A/N1 – Thank you for all the feedback, WEING1 I have tried to outline Tony's injuries as per your request but I have no medical knowledge and would have liked to have run the ideas by you as you are a nurse but sadly had no way to contact you. Anyway hope whatever I've written here (injury wise) is okay with everyone and if it's not medically sound then I do apologise.

A/N 2 – Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Real Life has been so out of control at the present time but I will try to lift my game and get more written and post more regularly.

A/N 3 – To a very special friend who has offered words of advice and encouragement I want to say thank you! A.T. you are simply the best.

Disclaimer: The show NCIS and its characters do not belong to me. They are the property of Donald Bellisario, CBS, Paramount and whomever else I may have omitted.

Chapter Three

(1)

It was lunchtime and Kate stood and stretched, she was starving and she decided to go and get some lunch and maybe drop by the hospital and see Tony. There had been no calls concerning his condition and there was an old saying no news is good news. Of course that meant that his condition hadn't improved but it also meant that it hadn't deteriorated either. With this thought firmly in her mind, she locked her computer, picked up her handbag and headed out of the office.

A short while later she was striding purposefully towards Tony's ward, she smiled at the marine on watch, a young man named Mark who smiled back and nodded at her. 'He's still the same Kate,' he told her. 'He's got a visitor at the moment.'

'Really,' Kate raised an eyebrow. 'Who is it?'

'Hmm.' He checked his clip board. 'An Abby Sciuto,' he told her. 'She said she works with him. Her name is on the list and her credentials checked out.'

'Yes she does work with us,' Kate smiled as Mark sighed her in and she went to the door just in time to see Abby lean over and plant a tender kiss on Tony's cheek, a kiss that was very close to the corner of his mouth and from her vantage point it didn't look like a slip on Abby's part. She couldn't hear what Abby was saying to her partner but the way she was looking at him and holding his hand she suddenly felt like an intruder although she couldn't believe that Abby and Tony were.... She shook her. No, that just wasn't possible. Was it?'

As if she knew that she was not alone in the room Abby looked up and her cheeks coloured. 'Oh hi Kate,' she jumped to her feet. She was obviously flustered. 'I just dropped by to see Tony, tell him to get his butt out of the bed and back to work.'

'Sure Abby,' Kate couldn't help but grin.

'Hey you and Gibbs aren't the only ones who can visit him I've got visitation rights too and so does Ducky. We really are the only family he's got.'

'I'm not saying anything Abby,' Kate told her as Sciuto hurried past her. 'Hey why don't you wait up and we can go back to the office together. '

'No it's fine' Abby told her obviously wanting to make her escape and she quickly hurried away without another word leaving Kate almost convinced that there was something going on between the pair and she was unable to believe that she hadn't picked up on it. No You're crazy Todd she told herself before walking over to Tony's bedside and taking the chair that Abby had so hurriedly vacated she took his hand in her own and started to talk to him softly. She'd heard that people in Tony's state could hear those who spoke to themshe wasn't sure if that was true but hell if it was true and Tony could hear her, hear any of them then at least he'd know that he wasn't alone as he fought this battle for his life.

'Well you really don't believe in half measures do you,' she shook her head. 'Eight broken ribs, severe abdominal contusions, a punctured lung and yes that tube down your throat looks so damn uncomfortable and I guess it is but it's important because it's helping you breath. She sighed. 'Then there's the bullet, it nicked your lung and lodged close to your heart, we got that out and now we're just waiting to find weapon that fired it to make a positive match,' she paused and glanced at the electrocardiograph that monitored his heart beat, not only were they worried about the fact that the bullet had gone so close to his heart but also any damage that may occur due to some lung congestion that they were trying to clear.

'Oh you're a right mess Tony I'm telling you, you lost a lot of blood,' her eyes travelled to the IV bag that pumped the precious life giving red stuff into his veins, 'and you lost your spleen but that you can live without. Now I know all these injuries are pretty serious but just have to keep hanging in there Tony, keep fighting and damn well beat this. I mean,' she shook her head. 'Anyway, you know the replacement that they sent us is a real nightmare, I've never met such a pig of man in my entire life and I've encountered some real pigs in my time. His name is Simon Jesmond, do you know him? Anyway he storms into the office this morning like he owned the place, causing uproar and being very disrespectful. Of course Gibbs sorted him out, 'you should have seen it Tony,' she stopped realising how stupid that sounded because the only reason Jesmond was at NCIS was because Tony was lying here in a hospital bed attacked to all these machines so naturally he couldn't have been in the office to see it although she knew that her partner would have gotten a real kick out of the way Gibbs had handled Jesmond.

'Anyway,' she continued. 'I'm sure Abby told you all about the little incident when she was here and what is going on between you two? I mean come on Tony the kiss she gave you wasn't just a friendly peck and, well okay maybe I am jumping to conclusions but she sure got into a flap when she saw me standing there and realised I'd seen her kiss you and then she took off like a startled animal,' she chuckled at the memory and then sobered.

Also what is it with your folks? What on earth did you do to piss them off at you so much that they've obviously cut you out of their lives? Nobody will tell me Tony so you are going to have to tell me yourself now aren't you.' Naturally she didn't get an answer, not that she expected one at this time but she did expect him to tell her when he was awake and on the way to full recovery.

After a short silence in which she'd simply sat there and held his hand she glanced at her watch and knew that it was time to leave. 'Well I better be going or Gibbs will have my ass in a sling although you'd enjoy seeing that happen wouldn't you because better my ass then yours you'd be saying,' she smiled and bending down kissed him on the forehead. 'You really have no idea how lucky you are, I mean you have got a number of severe injuries but at least there is no brain injury,' she gazed down on him and smiled slightly. 'You know under different circumstances I'd probably say No brain to injure wouldn't I and,' she stopped and bit her lip, then blinked several times.

No, she shook her head, she was seeing things, she, had to be. Yet she would have sworn that she d just seen the slightest of frowns crease his brow at her teasing comment about no brain to injure.

"Tony,' she held his hand even tighter. 'Can you really hear me, hear us and know what we are saying to you. Hmm I think you can,' she ran a hand through his hair. 'I'd better watch I'm saying to you at that rate hadn't I. Don't want to say something you can use against me at a later time. Of course I could just deny it all, say you were dreaming or imagining it now couldn't I,' she patted his hand. 'I've really got to go but I'll come back and see you soon,' she told him before hurriedly leaving the hospital knowing that if she didn't hustle Gibbs would do far worse to her then put her ass into a sling.

(2)

It was an hour and a half after she'd left Tony and Kate was back in the office she'd finished calling the Johnson's on the list and none had come up trumps, only Lt Anita Johnson hadn't gotten back to her and she picked up the phone to call the woman again and leave another message when Gibbs came racing in. 'Come on Kate we have to go.'

'Go where,' she was on her feet.

'We found Johnson,' he told her grimly. 'Lieutenant Anita Johnson. Dead in her home, shot four times with Tony's missing piece. It was left at the scene.'

'Oh God,' Kate gasped as she followed her boss to the car, then, "Gibbs can I ask you a question.'

'Sure.'

'Well,' she told him what she'd seen or rather what she'd thought she'd seen at the hospital. 'Do you think it possible?' She knew it was silly, but it had been playing on her mind especially since Abby had ducked her head when she'd seen Kate come back and Todd was sure that her cheeks had coloured slightly.

Despite the current situation and the fact that they were on the way to a murder scene Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle. 'DiNozzo and Abby!' he shook his head. 'God Kate not in a million years. Absolutely not and remember rule 12.'

'But Gibbs,' she started to protest but he waved a hand at her.

'No buts Kate. Okay you saw Abby give Tony a kiss on the cheek but that's just Abby, she'd do the same if was Ducky, you or me in that bed. Abby and Tony? Never. Now come on we have a crime scene to get to.' He leaned back in the passenger seat as Kate cast him an I'm not so sure you're right about this one glance before starting the engine and pulling out of the car park The trip to the crime scene pretty was much conducted in silence as they were consumed by their own thoughts. Gibbs about the case while Kate, despite herself couldn't help but keep wondering about Abby and what she'd witnessed earlier. Yes there was rule 12 but after all rules were made to be broken now weren't they. Especially if you were sure you weren't going to get found out breaking the rule in the first place.

A short while later Gibbs and Kate stood over the body of Anita Johnson, Kate shaking her head. 'Overkill,' she commented to nobody in particular as she nodded the two shots to the head.

'As I said,' Gibbs replied not realising that she hadn't actually been speaking to him. 'Last time they got sloppy and left a loose end, one that can't be tied up neatly and they weren't going to make the same mistake again.

'I know,' Kate nodded, she knew what Gibbs was saying was true and how lucky Tony was to be still with them.

'Well, well the mysterious informant Johnson I assume,' Ducky and his assistant Gerald arrived. 'Now I wonder why it is no surprise to anyone to discover that Tony's informant is, or rather was a woman.'

'Because we all know Tony so well,' Gerald suggested as the pair headed towards the spot where the body lay.

Kate smiled slightly at this remark and then,' 'Ducky wait up.'

'Hmm yes Kate,' he turned back to her.

'Ducky do you have thirty seconds to spare please.'

'Oh I think I can manage that. Carry on for the moment Gerald I will be with you soon. 'Now how can I assist you Kate.'

'Well it's just,' Kate stammered suddenly feeling foolish.

'Yes go on,' Ducky pushed his glasses up his nose.

'Okay Ducky, this is going to sound silly but..' she took a deep breath and then plunged on. 'Okay do you think it is even remotely possible that Abby and Tony might be...'

'Be what?' Ducky smiled at her.

'Be in a relationship,' damn even hearing herself say the full question to someone out loud sounded totally and utterly ridiculous.

'Well Kate I have discovered in my lifetime that everything is possible, even that particular coupling. However that said, if you want my personal opinion on the matter I'd say that while it is possible it is very highly improbable. Why do you ask?'

'No reason. Thanks anyway Ducky it answered my question.'

'Well it seems like a very strange question to ask with no basis behind it,' he shook his head.

Kate was going to further deny any basis behind the question but changed her mind. 'Oh it's just that I went to see Tony in the hospital and Abby was already there and I saw her give him a kiss on the cheek but it didn't look the sort of kiss a friend gives a friend if you know what I and,' she shook her head. 'No you're right I'm making something preposterous out of absolutely nothing,' she looked past Ducky's shoulder. 'I think Gerald needs you.' She told him before racing off in the direction that Gibbs had disappeared and she couldn't help but wonder where that sleaze Jesmond was and what he was up too. Well did it matter, just as long as he wasn't within a barge poles length of her she was happy and it was clear that Gibbs was keeping him on the job but out of their hair as wel,l but for how long they could work it this way was anyone's guess.

'KATE,' she jumped slightly as Gibbs bellowed her name. 'Photos NOW!'

'Right,' she hurried over to where he was watching Ducky and at Mallard's nod she started to take photos of Anita Johnson's lifeless body.

Gibbs watched Kate taking snaps for just a second and then moved away to search for any clues as to why this had happened. He noted the suitcase near the door that made it obvious that Anita has going somewhere and going there in a hurry. From what he could see she was only taking the bare essentials and that she was obviously scared for her life. He headed over to the answering machine, there were no messages and he frowned for Kate had told him that she'd left a message and Anita had never returned it.

'Kate what time did you call Lieutenant Johnson.?'

She told him the time and he nodded, 'Ducky what about the time of death,' he listen as Mallard replied and his suspicions were confirmed. Anita Johnson had been alive at the time Kate had called, she'd deleted the message that Kate had left and died a short time later,' he pulled on a pair of gloves and commenced a more through search. This woman had given Tony information that had resulted in DiNozzo fighting for his life in hospital, now she herself was dead and Jethro Gibbs was grimly determined to get to the bottom of all if he before anyone else was killed.

When Kate had finished taking her photographs she joined her boss. 'What are we looking for Gibbs,' she asked him.

'Anything that might be relevant to this case,' the reply was gruff, as he lifted a picture off the wall and looked behind it. 'This woman gave Tony the information that almost killed him, could still kill him,' he added grimly. 'Now she is dead, shot with Tony's weapon and it's clear that she was scared and running away and that her killers intercepted her at the door before she could make good her flight.

Kate nodded. 'This place is untouched Gibbs what are we looking fo?. If the killer thought that there was something to find here he or they would have trashed the place looking for it but there has been no sign of a struggle and it's clear she was killed at the front door and then her killers left

'I know that Kate,' Gibbs literally growled. 'But there just might be something here,' he turned and glanced at the suitcase. 'Kate check the luggage see what she was taking with her.'

Kate didn't reply she just went to where the suitcase lay on it's side, obviously where Anita had dropped it when she'd been shot and she unzipped it and then gasped. 'Gibbs,' he walked over to her and he saw exactly what she was taking about. 'No woman would pack a bag like this, even one in a hurry.'

Gibbs nodded it was clear the bag had been searched and anything important that Anita may have been taking with her was now long gone. Walking to the front door and outside he looked around. One thing puzzled him, while this was not a densly populated area how could someone shoot another person four times, take the time to rifle through a suitcase and nobody heard or reported the fact that a firearm had been discharged.

'Because nobody wants to get involved Jethro' Ducky's voice startled him as Mallard came up behind him.

'Sorry Ducky,' he frowned.

'You're wondering how nobody could have heard the shots, how Lieutenant Johnson's killers could have killed her, rummaged through her suitcase and still gotten away.'

'It crossed my mind Ducky but I already know the answer.'

'Indeed Jethro, I knew you would but it still means that we live in a very sad world doesn't it.'

'Yeah Ducky I guess it does,' Gibbs nodded as Kate joined them. It certainly does.'

'Yeah well that's just the way it is Ducky,' Gibbs glanced over his shoulder at Kate, it was getting late but their day was far from over. 'Come on we have to get back to the Office,' he headed towards the car Kate running to keep up. I'll see you back at Autopsy Ducky.'

'Yes Jehro I'll see you then' Mallard waited until Kate and Gibbs had left before turning his attention back to Anita Johnson. 'Well now Lieutenant what say we get you back to my place and see what story you have to tell us although even at this point it's a pretty obvious tale now isn't it. Hmm.'

"Oh that creeps me out man,' Gerald shook his head.

'What does Gerald?' Ducky frowned

'The way you talk to the dead as if they can hear, as if they're still alive.'

'Oh Gerald,' Ducky gave a small smile. 'You have a lot to learn, son, a lot to learn. Now come on we have to get the Lieutenant back and see if she has any secrets to reveal.'

Gerald simply nodded as he zipped Anita into a body bag. The was no doubt that he liked and respected Ducky but with no pun intended sometimes Dr Donald Mallard could be one strange duck indeed.

(3)

NCIS AUTOPSY

3 Hours Later

'Talk to me Ducky,' Gibbs walked into autopsy which was situated in the basement of the building. Ducky had called to say that the autopsy was complete and now Gibbs wanted to know what if anything of importance that Ducky had uncovered.

Well Jethro there isn't much to tell really. Cause of death was from bullets, shot from a distance of less then two feet away. The first one penetrated the left ventricle causing instantaneous death. The second penetrated the left lung. The two bullets to the head were totally unnecessary and little more then our killer making a statement I dare say.

'That's all?'

'Well actually there was one more thing. She was pregnant. From the size of the foetus I'd say about three or four weeks.'

'Would she have known?'

'Well of course I can't read her mind Jethro but I'd say not. I mean if she knew was expecting and she'd seen what had happened to Tony due to the information she'd given him then I dare say she'd have taken flight a lot sooner then she did because she'd not only be protecting herself but her unborn child.'

'True,' Gibbs nodded. 'Okay thanks Ducky.'

'Please Jethro,' Mallard looked Gibbs up and down. 'Go home and get some sleep I know that you haven't slept since this happened to Tony have you.' Ducky didn't let Gibbs answer. 'You won't be any good to Tony if you end up in hospital yourself you know.'

"I know that Ducky. I'll get some sleep I promise there are just a few things I need to tidy up at the office and then I promise you I'll go home.'

'I hope so Jethro,' Ducky told him sternly. 'I hope so.' Although as he watched Gibbs leave autopsy he highly doubted that his friend would be heading home anytime soon.

Foot Note - I wish to advise that I am not writing a Tabby shipper sub story into this story. The incident with Abby and Tony is up to the reader's interpretation and if they share Kate's thoughts on the matter or Ducky and Gibbs convictions.