Unexpected Connection

"That was Nate?" queried Sam

"Yeah" He said as he put his phone back in his pocket. "He wants to see me at the boat shed."

"About what?"

"Nell" Said Callen

"Don't tell me you've screwed this up before you started? What did you do G?" Chuckled Sam

"I didn't do anything Sam!"

"Well you must have done something G"

"I don't...." Said Callen but before he could finish Sam interrupted him.

"Well I'm sure you'll find out soon enough G" Chuckled Sam as he continued their drive to the boatshed.

Callen and Sam pulled up to the boatshed, but Callen didn't move. "You okay G? It's alright to be nervous"

"I'm not nervous Sam. I better go. I'll call you when I'm done." Said Callen as he got out of the car and started to walk off.

Sam laughed to himself as he watched Callen walk away towards the boat shed.

Callen opened the door and saw Nate waiting for him.

"Hey Nate." He said as he extended his hand.

"Hey Callen, how are you doing?"

"I'm good. What's up, you said this was about Nell."

"Yeah, uh let's sit down." Said Nate as they both took a seat on the couch.

"What's going on Nate?"

"I saw Nell this morning, per Hetty's request."

"Is she okay? Has she said something to you?"

"What makes you think she would Callen?"

Callen exhaled. "Last night, I was up and she couldn't sleep I asked her if she was having nightmares, she wouldn't answer. She said that she kept thinking about what would have happened if we hadn't found her. She just said she'd rather not think about, which I can understand Nate. I know what it's like not to want to dwell on it and move forward."

"But you're worried she's going to keep it all inside and it's going to eat at her." Said Nate

"Damn it, she's blaming herself for what I said."

"Wait, what did you say to her Callen?"

"I told her that I was scared about losing her, I was scared that I was never going see her again. She's blaming herself. That's not what I wanted. "

"You were honest with her Callen. I mean I'm surprised that you were that honest with her."

"She turned the tables on me Nate. I realize until later."

Nate smiled. "That's also not what she was talking about when we spoke and that's not necessarily what I wanted to talk to you about."

"She told me that you were upset with her being back at work and that you were going to talk later."

"I wasn't upset that she was back at work."

Nate shot a Callen a look

"Okay, so I was concerned. I was just worried that it was too soon for her, that she should take some time to rest recuperate before coming back to work."

"Callen you know Nell. She needs something to focus on work, so she's not focusing on what happened to her."

"Then how do I help her Nate. How do get her to be honest about what's going on."

Nate took a breath. "Talk to her, tell her that you support her decision to be back at work and that when she's ready to talk you'll be here to listen."

Callen nodded. "I'll give it a try Nate, thanks. Will you keep an eye on her for me please; make sure she's doing okay when I'm out in the field."

"I told her that she'd be under my supervision until I returned to Sudan."

Callen's phone dinged he looked down at his phone which had a message from Sam.

"Nate. I've gotta go. There's been a break in the case. Thanks for that talk."

Nate smiled as Callen got up pulled his phone out of his pocket to text Nell and walked out.

"I'm sorry about this morning. I shouldn't have spoken to you they way I did. I know you're trying to put what happened behind you. I was just worried about you coming back so soon, but I can see now that's what you need to move forward and I'll support that. When you do want to talk I'll be here to listen." Callen re-read the message and hit send.

Nell was in OPS when her phone dinged. She glanced at it and saw it was a text message from Callen. She picked up her phone and as she started reading a smile emerged across her face, which didn't go unnoticed by Eric.

Nell started to text back. "I know your worried, but keeping my mind off it helps and I just don't want to think about it or talk about it right now. But I promise I'll come and talk to you about it when I can talk about it." Nell re-read the text. She needed to talk to him to tell him what she meant. She didn't send the text. She turned to Eric "Eric I'll be back in second." She said as she picked up her phone and went outside and dialed Callen's number

"Hey" he said as he answered the phone.

"Hey, I was gonna respond to the text you sent, but every time I tried to type it, it came out wrong."

Callen chuckled. "It's alright."

"No, it's not, I know you we're only worried about me coming back to work so soon. I realized later you were concerned about me and I blew you off. I'm sorry."

"It's alright Nell I realized that you focusing on your work is how you're going to work through this. I just wanted to let you know I'm ready to listen when you're ready to talk.

"You talked to Nate didn't you?"

Callen smiled. "How did you..."

"Because he is the only one I told."

"Are you upset he told me?"

"No, it got everything out in the open. Anyway I need to get back to OPS. I'll catch up with you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" he queried.

"Tonight, you have drinks with Sam and I have a girl's night with Kens"

"Right drinks."

"I really have to go before Eric comes looking. I'll talk to you later. Bye G"

"Bye Nell" he said as he hung up the phone

Nell headed back into OPS and sat back down at her computer.

"So, who's got you smiling?" Said Eric

"What do you mean?" Said Eric

"Come Nell. I saw that smile.

Nell shot him a confused look.

"The guy that you were texting."

"Eric, that not.."

"Are you in a relationship?"

Nell didn't answer she simply smiled at Eric and got up. "I have to go and brief Hetty."

"Nell, you're in a relationship?" he said as she walked off.

"Nell? Who's the guy?"

"Nell" he said again, but she continued to walk out of Ops leaving Eric to wonder who she was dating.