I own nothing from NCIS and make no money from this story! If I did own them there would be some wicked story lines! LOL! But for now I shall merely play with them and return them very sated!

A huge thanks goes to my most excellent Beta-Amy- without whom this would not be as polished! Kudos to her for her great work and wanting to work with a nut like me! Trust me! And I lover her all the more for it!

Come by my facebook page- always a riot! Sometimes great eye candy as well! Facebook./gibbsandtonysbabe Always happy to have you drop by!

NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS NCISNCIS

I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's response! It means the world to me! All you guest reviewers I send love to since I can't respond! I love you all! As is my habit ( my muse is a slave driver!) this story has grown a bit more than four parts...but I am ok with that!I thank you all!

NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS NCISNCIS

Abby was working on shutting down her lab equipment, or her "babies", as she liked to call them, and was finally going to be able to get to the hospital to see Tony. She needed to see that he was alive and to touch base with Gibbs and Ducky. Being here and processing the evidence was where she knew that she needed to be, but her heart hurt and she needed soothing that only getting to the hospital would be able to provide.

Hearing the door slide opened she sighed as she prepared to have her plans to leave thwarted. Her eyes spoke the volumes of the sadness and worry she was feeling as she raised them meeting green eyes that mirrored her concern with his own.

"Harm!" She cried as she ran into his out stretched arms taking comfort in his strength. "I tried to reach you and couldn't." She let go of all that she had been holding back; tears of anger, worry, and desolation because of the situation.

"I was on my way here Abs. Not letting Tony go through this alone." Holding her tightly against him, he whispered, "I've got you, let it go". Never loosening his grip, he softly uttered comforting words knowing that when she was ready, they would reach her.

"He's going to be all right. We'll take care of him, no doubt about that. I'll take care of those that put him in that situation." She began to calm down, her sobs subsiding as she released the torrent of emotions that she'd been holding in since this started.

"I need to see him. I'm finished up here. When did you get here? When we had dinner at Tony's last time you said you were going sailing for an extended period." Then all of his words hit her. "How are you going to take care of them?"

"I took the case, special dispensation. And the sailing can wait; Tony's more important. Never thought I would have to help in a situation like this though. How's Gibbs taking it?"

Abby sighed. "Right now he won't leave the hospital, so everything is bottled up with no place to go. He knows everything and I am sure he is ready to go all sniper on them. Ducky is trying to keep him from doing that." Her eyes narrowed. "But I get it. This is the first time, well besides Chip, that I have wanted to use my forensic knowledge for the wrong side of the law."

"I want to accept that prison will be enough punishment and that the laws work, but this is Tony. He nearly died Harm, several times. I want to hurt them, make them suffer for every ounce of pain and every mark that was inflicted on him. Then I will want to start all over again when he realizes what they did to him and has to hurt all over again."

"I know and I get it. But I will make sure they pay and are given no dispensation for being federal agents. And besides, you know how much worse Tony would feel if any of you carried out that sort of revenge on his behalf. We'll make sure he knows he's not alone and we will get him through this, without any of his family heading off to prison."

"Let's get to the hospital so we can see him, I need to see that he is alive. Might stop and get Gibbs and Ducky some food and coffee. It will be one less thing that they have to think about."

Abby nodded. "He did ask that I bring him some clothes and stuff. Maybe we could stop at Tony's and pick up a couple of things for him too."

Harm agreed. "His music for one. That usually helps him when he's going through a rough time."

Abby grabbed Bert as they headed out to the one place they both needed to be.

NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS

After making stops at both Gibbs and Tony's places and picking up food, they were finally pulling into the Bethesda hospital parking lot. Turning off the car they both sat frozen, unable to get out of the car knowing what they were going to see when they saw Tony.

"Come on." Harm said as he got out and began grabbing the bags that they had acquired.

Abby grabbed the rest of the bags and the drinks and they headed inside. The need to be close and offer whatever help and support they could far overshadowed their fear of seeing Tony as injured as he was. Making their way quickly to ICU, they saw Gibbs and Ducky outside of a room intently watching whatever was happening inside.

Abby's gut churned with worry as Brad walked out of the room, but relaxed slightly when she saw his smile. If he was smiling, it couldn't be all bad news, right? Gibbs turned at their arrival and gave them both a weak and tired smile.

"Abs, glad you're here", taking the bags from her hand, setting them down before engulfing her in a hug. "You did a great job Abs. I'm proud of you." He whispered. Turning to Harm, he stuck out his hand unable to release Abby even if he had wanted to.

"Good to see you." Gibbs tilted his head towards Brad. "Not sure if you remember Brad from when Tony had the plague, but he's his doctor."

Harm smiled at Brad. "Damn straight I remember the doctor that saved Tony from dying from the plague. How's he doing?"

Brad looked at the group. "He's hanging in there. His heartbeat is strong and right now, his vitals are as well. Very pleased about his heart after the last scare. I'm leaving him on the vent as I don't want to stress his body. But if he keeps status quo over night, he will have increased his odds of having a full recovery."

If it was possible to feel relief as a tangible force, it was then and there as the air around the group seemed lighter and filled with more hope than they had dared dream.

"I'll be back in an hour or so to check again. I have arranged for the rules to be bent for him, he needs all of you there. Now and when he becomes aware." Brad's eyes narrowed. "He's a fighter. Keep talking to him Gibbs, you always seem to bring out the best in the man and I have no doubts that you will get him through this."

Brad left and the group let the news settle.

"Ducky. I'm sorry I didn't say hello before." Harm started to say.

"Never mind Harmon, we were all waiting the news that Bradley shared. Think nothing of it. I am just glad that you're here. Abigail and I tried to reach you and were unsuccessful." Ducky looked at the man over his glasses. "I take it that you are here for more than one reason?"

Harm's green eyes narrowed in anger. "You got that right; I received a special dispensation and will be the JAG prosecuting McGee and David."

"How did you get past the possible conflict of interest, my dear boy?"

"He's not blood family. Not like everyone at JAG didn't want the case. They know the man and have respected him since he cleared my name all those years ago. Hell, he's worked with most of them there at one time or another and always made a point to ask how they are. You know how he is." Harm smiled. "And well, I called in a few favors."

Gibbs smiled. "Feel real good about you being on the case. No chance in hell they will slip through your fingers." Gibb nodded towards Tony's door. "Go…I'll be there in a minute."

He looked at the mass of bags on the floor. "Abs? I asked for a couple of things…"

Abby lifted her head off his shoulder and stepped out of his arms. "There is dinner for all of us, Tony's iPod, some movies and a DVD player, clothes and stuff for you and Bert to keep you company. I wanted to bring some comforts of home to him as well. His OSU blanket and stuff."

"Sound perfect Abigail. I should imagine those things will help Anthony immensely. Jethro can play the music while he sits with him and they chat. And dinner smells wonderful; I dare say I was unaware of how hungry I am."

"Go in with Harm and see Anthony while Jethro and I get this set up. He won't be moving to a regular room anytime soon I am afraid. However as Bradley pointed out he is on the road to recovery. Baby steps they may be, but they are steps in the right direction."

Abby walked slowly into Tony's room and to his bedside as silent tears rolled down her face. He looked so pale and small with the mass of wires coming out of his body in every possible direction. She gained strength by watching the steady blip of the heart monitor as she laid her hand gently on his face.

Harm stood on the opposite side and squeezed Tony's hand as he finished evaluating his condition.

"Tony, Abby is here now too. Lots of people need you here. I miss you buddy. Been too long since we've gotten together for beer and a game. I plan on rectifying that as soon as I can." Harm smiled at Abby encouraging her to speak.

She sighed as she struggled to find her voice. "I missed you like crazy when I wasn't here. Had a lot to do. But I brought Bert to help you and Gibbs. You're gonna have to share him though, I mean the Bossman may need a hug too. You just keep fighting to get better and come home." She bent her head down to press a kiss to his cheek. "I love you."

Standing she grabbed Bert from the bags that Ducky and Gibbs had brought inside the room. "See? Bert will make it better. He has my special mojo. He helped me today…helped me get through what I needed to do and now he can help you." She laid him out of the way so that the hippo could watch over her friend.

"Seems you have a magical hippo looking over you now Tony. Gibbs, Ducky, and I are here for the long haul. Maybe when you get better you can get Gibbs to teach me about boats and instead of sailing with a group, I can do it with all of us. A vacation. Hell, I bet Gibbs has forgotten what those are."

Harm laughed as he saw Gibbs narrow his eyes at him. "Can you deny it?" Harm's eyes got a mischievous glint in them.

"I remember what they are, just haven't taken one. Actually sounds like a good idea." Abby gasped in shock.

"Gibbs…vacation…" Abby grinned. "Wow."

Ducky watched the interaction smiling. Yes, this would be just what Anthony needed when this was all over and he was physically well enough to deal with the betrayal. He wondered if Harm had picked up on the feelings the men had for one another. Abigail would quickly as he was certain she already suspected.

Gibbs moved closer to Tony and stroked his arm as he had been doing every time he was with the man. "Huh, no one thinks I can relax, I guess we'll just have to show them Tony. Can be our first vacation together." Gibbs raised his eyes waiting for his comment to be understood. Abby's eyes widened and she had a huge smile on her face. Ducky was thrilled that Jethro was opening up and sharing and Harm smiled and winked.

"Bout damn time don't you think?"

Gibbs smiled softly. "Yep."