pie and placed slices into the bowls, allowing Callen to pass them down the table. Dessert was eaten in silence except for murmurs of "This is so good" and "Excellent pie Hetty."
When they had finished and the dishes cleared away, the group moved to the lounge where whiskeys, coffee and tea were served and the conversation continued. Late in the evening Abby was the first to excuse herself and retire to her room, saying goodbye to Tuhon and her NCIS colleagues before hugging Callen, Gibbs and Hetty in turn. Kensi and Deeks were the next to leave followed shortly by Sam. Tuhon remained a while longer before he too announced he had to leave.
"Gibbs, I'm glad I got to meet you" he said. "Callen has spoken a great deal about you. I'm pleased that someone other than Sam has his back."
"Yeah" said Gibbs. "The feeling's mutual. Take care of yourself" and Tuhon nodded.
Tuhon turned next to Callen and shook his hand before pulling him into a warm embrace. When he released him, Tuhon said "I'm pleased you've recovered. I'll try and get to see you again but look after yourself."
"I will. It was good to see you again Tuhon" said Callen feeling a little emotional but covering it well. "Be safe."
Tuhon turned and walked with Hetty to the front door. They hugged and when he released her, he held both her hands and smiled at her warmly. "Henrietta, thank you for a wonderful evening" he said. "I was pleased to see Callen looking so well after all he's been through." Hetty nodded. "It was good to see Sam and Deeks again and finally see Donald's little girl all grown up. He would be so proud of her." Hetty smiled and nodded. "And Gibbs…" Tuhon paused and gave a little chuckle. "He's good for Callen and I can see there's respect and affection there."
"Yes" agreed Hetty. "He's a good friend, maybe a big brother, or even a father figure, to Mr Callen. I'm grateful for all he's doing to help him." She smiled wistfully before continuing "Tuhon thank you so much for coming to see him. It means such a lot to him."
"And what about you?" asked Tuhon.
"It goes without saying that I'm appreciative of your concern for my boy but I'm always pleased to see you as well" she said smiling up at her friend. Tuhon bent down and gave Hetty a tender kiss on the lips.
"It's a pleasure to see you Henrietta. I'll keep in touch and try and come again" he said.
"Please be careful. I know there are still people out to get you and I would hate for anything to happen to you" she said.
"I'm always careful so you don't need to worry about me" said Tuhon as he turned to leave.
"Oh but I do" said Hetty under her breath as she watched her friend disappear into the night. No longer able to see him in the shadows Hetty sighed and went back in doors closing and locking the door behind her.
Hetty went back into the lounge where Callen and Gibbs were chatting. Gibbs was holding an object in his hands and she saw it was the maniwat and realised Callen had gone and got to show it to his friend. Hetty smiled softly remembering the moment Tuhon gave Callen the blade and how it appeared to have been instrumental into bringing him out of the coma although the main turning point had been Sam's daughter.
Callen and Gibbs looked up as Hetty approached them and Callen said "Did he get away unseen?"
"Yes" replied Hetty. "I see you've got the maniwat."
"I promised Gibbs I'd show it to him and I thought it was an ideal time whilst we waited for you" said Callen.
"It's a magnificent blade" said Gibbs clearly impressed with its craftsmanship and its functionality.
"Indeed" agreed Hetty. "As Tuhon said only those deemed worthy are given such a gift" she added smiling at Callen, who was a little abashed by the statement for he never thought himself worthy, although he would always treasure and respect the gift. "Gentlemen, it's late and I for one am a little tired. I think we should all retire to our rooms."
The two men agreed and they got up from their chairs. Gibbs said as he hugged each one in turn. "G'night Callen, Hetty. Thanks for a wonderful evening."
"Night, Gibbs" said Callen.
"Goodnight Jethro" replied Hetty as she watched him leave the room and go to his room.
Callen was still holding the maniwat and looking at it. "I hope he'll be okay. I'd do anything for him."
"He's survived this long virtually unscathed and I've no doubt Tuhon will be fine" said Hetty.
"I hope you're right" muttered Callen. He looked down at his diminutive boss, mentor and mother figure and smiled. "Thanks for this evening, Hetty. I know I kinda sprung it on you but as always you excelled yourself."
Hetty beamed back at Callen and slipped her arm through his. You're most welcome my dear. I think you've had enough excitement for one day. You're looking a bit tired. You should go to bed" she said.
"I must admit, even with that nap, I am tired" he agreed.
Callen bent and kissed Hetty lightly on the cheek. She beamed and patted his arm and, still arm in arm, they walked slowly from the lounge and up the stairs to their respective rooms. Callen placed the maniwat back in its box in his bedside cabinet drawer and laid on his bed. He stared at the ceiling reflecting on the day's events and was soon sound asleep. Before finally getting into bed, Hetty decided to check on Callen. She peaked into his room and saw that he had fallen asleep fully clothed. Shaking her head slightly she smiled to herself as she crept into his room and pulled the comforter up over him. "Sweet dreams my son" she whispered before returning to her own room.