A/N: I can't believe the response to this story. I had thought I'd lost my mojo in recent stories. Glad to hear you are engaged. Remember that a tragedy occurs. There is a death. Please proceed at your own risk. You are all wonderful for remembering me and responding as you have. Sheila

Chapter 2

McGee felt himself drifting away. The child beside him on the bed had grown quiet, and he felt like he was floating. He blinked his eyes in the heavy smoke one more time, but this time there was a glow. A sense of light he hadn't found earlier. His hand felt for the extinguisher, and he pointed the hose at the glow, but there wasn't any foam left. Something about the glow kept his oxygen deprived brain intrigued though, and he forced himself into a sitting position, dragging the extinguisher into his lap. With all the effort he could muster, he heaved the fire extinguisher onto his chest and tumbled toward the glow.

….

Gibbs was in the backyard screaming into the face of a fire department captain when a small fire extinguisher came flying out a second story window, hit the eaves at the edge of the roof, and bounced into the grass.

They stopped yelling at each other, and turned their attention to firefighters focused on another window. The fire chief was screaming into a walkie talkie and pointing. Firefighters scrambled off the ladder, dragged it along the eaves to the hole left by the fire extinguisher. Women and men wearing heavy gear and tanks scrambled up the ladder, and hoses were turned at that part of the house. Gibbs advanced on the ladder.

The fire chief pulled him back. "Come on, Marine. This is what we do. Let my people work."

…

He felt a hand on his face, and his eyes opened again. This time there was an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, and he sucked in deeply. The hand belonged to Ellie, and she was patting his cheek. "It's okay, Tony. So many victims. They're transporting the children first. You're next."

He tried to lift his head but she held him by his shoulders firmly. "I know you're worried about Tim, but you just have to stay still."

Tony focused on her face, and saw red, wet eyes. He barked into the mask, and finding that unsatisfying, grappled with it. A burly EMT brushed her aside and pinned his arms down. "You do that again and I put you in restraints. No one dies in my care."

Tony turned his head to look for Bishop and saw that she had wandered off. She was standing, arms folded tightly around her middle, staring at a group of people huddled on the ground, and in their midst was someone pumping straight arms up and down with a rhythm that looked familiar. Bishop was staring at it, and he saw her put one hand over her mouth. He heard someone yell for the paddles, and then he heard, "1…2…3…Clear!" A body in their midst jerked. In the group a familiar head turned, and Tony saw Gibbs looking at him. Then the boss' eyes searched for Bishop, and when he caught sight of her, he signaled aggressively. She turned and saw Tony watching and came running. She planted herself in the grass such that his view was blocked. He slapped at her helplessly, but she stayed put, tears wet on her face. Then he clawed at the mask on his face, yelling hoarsely into the air, "McGee!"

The EMT was straddling him, capturing his arms, and tying them to the backboard. Ellie heaved a sob. "I'm sorry, Tony. I'm sorry. They're doing the best they can. Gibbs is there. He won't let them stop. I'm promise, Tony. They are going to do everything possible."

He tried to respond, but the EMT secured the mask over his face and yelled for his partner. "Let's load and go! Gotta get him out of here!"

Tony strained and grunted, but it was useless. The EMTs were experienced, and his panic was no match for their practiced hands. The last thing Tony remembered were the ambulance doors slamming shut, and an EMT working an IV into his arm.

…

His eyes opened and it took a moment for him to focus. The room was bare, but the machines, the sounds, and the television mounted on the wall told him he was in a hospital. The lights were dim, and his mouth and nose were still trapped under an oxygen mask. He tried to reach for it, but his hands were strapped to the bed. Memories flashed through his head: smoke, coughing, the 11 year old with the brown, serious eyes, the baby he held to his chest, McGee crawling past him with the little fire extinguisher, Bishop with tears down her face… He tried to jerk upward but exhaustion and restraints aborted his efforts. He breathed hard into the mask. He was like a prisoner- held captive in a vacuum of memories but no truths.

The door opened and he turned his head to the woman coming in. She said nothing to him but she was oddly familiar. Dark, curly hair and light blue eyes. She was delicately boned, and for a moment, he thought she was a girl. She came over to his bed and looked down at him. He grunted questions at her, but it was like she didn't hear him. Then he remembered her face from the house. This was the mother: the one McGee hustled out of the house. He noted no signs of smoke. She looked fresh and pretty- very pretty. She was the kind of pretty that never needed makeup or expensive clothes. She wore a crisp white shirt and jeans with gold earrings and a matching necklace. She reminded him nothing of the disheveled, panicked parents he was used to seeing in crisis situations. He carefully formed words in the mask, "Are your children okay?"

"My second youngest died. Her name was Maggie. She was three years old."

Tony closed his eyes and enunciated, "I'm sorry."

"The others lived." There was a flatness to her tone, and he had to remind himself that people in shock reacted like this sometimes.

"My partner?" He asked.

She shrugged.

"Please. He is my friend."

"It was too late to stop the kid," she said softly. "You're going to be the hero."

Tony furrowed his brows in confusion. "I'm worried about my friend."

She shook her head and walked out of the room.

…..

Ducky sat down as quietly as he could. He leaned back in his chair and waited. His friend was resting in the chair across from him, eyes closed, his face as still as granite.

Ducky sipped at his coffee softly.

Gibbs' eyes opened. "You knew I wasn't sleeping."

"I knew you would talk to me when you were ready."

"He's alive still?"

Ducky nodded. "Unconscious and on a ventilator, but he's alive."

"Delilah is with him?"

"She's a strong woman."

"Yeah."

"He arrested twice. Were you there both times?"

Gibbs nodded.

"The doctor said that the second time it took them 10 minutes to establish sinus rhythm again."

"It felt more like an hour."

"Brain damage is a concern, Jethro."

Gibbs closed his eyes again. "Today, all I care about is that he's alive."

"What about the mother? Has she given a statement?"

"She's somewhere here in the hospital. They're going to try to catch up with her here."

"We're not taking the case?"

Gibbs shook his head. "We don't know that there was a crime. All we have is a dead child and six people in the hospital from a house fire. Right now, our role is to get Sergeant Martin home as soon as possible. His family needs him."

"I looked in on Tony. He's sleeping but his vitals are good. He's going to be ready to talk soon."

"Gibbs."

Both men looked up. Bishop was standing there. She smelled of smoke and chemicals, and grime covered her from head to toe.

"You left the scene."

She nodded. "The fire is out. The chief said they wouldn't know anything for awhile. How are my partners?"

"Alive."

"Both of them?"

"Yeah. Tony is stable. Tim is in intensive care."

Her mouth stiffened. "He was in cardiac arrest for a long time."

Gibbs sighed. "It wasn't that long, Bishop."

"It seemed long." She rubbed at the dirt on her face. "Then I heard it happened again in the back of the ambulance. That's bad."

Gibbs felt frustration rise up in him. She was being stubborn. She wanted guarantees, and he had no access to that. Ducky could feel it and he stepped in. "It's difficult, Eleanor, but right now, we can only wait. In the meantime, you look exhausted. Let's get you in a shower. I'll find some food."

She blinked. "I…don't have anything with me."

"I'll get you some scrubs. You wait right here."

Ducky left and she pushed hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. It was scary."

"It was," he replied softly.

"I don't know what to do."

Gibbs leaned forward and clasped his hands. "We wait."

She shook her head. "I don't think I can do that."

"I can see that."

"I need to investigate this or study it. I need to do what I do."

He nodded. "Tony will wake up and we can start the conversations."

"What about the mother? We should talk to her."

"She has four children in this hospital and one in the morgue. The fire department will be her first interview."

She threw up her hands. "I'm confused, Gibbs! You're a doer! I mean…you're…you should be raging right now."

Gibbs saw Ducky come in with scrubs in hand and stood. "Ducky is here. Get washed up. Eat something. Go home and sleep. I'm going to go sit with Tony."

Ellie watched him leave. "I don't understand him right now."

Ducky steered her down the hall. "It's been a rough day, Ellie. He almost lost both of them. He saw McGee die twice today. Give him a little space. The minute we know something, he's going to wake up and you're going to have to be ready for that."

…

She felt long, warm fingers rest on the back of her shoulders, and she reached up and clasped a hand. "I'm glad they let you in."

Abby leaned over Delilah's shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. "How are you doing?"

"Hanging in."

"He looks…good."

Delilah shook her head. "Come on, Abbs. It's you and me. Look at him."

Abby swallowed hard and focused on McGee looking deathly pale under a respirator. "What did the doctor say?"

She shook her head. "We have to wait and see. If his oxygen levels don't improve in the next few hours, they're going to put him in a hyperbaric chamber. None of us will even be able to touch him."

Abby blinked hard. "He's really strong. Just remember that."

"We're supposed to prepare for possible brain damage."

She shook her head. "I can't do it, Delilah. I just can't. I have to believe it's all going to be okay."

Delilah squeezed her hand. "I agree. Let's just believe that he's going to be fine. Only positive energy."

"Can I touch him?"

"Just be careful. He has burns on his hands."

Abby leaned over and rested her cheek on his arm. "You're my best friend, Timmy. I love you very much."

Delilah rubbed her back. "He loves you too."

Finally, Abby straightened up and rubbed at her eyes. Then she walked over and reached for a paper bag. "Apple slices. Cheese. Nuts. Chocolate. I know you're not hungry. If your gut is half as crazy as mine, you can't imagine food right now, but you need to stay healthy for him. Eat little bits when you can. Okay?"

"You're such a good friend, Abbs."

She smiled. "I didn't make it easy."

"It was worth the hard work."

"Okay," Abby said as she hugged her. "I was only given five minutes to check-in with you. I'm going to go sit in the waiting room. I'll be there for whatever you need."

"You're the best."

Abby smiled at the nurse after she exited the room. "Thanks. That meant a lot to me."

"When Delilah gets tired, you can take turns. I know it's hard for people to understand, but he needs as much quiet as possible."

"I get it." She glanced into the waiting room, and saw a petite woman with long, curly dark hair. "Who is that?"

The nurse pointed at one of the other critical care rooms. "Paige Martin. She is the mother to the baby from the fire. 18 months old. A cute little pumpkin named Sadie."

Abby bit her lip. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She's pretty stable, but she's little and scared. We're keeping a nurse in there with her at all times. She needs the nurturing, and is currently not getting it."

Abby looked at the pretty woman in the waiting room. "Poor thing. She lost one child today, and the other four are in the hospital. She must be so overwhelmed."

The nurse rolled her eyes. "I have to keep reminding myself of that."

Abby gave her an odd look. "I'm going to go see if she needs anything."

The woman was busy texting when Abby went into the waiting room. Abby took a seat next to her. "Hi, Mrs. Martin. My name is Abby."

The woman looked up from her phone. "Do you work here?"

"No. My friend is in intensive care. He was one of the NCIS Agents in the house with you and your children."

The woman put down the phone. "What do you want?"

"I'm so sorry for your loss. Can I do anything for you? Do you need coffee? Food? Can I call someone for you? You shouldn't be alone."

"I have someone coming." There was something about the way she said it that didn't invite further conversation.

Abby moved to another chair and opened her laptop while the woman returned to texting. She finished with her phone and put it aside. Abby felt Paige Martin staring at her and so she looked up. "Decide you were ready for something to eat?"

Paige shook her head. "My daughter died today."

Abby nodded. "I can't imagine."

"Your friend saved himself. The other agent saved four of my children, but your friend saved only himself."

It was such an unexpected outburst that Abby froze.

"So, if you're wondering if I want a snack, the answer is no."

Abby took a breath. "My friend's name is Tim. Timothy McGee. He's amazing and I know he did everything he could. I know it because I know him."

"Were you there?"

Abby shook her head.

"Paige!"

A man in a Marine uniform rushed past Abby. The woman who was dripping negativity moments earlier melted into him. "Oh God! Brian, where have you been?"

"I couldn't…It wasn't that simple." He glanced at Abby. "I had to arrange to get your husband, Kevin, on a transport."

She hugged him tightly. "I needed you hours ago. Have you heard? Maggie's dead. I can't…it's too much. Please just be here for me."

Abby watched her basically collapse into his arms. Confusion battled with her compassion, and she found herself unable to do anything but stare.

The Marine officer noticed. "You're here for someone?"

She nodded. "NCIS Agent McGee is my friend. He's in Intensive Care. He tried to rescue…Maggie."

"You're NCIS so you know that Marine Units are like families. Maggie's death hits hard for all of us, and we appreciate the efforts of your agents. I'm so sorry he was hurt."

Paige Martin lifted a teary face off his chest and groaned, "Oh God Brian, do you always have to be so scripted?"

His face reddened. "Please forgive her. This is not who she is. She's obviously in shock."

"Of course, she is," Abby said slowly.

"Can I have a few minutes alone with her?"

Abby nodded and walked down the hall. From where she stood, she could still see them huddled together. There was an air of agitation to their interactions that didn't seem to fit the circumstances, but it was one of many puzzles she'd encountered in her 10 minutes with Paige Martin.

…

When Tony woke up again, he found a familiar set of blue eyes watching him. Relief flooded through him. Gibbs would give him answers. Then panic seized him as he realized that Gibbs being in his room could mean the answers weren't good. His breath quickened and he struggled against his restraints. "McGee!" he grunted through the oxygen mask.

Gibbs leaned forward. "He's in intensive care but he's alive."

Tony studied him for a moment and Gibbs smiled. "Really? You think I'd lie to you about that. He's very sick but he's alive."

"How sick?" Tony grunted.

"Maybe…brain damaged sick."

Tony closed his eyes and turned away. They let the silence stand for a while.

Then Gibbs said. "They have you all tied up here. How about I undo these restraints on the condition that you keep that oxygen mask on?"

Tony nodded and Gibbs freed his hands. "Feeling better now?"

He grunted.

"I need a sit rep on what happened. I can't make sense of it. Nobody wants to talk to mother yet. She's overwhelmed."

Tony nodded. He could only speak in a harsh whisper, but Gibbs was patient, asking questions softly, and together they pulled together an accounting of the morning's events.

Finally, Gibbs sat back. "So, McGee crawled off to the back of the house and that's the last you saw him."

Tony nodded. "Is the little girl okay?"

Gibbs flinched. He hadn't realized Tony was missing that part of the story. "She died, Tony. They pulled McGee and the little girl out, but…she was gone."

Tony closed his eyes and his breathing grew ragged.

"You both did the best you could, Tony."

Tony looked at him with soft eyes. "Tim will take it hard."

"I know but we'll be there for him."

There was a soft knock on the door, and then Vance peeked his head in. "Can I come in?"

Gibbs nodded and Vance came in. "Just checked on McGee. Delilah, Abby, and Agent Bishop are taking turns. He's pretty popular with the girls today. How are you doing?"

"Fine," Tony croaked.

Vance put his hands in pockets. "I was just at the scene. Still quite a crowd there. Talked to the Fire Chief. It'll be a day before it cools down enough for them to go in and investigate. Have you reported, DiNozzo?"

"He just did, Leon. I'll get it written up."

"It'll be important."

Gibbs caught the tone in his voice. "What's going on?"

Vance shrugged. "There was a neighbor lady trying to tell the media that McGee left the little girl behind."

"No!" Tony tried to rise, but Gibbs caught him.

"Don't worry. It's not a thing. Fire Crew told the Chief that they found McGee on the floor with the girl in his arms. He must've broken the window, and then gone back for her. Chief says the smoke inhalation was too much for him."

"It's wrong," Tony hissed through the mask. "You don't know what it's like."

"A child dies and people need to point fingers. The Chief isn't impressed. Actually, we have a bigger problem."

Gibbs sighed. "I don't want to know."

"Lucky you. It seems that some kid filmed DiNozzo here handing kid after kid out the window, and then holding them on the roof until the crew got to them. Kid put it on YouTube. News outlets picked it up. DiNozzo here is about to be a big star."

Tony shook his head and looked away.

"Please Leon," Gibbs said. "Handle it."

"I wish it were up to me, but SecNav says we need some good publicity."

"No circus. The last thing we need is a circus."

"I'll do the best I can, Gibbs."

…

The machines scared him when he opened his eyes, but then everything else did as well. His bedroom looked wrong, and Ducky was certainly not the person he was used to waking up to in the morning. He found the mask and pulled hard. Pain shot up through his throat, and then Ducky was wrestling with him. "You're intubated, Timothy. Stop it!"

None of that made sense, and so he continued to struggle. Strange women came into his bedroom and pounced on him. Everything was wrong, and he couldn't find any reason to this.

"Sedate him!"

"No! The doctor wants him conscious. It's time."

"Restraints!"

"I have the left!"

"Grab that rogue arm! I don't want to have to intubate again! His throat is probably too swollen to tolerate it!"

"Got him?"

"Yup!"

"Dr. Mallard, he needs a friendly voice. I'm sure he's confused."

Hands grabbed his face and he found himself looking at Ducky. "Timothy, look at me. You're okay. We're here. Everyone you love. We're here."

McGee's breathing slowed. He tried to talk but the intubation made it impossible.

"Shhh! Don't talk. I'll do the talking. You're in a hospital. You were in a house fire. Do you remember it?"

McGee searched the old man's eyes and then shook his head.

"Do you remember me?"

Tim nodded.

Ducky relaxed. "At least we have that."

McGee made a grunting noise.

Ducky smiled. "I know you want answers, but we'll take it a bit at a time. Would you like to see friendly faces? Delilah? Abby? Gibbs? I mean Jethro isn't the friendliest face, but he represents security."

He nodded.

Ducky turned to a nurse. "Let's start with Delilah. Just a minute or two. Then he can rest before we give him another visitor. How does that sound?"

She nodded and left.

…

Tony sat on the edge of the bed in street clothes. Gibbs shook his head. "You still have another day here. Respiratory therapy is important. Getting impatient is not an option. You're going to look like an idiot in that bed in your jeans."

"I'm not walking around in a gown with my ass sticking out," he rasped. His throat was raw in a way that he'd never experienced before.

"You shouldn't be walking around at all."

"I want to see him."

Gibbs sighed. "He's tired and confused. He's still intubated and he can't talk. There's plenty of time for this. I sat with him and not much happened, you know."

"So, it's my turn," Tony said as he launched himself unsteadily from the bed.

"Stubborn ass," Gibbs mumbled as he steered him into the hallway. The ICU waiting room had become an NCIS campground, and Abby and Ellie were sprawled over chairs sleeping, and Jimmy sat in a chair with Victoria in his lap.

Tony smiled at the baby. His affection for the child was unfettered, and he was constantly buying toys and clothes for her. He put out his arms to pick her up, but Gibbs shook his head. "You're as unsteady as a newborn colt. Not putting a baby in your arms."

Tony bent over and kissed her head, drinking in the sweetness of a fresh baby. Something emotional rose up in him, and he remembered the baby in his arms on the roof. He swayed and Gibbs put a steadying hand around his waist. He looked at Jimmy. "Thanks for bringing her."

Jimmy winced. "I'll bet your throat feels like ground hamburger."

Tony nodded. Gibbs pulled him gently toward the ICU. The doors slid open, and Gibbs nodded at a nurse. "We're going to start with the good."

He steered Tony away from McGee's room and stopped him at the entrance to Sadie Martin's room. "There's your co-star. She's doing well. Her young lungs need a little more time to recover."

Tony watched the 18 month old child curled up in a crib sleeping. She was still on oxygen. He felt tears well up in his eyes, and he wiped at them impatiently. "I'm not a hero."

"Your YouTub movie has 15 million hits. ZNN wants an interview. You don't have a choice in the matter."

"It's YouTube, Boss," he rasped wearily.

"Whatever. Let's go see Tim. Don't ask much. It just confuses him."

Delilah looked up when they came in and smiled. "He's in and out. If you need to speak to him, he can respond with one finger for yes and two fingers for no. Remind him of it though. His short term memory is not very good."

Tony reached for her and they hugged tightly. They held on for a while, and then Tony pulled away and rubbed at his face. Teary eyed, she said nothing as she backed up her chair and wheeled out.

Gibbs pulled a chair over for him and Tony sat down. McGee seemed like he was sleeping peacefully, and for a moment, Tony didn't disturb him, but then he gently took his hand and held it. McGee's eyes popped open.

"Hey buddy," Tony said softly.

McGee's breath quickened.

"Do you remember the system for yes or no?"

McGee frowned. Tony sighed. "One finger for yes. Two fingers for no."

He nodded as if hearing it for the first time. Gibbs squeezed his shoulder. "Be patient. It may just be temporary."

Tony focused on Tim. "Do you remember what happened yesterday morning?"

With his free hand, Tim tentatively raised two fingers.

"We had a nuisance call. Wife not answering the phone for Marine husband in Afghanistan. Remember those?"

McGee nodded and raised one finger. Tony felt a flood of relief.

"We got there in time for a house fire. Five kids and a mother inside. Do you remember that?"

Two fingers went up.

"Well then, you're luckier than I am. It was a rough morning."

McGee stared at him for a moment and then grunted. Tony knew he wanted details. "Everyone got out."

He'd neglected to say that Maggie made it out but not alive. McGee searched his friend's eyes and grunted again. Gibbs leaned over. "He knows you too well. Tell him the truth."

Tony's chin trembled. "A child died. The rest are recovering."

McGee's eyes watered and he looked away.

Tony squeezed his hand. "It's okay. We did the best we could. I promise you. I'll remember that for both of us."

TBC