A/N: So I've been kicking this around in my head.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.
The first thing McGee felt was the pain. The air left his lungs, and he felt like he'd been punched. Then he felt the drowning. He was gasping for air, but something was holding him down, keeping him from rising to the surface. Then the word echoed in his mind.
Paralyzed.
He didn't know where he was going, only that he had to get out of there. Soon he found himself at work. And everyone asked him how she was. And he answered the only way he knew how.
"She's fine."
Even now, as he sat waiting, he knew what he would tell the woman.
I'm fine. She's fine.
But it was all a lie. Everyone was worried about him. Tony made him a casserole. A casserole. You know it must be bad when Tony cooks.
Abs was worried. Of course she was. She wanted to visit Delilah. The girl who had despised his girlfriend, now wanted to visit her.
His fingers close on a small box, deep in his pocket. He pulls it out, and opens it. He pulls a small, circular object out, studying it in the palm of his hand. Today was not supposed to be like this. Today was supposed to be a celebration. He was supposed to be teased by Tony about "settling down". Abby was supposed to sulk slightly, but tell him she was happy for him in the end. Gibbs was supposed to raise an eyebrow with a playful smirk. He's not exactly sure what Bishop would have done. Palmer would say "welcome to the club" and Ducky would have given him a hug. It should have been a happy day.
The pain closes in, and he feels like he's going to die. And he deserves it. Because he could have stopped it. He remembers how he told her to go ahead and go inside. How he stood in shock on the phone as he saw the plane coming. And how he should have known. He could have saved her. Instead, he had a scratch on his forehead. And what did she get out of this?
Paralyzed.
So he does his job. He knows it's not healthy, but he buried himself in his work. And he has a small victory. But it does nothing to soothe the pain in his heart.
Then Gibbs talks to him.
Paralyzed.
And he drives to the hospital.
Paralyzed.
He enters Delilah's room.
Paralyzed.
He sits down.
Paralyzed.
He takes her hand.
Paralyzed.
The guilt piles on. He looks up to meet her eyes.
"I should have been here when you woke up." "I'm sorry."
"You're here now." "It's not your fault."
Relief
A/N: It's written a little strange, in my opinion anyway. What do you think?