A/N: In this story, Kate is alive. Essentially, it's pre-Twilight, since I accept the changes that have been made in the show… so far. Time will tell how I feel about the new characters. Many thanks to Rinne, for fixing the punctuation and giving me suggestions when the action wasn't clear. It appears I uploaded the wrong file for Chapter 4, so I'd like everyone to know that the punctuation errors are mine and not poor sweet Rinne's. I may go back and fix that later, if I can find the correct file.

Chapter 5

Ducky walked into Gibbs' room to find the patient sitting up, impatiently awaiting his arrival.

"You're late, Ducky," Gibbs practically growled.

"I'm no such thing, Jethro," replied the ME calmly. "You're just anxious to see Tony."

"Well, come on, let's get going."

The guard unlocked the handcuffs and soon Gibbs and Ducky were in Tony's room. The younger agent had improved a bit during the night and had been taken off the respirator. A nasal canula replaced the airway, and his complexion seemed to be less pale.

Gibbs rolled closer to the bed. "Who stayed with him overnight?"

"In addition to the guard outside the door, young Palmer volunteered to sit with him."

Gibbs turned to Ducky in surprise. "Palmer? I thought he was afraid of Tony."

Ducky chuckled, "Quite frankly, he's a bit intimidated by all of you, but he also admires you and he wanted to do his part to keep Tony safe. He's a good man, Jethro, very intelligent and very eager to learn more."

"And he enjoys your stories."

Ducky nodded. "A sign of his good taste."

Gibbs laughed softly, his eyes going to the unconscious man in the bed. His expression fell, causing Ducky to sigh.

"Anthony will pull through," soothed Ducky. "He's survived the critical hours and his condition is improving, slowly, but steadily."

"But will he forgive me for what I said?" worried Gibbs.

"If you apologize sincerely enough, and tell him how you really feel, as you did earlier, he will. He's not a vindictive man and he understands how involved you were in finding Petty Officer Murphy's killer."

"I found her killer," Gibbs' eyes narrowed. "The jury just let him go."

Ducky shook his head. "Did you ever consider that you could be wrong?"

"I was not wrong, Ducky. I know he had something to do with his wife's death," replied Gibbs grimly.

"Ah, a 'gut' feeling."

"Yes."

"And your gut has never been wrong?"

"No."

"I see."

"Damn it Ducky, there's nothing I can do to prove it while I'm here." Gibbs was starting to get agitated.

Ducky decided not to pursue that line any longer. "When you're out of here, the sheriff's office wants you in their facility."

Gibbs scrubbed his hand over his face. He started to say something, but stopped when a nurse came in to check on Tony's vital signs. She looked over at the older agent, noting his injuries.

"Are you all right, Agent Gibbs?" she inquired. "Can I get you something for pain?"

Gibbs smiled weakly. "No, thank you."

She smiled and patted Tony's hand before leaving. "He's much better, he'll be awake before you know it."

"From your lips to God's ears," replied Ducky, fervently.

Gibbs said nothing, rolling his wheelchair closer to the side of the bed, and reaching out to take Tony's hand in his.

"Wake up, DiNozzo," he whispered. "I will not lose my best agent."

Ducky smiled sadly.

Back at NCIS headquarters

Kate and McGee had returned early the next morning, hoping they would be able to spot something with fresh eyes after a couple of hours of sleep. Paula and Cassie had gone to pick up Corporal Livingston, but had difficulty locating her. They finally brought her in mid-afternoon.

Working quietly, both Kate and McGee felt their frustration growing as they scoured the evidence for the umpteenth time. The hours passed, with no new information being discovered.

Someone coughed. "Excuse me, Agent Todd."

Kate looked up to see a tall, burly man standing in front of her desk, wearing a county officer's uniform and holding his hat.

"Deputy Robbins," said Kate, warily, "what can I do for you?"

Edward Robbins held up his hands placatingly. "I'm not here to cause trouble, I just wanted to see how your investigation was going, to see if I can offer my assistance."

McGee came around from his desk. "What kind of assistance? Your department is the one that wants to arrest Special Agent Gibbs and charge him with murder."

"The evidence is strong, Agent McGee," argued Robbins. "But you folks seem so positive that he didn't do it, I had to see if you had something to prove that he's innocent, or that he's right about Murphy's involvement in his wife's death."

Kate spoke coolly, "When Agent DiNozzo wakes up, we'll have an eyewitness to tell us what happened."

Robbins laughed. "Your own agent vouching for his boss? That's not really solid, is it?"

"If Tony couldn't prove what really happened, nobody would have tried to kill him," Kate replied, eyes narrowed.

Robbins looked surprised. "Someone tried to kill Agent DiNozzo?"

"Yes." McGee stood closer to the taller man.

Robbins looked down at McGee's determined face, laughed and shook his head. Putting on his hat, he started to walk away. "I was going to offer to help you, you know, in the spirit of cooperation, but I see you don't want my help."

"Thank you," Kate called out to his retreating back. "We can take care of our own."

Turning, Robbins called back, "That mean chasing smoke?"

With a smirk, he saluted and got into the elevator.

"I don't like him," said McGee.

"Me neither."