Hunters and Hybrids

Chapter 7

Callen woke up, the smell of antiseptic filling his nose. He listened carefully, there was no one in the room so he opened his eyes.

The room was white and stark, there were surgical tools. He lifted his head carefully and started as he came face to face with the skeleton of a wolf. He started and fell with a thump off the surgical bed, he was laying on with a yelp. His heart thudding in terror in his chest.

The door opened and a man in a white coat walked in.

Callen backed into the corner baring his fangs.

"Mr. Callen, I am Sergei I am the Pack's doctor. You need to calm down, I am here to help you." Callen's hackles rose as the doctor grabbed a painkilling syringe, "I need to give you something for the pain."

Callen growled and inched further into the corner.

"Callen, I am not going to hurt you." Sergei said gently. "I will get someone you know, so you know I am not a threat, I do not know what they did to you, but we are only trying to help." Sergei backed over to the door and opened it.

At that moment Callen pounced, knocking Sergei onto his back and scrabbled, still limping a bit into the hallway.

The hallway looked familiar, but with his head muddled, fear and adrenaline coursing through his system he kept running, till he saw a door that led to the outside and not thinking crashed through the door trying to get to freedom and safety.

Gibbs, Arkady and Sam were having tea by the pool when the french doors off to the side of them smashed open and the sound of claws scrabbling on the patio drew their attention.

"G!" Sam called seeing his friend in fight or flight mode.

Gibbs got up and moved towards him. "Callen!" He called.

Callen stopped and sniffed the air. Smelling Arkady's scent he whined and lay down his tail tucked under him.

"Callen." The Russian said as he moved past Gibbs to the petrified wolf. "You don't need to be afraid, you are welcome as Pack, we just want to help you."

Submissively Callen whined as Arkady stepped forward. "You will do as I say and you will allow the doctor to help you." The Alpha said.

Callen rolled, carefully onto his back as Arkady walked over to him.

"That is better. Now, why are you not changing back?" Arkady asked.

Callen whined and flattened his belly to the ground.

Arkady looked over at Gibbs worriedly. "So, Callen; you are upset. We are finding you help, but you need to calm down and trust us."

Sam watched as Callen seemed to relax a little as Arkady scratched Callen behind the ear.

Gibbs crouched down at the side of the wolf and laid a hand on his back, "G, trust Arkady, he wants to help you."

Callen looked at Gibbs, even if he could have spoken no words were needed the sadness in his eyes was palpable as was the undercurrent of fear.

"I dunno what ya scared of G, but everyone here wants to help. Arkady thinks of you as Pack, but apparently you haven't agreed to join the pack yet."

Callen whined softly, then cut off as there was a flash from the pool house.

His ears pricked up and he sniffed the air. In an instant he was on his feet, his tail wagging madly. He gave a quiet bark and stood stock still staring at the pool house.

Gibbs and Sam instantly stood up their hands going for their weapons. Callen cocked his head to one side and moved to place himself between his friend, partner and the pool house, his hackles rising for a moment with a low growl at Sam and Gibbs.