Two hours later Abby and McGee joined Ducky in his vigil at Gibbs' bedside. Abby was putting on a brave face and trying to get the replay of the previous nights events out of her mind. They chatted for a while before Abby excused herself. She walked to the reception area and the nurse who she had spoken to during the night was still on duty.
"Hi," she smiled kindly. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for last night," Abby said gratefully.
"Oh, that's okay. It was kind of exciting," she admitted.
"For me, not so much," Abby said honestly. "I don't suppose you can tell me how the man I shot is doing?"
"He's stable. The bullet missed all vital organs," she told her. "He's down the hall in room 423.
"Okay, thanks," Abby replied. She decided to check in on Morrissey. She reached room 423. There was a police officer guarding the door. Abby showed him her I.D. and he let her in. She popped her head in and saw Private Morrissey sleeping slightly propped up on his bed. One arm was cuffed to the side of the bed. Then she noticed that he wasn't alone. A middle aged woman was sitting by his bedside looking upset and weary while a younger man stood close by. They both turned as she came in. Not wanting to have to explain who she was and why she was there, she apologised and closed the door. The guard threw her a curious glance but she ignored him and decided to return to Gibbs' room.
"Where did you get to?" McGee enquired when she came back.
"I went to check on Morrissey. I couldn't go in though," Abby admitted. "He had his family with him."
"Yeah, I heard. Well at least he's going to live and face a court martial for what he did," McGee said definitively.
"I know. I just felt so sorry for his Mom. She looked so sad," Abby said benevolently.
"Abby," Ducky interrupted.
"Yes, Ducky?" Abby replied.
"Look," Ducky said nodding in the direction of Gibbs. Abby and McGee turned their attention towards him and that's when she saw his eye lids flicker. Abby rushed to his side and grasped his hand.
"Gibbs?" Abby said softly.
This time it wasn't as hard to get his eyes to open. He heard Abby's familiar comforting tones and turned his head slightly towards the sound. She was standing beside him.
"Abs," he croaked weakly.
"Gibbs, I knew you'd be okay," she said enthusiastically. She gently brushed his hair from his forehead.
"What happened?" he asked weakly, unsure of how he'd ended up in hospital again. Abby looked back at Ducky wondering if she should tell him or not. Ducky stepped into his line of vision.
"Welcome back Jethro," Ducky said. "You do remember me this time, don't you?" Ducky asked recalling the last time Gibbs had regained consciousness and was suffering from memory loss.
"Sure, Ducky," he replied feebly. His face was creased with discomfort as every breath sent daggers of pain through his torso.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Ducky asked. Gibbs closed his eyes and tried to remember what he could.
"Snow?" he replied. McGee and Ducky exchanged smiles.
"Well, it was snowing when you were shot. You were on your way to work," Ducky told him
"I bought coffee," Gibbs recalled hoarsely.
"Yes you did and between the coffee house and our building you were shot," McGee informed him.
"Is that you, McGee?" Gibbs asked straining to see him.
"Yeah, Boss, I'm here," Tim replied. "Tony and Ziva will be back soon. They stayed with you last night."
Gibbs nodded acknowledging what they did. Talking was a huge effort for him. He was starting to realise that his injuries must have been pretty severe to make him feel this weak. He began wondering who shot him.
"Who?" is all he managed. They all knew what he meant.
"Private James Morrissey," McGee replied. Gibbs searched his brain trying to figure out who Morrissey was.
"Don't remember him," he said shaking his head slowly.
"Oh, you wouldn't Jethro," Ducky piped up. "The last time you saw him he was five years old."
Gibbs looked at him even more confused. Everyone could see he had no idea who Ducky was talking about. How could he, it was years ago.
"You shot and killed his father 18 years ago. His father was Captain Thomas Morrissey?" Ducky told him.
Gibbs closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander back. It was coming back to him. He remembered Mike Franks getting shot and taking down the shooter. He remembered Morrissey's wife screaming abuse at him and hitting him repeatedly on the chest. All he did was stand there and look at the two little boys who were staring down at their dead father. He recalled doubting himself and wondering if he could have done things differently. After that case it took him a long time to trust his instincts again. He considered handing in his badge it was so bad. Mike eventually took him aside and with the help of a good bottle of bourbon talked some sense into him.
Gibbs opened his eyes again to find only Abby by his bedside and hours had passed.
"Where'd they go?" he asked with a husky voice.
"Oh, Gibbs, you're awake again," Abby noticed. "Ducky and McGee went to get some lunch. You've been asleep for nearly three hours."
Gibbs couldn't believe that three hours had passed. It felt like he had just closed his eyes. Abby could see the puzzled look on his face.
"Don't worry, Gibbs. That's bound to happen. After all you nearly died so it's important that you get lots of rest," Abby told him, sounding matronly. "Can I get you anything?"
"Water," Gibbs replied realising how dry his mouth felt.
Abby reached for the water jug and poured some into a cup for him. Using a straw she offered it to him. She put her hand behind his head to help raise him up so that he could drink.
"Thanks, Abs," Gibbs said as she gently laid his head back on the pillow.
"I remember Morrissey now," he said out of the blue.
"You do?" Abby asked sounding surprised.
"Well, I remember his father," Gibbs explained but not wanting to elaborate.
"That's okay Gibbs. McGee linked your old case to Morrissey. We know you were only doing your job. Too bad he didn't," Abby responded. Gibbs nodded in agreement. He couldn't believe something that had happened so long ago had come back to haunt him.
"Did you find him?" Gibbs asked.
"He kinda found us," Abby told him.
"Huh?"
"How do I put this? He found out that you were alive and decided to finish the job so I shot him," Abby said calmly.
"You did?" Gibbs said flabbergasted.
Abby shrugged her shoulders and looked into his eyes. He could see the emotions behind her plucky façade. He knew Abby well enough to know that having had to shoot someone would wound her deeply. He reached for her hand and pulled it towards him. He softly kissed her on the back of the hand.
"So I guess I owe you my life," Gibbs said gratefully.
"Don't you worry, I'll be sure to remind you," Abby said mischievously. Gibbs laughed momentarily before an agonising jolt of pain reminded him that sudden movements in his upper torso were not a good idea.
"Gibbs, are you alright?" Abby says noticing his pained expression.
"It's okay, Abs. I'm fine," Gibbs insisted.
--------------------------
And so Gibbs spent his first couple of days of recovery sleeping and receiving visits from his team throughout the day. On his third day in I.C.U. he woke to find a surprise visitor at his bedside.
"Dad?"
"Hello, son," Jackson Gibbs said as his son tried to pull himself up to sit.
"What are you doing here?" Gibbs asked.
"Your boss called and said you were in the hospital," he explained.
"You didn't have to come," Gibbs told him not wanting to seem needy.
"I know I didn't have to, but I needed to. Had to make sure my boy was okay," Jackson said his voice breaking slightly.
"It's good to see you, Dad," Gibbs said shaking his hand. His Dad took his hand and reached around and hugged his son.
"So, I thought you said you'd be back to Stillwater to see me," Jackson said slightly scolding his son.
"I've been busy," Gibbs replied.
"Too busy to see your old man?" Jackson asked. GIbbs felt a little ashamed at not having kept his word.
"Looks like I'll have some free time for a few weeks," Gibbs smiled resigned to the fact that he was facing a long road to recovery. The father and son continued chatting well into the evening. Jackson Gibbs left late that night with Gibbs house keys in his pocket. Gibbs insisted he stay there until he was released from hospital.
With increased periods of wakefulness Gibbs let his thoughts roam frequently. He began to take stock of his life. He thought of all he had lost over the years, his mother, Shannon and Kelly, his failed marriages and Jenny. He still missed Jenny. The pain from that loss was still raw. It would be easy to wallow in self pity but he refused to go down that road. Instead he remembered the precious things that he still had in his life. He thought of his team, the closest thing he had to offspring. They had hardly left his side throughout this. Ducky was his closest friend. He was like an older brother to him, always there to offer advice and to reprimand him if need be. And his Dad, he had dismissed that relationship for so long but he hoped that it was getting back on track. A lot of water had passed under the bridge over the last decade or two. It was time to fix things. He closed his eyes, thinking positive thoughts and planning for the future and slipped into a restful sleep.
When Gibbs woke, he had no idea what time it was. It was obviously later as the hospital lights had been dimmed and the corridors semed quiet. He sat up tentatively, painfully aware of his surgical wound. It was then that he noticed a young man standing in his room, staring at him. Gibbs returned the stare.
"Can I help you?" he asked trying to remain detached. The young man walked closer to him.
"Are you Gibbs?" he asked. Gibbs glared at him feeling uncomfortable at being at a disadvantage.
"It depends who's asking," Gibbs replied.
"My name is Tyler Morrissey," he said coldly. Gibbs took a deep breath, recognising the surname but not the Christian name. He assumed this guy was another son of Captain Thomas Morrissey, the man he killed all those years ago. He looked at the young man, trying to read his intentions. He had a sinking feeling that this meeting was not going to end well.
"You're Captain Morrissey's son, right?" Gibbs said calmly.
"That's right. I'm surprised you remember," Tyler said.
"I remember," Gibbs replied.
"You were supposed to die. Why didn't you die?" Tyler asked. Gibbs was shocked by the question.
"I guess it wasn't my time," he replied, shifting uncomfortably in the bed.
"It wasn't my father's time either," he told him forcefully.
"Look kid, your father was sick. He was going to kill your mother and probably you and your brother as well. He had already shot my partner. I did what I had to do," Gibbs tried to explain.
"And I'm going to do what I have to do," Tyler replied approaching Gibbs agressively.
He grabbed Gibbs by the throat and started to apply immense pressure with his bare hands. Gibbs grappled at his finger to try and break his grasp. He twisted and turned in the bed doing his utmost to get Tyler to release his choke hold. Unfortunately, Gibbs was far from his usual fit self and his feeble attempts were ineffective. As he continued to struggle he could see the darkness as it closed in on his peripheral vision. He was passing out from oxygen deprivation.
Sorry Guys – this chapter jumps forward a bit. Didn't want to drag it on too long. Oh and couldn't resist one last cliffie!!!!!!
Next chapter will be the final one.