A/N: I actually wanted to finish typing up the complete story before continuing to post it, but I figured I can´t keep you waiting for this long. So there´ll be three chapters within the next couple of days.

Thanks to my beta doomprincess for proof-reading and patiently answering my questions :-)


Chapter Nine

Ducky was pacing the entrance of the hospital, wondering why Gibbs was on his way there. After a couple of minutes Gibbs's car pulled up in front of the hospital. It took Ducky a second look to realize the person in the passenger seat was Hollis.

Hollis had been very quiet and didn't stir until they reached the hospital. Her head was spinning and she moved her good hand to her forehead, fighting dizziness, headache and a whirlwind of emotions that she couldn't name.

Fear.

Gibbs was at her side as soon as he brought the car to a stop.

Ducky had already called for a nurse to assist with a wheelchair. He wordlessly watched, frowning, getting more and more worried. Whatever had happened -- and from what he was seeing, Hollis being injured, something had to have happened -- he hoped to get an answer soon.

Three weeks ago, rumours had it that Hollis had moved to Hawaii after retiring. Gibbs didn't give away anything and no-one had dared to ask. Everyone had hoped that Ducky would find out what was going on and if Gibbs and the Colonel were still seeing each other, but Dr. Mallard refused to address this subject. He felt guilty. Though Gibbs had never accused him, Ducky feared, in the case they had separated, this could have been his fault because he had been so stupid as to tell Hollis about Gibbs's dead family.

And now? There she was -- with Gibbs , sitting in his car, and at the same time much further away from him than she probably could have been. Ducky could see there was something invisible separating them.

Gibbs just stood and watched as Hollis was wheeled away.

Ducky stepped forward, bound and determined to finally get an answer.

"Jethro, what happened?" he wanted to know after studying the emotionless, grim expression on Gibbs's face.

"She fell down a flight of stairs," Gibbs answered in a voice that didn't give anything away.

But Ducky was watching him closely and saw the twitching in the corner of his eye. In an attempt to try to hide this sign of emotion from his friend, Gibbs turned to shut the door to the passenger seat.

Ducky was shocked to hear about Hollis's accident, but his question had been aimed to get a reply to something different. And Gibbs's strange behavior told him, he was trying to evade this subject. Ducky wondered why he didn't want to admit to his worries.

"Jethro!" Ducky insisted, almost sounding angry as he threw Gibbs's back a warning look.

Upon the doctor's firm address, Gibbs's movements froze. The door had only just closed and his hand was still resting on the frame. With his jaw clenched and still turned away from him, he waited for Ducky to voice what exactly was keeping his mind occupied.

"What happened with the two of you, Jethro?" Dr. Mallard asked his question again, more direct this time, but even now he wasn't sure he would get an answer.

Gibbs had asked himself that question over and over again during the past 24 hours and he hadn't even come close to finding an answer. He stared into space, and suddenly he looked exhausted. He let out a long sigh before finally admitting, "I don't know."

Ducky thought it wise to not dig further for the time being. Gibbs continued to stare ahead without moving. Dr. Mallard decided it was prudent to change the subject and ask Gibbs to have a look at the files he had brought.

"You should...," Ducky started, but Gibbs got him completely wrong and harshly interrupted him.

"I said I don't know, Duck!" Gibbs shouted aggressively.

It wasn't until he turned around and really looked at Ducky that he realized he was misunderstanding him. Trying to compose himself, Gibbs took a deep breath. He felt awful for not having been able to keep his emotions under control.

Ducky suggested walking inside and talking to a doctor to find out about Hollis's condition, Gibbs nodded hesitantly and silently followed Ducky inside...