The Shortest way home

Chapter 2

The elder Callen leaned against the wall and watched as a pair of legs emerged out of the window followed by a body which twisted to cling onto the drain pipe that was next to the window.

"You weren't kidding," Sam said standing beside Callen.

"Nope." Callen said straight faced.

G turned around as his feet hit the floor, "shit!" he exclaimed jumping with fright as he came face to face with his older self again. "How did you know?" he asked.

"Told ya kid, I'm you, I remember doing this." Callen said, "In the car, we need to go."

G looked at the two men, "Don't care what you do to me, I ain't going back to that foster home, the guy was a sicko." He said backing away slowly.

Callen shot a look at Sam, this was one thing he didn't want to share, but right now that wasn't his concern. "G…I know, I remember." He said softly, "You won't go back there."

Callen rubbed a small spot on his lower back as he remembered. "Come on we need to get you some first aid for the…."

G flinched, "Ok ok you win, I'm coming, just, if you're me, you know."

Callen nodded, "it stays between us." He said.

G looked up, "But it can prove you are who you say." He said thoughtfully.

Callen nodded, "Come here." He walked around the car out of Sam's eye line and reached down, pulling his pants down slightly on one side to show G his upper hip and the pentagram brand on there.

G took a step back and showed him the fresh brand on the same spot.

"Let me get you back to the office, I have a pain-killing salve we can put on it." Callen said.

G nodded and walked towards the car, "So can this thing fly?" he asked.

Sam sniggered. "No?"

"Oh," G's face fell, "Future kinda sucks."

"You're not is foster care anymore, and you have a great job with a gun and you own your own house." Callen said with a grin.

"Really!" G's face lit up…. "Do…?" he started to ask a question but decided against it shaking his head as he lay back and fell asleep in the car on the drive.

They pulled up outside the mission and G looked at his older self incredulously "You work here? This building is condemned!" he said looking at the red sticker on the door.

Callen smiled. "Come on, I have someone for you to meet," he said.

Sam opened the door and placed a hand on G's back; he jumped and moved out of the way. But went in the direction the older man wanted him to go.

"I'm going already," G snapped.

Callen shrugged, "sorry." He said to his partner.

Hetty stood waiting for them, Eric and Nell watching from the balcony having heard who was coming in but not really believing it.

Callen walked in looking at Hetty and Nell and Eric, with a determined look on his face. G took a few steps in an stopped he turned in a circle looking at the totally non-condemned interior of the building.

"WOW!" G said.

"Mr. Callen." Hetty said.

"Yes?" Both Callen's answered at once.

Hetty looked concerned and turned to the elder Mr. Callen, "So you still don't remember how this happened?" she asked having heard the story from him a few years ago, granted back then she had thought it was just the bottle of 20 year scotch that they were sharing talking.