They brought Kate into the room and Tony was instantly by her side again. The doctor who had accompanied her started to brief the team on her condition, but Tony didn't hear a word. There was no doubt in his mind that she'd wake up, he didn't need the doctor to tell him that. She was too strong not to. Then the doctor turned to him.

"You are her emergency contact, correct?" asked the older, balding doctor. Tony tore his eyes away from Kate to offer the doctor a brief nod. "Then I will leave it up to you to contact her family and notify them of the situation. Now, I'm afraid I must ask all of you to leave. She's stable now and she needs her rest. Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow."

"I'm not leaving her." His soft but strong declaration was almost lost in the din of shuffling bodies as the rest of the team prepared to leave. The doctor froze, already well aware of the earlier incident downstairs. It was hard enough to get a young man in love to leave his lover's side, but how do tell someone that also happens to be heavily armed and trained to use it that he can't stay? He looked to Gibbs for help but he just shook his head.

"I'm very sorry son but you don't have a choice. She needs her rest and hospital policy dictates that you cannot be here overnight. Go get some sleep and come back at 8 a.m. There's nothing you can do for her tonight."

He looked straight in the doctor's eyes. "I'm not leaving her and nothing you can do will make me. She needs me here, just like I needed her."

The doctor looks apologetically towards Gibbs. He clearly wishes things were different. "Hey doc," Gibbs pulls him aside with a possible solution. "She's a federal agent brought down by a sniper's bullet. Surely, these rules don't entirely apply to her. I'm assigning Special Agent DiNozzo as her bodyguard in case the sniper decides to try to finish the job. He needs access to her 24/7. Any restrictions could jeopardize her safety. Is that clear?"

The doctor offers a subdued smirk, obviously realizing Gibbs reasoning. "I understand completely and the hospital will do everything in it's power to ensure Special Agent Todd's safety. I'll make sure that the desk, the nurses, and the other doctors are all informed of your orders." With one last look at Tony huddled over Kate, he exits the room.

Gibbs approaches the bed, looking down at Kate's lifeless body. He swallows a lump of emotion before turning his attention to Tony. "Everything's worked out. I told them you're assigned here to protect her. Take care of her." He whispers the last sentence and turns toward the rest of the team.

Abby still had tears rolling down her cheeks, following the long streaks of mascara that ran the whole way to her chin. McGee had his arms wrapped around her. He looked on the verge of tears himself but he was obviously trying to be strong for Abby's sake. Gibbs nodded and the three left for the night, all silently praying that Kate would be awake when they got there in the morning.

Tony sat on the edge of Kate's bed with her hand clasped tightly in his. He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He pulls back a centimeter and whispers, "C'mon Katie, open your eyes. Tell me you love me. I'm sorry I was such a pain in the ass. It was the only way I knew to be close to you. You have to admit, we had some fun pulling pranks on Probie and getting into food fights. Even though we harassed each other I always knew I could count on you to have my back. And not just because we were partners, you know it was more than that."

"We were both trying to pretend not to feel it but I'm sick of pretending. I screwed up. I should have told you the truth a long time ago. I love you, Caitlyn Todd. Most of the wild nightsI told you aboutwere nothing but lies, at least after I met you. I wasn't a saint, but none of them were you. It didn't mean anything. It didn't feel right. I gave up because I didn't need to search for the right woman anymore. She was right in front of me. Ever since Air Force One I haven't wanted random women anymore, I've wanted you. Please wake up and tell me you want me too."

He laid down next to her, careful not to disturb her, and listened to the sound of her heartbeat for the rest of the night. All the while he was silently pleading with God to let her be alright.

When I sit and think of the days we shared
And the nights you covered for me
Every little thing that I ever did
You would stand by me
Every time you cried it would take my wind
My heart would break
If I could be strong like you were for me
You are my faith

Won't you cure my tragedy
Don't take her smile away from me
She's broken and I'm far away
Won't you cure my tragedy
If you make the world a stage for me
Then I hope that you can hear me scream
Cure my tragedy

I can't take this anymore
I can't feel this anymore
Won't you take and give her pain to me
'Cause my whole life I made mistakes
Can you hear me scream

AN: I'm already working on chapter 3. Please review and let me know if i should continue. Thanks!