McGee closed the phone and found somewhere to sit down. He had never been so dumbfounded in his life. He let his head hang a little low and attempted to put himself in Gibb's place. "What would the boss do right now? Would he feel sorry for himself? No…so get up McGee, you're here, he's not." He stood up and paced down the hallway towards the place he knew he needed to be.

--- ---

"Really Jen, you saw how he baited Ducky…you can't honestly put him in custody."

"He struck a federal agent Jethro, no matter what the circumstance; you know how this works."

Gibbs stared back at her and threw his hands up. "Fine."

Within a few minutes, Agents Bryant and Silverman stepped into the room. "Don't worry the old man is in custody…" Gibbs offered.

"You know the drill Gibbs, come quietly."

"Quiet? I can do quiet." He nodded turning his back to them, and placing his hands behind his head. Agent Bryant stepped around to look at him face to face.

"I'm sorry about Fornell…he was my friend too." Gibbs offered, meeting his stare.

"Yeah…always figured you'd get him into enough trouble to end his career, just didn't think it would be enough to end his life."

Gibbs said nothing in return, and they escorted him out. The walk through the office was slow and deliberate. It seemed everyone stopped what they were doing to offer looks of shock and disbelief, others of anger and resentment. Gibbs didn't reflect the stares; he welcomed them as some sort of punishment. He knew Tony was fighting for his life and it was his doing…the stares he was receiving in that office only scratched the surface of the guilt that was plaguing him.

--- ---

McGee reached the waiting room to find it empty, when he turned around he was met with a kiss on the mouth. "He's awake!"

He couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "Where is he Abs?"

She took his hand and pulled him down the hall way. They entered to find Ziva gripping his hand tightly.

"Boss?" He muttered softly. "Gibbs?"

"He's still out and in McGee…keeps asking for Gibbs."

McGee nodded. "Can he hear us?"

"They said yes, but he hasn't responded to anything I've said."

McGee stepped around to the other side of the bed. "Tony, can you hear me?"

"Gibbs." Tony replied, opening his eyes slightly.

"No, it's me; McGee…the boss isn't here."

"Gibbs."

"No, McGee…Ziva…Abby, we're all here." He looked at the two of them who were staring at Tony patiently.

"Gibbs."

McGee put his hands up not sure what else to say. Ziva then mouthed something to him and he agreed.

"DiNozzo!" McGee barked, giving his best impression of Gibbs that he could.

"Boss…" McGee looked over at Ziva, unsure of what to say as Tony continued. "I shouldn't have stood in your way…it's my fault."

Tim's head snapped up. "Not your fault DiNozzo…it's mine, I'm the bastard who shot you."

It was then Abby and Ziva stood silently, both there mouths opened in shock.

--- ---

"Fornell's funeral?" He asked, as Jen appeared outside his cell.

"Hello to you too Jethro." She offered, setting down her briefcase. "His funeral is tomorrow, 10 am church service, noon procession…I tried to pull some strings for you to go…."

"I need to be there Jen."

"You're in prison Jethro, and as much as you'd like to think so, you're not Jack Bauer."

"Yeah, well this has been the worst 24 hours of my life." He shot back at her. "I should be there."

She sighed. "I'll see what else I can do…but you need to get yourself some counsel, so I took the Liberty of getting the Agency's best on the phone. He should be here in an hour or two."

"Fine." He sat up. "Tony?"

"I just got off the phone with the hospital; he's out of surgery and stable. He's in ICU."

Gibbs took in a deep breath. "Thank God." He whispered to himself. "Perez?"

"Being transferred to lock up, until his arraignment." She watched him lay back down, placing his forearm over his head. "How are you feeling?"

"Peachy."

"I'm serious Jethro, I'm concerned."

He sat up quickly. "You're concerned? How sweet Jen…if you're so concerned you'll get Ducky the hell out of custody..."

"Really…well since when does being concerned for you, mean being concerned for everyone on your team?"

He limped over to meet her. "Since you've known me Jen…now please, if you want to help me, help them. Go to the hospital, see how they are…or get Ducky out so he can."

She nodded. "And what about you?"

"I don't matter right now; I'm a lost cause…but Tony, Tim…Ziva." He stopped himself for a moment and continued. "…and Abby…well they aren't."

She looked back at him sternly. "They wouldn't give up on you Jethro, so you shouldn't either."

He shook his head. "Just do that for me Jen, please?" She nodded and he moved his hand to cover hers. "Please."

She took his hand. "Alright Jethro, I'll do everything I can."

"Thank you."

She knelt down to pick up her briefcase. "Be nice to the Mr. Bartlett when he get's here, he's one of the best in the business."

He nodded. "Fine…but Jack Bauer wouldn't need a lawyer."

She smiled back at him slightly before turning to leave.

--- ---

Abby pulled McGee outside of Tony's room. "McGee…" She started in an argumentative tone. "That's not what he needs to hear right now."

Tim shrugged his shoulders. "Well he can't think it's his fault Abs, what was I suppose to say?"

"I don't know, how about something like: it wasn't your fault Tony? I know it's a stretch but it could've worked."

"I guess I got a little carried away."

"A little Tim? You were practically Gibbs incarnate."

Ziva stepped out to meet the two of them in the hallway. "Have you calmed down McGee?"

"Yeah sorry about that…" He sighed. "Listen, since you two are here, I just got off the phone with Ducky a bit ago, and it looks like he's in custody too."

"What? He didn't shoot Gibbs did he?" Abby asked, a frantic look falling on her face.

"I think he would've mentioned that to me Abs…but I think he might need some help. I was thinking of heading to the office." He looked at the two of them as if asking for their approval.

"Go McGee, we will call if anything changes with Tony." Ziva replied with a nod.

McGee reached into his pocket and handed a cell phone to Abby. "Take this Abs, its Tony's…I'm gonna call you on it when I hear anything."

"Alright." She pulled him into a hug. "Come back soon okay?"

He nodded, and turned to walk down the hall way. "And if you see Gibbs, watch your eight." Ziva hollered back at him.

"Six Ziva." Tony offered as the two watched him try to sit up. "Six."