Pivotal Moments.

Chapter 1

Apart from the case it had been a good day.

Sam and Callen were planning on getting together at Sam's house with Michelle and Kamran to celebrate ten years of being partners. Callen had been surprised when Sam had reminded him of the date and had made a big show about having to whole team around to celebrate.

Even Hetty was smiling at the fact that Callen and Sam were celebrating this milestone. They had hoped to get through the day without a case, but Eric's call changed that.

It was a routine case, a marine found dead, but all signs pointed to his killer being part of a gang that were regularly seen in Reseda. Callen had been here a few times growing up, and knew the area pretty well.

As soon as they had pulled up, Sam's gut was churning.

"Something's off G." He said as he got out of the car and checked his weapon.

"Come on Sam, it's Reseda; you hate this area," Callen sighed as he followed suit. "The guy is probably passed out drunk inside anyway."

"You should trust my gut." Sam groused as he moved towards the house.

"Yeah yeah," Callen rolled his eyes. "It's been ten years partner, you still don't trust my experience."

"Seriously G," Sam groaned. "You'd never be here if it weren't for me."

Callen laughed, they walked up to the door and Sam knocked.

He tried the door handle, "Federal Agents!" Sam called.

Callen watched as Sam entered the building in front of him, his weapon drawn.

The room was practically bare. "He has less stuff than you do." Sam smirked as he walked inside.

They had gone barely four steps inside when Callen noticed the wires.

"Bomb!" He yelled, pushing Sam in front of him to the door as the building around them exploded.

Callen opened his eyes, his head was killing him. "Sam...?" He groaned.

"Shut up kid." A voice growled from behind him.

Callen moved to get up, but a boot pushed him back to the ground.

"Stay down kid," the voice said again "You need to learn that being mouthy in here isn't good for ya."

"Where...?" Callen started, and stopped as he realized his voice was a good octave higher than he remembered; he looked at his hands. His knuckles were bruised and sore, but they were also small.

"What the fuck?" He cursed and got a kick to the ribs for his trouble.

"We already told you to watch your mouth, kid."

Callen coughed and swallowed the blood that threatened to spill.

He breathed a bit easier as the boot left his back and the sound of a jail cell door closed behind him.

"Where am I?" He asked again.

"Juvie kid, did you hit your head again?" The younger of the two guards asked with a modicum of concern.

Callen stood up and walked to the small sink with a polished metal mirror in the corner, he was fifteen!

He cupped his hand and poured some water over his face. The man whose face was so clear was fading rapidly.

A few names were in his head, slipping. Sam... Hetty... Callen could not remember the others, but these two were important to him, but he could not work out why!