It had been one of those cases. The kind that sat heavy on the chest, leaving a weight that wouldn't lift even after the case was closed. The kind that made even the most seasoned agents stop for a moment before moving on to the next thing.

Sam had seen it affect the whole team, but he'd especially noticed how it had worn on Nell. She wasn't the same girl who used to sit comfortably behind a desk, analyzing data and directing them from Ops. She was in the field now, seeing the aftermath firsthand, and this case had clearly hit hard.

That's why, as he walked through the dimly lit halls of the mission, he paused when he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye.

Callen and Nell.

They were sitting on the back stairs by the burn room, tucked away in a quiet corner where no one usually went unless they needed a moment to themselves.

Sam stopped, staying just far enough back that they wouldn't see him. He couldn't hear what they were saying—if they were even talking at all—but the way Nell was hunched over, arms resting on her knees, told him all he needed to know. She needed this moment.

Callen just sat beside her, not forcing conversation, not trying to fix things, just being there.

Sam knew Callen well enough to know that his partner wasn't always the best with words in moments like this. But support? Presence? That, Callen could do.

After a few minutes, Nell sighed. It was quiet, but something about it seemed to release some of the weight she'd been carrying.

Then, in a move that was so natural Sam almost didn't catch it, Nell leaned into Callen just slightly, her head resting against his shoulder.

Callen didn't hesitate. He slipped his arm around her, gave her a gentle squeeze, and for a moment, they just sat there. No words. No expectations. Just quiet understanding.

Sam watched as Nell straightened up after another moment, as if she'd found the strength to keep going. Callen didn't rush her, just moved with her as she stood. They shared a quiet look—one that Sam didn't need to hear to understand—and then they walked off together, heading back into the mission like nothing had happened.

Sam exhaled, shaking his head with a small, knowing smile.

He didn't know exactly what was going on between them, and honestly, he wasn't sure if they even did.

But he knew one thing for sure.

Whatever it was, they were good for each other.