As the nurse handed over the lab sheet, Gibbs sat next to Kate, then took her hand.
Dr. Harmon glanced at the paperwork, then looked up and noticed Gibbs proximity to Kate.
"Agent Todd, you'll be relieved to know there was no sign of tentnus or bacteria indicating anything infectious entered your blood stream from the fragment of bullet I removed." The doctor remarked, then saw with some satisfaction the older man's surprise.
"What do you mean, Dr., was there something about the bullet that hit Kate, er, Agent Todd?" Gibbs couldn't keep the note of anxiety out of his voice..
"I'm sure your Dr. Mallard will be confirming this, but the bullet that struck Agent Todd in the shoulder had rust on it, so there was the chance it could have led to an infection. Fortunately, there was none." Harmon replied, seeing the woman squeeze Gibbs' hand with relief.
"Thank you, Dr. " Gibbs coolly answered him, then smiled with a wry intensity at Kate.
"Well, Kate, you've bought yourself a couple of weeks desk duty once you get out of here. I'm sure Ducky will want to satisfy himself of course, but right now I want you to rest, I've got to get these fragments over to Abby."
Just then Tony came in with a sheaf of papers which he handed to the senior agent, and a rose, which he presented to Kate.
"Oh, Tony….thanks!" Kate was at a loss for words.
Gibbs smirked at Tony. "Never thought I'd see the day you left Kate speechless, DiNozzo. Just for that I want you to stay with Kate, I want to make sure our shooter doesn't get a second chance."
Ignoring Kate's attempt to dissuade Gibbs from posting a guard, Gibbs patted her hand then strode out of the room.
"Uh, boss, how's Kate?" McGee was at the elevator bank when Gibbs went to leave.
"She'll be all right, I have DiNozzo with her just in case she's a target again." Gibbs informed him, then added, "Okay, what's in these papers ?" He fixed McGee with a stare.
"The phone records you requested, boss."
"Let's go!" Without a backward glance Gibbs entered the elevator as soon as the doors opened and McGee followed him in, wanting to tell his boss he could just as well have stayed at the office. One look in Gibbs eyes nixed that idea.
As soon as Gibbs walked back into NCIS headquarters, he told McGee to get to work with Abby in locating Kate's caller, while he went to see Ducky.
As he entered Autopsy, he met an anxious Dr. Mallard, who grabbed his arm.
"Jethro, is Catlin all right, Timothy said she was shot."
"Relax, Duck, she'll be fine. Unfortunately her attacker probably knows by now she's alive, so we have to find out who it was before he or she strikes again." He said, putting his no-nonsense face on.
Ducky wasn't fooled, he knew Gibbs affection for his team. "We'll find this viper, Jethro, now let me see what the doctor dug out of Catlin." He replied earnestly, holding out his hand.
Within minutes Abby had determined that the caller who lured Catlin to the highway tunnel had used a pre-paid phone, from somewhere in the D.C. area.
"Gibbs, you're in luck, I think I've got it pinned down where the jerk called from. McGee and I triangulated from the signal where he was laying in wait." a chipper Abby bounced into the bullpen, followed by a smiling McGee, who lost his grin when he saw Gibbs perusing the phone records.
"Something wrong, boss?"
"Question, McGee. When you and Abbs figured the position of the sniper, did you take into consideration the wind gusts? Kate said the wind carried the sound of the shot so she dove and it only caught her shoulder. " Gibbs eyed him sternly..
"Uh, yes, no, that is I don't think so?" the junior agent stammered, then breathed a sigh when Abby took over.
"Gibbs, Tony told us, so of course we adjusted for the wind as well as the location, the shooter wasn't more then 70 yards from Kate, so I figured he was on the other side of the parkway." She informed him, then stared back at him with a dare-you smile.
Blue eyes met brown, then Gibbs grinned.
"Good work. McGee, you're with me. Let's see where this snake took his shot." Gibbs started back out the door, only almost run Ducky over.
"Jethro, my timing is perfect for once." He huffed, then saw McGee fumbling to get his backpack on with Abby's help.
"Timothy, you're going to pull a muscle putting that monstrosity on, let Abby help you."
"What is it, Duck, what did you find." Gibbs stopped in his tracks.
"Did they run a blood test on Catlin at the hospital?" Ducky questioned, then took a deep breath as Gibbs replied, "Yes, it was negative for any bacterial infections or viruses. The doctor was concerned because of.."
"The rusted bullets? That doctor did a good job; those fragments must be over 20 years old." Ducky mused, then paled.
"Jethro, I just had a horrible thought." He sat down heavily, then looked up at his friend.
"What if this is all a setup for our shooter to get revenge on you or Anthony or Catlin, the way that bullet shattered, it was meant to injure, not kill."
Gibbs nodded. "The thought crossed my mind, that's why Tony's with her now-he'll protect her better then anyone."
He started toward the door, then whirled to stare at Ducky.
"You're right, it was meant as revenge, against me. Ducky, you and Abby stay put, I'm going to the hospital, I know who did this and this time I'm not shooting to wound."
Bolting out the door, Gibbs left behind a seething Dr. Mallard, who immediately turned and told Abby,
"Dear, break out the tea, would you? I'm going to need something to steady myself."
"What is it, Ducky, who does Gibbs think is the shooter?" the lab tech asked, then caught herself and collapsed next to the doctor.
"Ari-it's Ari."
As Gibbs raced to the hospital, Kate was busy watching Tony watching the blond "hottie" who had brought in a tray of very unappetizing steamed fish and vegetables for dinner.
"Doctor Harmon said you need to eat something, Ms. Todd, before you have your medication." The young nurse explained, then giggled as Tony flashed his "come here" smile.
"Now that's what I call good patient care, Kate. Brandi, is that your name?"
"Yes, Mr. Todd. Do you want me to bring you some fish too, so you can eat with your wife?" Brandi asked, then looked perplexed as Tony flushed then stammered "Uh, Brandi, no, she's not…."
"Thank you, nurse, I think he might like some, only…." Kate debated on giving it to Tony but decided to put him out of his misery. "He's not my husband, he's another agent."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" the girl was embarrassed, then managed a smile as Tony gave Kate a grateful look and sweetly replied "That's okay, we agents spend so much time together, it's an easy mistake. Now, Brandi, why don't you.." The rest of Tony's sentence was drowned out by a blaring siren and the nurse blanched.
"We have an emergency, excuse me, please!"
As she raced out of the room, Tony waited a beat, then smiled at Kate.
"Nice save, Kate. I thought you were going to let me hang there."
"I was tempted," she started, then Tony's cell rang.
"Gibbs." Tony told her, then answered, "Yo, boss."
"DiNozzo, don't let Kate out of your site, I'm on my way."
"What is it, Tony." Kate caught the look of concern, then gasped as Tony replied "Boss, you know who the shooter is?"
"Yes, it's Ari. He's going after me through you two." Came the response.
Suddenly a screeching noise came over the cellphone, then Gibbs yelled, "My brakes are gone, DiNozzo, call McGee, I'm at the Basin exit…"
A loud bang interrupted him, then the sound of a crash echoed in Tony's ears.
"Boss! " Tony yelled. Kate blanched then called into the cell, "Gibbs!"