A security guard stopped in front of Tony's desk. The Major Crimes Response Team looked up in unison.
"There's a Miss Watkins here to see you, Agent Dinozzo."
Tony nodded. The security guard departed, leaving a pale girl standing nervously in front of Tony's desk. Her hands were shaking almost as much as they had in the morgue at Monroe University Hospital, but this time Tony could tell that it was caused by nerves instead of withdrawal.
"You probably don't recognize me..."
"Bernadette." Tony stood up. He offered her his chair, and sat on the edge of his desk. "How are you?"
"Better than I was the last time you saw me," she said. "But that's not saying much. I'm in rehab."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"Part of recovery involves apologizing to everyone you've hurt. I'm sorry, Agent Dinozzo."
Tony resisted the urge to tell her that apologies were a sign of weakness. "You weren't the one holding the gun, Bernadette."
"I'm still responsible. I enabled Nick. I visited him in prison yesterday. I said I was sorry. I apologized to Dr. Benoit too. She forgave me. I don't know if I would be alive today if it wasn't for you and Dr. Benoit. If there's any way I can repay you..." she said. "I mean, I know I can't repay you, but if there's any way I can try..."
Apparently Gibbs wasn't the only one who had trouble with apologies. Tony said, "You might not believe this Bernadette, but I get hit in the head a lot. I'm always in and out of hospitals. If you want to repay me, just keep working on that medical degree."
"How did you...?"
"Your class syllabus is sticking out of your bag."
She smiled. "Wish me luck on my midterms."
"Good luck, Bernadette." He didn't add the qualifier. She stood, shouldering her bag, and left the office. Tony watched her until the elevator doors slid closed.
"You forget to tell us something, Dinozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"I really did, Boss."
McGee raised an eyebrow. "You forgot an incident that involved a gun and a pretty girl?"
"She wasn't so pretty then, Probie."
"What happened?" Ziva asked.
"It's a long story." The words were out of his mouth before he realized that he'd said the same thing to La Grenouille in his limousine on the way to a breakfast that was never eaten. This time, Jeanne wasn't there to take over the story, gesturing with her doctor's hands. Part of recovery involves apologizing to everyone you've hurt. Tony suppressed a sigh.
"Then you'd better start talking," said Gibbs.