You Needed Me
Chapter 3.
Hospital:
By the time the Dr. Matt Williams, came to see both Gibbs and Bull, for the both of them it was feeling like they had been there for hours, he came into the main waiting room and then told them to go with him and they went into the office nearby.
After they had sat down, he said to them "I know that this will be difficult for you both to hear, but first of all I want to assure you that things will be ok, it's just going to be a long journey for you all to her recovery."
Gibbs is the one that finds his voice as he asks "So what is wrong?"
"We have had to put her under sedation, which was the best thing to do for us and for Annabella. I'm guessing that due the stress of everything she has gone through and the stress from her injuries as her body is trying to heal itself, things had just got too much and was shutting down on her, along with the weight she has lost."
Bull then asks "She said she was being sick a lot, what caused that?"
"It's the reason we have also put her under sedation; did she know that she was pregnant?"
Bull replies "I don't think she did, I don't think it had even crossed her mind."
"She is nearly five months to be precise, and yes I know that from talking with my colleague Dr. Liz Burns that again the stress from everything probably didn't help and probably contributed in making things worse, but she has been suffering from a very serious form of morning sickness, which is why it has lasted for most of the day, in this form of sickness, sometimes it can get better after the third trimester, but in rare cases can continue right through to the end of the pregnancy. We will monitor things closely when we bring her out of sedation, but we hope that with her body being given a chance to have some complete rest, that it will then get better and she can get through the rest perfectly fine. The only thing we are concerned about is despite the weight loss and not eating, she was also showing signs of gestational diabetes."
Gibbs says "That could be possible, because I know that from talking to her mom since Annabella found me and us getting reconnected through that, Rachael did also have the same thing during her pregnancy, so how long will she be out for?"
"The worst injuries we found were the untreated broken ribs, that had began to heal and the severe bruising over her body, which were worse on her back. I'm guessing that even if she didn't know she was pregnant somehow in her subconscious she might have known, as not only did she have a lot of defensive injuries on her, it looks like she protected her stomach area the most. So we would like the ribs to be a lot more healed first and through getting all her levels back up again and weight through the feeding tubes and fluids, because it will be a lot easier on her and her system, and will be easier than her trying to do it on her own. For now, we are looking into a couple of weeks, for now and will determine on waking her up depending on what the tests show us. Because of the bringing her weight back up, even when we bring her round again, there will be a chance that along with a diet plan to bring it up in a healthy and safe way, we may also put her onto extra supplements as well."
As Bull clears his throat he asks "When can we see her?"
"We were just getting her comfortable in a room and as soon as we do that I will come and get you. For now, if during this time you want or need to ask anything feel free to let me or Dr. Burns know as we will be the only Dr's working on her case. With knowing the circumstances of this case, I know that you want her to be under protective custody, we have made sure that her room is away from the main corridor and agents can be stationed outside the room and will have a full view of all the comings and goings. The other thing is we have also taken off the visiting restrictions off for both yourself and Dr. Bull, so that if you want to stay and keep guard actually in her room, you are free to do so. I will also ensure that you will receive a list of all staff that will be on the ward each day and also any changes that get made because of sickness because I'm guessing that you will want to check all staff out. If you and Dr. Bull also want to spend the night, I will make sure that another bed will also be put in there."
Gibbs then says "For this case we have someone as a possible suspect for her injuries, because of that will it be possible to have a report on those from you?"
"Yes, I will make sure you get that, I know that you don't know if she went to the prison Dr. or not, and I have a feeling that she may have been to them because I've been trying to get hold of her records for that time, and let's just say I am being railroaded, and I wouldn't be surprised that when I or if I get something, the records may end up being doctored somehow for them to cover their tracks, because there is no way that the injuries would go unnoticed or the fact that she has lost the weight she has done in that amount of time she's lost it in."
Gibbs goes into his pocket and pulls out a card giving it to him and saying "Look if that happens and I'm not here at any time, this is how you can contact me, otherwise you can see me here."
"Thank you agent Gibbs, I will check on how we are going with the room and I will come to get you from the waiting room."
Waiting room:
As the two men headed back to the waiting room once again with both of their heads filled with the news, for Bull his head is filled the most because he knows with how far along in the pregnancy she is, there's no doubt in his mind he's the father of the baby, because it works back to the final night's that they spent together before they split up. In some ways he feels guilty for everything he put her through, but in other ways he's also glad she wasn't around when he had the heart attack and then within weeks of that she had found out about the pregnancy, she would have probably been more scared that she could have been a chance that if he had not survived, she would have been a single mother. Though he was feeling thankful that he was still there and had a determination more than ever that he would help Gibbs find out the truth and if it came to it, he would also work on the side of the prosecution when it came to trial because he wanted to find out who was attempting to set her up and send her to prison and make sure they ended up in prison for a very long time themselves. More than anything else he was also determined that he wanted to be there for Annabella and make a success of a relationship which he really hoped that they would have now, and that whatever happened between them he would always be there for the mother of his child and his child.
Eventually he was bought out of his reverie by Gibbs saying "Tell me the truth; you're the father of her baby aren't you?"
He cleared his throat as he then answered "I am, and it was as our relationship ended that this happened, I actually wouldn't be surprised if it happened around the last time we slept together. I promise you Gibbs that I will do everything I can to make any kind of relationship we have work, but I do love her very much and I am determined to show her how much I do and to win her back again, and I will be here for her and the baby. I suppose in some ways you could say that this is the only good that has come out of the bad, but I am glad in some ways she was away from it all, despite what has happened to her."
"How do you mean?"
He says "look I don't know how much she told you about us, but when we split up she had been pretty worried about me and my health, but I didn't listen. If I wasn't with her at either of our apartments, I was sleeping at the office most nights, drinking, eating junk and lets just say really not looking after myself. When she left, I will admit that all of that then got worse. So much so that I got arrested because I kicked and broke a vending machine I was trying to get a bottle of water out of. On top of her leaving I also found out that my ex-wife was getting re-married at the same time as the incident with the machine. In holding I met this man who was charged with rape and murder of a man and wife and then setting fire to their home. I knew he was innocent, and we went into defending him in a death sentence case, we lost the case and I was still determined to prove his innocence, so we all went all out to do it or rather I did, ignoring all the symptoms and signs I had been getting for a heart attack. The night before it happened I didn't sleep at all because I was at the FBI with the wife of the man that turned out to be the real murderer in the case. When it was all over I walked out of the courtroom feeling breathless, with pains in my arm and chest, I then collapsed and had the heart attack on the steps of the courthouse. While waiting for the ambulance that I'd called to come, all I could think of was the words of my ex when I went to see her saying I was no good alone, and also that last argument that me and Annabella had in the realization I had thrown away the best thing that had happened since Izzie, as I was also thinking about all the good times we'd had and how much I loved Bella and do still love her."
"You have had a wake up call, and I would say for now you make a real go of this second chance you've both been given in more ways than one, but I think she was probably thinking this may be the chance for the both of you to repair things because of the way she wanted you to help her, I don't think she would have done that if there was a zero chance for the both of you, and as the Dr. said she may not have actually known about the pregnancy, but somehow must have known it subconsciously because of the way she has tried to protect herself, and possibly reached out to you because of that, because she knew the two of you needed to find it out together. Look I don't mind about what happens with your future together, whether it be here in DC or New York, because I know that you will always come to see me if it is New York and I will also come to you, but do know this that if you hurt her again, then you will have me to answer too."
He answers "I know I will and I promise that I will never do it to her again. Obviously for now me and the team will be here to help with the investigation and if need be, I will also stay around to help with the prosecution of the case when we get whoever has done it. When we go back to New York eventually, I won't make her go back with me, I will leave that decision up to her. If we are to live separate lives for a while, so be it, but I do promise you Gibbs that I will always be around for both her and the baby, and I don't want to miss out on anything important during the pregnancy. Especially as probably by the time they wake her up again and the stage she now is that baby will be kicking and moving inside her, so she will wonder what's going on inside her, and we will be the ones to break it to her what it is."
"Well, the best thing may be that you are the one to break it to her, but I will also be there for the both of you when you do it."
Bull replies quietly "Thank you… So the next thing is what are we going to do about telling her mom what has happened?"
"I thought that I want to make sure that everything is ok with Anna first of all, then I would go into the Navy Yard to ensure that everything is in place for the teams to stand guard, as I think it should be done between both my team and also Balboa's team, as they're the only other people I would trust with this. After that I thought that I perhaps ought to be the one that goes to New York and tells her. I know that I have been keeping her updated with everything that has been going on although I hadn't given her an update as yet about you coming on board. I do think though that this update and her being in hospital should really be given to her via in person rather than over the phone, especially as I think she should also have the option over if she's going to be here or not and I'd much rather be with her and make sure she's protected, because I don't trust the person that's doing this trying to get her mom or one of us instead if they don't think they can get to Anna."
Bull says "I think that could be a good idea, if you need anything while there give us a shout as I can help you out if you need it. Before you go, I'll also ensure that you can have the keys to my apartment to use while you're there. And being here while you're gone, I will also keep an eye on the case closely and will make sure I keep you updated on any news that comes in both ways."
"Thank you and I will let you know what we're doing and when we will be on the way back.
Back at the Navy Yard:
Once they had both got into see Annabella, they both had private time at her side, before Gibbs then headed off to the Navy Yard. When he first got there Vance asked to see him, so he'd headed straight to see him. Gibbs was then quite surprised when Vance told him that even though officially they shouldn't have anything to do with the case, because of knowing he would want to be at his daughter's side and having heard about the trip to New York the MCRT could do their jobs, but they couldn't do it with them being on the protective detail, so that would continue with whoever was left and because of how Bull's team had now got settled, so he would allow them to get their heads together and work towards finding out who it was that had set Annabella up, so with that they sorted out the protection detail rota with as he had hoped it to be members of Balboa's team helping them with that.
Once they had finished talking Gibbs called Marissa asking her to get the team together, as they would be having a meeting with everyone in the bullpen, so then by the time they all got downstairs everyone was congregated into Gibbs team area.
For the meeting Gibbs stood in front of his desk and whistled for everyone to quieten down, after that he then did a speech explaining that Annabella had been put under sedation because of her injuries and because of the exhaustion, so that her body could get the rest it needed, which had been what he and Bull had agreed on, because they wanted to at least wait to tell everyone the pregnancy news either after they had told Rachel the news or when Annabella had been woken up and they could then do the news together. He then explained that they would share the protective detail with Balboa's team and that they would get lists of the staff that would be on duty each day from Dr. Matt Williams or Dr. Liz Burns. He or Bull would most probably be there for most of the time, but everyone was also very welcome to visit her, they would just have to let them or the protection detail know. For now, it would also be mostly Bull they would have to tell because he was off to New York to let Annabella's mom know what had happened. The director had also given his clearance for both Bull's team and the MCRT to carry on the investigation, although the only thing he didn't want happening was for him to either get an irate call from Fornell while he was in New York or him on his doorstep when he got back because they had overstepped the mark or something, so they were all to be careful. After that he took his leave to head home and pack as he would then do another check in with Annabella at the hospital before he headed off to New York.
After Gibbs speech:
After Gibbs had left and as everyone dispersed as everyone from TAC headed back to where they were set up, Marissa held back behind everyone for a while, then once Benny had caught up with her she said "Look we know how Bull feels about Annabella and with this now happening to her I think we will need a plan."
"How so?"
She responds "Well with Gibbs having gone to New York and Bull most probably not wanting to leave her side, which we know will not do him any good, so I'm thinking we need to go to the hospital and keep an eye on him, even give him a break."
"I agree, so what are we going to do?"
She answers "I think we should take him some food in or one of us stay with Annabella while we take him off to get food, because if this leads to him not sleeping and eating junk again it won't do him any good and if he wants her back again, he won't be doing much in ways to prove that he will be doing all he can to win her back again."
"I agree, but how are we going to do it without him knowing what we're up to, because you know if he realises what we're up to, he'll go stubborn on us and will carry on what he's doing, anyway."
She says "I know, we'll have to think of something, lets just for now take something into him later on and see what happens."
"Ok I agree to that, and you never know we might end up having a miracle as he may surprise us and behave."
They both then chuckle as they head into their office area and he then adds "Come on let us get this case sorted out and solved, then that way not only will he get some rest, but we might also manage to get back home."
Gibbs house:
Gibbs had not been at home for long when there was a yell from downstairs, so he bought his now packed bag down with him to then say as he got to the bottom "What is it Fornell?"
He answered "Look my team have now been officially pulled in for this investigation, but I know that you and the team won't stay away from it no matter how much you're ordered too, we also know Dr. Bull's team will be remaining here. So my director has said we can work together on this, especially with what's happened today."
"And what's that?"
He replies "The IG investigation into the case that Sacks was on that went down the pan concluded today, he has been found to be the one at fault and has been charged. He is also now where Annabella was because he has also been charged with the murder of the agent that was killed in the incident and wasn't given bail; I've come straight to you from the hearing."
"That's good news Tobias; call Vance so he can brief the teams because I'm off to New York. You can also do me a favour as I am just going to pop in and see Annabella before I go, you can also give the news to Dr. Bull."
Fornell says "Are you sure that's a good idea Gibbs, you seeing Rachel after all this time?"
Gibbs sighs and replies "I don't know if it is, but I think with what's happened it's better for her to learn about it from me, rather than it being done by a phone call to her, not only that I think it's probably better for Bull to be here with Annabella, especially if they wake her up before we get back, and the two of us have been getting along better even before this happened just from having the odd talk on the phone, after we'd had that long talk not long after Anna got here. So what else is there Tobias as I really must get going."
"Let's just say I am glad about the protective detail on Annabella, I know that she may be safe now that Sacks is where she was, but I don't really trust him. I've sent everything onto Jack, but I think this is something more than just him killing whoever it was that had the connection to her father's murder, it's like he has just got a total obsession for her with what was found at his apartment, there was so much that a lot of it was just skipped through, and why I sent it to Jack for her to try to get a handle on it. If we do also find enough evidence to also charge him with that murder, I'm already wondering if he did it because of the obsession and thinking she might have gone to him because he killed someone that was just a relative of one of the ones that killed her father."
"Well, Jack should be able to tell you what this all may be about."
Fornell says "That's what I thought, so I would also say that I want to volunteer to help with the protection detail, and it will only be me because other than Tara I wouldn't really trust the rest of the team that's been put together for this much. I also want to do it because Annabella is a really great agent and on the couple of occasions we've worked together I could see how good she was."
"I know that she's a good agent, but the thing is we may have lost her for good with all of this happening. It will be a long road for her in her recovery, but she admitted to Bull that she knew she would have to make a few decisions about being an agent and going back to work when she had got through everything, and getting her fitness and health back up again, but the way she was talking to him about it, I do have my doubts she will ever be back again as an agent. Not only that if she and Bull manage to get themselves sorted out, then she could quite easily be back again to New York."
Fornell responds "It will be a shame to loose her, but after what has happened, then I wouldn't blame her for not wanting to come back again."
With that Gibbs goes to get his badge and gun as he says "Come on." To Fornell as the two men leave the house.
Late night at the hospital:
Bull had just settled in once again in the seat at Annabella's side, even though he had promised both Marissa and Benny that he would look after himself, and that until Gibbs got back from New York, he would make use of the bed in her room, he knew he would find it tough not falling back into his old ways, but with this second chance he had been given with Annabella he was determined that he would stick to his guns. So he had gone for something to eat out of the hospital with Marissa, while Benny had sat with Annabella, with the promise of a phone call if anything happened while they were gone. Then a bit later on Marissa had been the one that had sat with Annabella, giving Bull a chance of returning to the hotel where he'd had a run on the treadmill in the hotel's gym and then had a freshen up in the shower, before he'd got some night things together and had headed back to the hospital once again to take his seat at Annabella's side.
As he sat there holding her hand and running his thumb over her knuckles and back of her hand, he said "I promise you Bella I will always be here right by your side, I love you and I know that I have got a long way to go with proving to you that I have changed and I will stick to everything, because I so want to see you fighting fit and back with us, but more importantly I want to be here with you bringing up our child together. I am just going to get ready for bed, and then I will sleep in the bed next to you, seeing as your dad has gone to New York to see your mom and tell her about what happened to you, so other than Bishop and Torres being outside as your protective detail, I am the only one here at the moment to protect you in here. Although I have a feeling that if Gibbs brings your mom here when she gets the news, you may end up having to wake up and protect me, because I have a feeling that she might end up killing me when she finds out you're pregnant." He smiles to himself and gets up before going into the bathroom he kisses her on the forehead and runs his fingers through her hair as he whispers "I love you Bella." As he then goes to the bathroom and gets ready for bed once settled in the bed next to hers he says a quiet "Goodnight." As he settles down to sleep.
A/N: I surprised myself by managing to do this chapter a bit quicker than I thought I would, well
I suppose being ill with a throat infection can have some advantages because I've been doing more writing
this week because of it! I also decided that it was a good idea to leave the chapter where I did too because
originally I was going to be including Gibbs trip to New York to tell Rachel the news about what had happened
to Annabella, but then thought this chapter might end up being a bit long, so that will be coming up next
time! Xxx. :0)
