Bad Things Happen Bingo, NCIS LA edition

Crying themselves to sleep

An unknown fact about Hetty that only 2 people close to her knew was: She sometimes cried before going to sleep.

The emotional toll of losing people she knew and cared about throughout her life had been 1 of 2 things that the walls she had put around her in her head had never been able to get rid of.

As for when the sad nights occurred, it varied. Sometimes it was after losing an agent, sometimes it was when an agent had gone missing and was feared dead, sometimes, it was any random night.

Callen found out about it after Hetty took him in as a kid.

She had managed to hide that fact from Granger when they dated. But 1 night, when he was about to go to bed, he heard Hetty crying.

The next day

They had finished eating breakfast when Granger decided to ask the question.

'Are you okay?'

'Yes. What makes you think I'm not?' Hetty replied.

'Well, I was getting ready for bed, when I overheard you crying. Just wanted to make sure you were okay.'

Silence

'Sigh. I was hoping to never have to tell you this, but it looks like I'll have to.' Hetty said, in a sad voice.

'What?'

'I sometimes cry myself to sleep. Sometimes it's after I lose someone I cared about, sometimes it's when someone is missing and feared dead, or sometimes it's on any random night. I didn't want to tell you because I was a bit embarrassed by it.' Hetty said.

'Well, okay. Why were you sad last night then?' Granger asked.

'Sigh. I was thinking about an old friend I knew a long time ago, he was killed years ago. He was a great friend to me. And I got a bit emotional because I still think I could've saved him. Yes, I know we can't save everyone, but that doesn't mean I can't feel pain over it.'

Silence

'You're a good soul, that's a rarity in this business, especially after everything we've been through over the years. Don't feel embarrassed about having emotions, they're easy to lose in this line of work.' Granger advised.

'Spoken from experience?'

'A lot of it. And a small lady breaking through my barriers and making me fall in love with her.'

Hetty blushed in amusement. 'Oh, stop! (chuckle)'.