Author's Note: Thanks for all the kind reviews! This chapter took awhile to write...writing about an accident was a lot harder than I thought! I don't own any of the characters...happy reading!!!
Jethro rolled his head to the side and groaned.
"Ohh..." He mumbled just as the dust settled from the accident.
Slowly he reached for the door handle. Much to Jethro's relief it opened.
"Kate!" Jethro yelled as he raced towards the now crumpled car.
"Hey man!" A voice yelled as Jethro pried open the door on Kate's car.
"You should let the paramedics do that!" A voice yelled as Jethro yanked hard to open the dented drivers-side door.
"Trust me...I got this..." Jethro panted as he yanked with all his might, desperate to free Kate.
Much to Jethro's surprise the door opened, and Kate was crushed behind the wheel, slightly slumped over but still coherent.
"Oh my God...." Kate moaned as she looked up at Gibbs.
"We gotta get you out of here." Jethro said as he reached for his knife and cut through Kate's seatbelt.
"Can you move?" Gibbs asked as he worked to remove Kate.
"Yeah." Kate whimpered.
"Jethro..what...what happened?" Kate stuttered as Jethro finally felt the seatbelt release.
"You got shoved into the intersection." Jethro explained as he helped a still-stunned Kate out of her car.
"Oh, okay." Kate replied quickly.
Jethro took one look at Kate and realized she was in shock, rightfully so. After being rear-ended Jethro's car had slid into Kate's and pushed her into a busy intersection. A three-car accident had become a seven car pile-up at a busy intersection.
"Kate...go stand on the sidewalk." Gibbs said as he pointed.
Jethro quickly inspected the other cars, thankfully they were all empty, the smell of gasoline, and motor oil combined with the sound of sirens and Jethro made his way over to the sidewalk where a crowd had gathered.
"Guess y'all are gonna' start blaming me!" A young man in his early twenties slurred as he stumbled towards the crowd.
"Is that your truck?" Gibbs asked as he pointed at the pick-up truck that was smashed into the back of his car.
"Sure is!" The young man announced proudly, which made Gibbs fly into a rage.
"Have you been drinking?" Gibbs pressed.
"Sure have! It's my first day of shore leave!" The young man let out a delighted whoop as he said it.
"Kate..." Gibbs growled. He waited but got no response, he was used to having Kate as his back-up, but she stood there on the sidewalk with a crowd of curious onlookers, and the owners of the other cars.
"Are you in the Navy?" Gibbs asked stating the obvious.
"Sure am!" The man replied.
"Great." Gibbs said as he moved closer to the man.
"You in the Navy too?" The man asked, thinking that he and Gibbs were going to start swapping stories like old friends.
"Actually...I'm an NCIS Agent and so is she." Gibbs said as he pointed to Kate.
"Shucks...I"m sorry about all this..." The man said quickly as he waved his hand towards the accident.
"Come here son..." Gibbs coaxed, knowing that it would be easy to gain his trust.
Gibbs slowly reached inside his jacket pocket and retrieved the set of handcuffs that he always kept with him.
"You're under arrest." Gibbs said just as the man was close enough for him to cuff.
Gibbs deftly cuffed the young man and yanked him down to the ground so that he was sitting on the sidewalk.
"Stay!" Gibbs yelled as he ran towards Kate and the group of victims and onlookers.
"Is everybody okay? Who needs medical attention?" Gibbs yelled, hoping he could sort through this mess. The sirens were getting closer and he'd have help soon enough.
"I'm fine...I think." One voice yelled.
"You think?" Gibbs asked in frustration.
"I had my knee replaced eight weeks ago, today was my first day driving." The older man explained.
"Okay...anybody else?" Gibbs asked as he saw police, and an ambulance arrive.
"We're fine, but I don't know about this one..." A woman just about Gibbs' age said as she moved aside.
Kate was lying on the sidewalk, and a young girl probably still in college was kneeling next to her.
"She started crying...saying that she was going to be late for dinner, and some guy named Jethro hates when people are late." The young girl explained.
"Shit." Jethro muttered as he looked at Kate, noticing for the first time the dark bruises under her eyes, and that her nose was bumpy, swollen and bleeding.
"She looked at her shirt and freaked out...didn't she?" Gibbs said knowingly.
"Yep." The girl replied quickly.
"She can't stand it when it gets everywhere." Gibbs muttered. He looked at Kate's blue and gray stripped button-down, it was soaked with blood.
"What?" The girl asked as Gibbs knelt next to a still unconscious Kate.
"Nothing fazes her...she can deal with a lot, but blood everywhere...not her thing." Gibbs explained.
"I understand completely." The woman said as she pulled a wad of tissues from her purse and shoved them up Kate's nose.
"You do?" Gibbs said with a puzzled expression as he watched the young girl.
"Third year nursing student...ask me what happens when I have to get bloodwork done...." The girl trailed off.
"She keels over like it's her job." A paramedic said as he pushed his way through and knelt next to kate.
"Dylan?" The young girl asked.
"Jessa?" The paramedic replied.
"He's my fiancee." Jessa explained as she looked at Gibbs.
"She's my fiancee." The paramedic said with a grin as he looked at Gibbs, and the two men shared a knowing smile.
"She's very intelligent." Gibbs said, awestruck at how quickly the young woman had administered first aid.
"Anybody else?" Dylan asked as he began trying to wake Kate.
"Older guy...he had his knee replaced, today is his first day completely mobile." Jessa surmised quickly.
"How the hell did this all happen?" Dylan asked.
"Drunk...shoved her and him into the intersection, resulting in the pile-up." Jessa explained.
"And you?" Dylan asked his fiancee as Gibbs watched worry spread across the young man's face.
"I was going with the flow of traffic...I tried to brake, but I spun because of the rain. I think the car is totaled...my dad is going to be so pissed." Jessa said as she gently patted Kate's cheek.
"He won't be pissed." Dylan said quickly, knowing that Jessa's father would be grateful she was alive once they saw the wreckage.
"Where's the drunk?" Dylan asked looking around.
"He cuffed him." Jessa said plainly as Gibbs watched Kate, waiting for some sign that would give him hope.
"You what?" Dylan asked in awe.
"I'm an NCIS Agent, so is she, and he's on shore leave. This is going to be the worst weekend of that Petty Officer's life." Gibbs muttered.
"That's it...come on honey..." Gibbs cooed as he returned his attention to Kate. Her eyelids were fluttering gently.
"What...what's going on?" Kate asked as she realized she was lying on a cold rainy sidewalk in downtown DC.
"We were in an accident...a bad one, and your car bore the brunt of it." Jethro explained as he smoothed Kate's bangs off of her face.
"Oh okay." Kate said as her eyes closed again.
"Kate!" Jethro yelled. He realized it now, and he hated himself for not seeing it sooner. She had to have hit her head.
"I think she's got a head injury." Gibbs said as Jessa tried to bring Kate around one more time.
"Definetly. It's hard to tell in this light for sure, but her pupils were dialated...big time." Dylan explained.
"Jethro..." Kate croaked. Gibbs almost cried with joy when he heard Kate say his name.
"I'm right here." Gibbs said as he leaned in over Kate.
"Can I get a new car...today...I don't want to miss work." Kate babbled.
"We'll get you a new car...a red one if you want, but you really need to stay awake okay?" Jethro teased.
"She's incredibly confused." Jessa said as she stood up so Dylan could get a better look at Kate's eyes.
"Shock?" Jethro asked hopefully.
"Or delirousness." Dylan replied.
"I'd rather it be shock." Gibbs confided in the younger man.
"Jessa...have you bothered to stop and take care of yourself?" The young paramedic turned his head to ask his fiancee.
"I'm fine." Jessa said hastily.
"You're sure?" Gibbs and Dylan chorused.
"Guys...I already have a daddy." Jessa teased as she headed off to find a police officer who would deal with the man who caused the accident.
"She's fine." Dylan said with a smirk as he looked at Gibbs.
"How do you know?" Gibbs asked.
"She's just as sassy as ever." Dylan teased.
"I know how that goes." Jethro said as he sighed, exhaling a deep breath he didn't realize he'd been holding in.
"Jethro?" Kate asked in a tiny voice.
"Yeah sweetie?" Gibbs asked as he reached for Kate's hand and held it an an attempt to comfort her.
"Why are you letting this guy touch me?" Kate asked, wishing he'd fight for her honor like a real man.
"His name is Dylan, and he is a very competent paramedic. He knows a lot more about head injuries and broken noses than I do." Gibbs said with a small smile.
"Am I hurt?" Kate asked, a dazed and worried look crossing her face.
"You can't feel this?" Dylan asked as he ran a gloved fingertip across the bridge of Kate's nose.
"Nope." Kate said proudly.
"This?" Dylan said as he ran his hands under Kate's cheekbones. right where the fresh bruises had appeared.
"Nope." Kate said as she attempted to sit up, stopped by Jethro's firm hand guiding her back down, and the lightheadedness that enveloped her.
"I felt that..." Kate said as the dizzy feeling settled around her.
"What?" Dylan questioned, hoping Kate had felt some sort of pain.
"The Earth...it just moved." Kate explained as if it were common sense.
"No Katie...you have a head injury. You're just dizzy." Gibbs explained.
"Really? Does this mean I can't drink tonight?" Kate asked with a worried look.
"You can't drink for awhile." Gibbs said.
"No Friday fun?" Kate said with a whimper.
"Friday fun?" Dylan said with confused look.
"Yeah...it's only on Fridays and it's really fun...we have dinner and drink bourbon...and build a boat...and then...we have..." Kate said excitedly.
"Dessert." Jethro said as he cut Kate off quickly, hoping to spare her some embarassment.
"Well Kate..I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we're taking you to the hospital. Your husband can join us if he wants." Dylan said as he stood upright.
"He will." Kate said with sudden clarity, knowing that Jethro wouldn't leave her side at a time like this.
"I certainly will." Jethro said as he helped Kate to stand up slowly.
Jethro smiled as he and Dylan assissted Kate to the ambulance.
"Is this necessary?" Kate asked as Gibbs and Dylan gently set her on the gurney.
"It is." Gibbs said as he patted Kate's knee.
"Hey!" Jessa yelled as she bounded towards the ambulance.
"We're ready to head to the hospital." Dylan explained.
"I know...that's why Metro is sending a car." Jessa explained breathlessly.
"A car?" Dylan asked.
"Yeah, something about they are going to hold that guy for the night, but they want a statement from him." Jessa said as she pointed to Gibbs.
"Fine by me...we're going to get going...this girl needs a doctor." Dylan said, knowing he had already let too much time lapse.
"Okay...I get it...Metro just told me to tell you." Jessa said as she made her way back to where the police were so she could file her portion of the accident report and have her car towed.
"Text me!" Dylan yelled as the ambulance doors shut and they sped off towards the hospital.
"Sir?" Dylan asked as he watched Jethro Gibbs pace nervously in the waiting room. It had been over an hour since Kate had arrived, and he had no word on her condition yet.
"Don't call me sir please, it's Gibbs...just....Gibbs." Jethro explained.
"Gibbs...are you all right?" Dylan asked.
"Yeah, I'm always this quiet." Jethro explained, thinking the young man was referring to Jethro's very silent state. He hadn't uttered a word since he'd had to leave Kate.
"No...I mean have you gotten checked out? You were in a wreck too." Dylan elaborated.
"I'm fine." Gibbs said as he stood up, but the wincing pain in his hip told him otherwise.
"That doesn't look fine to me." Dylan said cautiously.
"Crap." Gibbs muttered as he figured it out.
"What?" Dylan asked.
Gibbs' eyes widened. If it happened to him, then it had happened to Kate too.
"I was armed when I was driving home. So was Kate." Gibbs said softly.
"Oh my gosh." Dylan said as he stood up, realizing what that meant.
"Tell them I need her service weapon...now." Gibbs said pointedly as Dylan disappeared.
The young paramedic returned moments later. Kate's badge, holster, cuffs and service weapon were secured in sealed plastic bag.
"Thanks. I kinda need to keep track of this weapon...it's a big deal." Gibbs explained.
"I should say so." Dylan mused.
"The nurse said that Kate's got a big bruise on her hip from the gun." Dylan added.
"I bet I do too." Gibbs winced slightly.
"Want an ice pack?" Dylan offered.
"Nope. I just want to know about my Katie. Is she okay? Did she look any better?" Gibbs asked hopeful for some new information.
"She's in CAT-scan right now...the nurse was trying to figure out what to do with all of...that." Dylan said as he gestured towards the bag that Gibbs was holding.
"Agent Gibbs?" A voice bellowed through the waiting room.
"Yeah?" Gibbs turned around to see two Metro police officers standing there.
"We need your statement sir." The police officers explained.
"Sure." Gibbs said as he approached the officers and began explaining what had transpired.
"That was quick thinking...arresting him on the spot." The older of the officers complimented.
"He almost killed my partner and girlfriend." Gibbs lamented.
"There's two victims?" The cops looked at one another in confusion.
"No...they're ummm...one and the same." Gibbs said as he tried not to look at the cops.
"Okay." The older officer said quickly. He knew that it was none of his business, but relationships like that rarely worked out for the best.
"I've already notified your people. We're holding him for the weekend, but on Monday Petty Officer Tomlinson is all yours." The younger officer added.
"Did you talk to night crew?" Gibbs asked, wondering how Metro had gotten a hold of somebody on a Friday night.
"Nah...that always takes too long. I called my old buddy. Say, do you know an Agent DiNozzo? He and I go way back..." The younger agent babbled.
"Joe...this isn't social hour." The older officer chided.
"Boss!" Tony yelled as he ran through the doors of the waiting room, McGee and Abby right behind him.
"Gibbs!" Abby yelled as she ran towards Gibbs and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"Abby...she's fine." Gibbs said stressing the word fine, hoping he might believe it himself.
"Really?" Abby asked trying to fight the tears.
"Tony...take this!" Gibbs growled as he thrust the bag holding Kate's weapon at Tony. It was going to take both hands to pry Abby off of him.
"What the hell do you people do on Friday nights?" Dylan asked when he saw Tony's fresh bruise, and McGee's scraped up hands.
"We had a standoff yestereday." McGee explained sheepishly.
"The one in Silver Creek? That was you guys?" Dylan asked.
"Sure was." Tony replied.
"Agent Gibbs?" A voice yelled above the now noisy waiting room.
"Yep." Gibbs replied.
Abby reluctantly ended her embrace with Gibbs.
A middle-aged doctor with glasses stood in front of the group.
"I'd like to speak to you, about Agent Todd." The doctor said.
"Okay." Gibbs said as he snapped his fingers, and the waiting room silenced immediately.
"Privately." The doctor pressed.
"Whatever you have to say to me, you can say to them. We're family." Gibbs explained.
"She's going to be fine. Her nose is a mess, and she's got a concussion, but she will be fine." The doctor explained.
"Great." Gibbs said as he watched Abby's face fall into a look of relief.
"She's asking for you." The doctor said as he pointed at Gibbs.
"Somebody call Ducky." Gibbs yelled as he followed the doctor, desperate to see Kate.
"Will do!" McGee yelled.
"Hey sweetie...." Gibbs trailed off as he looked at Kate. He had never seen her look so helpless, or drained. Her nose was bandaged in white gauze, and she had an IV in her one arm.
"Do I really have to stay the night?" Kate whined.
"Yes." Gibbs said without hesitation.
"Why?" Kate said in a whiny voice.
"Because you were in a seven-car pile-up, and your car was in the middle of it all." Gibbs explained as he made his way towards Kate's bed and hugged her tightly.
"Fair enough." Kate said dryly as she wrapped an arm delicately around Jethro's shoulder.
"The whole team is here...they're all very worried." Jethro explained as he leaned in and kissed Kate's lips.
"I'm fine." Kate growled.
"Now you sound like me." Gibbs teased.
"I heard you have a gnarly battle scar." Gibbs added with a smirk.
"Sure do." Kate said as she grinned at him and pulled up the side of her nightgown and showed Gibbs the bruise on her hip, it was shaped exactly like her holster.
"I have one too." Gibbs whispered, shocked at Kate's lack of modesty. It was so out of character for her.
"Poor baby." Kate cooed as she kissed Jethro's cheek.
"It will heal." Gibbs smiled as Kate leaned back against the pillows so she could rest.
"Is she allowed to see anybody else?" Gibbs asked hopeful, knowing that Abby would love to see Kate.
"Sure, but one at a time, and don't let anybody stay too long." The doctor explained.
***OUT IN THE WAITING ROOM***
"DiNozzo...man, I thought we had a deal, about the gossip." Joey pressed his friend.
"What do you mean?" DiNozzo asked.
"The hot stuff especially. You never told me Gibbs was hooking up with Todd." Joey explained.
"And that's rough seeing as how I told you about Monica and I at the policeman's ball last year..." Joey trailed off as he watched a strange expression cross Tony's face.
It was then that the young police officer realized, Tony had no clue.
"He called her his girlfriend." Joey whispered the last word.
"Really?" Tony asked with a curious look on his face.
"Sure did...hey hasn't he had like seven wives? He's the female version of Liz Taylor." Joe teased.
"Three." Tony corrected as he made his way over to Abby and whispered in her ear. Her eyes grew wide and she tugged on McGee's shirt and whispered in his ear. Their expressions of shock were priceless.
Gibbs rounded the corner back into the waiting room, three shocked faces staring back at him.
"She wants to see Abby." Gibbs said.
Abby stood motionless. She thought it was sweet that they were together, but she wasn't sure if she'd ever look at Gibbs the same way again.
"So what's it like?" Abby asked as she stared at her boss.
"It's a regular hospital room. With Kate in it." Gibbs clarified.
"No, not that." Abby said as she folded her arms across her chest, angry that she hadn't been let in on the secret.
"Well what then?" Gibbs asked.
"What's it like to do my best friend?" Abby asked angrily.
"Pardon?" Jethro said as he cleared his throat, trying to conceal his shock. Abby rarely talked like that.
"You know...horizontal mambo, mattress twister, hooking up? Thanks for telling us!" Abby said as she walked by Gibbs and punched him in his upper arm.
"She took that rather well." McGee said proudly once Abby had disappeared.
"Not bad actually." Gibbs said as he rubbed his arm gently.
"I've seen her do worse for lesser infractions." Tony added.
All three men stopped and shared a quick look. They knew hiding secrets from Abby had its dangers.
"She'll get over it." Gibbs said as he glared at McGee.
"She will." McGee said knowingly, realizing that he'd be putting up with Abby's banter all night long regarding the situation.
"She wants to see you." Abby said as she re-appeared ten minutes later and pointed at McGee.
"What?! I'm chopped liver? McGoo gets to go first?" Tony said angrily.
"She asked for McGee." Abby re-iterated.
"So how long?" Abby asked as she glared at Gibbs.
"Six months." Gibbs confessed. Their secret was out. There was no sense in hiding anything now.
"Tony...she's ready for you." McGee said as he appeared in the waiting room.
"Cool." Tony said as he stood up so he could go visit Kate.
Later that night the team had left and Ducky had called Jethro from his conference so he could find out the whole story. Ducky had offered his sympathies and hung up, eager to get back to the seminar.
"What are you doing?" Kate giggled as Jethro sat on the edge of her bed and swung his legs up.
"Staying with you." Jethro said as he yawned and snuggled up next to Kate.
"Why?" Kate asked.
"Because I love you." Jethro said softly.
Kate smiled to herself, knowing that was the best reason of all.