Tori's eyes followed the trail, to the small pew where she last saw Tim. Her hands began to tremble as she powered through her fear and moved to what laid beyond the small barrier. On the other side she found a very alive, but very groggy McGee clasping his shoulder with a bloodied hand.
"Tim!" Tori shrieked, immediately falling to his side.
"I…I think I got…shot…" he stammered wide eyed, as he let out a quiet cough, unable to sit himself upright.
"Shh…shh, it's not that bad, I promise," she smiled assuredly, as she instinctively took the end of her dress and began applying pressure to the injured area. McGee's eyes began to flutter. And In a calm, but commanding voice Tori shouted, "Help. We need an ambulance!"
The rest of the team was not far behind the FBI agent when she reached their injured colleague. A terrified Ellie dialed 911, as everyone else seemed to fall into place as they assessed the situation. Tony placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, she didn't flinch or look up. He could only see the large tears that streamed down her face, contrasting with her calm and collected voice. The Senior Field Agent then turned to his Probie who was continued to fade in and out of consciousness.
"Hey. Hey!" the tiny brunette barked, McGee eyes snapped open, "Stay with me! Ok? You have to stay with me."
"Tori…I…I'm sorr…" he tried to speak before fading out once more.
"There is nothing to be sorry about," her tender words were crisp and clear, "But I need you to keep talking to me. Stay, right here, here with me. And Tim if you can do that…I'll…I'll do whatever you want to do for the next year."
"What…ever?" the NCIS agent gently smirked, still in pain.
"Yes, whatever your little heart desires, but you have to promise," a slight tremor developed in Tori's voice, as McGee nodded a simple yes. However, his eyelids once again began to fall, "You can't leave me, you promised. Plus, I need you for our vacation. I'm not going to Ireland without you."
"Ireland?" Tim sighed, slightly confused.
"You won the bet, something went down at the wedding," the FBI agent, swallowed hard, "And I'm sure as hell not going alone. So if you stay with me I'll…I'll get Poppy to rent out a private jet…or we can fly first class, just stay. Stay because dammit, Tim, I love you!"
Tori could feel the hot wet tears cascading down her face as they now began to blur her vision. The paramedics moved in beside her, taking over the job she had been doing for what felt like eternity. Tony quickly took her aside, the hand still on her shoulder. Ziva placed a comforting arm around Tori and sent a worried glance Tony's way. The little ballerina's eyes never left McGee. As, they began to load him into ambulance, Tim reached out to Gibbs, grabbing at his coat. The grey haired man ran in after him.
"Sir, you can't be in here!" one of the paramedics shouted.
"Just a second!" the boss barked, "Whatever it is can wait Tim."
McGee nodded, no. With his other arm he tapped the left pocket of his jacket. Gibbs swiftly reached inside and pulled out a velvet box, just before McGee lost consciousness. The boss gripped it tightly in his fist as the ambulance drove off. Then for the first time he turned around to face his distraught team, and the utterly emotionless Tori. Gibbs ran his thumb across the velvet, before shoving it in his pocket. The grey haired man didn't have to open it to know what was inside. He just knew he needed to keep it safe, Tim was going to need it soon.
"Let's go," the boss waved his hand, as his team followed. Another team of agents could collect evidence. Right now they needed to be with McGee.
Tony kept a close eye on his sister as they entered the hospital. She hadn't spoken a word and barely moved the entire car ride. Her eyes were blank, staring so deeply at something no one else could see. Luckily, Gibbs was thinking and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders, which for the most part covered the large blood stain that stood out so vividly against the canary colored dress. Abby met them in the ICU waiting room, beside her was a change of clothes for Tori. When the Goth saw the brunette she immediately embraced her in a teary eyed hug. The little DiNozzo gave Abby the tightest hug she could, before wiping the tears from her cheek. However, even those movements were minimal and mechanic. Abby tightly grabbed Tori's hand before leading her to the bathroom. Gibbs gestured for Ziva and Bishop to follow.
"Dammit, Probie!" Tony cursed to himself, as he slumped into an open seat. The Senior Field Agent rubbed his hands over his face. Everyone was hurting. Abby was a watery mess, Tim was her best friend. Ellie was trying her best to follow Ziva's stoic lead, but it was easy to see how deeply this was effecting her. Even Ziva had slipped up in the car, a few tears welled in her eyes before she turned to the window. Tori had basically reverted to basic functioning. And Tony, well, he was barely keeping it all together. He couldn't figure it out. Why McGee? Why not him or his father? Weren't they the ones his sister's family was angry with? Or had introducing McGee to the Bilotti's completely backfired? Whatever it was, it was confusing. It was uncalled for, unnecessary, and utterly unbelievable. Tim had to make it. A hand squeezed Tony's shoulder gently.
"There's a lot you don't know," the boss sighed, "Once we know everything is alright, I'll explain what I know."
"Can't you just tell me…?" Tony began.
"It's not the time. Right now we have other priorities to focus on," Gibbs turned to him sternly, a cup of coffee in hand. The men paused for a moment, "The McGee's are on their way. I just called them. If your sister isn't able to explain what happened, I need you to. I'm waiting on a call from Ducky and Palmer."
"Absolutely, boss. Can do," the Senior Field Agent took in a sharp breath, "It's serious. Isn't it boss?"
"From what I know, yes, pretty damn serious," the grey haired man sipped his coffee, "They can't tell me much since I'm not family."
"What is the update?" Ziva entered the room and the conversation, "How is McGee? I told Tori I would ask."
"They won't tell us anything," Tony grimaced, "Were not his biological family."
"Ziver," the boss began, "We need to get Tori changed and ready. The McGee's are coming and they do not need to see that dress."
"I understand," she nodded, turning her attention to an emotionally distraught Tony.
"This is bullshit," he spat, "We had them. We had them in custody!"
"None of us could have predicted this. They must have fooled us all," the ex-Mossad Agent placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not today's problem Tony," Gibbs calmly sipped his coffee.
"At what cost?" Tony ignored them both, "McGee's life?!"
"McGee was doing his job," the boss stood and faced him, speaking sternly "You can't blame yourself. You can't blame Tori. You can't even blame her family. Now get a handle on yourself before…"
Just then Ellie came dashing down the hallway. A panicked look played in her hazel eyes, as she quickly grabbed Ziva's arm, in an attempt to pull her forward. The Israeli shook it off quickly, giving her tiny colleague a confused stare.
"Tori…bathroom…saw the blood…full blown panic," Bishop panted before Ziva took off towards the bathroom.
It was clear to Ziva why her assistance was needed, she was the only one able to keep her composure. Ellie was already in fear and for good reason, Abby couldn't stop her crying, and Tori was already overwhelmed. It was nothing a simple talking to couldn't fix. As she entered the bathroom she saw that Bishop had not over exaggerated the situation. Abby tried her best to calm a shaking Tori, who with one hand was grabbing at the fabric across her chest, and the other ripping clips out of her hair.
"What is going on?" Ziva asked hastily, as she stepped in to aid Abby.
"She saw the blood, that's when it started! Then it only got worse when we couldn't get the dress off!" the Goth explained.
Just then Ellie joined the commotion, "I've got the scissors!"
"Lock the door," the ex- Mossad Agent commanded, as she tightly gripped Tori's wrists.
"You need to stop," the FBI agent couldn't stop.
"Stop it! Now!" Ziva, shook the little ballerina, "Tori, look at me."
And for once the DiNozzo sister did. Tears pouring from her eyes. Entire body involuntarily trembling
"I know I am not your best friend, you might not even consider me a friend," the black haired woman's voice softened, "But you must trust me. We will get the dress off. Just breathe."
Tori took a few labored deep breaths, sadness still rattling in her chest, as Abby cut the corseted back of the dress. It pooled at Tori's feet. Ziva finally let go of wrists, as the tiny brunette crumple before them, head in hands, sobs racking her body. Soon the other three women dropped next to her. Ellie and Abby quickly threw the soft thermal shirt, over Tori's head. Ziva then took her in her arms, as warm, wet tears coated her shoulder.
"You must stop," the ex-Mossad agent pushed the hair from little ballerina's eyes, "There is nothing we could have done. It was an ambush. You cannot blame anyone except for the gunmen," she grabbed Tori's face, holding her head steady, "But Tim's family is coming. And you must be strong for them. If you are not. They will lose hope. And Tori, we must always have hope. Find hope."
"I…I…I don't…think I can be strong," the Italian woman stammered through shaky sentence.
"You don't have to be strong Tori. You are strong. That is why Tim likes you." Ziva spoke kindly, "You must think of his mother. And Penny. And Sarah. Who is supposed to walk her down the aisle next month?"
"Tim," she wiped the tears from her green eyes, as her brother's girlfriend mention the close relationship between the McGee siblings.
"Sarah has lost her father this past year, we must not let her think that she could lose her brother too," The Israeli nodded slowly, "You must be strong for Sarah."
Tori nodded, "Yes. I can," she paused, "He can't die, not before her wedding. Sarah needs Tim. He won't leave her. Or his mother. Or Penny. Or You. Ellie. Tony. Abby. Gibbs. He…"
"He won't leave you Tori," Abby place a tender hand on her shoulder, as Ellie pulled her hair back in a ponytail, "He loves you. A lot."
Abby's words resonated deeply with her. The little DiNozzo pulled herself up off the ground and finished reading herself. In her heart she was praying for the best, but after years of unhappiness her mind always jumped to the worst possible scenario. However, there wasn't time for negativity now. She splashed water on her face, trying earnestly to alleviate the redness in her eyes. Ellie handed her a bag full of makeup and Tori slapped on the bear minimum. Abby took her hand, as Ziva gave her a confident nod. It was time to be strong. As soon as she reached the lobby, Marianne McGee rushed to her side grabbing her tightly, as the mother sobbed into her arms.
"It's going to be ok," Tori hugged her, "I don't know how, but it will be!"
"And you don't know anything?!" Sarah looked at her desperately, tears in her eyes.
"No, just that he's in surgery," the little Italian, reached out to add her boyfriend's sister to the embrace.
"That's bullshit, if you ask me," Penny's hardened façade dropped as she grabbed the ballerina from behind, "You all are as much his family as we are."
"Did you get to see him?" the sister asked.
Tori nodded, "Yes, I did. It's…it's not great. But, he could talk with me, until the paramedics came. It'll be ok." She didn't know if she repeated the phrase more for herself or his family.
"Family of Special Agent Timothy McGee," a nurse called from the waiting door, "May we speak with you?"
Marianne and Sarah immediately went to the nurse, hoping to get any type of news. However, Penny stayed behind looking at her grandson's girlfriend. The older woman grabbed the girl's left hand, squeezing her fingers gently. A look of sadness washed across the grandmother face, as she met the FBI agent's terrified green eyes. Penny looked back down at her hand shaking her head.
"Go," Tori smiled through new tears forming in her eyes, "Then give him hell for scaring the shit out of me."
Penny begrudgingly released her hand and joined her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. And as the disappeared behind the swinging door, Tori's heart began to sink.