I know it's Christmas and all, but my Christmas just got ruined and I'm having a bad night and I've been watching angsty Tibbs videos and this just came into my head. So. I am sorry in advanced for the angst, but I will write something cuter and more light later!

Title: Don't Go

Summary: In a moment, everything can change...

Genre: Angst/Romance

Rating: T

Characters: LJ Gibbs and Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo

Pairing: Tibbs

Warning: CHARACTER DEATH

Don't Go

His heart was racing with every step he took. He couldn't run through the hospital hallways fast enough. Even though he was sure that he was going too fast. Still, there was no time to waste. Not even as second. Not even a breathe.

Gibbs raced through the Emergency Room at DC Memorial, not caring who yelled at him or who got in his way. His focus was Anthony DiNozzo. And that's where he was going to stop.

The call had came early enough, with Gibbs awake as usual. He didn't even stop to change, running out of his house in just a grey "Marine" t-shirt, sneakers, and black lounge pants. Nothing mattered to him but Tony. Tony, who was fighting for his life somewhere in one of those damn rooms. He'd been found on the side of the street bleeding out from a gunshot wound. The doctors had little hope.

Reaching Tony's room, Gibbs stopped short and ran in. Tony was pale and looked barely alive. He had machines by the dozens on him. The nurse looked up. "Excuse me…this—"

"He's my partner," Gibbs said rushing over by Tony's side.

"Oh," the nurse stepped away. "I'll leave you two alone."

Gibbs didn't hear a word she said. His entire focus was on Tony. He knew that he should have given the agent backup for this case. Yet Tony had been pig-headed and insisted that he didn't need it. Lot of damn good it did him now.

"Damn it, Tony," Gibbs sighed, softly brushing a hand over his hair. He felt a strong, forming lump come up in his throat. The urge to cry was great.

Tony didn't stir. He didn't move, he didn't open his eyes. He was barely breathing with his heart rate way below normal. The bullet had penetrated his heart. They had fixed it, but who knows if it would stay.

Sitting down gently on the edge of the bed, Gibbs took his partner's hand. He softly ran his thumb over Tony's knuckles, wanting to see him smile and look at him. He wanted to hear his voice. He wanted to tell Tony just how much he loved him.

Minutes went by. Tony's heart rate decreased. Around four in the morning, the doctor came in and looked at Gibbs after checking Tony over. "Agent Gibbs, I won't lie to you. He's not going to make it."

Gibbs nodded numbly, feeling deaf to the words he was told. "What do we do then?"

"Well, the state he's in now, he's just suffering. He's dying slowly and painfully. I'm sorry, but there's nothing more we can do. The best thing to do is to let him go now."

Nodding again, Gibbs felt his eyes water up. He didn't want to do it. But he knew that it was better than keeping Tony alive suffering. He didn't want that. He loved Tony too much for that to happen.

"Okay," Gibbs' voice was hitched, "do your thing, Doc."

Nodding gravely and sorrowfully, the doctor cut Tony off from the ventilator. Within seconds, Tony flat-lined. Gibbs erupted in tears, climbing onto the bed next to his dead lover. He hugged Tony's body to him tightly and sobbed into his shoulder. He stayed there for two hours before the doctor came back saying they had to take his body down to the morgue.

Lifting his head, Gibbs stroked Tony's cheek lovingly. He caught his breathe, although shaky, and placed his forehead against the agent's. "I love you, DiNozzo. Don't you ever forget that." He placed his last kiss on Tony's lips before letting them take him away forever.

End

Jay