Tricky Measures Chapter 8, a ncis: los angeles fanfic

Chapter 8—Bonding

Callen stopped at Wendy's, and bought a dozen packets of nuggets and five large sleeves of French fries. He wasn't sure if the kids had saved him any of the pizza, so he entered the house with a smirk. He put his big bag on the dining room table, and then went over to the couch.

All four children were sleeping. He leaned over and kissed each one.

"Papa!" Kira exclaimed. She reached up and hugged him tightly. "Is Mama okay?"

"Mostly," he answered honestly. He shook his other children. "Guys, get up."

Nikolai bounced up. "Hi, Papa! You came back!" He put his little arms around his father's neck and hugged him.

Callen stood up and picked up his little boy. "Yes, I came back," he said, showering him with kisses.

"Where Mama?"

"Nikolai, the doctor said she has to stay in the hospital. They are taking good care of her," Callen replied.

Nikolai's face crumpled. "I want Mama," he cried.

Callen hugged him tight. "Oh, hell, Nikolai. I want Mama, too." He put his baby on his shoulder. "Girls, come on!"

"Where?" said Raisa, sitting up.

Kira put her hand on her father's arm. "Nowhere, dumbass! Papa came home!"

"Oh!" Raisa exclaimed. She stood up and hugged him. "Where's Mama?"

Callen frowned. He was not in the mood for her unwavering nonsense. "She is in the hospital, Raisa. Go sit in your chair in the dining room."

Kira shook Anya. "Get up! Papa is home!"

Anya opened one eye. "He is?"

"Yes! So get up!" Kira yelped. She folded the afghan and draped over the back of the couch.

The children assembled around the dining room table while Callen brought in a handful of paper towels. He handed one to each child, and put one at his own place as he sat down.

"Guys…listen," he began, looking at each one. "I am very proud of you. You really helped out when I needed it the most, so thank you."

"You're welcome, Papa," said Kira, and the other three children followed suit.

Callen nodded. He opened his big bag, and took out a handful of the nuggets. He handed the bags to Nikolai and Raisa, and then he served Anya and Kira, and himself. He distributed the French fries as well.

"Oooh! Thank you, Papa," said Anya, taking a bite of her fries.

"Guys," Callen started again. "I did see Mama. She is pretty banged up, and she needs to stay a few days until she is better."

"Papa, what happened to her?" Kira asked.

Callen put his face in his hands for a moment. Then he looked up. "A car hit her car, and it spun out. Mama got hurt, but she isn't broken."

"Papa!" Anya wailed. She got up and went over to hug him. "I miss Mama!"

"Can we see her?" Raisa asked.

He shook his head. "No, baby. When I visit her tomorrow, I'll let you all talk to her."

"Okay, Papa," said Anya.

"Papa, can I ask you something?" Kira wondered as she finished her fries.

"What's that, baby?" He wiped his face and hands.

"How old do I have to be before you'll let me watch R-rated movies?"

Callen's eyes sprung open. "Say what?"

"How old—"

"I heard that part, Kira," Callen replied, "but what movie, and why?"

Without missing a beat, Kira said, "The Blue Lagoon. I heard it was sexy."

"Kira Lynn!" Callen burst out. "No! Not until you're at least eighteen, or more. What's going on?" He scanned his children and saw that Raisa wasn't in her pajamas. "None of you can see it until you're at least eighteen, or older."

"Why not, Papa?" Raisa dared to ask.

"I beg your pardon?! Raisa, the answer is NO. None of you can see it until you're eighteen or more," Callen said firmly. He looked straight at Raisa, and with a little ingenuity, he figured out what had happened. He stood up. "Raisa, go sit on the stairs, please."

She started to object, but he gave her the Eye. She stomped over to the stairs and sat down.

"Okay. Nikolai, you clear the table, please. Anya, please do the dishes. And Kira, please go straighten up the living room, and then do in here, too."

She nodded. "Okay, Papa."

The three started on their tasks, and Callen joined Raisa on the stairs. He put his arm around her.

"What's going on, baby?" he asked her.

"Nothing, Papa," she replied.

"Excuse me? Raisa, something is going on. For starters, you don't have your pajamas on."

"But Kira isn't the boss of me," she contradicted.

He frowned. "Yes, she is, when Mama and I are not available. You need to listen to her."

"What if I don't want to?"

"There seems to be many things you don't want to do," Callen said evenly. "But, that poor attitude gets you a lot of nothing. It does not get you privileges or treats or anything like that. What it does is get you grounded for a few weeks, non-stop, Raisa. Do you really want that?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Papa, why would you ground me? I haven't done anything."

He dragged his hand down his face in exasperation. "Raisa, baby, you have done plenty of nothing. You've also shirked all of your responsibilities. You're not listening at school. You're not listening at home. You're not cooperating with anything or anyone. Mama and I want to know why." He shifted his position, and leaned against the wall.

"But I'm not a kid," she persisted.

Callen sat up straight. "Oh, really? Raisa, you are a little girl. You are not a teenager or an adult. You have the same rules and responsibilities as the other kids do."

"Why?"

He glared at her, becoming more confused as time went on. "Well, since you're not a kid or a teenager or an adult, what are you, Raisa? What are you trying to prove?"

"Nothing. I'm not anything, Papa."

"Oh, good God, Raisa! You are very something! You are our daughter, which makes you very special. Mama and I love you very much, and so do the other kids—"

"Nuh-uh. They call me names—"

"Ohhhh," drawled Callen with sudden understanding. "Enough. Enough for tonight! Raisa, we will talk more about this at some other time, just not now. Right now, Mama is what is super important. Do you understand that she was hurt in an accident?"

"Yes. I want her to come home."

"We all want her to come home, but she can't, Raisa. She was hurt, and she has to stay in the hospital."

"But I want her to come home!"

Callen took umbrage. He was very hurt and upset at his daughter's narrow-mindedness. He was also very angry.

"How dare you! Raisa, she is hurt! She cannot come home to us at the moment. You are going to get your act together sooner than later, and I mean right now! Get yourself upstairs immediately, and put on your pajamas!" he said. "MOVE!" he barked as she hesitated. "We will straighten this out later."

Raisa stomped upstairs, and Callen sank down on a stop. He leaned against the wall again, and closed his eyes. As hard as he tried, he could not prevent himself from crying. He was missing Anna dreadfully, but was also very hurt by Raisa's non-chalant behaviors. He didn't understand her, and it cut him to the quick.

"Guys, are you finished?" Kira asked.

"Yah," Nikolai said, shoving the last of the paper towels into the waste basket.

"Spasibo, Nikolai," she replied. She closed all of the chairs in the dining room, and looked at Anya. "Are you ready?"

"Just about. Why?"

Kira shrugged. "I think we should just go upstairs so Papa doesn't have to worry about us."

Anya nodded. "Good plan," she said. "Okay. I'm done." She rinsed off her arms, and dried them. Then she turned off the light.

Kira smirked, and turned off the dining room light.

"Up," said Nikolai.

Without thinking about it, she picked up her little brother.

"Kira, I want Mama," he said.

She patted him. "I do, too, Nikolai. She'll be home soon, okay?"

He put his arms around her neck, and laid his head on her shoulder. "Okay, Kira," he said.

She carried him over toward the stairs, and stopped short. "Oh, damn!" she cried when she saw her father.

"What's wrong?" Anya asked.

Kira shook her head. "Guys, go up, okay?" She set Nikolai on his feet, and he scurried upstairs on all fours.

Anya followed him, mimicking him all the way up.

Kira laughed before she tapped her father on his knee. "Papa?" She tapped him again. "Are you all right?" She sat down beside him. "Papa?"

Callen scrunched his eyes closed, and then wiped them with his shirttails. "No, Kira. Not even close."

She put her arm around him. "What happened?"

"A lot of crap that shouldn't have, baby, but I can't discuss it with you," he replied.

"Oh, boy," his daughter responded. She was fairly certain that Raisa was involved, but she did not ask him.

He smirked. "Yes, baby. Oh, boy for sure!"

Kira got up and turned off the living room lights. Then she sat beside her father again, and leaned on him.

"Papa, I think you should go lie down so you can call Mama," she suggested.

"Maybe I will," he replied lightly. "Maybe I will." He sat and daydreamed for a few more minutes, and then shook himself. "That's a very good idea, baby," he said with some force. He stood up, and then went upstairs two at a time.

Kira followed, but she went upstairs the 'regular' way.

Callen poked his nose into all of his children's bedrooms. He was happy to see Nikolai playing with his toys. Then he checked on Anya and Raisa. They were sitting on their beds, not talking. He frowned.

"Anya?"

"Papa!" she cried, grabbing her shirt so he wouldn't see her undershirt.

Callen smiled, but didn't let on that he had already seen her. "Are you okay, baby?"

She began to cry. "No, Papa," she mourned. "Raisa is being mean, and I miss Mama so much. I wish she could come home."

"I do, too, baby," he replied, lifting her and hugging her. "It'll be okay. Don't cry, Anya," he soothed, rubbing her back. "I got you."

"Thank you, Papa," she said as she rubbed her face on him, and then squirmed down from his arms. "I'll be okay."

Callen felt a tug on his leg. He looked down and saw Nikolai. Then he picked up his son who was crying. "What's wrong, baby?"

Nikolai laid his head on his father's shoulder. "I want Mama."

"Oh, God," Callen responded. "So do I!" He held the little boy for several minutes. "Don't cry, baby."

"Okay, Papa," Nikolai replied, taking him seriously. He wiped his goopy face on his father's shirt, and then worked his way out of his father's grip. "I still want Mama to come."

Callen laughed. He was glad that the baby understood more than he realized. "Yes, Nikolai. I want Mama to come, too." He studied the three who were out in the hallway with him. He saw that they were as sad and as upset as he was, even though Kira hadn't said a word. "Guys, I'll tell you what," he said, making a sudden decision. "Let's all go to my room, and sleep in there! And bring your pillows!"

The three began to bounce happily, much to their father's amusement.

"Where's Raisa?" he asked.

"In our room," Anya answered. "She's being mean to me."

He nodded. "We'll deal with it later." He entered the room. "Let's go, little girl," he said, scooping her off the bed. "Anya…the lights, please."

"Okay, Papa," she said, turning off her light, and everyone else's.

"Good job, baby," he said, carrying Raisa to his room. He set her down exactly where he wanted her on his bed. "You sleep here," he said, moving her over far enough so that he would have space, making sure her pillow was under her head.

Kira climbed up on her mother's side of the bed. She moved her mother's pillow over, and put hers in its place.

"That's fine, baby," Callen said. "Let me have Mama's pillow, and put Nikolai with you, and Anya, you sleep in the middle, okay, please? Guys, fix your pillows, too."

Anya laughed. "Sure, Papa," she said as she climbed up onto the big bed, and over Raisa. She fiddled with her pillow until it was just right. Then she helped Kira position Nikolai's pillow so he was comfortable.

Once he was sure that everyone was settled, Callen took a badly needed bathroom break. When he was finished, he rummaged through the laundry basket for one of Anna's shirts. He laid it on the edge of the sink, and then stripped down to his underwear. Carrying the shirt in his hand, he shut off the ceiling light, and turned on the dim lamp. Then he slid into his bed, and cuddled the shirt, and laid his head on Anna's pillow, which was on top of his.

Kira lay awake for a while, wondering about her father's actions. She couldn't figure out what they meant. Why would he take one of her mother's shirts to bed? Or turn on a night light?

"Papa?"

"You okay, Kira?" He turned over so he could see her, keeping the shirt tucked under his head.

"I'm fine, Papa," she whispered, turning toward him. "Papa, how come you have one of Mama's shirts?"

Callen smiled into the soft gloom. "You don't miss anything, do you?"

Kira grinned. "Nope."

He chuckled. "I miss Mama," was all he said.

Kira's eyes opened wide. How…?! She lay still for a little while, and then spoke up again. "Papa, how come you have a night light?"

He thought about making up an answer, but finally decided on the truth. "That light has burned every night for as long as we've been together, including the first night I slept with her."

Kira almost spoke aloud, and then didn't. Her father had shared something so simple and so private that she couldn't find any words. She was thrilled that he had confided in her.

Instead, she turned onto her side and closed her eyes. "Good night, Papa," she murmured.

Callen whispered, "Good night, baby. I'll see you in the morning."

He turned onto his stomach, and burrowed his face in Anna's pillow, all while he clutched the shirt. He slept peacefully throughout the night.

In her hospital bed, Anna fidgeted, and tossed and turned as best she could. More than once, she moved incorrectly, and set off her alarms. The nurses came running, and shut them all off.

"What's wrong?" one nurse asked.

"Nothing," Anna said. "My side hurts, and has all day long, and I miss my husband."

"I see," said the nurse. "Maybe we can put some pain-killer on your wound."

"Can I take some ibuprofen, please?"

"I'll see."

"But what about my side? Can it be rebandaged?"

"Not tonight. Sometime during the day."

"That's fine."

Anna lay still while the nurse applied some Lidocaine to the wound. She realized that she needed to stay still, too.

"Please…can I sleep on my right side?" she asked.

"If you stay still," the nurse answered.

"I will. I promise. Also, could I have an extra pillow, please?"

"Sure." The nurse handed the extra pillow to her, and then turned off the main light.

Anna tried the pillow under her head, and decided against it. Instead, she wrapped her arms around it, and held it as close to her heart as she could. A soft smile played across her face, and she closed her eyes, feeling better than she had all day. She slept peacefully throughout the remainder of the night.

By late morning, the whole family was awake. The younger children climbed on top of Callen and hugged him.

"It was fun sleeping in your bed," Anya said. "Thank you, Papa."

"Yah," agreed Nikolai, who had climbed onto Callen, and stayed there. He buried his face in his father's neck.

Raisa began to move, and something in Callen told him that she was about to jump on his bed.

"Don't even think it, Raisa Elizabeth!" he said. "If you do, you will spend all of today in your room, beginning right now."

"Oh, my God!" Kira burst out. She looked at her youngest sister. "What is wrong with you?! Papa let us sleep with him so we wouldn't be scared, and now you're going to mess it up?! I don't think so!" She was furious.

Callen patted her shoulder. "I got this, baby," he said to his eldest child. "I know you're helping, but I got this," he added with a smirk.

Kira lay down again. "I know, Papa, but she makes me so mad!"

"Your mom and I will deal with it, but not today," he answered.

"I know," Kira said.

"Papa, can we sleep with you tonight, too?" Anya asked. She patted his arm.

He looked at her. "Maybe, Anya, but I won't know until tonight."

"Okay, Papa. Are we going to school?"

He laughed. "Anya, baby, it's very late, so No. Nobody is going to school today. But it would be nice if you guys could do your homework after we get up and eat."

"Oh, man, Papa!" all of the children groaned. Then they laughed. He was too smart for their own good.

"Guys, come on! Get up, and get pulled together. Then make your beds, too," he replied. He got up quickly and retrieved Raisa from his bathroom. "Why are you in here?"

"I gotta pee," she said.

"Yes, you do, but not in my private bathroom, Raisa. None of you are allowed in here, and you all know it. Please stop, and behave properly."

She made a face, and then stomped over to the bathroom across the hall, where she slammed the door shut.

Callen shook his head. "Ignore her, please. While you're waiting, please go fix your beds." He handed his children their pillows, giving Raisa's to Anya to take with her. Next, he plumped up his own pillows and put them where they belonged, making sure he hid Anna's shirt under his own pillow. Last, he pulled up and straightened up his blankets so that the bed was smooth. Then he looked at his children. "Guys, go! I need to get dressed, please," he said with his smiling smirk.

"Okay, Papa!" shouted Nikolai as he ran out of his father's room.

The girls were hot on his tail, and Callen laughed. Their silly antics made him feel good inside. He closed the door behind them, and then chose an outfit that he knew Anna loved. He folded and then quietly stuffed yesterday's undershirt into his pocket, and then went to check on Raisa. He wanted to be sure she was behaving and cooperating.

Callen was very happy to find Raisa at the dining room table. He hoped that she would do all of her assignments correctly. En route to the kitchen, he glanced at the children's assignments, and smiled. "Good job, guys!" he praised.

Once in the kitchen, he decided on a staple meal that he and Anna enjoyed when things were out-of-control. He took a medium-sized pot from the cabinet, and opened two large cans of loaded vegetable soup, and poured them into the pot. He set a low flame.

Then he dumped out the remainder of a loaf of bread, and laid the slices in rows on the counter. He had one extra slice, so he made that into a half of a sandwich. They were all filled with rest of the pack of bologna, and topped with one slice of cheese each. The half couldn't have cheese because there wasn't enough to go around. He put the sandwiches on a platter, which he put on the dining room table.

"Get packed up now, guys. We need to eat," he said, helping Nikolai put his papers away. "By the front door, buddy."

"Okay, Papa!" He grabbed his bag and ran off. He was back in a flash. "Thank you, Papa!" The little boy climbed up into his tall chair again.

Callen then went around and helped each of his daughters pack up their belongings. Then they all raced back to the table. "Hands."

"Oh, man," griped Anya as she laid her hands on the table.

Her father shook his head, but with a huge smirk. "No slick stuff! Go wash your hands, please!"

They thundered into the tiny downstairs bathroom, and washed their hands. Nikolai took a big towel and dried up any flooding he saw. The kids trickled back to the table.

"Good job, Nikolai," Callen said, smiling. "Raisa, you come with me, and I'll give you the plates. Kira, the silverware, please."

Both girls got up and followed their father to the kitchen. He handed the stack of plates to Raisa, and the dishwasher basket of silverware to Kira.

"Can me and Nikolai help?" Anya asked.

"Not yet," said their father. He took two stacks of bowls from the cupboard, and laid them out on the counter. Then he ladled the soup into them. When they were ready, he put three on a tray and carried them into the dining room. He served the girls, and went for the rest of the soup. He put the other three bowls onto the tray, and carried it into the dining room. As he was handing them out, he realized his error. He sat down abruptly on Anna's chair and glanced at the kids as tears slid down his face. "Oh, damn!"

"Double damn," said Kira as she got up to hug him and rub his back. "Papa, you'll be okay," she said soothingly. "So will Mama."

He leaned on her for a moment, until he got himself organized. "Thank you, Kira. I guess I miss Mama more than I really realized," he said.

"Papa, it's okay to be sad about Mama," said Anya. "We all are."

He nodded. "I know, baby. After we eat, I am going to visit her, which will help me feel better."

"Yah, Papa," said Nikolai. "Us will feel better, too."