Here is another chapter, this one is muuuuuuch longer, so enjoy!
Tony sat up on the autopsy table, stretched and yawned.
"Morning." Gibbs stood and walked silently over to the table. "Here, drink, I need you awake and at your best." He handed Tony a large cup of coffee.
"Were you watching me sleep?"
"I don't wanna have to head slap you right now DiNozzo." Tony knew this was Gibbs deflecting. He didn't know it but Gibbs had sat watch since Ducky left for the night. He followed Tony's breathing until he himself fell into DiNozzo's breathing patter and drifted into a dreamless sleep, waking early to go for coffee. The tension in the older man's muscles refused to fade with sleep and he it envelope him until it formed an impenetrable armor that protected him from the outside world as well as from his own thoughts. This was one of the first times in the years he'd known Gibbs that he couldn't get an inkling as to what was behind those blue eyes. He knew something was going on in the older man's sharp mind. Finally he accepted the coffee after a long staring contest.
"What are we going to do now boss?" Their strong team of six was now down two members and all were wounded, if not maimed emotionally. Funny how something as inconsequential as a sniper rifle could peel apart lives like this, Tony though to himself.
"I don't know." Gibbs replied simply.
"Where's Tim?" The younger man asked in a clipped tone as he dismounted the autopsy table.
"At home," Gibbs hesitated. "He doesn't know." He had thought it best that the man who was like a brother to Tim tell him. He really didn't want to do it himself. Tony's heart plummeted, he didn't mind telling McGee, it was that McGee and Abby had been close, very close and he didn't know what kind of effect the news would have on the young agent.
"I guess I'll go tell him then." Tony sighed and exited autopsy.
In the elevator Tony's head began to droop but it's ding as it reached the bullpen roused him. He took a deep breath and stepped out. McGee sat dutifully filling out paperwork, classic probie. Pulling his swivel chair from behind his desk, Tony took a seat in front of McGee. The young agent looked up.
"Hey, you look like crap."
"I feel like crap." Tony replied honestly. "Didya get a good night's sleep?"
"Not really." Probie fessed up.
"Yeah, me neither… look, last night, after you left, I uh was down in Abby's lab and uh…" Tony had no idea how to continue.
Come on DiNozzo he chided himself man up! Out with it already!
"We were shot out from outside the lab." The older man finished with a sigh. McGee's eyes widened in terror.
"W-was it-?" He began.
"Ari? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was."
"She didn't… make it did she?" McGee choked.
"No, I'm sorry Tim." Tony placed his hand on the other agents shoulder reassuringly but Tim sprang up from his seat and began to pace furiously.
"I should have been here Tony; I should have been able to protect her!" McGee's volume began to rise.
"No, not at all Tim, I was there and I couldn't protect her." Tony said trying to calm the other man.
"Well that's not saying much." He snorted. Tony stood.
"Look Tim, I know you're hurting, I am too, but I am not incompetent. You don't think I haven't gone over and over last night in my mind already? There was no way, I could have known, but I should have anyway." His eyes were glued to the floor.
"I'm sorry Tony." Tim's voice was soft now.
"It's okay." The older agent looked up again. "You loved her didn't you?"
"Yeah, I think I did. And Tony?"
"Yeah McGee?" Tony responded as he walked back to his desk.
"I know it wasn't your fault."
"I know." He murmured with out looking up. "And it wasn't yours either."
"Yeah I know."
"Hey McGee? You know, we were hugging when it happened." McGee chuckled.
"She would have liked that."
"Yes, yes she would." Neither man looked at each other. "Tony? Was it…immediate?" Tony sighed.
"Ducky said it was almost instantaneous."
"So no pain?" McGee tried to reassure himself.
"None."
So wadya think?
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