Chapter 7 - Doc Problems

Kate and Gibbs both had an arm wrapped around each other as they walked into the waiting room. They took a seat on a couch next to McGee and Abby, who were sitting in chairs and engrossed in a card game.

"Kate, Gibbs," Abby said with cheer, "you guys wanna play 'Slaps' with us? McGee's reflexes are too slow and I win every game!"

McGee's cell phone rang and he excused himself to answer it. He was only gone for a moment before he walked back to the waiting room and plunked down next to Abby. "Ducky's on his way," he stated. When he was met with puzzled looks, McGee looked at the floor. "I… uh, Ducky said Tony called him and explained the whole thing. Ducky stressed that Tony really feels horrible, but he's afraid to come here because he thinks Gibbs will kill him."

"Damn straight I'd kill him!" Gibbs barked.

Kate smiled and shook her head at Abby before she glanced at Gibbs. He had his head resting against his fist and was staring out the window. She slid closer to his body and ducked her head under his free arm. Kate laid her head against his shoulder and brought her hand up to his chest where she let it rest. "Hey," she said softly to Gibbs, "you ok?"

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Why wouldn't I be, Kate?" he asked nonchalantly, not meeting her gaze.

She got a little agitated but didn't let it show. Why is it that you can open your heart to Trisha and not me? she wanted to ask. Instead she said, "Come on, Gibbs. I've spent enough time around you to know when something's bothering you." Kate ran her hand gently back and forth across his chest. "Jethro," she said more softly as she reached over and cupped his cheek, pulling her face to make him look at her. "Talk to me."

Gibbs held Kate's gaze for a moment before he dropped his lips to hers and kissed her, sucking her bottom lip gently. He pulled away and planted a kiss on her forehead, then backed away slightly to look her in the eyes. His hand ran through her hair and down her back.

Kate stood up a little and sat back down with her knee tucked under her. This time she was the one to give Gibbs a kiss on his forehead. She wrapped her arms around him the best she could and pulled him to her. Kate guided Gibbs' head to her shoulder and ran her hand through his hair and down his back. She felt him turn his head and settle into her neck as she rested her head against his. They sat like that for a long time; Kate simply running her hand up and down Gibbs' back and sometimes through his silver hair.

By this time Ducky had gotten to the hospital and was already in the room with Trisha and the doctor. He stood next to the table that Trisha was sitting on. She had needed four stitches to close the gash above her right eyebrow and wasn't being very cooperative. The doctor had put a butterfly strip across it also, then ran white gauze over the cut, under her bangs, and around her head. When the doctor asked how she got this cut, she told him that she was running around and tripped into the corner of a wall, which was more or less the truth. After the doc had finished giving her a lecture on the perils of running indoors, Trisha was more than ready to leave.

"Are you done yet? You don't need to lecture me anymore, I get it. No running inside," Trisha said with a rude tone.

The doctor had gotten impatient. "No, I'm not done, and if you keep it up, I just might make it take longer," he threatened. "Now, Dr. Mallard," the arrogant doctor said, "if you'll just sign here I will allow this disrespectful little thing to be discharged." Both Ducky and the other doctor's backs were turned.

Trisha got mad. She hopped off of the table and walked to the door before she paused. "Hey Doctor Dumbo," she called. Trisha waited for the doctor to turn around before she swiftly gave him the middle finger. "Up yours!" she added as she stormed out of the room and slammed the door for good measure. Ducky had to bite his tongue to suppress his laughter as he signed Trisha's release form.

Trisha walked into the room to find Kate still holding Gibbs. She walked and stood next to them right as Gibbs finally began to spill some of his feelings to Kate.

"I… I failed, Kate," Gibbs said quietly.

Kate shook her head, "What do you mean, Jethro?" She locked eyes with Trisha as she noticed her standing there. Neither said anything.

Gibbs took a deep breath before continuing, "I failed her. I promised Trisha that I'd keep her safe. And where did it get her, Kate? In the hospital, that's where. I failed that little girl miserably…" his voice trailed off. "I can't give her what she deserves, Katie," he whispered.

Trisha couldn't take anymore. She stepped forward and grabbed Gibbs' jacket, pulling him away from Kate. Trisha basically threw herself onto Gibbs and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Now you get to listen to me, Gibbs. You did not fail me, you hear me? It's not your fault that I'm retarded and I tripped over my own two feet into a wall. Got it?" She pulled back from Gibbs and put her hands on his shoulders, looking into his eyes. "And do you have any idea just how safe I feel when I'm around you?" she asked as she smiled.

Gibbs frowned as he tenderly ran his fingers over Trisha's swollen eye. It was already starting to turn black and blue. He shook his head and started to blink rapidly as his heart jumped into his throat. Gibbs quickly looked at the ground and tried to hide the emotions that were spilling out. "Aw, hell," he cursed himself.

Trisha grabbed Gibbs and pulled him closer. He rested his head on her small shoulder. "Hey, come on big guy. You're gonna make me cry, Gibbs," she whispered. Trisha turned to Kate with pleading eyes.

Kate understood perfectly and put an arm around Gibbs and Trisha. She comfortingly kissed Gibbs' head and both Gibbs and Trisha wrapped an arm around Kate.

Trisha thought for a moment, searching for the right thing to say to Gibbs. "You know, Christmas is only a few weeks away, and I was thinking about what I should ask for. And I know now. Don't buy me anything. All I want is to sit between both of you guys somewhere and we can just have one continuous group hug. Yea," she said, "that's what I want. And Gibbs, how can you say that you can't give me what I deserve… when you already have?"

Gibbs picked up his head and looked at Trisha's face. He shook his head, "Trisha, you deserve…"

She cut him off. "Exactly what you have given me, Gibbs. Nothing but love." Trisha reached up and wiped the tears that had fallen down Gibbs' face, like he had done so many times for her. "Now pull it together, Marine. You've snotted enough on my shirt for one day!"

Gibbs let go of Kate and yanked Trisha's body against his. He held her in a tight embrace before he stood and picked her up. Exhausted, she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. "Let's go home," he told Trisha and Kate.

Just then the angry doctor came storming into the waiting room. "There you are, you little…"

Kate cut him off and stepped in front of Gibbs and Trisha. "Is there a problem, Doctor?"

"Indeed there is! Your little girl called me Doctor Dumbo right before she gave me a very obscene gesture!" the doctor yelled, enraged.

Ducky emerged from around the corner and smiled, winking at both Gibbs and Kate.

"Trisha, what did you do?" Gibbs asked the girl in his arms.

"I flipped him off, Gibbs. He was being a real jack," she replied sleepily.

Gibbs looked at Ducky, who was nodding his head in agreement. Gibbs smirked, "Well in that case, I'd have to say I'm proud of you, baby." He took Kate's hand with the one that wasn't holding Trisha and walked out of the hospital into the fresh air. The rest of the team followed, laughing.