"…but we won't be able to move him for at least another day or two. He is stable now, but has sustained multiple injuries to his face, cranium, ribs and legs. He will need a lot of recovery time. Personally I'm surprised he is still alive."

Tony smiled slightly. "Yeah, well you don't know the boss."

He smiled slightly. "And how are you feeling Mr. DiNozzo.?"

He lifted his arm and moved his hand back and forth. "So, so."

"Well, you're going to need to rest as well. I suggest at least a day until you travel back to the states."

Tony nodded. "We won't be going back till our boss comes back, so do what you can for him."

"Will do." He extended his hand and shook each of theirs before leaving.

McGee looked back at Tony and shrugged his shoulders. "I could really go for a juicy hamburger right now."

"You're in Mexico Probie…"

McGee smiled. "Believe me Tony, I know."

--

Director Sheppard sat at her desk, tackling one call after another. The rescue mission had cashed in a lot of favors, and broken just as many protocols. There was a lot of cleaning up to do. Not to mention that the FBI had lost one of their agents. It was a file mountain from hell, but she knew it would all be worth it soon.

"Cynthia, I need the director of the FBI on the phone."

--

Ziva David had started the first day of therapy, and it was not easy to say the least. She remembered McGee saying she wouldn't be alone, but she almost wanted to be, she had never felt so weak in her life. The physical part of the process wasn't as hard as the emotional realizations she was facing. And as she looked around the room at the therapists, she had never felt more alone.

--

Donald Mallard tended to Abigail for a few hours, before leaving to observe Ziva and grab some lunch with Michelle. His heart was in essence relieved that his friends would be home soon, but he knew there was a long road ahead for Abby and Ziva, and couldn't help but let his tired mind continue to worry. He felt he had aged ten years in the past few days and hoped after this was all over, he could take a much needed vacation.

--

During the next day McGee tried to phone Abby a few times, but the conversations only left him discouraged. He decided making sure Perez was ready for transport would become his top priority. He knew when Gibbs woke up he would want answers, and that's just what he was going to give him.

The next two days went by slower than any two days of his life. He was left with no one to really talk to but Tony and even he got annoying after a while. He tried some writing about his little adventure and that took up the majority of his time. But he often found himself staring off into space, thinking of Abby and Ziva and wishing there was more of his support to go around. He was comforted that Ducky was with them, and knew once they were all together, somehow everything would be okay.

While McGee was off writing, Tony took to visiting Gibbs. He couldn't help but replay the images of seeing him hit, and the helplessness he felt. He also found himself smiling as he remembered Gibb's replies to Jorge amidst it all. Somehow the boss always had an answer. The pain in his neck came and went, but what hurt most was his head. He had a headache like Gibbs would have after no coffee for a day. He wished this day hadn't happened at all, but couldn't wait to get back home. He began rambling on to Gibbs about what was happening with Abby and that Ziva was alive. He was on the verge of consciousness, but Tony figured that his replies would be the same whether he was awake or not, silence.

"Hey Tony!" McGee entered the room quickly. "I just got a call; they want to put us on a flight in a couple hours."

"That's great news Probie, they got the medi vac all set for the boss?"

Suddenly the two snapped their heads at the gruff sound they heard. "I can walk DiNozzo."

"Well good morning boss, or shall I say, Buenos Dias." He smiled and stood up to look over him. "Doesn't look as bad as it feels Gibbs."

"I'm not worried about how I look DiNozzo, I'm not you." He lifted himself up slightly. "Damn I got a headache."

He looked over at McGee, and he shrugged. "Well you were knocked around pretty good."

"Yeah I know McGee, I was there."

"Of course you were boss."

Gibbs rubbed his head. "I see you still have your arm?"

McGee lifted it up. "Yup, barely."

He smiled slightly. "Well good, now what the hell happened?"

"The Probie here rescued us boss, with the help of the FBI, CIA; you name it…talk about a joint operation. But its one those you don't send thank you cards for."

Gibbs sighed. "One of those operations."

Tony nodded. "Yup, one of those."

McGee looked confused. "One of those?"

"You know Probie, the don't ask where I was cuz I wasn't supposed to be there kind of operation."

He snapped his fingers. "Ah got it."

"You two finished?" Gibbs barked.

They nodded in unison. "Yes boss."

"Perez?"

"He's in holding; we are set to transport him within the hour. He'll be at lock up at NCIS when we arrive."

"That's a good job McGee…now let's get the hell outta here." He tried to move his leg and held in a loud scream. "On the other hand, a wheelchair couldn't hurt."

McGee and Tony stood silent for a few moments, eyeing each other then eyeing Gibbs. McGee then nodded over to Tony finally.

"Boss, I think there's some things you should know before we uh, before we go."

"It's nothing you can't tell me on the way, now get me that wheelchair."

Tony sighed. "Actually boss, it's probably better if you're lying down…got some good news and some bad news."

Gibbs gave in, and let his hands fall to his sides. "Spit it out Tony."

"First," he allowed a smile to fall across his face. "Ziva is alive."

"What?" He almost snapped, shooting his eyes at McGee. "Ducky doesn't make mistakes DiNozzo."

"I know boss, but it wasn't Ducky's mistake, it was Abby's." McGee decided to interject. "And before you start to think of ways to punish her, you should know that she's sick."

Gibbs face went from anger to worry in seconds. "Sick?"

"She's had some sort of mental breakdown boss; she's seeing Kate, talking to her…"

"How did this happen?"

"Ducky seems to think, it was everything at once…but in particular, not having you there."

Gibbs smacked his chest. "I'm right here McGee…get me to her, by getting me that damn wheelchair."

McGee nodded towards Tony to continue. "There's more boss."

Gibbs turned his head quickly, which caused him some pain. "What?"

"The bad news." Tony looked around to ensure Gibbs had nothing to throw at him.

"I thought Abby was the bad news? You mean to tell me there's more?"

"I'm afraid so…by joint operation, the FBI was involved, and how it all got started was…"

McGee interjected. "Fornell made some calls after I phoned him to find out where you guys were…he was the main reason I got any back up at all."

Gibbs sighed anticipating what was coming next. "He's dead."

Tony and McGee only nodded.

"How?" Gibbs asked simply, looking back and forth at both of them.

"Two bullet wounds in the back, it happened during the assault…he was alive when we found him…the last thing he asked about was you boss."

Gibbs swallowed the lump in his throat, allowing his eyes to fall downward. It was minutes before he lifted them up again.

"Get the wheelchair McGee…it's time to go home."