Gibbs paced the hospital waiting room for what felt like the millionth time that day, Tony was still in recovery and the atmosphere in the room wasn't getting any better since Kate was still angry at him.
Gibbs looked around the room and saw Ducky deep in conversation with Fornell who was sorting through the rest of Fergon's things, he also noticed that Kate was still with Abby in the corner of the room and still refusing to look at him. Gibbs was about to start scouring the room for McGee when he saw the younger man heading towards him in his wheelchair.
"Uh Boss" McGee said nervously as he came to a stop in front of Gibbs who looked a lot taller thanks to the fact that McGee was in a wheelchair.
"Yeah McGee" Gibb replied not really in the mood to talk.
"I think you should go over and talk to Kate" McGee observed motioning in Kate's direction. Abby saw this and said something to Kate before getting up and walking over to where Gibbs and McGee where standing.
"What's going on?" Abby asked gently touching McGee's arm to let him know she was there.
"McGee here was just about to give me a lecture" Gibbs said sarcastically giving McGee an 'I'm the one who lectures you not the other way around' look.
"Don't think of it as a lecture," McGee replied keeping his cool "think of it more as advice"
Abby looked at McGee shocked, she had never heard McGee give advice before and she didn't really believe that he could.
"Whatever you're going to say just get it over with" Gibbs snapped really getting tired of this conversation that was going nowhere.
"Well think of it from Kate's point of view," McGee said trying to get across his point "I did and I would be angry at you too"
"What's so bad about not telling her that one of her friends was temporarily dead?" Gibbs exclaimed trying to defend himself.
"Nothing Gibbs," McGee answered getting frustrated at Gibbs arrogance "but that's just it, she's been lied to for the past two years and now she's just found out that the man who she has looked up to and considered a father figure for years has just lied and broken his promise to her, how do you expect her to react?"
"Aw McGee," Abby said sweetly and ran her hand through McGee's hair "my little advice guru"
"I wasn't finished" McGee replied gently pushing Abby's hand away, Abby nodded and stepped back from McGee listening intently.
McGee gave Abby a small smile before continuing.
"She was locked in a little white room thinking she was going to die every day," McGee said still quietly enough so Kate couldn't hear them "Now she's free and she's spent the whole time here wondering whether or not Tony will live"
Gibbs looked at the floor he knew McGee was right and he felt ashamed for not realizing all this himself.
"Can I hug you now?" Abby asked and stepped back up to McGee. McGee nodded and greeted Abby's hug eagerly.
"Hey what did I say about inter office relationships?" Gibbs exclaimed trying to lighten the mood. At this McGee looked at him confused and slackened his grip on Abby a little.
"Relationship, what relationship?" McGee replied wondering whether he was in trouble and turning back into the McGee everyone knew and loved.
Abby quickly pulled away from McGee and stormed off back into the corner where Kate was sitting.
"What did I do?" McGee yelled after Abby wondering what he had done wrong. Gibbs gave a smug smile and placed his hand on McGee's shoulder.
"Now it's my turn for the advice," Gibbs said and lifted his finger to stop McGee from interrupting "She likes you"
McGee's mouth dropped to the ground he knew that he absolutely adored Abby but he never in a million years considered the fact that's he felt the same way. Gibbs forcefully turned McGee around and pushed him Abby's direction obviously meaning for him to talk to her.
Gibbs watched as McGee came to a stop in front of Kate and Abby and after much convincing managed to get Abby to follow him into a vacant room.
Once McGee and Abby were gone and Gibbs was sure that Kate was by herself he took a deep breath and walked over to Kate.
"Kate" Gibbs said as he approached and then noticed the empty seat next to her and added "is that seat taken?"
Kate nodded her head as angrily as she could and still avoided eye contact with Gibbs. Gibbs sat down next to Kate and put his hands in his pockets, it was then that he felt the necklace that he had found at the crime scene. Gibbs fiddled with it in his hands for a bit before deciding that he'd give it back to Kate after he had talked to her, after all he had carried it around all this time.
"I'm so sorry Kate," Gibbs sighed and looked at the floor "I didn't want to tell you about Tony because I didn't want to worry you after all you'd been through"
"You still should have told me" Kate snapped and Gibbs was relieved when she eventually turned to look at him.
"I know" Gibbs agreed "but I was trying to make the situation easier for you"
Kate turned to face Gibbs. Gibbs could see that she was crying and was still rather angry. "How can you possibly make waiting to see if Tony is ok any easier?" Kate asked, tears streaming down her cheeks "not telling me will only make it worse when I find out"
"I know" Gibbs agreed again "I promise I'll tell you everything from now on. You have my word"
A small smile crossed Kate's face "actually you won't be able to tell me anything anymore" she said.
Gibbs looked confused "why not?" he asked.
"Because you said that if you didn't tell me everything, I can shoot you with your gun" she said with a small giggle.
Gibb smiled and remembered his promise and was glad that Kate was talking to him again. He was about to get up when he remembered the necklace.
"Oh one more thing. There's something I've been meaning to give you" he said and placed his hand in his pocket "I've carried it with me ever since we found it at the park and I think you should have it back" and without giving Kate a chance to guess what it was, he brought out her necklace. Kate gasped and clasped her hands over her mouth. She had completely forgotten about her necklace.
"I can't believe that you kept this" Kate said, about to cry again but for a different reason this time.
"Well I thought you'd want it back when we saved you from Ari" Gibbs said, "You do want it don't you?"
"Of course I do!" Kate said, snapping out of her trance.
Gibbs smiled and said "turn around" Kate did as she was told and Gibbs placed the necklace around her neck and did up the chain. Kate placed her hand on the cross and turned back to Gibbs.
"Are you talking to me now?" Gibbs asked sarcastically.
Kate smiled. "Yeah for now" she said "as long as you don't break your promise again"
"Uh I promise I won't" Gibbs promised smiling.
Kate smiled back at him and lent in for a hug, which Gibbs only to happily agreed to. As they sat there in the waiting room chairs, Gibbs's arm around Kate, they waited for any one to come with news about Tony.
"I'm sorry Abby," McGee sighed as they sat down on the examination table in the empty room "I just didn't realize that I was meant to be your boyfriend". Abby sank into the table and looked around shiftily. McGee noticed this and added "Have you been telling people I'm your boyfriend?" he asked concerned.
Abby gave a small smirk before replying "Only the guys who wont take no for an answer at the bar".
"What do you tell them" McGee said getting a little suspicious.
"Just that my boyfriend is a NCIS agent and carries a gun" Abby exclaimed still with a smirk on her face.
"You've been what!' McGee exclaimed, shocked that Abby had been telling people this "how many people have you told?"
"Umm maybe a few" Abby said uncomfortably.
McGee started to look really worried. "How many is a few?" he asked.
"Maybe….a lot" Abby finally said.
"Abby" McGee whined "anyone I know?"
"Umm did I mention I ran into your mother yesterday and this guy asked me out and kept coming back and…"
"ABBY!" McGee complained "that's why my mother has been congratulating me and she keeps telling me finally" McGee put his head in his hands. Abby looked kinda hurt.
"Don't you like me telling people you're my boyfriend?" she asked, slightly upset.
"No, no, no, no, no" McGee said quickly, waving his hands around "it's not that. It's just I'd like to know that I'm dating you before the whole world does. Understand?"
Abby nodded sadly and turned away. McGee saw this and made a rash and surprising decision to make it up.
"Not that I don't want to be your boyfriend" he added quietly.
Abby turned to McGee shocked and slightly confused. She wasn't sure if she had heard that right.
"What did you say?" she asked McGee.
"I said that I never said that I didn't want to be your boyfriend. I just wanted to know that I was before my mother finds out" he said with a smile.
Abby nodded slowly. "Does this mean that I can tell people that you are my boyfriend now?" she asked.
"Uh technically you already do" McGee laughed.
"No I mean REALLY tell people now" Abby said repeating herself "like tell people that you are the property of Abby now?"
McGee gave a small smile before lifting his hands a pulling Abby towards him. Abby was completely shocked as McGee kissed her passionately. She'd never picked McGee as one for making the first move.
"So does that mean yes?" Abby said once McGee has broken away.
"Do I have to spell it out for you?" McGee replied getting slightly frustrated. Abby shrugged her shoulders and smiled as McGee pulled her close and kissed her again