AUTHOR'S NOTE: HELLO, well here we are... LAST CHAPTER! It takes so long to write then edit and prepare for posting and then in a blink, it's over. Well, we blinked. This may not end the way some of you or maybe all of you are wanting... but remember what I have said with every story I have posted. It. is. never. truly. the. END. It is merely a moment... I have several thoughts floating through my head as to how this will go on from here. You thoughts at the end of this chapter could weigh heavy on that. Let me know where you would like it to go from here. Primarily, I need a Mission for the fill in parts. I could really use some help with that. filler. well, I guess we can't stall forever. Go ahead and read... love or hate me in the end... but come back for more because just when you are certain it is headed one way... I will change directions... it's a given. Take care out there and again... THANK YOU to everyone who favorited, followed, read and reviewed. You are all appreciated. Hope to "see" you again soon. Now go, read... AND REVIEW!

"Move it!" Hetty yelled into coms once more, "Go, go, go!"

Sam, having placed the tourniquet and padded the wound, with the help of Deeks, lifted him and began moving towards the helicopter.

"You go with him, Jess. We'll meet you at the hospital as soon as we can." Sam urged, "Keep us posted."

"I will, Sam."

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It was an hour later before they were all finally gathered in the waiting room of the hospital.

"How is he?" Sam asked.

"No word as yet," Hetty replied.

"He lost so much blood," Jess spoke softly as Sam took her into his arms.

"He's a fighter, you know that. He's going to be fine." Sam added, almost as an afterthought, "He has to be."

"No, you're right. He's going to be fine. He's invincible." Jess pulled back with a forced smile, taking Sam's hands, looking at the blood staining them, "So much blood," she whispered again.

"Family of G Callen," came a familiar call as they all gathered and Hetty explained away their confusion.

"How is he, doctor," Hetty requested.

"We did all we could do, he'd lost a lot of blood…" Jess let out a heart-breaking sob, catching the young doctor off guard. "Oh, Oh, No, please forgive me. I'm not normally the one to talk to families… let me start over… DESPITE the blood loss, he's a fighter. We removed the bullet and repaired the damage. He is in recovery now."

Jess, unsure of what she was being told, "So he's alive? He's going to be okay?" she asked.

"Yes, mam, he's alive. He should make a full recovery."

A sigh of relief escaped those assembled as Hetty cleared her throat of the lump that prevented her from speaking sooner, "Much better approach the second time, Doctor."

"Again, I apologize" he blushed.

"Can we see him?" Jess asked, still choked up with the emotion of fearing she'd lost him.

"Oh, yes, of course. As soon as they have him settled in a room, the nurse will come get you." He assured them before excusing himself.

"Wow, was he the actual surgeon?" Deeks asked, garnering a stern look from Hetty, before she replied.

"I'll be checking."

Kensi and Deeks shared a quick grin before turning to Sam, "You okay, big guy?"

"Uh, Yeah… it just never ends. The line of people waiting to kill him. That doctor might have misworded things this time but…"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Mr. Hanna," Hetty scolded, "That's why he has us. To protect him as much as he protects us." Hetty spoke forcefully. Sam, Deeks, and Kensi shared a knowing look as each remembered a conversation not all that long ago where Hetty warned them they would need to step up one day and protect their friend. They were still none the wiser to the danger she eluded to but the present held enough of a demand for his protection. A silent nod passed between them as a confirmation that they would what was required of them.

"Yeah and girl, you kicked it today!" Deeks grinned at Jess, "Dang, you sure can throw."

Sam smiled in agreement, remembering Callen's response to her. He looked again at the blood on his hands. Once more a testament to how easily those he loved were put at risk.

"Sam, he's alive," Jess spoke reassuringly once more, "That's what's important. Go, wash this off your hands and then we'll go see him."

Sam nodded but said nothing more.

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The beeping of the heart monitor filled the room as they all sat quietly waiting.

Jess sat holding Callen's hand, watching his face for any sign that he was waking up.

It was hard not to notice the many, many, scars that littered his body from all the battles he had been forced to fight just to be here for this one they faced now."

"Beep… beep… beep, beep, beep"

"He hated that sound. The infernal beeping, waking him from a dreamless slumber he was in no hurry to leave. First came the nagging cough brought on from the dry throat caused by the intubation during surgery and then the painfully bright lights blurring his vision.

"Hey, there you are. You had us all worried. Thought maybe you were going to sleep forever." Jess grinned, bringing his hand to her lips.

Slowly the others all moved closer and before long Callen was propped up listening to Deeks replay the events of the night like a kid at Christmas.

Jess smiled at the site, thankful the man she loved was safe. As her eyes came to rest on Sam, she remembered the look he held earlier. She knew that look all too well and now she understood why Callen refused to tell the team about Frank Rayburn… and why, at some point, they needed to know… because some day he was going to come for Callen and they needed to be ready.

"Well, we should go and let Mr. Callen rest. I believe he is in very good hands." Hetty smiled at Jess and patted her hand.

"When you are feeling up to it, Mr. Callen, I'd like to speak more about this Russian bar you and Mr. Hanna visited." Hetty stated seriously, "I do not recall such an incident in any of your reports and I'm sure I'd remember something as colorful as that." Hetty offered a smile as assurance to Callen that there would be no reprimand.

Callen simply offered a half smile as his eyelids once more grew heavy.

Once alone, Jess crawled onto the bed and laid her head on his chest, being careful of his wound on the opposite shoulder.

"I'm glad you are okay," she whispered.

"Me too" he replied.

"You scared me." She stated in return.

"You were awesome out there today. Your throw has improved since we were kids," he joked in an effort to lighten the mood.

"So has my punching ability. Shall I show you?" she returned the joke in kind.

Callen chuckled, " No, No, that's fine. I'll take your word for it."

"Wise decision," she looked into his eyes, smiling, "I can't be in this world without you,"

"Well, then. Bad guys beware, because I'm going to be sticking around for a while." He replied with a grin.

"Good" she said simply and Callen returned in kind, "Good."

As Callen slipped into a sleep she held certain would not be so peaceful as his slumber earlier, she let her mind wander back to Frank Rayburn and all the evil things he did to the children in his charge… she and Callen included. She looked on the man she loved so deeply and decided, "They need to know, Callen. Frank needs to pay for his crimes. Maybe they don't need to know everything… but they need to know that while he's out there, your life is in danger. I won't let him hurt you… I promise. I love you, G Callen. I always have and I always will."

"I love you, Jess… Marry me." He mumbled in his sleep.

She watched him for a long time, waiting for more… all thoughts of earlier banished to the dark recesses of her mind. The only thing she could think of now, in this moment, was that the boy she loved since childhood loved her back and while he may wake tomorrow with no memory of asking her to marry him… she was okay with that. He said it once, he'd say it again… of that she was certain. For now, she was right where she was meant to be and as far as their worlds were concerned… it was perfect.