So I have a lot of one-shot stories in my head and after thinking about them for a while I realised they could form a series. So I've created this 'story'. Each chapter will be a one-shot and will explore a variety of emotions with Callen and Nell as the central characters. This is the first one and I hope you enjoy it. Zoe :)
The constant beep, beep, beep of the machines monitoring vital signs was both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. Each beep meant her heart was still beating and she was still breathing. But each beep reminded him that she was lying unconscious in a hospital bed and it was his fault she was there. He reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Come on Nell, it's time to wake up now."
xxx
It was a typical day in the City of Angels. The sun was high in the sky, the air was dry and there was just enough of a breeze to keep the temperature bearable. Special Agent G Callen was cruising down the highway in the Mercedes with Nell Jones in the passenger seat. They were returning from a Marine Colonel's home where Nell had been putting her skills to use on his computer systems to try and gleam some information which might be relevant to their case.
Traffic was light for the time of day and Callen relaxed into his seat, resting his elbow on the door as he held the wheel, the fingers on his other hand tapping in time to the music playing out of the sound system. Nell had her laptop open on her lap, reviewing the files she had downloaded.
If you could say you saw it coming, then car accidents would never happen.
He didn't see it coming, and it happened. The rear tyre on an SUV in front of them in the next lane blew out and the SUV swerved right into their lane and began to spin. Callen didn't have time to think about how to react. He just did. His instinct was to hit the brakes, trying to avoid slamming into the SUV. But the moment he hit the pedal he knew it was the wrong decision. He narrowly avoided crashing into the SUV but in doing so had lost just enough control of the Mercedes to send it into a skid.
Nell felt the shift of the car the moment Callen hit the brakes and she looked up in horror as the SUV came closer. Then it was gone but what now infected her vision was the centre divider and it was getting closer. She gripped the door handle and pressed her back into the seat as Callen tried desperately to steer the car clear. But their path was determined and with a sickening crunch, the Mercedes connected with the hard steel. The screeching of metal on metal was deafening and as just as Callen thought they were out of the woods, their car was shunted from behind and the inevitable happened. The Mercedes, still moving at speed, began to roll and the last thing Nell saw was the road coming up to meet her and the world turning upside down.
Callen felt his head connect with the steering wheel and he instinctively threw his arm out across Nell, not knowing whether it would help or not. The car flipped over and there was a sickening crunch of metal as the roof connected with the asphalt. Momentum kept the car rolling and Callen grew dizzy as the world around him spun and twisted.
But as quickly as it happened, it was over. Everything stopped moving, the dust settled and the car was righted on its wheels across two lanes of the highway. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, burned rubber and gasoline, and as Callen blinked his eyes open he knew they were at least right side up. He grimaced as he yanked off his seatbelt and leaned across the car. Nell was like a ragdoll, slumped in her seat, her head resting against the cracked glass of her window. His heart pounded as he reached his hand out and placed it on her neck. But the pounding didn't slow even though he felt a pulse. His panic only increased when he drew his hand back and saw blood. Her blood.
Callen looked forward again and saw smoke billowing out of the engine. He knew it would only be a matter of time before there was fire and carrying almost a full tank of gas, the car would go up like a bomb. Reaching for the door handle, he threw his weight against it and fell out of the car onto the hard ground, groaning as he staggered to his feet. Taking a cursory glance around, he could see they were far from the only victims. Behind the Mercedes, several other cars were strewn across the highway and people were slowly emerging from the vehicles, some making their way to the hard shoulder, others stumbling around in confusion.
Callen shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to call it in, get ambulances on the way. But first he needed to help Nell. Bracing his hand on the hot metal of the hood of the car for just a moment, he moved around to the passenger side and pulled on the door handle, grunting when it refused to budge. Taking a closer look, he could see the metal frame was warped so he yanked harder several times and finally the door gave way, creaking open. Using his body for leverage, Callen braced his back against the door and pushed it open wide enough to get to Nell.
"Nell." Callen called as he started to check her over. "Nell, can you hear me?"
Callen was sickened to see a large gash to her head, the source of the blood streaked down her face, neck and onto her clothes. Her eyes were closed, her face somewhat peaceful. Glancing over at the hood of the car, Callen's eyes widened when he saw little orange flames licking around the metal. He couldn't wait, he had to get Nell out of the car.
Reaching across her body, Callen released her seatbelt and as he moved to slide his arms behind her back and under her legs, Nell moaned and her eyes briefly fluttered open. Callen paused.
"Nell, you're going to be okay." He told her as he tightened his grip and moved to lift her out of the seat.
"Wait." She mumbled. "The laptop."
If the situation weren't so serious, Callen would have been amused at her ability to think about the case. And realising if he left the laptop they would lose half a day's work and possible leads towards catching a murderer, he grabbed it from the foot well of the seat and placed it on Nell's lap. Her hand loosely touched it as Callen slipped his arm back under her legs and he lifted her from the car. His own body ached from the accident and he gritted his teeth as he secured Nell in his arms and began to back away from the car. In the few seconds it took for him to move her out the car she had gone completely limp in his arms, her was head tilted back and one arm hung loosely at her side, the other was tucked against his chest.
With smoke billowing all around, the sound of car horns blaring and people's cries, Callen staggered the short distance across the highway to the hard shoulder. Safely away from all other vehicles, Callen got to his knees and laid Nell out on the ground. He turned to look back at the scene and saw several people running towards him. Then without warning, his Mercedes exploded in a fireball. Callen twisted and threw himself over Nell, protecting her from any falling debris. He could feel the heat of the explosion on his back and couldn't help but think how lucky they were. If he had been knocked out, they might not have gotten out of the car in time.
Sitting up, Callen pulled Nell into his arms and held her against his chest as he reached into his pocket for his cell, making the call to Eric to get rescue on the way. Eric assured him rescue was already on the way and when Eric asked if they were okay, he could hear the worry in his voice.
"We'll be fine." He told the younger man, not wanting to worry him more without knowing how badly injured Nell actually was.
What happened next was a blur. One moment Callen was sitting with Nell in his arms, the next he was climbing into the back of an ambulance, then he was sitting on a hospital bed, a doctor finishing putting stitches into a small cut on his head.
"Mr Callen." A soft and familiar voice spoke his name from the doorway. Callen looked around the doctor and saw Hetty, standing solemnly with her hands clasped in front of her.
"How's Nell?" he asked immediately. Hetty's gaze dropped to the floor for just a moment, telling Callen the news wasn't good.
"Hetty?" he asked as the doctor rose and stood to the side.
"You're good to go Mr Callen." The doctor told him. Callen jumped down and crossed the room to Hetty.
"Ms Jones is still unconscious." Hetty explained.
"It's my fault." Callen said angrily as he stepped out of the room and into the hallway. "Damn it." He slammed his palm into the wall then turned around and leaned back against the wall. "Where is she?" he asked.
"Down the hall, room 301." Hetty said. "Mr Callen." She reached for his arm. "This wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was. I was driving. I hit the brakes. I lost control." He said through gritted teeth.
"You pulled Nell from the car. You called for help. You saved her life." Hetty reminded him.
"Only after I put it in danger." Callen replied bitterly before he turned and stalked away from his boss. Hetty let him go, sensing there was little else she could say to comfort the agent.
Xxx
Callen walked into Nell's room and his eyes widened. She was motionless on the bed with a drip in her arm and wires leading from her chest to a machine by the bed. He took a few steps closer and saw that the cut to her head had been stitched but a large purple bruise had formed across her forehead and covered her right eye. Her skin was deathly white and she looked so small and fragile in the bed. He crossed the room and folded into the chair at the far side of the bed. With his elbows resting on his knees, he watched her breathing. The guilt was almost overwhelming and he struggled to suck in a few deep breaths. Scooting the chair forward, he reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Come on Nell, it's time to wake up now."
"G?" Sam called softly from the doorway. Callen looked up and met his partner's eyes. "How is she?"
"Unconscious." Callen replied. Sam sighed and stepped into the room.
"What happened G?"
"I crashed the car Sam." Callen replied sarcastically. With a poignant look from his partner, Callen explained further. "An SUV in front of us blew out a tyre and swerved into our lane. I hit the brakes and skidded. We were hit from behind, crashed into the centre divider and rolled."
"You okay?" Sam asked.
"I'm fine Sam." He shook his head. "But Nell isn't and it's my fault."
"It's your fault that another car blew out a tyre?"
"No, but I lost control of the car." Callen looked back at Nell, watching her chest rising and falling rhythmically.
"It was an accident G." Sam reminded him. "What else could you have done?"
"I could have changed lanes. I didn't have to hit the brakes so hard. I should have kept control of the wheel."
"Could have, should have, would have." Sam shook his head. "You made a split second decision and you're both alive. I'd say you did the right thing." Sam was worried about his partner. He had never seen Callen second guess a decision before.
"Mr Callen, Mr Hanna." Hetty spoke up from the doorway. "You still have a case to solve. I will stay here with Ms Jones."
"Hetty." Callen protested.
"I understand you are concerned Mr Callen. But I need you to find our murderer and you can't very well do that from here. I will call you the moment she wakes up."
"Come on G. She's in good hands." Sam encouraged. Callen looked at Nell, gave her hand one last squeeze then set her hand gently down on the bed.
"The moment she wakes up Hetty." Callen said seriously.
Xxx
Hetty was sitting in the chair by Nell's bed, her legs were crossed and she had her hands folded in her lap. It had been four hours since Nell had been brought in and she hadn't stirred. A CAT scan had revealed no serious damage but she had a bad concussion and the Doctor had advised it would just take time for her to wake up.
As Hetty plucked at a non-existent piece of lint on her jacket hem, she heard a moan. Glancing over at the bed she saw Nell move her head and blink her eyes open.
"Ms Jones." Hetty smiled and rose to her feet, crossing the short distance to the bed.
"Hetty?" Nell mumbled as she blinked her eyes open.
"You and Mr Callen were in a car accident. You're in the hospital."
"Callen?" Nell asked.
"Is quite alright Ms Jones. He's with Sam closing the case."
"Good."
"I'll let the doctor know you are awake." She patted Nell's hand and walked around the bed to the door.
Xxx
Callen and Sam were sitting reclined in chairs in the interview room in the boatshed. Their suspect was sitting before them sweating.
"And here is the nail in your coffin." Callen smirked as he showed their suspect the documents that confirmed his involvement in the case.
"We got these from Marine Colonel Baker's home computer." Sam explained. "You killed him because he told you he was going to quit supplying you with weapons. What you two were doing may have been illegal but he kept meticulous records." Sam and Callen stared the man down and finally he broke, confessing everything and providing several names for others involved.
Returning to the main room, Callen was not feeling the satisfaction he normally did when they closed a case. His mind was on Nell. Hetty hadn't called which meant she still hadn't woken up.
"Sam, I'm going to…"
"Go back to the hospital. I got this." He patted his partner on the shoulder. "We'll swing by later."
Callen was half way to the hospital when his cell rang. Answering it he got the news he had been waiting for.
"Mr Callen. Ms Jones is awake and alert."
"Thanks Hetty. I'm on my way now. Case is done." Callen replied before quickly hanging up. He navigated the streets taking the shortest route, making one quick stop on the way. He was at the hospital thirty minutes later.
Xxx
Nell was asleep when Callen arrived at her room. Her bed was tilted up and she had several pillows under her head so she was almost sitting upright. The drip was still in her arm but the machine was gone. Callen stood in the doorway and watched her for a moment before clearing his throat and stepping inside.
"Nell?" he called softly as he approached the bed. She slowly turned her head and blinked her eyes open, a smile crossing her face when she saw her visitor.
"Hey." She replied weakly. "Those for me?" Callen looked down at the colourful bunch of flowers he clutched in his hand.
"Um yeah." He handed them to her and she smiled.
"Thank you. They're beautiful." She looked over the mix of brightly coloured gerberas bundled together with pink ribbon. "I love flowers."
"I know." Callen nodded. "And I'm sorry."
"For what?" she asked.
"For you being in here." He shifted nervously by the bed, his eyes downcast.
"Why is this your fault?" Nell asked.
"I lost control of the car."
"I thought another car crossed our lane." A look of confusion crossed her face.
"It did, but…"
"But what? You had to do something." She told him.
"And that 'something' got you hurt."
"It could have been a lot worse if you had done something else, or nothing." She reasoned.
"But my actions caused us to crash." Callen couldn't shake the guilt he felt and as he looked at Nell, her face scarred and bruised, it only got worse.
"Callen." She patted the bed next to her and after a momentary pause he took a step towards her and perched on the edge, turned towards her.
"This isn't like you." She said as she reached out and took his hand. "Even when things don't work out how you plan, you don't second guess the decisions you make." He remained silent. "I don't blame you." She said firmly. "In fact, I owe you my life. From what I hear, you pulled me out the car moments before it went kaboom." She cracked a smile. "I think that says a lot more than a decision you make without time to think."
"Nell." He sighed.
"Please, stop blaming yourself." She begged. "You did what you had to do and you saved my life in the process. It was good decision." She squeezed his hand and held his gaze, waiting for him to show some acceptance what she was saying.
"So you're not mad at me?" he checked. Nell lifted the hand that wasn't still holding Callen's and with her finger signalled for him to come closer. He leaned in and she lifted her body up, pecking him on the cheek.
"Never." She grinned.
"So when are you getting out of here?" Callen asked. He may not entirely agree that her being in hospital wasn't his fault but she didn't blame him and that alleviated some of his guilt.
"Tomorrow morning." She sighed. "I'm already bored."
"Anything I can get you to help with that?" Callen asked.
"You can tell me how the case is going?" Nell smiled.
"That I can do." Callen squeezed her hand and shifted his weight on the bed, getting comfortable. "Thanks to the files you retrieved from the Colonel's computer, we nailed the murderer and put a stop to arms trafficking."
"I thought the laptop was destroyed in the accident?" Nell asked.
"You don't remember?" Callen asked.
"Some things are still a little fuzzy." She admitted.
"You came around in the car before I got you out, told me to bring the laptop."
"Really?" Nell looked surprised at her own thoughtfulness in the midst of an accident and being half unconscious.
"Uh huh." Callen leaned forward brushed his fingers lightly over her forehead near her bandaged cut. "Even with a knock to the head you still think straight." He laughed.
"So what happened?" she asked.
"Well, Sam and I picked up our suspect and…" Callen went on to tell her how they closed the case and by the time he was finished, Nell was half asleep, her eyes drooping closed.
"Sounds like an interesting afternoon." She mumbled.
"It always is." Callen sighed. "But you're tired. I should let you get some rest." He told her, finally pulling his hand free from hers before he rose to his feet.
"Callen?"
"Yeah?" he replied quickly.
"Would you…I mean…"
"You want me to stick around a while?" Callen asked, sensing that was what she was wanting to ask him.
"You probably have things to do." She shook her head gently.
"Nothing more important than this." He smiled and walked around the bed, dropping into the chair by the window.
"Thanks." Nell told him sleepily.
"Anytime Nell." Callen replied.
As he settled back into the chair and watched her fall into a peaceful sleep, Callen thought about how grateful he was to still have her in his life, in all their lives. In a short period of time, the feisty intelligence analyst had become an essential part of the team and he never would have forgiven himself if she hadn't made it. He came to a decision in that moment that he would do whatever it took to ensure she was always safe.
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