Title: Life Changes

Based off of: NCIS/ Jericho

Plot: Jake, Heather, Kate, and Gibbs are sent to the Medical Center for their injuries. Soon news of radioactive fallout reach them and each have to help fix a shelter that fell in disrepair.

Pairings: Kate/Gibbs and Jake/Heather

I don't own anything. Well any OCs...are mine.

Chapter Two: The morning light

Kate found herself riding in an ambulance on her way to the Medical center along with Gibbs and Heather despite the fact both herself and Gibbs only had a few minor cuts. On her way there Kate found herself thinking about Abby, Tony, McGee, and Ducky. She then lowered her head wondering if they were all right.

Heather noticed the look on Kate's face and asked, "Are you alright?" causing Kate to look up in surprise.

Kate sighed, "I guess. I'm just worried about my friends."

"Not just your family?" Heather said frowning.

"No because they are here and fine. I talked to them a few hours before this all happened. Everyone's at the house a few streets away from Town Hall." Kate said sounding a bit more cheerful.

"Where are your friends?" Heather asked after pausing for a moment.

"In D.C." Gibbs sternly growled interrupting the conversation before Kate could answer her. Kate then frowned and looked away but not before saying under her breath "I shouldn't think about this right now." a she shut her eyes.

Heather nodded and muttered "Understood." to herself.

The rest of the ride was fairly quiet much to the group's pleasure since they were all fairly tired. However once they arrived at the med center the quietness was over with as the three were welcomed by a few rushed employees who quickly separated the group and put them into different examination rooms much to each one's dismay. Kate sat quietly after one of the doctor's went to get a nurse for her, which caused Kate to immediately think "I'm fine. It's pointless to sit here just to get a few scratches bandaged. I have to tell my family I'm alright." as she began to walk out of the room.

"K-kate?" a female voice sounded as Kate bumped into a person walking into the room.

"Shannon?" Kate said as a tall woman with short brown hair gave a small smile. It had to be her older sister because no one could be so calm when they were bumped into.

Kate smiled and as she was being bandaged up the two sisters began to catch up with each other until Shannon was summoned to the door after a few moments said "Kate we have to get to the shelter right away."

"What about Mom, Dad, Patrick, Daniel and--" Kate began to shout when Shannon said calmly "Don't worry..there going to the other shelter!"

"How do you know that!?" Kate shouted causing her sister to nearly jump into the air. Suddenly Shannon grabbed Kate's arm and said "Patrick came by a few minutes ago and told me. Now can you please sit still!" Kate frowned and looked away but not before muttering "You better not be lying to me."

"Now Katie why would I lie to you?" came Shannon's voice in a mocking tone. Kate frowned and muttered, "You haven't changed a bit and for the last time stop calling me Katie!"

"Jake where have you been!" a woman's voice shouted causing Jake to stop and turn around. It was just his luck that his own mother would be the one to stop him.

He paused for a moment and promptly asked, "Where is she?" causing is mother to sigh and point down the hall. He quickly started off leaving his Mother dazed and confused.

Meanwhile Heather was having a leg cast fitted on her when Jake came and quickly said, "Come with me."

Heather looked over and asked, "What is it? Is it something bad?" and she quickly followed Jake and one of the doctors outside into the hall. As he began to explain about radioactive fallout that was coming towards Jericho Heather could only guess that they were heading for the shelter, which as she heard was made in the 50's that was unsurprisingly run-down.

"I can't put people in there!" The female doctor said frowning. "I don't think the ventilator even works so that means no air."

Jake said, "I can try to fix it..we have some time." and he began to look at the system.

Heather paused then finally said after a few seconds nearly cried "Mind if I pitch in?"

"You can--" Jake began to say.

"Ever since Junior High.." she began to say nervously before adding "Your going to need another--" causing Jake to start for the upper floor. Then Heather looked at another man who was trying to help "Your doing that wrong." She then sighed in embarrassment about what she had said to Jake and started to look around.

Gibbs meanwhile started to look for Kate around the Hospital when he discovered Jake tying to calm a woman down who was refusing to leave because of her premature baby.

"Look your child is easily the safest person in Jericho. She has everything she needs..food water..and air. You aren't through so you need to get down to the shelter right away." Jake began to reason as the woman tried to talk everyone out of her leaving. The woman soon started down with her baby.

However before Jake could start walking away his Mother stopped him and begged him to promise to meet her once he was done helping out with the shelter. He could only agree to it and continue on his way until he saw Gibbs.

"We need help fixing up the shelter." Jake began when Gibbs interrupted with "I'm looking for.."

Jake sighed and said "Kate. Look I'll go look for her right now. Just get to the shelter Kate might be down there already." Gibbs frowned and reluctantly started down for the shelter but not before saying "You better find her."

-Seconds before Gibbs speaks to Jake-

"Kate I don't think we can get down the shelter right away." Shannon muttered before Kate ran down after hearing someone announce that people who were getting the shelter fixed up needed help. Once she saw the mess she quickly ran to Heather who seemed to be charge and asked, "Can I help?"

Heather smiled at the thought and said, "Thanks but...there's no way we can fix this place up in time."

Jake after ten minutes assumed that Kate had started down for the shelter, which a line had started for already. Jake as he got closer hoped the problems with the air system were over with but once he spoke to Heather his hope shattered.

Heather tried to explain, "You have to believe me..we can't use this. It's completely unusable." to Jake as the woman doctor from before came down to announce that the patients were ready to come down into the shelter. She was about to say something when Jake groaned, "You can't come down here!"

"We don't have the time. The rain is coming and the patients are getting scared! Do we have air or not?" The Doctor named April said sounding impatient.

Jake grabbed a radio and began to contact Town Hall to announce that they needed to move the patients into the Town Hall shelter.

"We don't have the room." a voice replied back causing Kate's stomach to turn nervously. "Look we can check but I-I-"

The doctor grabbed the radio and without thinking said "It doesn't mater were coming." and began to start evacuating the patients onto a bus which was outside of the center.

As Kate started for the bus she felt a hand grab her shoulder and she nearly screamed as she was turned around. Behind her was Gibbs who quickly pulled her forward towards the center's entrance where the bus waited.

-On the bus-

One of the Doctor's shouted, "We need someone to drive!" after Jake entered the bus. He then volunteered and started to start the bus up. Kate after a few moments looked over and caught a glimpse of Jake and Heather looking at each other then going back to what they were both doing. Kate hoped that they didn't spot her looking at them.

Kate gave a small smile as she started to look at those around her then to Gibbs but she quickly looked away hoping that he didn't notice. She then felt his eyes on her and she tried to keep still

"You can't come in here!" a man said as the bus pulled up and the passengers began to pile out onto the street. He then said "We don't have any room!" as Jake, Heather, April, Kate, Gibbs, and Shannon exited the bus. Jake frowned and looked at the buses then turned forward

Jake shouted "What do you mean there's no room?" causing a few people to start shouting as well.

"Look this shelter can only hold 300 people. If we put any more people in there everyone will suffocate!" The man said in a matter of fact tone.

"You're going to turn all these people away..even your wife!" April shouted in disgust causing Shannon to add "You jerk!"

After a few minutes of attempting to quiet the two women Jake asked "What about the mine?"

Another man was about to speak but paused before saying "I guess..since there's an air system and water.." then Jake almost shouted, "Then we have to go there."

"What about the fallout! The mineshafts are going to--" The man questioned when Jake interrupted him with "We can have a controlled explosion shut the mine."

"How do you know the mine wouldn't collapse on you?" was the reply.

Jake grimly sighed, "We don't know."