Austin was now laying in a hospital bed, a tube down her throat, helping her breath. Gauze wrapped around her head because of the nasty blow she had received over two days ago. Tests had been done, and news was ready to be distributed. A doctor came out to the waiting room, where the whole team including Abby, Ducky and Palmer were.

The doctor walked over to Gibbs. "Mr. Gibbs?" The doctor asked softly.

"Yes sir." Gibbs said standing up, shaking the doctors hand.

The doctor began to speak. "I'm Dr. Crosse." He said simply, letting go of Gibbs's hand. "We've done all we can do for Austin now. We have removed the bullet, which has torn through a lot of her muscle tissue. We had to remove her appendix because of the extremity of the damage. It's a miracle she's still alive. I cant imagine how much pain she endured. She must've really had something to live for."

Gibbs just nodded, with a slight smile.

Dr. Crosse sighed heavily. "She has not yet woken up from the coma. It's impossible to say when. In some cases people wake up within hours of being hospitalized, but in others…well… we wont think about that until the time comes."

Gibbs was stung by these words. He knew that Austin wouldn't die. She was too strong. She had been through hell most of her life. She just couldn't seem to get out of it. "How did she go into a coma from that kind of wound?"

"It wasn't necessarily the gunshot that caused this. The blow to the head caused a concussion, so it was basically a time bomb. When she fell asleep, the concussion wouldn't allow her to wake up."

Gibbs nodded slightly, understanding a little bit more.

Dr. Crosse continued, "Some people… are almost afraid to wake up. Therefore, they don't. Do you understand?"

Gibbs didn't like being asked if he understood. He wasn't an idiot, and he was in no mood to be treated like one. Before he could tell off the doctor, Abby cut in and asked, "Does it look like she will be one of those to wake up?"

The doctor hesitated. "Do you want it sugar-coated, or blunt?"

"Sugar-coated would be nice." Abby responded.

The doctor sighed heavily. "Well then…I've seen many cases like this. Never with children her age in such a severe case. Frankly… I think she's running out of miracles… I'm sorry." The doctor said softly, his pager started going off, making a loud, obnoxious high-pitched beep. "I'm terribly sorry… I have to go." He said walking off.

"He doesn't give a damn." Tony muttered angrily. He blamed himself for Austin's condition. If only he had been just a few seconds earlier... If only he had been by Gibbs's side…if only…

"If that was the sugar-coated…I would hate to hear the blunt." Ziva added. They all firmly agreed.

Abby was wiping a tear away from her face with an already soaked tissue.

Gibbs fell back in his chair. They all glanced over at him and what they saw astounded them. They saw something they had never seen before, and thought they would never see. It scared them… Gibbs had tears in his eyes.

Gibbs stood up when he realized they were all looking at him. "I'm going to the head…" He said quickly as he marched off to the bathroom.

It wasn't long before this story hit the news with a bang.

Breaking News:

Fifteen year old Austin Gibbs fell into a coma earlier this week from a gruesome blow to the head and a gunshot wound to the abdomen after being kidnapped by a Pete James. Doctors are unsure when she will wake after this tragedy, or if she will wake at all.

Her father, Leroy Jethro Gibbs refuses to speak to reporters on the scene today. Reporters are keeping close watch on the scene for any update on Austin's condition.

About an hour after that story was aired, a high school student looking boy ran into the hospital. He ran up to the front desk and practically screamed, "I need to see Austin Gibbs!" He was out of breath as he looked at the secretary, waiting her response.

She typed something in on the computer, and peered up at the boy, over her fake blue Rhine stone encrusted glasses. "Room 54, fourth floor. There is already about eight people in there… must be one popular girl."

Paul smiled and said, "Thank you. I appreciate it." He said as he sprinted off to the elevator. He pressed the up button about ten times repeatedly before the elevator actually opened. He walked inside, pressing the four repeatedly also, to get to the fourth floor. He waited impatiently, then finally ran out of the elevator. He had probably ran fifty yards before he realized, he had forgotten what room the secretary had said.

He sighed heavily as he ran his fingers nervously through his dark hair. He looked up, seeing a gray-haired man. He was the only person that he saw in the long hallway, so he decided it was worth a shot.

"Excuse me sir. Can you help me?"

Gibbs looked at the boy. He was almost his exact height. Paul was about two inches shorter. "Probably not… but I can try." Gibbs responded in a monotone voice.

"Do you know where Austin Gibbs's room is?"

Gibbs looked surprised. "Why?"

"Well, I'm a friend from her school and" Paul stopped and his eyes narrowed. "Why does it matter to you?"

"Are you Paul?" Gibbs asked, ignoring his question.

Paul hesitated "Um…yeah…"

Gibbs thrust out his hand for the boy to shake it. "Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

Paul grabbed Gibbs's hand. He had a firm handshake. Gibbs liked that. "Your Austin's dad?"

"Yes… I am."

"How is she doing?" Paul asked as they let go of each others hand.

Gibbs sighed. "I don't know…"

Paul just looked up at him. "I mean… she's… she's going to be able to go home soon…right?"

This time Gibbs didn't answer. Instead, he said, "Come on… I'll take you to her."

Paul nodded as he felt Gibbs's hand on his shoulder, leading him to the room where Austin was. Her room consisted of McGee, Tony, Abby , Ziva, Ducky, Palmer, Greg and now Gibbs and Paul. They all looked up at Paul. Each one of them greeted him like they had known each other for months. In a way, they did. Austin had told Paul everything about these people, and in return, Austin had told these people everything about Paul.

After the greetings were over with, Paul finally got the courage to look down at Austin. He suddenly felt sick. She didn't look like she was in pain, but everything else just didn't seem right. The tube down her throat, the bandaging, the morphine drip. Everything just… wasn't right. Austin was too strong to be like this. She was too strong to be comatose. Paul didn't understand.

Ducky came up and patted the boy on the back. "She will wake up soon… she will be fine. I can assure you of that my boy."

Weeks passed by. It was now August 26th. Gibbs was in Austin's room. He had been surprised at Paul's persistence. He had come almost every day to visit Austin. Gibbs knew he cared about her, and he wouldn't give up on her.

Austin had yet to wake up. The doctors were starting to talk to Gibbs about her never waking up. They were losing hope.

But they didn't know this girl. This girl had lost everything three times over, but she hadn't given up. She had been beaten and bruised, but she made a point to smile everyday. That was Austin. That was Gibbs's daughter. That was one strong kid.

No one was giving up on Austin just yet, if ever. 'Get Well' cards were scattered throughout the room. Some of them were sent by people who didn't even know her. The news had been giving updates every now and again, and random people had decided to send these cards. Austin couldn't read them of course, but she heard them. Gibbs would read them to her, to let her know that people were pushing for her. Gibbs knew she was listening. He knew that she was trying really hard to wake up, she just wasn't sure how.

Paul walked in the room, setting down his book bag at the door. It was 4:35 Friday afternoon. "Hey Jethro." Paul said simply as he sat down in the chair next to him. "Anything changed?"

Gibbs shook his head. "No… not yet… but she's ready to wake up. Just watch. Anytime now, she's going to open her eyes."

Hours passed by slowly. Paul had to go home to eat dinner. Gibbs understood. This was the routine now. Him and Paul would have nice conversations to pass the time, then Paul would leave once he got a phone call from his mom, telling him to come home.

Gibbs had been telling the truth. He felt in his gut that Austin would wake up.

The doctor had taken the breathing tube out, replacing it with a breathing mask half a week earlier.

DiNozzo came in about an hour later. It was now 8:07. Gibbs looked up at him.

Tony looked over at Austin. Now he was convinced that everything was his fault, but he didn't want Gibbs to know that, thinking that he would hate him. That was the last thing that Tony wanted.

Tony decided to stand in the corner of the room, glancing over at Gibbs every so often. Gibbs finally asked, "Is something wrong DiNozzo?"

"No… nothing boss. Just worried."

Gibbs was obviously not satisfied by this answer. "Don't lie to me."

"I really am worried boss."

Gibbs stood up, walking over to Tony. "I know that DiNozzo! I mean, tell me what's really bugging you. Its not only the worry."

Tony sighed. He figured he should tell him, but right before Tony started talking, a small, exasperated voice filled the air. "Should I give you two a moment alone?"

Both Gibbs and Tony turned their heads. They saw Austin, eyes open, breathing mask pulled down so she could speak. She was also sitting up. The morphine was hiding most of the pain of her wounds for now, so she could actually smile.

Gibbs smiled and took two long strides over to his daughter. He hugged her, a sigh of sweet relief escaping him.

Tony didn't know what to do. He felt the guilt rise within him, but he couldn't show it. Not now. "Nice to have you back bud." Tony managed to say softly.

Austin smiled brightly at him, which only made him feel worse. "What's up Tony?" Austin asked.

Tony shrugged. "Well, I'm having a pretty good day so far. Yourself?"

Austin gave a weak laugh. "I've been better."

Gibbs patted her head. "We missed you."

"I missed you to dad… I'm sorry."

Gibbs looked into her eyes. "What are you sorry about?"

"For falling asleep… I didn't want to… it just happened…"

Gibbs just gave that little smile and said warmly, "You didn't do anything wrong. You just needed a really long nap."

Austin laughed a little, "When you say long, you don't mean it's been years do you?"

Tony smiled. "Yeah bud. You are now twenty-seven."

Austin stuck her tongue out at Tony.

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "You are definitely still a teenager…"

Austin smiled and nodded proudly. "So when can I go home?"

Gibbs answered quickly, "I'll go get a doctor, just to make sure you check out alright."

After Dr. Crosse checked Austin out, he walked over to Tony and Gibbs. "First of all, once the morphine is gone, she will be in severe pain. The gunshot hasn't had time to fully heal. You will need to give her painkillers often. Due to that, she will be very drowsy, so I suggest letting her sleep it off. Her head should heal up quite nicely. It looks like its pretty much healed now in fact."

"So we can take her home?" Tony asked eagerly.

"We would like to keep her overnight, just to make sure our presumption is correct."

Gibbs nodded. "Alright then. Thank you doctor."

The night passed by quickly for everyone. The rest of the team couldn't wait to see Austin. They couldn't get around to visit her while she had been awake.

That didn't matter right now, because Austin was coming home.