The last chapter everybody! Hope you are not disappointed, Thank you to all the people who have read this story and reviewed, it is very much appreciated!

Chapter 10

My eyes slowly opened and adjusted to the bright light that shone through the blinds. My body ached all over and it took me a second to realize I was in a hospital.

Hospitals. I have hated hospitals all my life; I did not need people to take care of me. It was a place that acknowledged that you were weak; you were weak enough to be defeated by another. In other words; you failed.

I tried to lift my hands but it was weighted down by something or rather someone; my eyes made its way down to the warm fury thing on my arm. It was Tony, fast asleep; a smile grew on my face. He looked incredibly peaceful as he slept, his body rising up and down in a steady rhythm.

"You're one lucky girl," I jumped a little as the nurse appeared out of nowhere and whispered while she placed the pills along with a cup of water on the side table.

"What do you mean?" I furrowed my eyebrows and swallowed the pills with the water.

"He's been here for 26 hours," she pointed towards Tony,"and that's not even including the surgery time… hasn't left your side since," she smiled and left.

I could feel Tony begin to stir his eyes slowly opened, which was followed by a huge yawn, "Good Mornin' sweet cheeks".

I decided to play a prank on him, just to get back at him for all the times he teased me, "Wwhhoo.. are you?" I mustered the most convincing persona I could.

He looked at me for a minute a little confused, then made his way to the end of the bed, I eyed him suspiciously; but still not giving myself away. He picked up the clipboard and read it, "Nice try, but you don't have any concussions". He chuckled.

"Aww, I thought I had you there for a second," I laughed, "I heard you haven't left the hospital yet".

"Yeh…"

"I thought you hated hospitals," He made his way back to my side.

"Well, not when my Crazy Ninja Chick is here," he grinned and slipped on his jacket.

Abby entered the room, and broke out into a run towards me; she placed the black roses and get well balloons on the table beside me before she enveloped me in a huge hug.

"You're up!" she let go of me, "I'm so glad you're okay, don't ever do that again!"

"Oh, that reminds me, did you guys find Gibbs? Is he okay?" I asked, rather anticipated to hear that Gibbs was fine.

"Yes, he was unconscious when Tony found him, nothing serious though just a little dehydration, but he's actually been up and about for nearly 10 hours now," Abby reassured me, as she pulled a chair up to the side of my bed.

"And Vance?" Abby's face turned grim, and for a second I felt like I shouldn't have asked at all.

"Vance is being investigated by the FBI, as far as we know he and Eli have been working since the start, like way before, when you guys all split up apparently it was Eli's plan to gain back your loyalty and all that…," Abby slowed down as she touched on the sensitive topic.

"Do you know what's going to happen with Mossad? I mean they'll be needing a new Director…" I flashed back to the moment my finger pulled on the trigger. It had definitely felt good; especially when I was sure he had definitely spotted me. He looked at me as if daring me to go for it, take a shot if you dare. But there was no way that he could've made me feel sorry for him. He sent me on missions to die, he deserved it.

"Well we're not really updated on that, but I'm sure it'll be announced pretty soon," McGee strolled in, a bag of bagels and three cups of coffee in hand.

For the next hour or so we all devoured in the bagels McGee had brought. Small conversations were made about the past few days.

"I wonder who will be the new Director," Tony raised his eyebrows, as we all calmed down from our previous conversation.

"That'd be me," The silver haired man dressed in the hospital gown walked in. Everyone burst into laughter, "I'm so sorry boss, but it's kinda hard to take you seriously in that outfit".

"Well… it's true, starting as of Monday," He pulled a chair and joined us.

"Then what's going to happen to us? Team Gibbs?" Abby pouted, half excited that Gibbs was becoming Director but half disappointed that the Team would have to break up.

Gibbs gave us a half smile and pointed towards Tony, "Meet your new team leader".

"Wow, really? Me, boss?" Tony's face was in shock, but we'd all expected it to happen. He had done a great job leading our team back when Gibbs had quit and joined Franks down in Mexico. Especially in the circumstances then; Tony had to pick the team up after we'd all fallen so low. But now Gibbs would still be around, which means a happier Abby and a happier team.

"Yeah, just one thing DiNozzo, please just don't dress like me, the way you did last time," Gibbs smiled and left the room.

We all laughed, except Tony who turned the light shade of red, "I think I looked okay…"

It wasn't long until everybody began to depart. Abby and McGee had decided to throw Gibbs a "Congratulations" party; well it was more of Abby's idea which McGee was forced to take part in. They departed with Gibbs for lunch around 1130 to the new all you can eat shop that just opened down the street last week.

Tony had left at 1145 and gone grocery shopping to stock up and to pick up a new movie for us to watch later tonight. He arrived back around 1430 just before I signed my release from the hospital.

"Oh I hate hospitals," I sighed and we laughed. It was great to breathe the fresh air instead of the sterilized air of the hospital.

I stood beside the car for a minute and admired the trees, birds and the shine of the sun on my skin. Tony drove us to my apartment where he'd cleaned and stocked up the fridge earlier in the day. He was such a gentleman when he wanted to be.

I now sat in my living room reading a book, only just left the hospital a mere hour ago. I loved the comfort and security of my home, to know that there was a place that I could let my walls down and just relax was a blessing.

And though it has taken about five years to realize and finally admit that I love Tony, I am glad it had taken this long. Our journey together has allowed us to bond in a very unique way, where we learned about each other without even knowing it. Together we've been through about everything possible, good and bad, life and death.

He walked out of the bathroom, fresh from a long shower and settled next to me on the soft couch. His smelt of lavender as he invaded my personal space.

"You've been using my shampoo again," he smiled and slowly removed the book from my hands and placed it on the table. His face slowly inched closer towards my face.

"Now that we've found Gibbs…" he closed the distance and kissed me tenderly, it was filled with great passion as we savored it for as long as we could.

Home. This was truly home, surrounded by things that I loved…

With someone who loved me. Rescued me…

Because he couldn't live without me…

Fin

Well this is the end, I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for following me on this tremendous journey!