Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with NCIS in any way, shape or form. That all belongs to DPB, CBS, and Paramount.

Chapter 4: A Not So Merry Christmas Eve

1150 (11:50 AM) Room 243 Bethesda Naval Hospital

Gibbs struggled to gain consciousness. All of the sedatives and pain meds were bogging down his mind. His thoughts sloshed through the murky swamp of partial consciousness. Slowly, he came to. Those stunning, icy blue eyes opened. Eyes so skilled at observing, at seeing the truth in the eyes of others opened, but all that was seen was darkness. He could hear a heart monitor beeping slowly but steadily next to his beside. Gibbs was confused. Why was he at a hospital? Why was everything so dark?

Suddenly, everything came rushing back. Fornell shot...dark alley. Tony shouting for him...the realization of what he was hearing...the frantic attempt to outrun the bomb...the force of the explosion striking him, knocking him down...sharp, white-hot pain that faded away to the excruciating throbbing of every inch of his body...Tony moaning nearby...and right before his consciousness slipped away, he had heard Kate, screaming his name. Oh God, Kate! As he realized that he had no idea what kind of condition she was in, or Tony either, Gibbs tried to sit up, but in the state he was in, he could only manage a feeble lift of his head. Gibbs heard the door to his room open, and before his the medication took control of his consciousness again, he said through a sandpaper throat, "Kate...Katie..." And then he was gone, lost in a dark, dreamless sleep.

1143 (11:43 AM) Waiting room of Bethesda Naval Hospital

"...Mr. DiNozzo has a lung punctured by a broken rib. He has moderate brain swelling due to when his head hit the alley, but should cause no permanent damage if we drain the inter-cranial cavity immediately. Besides that, he is doing quite well due to the circumstances. As for Mr. Gibbs...he seems to be doing very well, based on our preliminary tests. Yes, he's doing very fine indeed, except for..."

"Except for what!" Kate said, scared.

"Well, Mr. Gibbs seems to be suffering from loss of sight. We are confident that this is only a temporary condition, and that he will regain his eyesight...soon."

'This can't be happening', Kate thought, 'There's no way this can be happening.' To Dr. Rouse she said, "Can I see them?"

Dr. Rouse responded, "Mr. DiNozzo is being prepped for surgery, and we usually only allow immediate family to visit so soon, but I think that we can make an exception this once. You may go see Mr. Gibbs, but don't stay for any longer than ten minutes. He's in room 243."

Kate quickly thanked him and headed straight for room 243. As she walked down the corridor, the numbers flashed by. 237, 239, 241...243. She tentatively opened the door, being as quiet as she could so as not to disturb Gibbs or his roommate, if he had one. The room was bland and plain, with white walls and yellowish curtains. The curtain separating the room in half was drawn, giving privacy to Gibbs. It appeared that he didn't have a roommate. Still careful to be quiet, Kate walked across the room and slowly opened the curtain.

Kate felt herself draw in a sharp breath. Gibbs, fearless, indestructible Gibbs, the Gibbs she had come to look up to, love, and sometimes fear was lying motionless in his bed, hooked up to numerous machines. He was lulled into sleep by the tempting allure of pain medication. The monitors beeped steadily, reassuring Kate. She sat down in the chair that was placed at his bedside. Her heart went out for this man. She knew that she couldn't even stay here for her ten minutes; she needed to be out there catching the bastard that was responsible for all this. Only a few minutes had passed when Kate stood up to leave. She lingered next to his bed for a moment, lost in thought, knowing she had to leave, but reluctant to. Just as she had started to leave, she heard the beeping of the monitors increase slightly. She heard a weak, scratchy throat croak out, "Kate...Katie..."

Kate whipped around. Gibbs was trying to sir up, but the required effort was just too great. Exhausted, his head dropped back on his pillow. With tears in her eyes, Kate walked back over to the bed. Grasping his limp hand, Kate said, "I'll come back Gibbs...right after I catch the dirtbag that is responsible for this." And with that, Kate let go of his hand and left the room, trying her best to hold back the tears that were trying to escape.