AN: again I am taking some literary license in speeding along their recovery, and in services offered at the Naval Center but the scenes and some of the rehab people have been real in my life as a CRRN.

Jethro and Lainy had been moved to an inpatient rehab unit at Bethesda. Jethro had been angry he and Lainy needed to go to rehab at all. He wanted to go home. Period. He didn't admit he needed to go until his Physical Therapist Chad had allowed him to try to walk around without oxygen or a walker because of his leg. Jethro became dizzy and then collapsed in a faint. Chad and another therapist caught him and lay him down on one of the therapy benches. Jethro came to in Lainy's lap with his oxygen on.

"Are you a believer now love?" Lainy asked with a gentle smile on her face for her stubborn lover.

"Why can't I go home with oxygen on?" He asked with a frown. Chad grinned at him.

"She said that would be your next attempt at going home."

"Well?" Jethro said with a scowl. Lainy squeezed his hand and smiled.

"You can't get up and walk without help yet Gunny. I want you to be as independent as possible even though Dr Pomerantz says you'll have to go home with oxygen for awhile. You need to heal. " Chad gazed steadily into Gibbs azure eyes. Gibbs held the look for a long moment while he thought about what was said.

He settled his head back into Lainy and closed his eyes and took some slow breaths as he had been taught. It was true he was exhausted after each 45 minute session here. And it was true it took 2 people and a special harness to get him up to walk without hurting his shattered ribs and lung. Lainy couldn't manage. He was too heavy and she was weak herself with 1 arm. He was down to 155lbs from his being ill. But not able to help himself. It made sense. Lainy certainly couldn't help him. He needed to not be a burden.

"Alright. I'll go. But not without Lainy. I will notbe separated from her." Jethro's stare was fierce. Lainy bent and kissed his forehead. Chad merely nodded.

"I won't be kept away from you either Jethro." She said softly shaking her head. "No."

"I'll let Dr Nataeo know so he can arrange your transfer. I'm sure no one will stop you from being together. The whole country would react badly if they heard a whisper of you being forced apart. You guys are heroes." Chad said smiling. "Take a minute to recover and we'll get you back to your room."

"Where will we be?" Lainy asked. She was gently stroking Jethro's hair with her good hand. Gibbs lay quietly. He reached to her hand and took it to his lips kissing her palm. He placed her hand on his chest.

"The physical medicine unit is right here on the 6th floor. Just a room change. Really.

Biggest change is instead of two 45 minute sessions a day with me and one with O.T (occupational therapy) You'll be moving to 4 hours a day. 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. That's acute rehab."

"Can he tolerate that?" Lainy said her expression anxious. Jethro tipped his head to look up at her and frown.

"Yes. There are rest periods and you'll be upstairs to your room for lunch and an hours nap before the afternoon sessions. They have activities up there with Rec therapy in the evenings too. It'll be a nice change for you. You'll both still get your medicines and the doctors are the same. You'll just pick up a new one. Jeff Margate. He's a physiatrist, specializes in muscles and nerves. You'll like him." Jethro groaned and closed his eyes.

"I hate hospitals and doctors." He said. "And I'm not crazy about therapists either."

"Well get over yourself Marine because we saved your ass and we're gonna get you home." Chad grinned at him. "Let's go!"

The therapist helped him to slide to the edge of the bench and stand on his good leg using the harness and his left arm around Chad's waist. He was short of breath when he settled into the wheelchair. He closed his eyes for a moment breathing deeply. Then he looked for Lainy. She moved to her wheelchair. Her O.T Bill was talking quietly to her. She nodded. Using her feet she scooted the chair quickly over to him. They held hands until the transport aids came to get them. Lainy followed him. Shortly after lunch they were moved to the 6th floor. It was close to 1300 or 1 pm and the unit was silent. As they were wheeled past rooms it was obvious everybody was asleep. Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches all near the respective beds. Braces on the floor or on chairs. Curtains pulled. A sign near the nurses station said: 'All room phones are turned off from 1300 to 1400 and after 2100 at night. No exceptions. No visitors until after therapies at 1630. Participation in rest is not optional! '

Jethro glanced at Lainy who was looking surprised. They were moved down to a room on the end of the long hallway. It was larger and had 2 windows. There were 2 beds in it as there were on the rest of the hall. A large bathroom had a wide door for wheelchairs and walkers. Jethro was helped into the closest bed and Lainy into the far bed. She quickly asked to be pushed next to Jethro. When the aides left she scooted over to him and snuggled against his left side. They linked fingers.

"I think I'll take advantage of the nap order. Love you babe." Gibbs closed his eyes.

"Me too. " She quickly dozed off.

At 1415 Lainy opened her eyes and heard activity in the hallway and in the room across the way. Voices were argumentative.

"I'm gonna tell you I'm tired and I'm not going back down there! What the hell good is it anyways!" The word tired came out with a southern drawl as 'tieahd'.

"Don't make me go get Marcy or the Major, Phelps. Your lazy ass is getting out of this bed. Now!" This voice was deeper. Other sounds were clear.

"Oh get up Bonzo, get up! And shut the f- up too!" Another male voice said. This one sounded long suffering and put upon.

" Jesus! Where'd you learn that move? At Auschwitz?" the first voice said angrily.

"How do you know I'm not Jewish? That was inappropriate." The deep voice said.

"You're black as the ace of spades and I know your Mama! Get out of my way you dick!"

The man who had left the room was sitting in the hallway in his wheelchair. He had a bandage over one eye and looked to have had a partial amputation of his left arm. He glanced to his right and saw Lainy looking at him over Jethro's chest. Somehow Gibbs had slept through the entire encounter.

"Hi! He said with a smile. "Welcome to our nightmare…We are programmed to receive…You can check out any time you want…"

"But you can never leave." Lainy finished for him. "I love the Eagles too." She smiled.

"I'm Jackson. Paul Jackson. The dick wad in there is my squad mate and bane of my existence John Phelps." He rolled himself partway into the room. Seeing Lainy up close he was stunned by her eyes and beautiful smile. He moved a little closer.

"Are you two having a party over me?" Gibbs said stretching carefully as he woke up.

He turned to look and Jackson found himself surprised at the laser like stare of intense blue eyes.

"No Jethro. This is…"

"Jackson sir. Corporal Paul Jackson. It's an honor to meet you both. We all heard you'd be coming." Jackson saluted smartly.

"For God's sake stop it. I'm a Gunny not a damned officer." Jethro rubbed his face and then stretched again. Lainy chuckled.

"Yes sir." Jackson said and grinned.

"Where the hell were you!" A voice said and another young man wheeled up. He was missing a leg and was as dark haired as Jackson was light. "You are supposed to be my back up man! Oh hello." He said.

"I may be many things but I ain't nearly nuts enough to take on Corpsman Mills." Jackson said calmly turning his chair at an angle so Phelps could see into the room.

"This is Staff Sgt Elaine Preston and her fiancé Master Gunnery Sgt Gibbs." Jackson said. "This is Bonzo."

"Oh yeah we were told you were coming." Phelps said. "Hi and don't listen to him."

Jethro narrowed his eyes and looked at the 2 men. "As in Bedtime for Bonzo?" He said and tilted his head speculatively.

"Yup." Jackson said and began to smirk.

"I ain't seen the movie but I still resent the hell out that nickname Jackie boy." Phelps said. "And I am workin' day and night on a good come back for that."

"Well you earned it. This man can sleep through an incoming mortar attack and wake up and ask everybody why he's got dirt in his face." Jackson gestured at Phelps who shrugged.

Gibbs smiled and looked to Lainy who was smiling warmly at the men. "How many here Jackson?"

"There are 20 others sir. With the 2 of you the floor is full. We got 2 other women, the rest of the assholes are men." He was smiling.

"I'm gonna tell them you said that Jackie boy. You better believe it. It's good to have a Gunny here sir. These idiots need some talkin' too." Jackson snorted.

"Y'all comin' down to the party sir and ma'am?" Phelps said.

"Not sure what they have planned for us." Lainy said with another smile. Jethro's eyes were closed again.

"Well, don't get the Major on ya and we'll see you after." Phelps said.

"Ma'am." Jackson nodded respectfully and the two men took themselves down the hallway in the direction of the elevators. Lainy settled herself back down and wondered.

This would be interesting at least. She smiled.

In the morning a nurse and a corpsman came in to wake the two lovers. Both of them were already awake. Jethro was tired. He wished there was coffee.

"I'm the RN who will be your primary nurse while you are here. I'll be responsible for your day shift routines, your discharge plans and home care needs, like visiting nurses, and your medicines. I will attend the team meetings as your advocate. The meetings will include all the team members involved with your care. Even the corpsmen have input through me. My name is Lt. Marcy! So Hi!"

Gibbs was slightly dazed by her rapid speech and all the information she spouted. He was still not up to his normal level of mental functioning. Everything made him tired still. He merely nodded. Lainy however smiled and nodded. She squeezed her love's hand to let him know she would handle this.

"Nice meeting you. I hope you realize that we have almost no idea what you're talking about! But we're willing to learn and cooperate as much as we can. What's first?"

"Well, I've got your 0800 medicines. Then Corpsman Bill here will help you get washed and dressed. The plan is for your first sessions to start by 1000. If all goes well you'll be back up here by noon. If not, sooner. Lunch goes from 1215 to 1300. Then is rest time until 1400. This is mandatory. You're gonna find you will need it! Then back to classes. The times are still up in the air for you two. Depends on your therapists scheduling. It's still under construction so to speak. Your gonna get a written schedule every morning with your breakfast. So ready to go to work? Gunny you have to take some pain medicine before you go down today. I'll bring it. " She smiled again and turned to leave.

"Lt. Marcy?" Lainy said in her gentle voice. Jethro was already smiling knowing where she was going.

"Yes Sgt. Preston?" Marcy was all smiles, blonde and perky. Quite a show Gibbs thought.

" You left our meds on the counter by the door. We can't reach." Lainy smiled.

"Oh my! Sorry!" She reached over and brought the tray with the two cups of pills over to the bed.

"No harm done Lt. Marcy." Lainy said. She poured water for Jethro who still didn't have full flexibility in his right arm. The vascular surgeon told them that leaving the dressing on longer would keep Gibbs from over doing it in therapy. It had proved true if frustrating.

Gibbs had been irritated as Lainy had had the vascular surgeon as well. But her surgery was not as extensive as his was. Another fact that made him depressed. He didn't "do sick" well at all Tony said. He also was worried about Lainy. She had had her circulation tear easily repaired. But the nerve damage in her right arm was not responding as quickly as her ortho MD had hoped. A neurologist was following her now. Her O.T. was working with her and she did the exercises that were assigned her.

All in all Gibbs was exhausted just by thinking too much. So knock it off and get up and move marine!

When Bill came back in he helped with Lainy first. Now dressed and ready she smiled at Jethro. Gibbs sighed and looked up to the corpsman with a silent warning stare. Bill just smiled and said "Let's get going Gunny. Times' wasting. Places to go and people to see."

By the time Jethro and Lainy made it downstairs Jethro was already tired. The room was busy already with other patients working with their therapists. Chad came over to them with another man. " Hi. This is Phil. He's going to be working with you Lainy. He specializes in nerve rehabilitation for hands and arms." The taller dark haired man stepped forward smiling and extended his hand to Lainy.

"I look forward to working with you Sgt. Preston." He felt before he saw the intense scrutiny he was undergoing from the marine sitting next to her. He turned slightly and met the piercing blue gaze. "How are you Sgt. Gibbs?" He again extended his hand and Jethro took it carefully in his right hand.

"I'm doing better." Gibbs said. "Do we get started now?"

"Yup. Let's go Gunny. You'll see her for lunch." Chad took Jethro over to a bench. He and a therapy aide used the special harness across Gibbs hips to help him stand and pivot to the bench. A wedge was placed behind him so he could lie back. Chad sat beside him going through the chart while Gibbs recovered from the move.

"OK Gunny. I have some assessment to do and then we'll begin." Chad was able to do checks that he couldn't with Jethro in bed. Then he began with a light weight bar and doing slow lifts over his head. Gibbs couldn't believe how excruciating the pain in the muscles over his ribs was. He began to sweat but didn't stop. He made it to the 10 reps Chad wanted then stopped and lay back eyes closed and just panted.

Chad took Gibbs right arm and began to move it from the shoulder first, then the elbow. "I don't want you doing it Gunny. Let me do it passively." Chad was very focused on what his fingers were feeling at the joints. Gibbs watched him.

"What are you looking for?" Gibbs asked, not liking that his voice broke a little.

"I'm feeling for resistance in the joint. Am I hurting you?" Chad made eye contact.

"Well yeah, but not that bad." Chad stopped and put Gibbs arm down palm up.

"Exactly where? Tell me when it hurts and how bad." He began the exercise again.

"There. And not so bad that I would hit ya." Jethro said. Chad smiled then moved his fingers just a fraction of and inch deeper into the joint. Gibbs thought he was going to pass out. He said nothing.

"OK." Chad said. "Don't worry Gunny. It's just a scar fiber and it'll stretch as we work it out. You've been pretty much immobile for two weeks. For every day a person is in bed they lose a weeks worth of muscle tone."

Chad looked up and saw Gibbs pallor. "Hey! I told you to tell me when it hurt!"

"Couldn't." Gibbs said hoarsely. "Kind' a lost the ability to speak."

"Let's take a break here. I'm going to get you something cold to drink." Chad rose still looking at Gibbs. "Do you want to go back upstairs?"

Gibbs shook his head no and closed his eyes. "Just need a chance to get it together."

"OK." Chad moved off. Jethro lay quietly and took slow deep breaths as he had been told. He was almost in a doze when he felt he was being stared at. He turned his head quickly to the left and saw a young man lying on the bench next to him smiling. Gibbs nodded and closed his eyes again. He felt a light touch to his left hand and opened his eyes slowly. He looked at the hand touching his then up into the young mans face again. The young man was still smiling and slowly gave Gibbs a thumbs up. Gibbs returned it studying the marine more closely. He seemed somehow familiar.

He had a bandage at the base of his throat. The marine pointed to his ear and shook his head slowly and shrugged with his right shoulder. He made a cutting movement from his chest. Gibbs nodded and signed to him: You OK otherwise? The marines eyes grew round and his smile became radiant.

" I'm learning to walk again but they taught me to sign. I just have to spell some of the words. It's amazing you can understand me… Not too many people can. My mom is learning though."

"That's good" Jethro said.

"She is amazing. I know who you are though. My speech therapist and my mom told me you were coming. Your wife is very pretty."

" Yes she is." Gibbs didn't bother to correct the boy. It wasn't worth it and he knew Lainy wouldn't mind. He also wished he were less tired so he could be more supportive.

"What is your name? Mine is Jethro." Gibbs signed with a half smile and a lifted brow.

"Oh no sir. You are a Gunny. But my name is Palmer. Joseph Corporal USMC"

Gibbs stared in shock.

"Are you…?" Gibbs paused. It couldn't be. He tried to remember if Ducky had ever mentioned a brother. Gibbs watched over Jimmy in a general way as he considered him a part of the team. He and Lainy included him in all of their team parties and activities. But he didn't know him the way Ducky did. Ducky was the young man's mentor the way he was his agents. It was hard to think clearly, the effort to stay alert more difficult due to the pain medicine.

"I'm sorry." Gibbs signed. "I get kind' a foggy at times."

"Me too." The young man said. Gibbs decided the eyes were the same minus the glasses.

He smiled then.

"Are you Jimmy's brother?"

Another beautiful smile greeted this question. He nodded. Just then Lainy made her way back to Jethro. She sat down on the edge of the bench.

"Lainy this is Jimmy Palmer's brother Cpl Joseph Palmer." Gibbs spoke out loud for Lainy and signed for Joe's benefit. Joe nodded and smiled broadly. He waved and then signed: " Hi! I am so glad to meet you!"

Gibbs translated to Lainy. She smiled at him. "I'm glad to meet you too. Your brother is very well liked at NCIS and a friend." Jethro nodded and closed his eyes again for a moment. When he opened them Lainy was looking toward another marine working out with a prosthesis across the aisle from their bench. He glanced to the left and Joe wasn't there. He looked about and saw him standing between parallel bars with leg braces on.

"How long have I been asleep?" He asked Lainy.

"About 20 minutes love." She said with a smile and leaned forward and kissed his brow.

"Chad decided to let you rest and send us back up with everybody else. Abby is coming up this evening to get our hair washed and yours cut Shaggy. No Scooby. You are a poor excuse for a marine!" This was tempered by a gentle kiss on the lips. Gibbs smiled and opened his eyes slowly after. He found her beautiful emerald eyes were still close to his face. He reached up and slid the fingers of his left hand into her braided hair and pulled her back down to his mouth. The kiss slid into a deeper one on it's own. Tongues stroked silkily against each other, over teeth and gums to lips. He tugged gently on her lower lip with his teeth. His breathing speeded up. Lainy didn't let the kiss last longer, not wanting to interfere with his ability to breathe. Jethro wished it could have lasted longer. His breathing slowed quickly.

Lainy sat up slowly. When she sat up completely the room suddenly exploded with applause, whistles and att'a boys/gals. Lainy looked around and saw smiling faces everywhere. She lowered her gaze back to find the beautiful azure eyes of her marine smiling up at her. She couldn't help but answer the smile with one of her own. A quick kiss to his lips and she gave the surrounding marines and sailors a fist pump and a loud "Oorah!" They all exploded again.