As Gibbs approached the doors to the little hospital in the neighbouring town, he felt a little hand grab his fingers. He and Tony had not spoken much since the request the night before but the kid was slowly melting and Gibbs was coming to terms with the situation and not beating himself up anymore. Jackson had gone along with them to check that both were all right.

Tony had dressed himself that morning in his 'church clothes' and carried with him his comic books. They had asked him if he wanted to put something more comfortable on but he had insisted that you couldn't go to a hospital in shorts and a t-shirt, no doubt another hang up of his from the time his mom was ill.

As they were about to enter the childrens ward, Tony practically stopped dead. His grip on Gibbs fingers was vice like and clammy.

"It's ok Tony we can wait for a minute if you like before we go in there," whispered Gibbs.

Tony just nodded.

They waited. The doors to the ward swung open and Steve and his ex-partner walked out of them. Seeing Tony, Steve immediately went over to him.

"Hey Tony, Bradley told me all that you did for him and I didn't have chance to say thank you yesterday. You deserve a big medal for what you did, I don't know many adults who would have been that quick thinking or brave," said Steve, "why don't you go in and talk to him, I'm sure he would love to see you, you can sign the plaster cast on his leg."

Steve and his wife then turned to talk to Gibbs and Jackson. Gibbs didn't notice at first the little hand let go of his fingers. Steve and Grace were busy telling him about Bradley's treatment and the like and apologizing for things disrupting his trip.

Tony was vaguely listening, but he was more focused on those doors. People busily going in and out, visitors arriving with flowers and gifts and cards. It seemed different to the hospital his mom had been in. That one was cold and sterile, foreboding but this one seemed different.

He slipped off towards the doors and pushed his way through them.

He spotted Bradley in the bottom bed on the right and waved at him. Bradley smiled and waved back. It was the first time Tony had seen him smile and he no longer looked like death. His leg was swathed in a large white plaster cast and he was propped up on crisp white pillows.

Tony approached the bed.

"Hi Bradley, I wanted to see if you were ok," started Tony.

"Hi Tony," answered Bradley, "the nurses say that my leg will mend, but they have had to put some metal in it to make it stronger."

"Did it hurt," asked Tony worried.

"Nah didn't feel a thing," sad Bradley although my leg keeps itching inside the plaster."

"How do you scratch it?" enquired Tony looking at the problem to hand.

"I can't, it's a real pain," explained Bradley.

"We could do with a pencil," stated Tony, "then you could at least scratch down part way inside."

"Tony," interrupted Bradley, his tone changing slightly and becoming apologetic, "I wanted to say thank you for yesterday and for being my friend, I'm sorry if I got you into any trouble."

"It's ok," answered Tony, "did you get in trouble?"

"I don't know if my mom and dad wanted to kill me or hug me," joked Bradley, "guess I'm in for one heck of a telling off when I get home, hoping I don't get spanked, it will be awful having to sit on a sore bum with my leg in plaster. I wouldn't be able to move."

"How long will the plaster be on for?" asked Tony concerned that Bradley might have to wait a long time for his spanking.

"Not sure," came the reply, "I think about six weeks, possibly longer."

"That sucks," declared Tony, "I'm not sure I could sit down for that long, what are you going to do?"

"Well mom says I can read and get a head start on school next year, might get better grades then," Bradley pretended to shudder at the idea, making Tony laugh. "I'm hoping they will let me watch TV and do my puzzles."

"You like puzzles?" asked Tony, and without waiting for an answer, "me too, what else do you like?"

"Games, comics, love sci-fi films," Bradley rattled off a list of stuff.

"I've brought you something," said Tony remembering. "Sorry I couldn't buy you something but I have no money of my own, I hope you'll like them," said Tony as he pulled out a hand-made get well soon card and the two comics from his back trouser pocket.

"Are these for me?" asked Bradley shocked, "Thank you I wasn't sure you would even come and see me after what I did yesterday, you were so brave, I told mom and dad all about what you did."

"That's ok," smiled Tony, "hope we don't have to do anything like that again though, it was so cold."

Bradley laughed, "well not for a while at least, why don't you sit up here on the bed with me and help me read the comics, I love Justice League and Batman."

As Tony was climbing up onto the bed, careful not to go anywhere near the broken leg, Gibbs and the others had arrived back in the room. Seeing Tony climb up, Gibbs went immediately to tell him to get down but felt Jacksons hand grip his wrist and hold him back, "leave the kid be Leroy, he's not doing any harm, look."

Gibbs watched the scene; Tony was at ease, he and Bradley were laughing, pointing at pictures and pretending to do the moves and sound effects of their super-heroes. Bradley placed his arm around Tony's shoulders, there was a bond of friendship forming, the type that can only come out of surviving adversity together. Steve and Grace had filled Gibbs and Jackson in on just how Tony had saved their sons life, blow by blow. None of the adults could imagine where he had found the strength and the courage to do it. Gibbs felt proud of the boy but not nearly as proud as he did now seeing the lad, laughing, sharing his comic and being how an eight-year-old kid should be and making friends.

"Kinda gets ya right here, don't it?" asked Jackson reading his sons thoughts.

"Yeah Dad it does," nodded Gibbs, "can't believe I was ready to run out on this."

"Ah, knew you wouldn't," laughed Jackson, "you always did like roller-coasters and looking after a kid is probably the biggest, fastest, longest ride you will take in your life Son."

The group moved over to join the two boys on the bed, who babbled on about the comics, interspersed with chatter about their adventure. The little group remained there for another hour until visiting time was over.

As they went to leave, Bradley called Tony back.

"I want you to have this," he pushed his prize possession, his Rubix cube into Tony's hands, "sorry it's a bit battered but I played with it everyday since I got it 3 months ago."

Knowing how treasured this was to his friend Tony responded, "I can't take your favourite toy, what are you going to play with?"

"I have your favourite comics to read," smiled Bradley, "I wished I could get you something more to say thank you but I'm stuck in here and I want you to have it, I'm sure you will master it in no time at all."

Hugging his new friend tightly, Tony thanked him again and promised to write to him when he returned home.

As they made their car journey back to Stillwater, Tony turned his gift over and over in his hands, admiring the toy but remembering the boy who had given it to him. It felt so much more than just a simple present.

"What's that ya got?" asked Jackson intrigued.

"It's treasure for my box," declared Tony, "my best friend gave it to me."