Gibbs tore through the entrance of the hospital with McGee struggling to keep up behind him. When they reached Abby's room, they only found Ducky quietly reading.

"Where is she Duck?"

He stood up and placed his book down. "Doing some testing on her hearing, to see the extent of the damage…it is looking good Jethro, the Doctor seemed hopeful."

Gibbs was breathing heavily and tried to slow himself down.

"Why don't you sit down boss?" McGee offered, in between deep breaths as well.

"I'm f-f-fine McGee…" Just then the room started to spin, and he reached out towards Abby's bed to balance himself.

"Perhaps Timothy is right…" He motioned for McGee to leave and get help. "Sit down here…" He then eased Gibbs down onto the side of the bed. "Easy."

Gibbs was now dry heaving but still attempted to keep his face composed and free from expression none the less. Tony ran into McGee in the hallway and entered back into the room along side him and a few nurses.

"Is it the hypnoxious again?" Tony asked, looking in Ducky's direction.

"Hypoxia DiNozzo!" Gibbs barked, his face finally showing a grimace from the pain welling up in his lungs. "Wh-wh-what are you…"

"Doing here?" Tony finished the phrase in an attempt to help. "Ran into the probie in the hall way boss…" Gibbs stared back up at him, demanding more of an answer. "Oh Kate…she's fine boss. She's resting, just a bump on the head, little headache…she was getting kinda grumpy…you know how she gets when…" He stopped himself short as Gibbs started to heave violently.

"Sir…we're going to need to take you to a separate room. Please try and calm down." The nurse peered over at Tony who seemed to be aggravating his condition.

Tony put his hands up in defense. "Sorry boss, back to Kate…on it." He turned to McGee. "I'm right down the hall; make sure they take care of him…"

McGee nodded and directed his attention back to Gibbs. They rolled in a gurney and he raced over to help. "Don't worry boss, you'll be fine."

Gibbs glared up at him, and then turned his gaze to Ducky, who was making his way over. "Abigail will be fine Jethro, just get well." He moved aside as they began to pull the gurney out, but they were stopped when Gibbs grabbed a hold of Ducky's arm, unable to speak. Ducky looked intently through his stare. "One of us will be here when she get's back, don't worry."

McGee and Ducky then watched as they rolled him through the doors. "Timothy, I need for you to stay here for when Abigail returns, I must see to Jethro."

"No problem Doctor." He replied, finding his way to the chair where he picked up Ducky's book and sat down. He tried to read a few pages, and found himself drifting off to sleep.

--- ---

"What took you so long?" Kate asked, adjusting her pillow under her head, that was until Tony took over the feat.

"Here let me." He took the pillow, puffed it up a bit and placed it behind her. "That better?"

"Much." She smiled. "Did you stop at the bathroom or something?"

"No, actually, I ran into the Probie…Gibbs is having another hypnoxious attack like before."

She sighed. "Sheesh, its like someone is writing this and we are just puppets in a play."

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Just as long as I'm the good lucking puppet."

Kate tried to ignore his comment. "What about Abby?"

"She wasn't in her room; they probably have her in for some more testing. Ducky seemed calm enough."

"Ducky always seems calm enough…we should go be there when Abby get's back from her tests." She tried to sit up and lifted her hands immediately to her head. Tony reached out to ease her back down.

"Easy there super woman, I'm sure Ducky has got all the bases covered, I can just seek McGee waiting patiently in her room, while Ducky hover's over the boss…it's a good system."

"You forgot you hovering over me?"

He leaned over and kissed her forehead softly. "I said it was a good system."

--- ---

"Honestly Jethro, you really need to get well this time around, I can't have you losing consciousness throughout the day."

Gibbs had an oxygen tube in his nostrils, but his voice wasn't quite back to full force. "Abby?" He asked softly.

"They are taking her back into her room now, Timothy is there… I just popped in on Tony and Kate; I swear there is something going on between those two"

Gibbs lifted his head up and cocked it sideways but said nothing.

"Though I'm sure it's just their usual sparks, being as young and vibrant as they are…anyhow, I will see about Abigail in a few minutes. I am sure with some bed rest and antibiotics, she will heal up nicely from the burns, and I was told her hearing may come back at an exponential rate."

Gibbs managed a small smile. "She is tougher than me Duck, I swear it."

Ducky mirrored his smile. "I'll have to agree with you there Jethro…"

--- ---

Abby arrived in her room, and couldn't help but smile as she noticed McGee resting his eyes. He jumped up when he heard the commotion and rubbed his eyes quickly to wake himself up.

"Hey." He said, then practically kicked himself for forgetting she still couldn't hear. He lifted his arm up and waved. "How are you?" He moved his lips very slowly, attempting to make it easier for Abby to read them.

"I'm fine." She said, still louder than the normal tone of a conversation.

He reached for the note pad next her to bed and began to write. "There was an explosion at the suspects home…Kate got a mild concussion and Gibbs is in another room recuperating from smoke inhalation…but don't worry, they are both gonna be fine…Tony is with Kate, and Ducky is with the boss…I heard you heard Ducky earlier…looks like things are getting better all around…"

She reached for his hand and stopped his writing. "He can even ramble when he's writing…" She thought andtook the pen from him.

"I want to see Gibbs."

McGee nodded and motioned that he would be right back.

A few moments after he had left, someone Abby didn't recognize entered the room.

"Who are you?" She spoke, but its loud tone startled the man slightly. He moved closer to her bed and reached for the pad and pen, writing slowly.

"I'm here to finish what I started…"