Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters

A/N: Gibbs's pov... Enjoy, and review, thanks for the reviews! Chapter Title is in pronunciation form, obviously.

Chapter 21 – Je-lə-së

I sent Abby and Tony home with the van once Jen had called saying they had caught the shooter, and I somehow got Abby to go. I had told her I would be home soon, and she needed her rest, and so did McGee. I continued to wait outside the door as the doctor talked to McGee.

"I'm sure your girlfriend there will take good care of you," the doctor said just loud enough for me to hear.

"Abby's not my girlfriend," I heard McGee's weak voice, "She's just a friend, and co-worker."

Well at least he has enough sense to set this doctor straight, or does he know I am here? Would he just let the doctor think Abbs was with him?

"Oh? Just the way you looked at her, you love her don't you?" The doctor said and I could feel my own face tense up.

"Yeah," I heard him admit, and I was curious, "It just gets a little complicated when you get to the fact that she's totally and completely in love with our boss, her boyfriend."

At least you're keeping your head on straight, there, McGee. I turned and left, the last person McGee wanted to see was me right now, I went out to the front of the hospital and hailed a cab home. Abby was awake waiting for me in the kitchen. The minute I walked through the door she threw her arms around me with a smile.

"McGee still ok?" she asked backing away a little.

"Yeah, he's fine," I said as I pecked her lips.

"Good," said Abby.

The next morning I woke up with Abby in my arms, she was still fast asleep, so I just laid there until she woke up. She woke up with a smile, and looked into my face, and I had no control over the grin that spread across my own face.

"What time is it? I wanna go see McGee before work," Abby said.

"It's about Zero five hundred hours," I replied, she had slept right the alarm a few minutes ago.

"Good," She said kissed me quickly and got out of bed.

"I'll drop you off at the hospital," I said, "I'd like to check on him too, and then I will come get you when the new case picks up."

"All right, my silver haired fox," She said, "You have got a deal."

We walked into McGee's new room and she immediately let go of my hand and went and sat at his bedside. He greeted her with a smile.

"Hey, Abby," He said with a warm smile, then his face dropped a little when he saw me behind her, "Boss."

"Hey," I said, "I have to get to work, Abbs, I will pick you up when we need you for the case, ok?"

"Yeah," she said and turned to look at me, "Love you, be careful, I don't need you in the hospital too."

I smiled appreciatively as I left, I noticed her pick up McGee's ginger ale off the table and she started to help him drink it.

She would, of course, be this caring and devoted to me if I was the one shot, right? I mean of course she would. Wait, whoa, the first time I am actually jealous in my whole life, and I'm jealous of The Elf Lord? Because he was shot and Abby's helping him get better? Something's wrong with that, Gibbs.

I thought about it, a lot, on the way to NCIS, and I just couldn't get the picture of Abby helping McGee with his soda out of my head, it wouldn't be such a big deal if, he didn't love her. That's it. But that doesn't really make sense either, it doesn't matter, she doesn't love him the same way.

The thing that really got me was I couldn't figure out why I was so jealous of the man in the hospital bed. I got to NCIS and went straight down to see Duck, luckily Palmer was elsewhere.

"Ah, Jethro," said Ducky, "What're you doing here? I thought you would have gone with the director and everyone over to see young Timothy."

"Abbs is," I replied a little too sadly looking I think.

"Ah, seeking advice are we?" said Ducky, giving me his full attention.

"I'm jealous Duck," I said simply, "I can't even figure why. I shouldn't be, and I know that."

"I kind of expected this, knowing you, Jethro," said Duck giving me a knowing look.

"Any idea why?" I asked, sinking into one of the nearby desk chairs.

"You are jealous, I think for a few reasons, Jethro," said Duck and he paused, "For one, she's spending a lot of time by his bed side, which is part of it, but not all of it. The majority of it is, I'm pretty sure; he took the bullets for her, not you. He took them because you couldn't. You hate that, don't you Jethro, you weren't here to protect her. He had to enforce your own personal rule number one."

I just sat there, and I knew he was right, in some sick way I would trade anything to trade places with McGee right now, but McGee had the bullet wounds I couldn't turn back time and be the one to keep her safe. I would have to deal with that.

"Don't let this break you, Jethro," Duck said in a serious tone, "You're the world to Abigail, she loves you so much, it doesn't matter it's in the past. How many times have you saved her? This is why it's ok. She loves you, Jethro, which is why Timothy would love to trade with you."

I knew he was right.

"You should have seen here when you were in Brazil, Jethro," said Duck, "She was so jealous that Jen got to go with you and she didn't. But she knew you'd never hurt her, Jethro. Which is why I think you should relax. Nothings gonna happen. She loves you too much for her own good."

I smiled as Duck teased me, but I knew he spoke the truth.