Warnings: This one is a little angsty, spoilers for "Twilight"

A/N: Um... you're all still here right and okay? The last cliffhanger didn't cause you all to faint I hope lol. Anyways, I worked hard to get this second part up so you wouldn't be waiting too long. Just a little disclaimer I am no doctor so if the medical stuff seems off please feel free to PM me and I can make adjustments. As always, thanks for your continued support :) Enjoy!

Life was flowing through his fingers—her life—and Tony felt powerless. No one could tell where the shot had come from exactly or who it was really intended for since it had hit his partner at the base of her neck. At this point the person responsible for shooting her was the least of his concerns. She was dying right before his eyes and if she didn't get help soon he was going to lose her forever. Sirens were screaming towards them, orders were being shouted, and Tony felt like he was in a tunnel, watching as the woman he loved slipped away from him.

Natalie's blood was starting to pool underneath her where she had fallen, her skin turning an ashen color, and her eyes glazed over. At first she had been stunned that she'd been shot, collapsing to her knees with a cry and holding the spot where her neck met her shoulder, the blood quickly seeping through her fingers as both Tony and Gibbs helped her to the steps of the federal building. Gibbs had instructed Tony to take his tie off and hold it to the wound to stop the blood from rapidly leaving her body. Almost immediately her eyes had widened in horror when the reality of the situation became clear to her.

Gibbs had been with the marines long enough to know when a wound could turn to fatal. Tony had been a cop in two dangerous cities. He had seen his fair share of colleagues dying in the line of duty. Natalie was no different than him having walked a beat in Boston and later becoming a detective. The grim reality of her situation was not lost on the three federal agents.

"Stay with me, Callahan," Gibbs ordered her. "Paramedics are almost here."

"Come on, Natalie," Tony coaxed. "Fight. Where's that Boston spirit? Don't let the bad guy win."

Her eyes shifted to find him and he saw a tear make a path down her cheek. Tony felt his heart breaking. "NO! Don't you dare say good bye!" he shouted at her, desperately, aa a hand reached out to pull him back, "Natalie! Stay with me!"

The sirens, the yelling of the paramedics that had just arrived, drowned his pleas out and Tony was tossed aside easily so the EMT's could get to Natalie. He lost sight of her, as IV bags were started, oxygen masks placed over her nose and a back brace slid underneath her to transport her down the steps to the awaiting gurney and ambulance. It was incredible how fast the EMT's worked and how fast they got Natalie loaded into the back of the ambulance but was it going to be fast enough? Would she be gone by the time Tony arrived at the hospital?

Gibbs gently grabbed his shoulder as they watched the ambulance pull away. He gave Tony a reassuring squeeze. "She's on her way to Bethesda. Okay? They saved your life once, from the Plague—they can save her from a gunshot wound."

Tony wanted to believe him. The thought of losing her made him sick to his stomach. He needed to get to the hospital. As quickly as the thought crossed his mind Ziva and Monique appeared, dragging a scrawny guy along with them. Tony's brow furrowed...

"He is the one that shot Agent Callahan," Monique said. "We chased him down after the shot was fired. Tell the NCIS agents who you were really aiming for."

"What do you mean who he was really aiming for?" Tony growled, his hands balling up into fists.

"Some guy paid me to take out the Director of NCIS," the shooter replied. "I would have had him too... if the damn street vendor hadn't bumped me just as I fired."

It was as if the sky began to sway. He stumbled away from the steps and found a trashcan. Bullet wasn't meant for her... it wasn't supposed to be her! Horrendous thoughts began to run through his head, how Natalie could die because the shooter had been bumped—Tony doubled over and vomited into the trashcan.

Leon entered Phillip Davenport's office, grimly. "Mister Secretary."

Davenport glanced up from his Cuban cigar. "Leon. Any word yet on Agent Callahan's condition?"

He shook his head. "No. I spoke to Agent Gibbs fifteen minutes ago on the way over here—Agent Callahan has suffered a gunshot wound to her lower neck. It appears that the bullet when straight through, doctors are operating on her now to stop the bleeding and repair any damage," Leon replied, taking a seat. "The bullet, Mister Secretary was not for her. It was really intended for me."

The Secretary of the Navy blew out a puff of smoke and then rested his cigar in a nearby ashtray. "So I've been informed by the FBI. Sounds like you're only alive because a hot dog vendor slipped and bumped the shooter just as he pulled the trigger. Agent Callahan is the unfortunate one that got in the way."

"Agent Callahan could be the one to end up dying," Leon said, curtly. "Doesn't seem fair."

"Life isn't fair, Leon," Davenport replied. "Has the shooter said who hired him?"

"FBI was interrogating him. They said they would let me know as soon as they did."

"Doesn't sound like we have much of a case."

Leon looked out the window briefly at the gray November sky. "My team has been more concerned with Agent Callahan's condition at the moment then finding a leg to stand on in this case. It was the reason why Gibbs handed the case to the FBI."

Davenport leaned back in his chair. "Do you think Eli David is responsible? NCIS has already foiled one plot to assassinate Agent Callahan earlier today. It wouldn't surprise me if Eli had more than one up his sleeve. If he's behind it, perhaps your shooter is lying."

"Officer Hadar and Officer Tuvia have been at the Israeli embassy since this morning," Leon said. "They deny any contact with Director David since leaving Israel. Our shooter said the man who hired him had an American accent."

"He never actually saw who hired him?" Davenport questioned. "Eli is crafty, Leon, I told you that when you took the chair and insisted on keeping his daughter on the team. I told you only bad things could possibly come from this friendship with Eli. Our shooter might not even be aware he has been speaking to an Israeli if Eli hired someone else to hire him."

"They only spoke by phone but he was certain that the target was always me and not Agent Callahan."

"And Miss David? Do you think she had anything to do with it? I find it odd that she's turned up after all these months right at this moment."

Leon took a deep breath. "Her timing could have been a bit better to come back—but no, she has not been with Mossad since the moment she left here all those months ago headed for Tel Aviv. She has been with Interpol. Agent Gibbs and I spoke to her before the shooting at the federal building. She seemed sincere and generally concerned for both Agent DiNozzo and Agent Callahan's lives. I had a call out to Officer Ben-Gideon but he has not returned it yet. Unfortunately I have not been back in the office since Agent Callahan was shot."

Davenport picked up his cigar. "Fortunately for you, Leon, I have connections as well. I spoke to Officer Ben-Gideon. He tells me that the chatter about Eli David wanting to assassinate Agent Callahan is true—and he did order Hadar and Tuvia to kill her, but since that failed attempt, Mossad has no idea where he is."

"What? Officer Hadar and Officer Tuvia said that they were to also ensure Eli's safety when he arrived for the inquiry."

"According to my sources Hadar and Tuvia aren't talking to the FBI, except to deny their involvement in the shooting today."

"Ben-Gideon has no idea what's really going on, does he?"

"It appears that way. Sounded like Mossad was keeping it underwraps where Eli is, only Hadar and Tuvia know I assume."

"They aren't talking. I'll speak to the inquiry board. They might know..."

"Already spoken to the inquiry board, Leon. This so called board... doesn't exist. No one in the State Department knew about it."

He felt sick to his stomach. Leon clasped his hands in his lap. "This entire inquiry has been a set-up."

The Secretary of the Navy nodded, solemnly. "Yes. A set-up not for the assassination of Miss Callahan but for yours and Eli David's."

Gibbs kept his eyes focused solely on Tony. His second in command had not budged from the doors his partner had disappeared through a few hours before as she was rushed to the operating room. Since he was not a blood relation or a relation by marriage Tony had been forced to stay in the waiting room with the rest of them.

Tony was about as white as his dress shirt, well, as white as the parts that were not stained with Natalie's blood, and it was obvious that he was trembling slightly with anxiety. No one on the team could blame him. He had Natalie's blood on his clothes and hands. He had watched as her life slowly started to fade away before his very eyes and he had desperately been the one to try and stop the blood flow. In a few short hours the team had been shattered.

Ducky crept up next to him. Like the rest of the team, the medical examiner had halted all work when they were informed that Natalie had been shot. He softly remarked, "Someone should get him to eat something, Jethro. Anthony cannot expect to just stand there and be fine."

"He isn't going to move until he knows she's okay," Gibbs said, quietly. He sucked in a sharp breath recalling the sound of the gun cracking and then realizing that one of his agents had been hit. "It was like Kate all over again. Only this time she was still breathing when we got to her."

"The parallels are startling and undoubtedly brought back awful memories," Ducky sighed. "Especially the blood on Anthony's face."

Gibbs swallowed the bile in his throat. After Kate had been shot, Tony hadn't budged too stunned and her blood had been all over him. Ducky had been the one to suggest cleaning it off his face and it was then that the young man had realized it was even there. Tony had gotten sick on that rooftop then. Like he got sick today. "Tim helped him wash it off. Tony's not thinking clearly right now."

Ducky would question if any of them were thinking clearly. Gibbs had easily handed the case over to the FBI, Tim and Abby had been huddled in a corner of the waiting room sipping coffee and Caf-Pow and watching the news on the TV, and Ducky had paced, restlessly, concerned about the condition of all of them—not just the young woman that had made a place in his heart as a daughter. His heart ached as the doors swung open and finally a doctor stepped out.

The doctor's scrubs were covered in blood, he still had his cap on and the mask hung around his neck. "Special Agent DiNozzo?" he questioned, looking right at Tony. For a moment the team stood, held their breaths—Abby even prayed.

Tony could only manage a meek nod of his head. "Yes. Doctor... is she... please tell me she's alright..."

"Agent Callahan lost a lot of blood," the doctor began, but he immediately continued when he saw the hope leaving the teams' eyes, "But she's pulled through. Right now she's sedated and resting. I've placed her shoulder in a sling to keep her from moving it and pulling her stitches out. She's lucky that bullet wasn't higher. It probably would have severed a major artery and we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Can I... can I see her now?" Tony asked, his voice was hoarse and timid. It didn't sound like Tony at all. "I know she's sleeping... I just... I need to be with her, Doctor. She's my partner—my best friend." She's the woman I love.

Gibbs didn't hear the doctor's answer, his cell was ringing and he stepped away to answer it. "Ziva. If you have anything on this case, you should be calling the FBI."

Ziva's voice sounded anxious. "I just spoke to Director Vance. The inquiry was a set up to get Vance and my father in the same place at the same time. The shooter finally confirmed that to the FBI but he was not sure of the name of the man that wanted them dead."

"There was no inquiry?"

"No. Monique and I questioned the workers at the federal building, and the State Department. No one knew what we were talking about."

"Someone has gone through a lot of trouble to get your father here," Gibbs stated, watching as the doctor led Tony through the doors and hopefully to Natalie's room. "Tim and I will be there soon to help. See if you can get in touch with Liat and Hadar." He hung up and went to join Ducky and the others. "Something's come up—Duck, you and Abby keep me updated—Tim let's go."

Tim looked a little torn. Natalie was his partner too and true he wasn't sleeping with her like Tony... if Gibbs was leaving now, something was going on. "Boss?"

Gibbs started walking, not bothering to see if Tim was following or not. "That bullet was meant for Vance. We need to find the person who hired the shooter before Vance becomes the next victim in this bloodbath."

Natalie looked fragile lying in that hospital bed. Her dark hair was spread out over the pillows. Underneath the hospital gown he could see the bandage peeking out where they had operated on her and her left shoulder was in a sling to keep it from moving.

Tony was only mildly comforted by the rise and fall of her chest. He had come so incredibly close to losing her. Falling into the chair by her bed, Tony reached out draping one arm above her head and the other over her still body. He buried his nose in her hair and let his tears silently flow down his cheeks. He had promised to keep her safe and he'd failed, she had been shot right in front of him while he helplessly looked on. Just like Kate...

At least in the case of Natalie he had been able to do something. Tony had been able to stall the blood flow, to keep her alive long enough for the paramedics and the doctors to do their jobs. Kate had died instantly. The difference that a few inches made...

He didn't want to think about how a few inches could have changed the outcome for Natalie. Tony lifted his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Gently he squeezed her hand and whispered, "We're going to be okay, Natalie."

She was unable to respond being sedated but the steady beating of her heart on the monitor was plenty of an answer for him. As long as he could hear that he knew that everything was going to be fine.