Chapter Ten: A Breath of Fresh Air

Once the rest of the team were back at the hospital they met up with Abbey and Ducky who were waiting patiently in the lounge.

"Have you heard anything?" Tony said.

Ducky walked over and pulled Tony down onto the couch next to him, "Jethro was rushed to resuscitation during the course of the operation," Tony looked pale, "he's fine, they finished off quickly and now he's back in emergency. Antony, he will be fine, just give it time."

They all sat silently, some in contemplation and some in deep consideration.

Hours passed in silence however the NCIS team where not alone in their grief and worry. Throughout the time the team spent in solitary reverie, others of their own mind passed through the room each in quiet rumination but at the end of the day, they where once again all alone.

Annabel Gower, the youngest and newest person to work with the team broke the silence,

"Why don't I get take away and bring it back here. You can't all sit here forever and besides, you haven't had anything to eat all day."

"I'll come with you." Tony replied quickly. Although anxious for Gibbs he frankly couldn't wait to get out into the fresh night air.

"Why did you come with me? You know you could have stayed with Ziva and the rest of the team." Annabel said kindly as they walked through the cool breeze

"Why should I?" He said a little defensively.

"Ziva's really worried–"

"Yeah well I'm not sure about you," he said, stopping and looking at her seriously, "but we're all worried for Gibbs."

"That's not what I mean–"

"Really? What do you mean?" He said with tension and even a little anger rising in his voice.

"Ziva's– she's worried and you know if I didn't know you any better, I'd say you where worried about her too." He looked shocked, "I know she's your partner but you know, that didn't stop me and Josh getting up to anything!" She gave a short, cheeky laugh.

"Your right. I'm…" He looked down at his hands, "I've lost Gibbs once, and I don't want to loose him again."

"I know." He looked at her surprised, "Tim told me–"

"Oh Tim told you did he! What else did he tell you?" He teased as he grabbed her waist and they continued walking towards the take away shop.

All the way there, they where probably heard at the hospital as they laughed, made fun of each other and had the best time either of them could possibly imagined. On the way back they still enjoyed each others company and this reflected on their associates when they returned with food and (not to mention) Caf-Pow in hand.

During their time eating dinner, they sufficiently made up for the silence that had loomed over the room all afternoon and spirit seemed to return to each individual, just like old times.

Tony looked at Ziva and contemplated what Annabel had said to him, how could she read her, let alone him so easily when they hardly knew each other? But whatever he thought he knew in his heart that Ziva was an amazing woman: brave, strong and beautiful. What could be better?

It didn't take long for all the food to be demolished. All spirits where returned to just about maximum until the nurse came in, they were all having a nice time until they noticed her presence at the door, "Excuse me, we're just about to try and wake Agent Gibbs because he's responding very well, he'll probably come round soon so if you all want to come in and wait quietly, I've got you some chairs."

Ducky was the first to get out the door, closely followed by Tony, Abbey, Ziva, Tim and finally Annabel.

As they piled around the bed McGee whispered to Annabel,

"What did you and Tony talk about when you went to get dinner that made him so happy?"

"Nothin'!" She smiled but before she had a chance to explain herself Time interrupted,

"You know, I don't think I want to know what you to got up to!" She giggled quietly and he smiled back.

"Don't worry though, you don't have to be jealous!"

"Oh, that's good to know!" He said sarcastically then laughed and she looked up into his eyes. The moment was intense and emotions where running wild… Just at this instance Tony looked over, he didn't know whether Annabel noticed but what he saw was affection. It was clear, just from the glimpse that they liked each other, maybe they got up to more than he thought whey they where undercover–

"Gibbs!" Abbey suddenly yelled. He was slowly opening his eyes to the crowd of people surrounding his bed.

Ducky picked up and shook his hand, "It's good to have you back, my dear man." A faint smile wavered over his face as he looked at Ducky and then at the other faces surrounding him. A bit overwhelming for a man who had been unconscious for the last few hours!

"Bentley" He mumbled.

"Got him Boss." His three team members replied in unison, just like always.

His recovery was relatively quickly, after just twenty minutes he was once again issuing orders again, but unfortunately short lived – the nurse came and dismissed their group and told Gibbs he actually had to sleep.

"So what are you gonna do?" Tony asked Annabel as they stood just inside the hospital doors; after all she was supposedly staying with him except she hadn't actually made it into the spare room yet!

"Um," she looked at Tim, then at Ziva. She smiled and Annabel smiled back and this caused Tony to turn round and look at Ziva in all her beauty. This time it was Annabel's turn to see the transaction between them and she was having a great time imagining all the things that where probably going on in their heads so before they had the desire to go anywhere or do anything she interrupted and said, "I think if you don't mind, I might just stay with Tim tonight."

Tony looked at her and nodded, he knew this time she had noticed his gaze so smiled a little in gratitude, but only enough for her to notice because no doubt she was concocting some mischievous way to place he and Ziva in an awkward situation.

After that, McGee and Annabel left Tony and Ziva alone for the night and headed home themselves.

After a stressful day, it was a peaceful night. Gibbs was sleeping in his ward, Abbey was at home, Ducky was also at home. Tony and Ziva could be found quietly talking on the couch in Tony's apartment and Annabel and Tim where talking in bed.

The NCIS team where not in demand and for once it gave them all the satisfaction of a night off.