All that Really Matters

When a battered, but not broken, pair of NCIS personnel walked into the hospital, with a very relieved paramedic's arms linked into their own, it was all Abby could do not to run over to them and knock one of them over with joy.

Instead, she opted to hold back, and at least let them get within 10 feet, before sprinting towards them.

Tim released his sister's arm and opened his own as Abby came running at him. He held her tightly when she threw her arms around him, and couldn't stop the stupid grin from gracing his face.

"Oh, hey," he said, chuckling softly, as he felt her silent tears soak through his shirt. "I'm fine. I might have a really funky scar on my temple, but I'm just fine otherwise."

Abby loosened her grip enough to back up slightly, so she could look him in the eyes and be sure for herself that he wasn't trying to feed her a line of bull.

He grinned at her, green eyes warm with relief, and a dozen other emotions that melted her heart. "Don't you EVER do that to me again, Timothy," she said sternly. Tim took on a mock serious expression. "Yes, ma'am," he said, winking. He reached down and touched her face tenderly. "Seriously, Abs. I'm so sorry we made you worry." She lifted her face slightly to kiss him, and they only broke away from each other when Tony was heard saying, "Ah, getta room. All of ya. Jeez, what is it with the McGees, anyway?" Tim glanced over and found his sister in a very similar embrace with Palmer. Jasmine noticed her brother's eyes on her and winked, then waggled her eyebrows slightly. Tim rolled his eyes and chuckled at her. "Palmer, I'm not seeing this, am I?"

"Seeing what…uh… what was your name again?" Jimmy was completely oblivious, and Jasmine was loving every single minute of it.

Palmer and Jasmine released each other only when Ducky approached them. "Mr. Palmer. We really must have a chat about your rather unusual methods of returning to work." Ducky smiled at him, the relief in the older man's face very evident. "Sorry, Dr. Mallard. The map was upside-down. It's a miracle we didn't end up in Canada." Ducky shook his head, laughing softly, then held out his hand. "I hear you would have made me proud, Jimmy. Nicely done, my boy." Palmer accepted the offered handshake, then pulled his mentor into a quick, macho embrace. He clapped his back briefly before releasing him, completely unaware of how grateful the older man was for the gesture. "I'm sorry I worried you, Doctor." Ducky nodded, smiling sadly. "No worries, Jimmy. It wasn't your fault, after all. But it has made me realize how blessed I really am." Palmer looked at him quizzically, but said nothing.

Gibbs watched the display patiently, then marched over with some determination...and proceeded to repeat his earlier threat, this time aiming it squarely at his youngest Agent.

"McGee, if you ever do that to me or Abby again, I will fire your ass so fast your head will spin."

McGee smiled slightly, then caught himself, and took on a serious expression. "Got it, Boss. But to be fair, I wasn't the one who crashed the plane."

Gibbs nodded, then reached out, and like he'd done with Tony, gently grasped McGee's arm. "Any idea what happened, Tim?" Once again, Gibbs' voice had taken on that eerie, soft, almost paternal tone that McGee hadn't heard since the night Kate was shot. Slightly unnerved, he looked away for a moment, then glanced at Abby, who still clung to him. "Not really. One minute we were in the air, the next…" he shook his head. His voice became quiet, as he said, "The pilot didn't make it, Boss. Maybe the flight data and voice recorders can shed some light on it."

Tony approached them. "Tim, Jimmy, Doc wants to see you guys next." Jimmy glanced at him in acknowledgement, and regretfully disengaged himself from Jasmine's determined embrace. He brushed her cheek lightly with a slightly lingering kiss, and turned towards the E.R.

"Boss, it must have been some kind of mechanical failure?" Tony speculated. He looked to his younger colleague, who was turning to follow Palmer out of the waiting room. McGee paused a moment, turning back towards the two older men. "I guess, when I think back on it… I didn't realize it at the time, but maybe we dived and then pulled up briefly, before hitting the ground?" He looked to Tony for confirmation of this vague recollection, and Tony seemed to ponder a moment, then nodded in agreement. "I think you're right, that's how I remember it too. I mean, when I think about it. McGee, did you see the terrain from the chopper?" Tim nodded grimly. "It could have been a lot worse, if we'd come down anywhere else other than where we did." Tony took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then looked at Gibbs. "Boss, whatever happened, that pilot died trying to save all of us. I don't care what the black box says."

Gibbs said nothing, as he looked briefly at Abby and Jasmine. He thought to himself that whatever had happened that day, he had once again come far too close to losing his entire team. Tony and Tim had been there to help him ride out the storm when Kate had been killed; Jimmy had been there to give Ducky some kind of purpose, never allowing his mentor to stray off course. Ziva had come along, rubbing some the wrong way, and for others, filling a void that Kate had left with her untimely departure. Now, he realized, she hadn't taken Kate's place, but rather, had helped to heal them and force them to move forward, simply by being herself, and providing a feeling of wholeness to the team, once again. She was just as much a part of his team as any of them were, and losing her would have ripped at his soul just as much as losing either of his boys would have. He decided then and there, that he would be at her bedside when she woke up from the sedative effect of the painkillers. Wild horses wouldn't keep him away.

But, all of the anguished worry was moot now, anyway. Ziva had a broken leg, nothing more. His boys appeared to be fine, and Ducky seemed to be much more at ease now that he knew for himself that his faithful assistant was also none the worse for wear.

His team, his people... his little extended family, was home again, safe, sound, and alive… and that was all that really mattered.

I want to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE for the beautiful reviews - especially my buddy and favourite Aussie, Guevera/Bec. Bec, your reviews NEVER failed to make me smile and warm my heart. :)

I actually held on to this story for awhile, not sure if I wanted to post it or not. I'm glad I did, now, obviously. Thank you everyone for reassuring me with your wonderful words of encouragement. The reviewers here ROCK.

PrairieLily/Lynda