Sometime later that day:

Tony waited at one side of the site of the explosion near one of their trucks. He had been told to stay there by Gibbs and wait. So he did even though his mind was racing in a million different directions. Fornell came over with blood on his left elbow and a bruise on his cheek.

"We're still looking for her. She may not have even been in there, she was behind the guys who were first to get in the door."

"You should get that elbow looked at. Ducky or Palmer can patch it up for you."

Fornell nodded. "Just a scrape but ok I will." He walked over to where they were on site.

Tony played with his watch as he stood there and looked at the back. She had gotten a new band on it for their anniversary last month and had the back of the face engraved with "always time for you."—M. He stood there and didn't even notice Kate come up beside him.

"We found some blasting caps that didn't detonate by the back door. So someone tried for a second event and it didn't work."

A muscular African American man came out of a corner with sweat and cement dust on his head. "They got this off the internet. Found some rubber tubing and a stick of dynamite. Not very sophisticated work, I've seen a lot of how they're made." His shirt had D. Morgan on the corner above the pocket.

Tony saw Kate look him up and down. Then he said "This is a hell of a day. Still have a wall that is blocking one section in there. Have to go back in. Hang in there Tony she's tough."

Kate said "So you know him?"

"He's a friend of Maria's. Profiler but did some time on the bomb squad for a while probably why he's here and not with his usual team right now. He did some work on the apartment for us when we took out a wall after Maria moved in. He doesn't have a girlfriend right now. I could give him your card."

Kate shrugged. "Why not at least I can make another friend."

Then she patted Tony's shoulder suddenly. "Look, I don't believe this. She's still here."

Tony saw Maria limping toward him with two guys helping her to try and walk. "I dinged my ankle pretty good. Not sure if it's broken. "There was cement dust on her face and some blood on her chin from where a chunk had been taken out. She rubbed her nose for a moment and then sneezed softly. "I've needed that since I left the office before. Must be coming down with something." She felt another tickle in her nose and found her handkerchief in the torn pocket of her jeans. "Huptshiew."

Tony said "I'm glad you're alive even if you're banged up." "Let's get you checked over by the paramedics. " He helped her toward one of the ambulances on scene.

Maria sniffled and some tears slid down her face. "It was so scary. This loud noise and then it went dark all around me. I didn't even hear the guys anymore or anything. Then I found a hole in one of the walls and started to crawl out. Carson and Sullivan are." She couldn't talk anymore then.

Tony held her for a moment. "Come here. I'm right by your side. We'll figure it all out together. My team is processing the scene and so is Derek. "

Gibbs came over to them. "Go with her to get checked out Dinozzo. We've got this and we'll meet you at the hospital later." "Glad you're all right Nicoletti. But then I knew you would be." He patted her shoulder.

"Thank you Agent Gibbs. It's been one hell of a day." She sighed and just held Tony's hand tightly.

When she was getting checked over the paramedics said "Let's see that left ankle. " They carefully got her boot off. "Looks like it's broken. Doctors will tell for sure at the hospital. Might need an orthopedic man."

Tony ran his hand over her arm gently. "I'm going with her. I need her close right now."

They nodded. "Well then let's get the cut on your chin cleaned up and we'll head out."

Maria sniffed again. "Got any cold medicine?"

Tony said "We'll get some after the doctors look at you honey." "Right now just rest." He was as close to her as he could get on the ambulance without being on the stretcher that she was riding on.