Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I didn't update yesterday. Sorry. I got distracted by Star Trek and Legend of Zelda. And I almost forgot to update today...I was seriously half asleep when I remembered I didn't update. So now I'm updating, even though I'm really tired. I don't even know how I'm managing to ramble on randomly while being pretty much half asleep. Anyway, on with the story.


Tony rubbed Ziva's back as she cried into his shoulder. The paramedics had just told them that there was nothing they could do for Gibbs. McGee was desperately trying to pry Abby off of Gibbs's body long enough for the medical workers to load him onto a gurney.

Ducky stumbled over to Tony with a look on his face the younger man had never seen before. Tony placed his lips beside Ziva's ear and whispered something. She nodded and reluctantly moved away from him and towards McGee to help with Abby.

"Anthony, you have been staying with Jethro for the last week," Ducky said. "Has he been sick, or had any unusual behavior?"

"No," Tony stuttered. "Not at all."

"Well, people just don't drop dead!"

"Doctor," Jimmy Palmer said carefully. "Agent Gibbs is with his wife and daughter now."

"But that doesn't help the fact that Anthony looked the other way as his health failed!"

All three of them turned when they heard Abby scream the medics had managed to load Gibbs's body onto a stretcher, but then the strangest thing happened. He opened his eyes. Abby let out a shriek and hugged him tight.

"Gibbs! I knew you weren't dead!"

Tony was at his side in a second. "Boss, is this gonna be a normal thing with you?"

"No," Gibbs said. "I'm here to stay."

The paramedics all tried to get him to lie back down, but they all backed off when they received the Gibbs glare. Gibbs stumbled into the kitchen and when he came out, he had a gun in his hand. He raised it and threatened to shoot everyone if the paramedics didn't leave.

"What was that for?" McGee asked as he watched the paramedics scramble for the door."

"Well, if I wouldn't have done that, then they would've taken me to the hospital."

"Jethro," Ducky said. "Maybe you should go to the hospital."

"No, Ducky, I just need to be alone," Gibbs said. "Please, everyone get out, except for DiNozzo and Palmer."

Everyone awkwardly shuffled out the door, giving Gibbs strange looks. Both Jimmy and Tony began to eye each other. Then it dawned on them that they both knew Gibbs's secret.

"How much does he know?" they asked in unison, pointing at each other.

"Tony doesn't know the whole story," Gibbs said.

"Wait," Tony said, feeling offended. "You told the autopsy gremlin more than you told me?"

Gibbs rolled hid eyes and told Tony the rest of the story, adding in about his extended twenty-four hours.

"So if you find Ari and Sharif within the next day, you can have your life back?" Jimmy inquired.

"Exactly."


Over the next few hours, the three searched for Ari and Sharif. In the end, they found Sharif the same way they had before: through his PSP. Gibbs climbed out of his car and faced a ratty apartment building. He glanced at the car Jimmy and Tony were in and signaled for Tony to get out.

Tony slowly loaded his gun and stepped out of the car. He followed Gibbs into the building and they asked the night manager to point them to Sharif's room. The young woman was so scared that she spilled her Pepsi when trying to show them.

Gibbs kicked in the door and Tony rushed in. Tony caught sight of Sharif lunging for him weapon so he immediately opened fire. A bullet lodged itself into Sharif's leg and he cried out. Forgetting about his weapon, he held his injured leg. Gibbs marched in and put the gun to Sharif's head.

"Where is Ari?"

"Please! Just kill me already! I want to be with my family!" Sharif shrieked.

"Tell me where Ari is," Gibbs said through gritted teeth. "And then I'll kill you."

"He knew you were coming to kill him!" he squealed. "He's going to fly out of the country before you can get him!"

Gibbs pulled the trigger and the bullet went through Sharif's skull, but he turned to dust and fluttered to the ground before the bullet exited his head.

Gibbs practically dragged Tony out of the building and threw him in the car with Jimmy. Gibbs ordered them to drive ahead and park down the road from the airport.


Gibbs sat alone in his car, gazing out into the night. He nervously checked his watch. He only had five minutes to live. Maybe Sharif had given him false information, but he had seemed sincere. Gibbs could feel his energy slipping away from him. And then it happened. A car came speeding past. Gibbs knew it was Ari.

He just knew it.

Gibbs pulled out and began chasing him. Through his rear view mirror he could see Tony and Jimmy pull out of their spot and did the same. Gibbs became aware of a white light creeping up into his vision. It was death coming for him.

He again checked his watch. One minute. Gibbs had to finish it right then. Not only to save his life, but to save Tony and Jimmy's as well. If he were to die at the wheel, then they would most likely crash into him.

Just as the white light blinded him, Gibbs pressed down on the gas. Shooting forward, he crashed into the driver's side of Ari's car.

And then there was nothing.


Okay, I'm honestly too tired to think of something witty to about the chapter right now. So I'm gonna shut up and go to sleep. And I'm gonna try to post the last chapter tomorrow. But that might not happen, considering that tomorrow's Friday and I have a DVR full of episodes of Doctor Who.