Author's Note: Cross-posted on AO3

Author's Note 2: I kinda forgot to post this here on FFN. Sorry.

Author's Note 3: So, I'm not promising that I'm back, because quite frankly, I can't promise that. The last few months have been a rollercoaster of happenings, upheaval and emotions and while some things seem to settle down, I know I'm not yet at the end of that tunnel (but I'm reasonably certain the light I see is not an oncoming speed train anymore). I haven't been inclined to write in a long time, instead lurking in the shadows of different fandoms and seeking solitude in reading stories. This story here is one I've had mostly written, so when I had a small spark of 'maybe I could…', I jumped on it and finished this. I don't think this will be the lead up to more writing, but here's hoping. In the meantime, enjoy.

Xxxxxxx

Circle of Protection

Callen was exhausted. He kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Luc to once more pick a fight and walk out on him. The first part happened regularly, with Luc still being prone to slip down the slope into darker moods, snapping at Callen. They'd had more harsh words, more fights in the last week, than they'd had in the two years of their relationship before Luc's injury.

At the same time, Callen could see that Luc was trying. Contrary to before Luc had walked out on him - on them - this time he could see Luc fighting for them as well. He'd seen him bite back words and retreat, instead of pushing and prodding and continuing to take his frustrations out on the closest available target. Also, Luc would come back and look for reconciliation after, try to smooth things over.

It wasn't a healthy relationship yet, but it was less destructive than before Luc had left.

It was still exhausting though, trying to quench fires and sidestep landmines that would result in a new argument.

Several more times had he wondered why he didn't cut Luc lose, but a feeling of dread and loss had crept up on him upon the mere contemplation of it. He wasn't done fighting for them, wasn't prepared to give up on them, so Callen dressed himself in protective armor whenever Luc's mood spiraled. He tucked his head down and charged ahead, weathering the storm.

When he'd come home last night, Luc had been withdrawn, though not sullen, instead rather introspective, and quiet. Callen had left him be, uncertain of his partner's mood but recognizing his need for space.

It had taken a while before Luc had ventured out of the bedroom and plopped down next to Callen on the couch. "Thanks." The words had been quiet, and Callen had turned towards his partner with a frown. "For what?"

"For leaving me be just now. And for not giving up on me… on us."

Callen had wordlessly closed the book he'd read previously and had drawn the other man against his side. Silence had fallen between them until Luc had quietly admitted that he'd gone to the VA earlier that day, seeking out professional help.

It had surprised him somewhat, but it had also been some kind of relief. He knew many people profited from seeking professional help - just because he wasn't one of them, it didn't mean he couldn't see the potential of benefit for Luc - and he hoped Luc would find someone who he could trust and who would help him along.

Callen sighed as he walked down the corridor and into the bullpen, moving towards his desk.

"What the hell happened to you?"

He glanced up at the question and the surprised gasp coming from Deeks and Kensi respectively, blinking in confusion, before feeling the swollen skin under his right eye pull tight. Callen put down his bag and sank into his chair. Before he could open his mouth, he glanced over to Sam, nearly recoiling at the unbridled fury in his partner's eyes.

Callen smiled self-consciously and held up a hand when it looked like Sam was about to get up and go hunting. "Relax, momma bear, it's not what you think," he told his partner with a wry grin.

Sam's eyes narrowed to small slits, "it better not be or…"

"So, you walked into a door?" Deeks asked pointedly, interrupting Sam. His tone of voice was deceptively calm, not fooling Callen for a moment. Marty Deeks might be easygoing, but domestic violence was something he didn't react well to.

Kensi just looked troubled.

Usually, Callen would blow them off, glower and glare at them for sticking their noses into his business, but his team had been brilliant over the last weeks, had given him their unvoiced (and voiced) support, a fallback of strength to rely on. Of course, they knew of the troubles he was currently facing with Luc's reappearance and all that it entailed, so he couldn't even fault them for jumping to conclusions that usually should be laughable - mostly because Callen would flay anyone alive who would raise a hand against him and also because raising a hand against someone he cared about was deplorable to Luc. Then again, a lot of things had been out of the ordinary lately.

Callen suspected that if he didn't at least clue them in on some part of the story, he would be left alone inside of OSP while his team made flimsy excuses before they paid Luc a visit. And if the techs upstairs became part of that protective rampage, Luc would find himself in another world of trouble, his bank accounts cleaned out and his existence wiped from face of the earth.

Even though it was unnecessary, their support and protectiveness was somewhat well received, settling warmly around his shoulders.

Callen smiled mildly and gave a small shrug. "No, I got into the way of a flailing arm," he admitted.

"G-" Sam warned, the sound of his name drawn out pointedly. Deeks' eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

"No, seriously," Callen gave back, his voice firm and uncompromising, his eyes on his partner and letting him look for any deception - not that Sam would find any even if Callen were lying to him. "He had a nightmare and I got too close. Probably got lucky at the same time because despite everything, he's still a trained elite soldier with sharp reflexes."

He'd been lucky to duck the punch that had followed the flail. That one would have done more damage than the slight bruising on his cheek. Also, he'd been lucky that his own sharp recoil, the way he had flung himself backwards to escape that punch hadn't resulted in an unfortunate tumble to the floor - and actually that one was more down to Luc's quick reaction, the way his hand had closed around Callen's wrist and halted his fall than Callen knowing exactly where the edge of the mattress was.

Three pairs of eyes were on him, gauging the truthfulness of his words before one by one, they slowly relaxed their guard, obviously backing down from the edge of suspicion.

Callen smiled slightly to himself, relieved the rampage had been averted for now. Still, he knew better than to think that his team would back off completely. They'd keep watch to ensure everything was alright. Luc still had a long way to go before he was accepted by the protective bunch of his teammates again.

While Callen liked keeping his private life, well… private and away from his work family, the last few weeks had shown him that it was good he could count on having these people in his corner. So, he would try to bear the scrutiny and watchful eyes with good grace.

Xxxxxxx

Callen put the keys down after closing the door behind him. He stood still for a moment, allowing the day to wash off his shoulders while listening to the sounds inside of his house. He didn't hear anything, but he was certain that Luc was around. For one, the other man still didn't go outside much, often curling up somewhere to lick his wounds in private and sink into darker moods, with the fingers of depression reaching for him. And for another, the house didn't have that same feeling of emptiness it had when no one was home.

Shaking his head, Callen turned and headed down the hallway, his steps quickening when he saw Luc face down on the floor of the living room. "Luc," he exclaimed, worried he had fallen and hurt himself. Before he reached the other man, he saw him move though, one hand stretched under the cupboard, eyes also focused intensely on the gap between the floor and the wooden panel.

Trained to take in as much information as possible in a brief moment, Callen rewound the mental picture while he drew to a stop, blinking in something close to confusion.

He pursed his lips and took several steps sideways towards the couch, leaning against it while he processed that information. "A dog?" he asked eventually.

In the mental picture he'd subconsciously taken, there'd been several things that hadn't been there when he'd left for Ops that morning. Even though his worldly possessions had multiplied with Luc's presence in his life, he was certain that a leash and a dog bed hadn't been part of said possessions this morning… though he hadn't seen said dog yet.

Turning to glance around, his gaze fell upon a bag with dogfood standing by the counter, giving his suspicion more credit.

"Luc?" he prodded when the other man remained prone on his stomach. By now, he had withdrawn his hand from under the cupboard and was basically holding himself still. He remined Callen right now of a kid with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. He smothered the grin that mental picture evoked.

Eventually, Luc sighed and turned his head to glance at Callen over his shoulder. "I know," he murmured regretfully, "I know I shouldn't have brought him, not without asking, and I didn't even mean to get one. I was just," he sighed again and then levered himself up, so he sat on the floor, his legs stretched out in front of him. Luc dragged a hand through his hair, his features uncertain and worried. "At the VA… they suggested going out more and she said the shelters were always looking for volunteers and… that's all I was really there for," he intoned.

Despite never having been in that situation, Callen could guess how the narrative went on.

"And then…" Luc gestured helplessly towards the cupboard. It was fascinating how the man's features betrayed him, softening. He shrugged self-consciously and sighed, "I saw him and…"

Callen couldn't help it; he laughed softly under his breath. His life had once been solitary and dependable in an unpredictable kind of way. He hadn't been held back by social ties for much of his life. First, he'd made room for a team, and then this elite soldier had snuck past all his defenses. And now a dog. Admittedly, he wasn't quite certain if bringing a dog into their tenuous and weakened relationship was really the best of ideas, but…

Shaking his head, he pushed away from the couch and approached the other man. Reaching out, he brushed a hand through Luc's hair, feeling the other man relax and hearing the soft sigh of relief.

"You're not mad then?"

Callen rolled his eyes but gave Luc a small smile, "had a dog once," he muttered, "kinda miss him." It was an admission and a tacit approval of Luc bringing a dog home without previous discussion.

Luc grinned in relief, a hand curling around Callen's calf.

"So, what happened?" Callen asked calmly, gesturing faintly towards the cupboard.

Luc turned back to the item in question - with the dog most certainly under it - and shrugged helplessly. "He was fine at the shelter. Maybe a bit shy, but friendly enough. As soon as I unclipped him after bringing him inside though, he shot off and hid himself away."

Callen knelt down beside his partner and together, the glanced under the cupboard.

The first impression Callen got was of two wide, scared eyes flickering between them while the dog pressed himself back into the wall, head ducking down.

Tumbling through time, Callen suddenly saw himself as he warily glanced around a new foster home, shoulders hunched and internally panicked, wondering what kind of hell awaited him in the oncoming days.

Straightening back up, he had to give the dog credit. There hadn't even been a growl or a hint of teeth showing, despite his obviously frightened state. Callen's bark had been worse than his bite back in the day, but he did remember readying himself for an attack when he felt cornered - which he was certain was exactly how the dog currently felt.

Reaching for Luc when the other man made to try and wiggle forward, arm once more stretched out towards the frightened creature, Callen halted him. "Don't," he advised softly, tugging Luc back and urging him to sit up. "Best you can do is leave him be," he said, remembering how he himself had always been relieved and more prone to relaxing when he wasn't pressured into socializing after he'd been forced into a new home.

"But-" Luc gestured towards the cupboard.

Callen decisively shook his head. "He's scared, Luc. Let him come out on his own terms." Standing, he reached down, offering his partner a hand up.

Xxxxxxx

It was several hours later that Calle's ears picked up on the faint sound of claws clicking on the hardwood floor to his right.

Luc was asleep on the couch, his head pillowed in Callen's lap and Callen's fingers tangled in the other man's hair. Callen himself had been close to dozing off when the dog's movements dragged him back to alertness.

Not moving, he barely opened his eyes to slits, watching first a nose appear in the gap between the floor and the cupboard before a bundle of fur slowly followed. The dog's eyes fell on them, and he hesitated, watching them wearily for several silent moments. Only when he was obviously confident that neither man would make a move, did the dog shimmy out completely and stand.

It was then, in that instant, that Callen understood just what had drawn his partner to this particular dog. It wasn't the cautious intelligence in the eyes, or the brush of white fur on his chest and his feet, standing out in stark contrast against the black of the rest of his coat. Instead, it came down to the dog carefully hobbling closer on three legs.

Callen flashed back to his previous thoughts and the way the dog's fear had reminded him of his own past.

He huffed out a breath, his fingertips sliding against Luc's scalp. He didn't know how, but somehow his partner had managed to find the one dog that seemed to share something of both of them.

By then, the dog, in starts and stops, had ventured closer. Callen remained still, letting the cautious animal decide if it would make contact or not. Weary, but curious, the dog hobbled closer before halting, his nose working as he took in the scents of the room. The lines of tension in his back were still present but fading slightly. Allowing himself to smile, Callen relaxed into the couch in his back, closing his eyes, content instead to follow the dog's curiosity around by sound alone.

Xxxxxxx

Note End: This, too, is one of those stories that didn't exist before I rewrote the last part of the 'verse. Do you guys have any idea how hard it is to incorporate new things in a 'verse (that's been mostly written) and then go back through all the remaining stories and chapters and tweak things here and there when suddenly there are things that weren't there before? A hassle, I tell you. Still fun though.