For the second night in a row, Nell woke up in the middle of the night
A quick glance at the clock told her it was just past 2 a.m. With a sigh, she pushed the covers back, sitting up. It wasn't the strangeness of the place keeping her awake. It wasn't even the silence. If anything, she felt too comfortable here, which was its own kind of unsettling.
A faint rustling sound from outside the bedroom caught her attention.
Of course, Callen was up.
Curious, she padded barefoot out of the room, quietly making her way toward the living area. He was standing in front of his bookshelf, one hand on his hip, the other running over the spines of various books.
She leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Do you ever actually sleep?"
He turned, unsurprised to see her. "Didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't," she assured him, stepping into the room. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to pick something to read," he admitted. "Finished my last book earlier."
Nell's lips quirked. "Heavy decision, I see."
"You joke, but it is a process," he said, smirking before turning back to the shelves. "Got any recommendations?"
She stepped closer, scanning the titles. Most were classic literature, history books, or espionage thrillers—not surprising, given Callen's tastes. After a moment, she reached for one and handed it to him.
He raised a brow. "The Count of Monte Cristo?"
She shrugged. "It's a great story. Betrayal, revenge, justice. Thought it might appeal to you."
Callen smirked but didn't argue. Instead, he walked over to the couch and sat down, flipping through the first few pages. Nell hesitated for a moment before joining him, curling up on the opposite side.
"Read it aloud?" she asked, surprising herself with the request.
Callen glanced at her, clearly bemused. "You want me to read to you?"
"Why not?" she said, tucking her legs beneath her. "I like the way you read reports. Very clear and precise. Should make for a decent audiobook experience."
He huffed a laugh, shaking his head, but humored her anyway. "Alright."
And so he began.
His voice was calm and steady, the words flowing smoothly. As he read, Nell felt herself relax more and more, sinking into the warmth of the couch, letting the cadence of his voice lull her into comfort. She hadn't expected this to be so so soothing, but with the quiet of the night, the soft glow of the lamp, and Callen's voice filling the space, she felt completely at ease.
Somewhere around chapter two, she felt her eyelids grow heavier.
By chapter three, she was out.
Callen glanced over when he realized she hadn't made a sound in a while. Her head had fallen slightly to the side, her breathing slow and even, her body relaxed in sleep. He stared at her for a long moment, feeling something strange settle in his chest.
How was it that she felt so comfortable around him? Comfortable enough to fall asleep just sitting here, listening to him read?
And why did it make him feel—something—to see her like this?
Carefully, he set the book down and adjusted the throw blanket over her before leaning back against the couch, exhaling quietly. He didn't understand this feeling yet, but for now, he let it be.
And, for once, he wasn't in a hurry to figure it out.