Chapter 14 - Darkness
The darkness faded slightly to a mirky grey. She was back on the mattress. Her hands no longer bound, the left one heavily bandaged - another little gift for Jethro. She held her mutilated hand up to her chest. The throbbing pain had settled into a dull roar.
"At least it was a clean cut. The bolt cutter was new. Bought to frighten me," she had mistakenly thought. "Less chance of infection. And The Other One had done a decent job of bandaging her hand. Perhaps she could befriend him and he would help her escape? She laughed humourlessly. Who was she trying to kid? She was dead as soon as they'd finished torturing Jethro..
She wondered what they would send him next. An ear maybe or an eye? Try as she might to quell the panic within her, it rose unbidden. The pain in her hand was becoming unbearable. It crept up her arm and filled her head. It hurt to think. She curled herself into a ball and pulled the blanket over herself. "Please hurry Sweetheart. I don't know how much longer I can hold on," she sent out into the ether. Eventually, she stopped trying to think and drifted into a restless sleep.
"Thank you Mr. Huq, you've been very helpful." Said Ellie as she finished her phone call. She turned to the others
"That was the current owner of the workwear suppliers. He said the company had a different name years back but he doesn't remember what. They were much bigger then and had warehouses down at the docks to store materials. They were closed when it became cheaper to make goods abroad. They still own the warehouses though and Lomas would have been sent there at least a couple of times to guard them. The security teams take turns going because they are both derelict and it's really boring ... But they'd be perfect if you were looking for somewhere to hide."
"Ellie I could hug you right now," McGee grinned. "That's got to be it! How far back d'you think we'll need to go?" Abby and McGee's fingers danced across adjoining computer keyboards like demented tap dancers
"How about 1982?" Suggested Abby. "The Crawford Leather Company specialised in dyed leather for shoes and boots. It wasn't dyed there but it was stored there in large quantities before being turned into workboots and shipped across the States."
"Could the chemicals have leached from any of that?" Asked Ellie.
"They could." Replied Abby, "If it hadn't been fixed properly at point of origin then it would continue to dye whatever it touched - floor, walls, pallets, stuff like that. That would account for the chemicals I found in the wood splinters."
"Did Huq know the addresses? Asked Abby.
"No, he just knew they were off Pier 12. He's only been there once."
"Do either of them have basements?" Asked Ellie. "Abby, you thought it was a basement, right?."
"Unknown." Replied McGee, "I'll see if I can find any building plans. In the meantime, I think it's time the others got moving.
McGee jumped up from the desk excitedly. He rushed to the printer as it churned out pages of floor plans. He scanned across them urgently. "I've got them,' he shouted excitedly. 'My God I've got them." He reached for his phone. "Boss, Boss we've got it. They're in one of two places. Head to Pier 12 we'll send the rest of the information to you."
She stood barefoot and tiptoed on a chair. Her mouth and eyes bound with duct tape. A noose around her neck. If she made a sudden move, she would hang. If she passed out again from the pain, she would hang. Or her captors could simply knock the chair away and she would hang.
"What shall we send him this time?" The Other One asked.
"Oh, I don't know." Replied Boltcutter. "What about one of these?" He ran the blade of a sharp knife under her breast. He drooled grotesquely at her. "I bet he's missing these." She felt a flat tongue rasp across her breast as the knife cut from underneath. She let out a muffled cry of pain and disgust.
"Or maybe something a little smaller but just as precious." He dragged the knife slowly down her body across her stomach and down between her legs. She felt it bite into skin in places, blood ran down her body, and dripped onto her feet. "I've read about it in magazines - places where they cut all this away. He sure'd miss that. Wouldn't he?"
She couldn't help herself. The noose, the tape, the position of the knife. She felt her bladder let go. She wept in humiliation as the warm liquid ran down her leg. Her captors laughed hysterically at her
"Hey, you owe me twenty bucks!" Bolt Cutter declared triumphantly. "I said I could make her do it! Help me get her off the chair, I gotta have me some more of that. And this time she can't bite me." He began to cut her down.
"I don't know, couldn't we just finish up here now and get going?" Asked The Other One. "Uncle Harry will be waiting and the cops'll be looking for her by now."
Bolt Cutter was not going to give up his fun that quickly. His arm held her to him like a rag doll to a child. He swung her away from The Other One. "All in good time Gary. All in good time."
"Hey, we're not supposed to use names remember?"
"Oh she's not gonna tell, are you Sweet Cheeks?" Bolt Cutter laughed again. "You're never gonna tell - You know that, don't you?" he whispered in her ear. His stale, hot breath burned it's way into her brain. "By the time we're done, Lover Boy gets whatever is left - which won't be much; and Samuel wins ... again. Just like he always did." He whispered menacingly.
He tore the tape away from her mouth roughly and forced his tongue into her mouth, kissing her grotesquely. He tasted of stale burgers, cigarettes and beer. She wanted to vomit. As he broke the kiss she spat at him. He swung her away effortlessly.
"Now that wasn't nice! I might have to punish you for that." He dragged her towards the mattress. Shouting to The Other One over his shoulder, "You go and get your kit while I entertain myself one last time. Won't that be fun Sugar Pie?" She kicked wildly in his general direction. Her foot made contact with his groin. A lucky shot but effective just the same. "Now that was very bad. You're gonna pay for that." He punched her hard. She lost consciousness quickly, the grittiness of another lost tooth her final thought before darkness descended once again.
Vance and DiNozzo reached their destination first. There wasn't much to see. There had clearly been a fire at some point in its history. There was little left of the main structure. They found a basement entrance only by climbing through the rubble. It was rusted shut with no sign of any recent human habitation. They were clearly in the wrong place. Vance called Gibbs on his cel.
"This is a bust, Gibbs. She has to be at your locale. We're heading your way now."
--
Fornell and Gibbs pulled up at the warehouse quietly. A wide, expanse of a place, much of it derelict. They parked up and climbed into the building. At a doorway, Tobias pointed at the paintwork - blue over green. They nodded to each other. This place was looking promising. They drew their firearms and headed forward.
Gibbs pointed to a ladies shoe that lay abandoned on the concrete. He recognised it. It threw his concentration for a second. He swallowed down his fear and channelled it into a controlled rage. Someone was going to die today. He nodded 'ready' to Fornell and they made their way quickly and quietly into the building
--
"Come on, Man. They're here. We gotta go." Bolt Cutter was getting antsy. He had heard the car pull up.
"In a minute. I'm almost there." Said The Other One.
"No now. You'll have to finish up in the van. Come on, lets go!"
"I told you we should've done this earlier." The Other One complained.
"Yeah, but I wanted ..."
"I know what you wanted you sick bastard, but we still need at least one part of her to get any money.
The van roared away at full speed. Gibbs ran after it, gun drawn trying to get a clear shot. Suddenly the back doors opened and a bound, woman's body was pushed out of it. He rolled to avoid her, planted his right foot solidly and from a kneeling position, emptied a full clip into the van's fuel tank.
Instinctively, he dived back across the woman's body, shielding her with his own. There was an almighty explosion behind him. He felt his legs and back pelted with burning debris. Everything went silent as the explosion shut down his eardrums. Choking, acrid smoke stung his eyes and throat. His mind was clogged with fear - There was no movement from the woman beneath him. He clung to her, shielding her from the carnage around them. He didn't move until he felt Fornell brushing burning shrapnel from his back. He struggled out of his overcoat and jacket. He folded the jacket into a pillow and knelt down to his wife's side.
She was bruised, battered, cut and filthy. Her hairless and naked body bound at wrists and ankles. Two strips also ran around her head - to cover her mouth and eyes. Two large wounds were easily visible - one underneath her breast and one to her side.
He lay her on her side and cut away as much tape as he safely could. He talked continually to her reassuring her that she was not alone and that help was on the way.
Tobias called for backup, fire, ambulance and ME. Hell, he'd have called the Coast Guard as well if he thought it would do any good! He crouched beside Gibbs. He checked the woman's pulse. Faint and thready but there "It's okay Jethro. She's alive. Alive Jethro. Can you hear me?"
Gibbs gave no response. He took Fornell's hand and pressed it against one of the wounds. "Press here, hard," were his only words. She groaned faintly, barely aware of her surroundings. She knew this was a familiar voice. There was an element of deja vu somehow.
The blood seeped between Gibbs' fingers, He stroked her hair for a second before returning to her wounds. He kept talking. It would all be okay. He was right there. The medics were on their way. Fornell noted the grim expression, the frantic way Gibbs was literally trying to hold her together
Dr. Mallard and Mr. Palmer pulled up. Ducky jumped out of the van as Palmer was still parking up. "Let's see to the living shall we? The dead are not going anywhere." He ran up to Gibbs and Fornell and crouched down beside them. He held out a handful of gauze.
"Jethro pack the wound under her breast. It looks a lot worse than it is. Keep the pressure on. That's it. I'll work on the other one. Tobias, thank you for your help, I can take over now."
Dr. Mallard looked across at Gibbs, read the unspoken question then rested his hand on his friend's shoulder. Gibbs knew. He'd seen enough in his time to know. He looked into the good doctor's eyes. "How long, Duck? How long before it's too late?" he asked.
--
The getaway van was almost burnt out as Vance and DiNozzo arrived. They gave it a cursory check for survivors. There were none to be had. Looking at the remains of Roy and Lomas, Vance couldn't help thinking they had got away lightly.
He turned away from the scene without a moment's sorrow. "DiNozzo, you and Tobias go and get Everett, I want his sorry ass back behind bars. He ordered. "Now that we've found her I'm going to head back to HQ. I need to congratulate the team there." He nodded towards Gibbs "And cover his time off."
As Tony and Tobias climbed into their car, Vance turned to the younger agent. "The team's yours until further notice Tony. Make Gibbs proud." DiNozzo looked across to the stricken woman on the floor.
"I will." He said. "Both of them.
Ducky went to work on her worst injury. He recognised the botched nephrectomy for what it was He worked with speed and precision. They hadn't got as far as taking the organ. They'd obviously abandoned their endeavours in an attempt to get away.
She was losing blood volume at an enormous rate. He cleaned and packed the wound. He clamped and sutured. He administered painkillers. What she really needed though was a full operating theatre, a blood bank and an ICU. Where was that bloody helicopter?
"Mr. Palmer, bring the gurney and some blankets and then get Dr. Weiss to come and collect those bodies for us. I'll deal with them later. "
An ambulance pulled up. The medics jogged over to assist. Lines were put in. Fluids raised. "Hang on my Dear," Ducky assured her patting her hand. "The helicopter is almost here. Hang on my brave girl."
DiNozzo drove towards Everett's Baltimore address as Tobias struggled to clean the blood from his hands and shirt sleeves with a bottle of water and a box of tissues. He was getting more and more frustrated. Finally, he'd had enough letting out a yell and punching the glove compartment which opened and spilled its contents all over his feet. "Goddamit!" he screamed as he shoved it all back and slammed the door shut again.
"I was gonna ask if you're okay, but I think I already know the answer." Said DiNozzo nervously. "D'you wanna talk about it?"
"No, no I don't ... " Tobias snapped but then continued. "My God you should've seen ... how could any one? ... I really don't know if she's gonna make it. It'll destroy him if ...
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Tony suggested. "The medics were there. She'll be at the hospital by now. And we have a job to do. So let's get this over with so we can go help."
Tobias nodded. "Yes, yes you're right. Let's go get this scumbag and get back to our friends. Thank you Tony and I'm sorry ... It's just ... "
"Don't mention it," replied Tony. "We all feel the same way." He sighed. "Just keep thinking: She's going to be fine. They are both going to be fine."
When they got to Everett's apartment there was already a pair of uniformed cops standing outside the building. Crime scene tape billowed in the wind around it.
An unpleasant and all too familiar smell emanated from the open front door. "Damn, we're too late," muttered Tobias. They approached the two uniforms and flashed their ID's.
"Tobias Fornell, FBI. ".
"Tony DiNozzo, NCIS. "
--
A voice from inside the apartment shouted out "What? THE Tony DiNozzo? The famous Baltimore detective. It can't be?"
DiNozzo smiled as he recognised the voice. A heavy set man with wavey grey hair in a cheap looking brown suit stepped out of the apartment. He smiled and held out his hand to DiNozzo. Tony beamed his most charming smile as he shook the man's hand warmly. "Mack! I thought you retired already."
"No, they don't get rid of me that easy!" Mack shook Tobias' hand. "Jerry MacDowall – I taught the kid everything he knows." He nodded his head towards Everett's door. "So what to the Feds want with this creep?"
Tobias nodded, "From the smell of things we're too late."
Mack grimaced, "Yeah, a neighbour called it in. Come on, I'll show you," he said lifting the tape to let them through.
--
The three men found a clearly deceased Harold Everett sitting upright in bed. He'd been gone three, maybe four days DiNozzo estimated. The only thing of interest in the whole scenario was the large scrapbook on Everett's lap.
Using a pen to turn the pages Tony eventually got to Cinderella. Mack was talking to Fornell "We always assumed he had trophies stashed somewhere we just never found them. This is a real coup for the crime historians. Like finding Jack the Ripper's medical bag."
"Before you get too carried away Mack, I gotta tell ya this is part of an on going investigation. Old Harry here got himself a pair of apprentices." He tapped the page with the pen. "Cinderella is actually my bosses wife. She survived but only barely."
Mack's expression blanched slightly. "Your boss? You mean Gibbs?" Tony nodded.
Mack continued, "Jeez, I don't particularly like the guy but I wouldn't wish something like this on anyone's ol' lady.'
Tobias was getting impatient. "If you find anything linking the deceased to a prisoner in the northern Maryland prison, we need to know ASAP." Then he leant across the body to turn a page. Half way down it with a photograph of a boltcutter against a left hand - the ring finger clearly missing, was a small ziplock bag containing her engagement ring. Tobias pointed at it. "I want it returned to its rightful owner once it's been processed and not a minute later. Is that understood?"
"Sure. No problem. I'll deal with it personally."
Tony looked relieved that there would be no petty argument over jurisdiction. When the chips are down, law enforcement takes care of it's own. Tony shook hands with his friend again. "Thanks Mack, I owe you."
"Oh just buy me a beer next time you see me." Replied Mack. "Send Agent Gibbs my best and tell him I'll get the ring to him as soon as possible – he has my word."
The two Federal agents left the scene to the local cops and headed back to DC with one less loose thread to have to deal with.
Gibbs sat in the waiting room caked in dirt and dried blood. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees holding a cup of awful coffee the nurse had offered him. It sat cold and undrunk in his hands.
Bishop and Abby met Dr. Mallard outside the room. "What's the word, Ducky?" Ellie asked.
"Eleanor, thank you for getting here so quickly. There is no news at the moment. She is still in surgery. They did a real hack job on her. And then of course, there are all the other injuries on top of that."
"Other injuries?"
"Too many to remember and quite frankly, I'm happy not to at present. He nodded towards Gibbs in the waiting room. "I have to get back to work but I don't think he should be alone. Try and get him to eat something - even if it's just a chocolate bar. I'll be back later."
Abby walked into the waiting room while Bishop and Ducky spoke. She took the coffee cup out of Gibbs' hands and placed it on the table. She sat next to him hanging onto his arm, her head on his shoulder. He leaned heavily against her, utterly exhausted. Neither needed to speak.
--
Hours passed. When he was finally allowed to see her she was clean, neatly bandaged, ventilated and medically comatose. Monitors around her pinged and created wavey lines of varying colours. She looked peaceful though, comfortable, he consoled himself with that before he was dragged away from the ICU by the nursing staff. He was a walking health hazard. They listed her injuries and her prognosis. He hardly heard any of it. He sat by her bed in numbed shock. His head in his hands, his mind slowly shutting down.
Ellie called Fornell. "We need your help Tobias. We have to get him home somehow."
A broken hearted Fornell helped Gibbs to his feet. "Let's get you home, my friend." He said softly. He wrapped a blanket around his friend's shoulders and guided him out to the car. Gibbs lay on the back seat motionless and silent, his head upon Abby's lap.
Back at the house they persuaded him to shower and wash the blood from his body and hair. He emerged from the bathroom in sweats.
"Where are my clothes?" He asked in panic. "Where's my coat and my suit."
"Relax," said Tobias, "I put them in garbage bags and put them outside."
"You had no right to do that, Tobias."
"What? Why? You can't possibly want them? They will never clean."
"I don't want them clean. They have her blood on them. They're all I have right now."
"What? That's too macabre even for you. I can't let you keep them. It's gross."
"Don't tell me what to do in my own house, Fornell."
"I will if it's weird. ... Okay, I'll go and get them but only after you get some rest
--
Abby pointed to the bags of clothes. "I should really take those anyway," she said to Fornell. "There may be transfer on them. At least that's a real reason why he can't keep them."
"We should put some things together for her in a bag. Clothes, underwear, toiletries stuff like that." Suggested Ellie. "Gibbs, why don't you show me where to find things."
"Right, and I'll make coffee and food and then you can take a nap." Added Abby.
"I don't need any of that. I just need to get back to the hospital."
Abby pointed a pan In his direction "Don't you argue with me mister. You've got to keep yourself well for her. That means eating and sleeping. And don't look at Tobias like that, he's on our side."
"I am?" said Tobias upon hearing his name. "Oh, yes I am. I wouldn't be stupid enough to argue with Abby with saucepan."
Fornell had been miles away in his own thoughts while the girls busied themselves around him. He was trying to process his own feelings around the situation. He was very fond of the current Mrs. Gibbs. She made his friend happier than he'd seen in years ... even when they argued! He couldn't believe it had come to this. This ex-husband of hers was a real piece of work. She had been stalked, terrorised, beaten, raped, mutilated all on his orders. Tobias knew the bastard would never stop until she was dead and Jethro was utterly destroyed. He could not let that happen to his friends. There had to be some way to stop the smug son-of-a-bitch.
She remained in a comatose state. Gibbs remained at her bedside. Dwayne Pride had flown to DC at the first possible opportunity. He stood watching the pair from the ward window.
"He's hardly left her side for over a week now," said DiNozzo as he met Pride and shook his hand. "He's like a faithful old dog in a black and white movie."
"Or maybe he's like a loving husband concerned for his wife." Pride snapped back perhaps a little too sharply.
"Well, yeah, that too" babbled DiNozzo. "It's just we're still not used to seeing him like that. It's kinda different, you know?"
"I'm going to go say hi." Said King. "You stay there, I'll need some help being useful and you just volunteered yourself."
--
He walked up to Gibbs and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. "Hello My Brother, I thought you might like some company."
Gibbs stood wearily, turned from the bed and hugged King tightly. "Good to see you King. Very good."
"Jethro there's no point in me lyin', you look terrible, son!"
They both laughed to ease the tension. Although he made light of it, Pride was shocked at the state of the man in front of him. Gibbs was a mess!
"When was the last time you ate?"
"I can't face anything like that." Gibbs replied.
"Well you have to. You'll be no good to her lying in a bed in the next room. When was the last time you went home?"
"Umm ... What day is it?" Gibbs asked.
"That was the wrong answer, my Brother." Pride took him by the shoulders. "Go home Jethro. Take a shower, grab a bite to eat and take a nap. I'll stay here and watch over her until you get back."
Gibbs looked across to the still form in the bed. "I don't know. What if she wakes up? I want to be here when she does."
"And I'll call you right away if there is any change. Any change at all. Go on now. Tony can drive you." He pulled Gibbs closer and whispered, "Go on. You're killing yourself like this, Man. You'll be no good to her dead." Pride raised his voice a little. "Hey DiNozzo, take this reprobate home will you and don't let him back here until he's had something to eat and some sleep."
"Sure thing, NOLA boss. Come on DC boss, your chariot awaits."
]
When Gibbs was well on the way home, Pride turned to the woman in the hospital bed. He hardly recognised her. "Oh boy," he exclaimed just as a nurse came in to check on her vital signs. She seemed startled.
"Where's Agent Gibbs?
"I convinced him to go get some rest. I'm a family friend, Dwayne Pride, Special Agent Dwayne Pride." They shook hands.
"My name is Shirley. I've been taking care of Mrs. Gibbs. I'm afraid I can't discuss her condition with you Sir, as you're not a relative."
Pride held up his hands in submission. "That's quite all right Ma'am. I'm just here to keep her company until Gibbs gets back." He sat and held her hand as Shirley did 'nurse stuff' around them. When she left, Pride stood up and leaned across her pillow to whisper in her ear.
He kissed her cheek gently. "Hey, Boo. How's it going? Stupid question I know. I just didn't know how else to start ... Loretta packed a bag for you with ladies things in. There's a new nightgown she thought you might like and some hand creams and wotnot. I don't know much about that kinda stuff. And some magazines for when you wake up." He hesitated for a moment.
"Darlin', I have to tell you something very important now. You have to listen real hard to me okay? ... I know you are really really hurtin'. And I know you are fighting with all your might and none of us knows how that will turn out. I need you to know that you are loved by so many and we are all praying real hard for you ... But, if you decide that you can't do this thing we call life anymore, you can rest easy. He will be okay. We will take care of him for you. You have my word on that."
He pressed his forehead against hers for a moment before kissing her cheek again and sitting back down. As he sat, his foot kicked something on the floor. He bent to pick it up. It was a folded piece of paper. Curiosity got the better and he opened it to find a list of her injuries written in Gibbs' hand. He went down the list then folded it back up and put it in his pocket for safe keeping. This was emotionally exhausting. How was his friend coping with it all?
It had been a long trip. The room was warm and the sun had gone down long ago. The rhythmic sounds from the monitoring machines was soporific. He felt his eyelids falling. He leaned forward on the bed, put his head on his arms and nodded off.
"Hey, that's my place!" Protested Gibbs. Pride woke with a start. He sat up, his spine complaining bitterly at the sudden movement. Gibbs looked a little better. A shower, a change of clothes, a hot meal, he almost looked human again. The two men embraced and changed places. He kissed her forehead.
"Hey Sweetheart. I'm back. King didn't bore you too much with his old stories, did he? I brought you some clean clothes and the book from your night stand, we can finish it together if you like?" Then he turned to King.
"You staying at ours King? It's turned into a kinda Ops Centre. Open house - there are keys somewhere but I'm not sure who has them right now. Abby's there at the moment. The spare room's made up or there's either couch. The old one is fine - I slept on it for years before she convinced me otherwise."
"That's fine. I guess I could do with some shut eye," replied King. "I'll catch you later. I'll bring coffee." He hugged Gibbs briefly and headed out to Chez Gibbs with DiNozzo.
--
DiNozzo felt like he was playing tag team bosses. Gibbs was back at the hospital so now it was time to take Pride back to Chez Gibbs.
Agent Pride stretched and rubbed his face. "Thanks for the driving tonight Tony. I'll rent something tomorrow, I promise. "
DiNozzo nodded. "We're all just doing our part right now. Glad I'm able to help."
"So, did he get much sleep?" Asked Pride.
DiNozzo grinned. "He was out by the time I'd pulled out of the parking lot. I made sure I took the long way back to his place."
"I think it's time to get organised." Pride suggested. "Do you guys have some kinda Bat Signal to get everyone together? Meet up at the Gibbs place?"
"Yeah," smiled Tony. "It's called Abby Sciutto!"
--
By the time they pulled up to the house it was already full of people. They all sat around the table coffee and tea in hand. Several had brought take out. Abby, Bishop, McGee, Dr. Mallard and Fornell. Pride poured coffee for himself and DiNozzo before they joined the others.
"Thank you all for coming." He said. "I thought this would be easier than a whole bunch of phone calls."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper from under the hospital bed. "I found this at the hospital. Dr. Mallard, you'll already know all this I'm sure. I don't know why he has it all written down, but at least it saves us having to ask. This is what they did to her."
"ALL of this?" asked Ellie, "She should be dead."
"Precisely," Ducky replied. "It's shear willpower that's keeping her with us and Jethro knows it. Things are still somewhat unpredictable. I'm sure that's why he is reluctant to leave her."
"Okay," said Pride trying to pull the conversation back. "So, we can't do much to help her - That's for the docs and possibly the clergy. But we can help him. It would mean a couple hours a day. Someone here to sort out food, shopping, laundry, watering the plants, whatever. Others going to the hospital to give him a coffee break and a chance to stretch his legs. I'll start in the kitchen and cook up things that will keep. And I'll make sure there's enough for whoever comes over. This place can act like a kind of HQ. Its going to be a long and bumpy road ahead for both of them."
"Everything is covered at work. Vance made sure of that. He even has security on standby if Gibbs so much as steps foot in the place." McGee added
"Senior wants to help too." Said Tony.
"And Emily," added Tobias.
"Cool. Very cool. I don't think he should be driving either. That way, if someone has to take him, it means he won't be on his own in case ... in case ... You know."
"I should warn you ladies and gentlemen, that that outcome is still a distinct possibility and the longer she remains unconscious the more likely it becomes. Her brain activity is barely above minimum."
Tobias cleared his throat and stood. "Well, we'll cross that bridge if we have to but in the meantime, I prefer not to go there." He picked up the list from the table. "I'm going back to the hospital. I'll give this back to him."
As Tobias walked into the room, Gibbs stopped reading and took off his glasses. "Hey, you bring coffee?"
Fornell held up the cup carrier "Yep, and not that machine crap from down the corridor. Venti, extra shot, Americano. I brought sugar in case you need the extra energy." He handed over the cups and then went over to the bed, kissed her forehead and held her hand
"Hi Sweetheart. We're going to wear your forehead out at this rate! Emily says she'll come over after school tomorrow and talk at you. So, if you want a nice peaceful afternoon, I'd wake up now."
He sat back down with Gibbs and took his coffee. They sat in companionable silence for a while, watching the bed or the monitors. When he'd finished his coffee Tobias reached into his pocket and pulled out the list.
"King found this on the floor when he got here. Would you mind telling me want it is?"
"It's a list," Gibbs replied succinctly.
"Yes, I can see that," his friend snapped. "but why do you need it?"
"I don't want to forget. I need to stay angry - the extra adrenaline will help keep me focussed."
"Focussed on what?
Gibbs leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees. He turned his head to face Tobias. He lowered his voice and held up the list. "He's going to suffer every single one of those injuries, Tobias."
Fornell nodded in understanding. He didn't argue. He'd seen that look in his friend's eyes before. "The female injuries?" He asked. Gibbs took a long sip from his coffee cup. His smile was ice cold.
"Well ... I'll just have to improvise."