A/N: Here's anothe chapter folks! To my latest followers & favourites, welcome aboard this wonderful ride! To my wonderful reviewers thank you so much, I love hearing your thoughts, they inspire me to keep writing!

To answer my guest reviewers: momsboys: Thanks for your great review! Yes, I can assure you I will be dealing with Gibbs & his injuries, it will start in this chapter.

Guest: thanks! Glad you liked the chapter

Ladyaloysius: Yea, that was for you, sorry! I was exhausted that night. Joanne will get there..

I have to admit, I had a bit of fun in part of this chapter, see if you can work out which part ;p

Jack followed his grandkids back out to the front of the hospital, he noticed the utter mayhem, he'd never seen so many people in the Emergency waiting room, even that Dr Mallard was here tending to an injured officer. He then heard someone say 'send those with minor scraps over to Danville, we've already sent some injured over to Berwick, they're taking our more serious overflow & all incoming EMT teams are already being diverted there'. This was truly a test of the local hospital's ability to deal with a serious situation. He could see numerous people that he recognised, and while he could have easily detoured to check of their wellbeing, there were only 2 people he was concerned with right now & they were already walking out the front door, so he followed them.

Jack followed his grandkids to a grass area to the side of the main entry, his grandson was entrenched into the hold of granddaughter, she was equally grasping him as they walked. He only knew the bullet points at what had happened, but his heart had already broken numerous times, he was glad he'd stopped Mac from inflicting anymore harm upon his family. He knew that even though it was a necessary task, he was never happy about the part he played in WWII & the resulting deaths, this death that he inflicted however, was not one he would mourn.

Jack couldn't help but smile as his grandkids approach their dog & have Buster almost bowl them over, this animal was obviously a very loved pet for the pair.

Harry wondered why his friend & Nix had returned outside but smiled as Buster went charging for them, he approached the pair & kneeled down "just found a tennis ball, should we see how he goes with a bit of fetch?"

Nix shook his head as he cuddled his dog, he just wanted to keep his dog with him.

Kelly had managed to sit down & had her brother in her lap, Buster was entrenched into his embrace & she was stroking him too, she saw her brother shake his head "I think he might like a bit of exercise, he's been cooped up for a while, let's show these guys just how fast Buster is" she tried.

Nix didn't really want to so "just once" he agreed.

"Wanna throw it for him squirt?" Harry asked.

Nix nodded as he stood, taking the ball from Harry he showed the ball to Buster "wanna fetch boy?"

"Woof!" Buster barked.

Kelly watched as her brother threw the ball & Buster instantly sprinted off after it, she leaned into Harry "thanks"

"No worries Kell" Harry replied, putting an arm around her.

Jack was standing just off from where his grandkids & Harry were & noted that Ted wasn't far behind him, he was leaning against the wall just watching them. He saw that Harry was clearly at ease with Kelly & Phoenix already, he watched as his grandson collected the ball from Buster's grip & wanting to try to begin to create a bond stepped forward "mind if I have a throw Phoenix?"

Nix didn't speak but just nodded in response as he again went into his sister's embrace. He watched as his grandfather threw the ball, but it wasn't a long throw but a high throw, he smiled as he watched Buster jump in an attempt to reach it, but it was still in the air as his first jump finished, so he did it again & caught it!

"My my, you've got one talented dog Phoenix, he rose quite high" Jack remarked.

Harry couldn't help but think 'You don't know the half of it' – this dog was more than talented!

"He's the best" Nix beamed, but he noticed that Buster's attention suddenly turned & he bolted off across the park.

Ted had been leaning against the wall just watching the kids, he had so many thoughts go through his mind & was about to call his wife when he noticed Buster had taken off in full sprint across the grass he stepped forward instantly tensing, he was concerned with what had set him off. He saw Robertson not too far off & signalled to him, but he relaxed almost instantly & even let out a laugh.

Kelly had tensed when she saw Buster dash off, but she saw where or more rather who he'd gone straight to, it was Tim & he was carrying the food bag that was holding Buster's treats.

Tim had gotten out of the car with a few others, including the Director. He'd been one of the last to leave Stillwater given he wasn't really in need of medical attention, and had made a point to bring the bag's that Gibbs had packed for them from DC, what he wasn't expecting was to be instantly set upon by Buster, it freaked him out! "Hey!" he yelled & lifted the bags into the air.

"Woof! Woof!" Buster barked trying to jump up onto Tim.

"Hey!" Tim exclaimed.

"Buster!" Kelly yelled, trying to hold in the laughter, it was a very funny sight, clearly Tim wasn't able to hold his own "Down Buster!" called as she approached the pair "Sit!" she ordered.

Tim breathed a sigh of relief as Buster obediently sat back on his heels "Hi, thought you might want this stuff" he greeted Kelly.

Kelly smiled "Thanks, there's certainly someone who is looking forward to it" she replied looking down to Buster who she could see was doing his best to hold the sit position "come on boy, let's go get you a treat"

"Woof! Woof!" Buster barked eagerly.

Jack wasn't sure who the young man was that Kelly had approached but seeing as Ted nor Harry were concerned he presumed that he was known to the pair. He watched as his granddaughter returned with the young man & that Buster was chomping at her heels, obviously wanting whatever was in the bag.

"Think someone's hungry squirt" Harry commented, he crouched down to stay with Nix as his sister went to call Buster off McGee, he saw Nix nod "and I for one could do with another cookie, or two" he added.

Nix grinned, liking that idea "me too"

"Someone say Cookies?" Ted asked with a smile, he could see that slowly the tension was leaving the Gibbs kids & he was glad for it.

"The best cookies too" Harry remarked.

Kelly had returned in time to hear Harry's comment "mum's are better" she said quietly.

"I'm sure yours are more than delicious Kelly darling" Jack smiled, clearly these cookies pwere made by her.

"Thanks gramps" Kelly smiled "go on squirt, give Buster some food"

"Do you want some help Phoenix?" Jack asked.

Seeing his sister give him a nod in encouragement Nix said "sure"

Jack beamed "what have we got?" he asked as they sat themselves down a picnic table nearby.

"We brought some tins of dog food, some biscuits & liver treats, his bowl too" Nix explained showing his grandfather the bag.

Jack smiled as he took stock of everything "well, I think perhaps he may want a tin & maybe a liver treat or two" he surmised.

Nix was thinking some biscuits & treats not a tin, especially given where they were "can we feed him a tin here though?" he asked.

"Of course we can, we have his bowl & I happen to know the groundsmen's of this hospital, so he wont deny us this" Jack answered his grandson, glad to be able to reassure him.

"And if they try Phoenix, they deal with me!" Ted added

Nix smiled, but Buster had nudged him "ok boy, let's open the tin"

Jack pulled the bowl out of the bag "must say this some bowl, you obviously got it specially made" it was definitely hand made & with Buster's name engrained deeply it was a custom purchase.

"You could say that" Kelly remarked.

"I made it" Nix declared.

Jack beamed "Its marvellous Phoenix, a wonderful job. I can see you've inherited mine & your dad's ability for wood working"

"I'd agree, definitely have your dad's wood working senses" Ted added

Nix blushed at all the compliments but it made him happy to hear about inheriting his dad's & his grandfather's genes "thanks"

"Is it something you enjoy?" Jack asked as he opened the tin.

"Yea, I do. Kells & I do some in our shed" Nix answered

"Mind if I join you sometime?" Jack asked.

Nix shook his head "No, dad said he's working on a boat, we could all do it together?" he suggested, he'd had dreams about that very scenario.

"Nothing sounds better to me Phoenix, I would love to do that" Jack answered, he laid the bowl down on the ground "there you go boy" he remarked ruffling the dog's fur.

Nix smiled to his grandfather, he couldn't wait for that! He then watched as Buster began eating at his grandfather's feet, he turned to his sister "Can I have a cookie please" he grinned.

Kelly smiled "Sure squirt" she replied, she opened the box & offered them all cookies , the last person being Tim "cookie Tim?"

Tim smiled "thanks"

"I haven't had the pleasure" Jack remarked looking at this young chap.

Tim swallowed, he berated himself for the lack of manners "Special Agent Timothy McGee sir, I'm a field agent on your son's team at NCIS"

"Ahh" Jack remarked "Jackson Gibbs, pleasure to meet you"

"Likewise sir" Tim replied, he saw Ziva approaching.

"Excuse me, Lt Taylor, your presence has been requested inside" Ziva remarked.

Ted nodded, but he turned to the kids "I'll be back soon, ok?"

"Ok" Kelly answered, but she wondered what was going on?

"I'm sure it's nothing major, I'll be back before you know it, Harry & McGee will both remain here with you guys ok?" Ted replied, he saw the question forming on her lips, but basically instructing the pair to not leave.

"I aint going anywhere" Harry replied to his dad.

"Not going anywhere sir" Tim answered Ted, but gave a smile to Kelly & was glad it got returned.

Shannon had been resting in her husbands embrace as she watched her mother, she wasn't sure how long they'd been like that, but her tears had dried up for the moment, her husband had even just stopped his whispered murmurs of comfort. She lifted her head to look at him & saw his eyes roll back "Jethro!"

Gibbs refocused "here Shan, I'm fine" he'd momentarily zoned out, but her call had brought him back to the present.

Shannon eyed him "you're not fine"

Gibbs took a deep breath "I'm ok" ouch, ok, that hurt.

"Agent Gibbs?" Dr Bailey inquired.

"Doc?" Gibbs asked, but she wasn't alone, Ducky & Ted were both with her.

"I've just been brought up to speed with your injuries, I think you should get checked immediately" Dr Bailey insisted, how was the man still walking? He'd been blown up & shot twice, how he managed to walk & stay coherent really was something!

Gibbs attempted to reply "I'm…"

"Don't even say those words Jethro. You. Are. Not. Fine." Shannon insisted "I can see you're in pain & that's the last thing I want, I don't want any lasting injuries because of that man"

Gibbs knew she was right, but the last thing he wanted was to be separated from her, from his family, he just couldn't bare that.

"The sooner we get some scans done, the sooner we know what we're dealing with & the sooner you can be back with everyone Jethro" Ducky remarked, he knew what his friend was struggling with.

"Harry, McGee & Robertson are with the kids at the moment, Lt Peters & Cameron are in the hall for Joanne." Ted remarked "and I wont go more than 6 feet away from Shan buddy, but the Doc's are right, you need to get your shoulder looked at, I promise you, they'll be fine, we'll all be waiting for you"

"We'll be fine darling, please go get those scans, I need to know you're ok" Shannon said gently as she caressed his face "please darling"

Gibbs knew she was right "ok, lets…" he tried to say standing up but suddenly got light headed.

"Jethro!" Shannon called as he grabbed hold of him.

Ted reached for him & steadied him back into the chair "easy buddy, think a wheelchair may be in order"

Dr Bailey had gone straight for Gibbs "most definitely" she agreed & organised it with an orderly "I want to get a look at those wounds & then we can get some scans done" she saw the orderly return "take him to exam room 4, it should be free by now" they were really trying to move people in & out of the exam rooms as quickly as possible.

Shannon was getting more concerned by the minute as she watched her husband be moved into the wheelchair by the orderly & Ted, as soon as he was settled she grasped his free hand.

Gibbs could see the worry on his wife's face "it's ok babe, don't worry, come with me" he knew that while he had his shoulder looked at they could stay with each other.

Ted could see that Shannon was worried & walked alongside her as they followed Gibbs, he pulled her into his side "He'll be fine Shan, you & I both know how stubborn the guy is, and that hasn't been dialled down one little bite, in fact he's gotten worse" he now understood exactly why Ducky had asked for his presence, he was probably the only one that had any hope of keeping her calm.

"Hey!" Gibbs protested

Ted couldn't help but chuckle "Jethro, you're the most stubborn person I know!"

"Did you forget Ted that I actually like stubborn" Shannon smirked

Gibbs was glad at that moment the orderly had twisted his chair in order to move him onto the exam bed, so he was now facing his wife & Ted, he grinned at Ted "see, there's a reason I'm stubborn"

Ted rolled his eyes "Of course that's the reason, I'll give you some privacy, be right outside"

Ted stepped outside with Ducky, he knew that once Gibbs went for the scans he'd want Shannon with him.

"I believe we've never been formally introduced, I'm Doctor Donald Mallard" Ducky said, he was sure that he'd seen the man before, but he didn't ever recall getting introduced.

"Ted Taylor" Ted greeted shaking the man's hand "and we've met, but Gibbs never really liked mixing his past into the present, so the introductions never happened" he didn't agree with it, but never called his neighbour on it.

Ducky nodded, understanding what Ted was saying, he would have said something else but they heard an almighty yelp come out of the behind them.

"Yeeowch!" Gibbs yelled.

Ted instantly pulled the door open "what's wrong?" he asked concerned, hearing his friend yelp like that, couldn't be good! Wait sec… Gibbs, Gibbs! Yelped? Hmm…

Gibbs stared at the doctor "get your finger out of my shoulder!"

Dr Bailey eyed him "My finger was not in your shoulder, it was merely pressing around your wound, and I'm gad for the reaction, it means that there doesn't seem to be any nerve damage, because you clearly felt it!"

"Maybe you should take something for the pain Jethro?" Shannon suggested, she hated to see him in any sort of pain & his yelp clearly meant he felt the pain.

"Wait!" Dr Bailey exclaimed "no one's given you anything for pain management?"

"He refused any back in Stillwater" Ducky answered.

"Chris, get me some morphine" Dr Bailey ordered, she turned back to Gibbs "On a scale of 1 to 10, how much pain are you in?"

"Four" Gibbs answered.

"Jethro!" Shannon sighed, she knew it was higher than that "the real number"

Gibbs sighed "Eight" he should have known to give the real number.

"You stubborn foolish marine!" Shannon exclaimed, she'd never heard him state a number so high & he'd been injured before "Eight?! Next time, say something!" she ordered eyeing him.

(Tony was in the exam room next door with Ziva, the pair were sharing the room as they were finally examined, and kept flashing concerned looks to each other, first they'd heard Gibbs, Gibbs! Yelp in pain, Tony never thought the day would come that he would do that, but Shannon's sudden outburst at him had them worried, what on earth was going in there? Did she really call him, her husband stubborn & foolish?)

"I only…" Gibbs started to say, but was getting a death ray aimed at him "yes Shannon" he finally conceded with a small smile.

"You know I think you're right Ted, you've become even more stubborn than I could ever have imagined!" Shannon remarked still eyeing her husband.

"You just said you liked stubborn" Gibbs tried.

"Not when it comes to your health Jethro!" Shannon retorted "now zip it so the doctor can treat the wound" she ordered.

Ted grinned at his friend, there was only ever one person who could put him in his place! And boy was he getting it in spades now!

Gibbs made a show of locking his lips together.

Shannon had to smirk at his antics "glad that's settled" she turned to Dr Bailey "apologies, he will behave, wont you Jethro?"

Gibbs just nodded as he leaned back on the bed.

"Gad to hear it" Dr Bailey replied, she looked at Gibbs "This should help with the pain, but I need you to tell us if you need something stronger, ok?" she said as she gave him a shot of morphine.

Gibbs nodded "ok"

"I'm going to quickly clean the wounds & tape them up, but will hold off on stitches and alike until after we see what the damage is & what treatment may be required." Dr Bailey explained & continued "the wounds appear to be threw & threw's, so hopefully won't need anything major."

Ducky had watched this latest lot of interactions unfold & it was another eye-opener to Gibbs & what he was like with a family. He'd always known the man to be stubborn & had thought that if anyone would be able to tame him, so to speak, it would require a person who was just as stubborn & fierce as he was & clearly, Shannon knew just how to handle him.

A/N: So it seems that the Gibbs kids are doing ok, but what about Gibbs? How will all those scans go? At least Shannon was able to make him behave! ;)

You know I love to hear your thoughts, so review away! More up soon!