DOUBLE TAKE

Chapter 29

Washington D.C.

Callen had been sleeping an awful lot over the past month, much to his frustration. Not that he had much choice in the matter, for since his rescue, he was still too weak to check himself out of hospital. He was however, thankful for the fact he was now back on U.S. soil, but was fed up with hospital food and being wheelchair bound, if he wanted to go anywhere. Sam had kept him company while he was still in Prague, helping him pass the time, which he appreciated. Tony Dinozzo and Marty Deeks had formed a friendship during their stay in the Prague hospital, and the two were often found down in Callen or Jackson's rooms entertaining them. Callen was sure the nurses were relieved when they were discharged, as the ward had become quiet again. Callen and Jackson had been too weak to visit each other, but Sam and Charlie often swapped rooms to see the how the other was doing, to break up the monotony of having the same visitor all the time.

John had stayed with them for a while, however he had disappeared for a week while they were being transferred to D.C., and Callen supposed he had gone home to Dallas to see Beth. He didn't blame him for it, in fact, he was glad he had gone, as Callen didn't want to be the cause of any more problems between them. He felt his father had gone beyond what anyone had required of him when he came with them to Prague, and he was thankful he had been there to backup Sam, after he had been captured.

But Callen was bored and wished only to be reunited with Nell. Dreaming of Nell and their baby was what had kept him from going insane. He practised his Romanian, Czech and Russian when in the Prague hospital, but now that he was in D.C., he wished Nell was there with him. He had spoken to her on the phone, yet he hadn't he asked her to come, as he didn't want to her to feel like she had to come. His abandonment issues still hung around in his head sometimes, even though he knew Nell felt the same for him. Well she did fly to Hawaii to see him after all.

Callen also worried about Jackson, and the guilt of what had happened to him, haunted him. His memory still hadn't returned, so he was puzzled as to why Jackson and his father were there in Prague with them, and not Kensi. He knew when he saw Jackson in the warehouse he was tortured pretty bad, and that he seemed to be worse than himself. He couldn't fathom as to why this had happened to either of them. The last thing he had remembered before waking up in that warehouse, was sitting beside Nell's bedside in hospital. He had just told Nell the news that she was pregnant with his child. It was that news that had kept him going for the past six weeks while he was separated from her.

He had seen the guilt in Sam's eyes, and knew he was holding back in telling him everything. What had happened that was so bad, for Sam to feel this guilt? He had tried to ask him what was on his mind, but Sam would put on a smile and say everything was fine. Callen shook his head. That was the term he used when he really wasn't okay. He had a feeling it had something to do with why he and Jackson were captured and badly beaten. Callen noticed a figure sitting it the corner of his room. It surprised him, as he hadn't had any visitors other than Charlie, since he had been in D.C. As the person lowered the newspaper, Callen was surprised to see it was his boss.

"Director." Callen's voice was husky voice from barely waking up.

Leon Vance looked up and smiled at his seasoned agent. "Agent Callen, it's good to see you are recovering better than expected."

"Not quick enough," he replied. "I'm surprised to see you here. Is everything okay?"

"Oh yes, everything is fine. I thought I would take this opportunity to see how my two agents are faring, after their ordeal." Leon stood and walked closer to the bed, so Callen didn't have to strain his neck.

Callen noticed the Director held a black velvet case in his hand. The last time he had seen a case similar to that one, was when Gibbs had showed him his Silver Star, which he kept in the bottom of his desk drawer. But Callen knew that was a medal from when he was a marine, so he was puzzled as to why the Director held one in his hand, while he visited him.