Work Text
When Callen was getting undressed, Hetty noticed the scars on his back. Callen could feel the uncomfortable look on her face without having to see it. 'Just the hazards of the job.' He said. 'Oh, I know. I just wish they didn't have to hurt so much or cause us to almost die.'. She replied. 'Especially to you.' Feeling very touched. 'That's, very nice to hear you say. I wish the same thing for you.' Hetty smiled. She loved this damaged boy like the son she never had, and he loved her like the mother he didn't have. 'When you get dressed, come on over to my office for a cup of tea.' 'Sounds good!'
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In bed, morning.
'Morning. I bet you slept good last night.' Granger said when Hetty woke up. 'And how would you figure that?' Hetty asked. 'That tea you had last night is the kind you have when you either feel sad or want to sleep well.' 'Well well, the other super spy of the team knows me so well.' (slight chuckle). 'Advantage of knowing you for so long. But really though, is everything okay?' Granger asked. Sighs. 'Yesterday was just hard. I just wanted to sleep peacefully. It's how I would deal with hard days, drink a bit, try to sleep through the night, and hopefully wake up to a better day.' Hetty replied. 'And do you feel better today?' 'You know what? Yes, I do! As it turns out, knowing that there's someone to wake up to every day, really helps to wake up happy!' Smiling. 'I like it too.' Then they kissed. 'Think we should start getting ready for work?' Granger asked. Groan. 'Yes. But at least I have this to look forward to at the end of the day.' Hetty happily responded.
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Never fails. You take your lady partner to see a scary movie, you hope she gets scared enough to lean on you for protection. Only this time, she wasn't the one being scared… 'Don't worry, the monster is gone now.' Nell said. ROAR! 'Ah! I thought you said it was gone!' Eric exclaimed. 'Just kidding! (giggles).'
When the movie ended.
'Well that was uh, an experience! (awkward laugh).' 'You were hoping I'd get scared and lean on you for protection. Don't say anything. I've seen that trick time and time again. It's cute that you think I need protecting from big scary monsters.' Nell replied. 'That's, that's great! I've never met a girl who is as brave as you! Well, next to Hetty, that is. And she's like really old so… I'm rambling again, aren't I?' Nell giggled. 'A bit.' 'Well, I'm heading home. See you on Monday, Nell Jones.' Eric finished. 'See you on Monday, Eric.'
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Bullpen.
'Here you go, Sam. Here's a bunch of fresh apples and oranges from the market.' Deeks said, putting the grocery bags down on his desk. 'Why thank you, Deeks. That's very kind of you.' Sam replied. Then Deeks sat down at his desk, to the utterly shocked stares of Kensi and Callen. 'What?' 'As long as I've known him, I have never once seen him accept groceries from anyone! Much less ask anyone who isn't Michelle to buy him groceries!' Callen said, stunned. 'Did you put him under a spell or something?' Kensi asked. 'What? No! Look, I'm just doing a nice thing for a friend. That's perfectly normal!' Deeks defended himself. 'That true, big guy?' Calen asked Sam. Sam said yes. The real truth was: Deeks lost a bet and he had to pick up Sam's food for the week. Course, neither of them was ever going to admit that.
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'Wow! Those smell pretty good!' Nate said when he came in. 'Thanks! Guess all those cooking classes are finally paying off.' Kensi said while putting the cookies out to dry. 'Want to try one when they're cool enough?' 'Absolutely!'
Later.
'Well, how are they?' Kensi asked. 'Mmm! These are pretty good! I think, I think you can give these out and they won't give anyone food poisoning!' Nate responded. 'That's good to hear! Because I just quit going to those cooking classes out of total frustration, and I would hate to have wasted my money.' There was only 1 problem: Nate was lying. The cookies were terrible, and Kensi had been trying so hard, and he didn't want to disappoint her. Thankfully, she had tasted 1 of them before she thought of giving them away at work, or someone might HAD gotten food poisoning, or chipped a tooth trying to eat 1 of them! 'Seriously, Nate?!' Kensi muttered in disgust.
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What happens when you send 4 agents to go shopping for supplies for the safe house?
You get a lot of chaos:
'No way! That stuff will rot your insides out!' 'Says the man who dwarfed down 3 hot dogs the other day like he was in an eating contest!' (Sam and Callen). 'We don't have enough room for all that candy!' 'Then we will make room!' (Deeks and Kensi).
And the one who was unlucky enough to get put in charge of looking after them…
'What did I do to you to deserve this?' Granger groaned over the phone. 'Because I'm stuck in a meeting today with some very unslightly politicians and we need supplies.' Hetty replied. 'And I take it the reason they need a babysitter for this kind of thing is because they got kicked out of a store for fighting?' 'Close enough. Look, I have to go. Just make sure that safe house is restocked! (click!).'
That night.
'I probably don't want to know how you got that black eye, do I?' Hetty asked. 'He/She did it!' Deeks and Kensi exclaimed. 'Friendly note: Don't come in between those two in the middle of the candy aisle.' Granger replied. 'But as least this dump is restocked!' 'They weren't banned for fighting or for assulting the cashier?' 'No, I managed to stop them. And beating up the cashier?' 'Whoops. I've said too much!'
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Bullpen.
'For the last time, I, was, jumped from behind! Come on, do you really think I'd ever let anyone else dislocate my shoulder in an ordinary fight?!' Sam rebuked, rubbing his sore shoulder. 'You wonder why I don't buy this? One would have to practically be a ninja just to even try to get the jump on you! Say, you weren't jumped by Hetty, were you? Hetty? Hetty! Did you jump my partner?' Callen responded. Hetty just turned and laughed. 'It wasn't her, just so you know. Just some street thug with very quiet feet.' Then Callen got a text that said: 'I dared him to lift a 400 pound dumbbell. And that shoulder popped clear out. Had to put it back in myself, easier said then done!' It was from Granger. 'Who's that from?' Sam asked. 'Just a former girlfriend.' Callen replied. Then he started laughing. 'Oh come on! I told him to keep it to himself!' 'Not gonna lie, but you're definitely getting old! Shall I start buying you diapers next?' Mutters. 'I'm gonna kill him!'
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Sometime after Goodbye Vietnam.
Callen asked Hetty if she would go for a ride with him, and she accepted. 'You're probably tired of hearing this, but, how are you doing?' Callen asked. 'Just happy to be alive. And to be able to enjoy the sunshine again after what felt like endless days of rain.' Hetty replied, sounding distant. That hurt to hear. 'You sleeping okay?' 'Some nights are good, others I struggle to sleep. But I suppose that's normal.' Hetty replied. 'Sorry if I sound too depressing. I guess I'm still just processing the whole ordeal.' 'No need to apologize. Everyone else on the team can understand what recovering from being held captive is like.' 'Just wish we didn't have to, though.' Holding her hand. 'I wish that too.' Callen finished.