"What? Afraid I'm gonna staple her to death?" Franks set down the stapler slowly and managed a smile.

Fornell hid his own smile before gesturing for his men to pat him down. "DiNozzo seems to think you were gonna do a bit more than stapling…"

"He's clean sir."

Mike straightened out his jacket. "I just wanted to have a few words with the Director…while she's still Director…"

Jenny had remained silent throughout the exchange and continued to. Mike turned to face her and with a shrug sent a message to Fornell to which he obliged. "You have two minutes Franks, nothing more, nothing less. And I'll hold the stapler for ya."

Mike pulled out the chair and folded his hands. "Now, where were we?"

The ride to NCIS was short; but one that seemed like an eternity to Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David. Within the last week both their lives had been turned upside down. And now, just when both of them thought life would return to normal, tragedy struck again. They weren't a team without Gibbs; but Tony always knew when he needed to step up, and this was one of those times.

"The boss is gonna be fine." He offered as he slowly switched lanes.

Ziva snapped out of her thoughts and replied. "And if he is not?"

"Well that's not very positive."

"I am simply being realistic…I have had some practice recently."

He picked up on her tone. "Hey, I missed you guys too, if that helps."

"I wish it did. Do not get me wrong, I am glad you are back…it is just with everything that has happened…"

He interrupted her. "Don't worry, the boss and Ducky are gonna pull through, and we'll be back to normal before you know it." He tried to sound reassuring; but wasn't sure he had been, as he heard a loud sigh from his partner. Needless to say, the rest of the ride was silent.

Franks two minutes were almost up, and he didn't plan on wasting it. "I told you days ago that anyone who would do what you did, was either crazy or suicidal…and since you didn't pop yourself this whole time, I'm thinking it's the crazy bit…now, you can sit there and keep your mouth shut for hours for all I care…but no woman in their right mind would incur the wrath of Jethro…so…" He leaned towards her slowly. "How much time did the Doctors give ya?"

Tony and Ziva arrived behind the glass of the interrogation room and immediately looked to Fornell for answers. He handed them the stapler in response and held his finger to his lips. "You'll want to hear this…"

"Excuse me…" A nurse had begun to tap Abby gently on the shoulders and she awoke a bit frantic.

"What? What is it?"

McGee sat up quickly, his hand still intertwined with hers. He gave it a quick squeeze before a surgeon appeared beside the nurse.

"I'm afraid we weren't able to retrieve the bullet safely. They've sent the patient to ICU in order to stabilize him. We will try again once his vitals prove safe enough."

Abby returned the squeeze on Tim's hand. "So, can we can see him?"

"In a few minutes."

McGee stood up, bringing her along side him. "How long until he stabilizes?"

"Now that's up to your friend. He is in fine shape for his age, so my hope is within the next few hours. It is all a wait and see game. However, I promise you he will getting the best care available." He motioned towards the nurse beside him. "Anne will return in a few minutes with the location of his room and escort you to the ICU."

Abby's eyes remained welled with tears as she gripped McGee's hand for dear life. Tim tried his best to oblige her, despite the pain shooting through him; after all it was a fair distraction from the emotional pain he was feeling. "Thank you Doctor…"

Abby quickly reached for Anne before she left the room. "Hey, we're gonna go see another one of our friends…we'll be right back okay?"

Anne was a bit surprised at the comment but understood. "I will check back in ten minutes? That alright?"

"That's okay…just take care of Gibbs till we get back okay?"

She almost smiled. "We will."

With that said, Tim was dragged out of the waiting room and towards the elevator.

Mike counted with his fingers. "So that gives you what, six months?" He watched her only nod before turning to face the glass.

Tony looked at a shocked Ziva before forming a sentence. "She's sick?"

"According to her. The court will have a MD confirm it."

Ziva started towards the door. "I must talk with her."

Tony stopped her. "She doesn't look much for talking Ziva."

"I do not care." She stormed through the door and into the interrogation room. She watched Mike stand up at her entrance.

He read her expression and pointed towards the door. "I'll be outside."

At his exit she slowly approached Jenny and watched her avert her eyes. "Look at me." She continued to stare at the floor and Ziva reached for her face. "I said look at me." Jen cautiously lifted her eyes. "You are sick? And you've told no one!"

Jenny's face held no emotion. Her eyes seemed distant and it was almost as if she wasn't all there.

"Gibbs, Ducky, Tony, Abby, McGee…all of them you put in danger. And for what? To savor the sweet taste of revenge? I do not care what any Doctor says or does not say. I will never forgive what you've done to me…to all of us." She turned away but only for a moment. "Now ask yourself, would your Father of wanted this?" And with no response, she left her in a myriad of her own thoughts.

Abby couldn't have thrown her arms around Ducky's neck fast enough. "Oh I'm so glad you're okay…" She eased away. "You are okay right?"

"That is what they tell me…" He was a bit groggy but managed to hold his hand out for Tim to take, still unsure if he would.

"Glad you're alright Ducky." Tim took it solemnly, the look in his eyes conveying as much forgiveness as he could manage.

"By the look in both your eyes, I sense something is wrong?"

McGee nodded and stepped towards the end of the bed. "Gibbs, he was shot during the rescue attempt, he's currently in ICU."

"The rescue attempt for Abigail?"

Tim shook his head. "No, for me. Barclay got a hold of me when I went in for you and Abby."

"You went in alone? Where were Jethro and the others?"

He shifted his weight and let his eyes drift to the floor. "They were uh, in Scotland searching for Tony…"

Ducky sensed his guilt and moved on. "And Barclay?"

"Dead. He was working with Trent Kort and Director Sheppard to kill Grenioulle. Looks like to take over his operation…but they won't be taking over much of anything anymore."

"I understand. Where are Tony and Ziva now?"

"They went to NCIS; they seem to think Mike Franks was going after the Director. She's in custody there."

He gently rubbed his temples. "Oh dear, it appears she pulled the wool over all of our eyes."

Tim agreed. "Something likes that."

Abby tried to endure the recap of events for as long as she could. "Can you move Ducky?"

"I suppose we can ask a nurse. I'd imagine a wheel chair would be sufficient."

Tim motioned that he would find out and watched Abby snuggle back under Ducky's arm. He returned some time later with a wheel chair and a nurse. He was able to help his friend maneuver out of the bed and Ducky was touched by the gesture. "I realize the pain I caused you Timothy…I also realize there is nothing I can say that would…"

McGee put his hand up to quiet him. "You're right, nothing you could say would change anything. It was something you did. You risked your life to protect her…" He motioned towards Abby. "And for that, I thank you." He took in a breath. "You were deceived just like all of us…"

Ducky was momentarily surprised by Tim's forgiveness, but welcomed it. He truly was a sweet young man, and whether he forgave him or not, Ducky knew he had some forgiving to do as well. Starting with himself.

Tony had met Ziva out in the hall way. "That was pretty cold."

"Icy is more like it." Franks added.

"She deserves no sympathy Tony…"

He nodded. "Maybe you're right."

"Maybe? Are you hearing yourself? She put you undercover, not once, but twice to go after the same man. All for her own selfish motives. She put the people you love in misery…risked our lives…Gibbs and Ducky could die because of what she's done…and maybe I'm right?"

Tony took the scolding in stride. "Maybe I'm more forgiving than you."

"And how forgiving will you be if Gibbs dies?"

The statement was colder than most he'd heard her say. And he'd heard her say a lot through the years. But before he could answer his phone rang and he answered without removing his gaze from hers. "Talk to me McGee…alright…that's good news…we're on our way back…stay with him…" He closed the phone and blinked in an attempt to break the bona fide stare Ziva was giving him. "Ducky is awake, the boss is in ICU…they're trying to stabilize him before they go back in for the bullet…"

Franks nodded. "Don't forget that stapler…the Probie's girlfriends probably looking for it…" He watched as the two continued their stand off and clapped his hands. "Hey! Will you two give it up…geez, if I didn't know any better I'd say you two were married…"

Tony managed a smile and watched Ziva take in a few calming breaths. "Come on, the boss needs us."

Fornell stepped out of the room and met them momentarily. Tony updated him on Gibb's condition and promised to keep him informed. "Tell Gibbs he better not die before giving me that fifty he owes me…"

"I'll pass along the message."

The three arrived to find the rest of the team sitting silently in Gibb's room. Abby was as close to Gibbs as she could be and was holding his hand gently. Ducky was uncharacteristically quiet and remained close to Abby's side. Tim was sitting furthest from the bed and remained seated at their arrival.

Abby then leaned into Gibb's ear. "We're all here Gibbs…all of us…you gotta pull through cuz we're not a family without you."

Tony approached opposite of her and placed a soft hand on Gibbs shoulder. "She's right boss…you complete us…" He couldn't even manage a smile at the familiarity of the famous film line, in fact for the first time since losing Jeanne; he actually felt a tear roll down his cheek. But before he could wipe it away Ziva had.

"He is right you know, if you do not pull through, he will have to take over the team…and I'm not so sure we're all ready for that again…"

Everyone in the room managed a small smile, all except one.

Ducky chimed in next. "We are not going to give up on you Jethro."

"Listen to 'em Probie…" Franks offered before taking his place at the foot of the bed.

Tim remained silent during the one sided exchanges and took in the sight from the corner of the room. Until he rose to his feet at the sound of Abby's voice as her hand was squeezed ever so gently. "Gibbs…"