The warehouse was dark, the air thick with the scent of oil and dust. Nell moved carefully through the shadows, her tactical gear weighing her down, but her grip on her gun was steady. Beside her, Callen led the way, sharp and focused, while Sam, Kensi, and Deeks flanked from the other side.

The intel had pointed them here to an illegal arms deal going down under the cover of night, the smugglers using the warehouse as a temporary base. But something felt off.

It was too quiet, too still.

Nell swallowed, keeping pace with Callen. Her nerves were on edge, but she trusted the team, she trusted Callen. He always had her back.

A sound, just the faintest scuffle of boots on concrete, echoed from the other end of the warehouse.

But then there was a gunshot and chaos exploded around them.

Bullets ricocheted off metal shipping containers, sparks were flying. Sam shouted orders as they all dove for cover. Nell dropped behind a stack of crates, her heart hammering in her chest, her breath coming fast.

"Two shooters on the catwalk!" Kensi's voice crackled through comms.

"I see them." Sam fired off a shot. "Nell, stay low and move toward the main office. We need eyes on their intel."

"Copy," she said, keeping low as she advanced.

Callen moved with her, his focus razor-sharp as he scanned for threats. They weaved between crates, pushing forward.

Then she saw a glint of metal, just barely visible from the corner of her eye.

It was a gun and it was pointed right at her. She barely had time to react before a crack rang out.

And then she felt an impact but it wasn't a bullet. It was Callen slammed into her, knocking her off her feet. The force sent them both crashing to the ground, hard.

For a moment, all she could hear was her own ragged breathing. Then she realized Callen was on top of her and he wasn't moving.

Her hands moved instinctively, searching his vest for a slug desperately hoping it hadn't penetrated the kevlar.

"Callen!" Her voice came out frantic as she scrambled to check the vest with shaky hands.

"I'm fine," he gritted out, already trying to push himself up. "Vest caught it."

"No, you are not fine," she snapped, pressing a hand against his chest, as if she could physically keep him from brushing it off. "You threw yourself in front of a bullet for me."

Callen exhaled, looking at her like she was missing the obvious. "Of course I did."

Nell froze, her heart pounding in her ears. Of course he did.

There was no hesitation in his voice. No second-guessing. Because that's who he was.

She thought back to Jake—the way he had shoved her into danger to protect himself. The way he had left her to take the hit.

Callen had done the exact opposite. Without hesitation, without a second thought, he had taken the bullet for her.

Her fingers trembled as she pushed open the front of his tac vest, her breath catching when she saw the shiny slug but she knew he was in pain, she could see it in the way he clenched his jaw.

"Oh God, Callen," she whispered, her hand ghosting over his chest.

"I'm fine," he said again, but softer this time, his voice less sure.

She pressed her palm against his vest, feeling the warmth of him, the realness of him. "You could've been killed."

He reached up then, covering her hand with his, grounding her. "But I wasn't." His fingers curled around hers, squeezing gently. "I'm okay."

She wasn't sure why, but those two words almost undid her.

She had spent so long trying to convince herself that Callen was untouchable, that he would always be okay. That she didn't have to worry about him the way she worried about everyone else.

But he wasn't untouchable. He wasn't invincible. And he had almost died saving her. Her vision blurred as she stared at him, the weight of everything hitting her all at once.

Callen must have seen it, because his hand left hers, moving up to her face, his thumb brushing the side of her cheek. "Hey," he said softly, his voice gentle. "I'm here."

She swallowed hard, nodding.

Yeah. He was here. And for some reason, that was what finally made her feel safe.

Sam's voice crackled over comms. "Guys, you good?"

Callen exhaled sharply, shifting off of her and pushing himself to his feet with a wince. "Yeah. We're good."

Nell sat up, still shaken, her heart still thundering in her chest.

He turned back, reaching for her, his hand hovering before he finally gripped her arm, gently pulling her up. "You okay?"

She hesitated, searching his face. His worried face. His soft, blue eyes watching her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. And suddenly, she wasn't shaken anymore.

She was sure.

She was in love with him. She always had been. She always would be. And maybe, just maybe, she wasn't the only one feeling something.

She met his gaze, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips.

"I am now."

And she meant it.