Just so you know, it was the plan to never actually say who had died until later in the story. Some people were apparently upset about this.
No one was meeting his eyes. They would look up to verify that it was really him walking by and then quickly avert their gaze to something—anything—else. The only one who would meet his eyes was her. She slowly, shamefully looked up at him from her fetal position in the hospital bed. Her eyes were rimmed with unshed tears and they begged him for forgiveness. It was a sight that broke his heart. He sighed heavily and sat down in the chair beside the hospital bed. He looked slightly to his left and waited until he heard the door shut.
"We're alone now, Abs," he whispered softly.
Abby gave one little nod and readjusted her tight grip on the blanket she had pulled up to her chin.
"Ducky said that you wouldn't let anyone help you," he said. He reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder. When she didn't flinch or move away he relaxed it there. "Why, Abby? They're here for you."
One tear fell and Abby swallowed. "Do your forgive me?"
Gibbs frowned in confusion. "Forgive you for what?"
"It's my fault that he's dead," she murmured, another tear falling.
Gibbs stood up quickly and pulled her into his lap, rubbing her back as she began to sob uncontrollably. He let out a deep breath to steady his voice before speaking. "This is not your fault. Only the man who pulled the trigger is at fault."
"But—".
He cut her off. "No. Stop right there. Don't even think it." He put two fingers under chin and lifted it so that she was looking up at him. "Promise me right now, Abigail Sciuto, that you will never blame yourself for his death."
Her eyes narrowed slightly and she sniffled. "Only if you, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, promise me that you won't ever blame yourself either."
Gibbs barely smiled, knowing he had been caught. "I promise." And even as he said it he felt a huge load lifted off his chest. He felt lighter.
Abby snuggled back into his chest. "Then I promise, too, Gibbs."
They remained that way in comfortable silence for a few minutes before the door opened and her doctor stepped in.
"Agent Gibbs," he asked. Gibbs nodded. "I understand that you're Ms. Sciuto's next of kin."
"That's correct," replied Gibbs.
"I just wanted to update you on her condition," said the doctor. "Her sternum was badly bruised by the bullet that struck her, but the vest saved her life. There could have been more damage had the bullet not lost force by passing through…well if it had just hit the vest. And the bullet that hit her back left a bruise over her shoulder blade. But there were no fractures. The vest did its job. Anyway, I've prescribed some minor pain medication. Tonight, I'd like to give her a small dosage of a sedative to help her sleep. This kind of trauma can be more harmful in a mental capacity…which I'm sure you're well aware."
Gibbs just nodded. "Thank you, doc. And tomorrow she can go home."
"As soon as she wakes up we'll call you," replied the doctor.
"That won't be necessary," said Gibbs. "I'll be right here the whole night."
"Okay then," said the doctor. "I'll be here all night as well if you have any questions or need anything. And Nurse Caroline will be the nurse on duty."
"Thanks, doc," repeated Gibbs. He looked back at Abby when he was gone. "Now, can everyone come in and see you? They're worried about you."
Abby let out a shaky breath. "I just can't believe that he's gone, Gibbs. I mean it's—." She stopped abruptly and looked at Gibbs. "I just remembered something."
"What?"
"It's what he said before he…died," whispered Abby. She squeezed his hand tightly.
"Abbs, what was it," he asked.
"Semper Fi."
Gibbs closed his eyes as the words echoed in his mind. He saw Franks telling him that when he left NIS. He saw himself telling the team before his hiatus to Mexico. And if he tried hard enough, he could picture the agent saying it to Abby.
"And then," her face broke into a sad smile. A few tears fell and she wiped them away. "And then he kind of chuckled and said: I've seen this film."
Gibbs couldn't help but smile. "Yeah. That sounds about right."
"Gibbs," Abby murmured. "I don't think he was in any pain. He was smiling when he passed. I actually think he was okay with it."
"He would be if he knew that you were okay," said Gibbs.
Abby nodded. "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy." She paused. "Because he's been in this room the entire time."
Gibbs frowned. "Abby…"
"Well not the entire time. He left about thirty minutes ago. He said that he had to go check on you. But when you came in he came back."
Gibbs was beginning to fear for his Goth's mental state when he remembered that thirty minutes ago he had heard the voice behind him…On your six, Boss…
He looked down at Abby and smiled. "Yeah, that sounds about right." He knew that when it came to matters such as these, he could never doubt Abby. Her perception of the world's unseen—whether it could be found scientifically or not—made her Abby. Besides, he couldn't deny all those times when the dead was following him around. There was Shannon and Kelly and Kate and Franks. Shannon and Kelly were always present inside of him. Kate had been there until he had made his peace. Franks had lingered awhile longer before making his peace as well. But Franks had left his mark in the training of his Probie all those years ago.
Gibbs kissed the top of Abby's head. "I'm going to step out for a bit and tell everyone that you're allowing visitors. That okay?"
"Sure," she murmured. "But where are you going to go?"
He stood up and found himself looking into a familiar pair of green eyes on the opposite side of the bed. "I just need to have a little discussion with someone about protocol." The pair of eyes actually looked worried.
"Don't be too hard on him," said Abby knowingly.
Gibbs left the room, nodding to Ducky that they could go in if they wanted. It was then that he took the time to look over each member of his team. They all looked tired. More tired than any sixty hour work week. He recognized it as a mental tiredness. He wondered how long it was going to take for the wounds to heal. He knew they weren't going to heal like new. No, it was going to ache at times, like when his shoulder hurt when it rained or when something reminded him of Ari.
McGee was trying to keep a brave, stoic face as long as possible. He met Gibbs's eyes and nodded firmly. Gibbs nodded back, knowing that McGee had just stepped to the plate to take over the role of their missing team member in as many ways as he possibly could. Gibbs knew that he was ready.
Ziva's eyes were red and the fact that she didn't care who saw signified that she had indeed changed since renouncing her place with Mossad; since her time at NCIS in general. When she met Gibbs' eyes he saw that she was in a low place. This death had hit her harder than maybe she could've ever imagined. That was what was troubling her; how did his death come to mean so much more than the death of other loved ones in her lifetime? Gibbs knew that he would have to keep a careful eye on her to help her through it.
Palmer nervously looked at him. He was another one that Gibbs would have to make sure was okay in the long run. Gibbs was sure that Ducky would be ever watchful. They both knew that Palmer had found confidence under the deceased's watch. They understood that this would shake him. But Palmer swallowed and tried to look bravely at Gibbs. Gibbs gave him a nod of respect for that. Palmer slowly lowered his gaze, as if he was spent from effort.
Ducky touched Gibbs forearm affectionately, conveying in that touch that he was worried for him.
"I'll be okay, Duck," he said softly. "Go and see Abby."
"And you, Jethro," asked Ducky.
"I just need to take a moment," Gibbs replied softly.
Ducky understood. "I'll make sure that Abigail doesn't stay up too long."
Gibbs left them and wandered around the hospital until he found himself in an empty exam room. He shut the door and when he turned around he wasn't surprised to see his former agent sitting on the exam table, legs swinging carefree. He looked younger, trapped in the body of his prime, but his eyes were older. He was dressed in jeans, a t shirt and his OSU letterman jacket. He was leaning back on his hands as he grinned at Gibbs.
"You knew I couldn't leave it at Semper Fi," he said. "I'm not that much like you."
"Tony," breathed Gibbs. He had been avoiding the name ever since he had found Abby holding his lifeless body in the alley. To say it was almost as painful as seeing the youthful delusion before him. "What in God's name possessed you to give your vest to Abby," he asked.
"My gut," replied Tony quickly.
"If you had been wearing the vest then that bullet would've never gone though you," replied Gibbs.
"If I had been wearing the vest then Abby would've gotten shot in the back by the other guy," shot back Tony. "Look, by all rights, protocol didn't even call for vests at the time. I was just had a feeling…well, you know how it goes."
Gibbs sighed. "Ah, Tony…why did it have to end like this?"
"Now that, I have no idea," replied Tony.
Gibbs sighed and looked into his former Senior Agent's eyes. "You did good, Anthony. You make me proud."
Tony smiled and Gibbs felt a pang in his chest when he remembered that he was only imagining that smile. Tony hopped off the table and walked by Gibbs to the door. "Thanks, Boss. Now go take care of the team. I'll see ya around."
"Yeah."
Gibbs could've sworn that he heard the door open and shut behind him.