Chapter 2

AN: Chapters may vary in length (and seem somewhat short, but I do what I can), and fluff will be added as I see fit. I mean really, she almost died! Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Let's recap- NCIS? Not mine. Waking Up In Vegas? Also not mine. What do I have? A computer, a phone, and some spare time. Let's continue.

At the hospital in Los Angeles, Tony and Ziva waited, worrying. She had called Gibbs and the ambulance, and Jenny was in fact, as everyone had been pleading, hanging on. She was rushed into surgery in an attempt to stabilize her, and safely remove the bullets.

It had been four hours already, and she was still in surgery.

Ziva tried to relax, and much to both of their surprise, leaned on Tony's shoulder. Her mind was racing, it didn't really matter anymore. She sighed.

How could this happen? Well obviously I know how it could happen, I have seen it, and done it hundreds of times. It's just never been Jenny. She always was the strong one. Back in Cairo, she was seemingly invincible. I can not believe it. But I must. She thought, trying to put her mind at ease.

"It's alright Zi, if Abby's ever taught me anything; it's that Gibbs won't let anything happen to Jenny. Tony said, trying to make himself believe his own words. "He's always looking out for her, and-"

He was cut short by the ring of the phone, bringing her out of her near sleep state.

"David."

Ziva, its Gibbs. What hospital are you at?

"Gibbs? You're here? LA Memorial. It's on Windsor and Caltera Drive."

I'll be there in ten.

And the line went dead.

"Who was it sweet cheeks?" Tony said, attempting to either cheer her up or rile her up with her nickname stemming from their undercover assignment as a married couple.

"It was Gibbs." Ziva said in all seriousness. Now was not the time to joke around in her mind. "He flew out when he got the news. He's on his way here now. Jenny better pull through this or Gibbs will…-"

"Let's not go there Ziva. She'll pull through. She's tough." He said, cutting her off.

"Yes, much like Gibbs, stubborn as a tool." She said, causing him to just laugh and shake his head. Her brow furrowed.

"It is not stubborn as a tool, is it?" Ziva asked, obviously frustrated with her latest idiom faux pas.

He stood up, motioning for her to come along.

"Stubborn as a mule. And yes, they are." Tony said, glad her mind was off the topic for a while.

"Where are we even going?" She asked. They had been walking down the corridor of the hospital silently, not needing to say anything; one another's presence was enough.

"Bossman will need a cup of coffee… Well, that swill he calls coffee." Tony winced and froze. "He's behind me, isn't he?"

"No Tony, not this time." She chuckled, and he put his arm around her shoulder as they walked down the hallway. They had each others back; seemingly in a normal situation, just as partners, but to a trained eye, they stood closer, and seemed to be comfortable with each other.

It appeared to be too easy for them to comfort one another. It was just the worst circumstances for the occurrence.

For Jenny and Gibbs, it had been Europe that had done the trip. More importantly, Paris.

___________________________--*--___________________________

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs sped down the highways of LA, his mind racing.

He hadn't been able to sleep on the flight, not that he had wanted to. The single glass of bourbon had done the trick, calming him down without leaving him too intoxicated to drive to the hospital. Weaving in and out of the lanes of traffic, he thought about why he was here.

Well, he obviously knew why he was here; Jenny had almost been killed and was in surgery right now. What he needed to ask himself was why was he here. He knew the answer. He just didn't want to admit it.

He still loved her. He had been foolish, not being upfront with her upon her return as Director, and now she was hospitalized with the possibility of never coming back. He didn't know what he'd do if he didn't have the chance to tell her.

So onward he drove, with so many traffic violations it would require a full months pay to take care of. But none of this mattered to him.

All that mattered was her.

___________________________--*--___________________________

Back at the hospital, Tony and Ziva finally found Gibbs some decent coffee. Or, rather, some coffee that suited his taste. It had been in what appeared to be employees only café area, but a few flashes of their badges and there was coffee to be had.

He ordered Gibbs' usual Large Black Coffee, Jamaican blend, his own medium double-double and Ziva's French Vanilla Hazlenut blend.

I might as well be prepared. He thought.

Walking back to the waiting room they were hand in hand, standing unusually close. If they were asked what was going on, nothing was different. They were supporting their partner at a difficult time. It wasn't a yellow light situation at all because Rule 12 wasn't being broken, and nothing was inappropriate.

"Dinozzo, David! Rule 12, ever heard of it?"

Or so they thought.