Sorry this took so long! I got a lot of this done last night, but didn't get the chance to finish the chapter till this evening. Hope you enjoy!


***A worried look pasted Tony's face...***


Abby was eerily silent as she sat in the passenger seat of Ziva's car. At first, Ziva was glad to have a moment free of needing to console her, but now she worried.

"Are you okay, Abby?" she asked. For a moment, she didn't answer.

"I love him," she said finally. Ziva glanced at her, then back to the road.

"I am...not sure I understand."

"I love McGee," she repeated. "I've loved him for a long time..."

"I know you two dated briefly...but-"

"I broke it off," she finished for her. "Things got a little serious, and I guess it freaked me out a little. So I thought it would be best to end it."

"And now?"

"I know I was wrong," she said. "Timmy really tried, Ziva. He did everything I liked to do, even if he didn't really like it himself. He always tried things anyway, just to make me happy. And that's what scared me. I didn't want him to change who he was, just to be with me."

"Relationships are about compromise, Abby."

"I know that. I just...felt like somehow I was cheating him. But the more I date, the more I realize that none of those guys compare to how I felt when I was with him. Even now, as friends..."

"Have you told him this?"

"No..." she looked down at her lap. "I was actually gonna talk to him last night. But I kinda got pissed when he didn't accept my invitation to the concert."

"Perhaps if he knew it was more then that..."

"Oh god..." she cried, "If I'd told him, none of this would've happened..."

"Do not think that," Ziva said as she reached her hand out to hers. "McGee does not blame you for this."

"He might if I tell him. Maybe I shouldn't tell him...He might not even feel that way about me anymore..."

"Abby," she warned. "I can tell that he has feelings for you. I have always seen that. And I see the way both of you act when one of you has a date or a new person in their life."

"Timmy is just overprotective."

"When it comes to you," she smiled as she glanced over at her. Abby looked out her window. There was another long moment of silence.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Abby asked quietly. The question was followed by a moment of silence. "Ziva?" she looked over at her.

"I would by lying if I said I knew the answer," she told her. "But I know that he is strong. And he has friends who care about him very much. We will help him to heal, if we can." She gently pulled her hand away and put it on the wheel as they turned the corner. "Do I seem different, Abby?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"What do you mean?" she furrowed a brow in her direction. Ziva was unsure if she wanted to continue. But she thought maybe it would help...somehow.

"When they rescued me from Somalia," she said, "Did I seem different then before?" she was interested to know, in fact. She'd never asked anyone but herself that question.

"For a little while," she thought, "You seemed withdrawn. But then things started to get better...wait..." her eyes shot to her. "Ziva...what?" Ziva swallowed but didn't move her eyes from the road. "Are you saying..."

"I tell you this because you should know that there is life beyond that. That there is hope..." Abby continued to look at her, searching her face as she thought back. "I was ready to die before they came for me," she confessed with a hint of shakiness in her voice. Abby's eyes glassed over. "But when I was brought here...home...I felt safe. It may have taken a while, but I was brought back from a dark place, because people I loved...people that loved me...were simply there. Even if they didn't know what they were saving me from."

"You never told any of us?" it was more a statement then a question.

"Until today. And that may be why it took me so long," she confessed. "But we know what happened to McGee. And whether or not he is comfortable with that fact right now, it will be easier for him in the long run. He has all of us, Abby. He has you."

It wasn't until that moment, that Abby realized they were now parked in front of the hospital. "What do I do?" she asked. "How do I tell him...after what happened to him, do you think he would ever want this? I don't know what to do..."

"Be there for him," she told her simply. "Tell him how you feel, when it feels like the right time. But let him be in control. It is one thing he does need...possibly above everything else."

Abby looked at her friend; a wisdom she didn't realize she'd had beyond what they'd already known about her life. It made her sad and happy at the same time...confused her, really. But it also gave her a bit of hope. Something she desperately needed right now...


Abby sat in the waiting room of the E.R in one of the ugly blue chairs, with her knees tucked up under her chin. Across from her, Ziva had fallen asleep on Tony's shoulder, and his cheek rested on her head as he, too, had dozed off. She'd only left for a few minutes to use the bathroom when they were still awake.

Gibbs came into the waiting room then, with a cup of what the hospital cafeteria claimed was coffee, in one hand, and a Caf-Pow in the other. He saw the sleeping agents and was a bit relieved they were actually getting the long-overdue rest. He sat down next to Abby, who was still very much awake. Her eyes were evidence of her exhaustion.

"Hey," he said and she looked at him as if she'd just now realized he'd appeared. He handed her the drink and she gladly accepted. "Maybe you shouldn't drink that. You need sleep, Abs."

"Not gonna happen, Gibbs," she said, and took a long sip. He smirked at her. "How long is it gonna take? He's been in there a really long time. What if something happened?"

"Ducky will tell us when he knows. He's in there with him." As if on cue, Ducky appeared from beyond the O.R doors, which they hadn't expected him to come from. Gibbs and Abby stood and met him as he walked.

"Sorry, Jethro," he said. "I wanted to be sure everything would be taken care of the way Timothy would want it."

"What's the verdict?" Gibbs asked.

"During the examination, they discovered a perforation in his colon," he told them, and Gibbs furrowed his brow. "That's why he was rushed to the O.R. He must have been in a great deal more of pain then he let on. The abdominal pain would have been crippling."

"But he's gonna be alright, Ducky, right?" Abby asked.

"Luckily, the perforation wasn't large enough to require a colostomy. But as can be expected, there was a lot of tearing. He'll need to be on a liquid diet for quite some time. But I've arranged for us to be able to keep him out of the hospital once he recovers from surgery. He'll require constant supervision, Jethro."

"He can stay at my house," he told him. "How long does he need to stay here?"

"Overnight at least. Someone should stay with him."

"I'll stay," they looked over when they heard Tony's voice.

"In light of his attachment to you during this time, I think that would be best," Ducky said. "His room is already prepared, so I suggest you allow me to show you to it. You need to sleep, dear boy. You may be in for a rough night."

Tony turned his head toward Ziva who was still sleeping, and gently touched her cheek to wake her. She looked up at him. "I'm staying here, Zi. He's gotta stay overnight." She nodded and turned toward the rest of them as they stood.

"What do I gotta do, Duck?" Gibbs asked.

"I'll arrange for any equipment necessary to be brought by. All you need to do is make a place for him, preferably on the ground level. Not only will it be better for the healing process, but he'll be on pain medication for a while. Stairs would be difficult."

"I can help, Gibbs," Abby said. "I want to. Please."

"I will help as well," Ziva said. "Then I will be back to check on both of you," she said to Tony. Tony responded with a tired, yet infamous grin.

"Boss's got two pretty ladies spendin' the night. What could possibly go wrong?" he winked. He felt a smack on the back of his head and straightened. "Sorry, Boss...sleep deprivation..." Gibbs cocked his head and smirked at the sign of Tony's usual lighthearted humor.

"Leave the light on for him, Tony," Abby said as she gave him a quick hug. "He doesn't like when it's dark." Tony glanced at Gibbs.


Gibbs grinned when he walked back into his living room to see both girls asleep on either end of the couch. He glanced down at his watch. 4am. It had definitely been a very long day. He went back into the spare room and grabbed two throws, making his way back to the couch. He covered Abby with one of them, then kissed her cheek.

Then he took the second throw and covered Ziva. Her eyes fluttered open. "Go back to sleep, Ziver," he whispered. He kissed her forehead and she gave him a sleepy smile and closed her eyes again. Gibbs turned out the light and made his way up the stairs.

He practically collapsed on the bed, grateful for whatever sleep he would be able to get. He drifted into unconsciousness; his last thoughts being with his agents at the hospital.


"I'm right here with you, McGee..." he heard Tony say.

"Tony?"

"Tim! It's me! It's Tony! You're safe!"

"I can't see you...Tony, please help me!"

"Probie, you're safe! They're gone...you're home, McGee!"

"I... I can still hear them... oh god...no no no...stop! Tony, please make it stop!"

"Tim...Right here with you..."

"I'm glad it wasn't you, Tony..." –


He'd just drifted into sleep when he was reawakened by the sound of McGee's bed being wheeled into the room. Tony sat up from the small guest cot that had been set up in the room, and saw Ducky follow the bed in behind the nurses.

"Anthony," he said as he made his way to him. "He came through surgery just fine. He'll be sedated through the night. Go back to sleep."

"They gotta leave the light on for him, Ducky," he said sleepily.

"I've already spoken to them about that," he assured him.

"He's gonna be okay?"

"He's going to be okay, Tony."

"Okay...g'night, Ducky," he settled back onto the cot and waited for the staff and Ducky to clear the room, then he got back up, and pushed the cot up next to the bed, leaving enough room for nurses if they needed to come in. He did a visual check of his sleeping friend before settling back onto the cot. "I'm right here, McGee," he said softly, then closed his eyes...


"Tony..." Tony heard a voice and cracked open his eyes, trying to remember where he was. "Tony?" it was Tim. Tony sat up in the cot and looked over at McGee.

"Hey," he stood from the cot and went to his side, "You okay?"

"Why am I in the hospital?"

"You had a really high fever, and they found a...perforation in your colon. They fixed you up though. We're gonna get you outta here in the morning."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Goin' to Gibbs' house. I can stay there with you, if you want."

"You don't have to do that."

"It's okay, McGee. I don't mind," he watched Tim shift uncomfortably. "You feelin' okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Look, Tim...you were sick all day, and you never said anything to us. You don't have anything to be ashamed of. If you're in pain, they have medication that can help you. All you have to do is say the word." McGee looked at him for a moment, then let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding in.

"It hurts..." he said simply. Then he sucked in a breath and held it again.

"Okay," Tony pressed the call button next to the bed. "Can you tell me what hurts?" he asked as he took his hand. Somehow, the gesture was comforting to both of them.

"My stomach," he said. "I think I'm gonna throw up."

"Stop holding your breath," he told him. "Just breathe. Ya gotta try not to puke, okay? You're dehydrated as it is." But he grabbed a basin anyway, just in case.

The nurse came into the room then. "His stomach hurts," Tony told her. "And he's nauseous. Isn't he supposed to be on something to stop that?"

"It's been long enough that he can receive more meds if he needs them," she said as she walked to the IV drip. She picked up a small vial and began filling a syringe, and just as she began to insert it into the IV tube, Tony felt Tim's hand grip down on his.

"Tony, I can't..." he reached for the basin and turned onto his side and began retching into it as he released his friend's hand to grip the tub.

"They'll take effect shortly," she reassured them, then typed a code into the machine which added a dose of pain killer medication. "I'll take the basin," she reached out with a sympathetic look. "And I'll bring you some ice-chips." The nurse walked out of the room and Tony redirected his attention to his friend.

"I'm sorry," Tim said as he caught his breath.

"Not your fault, McGee. They shoulda come in here sooner." Tim laid his head back on the pillow and sighed.

"Think the meds are starting to work," he said as his eyelids grew heavy.

"Feelin' better?"

"Much...sorry for wakin' you up."

"You can wake me up whenever you want, ya hear, Probie?" he gently patted his shoulder.

"Okay. I'm gonna go back to sleep...thanks, Tony."

"G'night." Tony settled back down on the cot, relieved that McGee was feeling better for the moment. But still a bit unnerved by his friend's discomfort. He laid awake for a while before he felt calm enough to close his eyes again. He didn't even hear when the nurse had briefly returned to the room to set down a cup of ice-chips...


"Hey, DiNozzo," Tony heard his boss's voice and felt a hand nudging his shoulder, and he shot awake.

"Boss?" he looked around the room, and at the empty hospital bed before him. "Where's McGee?"

"Told me to let you sleep till we were ready to go," he explained as he stood. "Rough night?"

"Not too bad," he said as he stood and stretched. "He got up once, but slept through the rest of the night."

"You stayin' at my place, too?"

"If that's okay with you, Boss."

"As long as you don't mind the couch. Abby wants to stay and help out, too," he said as the walked out of the room and into the elevator.

"Well, we should get Ziva to stay, too, and make it a party," he grinned. Gibbs squinted at him. "Or...or we could take shifts..."


"Hey, Timmy," Abby said as she entered the guess room with a steaming mug. McGee turned onto his back and sat up a bit in the bed, scooting back on the headboard.

"Hey, Abby."

"I brought you some yummy broth," she grinned as she made her way to the bed.

"That sounds like an oxymoron," he said.

"I know...sorry, but Ducky said nothing but liquids for a while." Tim took the mug and brought it to his nose to smell. "Are you feeling okay?" she asked as she sat on the edge of the bed beside him.

"Not bad, actually," he told her. "I'm kinda relieved the nausea has gone away." He took a sip of the broth.

"That's really great, Tim," she smiled as she watched him take another long sip. "Do you want some water? Or maybe a soda?"

"I've got water. I'm good, thanks."

"Well, do you need another pillow? Are you comfortable?" McGee grinned at her.

"I'm fine, Abby, really."

"I know. I'm just worried about you," she looked down at her lap. "When I saw you...so out of it on the floor..." Tim detected the brokenness in her voice. "I was really scared," she looked back at him, and her eyes were glassy.

"You mean, when I fell asleep by my desk?" he furrowed his brow and set his mug down on the side table.

"You were having a nightmare. Do you remember?" she took his hand. He looked down at it.

"Yeah..." he replied in barely a whisper.

"I'm so sorry, Tim," her voice cracked and he looked back up at her eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Tony was there trying to help...and I was just..."

"What was I doing?" he asked, a bit embarrassed.

"You were...begging for Tony to help you..." she was crying now. "You were screaming..."

He was more concerned now with her tears, and he reached out to pull her into a hug, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "It's okay, Abby."

"No...no it's not," she gently pulled away and put her hands on either side of his face as her eyes darted back and forth between his. She summoned all the courage she had, and forced herself to stop crying. "I should've told you this a long time ago...and I'm sorry for that, Timmy. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Tell me what, Abs?" he wiped her tears from her cheeks.

"I love you," she swallowed. "I love you, love you," she said. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you that sooner, 'cause maybe then none of this woulda happened..." He looked at her for a moment, frozen as to how to respond. Her hands slowly slipped from his face as she sat back up. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Tim shook his head.

"No...I'm just...confused," he told her.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same way," she barely whispered. "I just wanted you to know."

"Abby, I've always had feelings for you. You know that, right?"

"I know you're always sweet and nice...and you're always there for me. That's just the kinda person you are...to everyone."

"Not to everyone. If you feel this way, then why did you break up with me?"

"Because I'm an idiot."

"You're not an idiot, Abby."

"Yes, I am," she raised her brows. "I broke it off because I was scared."

"Of me?" he asked, confused.

"No. I was scared of how I felt. I was afraid that if I let myself continue to feel that way, that I would end up hurt." Tim opened his mouth to say something, but she stopped him, "I know you would never hurt me, McGee. I know that... and that's why I'm an idiot. And I'm sorry..."

They were both silent for a long moment. So long, in fact, that Abby became nervous and started chewing on her lip. "I guess you are an idiot, Abigail Sciuto," McGee said.

"What?!" she exclaimed with a furrowed brow. His mouth formed a smile at her reaction.

"So I guess I'm in love with the most intelligent and beautiful idiot I've ever met." She flinched at his words, and blinked rapidly as she felt tears pool in her eyes.

"Do you mean that?" she asked. They heard a light knock at the door and Abby quickly wiped the tears from her eyes as Ziva came in.

"Are you keeping the broth down?" she asked him.

"Uh...yeah, Ziva. Thanks," Tim told her. Ziva realized they were both a little flushed.

"I am sorry... I interrupted..."

"No, it's okay," Abby said as she stood and turned to face her. The corner of Ziva's mouth curled up as she realized what had happened. Then she looked at McGee.

"Tony is bringing over his DVD player and some movies," she told him. "I apologize preemptively."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind the distraction. Looks like I'm gonna be here for a while."

"He wanted to know if you would like him to grab your laptop while he is picking up some clothes from your place."

"That'd be great. Thanks," his brow suddenly furrowed as his eyes looked down at the bed.

"You okay?" Abby asked, worriedly.

"I gotta pee," he said.

"Oh...uh...do you need help?" she asked.

"No...I uh...just need some privacy. I gotta get up to go to the bathroom and I'm...just wearing boxers," he glanced around, a bit embarrassed.

"Oh! Okay," Abby followed Ziva out of the room and quietly closed the door. "Just yell if you need help!" she called through the door. "You don't think he'll fall or anything, do you?" she whispered to Ziva.

"You told him, yes?" she grinned. Abby's cheeks flushed red. "Well?" Abby smiled, then nodded.

"You were so right, Zi. Thank you so much," she hugged her. "I don't think I could've done that without your pep-talk."

"Pep-talk?" she gently pulled away. "This is something they do before football games, yes?"

"Something like that," she gave a small laugh.

"I am going to let Tony know to get McGee's computer. Do you need him to pick anything up for you?"

"No. I need to go home anyway and change. Vance needs me to come in and run some evidence..."


"Honey, I'm home!" Tony said in his best possible Ricky Ricardo voice.

"Tony, shush," she said as she came out of the kitchen. "McGee is sleeping."

"Oh...sorry," he whispered as he set the DVD player down on the coffee table, and swung his backpack down onto the couch.

"I went to give him his pain killers, but he'd fallen asleep." They both sat down on the couch.

"How's he been since I left this morning?"

"He is glad to be out of the hospital. And Abby spent some time with him," she grinned. He smirked at her.

"I know that grin, Zi. What's goin' on with Abby and McGee?" Ziva stood and squinted in his direction as she walked back toward the kitchen.

"It is not my place to tell," she told him quietly. He stood and followed behind her.

"Aw, c'mon. I promise I won't tell," he grabbed her and spun her around as they reached the table, holding her gently at the waist.

"Do not make me hurt you, Tony," she grinned at him. But he knew how to play this game.

"I don't mind if you hurt me," he whispered and lowered his lips to her jawline right below her ear.

"If you think you can somehow get information out of me by seducing me, you have forgotten that I am trained to...mmm..."

"Trained to what?" he grinned as he continued his administrations on her ear.

"Tony," she pushed him away gently, "We are at Gibbs' house!"

"But he's not here right now," he pulled back toward her and kissed her. She melted into the kiss for just a moment before pulling away again.

"He and Ducky will be back any minute," she said, and then they heard the front door open. "See?" she jumped away from him and went to the fridge to fetch a bottle of water.

"Hey, Boss," Tony walked into view of the door to see Gibbs walking in with a bag of groceries. "Need a hand?"

"Duck's got it," he said. "Abby in with McGee?"

"He's sleeping," Tony said.

"Abby was called in to work," Ziva said as she entered the living room. "The director asked if she could look at some evidence." Gibbs squinted, setting the bag down on the kitchen table as he thought.

"I haven't heard anything about a case," he said.

"There's a case?" Ducky asked as he shut the front door. "I haven't gotten a call."

"Either have I," Gibbs said.

"Vance woulda called us...wouldn't he?" Tony asked. Gibbs squinted again, then his eyes widened.

"He wants to go over evidence...he must've found out about the Millennium case," he took off for the door. Tony went out after him.

"Boss?"

"I gotta get over there before he makes her talk..."

***Tony suddenly realized why Gibbs left in such a hurry...worry painted his face...***


My 'thwoop' scene was less then exciting, I know. But sometimes the thwoop scenes are vague lol. Sue me! hehehe