AN: Thanks a lot to Stephanie519 and agent-mac for the reviews! You guys are awesome! Here's chapter 3 as promised. I decided to finish it tonight, well technically its 2 a.m., because of your reviews sp thanks for the motivation. Still working on chapter 4, let me know if I should continue or not. As always, reviews, feedback, and criticism are welcomed!

Chapter 3

Throughout the night, Tony tried every promise and every bargain he could think of to try and make a deal with God. He promised that he'd finally grow up, give up his foolish acts, and take care of Kate forever. He begged for a chance to tell her everything, to start a life with her. Despite everything, when the suns rays began peeking through the blinds she still hadn't woken. He gave up begging and tried reasoning.

"Please God, let her be alright. I don't want to live without her, I can't. My heart couldn't take it. You can't take her away, she's too good. I'm the one who always screws up. I'm the one who does things just to be a jerk. That bullet should have hit me. The world needs Kate. She's perfect. You can't take perfection away, not when there's so little of it in the world already." His voice shakes as tears slide down his cheeks. He gazes up, to whatever lays beyond the ceiling. "If we can't be together, then let me take her place. I know she's the one that deserves heaven, but not yet. Take me, let me wait outside the gates for her. Let me watch over her and protect her forever. Please, don't take her yet." He drops his head back to the bed, barely touching Kate's, and sobs into the pillow.

An hour later, at 8 a.m., Dr. Foster stops outside the room. She'd been anxious to see if Kate showed any improvement, though the nurses had informed her nothing had changed. Still, she wanted to see for herself. She'd been blown away by Tony's devotion. His actions the day before were all over the hospital. In his eyes, she'd seen the love that every girl wishes for. Despite all of her medical knowledge that told her to be practical, she still wanted to believe that somehow that love would save Kate. Every female in the hospital was thinking of this as a modern day fairy tale. She wished with all her heart that something as simple as a kiss could wake a coma patient, but real life doesn't work like that. "Who knows," she thought as she entered the room, "Maybe love can pull someone back, just by knowing someone they love is near."

The sight that greeted her brought an instant smile to her face. Tony had fallen asleep with one arm draped over Kate's chest. They're heads were nestled together. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were both asleep in eachothers arms, just like every other night. It looked so natural, so peaceful, so perfect. In that moment, Dr. Foster knew Kate had to make it. Most people never find that one true love. It wouldn't be right for a love like that to die so young. If it did, what hope would that leave for the rest of us?

Even though she hated to wake him, she knew she needed to evaluate Kate. She cleared her throat and Tony's head immediately shot up. He had hoped it had all been a nightmare, but the sight of Kate beside him proved it had been a false hope.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry to wake you, but I need to evaluate Kate. Then I'll need to take her downstairs for more testing. She should be back in her room by ten if you'd like to go home or get some breakfast." She knew it was pointless, but she had to at least suggest it. He probably hadn't eaten anything since before the shooting, but she doubted he would eat anything until somebody put it in front of him and ordered him to eat it.

"No, I'm staying with her. I'm her bodyguard, which means she never leaves my sight." He waited for her to argue with him, to tell him that he wasn't permitted in whatever area the tests were in. He was surprised when she immediately agreed.

"OK, but why don't you at least grab something to eat while I evaluate her. I promise I'll wait for you to get back before I take her anywhere, okay?

"I'm not hungry and I'm not leaving her, even for a minute. I promised her."

The fierceness of emotion in his eyes almost broke Dr. Foster's heart. It told her that he'd starve to death without even noticing if it meant never leaving Kate's side. She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat and nodded. "Just give me a few minutes to check her vitals and her chart and we'll get going." He continued to hold Kate's hand but stepped back to give her room. It was like he needed the contact, like he was somehow holding her here on earth. If he let go, she might leave forever.

When they arrived back at the room around ten o'clock, Gibbs was waiting for them. "Any change?" Tony shakes his head. "I called her parents, they're flying down. They'll be here tonight. I'm not sure when her sister is getting here."

"ok." Tony busies himself by finger-tracing a design on Kate's hand.

Gibbs doesn't like seeing either of his agents in here. He knows what Tony is doing to himself, but he knows he can't order him to leave. He'd known almost since day one that these two would end up together. He'd worried about it until he'd realized that nothing would really change. The feelings were already there and they hadn't interfered with work too much, besides the childish bickering.

Rule 12 was necessary for two main reasons. One reason was that the extra protectiveness involved in relationships. They wouldn't think of each other as agents anymore, they'd be lovers first. That could cause them to take stupid risks to save or protect each other. It was their lover before the team.

He knew that DiNozzo would definitely have done something stupid if it meant saving Kate, even if it got him killed in the process. Kate had already shown she'd do the same thing during the plague incident. It was unavoidable, but it also meant they were great partners. Hell, he'd probably have done the same thing if it had been Abs or Kate that had been infected. They were a family and that's what families did, so there went that reason.

Reason two had to due with the aftermath of a relationship. What happens to the team when they eventually break up? The animosity between two agents who split up would be really detrimental to the team. They wouldn't work together perfectly anymore. There'd be fighting, sides would be drawn, and it wouldn't be pretty. Obviously, he didn't have to worry about that with Kate and DiNozzo. He knew they loved each other and he knew it was forever. So much for Rule 12.

He walked over to the bed and repeated what he'd said the last time his agent had been in a hospital bed. "You will not die. Do you hear me? You will not die." Then he added, to both of them, "And for when you wake up, I figured you should know that I lied. There is no Rule 12. So you and DiNozzo can live happily ever after, as long as you invite me to the wedding. Just don't let me catch you making out in the break room."

Tony glanced up, completely shocked and slightly smiling. Gibbs barks, "What? Don't look so stunned! You didn't think you two actually fooled anyone? I was so sick of seeing you two make googily eyes at each other I was plotting ways to lock you in a confined space together til you either admitted you were in love or killed each other."

Tony looks back down at Kate and they both fall silent. Finally, Gibbs pats him on the shoulder. "We'll get him, Tony. I have everyone working their asses off on it right now. And Kate will wake up. You know she's too strong to lie here forever. We'll all be back to see her tonight. I want to be here when her family arrives. You should get some sleep and probably something to eat. I'm guessing you haven't eaten since early yesterday. Don't do this to yourself. You're no good to her if you pass out from exhaustion or starvation. You have to take care of you, too. Kate would want that."

"I can't…I can't leave her."

Gibbs nods, "I know you can't. Here." He picks up a brown paper bag off the chair and tosses it to Tony, who hadn't even noticed it before. "I figured you could use some fast food. It's not great, but it's better than whatever they have here. I'll bring you some clothes later, too, and some better food. Hopefully by then I'll also have Ari's head." With that, he walks out the door to go back to hunting the one that kept getting away. The one he should have killed last year, if only he'd gone for the head instead of the heart. That bastard didn't have one. He knew better this time. Ari was going to pay. That was all he could do for Kate right now. He'd make sure Ari paid and he'd make sure it was painful.