Just the Way you Are

Adoption

Hetty was looking at Callen's NCIS file when Granger walked in.

'What are you doing in this tight space?' He asked.

'Oh. Just looking at Mr. Callen's old file.' Hetty replied.

Sitting down next to her, 'Does he still have no next of kin?'

'He has a half sister, but they don't really keep in touch.'

'I thought you were his next of kin? After all, you're pretty much his closest mother figure in his life.' Granger said.

'I never officially adopted him. I thought of it, but back then, adopting someone was more likely to happen if one was married.' Hetty replied.

'Well, you have me now. Maybe now would be a good time to, change his 'next of kin' section? I'm sure you have your magical ways of changing records.'

'You mean? You sure? Would you be willing to be his adoptive father?' Hetty asked.

'Sure. Anything to make you happy. I don't have to like, hang out with him all the time, right?'

'I'll ask him. And no, you don't have to.'

Later that day

Hetty told Callen about the adoption idea.

'You mean, I'd actually be your son? And Granger would be my dad?' Callen asked.

'Yes to both'. Hetty replied.

'But wouldn't this be like, really weird? You're both my bosses. Wouldn't this be like Nepotism or something?'

'Leave the weirdness to me. We both matter very much to each other, and with this, you'd have a real family. I know you have a half sister, and this team is like a second family to you, but, you'd actually have parents. Please consider.' Hetty said.

'Give me a couple days.' Callen replied.

2 days later, Hetty's office

'I've thought about it, and. If I say yes, I don't have to change my last name, right? I don't fancy myself being called Mr. Lange or Mr. Granger, or would it be Callen Lange Granger?' Callen said.

Hetty laughed. 'No, you don't have to change your last name.'

'Okay. I accept.'

'Really?!'

'Yeah. You have been pretty much my mom most of my life, whether I wanted to admit it or not. Why not make it official?'

Giving him a big hug, 'Thank you so much!'

'You're welcome, Mom.'