Chapter 10

With Gibbs help Standish quickly climbed up the wall behind their corner and using a broken piece of table leg he made a hole in the masonry larger. He looped the rope around a support beam and tied it off. Abby stayed near Ducky who had roused a bit after the meds. She held his hand and sat on the floor next to him, her knees bent up tight to her chest.

"Gibbs'll help the fireman get us out of here Ducky. We're almost home, really."

Ducky was unconscious again and didn't answer. Abby rocked slightly on her boot heels. A louder groaning sound came from the floor and the angle of tilt became more drastic. The tremors moved up the wall above the autopsy elevators and suddenly the two halves ripped apart and shifted. The ceiling suddenly cracked, dust raining down into the hole and over Abby and the team.

As the noises moved down the corridor behind the firefighters things fell from the ceiling and settled. The noise that remained was Abby screaming hysterically. Gibbs left Standish and hurried to his wife and wrapped his arms around her. Almost immediately Abby slumped and passed out. Jethro slipped his fingers to her throat and checked her pulse. Standish dropped to one knee but Gibbs spoke.

"She's just fainted. It's been a long day." He said quietly.

Standish nodded and quickly stood up. Speaking to the other rescue workers by radio he hurried back to his rope and began to work. Gibbs stayed with Abby until she roused. When she woke he spoke to her softly. Setting her back against the edge of the table leg he moved toward Standish and in a remarkably fast and smooth operation the basket was on their side of the hole. Ducky was placed in the basket and moved to the doorway. The firefighters sent a harness back across and Standish left next, using the rope to pull himself along.

Abby was next. She got placidly into the harness but when Gibbs moved her to the edge of the hole she stiffened up. Gasping she whirled and flung her arms around her husband.

"No!"

"Abb's," Gibbs said very gently, "You need to go. I'll help the rescue team get you over the hole."

"NO! Unless you're going too!" Her arms tightened into almost a strangle hold. His throat was pressed against her shoulder.

"Abb's. Abb's, I can't breathe!" He tried to undo her arms from his neck.

"Sorry. OK. But I'm not going without you. You'll get eaten."

"Abb's, you gotta go now. It's time to go. The rope won't hold both of us. I'll go right behind you OK?"

"Étienne, Promettez-moi vous ne mourrez pas!"

"Abby je ferai mon mieux pour vous. Je t'aime, pour l'éternité."

"OK. Étienne I'll go."

Abby was crying as she removed her arms from Gibbs shoulders. He leaned in and passionately kissed his wife. His fingers swept through her hair holding her head against him, his arm holding her close. His mouth slashed down over hers, rough against hers while his tongue swept through her mouth. She relaxed into him and as he slowly let her go their eyes met. Emerald looked into azure blue and the love flowed between them. Abby nodded and turned back to the hole her body trembling.

"Ready!" Gibbs shouted. "Go ahead Abby."

Abby closed her eyes tightly. She counted in her head and jumped. The harness tightened and Abby clutched the straps. She could feel herself moving. Gasping a deep breath she held on refusing to look. Suddenly she felt strong hands grasping at her and lifting her to solid ground. Abby was on automatic as she stepped out of the harness. Ziva brought her into her arms and hugged her tight.

Abby refused to turn around. She shivered violently as she heard the rescuers organizing Gibbs transfer. She leaned into Ziva and her mind was blank as she waited for her love to be eaten by the hole. Suddenly strong arms were around her and lips were pressed hard against her own. With a sob Abby hugged him tightly and they melted into each other for a long minute. Standish and Tagwell were moving Ducky into the tunnel.

"C'mon Babe. It's time to go." Gibbs smiled down at her.

Tentatively Abby smiled at him. She followed Ducky into the tunnel, her husband right behind. She had a few moments where she froze but actually she went through fairly quickly.

At the hospital Abby was found to be dehydrated and in emotional shock. They decided to keep her overnight with IV fluids. With a mild sedative giving her the ability to doze she rested quietly. She woke in the middle of the night and felt the warmth of her husband wrapped around her. She tried to untangle her legs from his and slip out for the bathroom, but the IV pump and tubing were beyond her. She found herself trembling as she raised on her right arm. She felt the sudden tension in the sleeping form against her.

"Need help Babe?"

Jethro's voice was rough with sleep. His breath against her neck followed by a light kiss made her smile.

"Umm yeah, I can't seem to untangle this thing so I can get up."

She felt bereft as the warmth of his body vanished. He reappeared at her side and lowered the bed rail.

"I'll do this Abb's, you just concentrate on sitting up."

"OK."

Abby was surprised at how hard that was to do. Her legs began to tremble the minute she sat up straight. Her shoulders ached in places she didn't remember injuring. So did her waist, back and abdomen. She looked up at her Love in surprise.

"I hurt!"

"It's Ok Honey. It's to be expected, you were in an explosion and essentially a cave in."

"I…umm…I don't remember much. I know there was a hole; it was like… real somehow. Everything fell into it. No matter where I went and dragged Ducky to things ended up going down into the hole. The noise, oh God Gibbs, it was like pain… somebody shouting, screaming in pain. I couldn't make it stop and I didn't know how to keep Ducky safe."

Jethro laid his hands on her shoulders gently. Abby rubbed her cheek against his arm and wrapped her fingers around his wrist.

"What happened wasn't your fault Babe. You haven't done anything wrong. Do you believe me?"

"I want to. I really do. I just feel like…like I should have done more. Ducky was so hurt, his bones… I mean I know about bones, all about them really, and I've seen them before and all, but not like one of us…"

She was starting to babble and Jethro squeezed her shoulders. Slowly the tears began to come and make their way down her cheeks. Jethro wiped them away with soft kisses, his hands sliding to the side of her head, his thumbs to the curves of her jaw.

"Abb's, we'll work it through. You're safe. That's the most important thing. Next, Ducky is alive too. You're both going to survive and our family is still intact."

Abby gave him a shaky smile. Reaching up to caress his cheek she then drew him down for another kiss. His tongue stroked hers, then gently tugged on her lower lip. Sighing Abby met his loving gaze.

"Yeah, GampaDucky will be around for a little Gibbs- Mini-me birthday. I'm really really glad."

"Want some help getting outta that bed so you can go to the bathroom?"

"I think maybe that's a good idea. I seem to be a little, you know."

Gibbs helped Abby get into the bathroom. He turned to leave but she grabbed his hand.

"Don't…OK? Just don't leave."

Gibbs looked down at her and then caressed her cheek.

"If that's what you want Babe. No problem."

"I just wish we could go home."

"We will. Just as soon as the Doc's say you can. Just be with me, just relax. You need to get stronger. We have a baby to get home to. I can't do it alone. OK?"

"Got it. I'm done. Help me get up?"

When Abby got into bed she turned on her side and waited until her Love settled in behind her. She put her head on his shoulder and Gibbs put his other arm around her waist. With a deep sigh she quickly went back to sleep.