Another three a.m. It could even be the same hard plastic visitor's chair.
Ari's clinging to my hand. His shoulder has been pinned, and this time there's a cast and a brace holding the surgeon's work in position. So he's even more miserably uncomfortable than he was the last time. Even the painkillers they pumped him full of are really only just about taking the edge off.
But his arm is still attached. Testament to this surgeon's skill, Ari may even regain more use of his right arm. It's going to be a long, painful and very uncomfortable road, but we'll take it.
I hold his left hand between both mine, and kiss his fingers. He opens his eyes, "I love you." He murmurs sleepily.
"I love you." I parrot, reaching out to stroke his cheek.
We're alone. Gibbs has taken Tali home with him. She trusts him, and I trust that she will behave herself, and he won't introduce her to too much boat building.
The others have taken themselves off, Tony and Ziva. McGee on his own, casting a cross glance in the general direction of Malachi and Abby.
Abby is looking after Malachi, who is playing his poor wounded soldier card for all it is worth. Abby isn't a fool, but she likes to cherish, so Malachi's happy. There's a kind of wonder in his eyes which suggests to me that Ari's cousin is falling hard.
Despite my worries, I can't help feeling a little pleased that something positive may come of this.
Ari tugs on my hand. "What?" I bend closer.
"Lie with me." He whispers. I shake my head.
"I can't... What if I hurt you?"
He gives me the look. He's been giving me that look since the day in autopsy when he took that scalpel off my hands and told me he was testing me out.
I sigh and kick my shoes off, shrug out of my jacket then ease up onto the bed next to him. He can't move because they've immobilised him to protect his shoulder, but his good arm comes around me and I burrow very carefully against him.
Despite his injuries, I feel safe lying next to him, reassured, protected. Whenever I'm alone with Ari I feel like this. I lay my hand gently on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingers, the slight rise and fall as he breathes.
Ari turns his head and presses a kiss to my forehead. I should be the one comforting him, but as usual it's Ari comforting me. This has been his role in my life since we've been together.
The nurses will probably be annoyed with me, but he wants me close, and it's all about what Ari wants right now. We don't say a word, we don't need to, and just before I fall asleep I wonder if Eli David will be as good as his word, that Ari and I will be left in peace to raise our daughter.
And her little brother or sister.