NaNo #15: Things G Trusts Sam to Know, #2 (NCIS:LA)

[miss_lucy21]

When Sam was training Dom in hand to hand (the rookie barely knew how to make a fist correctly, and that was not going to get him through), he noticed that Dom didn't seem to understand how to use his size as an advantage. Dom wasn't a big guy, but he was tall and strong enough to use it. Sam thought about having him spar with Kensi, but Dom also seemed to have issues with hitting women and Sam knew from previous training experience that it was best to address those issues separately. Well, that, and Kensi would take him apart. So, Sam asked G to help. G could also take Dom apart, but Dom would at least fight back.

"I don't think this is a good idea," G said, warning Sam.

"Sure it is," Sam said. "Unless your back is bugging you?" G was probably 98% recovered from being shot five times, but there was some lingering soreness, especially if he over did it.

"No, it's fine," G sighed. "All right."

Sam thought the sparring bout went fine. Dom was starting to get the hang of it, and G did a credible job of challenging Dom without being too easy on him. He did notice that G slipped away to the locker room while he was talking with Dom after they sparred, but he didn't think much of it until he'd gone to retrieve his own things and found G waiting for him outside the locker room.

"Hey," Sam said.

"Are you ready to leave?" G asked abruptly.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Sam said, blinking. He was G's ride today.

"Ok, then," G said, turning and walking towards the door.

Sam sighed inwardly. Clearly, G was in a mood and it probably had to do with sparring with Dom. And just as clearly, Sam either had to nudge it out of him or walk on eggshells until G decided where he was staying tonight- probably not with Sam, if his mood was any indication.

They got in the car and left. Sam didn't say anything, but he watched G from the corner of his eye. G was fiddling with the seam on the leg of his jeans, but wasn't glaring out the window or at Sam. So, he probably wasn't directly angry with Sam, which helped.

"Your back ok?" Sam asked, finally.

"It's fine," G said, shortly.

"Ok," Sam said. "Can you eat?" Asking G if he was hungry or if he wanted to eat was a useless question. G could be vomiting and he'd still answer in the affirmative because he was hardwired to never pass up food. So, Sam had started asking if G was able to eat if he thought it might be possible that G wouldn't actually *want* to eat.

"Yeah, I'm fine," G said, frowning over at him.

"Well, you didn't look too happy, so I thought I'd ask before I just pulled into the In and Out Burger up there," Sam said, pointing up the street.

G snorted. "Mm."

Sam didn't answer, but he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, and ordered them both a double-double with fries and a Coke. He handed the food to G and started driving towards the pier. G didn't say anything as they got out of the car and took the food down to one of the picnic tables scattered along the water.

Sam left him alone until he'd finished his burger. "So, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," G said.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh."

G shrugged. "It's nothing."

"Was Nate getting on your case today?" Sam asked.

"No," G said, twirling one of his fries into the ketchup.

"Why didn't you want to spar with Dom?" Sam asked, then.

"Just didn't want to," G said, stubbornly. When Sam just looked at him, he sighed. "It's stupid."

"You tell me that all the time, but it never is," Sam observed blandly.

"Yes, it is." G said, sharply. "It's all stupid."

That gave Sam a big clue as to which mood G was in. It didn't happen often- probably because G didn't really think all that much about the how and why of his quirks- but every once in awhile, G would get frustrated with himself that he couldn't be "normal". As far as Sam knew, he was the only person G had ever discussed any of this with, and it was a rough conversation each time. "Protecting yourself is not stupid, G," he said, calmly.

"Shouldn't have to," G said, irritably.

Sam bit back a sigh, because getting frustrated would not help. "You're right." G *shouldn't* have to protect himself from his own brain and body. But, the fact of the matter was, sometimes he did. "What happened?" he asked.

G made a frustrated noise, but didn't answer. "G, I can't promise not to do it again if I don't know what got you," Sam said. "You gotta talk to me for this to work; you know that."

G sighed. "I don't like sparring, that's all," he hedged.

"You don't mind it when we spar," Sam pointed out.

"Yeah, well, you've got 4 inches and 30 pounds of muscle on me," G pointed out. "Plus, you're a fully trained Navy SEAL. There's no way I'm going to hurt you accidently- I'd have to be going for broke to really hurt you."

"So, really, you don't like sparring with people who don't know what they're doing," Sam said. "Like Dom."

"No," G agreed.

"Because you're afraid you would hurt him?" Sam asked.

G shrugged and balled up the wrapper from his burger. "I did. I mean, not Dom. But..."

When he didn't say anything immediately, Sam added, "But you did hurt someone."

G sighed. "Yeah." Sam waited patiently for him to continue. "When I was in basic. I...we were supposed to be going at quarter speed. But, I kinda lost my shit when the guy I was practicing with came at me."

"You fought back," Sam said. "And you didn't know how to fight clean, I'm betting."

"No," G sighed. "Got him in the balls, then went for his face and broke his nose before the DI could react."

"Ouch," Sam winced. "What happened?"

G shook his head. "Nothing much. They could have kicked me out, but they just gave me punishment duty. The DI sat me down, told me they were giving me a second chance because it was obvious I'd just reacted, that I hadn't done it on purpose. I hadn't really said anything to anyone about where I'd been before I enlisted, but I guess they could kind of tell."

"Probably," Sam said, nodding. "They see a lot of people from a lot of different situations."

"Yeah," G agreed.

"Was that the first time you'd ever sparred with someone?" Sam asked.

G nodded. "Yeah."

"And I bet that guy was bigger than you, too, huh?" Sam said.

G's lips quirked up into a crooked smile. "They all were. I was maybe 110 in full gear."

"So, the first time you were in a practice situation, a larger person came at you, and your body took over because you'd never been in a situation that wasn't real before," Sam said.

"Yes," G said, warily. They did not discuss the fact that G had been abused as a child. Sam knew, mostly because G's quirks were the sorts of reactions that someone who'd been in bad situations for a long time would have. G had alluded to incidents, but he'd never come out and told Sam about any of it, and Sam had never asked. To be honest, he didn't want details- what he knew of the neglect G had been through made him angry enough.

"But, you know what you're doing now," Sam pointed out.

"Well, yeah," G said. "That was a long time ago. But, there's nothing to say it wouldn't happen again."

"Ok," Sam said. "I can understand that. But you know I was standing right there the whole time. And you know I know how you can react- the drill instructors didn't. I wouldn't have let you hurt Dom."

"I know that," G said, irritably. "That's why I said it was stupid."

"I can get Kensi to spar with Dom, now," Sam said. "He's got to learn how to fight with women, anyway."

"Ok," G said, playing with the balled up sandwich wrapper.

"Where you staying tonight?" Sam asked, when it became clear G was done talking.

"Boat house," G said, squinting up at the sky. "I have paperwork to finish, but Nate'll be on my case if I spend the night in Ops again this week."

"Right," Sam said. "You want a ride over there, or to your car?"

G shrugged. "Whichever. If you want me to drive tomorrow, then my car."

"I can do that," Sam said. He cleared up his trash. "You ready?"

"Yeah, I'm good," G said, standing up.

"Good," Sam said. They cleared their trash and headed back to the car.