Authors note

The usual disclaimers apply, as much as I would love to these characters to be, they are not mine.

Please let me know what you think

Chapter 10

"Special Agent McGe…." McGee started to say into Gibbs's desk phone before he was abruptly cut of by an excited Abby

"Get Gibbs now McGee" she all but shouted into his ear. McGee automatically looked around the room, even though he knew his boss was not there

"He's not here Abby, he left in a hurry a few moments ag…" McGee pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it, had Abby just hung up on him? He placed the phone back to his ear, but all he got was the dial tone. He slammed the phone back into its cradle and stormed back to his desk, muttering about how he had expected better of Abby, but what could he expect when she idolised Gibbs. He sat at his desk and looked at the flashing box on his computer screen in surprise. He bent closer and peered at it, was that…did he…McGee looked up hoping Gibbs had returned, but it was hopein vain, Gibbs was still absent and the screen still flashed just one name.

Abby hit the disconnect button and rapidly tapped in Gibbs mobile phone number, butit rang twice then went to voice mail, she hit disconnect and tried again but to no avail

"Damn and double damn" she muttered as she hit disconnect again before voice mail cut in. She turned back to the slide and began toprepare it ready for DNA analysis. She became absorbed in her work, her mind racing ahead to cross checks she would need to do, could this be from the manufaction process, must check. Could it be from point of sale, must check; could this be… slice carefully… move magnifier closer…

Ducky looked around the room desperately as he listened to the dial tone in his ear, what to do? His mind screamed. He hit disconnect and phoned Jethro's number, but he received only voice mail, he slammed the phone down, where was Jethro? his mind shouted

Ducky paused a moment before rushing from the room still in his scrub greens.

Tony bent closer to the footprints in the dirt; he moved the bush in front of him slightly and looked at the body lying a short distance away. He nodded his head slightly and called out to Kate. The shooter had stood here to shoot Matthews and it might not be much but it was something solid, they had a foot print and perhaps they might find more here too, only time and careful examination would tell, but one thing at a time, log and cast the shoe print, then move on Tony thought carefully, or Gibbs will place me against a wall and shoot me he thought with some degree of truth.

Gibbs drove like a maniac, his goal to reach the hospital and Connie. She had woken up after surgery and had asked for him. His heart beat like a drum, almost in time with the speed of the car, his mind trying to come up with a reason for her asking for him but unable to settle on anything that made any sense, not daring to hope she still felt something for him.

Gibbs's phone rang as he was driving but he could not answer it at the speed he was driving so he hit the power button and turned it off, everyone was accounted for and he would switch it on when he reached the hospital, it would only be a matter of minutes he reasoned as he hit the gas harder. He took the corner into the hospital car park nearly on two wheels and screeched to a stop, grabbing his keys and jumping out in one fluid motion, his hand reaching for his phone and going to turn it back on as his eye caught the sign telling everyone to turn off mobile phones, with a small sigh and slight indecision he put his phone back in his pocket without turning it on. He headed towards the elevators but seeing the dial above both doors showing they were going up he headed for the stairs instead, taking two at a time in his hurry.

Finally he reached Constance's room and flashed his badge at the unknown agent standing in front of it, he had posted anguard there as soon as she had arrived here, just in case the shooter made an attempt to finish the job he had started. He opened the door just as the doctor inside began to step out. The younger man looked up at the imposing agent standing before him and swallowed nervously before touching his arm slightly

"Agent Gibbs?" the Doctor asked carefully, at Gibbs' nod he motioned for him to step back out of the room, Gibbs looked over at the still figure in the bed and then stepped back impatiently, he glared at the Doctor and waited silently for him to speak.

"Umm, Ms Storm has come through surgery very well, better than we could have hoped and when the aesthetic began to ware off she woke up briefly and asked for you" the doctor swallowed at the piercing gaze levelled at him and the unusual silence from the man, most peoplethrew questions at him, but this man just stood very still and very silent.

"Umm she is asleep again, but we haven't sedated her so she will wake again soon, but please do not wake her, or tax her. Ms Storm is in a very critical condition and is no way out of danger yet. There is a very real threat form cardiac arrest, so please be very careful agent Gibbs," the Doctor said, adding the final part forcibly. Gibbs just nodded.

"Can I go in?" he grated out, wanting to see Connie and wanting to know why she had asked for him, the Doctor sighed and nodded

"But do not wake her, let her wake when she is ready, and do not stay long or tax her strength when she does" with that the doctor turned and left, not wanting to give Agent Gibbs chance to reply.

Gibbs turned back to the door and entered silently. He stood for a moment watching the woman in the bed. He noted absently that her colour looked slightly better but she seemed to be attached to more tubes and machines than before. He crossed silently to her bedside and gently stroked her hand, wanting desperately to take it in his but unable to due to the tubes and wires attached to it, and also unsure how she would react if she woke up. At his first touch her eyelids began to gently flutter and he was startled to be looking into her rich brown eyes.

"Gibbs…" she whispered, her voice very gravely and breathy, as though just that word took all of her effort. Her eyes were intense as they looked at him silently, he had not forgotten how she could look at you and make you feel as though she saw your soul, but he was surprised at his own reaction to it. He took a breath to steady himself.

"Connie…" he started, but she shook her head very slightly, almost imperceptibly but Gibbs noticed and stopped.

"Saw him," she breathed carefully, Gibbs having to bend closer to catch her words. His heart skipped a beat; did she mean she had seen the shooter?

"You saw who shot you?" he asked gently, watching her carefully and seeing the strain this was taking on her meagre reserves of strength. She nodded slightly

"Saw him…Restin, it was Restin…" she breathed, then closed her eyes and slipped into blessed unconsciousness.

Gibbs rocked back on his heels at her words, Restin? How could it be Restin? He wondered his mind a jumble. He looked down at her, his eyes flicking to the monitor to check she was ok, with the reassurance the machine gave him, he bent and kissed her lips tenderly watching as a smile break gently over her sleeping face.With that smile locked into his heart he rushed from the room and out of the hospital, needing to turn his phone back on and alert his team as to the identity of the shooter.