Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Thevampiresrulez, Petunia3116, anonkp, elsje1967, French fan (Guest) and Guest for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured this story since my last update.

I just want to say I have finally watched the season finale, and it made me cry. A lot. Poor Sam.

Anyway, back to this story, this chapter is again set in season 2, episode 17 'Personal'. I hope you like it. And I hope it uploads okay, as I had to do it on my phone.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA, nor any of the lines I have taken from the show.

The journey to the hospital was as silent as the one to the crime scene had been. And it was starting to irritate Sam. How was he supposed to help his partner if he didn't talk to him? Therefore he decided it was time to take the metaphorical bull by the horns, and ask the question that was foremost in his mind. Well no, actually, that question was more along the lines of how the hell G hadn't trained his boyfriend in proper tradecraft, but he doubted now was the time for recriminations. When Deeks was better, then they would both hear about his thoughts on the matter, as well as how he intended to correct this problem. But for now he had a more immediate question in mind. As such he turned to his partner as he spoke.

"So what are you gonna do now?"

"What do you mean?" Callen asked frowning as he turned to stare at Sam, trying to work out what it was he was asking. Was it about the case? Was he asking if he was going to kill all those involved in targeting Marty? Because surely Sam knew him well enough to already know the answer to that one. And if he wanted him to say it out loud then he would be waiting a long time. He would not let Sam perjure himself for him.

"Well Deeks is being targeted, so are you gonna keep working the case, or stay at the hospital and protect him?" Sam asked watching his partner out of the corner or his eyes, and therefore seeing how his frown of confusion suddenly went blank as Callen removed all expression from his face before turning back to the window and not answering. That caused Sam to sigh, but he did leave G to his own thoughts. Hopefully he had given him something other than mass murder and revenge to think about.

The reason Callen didn't reply was because he didn't know how to. He hadn't considered that Marty was still in danger, only that he hadn't been there to protect him when he had been earlier. But now with Sam's words, fear gripped him so tight he wasn't sure he was breathing, wasn't sure he even remembered how to. What if they came back to finish off the job? What if whoever was targeting the man he loved came for him and he wasn't there to protect him again, all because of his own selfish need for revenge? How could he have been so stupid not to see this possibility? Oh he knew Kensi was there and she would protect her partner with her life, but it wasn't her job, not when Marty was lying in hospital having been shot. No, then it was his. And it was a job he was currently failing at. Therefore as he stared out of the window he willed Sam to drive faster, to get him to Marty's side sooner. Because he needed to protect him. He needed to make sure he didn't lose the man he loved.

Once again Sam had barely stopped the car when Callen was out of the door, not that Sam had thought it would be any different. If it was Michelle lying up there shot, he would be desperate to see her too. So he did nothing more than follow G as he headed across the parking lot. Of course it was as they made their way towards the door Callen's cell rang. Looking at the caller ID he stopped to answer it.

"Eric."

"Kaleidoscope got a hit on our Mustang." The tech operator said. He had been in two minds of whether to call Sam or Callen, but he knew that if he had called the other man, the one he was currently talking to would not be happy with him. He needed to treat this like any other op, and that meant giving his intel directly to the one in charge.

"Where?" Callen growled freezing in place as his whole body tensed at hearing those words. Those in that car were the ones who put Marty here. They were the ones he wanted to kill so badly, and if they had a lead on them…

"Just outside Pacific Beach Medical. Callen he's right there." Eric urgently responded. He was not upset when the line went dead. No, he just hoped he hadn't just signed the death warrants of the two who had shot Deeks, well, maybe hope was too strong a word. More he hoped that Sam could make sure that Callen didn't do anything that would put his career in danger. That was more truthful. If those guys died, he really wouldn't have a problem with it.

At Eric's words Callen looked around the parking lot, only to spot what it was that the tech operator had called to warn him about. Hanging up the phone and moving his hand towards his gun he spoke to his partner. "Sam, grey Mustang, two suspects."

"They're coming to finish the job." Sam replied, wincing when he realised what he had just said and to who, but luckily Callen's attention was on the car coming towards them and not on his words. So instead of saying anything more he stepped up next to his partner and therefore into the middle of the road as he pulled his gun.

"Federal agents!" He shouted at the two in the car, hoping they would peacefully give themselves up, though he doubted that would actually happen. Just as he knew G was hoping that they would fight, give him a legitimate reason to end the lives of the ones who had hurt the man he loved.

Of course his words were answers with gun shots as the passenger jumped out of the car and ran, leaving the driver to cover his exit with a hail of bullets towards the two agents who had ducked behind another car.

The gun fight that followed was intense, with neither Sam nor Callen willing to let the men get away. Neither of them willing to allow them to get any closer to Deeks. The driver was reversing, trying to drive away from them, but that was not going to happen. Not on their watch. But as they ran towards the car, Callen noticed the other man, the passenger shooting from the side. He turned to the new threat, returning fire in the hopes of taking him down. But it was not that easy to hit a moving target when you're running, however good a marksman you were. Therefore he couldn't stop the guy from jumping over a railing and disappearing. He was tempted to give chase. To take down the bastard. But the bullets were still coming from the driver, and he wouldn't leave his partner without cover, even for his revenge. He had failed in protecting one of the people he loved that day, he wasn't going to add Sam to that tally. Therefore he turned back towards the car which had driven over the spikes and as such the tires were no longer any use. And he didn't hesitate to shoot the driver dead as he climbed out with his gun in his hand.

Moving forwards, Callen kicked the gun away from the dead man, just to make sure, but when he realised he wasn't going to be getting back up he only had one thought in his mind. These men had come back to finish Marty off, and one of them was still out there. What if he got into the hospital and he wasn't there to protect him? What if he failed once more?

And Sam seeing the look of desperation on his partners face as he turned his head towards the hospital understood completely.

"Go." he stated as he lowered his gun and looked around the parking lot. He couldn't see the other man, or any other danger.

"Sam, I can't leave you to deal with this alone." Callen replied his gun still out as he pulled his eyes from the hospital and towards the railings the other man had dived over.

"We're good here. Send Kensi down. Go make sure he's okay." Sam responded in a commanding voice. The other guy wouldn't be coming back this way if he was going to into the hospital. So G would be much better off at Deeks side. He and Kensi could coordinate with LAPD and do all that they needed to do here. G needed to be with the one he loved, the one these guys had come to kill.

At that Callen nodded. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't stay there any longer. He needed to see Marty, needed to make sure he was okay with his own eyes. Therefore returning his gun to its holster he ran towards the door. He needed to make sure Sam was not left on his own for long.

Kensi and Deeks were having their usual bantering conversation when Callen suddenly appeared at the curtain which closed off the cubicle. At his arrival both sets of eyes turned towards him, though he only saw one pair of them. And those were the ones which belonged to the man he loved. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out as his eyes raked down Marty's body and he took note of the gauze and bandages around his two wounds. They were so close to having been fatal. They were so close to his heart and his lungs. How had Marty survived this? How had they been so luckily that he was still alive now and not in the morgue? No don't think that. Think about what you need to do. With that in mind he pulled his eyes from Marty and turned to Kensi instead.

"Sam needs your help in the parking lot." He said not elaborating as his eyes turned back to Marty.

"Okay. I'll see you in a bit partner." Kensi replied with a nod. She wanted to ask what he meant by that, but she could see she wasn't going to get anything more out of the senior agent, and she was starting to feel distinctly in the way.

"Yeah, later." Deeks agreed smiling at Kensi and waiting until she had left, pulling the curtain shut behind her before addressing the man standing at the end of his bed just staring at him. "G, you okay?"

Deeks words pulled Callen out of the horror and what ifs that were going through his mind, and gave him the presence of mind to walk towards the chair Kensi had just vacated as he replied. "I'm pretty sure I should be asking you that."

"Well, I am the one who got shot. Twice." Deeks agreed cheekily, hoping to get the other man to smile. Though his words seemed to have the opposite effect as he watched shadows of guilt and pain cloud over on G's face.

"I'm so sorry Marty, I should have-" Callen started to say, only to be interrupted by the man in the bed placing his hand over his lips.

"Don't go there G. This is not your fault. If anyone is to blame it's me. I got comfortable, complacent. It won't happen again. I promise. And hey, at least now we'll have matching scars." Deeks said, once again trying to lighten the mood. And this time it seemed it worked, or at least that was what he presumed by the way G huffed and a small smile appeared on his face at his words. It was enough for Deeks, for now.

Callen for his part reached up and took Marty's hand from his lips so he could grip it in his own as he stared in amazed awe at the man lying in the bed. Marty didn't blame him, even if Callen knew it was his fault. Marty didn't care, he still loved him. And hot on the heels of that thought came the overwhelming feeling to speak growing inside him. It was time to see if he could say those words that had frightened him so very much. The words he couldn't speak in the fear that if he admitted it out loud he would lose the one who meant so much to him. The words that would give Marty so much power over him, even if they both knew he already had it. But no matter what, it was time. Therefore taking a deep breath and staring deep into those blue eyes he loved so much Callen opened his mouth and let the words come.

"I love you, Marty Deeks."

And Deeks hearing him couldn't stop his eyes widening nor his jaw dropping open. He had said it. Callen had finally said the words he had long given up the hope of hearing. And by god, they were the most wondrous thing he had ever heard. Nothing had ever sounded sweeter in his mind, than those five simple words from G's mouth. He wanted nothing more than to lean over and kiss G, to show him how much it meant to him that he had said them. But he knew that wasn't going to be possible right then. So instead, with a sincere smile on his face he said softly, "come here, G."

"Why?" Callen asked smiling honestly back at the man he had finally said I love you too. The man who meant the world to him and more. The man that was his everything.

"Because I want to kiss you, but I don't think the hospital staff will think that's a good reason to pull my stitches out." Deeks responded, his tone becoming his usual cheeky self as his eyes sparkled with love. Sparkled at the words that G had spoken to him.

And Callen could do nothing but comply. After all, he didn't want Marty to hurt himself, and he really did want to kiss him. Wanted to know that he really was going to be okay, that they were going to be okay.