AN: Thanks to Tate Swak, Jenna87, FireChaser, and agent-mac for the reviews. You guys rock! I'm working on chapter 5 to add early next week since I'll be computerless this weekend. As always, I'll luv ya if you review and I'll write a lot faster!

Chapter 4

It was 6 p.m. and Tony still hadn't moved from his spot beside Kate's bed. The team had returned, as promised, and Gibbs had brought him a change of clothes. He hadn't made any move to change yet, still afraid to leave Kate's side. He was afraid that if he looked away for a moment he might miss some sign that Kate was ok. He might miss the simplest fluttering of her eyes or some slight movement that would let him know she was there and that she was going to wake up.

He was barely aware of the people around him, all of his attention still focused on Kate. Abby sat across the bed from him. She was holding Kate's other hand and trying to will her friend to wake up. Ever few minutes, she'd glance up at Tony. She was still blown away by his fierce devotion to Kate, his refusal to leave her side for anything. She had always known they were in love, it was pretty obvious to everyone but them, but she'd never realized how consuming that love had been. She couldn't help but think that if, God forbid, Kate didn't make there was no way Tony would survive. They're hearts were too intertwined. No one could live with half a heart.

Tony didn't pay attention when the nurse came in and announced something to the occupants of the room. He didn't care what she had to say. All that mattered was Kate waking up and him never leaving her side. He had to be the first thing she saw. He had to tell her he loved her. Gibbs came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Tony, Kate's family is on their way. They just landed at the airport. Take a minute and go get changed."

"I'm fine." He eyes never strayed from Kate's face.

"I wasn't asking. Go. Get. Changed. Now." He waited a minute, knowing that Tony wouldn't move. He dropped his voice to a whisper and continued, closer to Tony's ear. "Her family has been through enough. They don't need to see her blood all over you."

Tony jumped back from the bed, breathing heavily, and looked down at his clothes for the first time. It was her blood and he hadn't even thought about it. He'd washed the blood off his face but he'd never thought about his clothes. He'd been too focused on Kate. Now, he was horrified. He's spent the night covered in her blood. He started sobbing and grabbed the clothes Gibbs offered him before ducking into the bathroom. He changed in record time and threw his bloodstained clothes in the garbage. He felt like he needed to burn them, to get rid of them completely but there was no time for that. He raced back to his position beside Kate with silent tears still rolling down his cheeks.

Less than half an hour later, Kate's mother, father, and sister burst into the room in a rush of noisy tears. Abby and the rest of the team stepped back to give them room, but Tony didn't even acknowledge their presence. They rushed to Kate's side. Both women were wailing at the sight of Kate so pale and fragile in the hospital bed. Her father just stared with tears shining in his eyes as he stroked his daughter's head. Finally, a few minutes later, Tony speaks.

"She'll be fine. The doctor says she just needs some rest to give her body time to recuperate." Three sets of eyes looked up at him.

"And you are?" Her father asks after clearing his throat, clearly sizing the young man up.

"Tony DiNozzo, sir. I'm her…partner."

"You're in love with her," Kate's sister states, easily recognizing the look in Tony's eyes.

"More than anything in the world. She is my world." He turns his attention back to Kate and, after a moment, her family does the same.

Half an hour later, the four of them are settled around Kate. The team had gone back to the office to continue the hunt for Ari and to allow Kate's family some privacy. The doctor had just left after updating Kate's family on her condition. Nothing had really changed. Everything hinged on how long it took her to wake up. Tony still hadn't let go of Kate's hand, but he did glance up occasionally when one of the Todd's asked him a question. They'd been talking about Kate, sharing memories and hoping that maybe they'd help her wake up.

Kate's mother, Sue, was really curious about her daughter's life at NCIS. Specifically, she was wondering why her daughter had never mentioned Tony as anything more than her partner. She decided to find out. "So how long have you and my daughter been together?"

The sudden question caused Tony to tear his attention away from Kate and meet her mother's gaze. "We aren't, yet. There was the rule at work, but it's not an issue any more. I think I've loved her since the moment I saw her, but neither one of us knew how to admit it. Then I got really sick and she risked her own life to stay with me. I wanted to tell her then but I didn't know how she'd react and I didn't want us to be separated as partners. I couldn't protect her if that happened, so I kept quiet. But it doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is her."

He looked back down at Kate and brushed his fingers across her cheek. Sue looked away for a moment. She was glad her daughter had someone who loved her so much but at the same time it was tragic how much time they'd wasted. They'd almost missed their chance. Her Katie deserved all the love and happiness in the world. She had to wake up. There was no question about it when she had this amazing love waiting for her.

After another relatively sleepless night, Tony decided he needed to try one more heart to heart with Kate. Her parents and sister had finally fallen asleep in the uncomfortable hospital chairs. This was as private as it was going to get. He leaned down next to her ear and, in barely a whisper, told Kate exactly why she had to wake up right now.

"Kate, I need you to know that I'm an idiot. I should have told you a long time ago that I love you. We could have been living a perfect life right now. I promise that when you wake up we'll have that life, complete with the dog and the white picket fence. I don't care about any of that stuff. What will make it perfect for me is spending every night with you in my arms and waking up each morning to see your face. You heard Gibbs earlier. He'll even let us stay partners, not that it really matters. I'll give up everything just to be with you, but you have to wake up first. Please, Katie, wake up for me. Come back to me." He pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth and stood up.

He felt the slightest pressure on his hand and looked down. He was still holding her hand, and she'd moved it. "She squeezed my hand!" He shouted, immediately rousing everyone in the room and probably everyone in the entire hospital. Her family rushed to her side. "I'm telling you, she squeezed my hand!" For the first time in what felt like forever, Anthony DiNozzo smiled.