Callen drove through the city, the streets glowing with twinkling Christmas lights. Storefronts were decorated with garlands, and groups of people walked along the sidewalks, bundled up in coats despite the mild California winter.
He barely noticed any of it. His mind was elsewhere—on Nell.
He hadn't meant to develop feelings for her. It had just… happened. Somewhere between her sharp wit, her quiet strength, and the way she could read him better than almost anyone, Callen had realized she wasn't just a friend, wasn't just a colleague.
He liked her. More than he should. More than he could afford to.
It wasn't like he'd never thought about what it might be like to be with her—to let her see every part of him, the good and the bad, and to be the one she turned to when she needed someone. But the risk of losing what they already had was too high.
So, he kept his feelings buried, settled for the late-night talks, the moments of quiet understanding, the way her eyes would light up when she laughed.
That was enough.
Or at least, it had to be.
The GPS chimed, pulling him from his thoughts. He was close to the rink now, the parking lot coming into view. He sighed, shaking off the weight in his chest.
Tonight wasn't about his feelings—it was about the team, about enjoying a rare night of normalcy. And maybe, just maybe, he'd get to see Nell smile again.
That alone made it worth it.