A/N: Here we are folks, a new chapter! To my recent follower/favourites, welcome aboard, so glad to have you with us! To my reviewers, thank you so much! I love reading your thoughts, they keep me inspired!

Lets see how things are going!

Gibbs sat in one of the rooms at Bethesda Naval Hospital, they were rechecking his wounds & dressings, he could see his wife & kids sitting just outside in the hall, at least they'd made it back to DC in one piece. He knew though that each of his family were struggling with things today, it had been a very hectic morning as they all travelled back, but he was glad they were finally here.

His daughter had barely said a word all day, and almost all morning had her head buried in some book, or she was listening to what he'd learnt was called an iPod, a modern day portable cassette player of sorts. The only people she'd spoken to for any length of time were Harry & McGee, he just couldn't work out what was wrong. They'd all enjoyed dinner & the movie yesterday and had just collapsed to sleep shortly after, she'd shared the second bed with her brother, something she said she was fine with doing, as she'd done it plenty of times before. But when he awoke, she wasn't in the room & his son had migrated to their bed, which he didn't mind one bit, but he was worried about her. He'd figured she'd gone to take Buster for a leak, as he was also missing in action, and found her outside, with Buster but also chatting with McGee, however upon his approach she'd stood up & said "going for shower" almost totally ignoring him.

His wife had been concerned about her mum all morning, they knew Joanne hadn't deteriorated during the night, which was a good thing, but she also hadn't improved. There was still a high chance that a pacemaker was going to be needed to ensure a regular heartbeat. They were now waiting for the team here at Bethesda to take stock & check her condition, he hoped that all would be ok & she'd pull through without too many complications.

As for his son, he'd felt the distance his sister had created, she'd almost completely ignored him, like the rest of them, all morning & he wasn't liking it. But he was more concerned with his reaction to Lt Dayle's condition. The man was facing the prospect of needing multiple surgeries on his shoulder given the damage he sustained, and they'd already noted that there was a high chance that he wouldn't able to serve in an active capacity for SWAT anymore. He was still listed as critical, but stable, he himself was feeling horrible about it, as he was the reason for the injuries, Dayle had been protecting him when he got injured.

His son though had heard the comments as well, and had gone pale & very quiet, he'd tried to tell him that it wasn't his fault or anything, but nothing seemed to help. He was just sitting on the chair, with his legs drawn to his chest & his chin resting on his knees.

Each of his family were sitting next to each other, and while his wife had an arm their son, their girl had refused the contact. He knew each of them were buried in their own thoughts & concerns, his mind boggled about how to get them all through it.

"Jethro" Ted called coming into the room.

Gibbs looked up "thought you would have gone already"

Ted just eyed him "you really think we're going to leave before you do? Martha's at her parents, so around the corner. I'll call her to come when we get the all clear about Joanne & we're all ready to leave"

Gibbs nodded in thanks "the others left?" he hadn't really seen the other SWAT teams since they got into the hospital, they'd all been split up to go to different areas.

"No" Ted snorted "they've all said, they're with us till we go home"

"There's no need…" Gibbs started

"Don't even go there" Ted interrupted "they won't listen, but that's not why I'm here, Lt Dayle's brother, John. I believe he's one of Nix's teachers"

"What about him?" Gibbs asked, he knew Lt Dayle had been transferred to DC & not Miami, as the bulk of his family were here, so rehab would be easier for him.

"He's arrived & wants to come & see you & the family, can I show him through?" Ted asked.

"Am I done?" Gibbs asked the nurse that had just walked into the room.

"Yes Agent Gibbs you are, these are prescriptions for pain medication that you MUST take, as well as details on the bandages & dressings you'll need to purchase. Your doctor, a Dr Mallard has said he will see to the daily re-dressing for the next week, but if the pain or anything gets worse, please come straight back" Nurse Betty remarked.

"Thank you, I will" Gibbs remarked to her before turning "bring him through, we're still waiting to hear about Joanne"

Ted nodded "will do, and I can grab that stuff for you too" he said taking the paperwork out of his friend's hand.

Gibbs headed out to his family & sat down next to his wife "good as gold" he smiled.

Shannon looked at him "the gold needs some polishing"

Gibbs just smiled, he looked towards his kids, neither were paying any attention to them, he wondered just what was going through their heads.

"I'm going outside to see Buster & Harry" Kelly remarked as she stood up, she needed to get out of here.

Gibbs & Shannon shared a concerned look, what was going on with her? "Do you want some company sweetheart?" Shannon asked.

"I can find my way on my own, I don't need anyone coming with" Kelly replied

Shannon sighed "I know you can find your way, I was merely wondering if you wanted some company"

"You've got other things you're dealing with, I'm perfectly capable of managing myself" Kelly replied, and headed off before a reply could be said.

Shannon watched as she walked off, she turned back to her husband "what is going on with her?"

"I'm not sure, whatever it was happened this morning or during the night, because she was fine when we went to bed" Gibbs replied, he would have said something more, but he saw John Dayle, as well as Terry Stephens approach "some people for you to meet"

Shannon was confused, but followed her husband's gaze, there were two men approaching, she saw Ted peel off as they got closer too. But her husband walked them a short way down the hall, and away from their son.

"Agent Gibbs" Stephens greeted, he took in the lady that could only Phoenix's mother & he certainly knew where the boy got his hair from.

"Mr Stephens, Mr Dayle" Gibbs greeted "I'd like to introduce my wife, Shannon. Shannon, this is Terry Stephens & John Dayle, Phoenix's teachers that I was telling you about"

"Hello" Shannon greeted.

"Ma'am" Stephens greeted.

"Hello, I'm glad you're all ok" Dayle greeted, he'd just coming from a visit with his brother & he wasn't looking good.

"Wouldn't be without your brother, it's us who should be thanking you" Gibbs replied.

"Yes, thank you very much, Jethro told me what happened at the campsite & everything you two did is very much appreciated" Shannon added They'd been able to have a brief conversation about how it all happened & she was feeling very much indebted to these men, it was one feeling amongst many others, including worry about her girl's submergence.

"My brother will be ok. Doc's are hopeful that with a few more rounds of surgery his shoulder should be fine" Dayle replied "my brother wouldn't have done anything differently if he'd known the outcome"

"Doesn't change the fact that I really appreciate your assistance and your brother's" Gibbs replied, nothing seemed like enough.

"Well then you're welcome, we're just glad to have been able to help" Dayle replied

"Lt Taylor said he'll go & keep eyes on Kelly, but if I can ask, how are they doing?" Stephens asked motioning to Phoenix, he'd seen Kelly pass them in the lift, simply saying hello & that she was going outside, both kids seemed off.

"They're both coping as best as possible, but Phoenix seems to have taken the news about your brother quite badly" Gibbs said, maybe his teacher could help.

Dayle considered Phoenix from a distance "if I may?"

"Please" Shannon said, hoping it may help.

Dayle approached his student, though he'd only had the boy in his class for the past few months, he'd grown to care for him a great deal & he did look quite off, he sat down leaving a seat between them so not crowd each other "Phoenix" he said softly.

Nix heard a voice he recognised & looked up "Mr Dayle" he whispered.

Dayle gave him a small smile "you've got your family back together I see"

Nix nodded "yea I do"

"Would have thought you'd be happy about that?" Dayle asked

"I am" Nix confirmed with a small smile "but your brother…."

"What about him?" Dayle asked.

"He's really badly hurt! They said he'll need heaps more operations! They said he won't be able to be on active service anymore! That's my fault!" Nix said, all of it just exploding out of his mouth.

Gibbs tensed as soon as he'd heard Nix's vent, and moved to go closer, but was stopped.

"Let Dayle try to handle it, might do them both some good" Stephens commented.

Gibbs confirmed with his wife & nodded his ok.

"Your fault is it?" Dayle said "hmm, how do you figure that one?" he considered this his own fault.

"Because he wouldn't have been there in the first place if it wasn't for me!" Nix replied rather loudly & angrily standing up to emphasis his point.

"Ok first off, no shouting Phoenix, we're in a hospital, so I want you to calm down, and sit down" Dayle said gently but firmly, he only continued once his student had done as directed, he nodded to him glad for doing as he was told "good, now my brother being there is not your fault, did you know my brother was in Houston? Were you the one to suggest he be contacted for help? Did you even know I had a brother?"

Shannon watched the pair interact, she wondered how the teacher would do handling him, keenly remember some of his previous teachers not having the right tact, but this man clearly had her son's respect because he had taken a calming breath & sat down fairly quickly, she was glad too that he hadn't mad at her son & just remained calm.

"Nooo" Nix got out "but you wouldn't have contacted him if I hadn't been on camp with you" if he hadn't been camp, then his teacher's brother would never have been involved "if I hadn't been on camp, you wouldn't have had to get involved & you wouldn't have contacted your brother"

"And where would you have been Phoenix? The whole year was on camp" Dayle asked, slightly confused by his statement.

"At home with Kelly, before camp she said I didn't have to go if I didn't want to" Nix answered

Stephens was taken with the comment "excuse me" he said to Gibbs & Shannon & approached his student & fellow teacher.

Stephens sat down on the other side his student to where Dayle was "Phoenix" he said & only continued once he was looking his way "I don't want to contradict you, but you were coming to camp. I had a long discussion with Kelly 2 weeks before camp insisting you come, so one way or another you would have ended up on camp." He remembered it clearly, she just wanted to let her brother choose, but he wanted to help the boy be able to move forward & become a part of the school. Knowing camp would help this, and he was right, Phoenix coming on camp had helped him a great deal not only deal with a new circle of friends, but start to mend a broken fence, that really should never have been broken to start with.

Nix shook his head "No, she wouldn't have forced me, she would have kept me home if I didn't want to go" he was adamant that his sister wouldn't have forced the issue.

"Ok, so Kelly kept you at home from camp, if that happened do you suppose your sister would have gone to visit her friend that was at the hospital in Portsmouth?" Stephens asked, even though he knew she wouldn't have, he'd roll with it & try to get him to realise a few things.

"Maybe" Nix answered "I know Amy too"

"I'm sure you do, but do you really think she would have driven all the way down to Portsmouth to check on her, if she'd had you to look after? It was a Thursday, so she'd likely have been taking you to swimming practise no?" Dayle asked, he could see what his fellow teacher was doing.

Dayle saw the recognition that they were right in his student's eyes "Phoenix, you being on camp, allowed your sister to go, and that allowed for her to find your dad, if you hadn't have been on camp, this might not have happened, and me calling in my brother to help, is not on your shoulders"

Shannon & Gibbs had sat themselves down on some seats a short distance away so they could give the trio some space, but also hear them & they were taken by the revelation, they looked at each other.

"My gosh, he's right Jethro, if Kells hadn't been down there.. if Nix hadn't been on camp" Shannon whispered

"I know babe, lady luck finally smiled on us" Gibbs soothed, but boy was his boy a big part of the reason they were together now.

Nix felt slightly better about it, he'd been responsible for his sister being able to find their dad!

"I want you to consider something else Phoenix" Stephens said, but he knew this would also help Dayle.

"Let's say your dad got you & we didn't make the Houston connection with his brother there & then. Your dad would have probably would have rushed to get to Houston, but not without backup, am I right?" Stephens asked.

Nix nodded wondering where Mr Stephens was going with this.

"I'm guessing he would have wanted some backup that was familiar to you, Kelly & your mum, and as such would have called Lt Taylor, yes? no?" Stephens asked.

Nix considered it for a moment, but knew the answer "yeaa"

(Gibbs considered that himself, he would probably have called Ted almost straight away, wanting exactly that – familiar backup)

"Yes" Stephens corrected & continued "so, your dad calls Lt Taylor, and I'm guessing that he would have wrangled all the backup & help he could muster from the conference he was at, yes? No?"

"Yes" Nix replied, saying it properly this time.

"I'd agree" Stephens nodded "and do you know who the first person that would have jumped on board would have been, even without knowing the connection?"

"Lt Dayle" Nix guessed

"Spot on" Stephens nodded "I know that even without being asked by his brother, he would have jumped & gone head first into helping to deal with the situation no matter who asked, because that's the type of man he is. So this is not your fault nor was because of you that he took part" he finished.

"Ok" Nix said quietly, guess it wasn't his fault.

Dayle shot a look up to his friend "get it" he said quietly, guess it wasn't his fault either.

"Good" Stephens nodded "now mister, you left something at the campsite" he finished, placing a bag in front of his student.

Nix was sure he had packed everything up "what?"

"Your towel, goggles & fins" Stephens answered "can you tell me where you left them?"

Nix swallowed, whoops! "down by the lake" they'd been told to make sure they had taken everything back with them to their rooms.

Gibbs could see that his son was now looking very sheepish, but as he'd watched the conversation unfold he found that he liked the cut of these teachers more & more. They clearly cared for his son, they were treating him as an adult in their conversation, yet not allowing him to get loud & angry, and they called him on use of slang. His thought about keeping him in the same school just went up a notch or ten.

"Got it in one, we'll let it slide this time with a warning, but next time you're on playground clean up detail like some of your friends are about to begin" Stephens said, he was a little worried about saying it in front of parents he didn't really know, but he & Dayle had already discussed this. They'd decided to just act like normal & show them that they weren't going to treat their son any differently.

"Thank you sir" Nix blushed.

Stephens nodded "Good, I see you managed to grab Buster along the way, how's the new bowl working out? Did we get it deep enough?" he finished asking as they rose from the seats.

"It's great, he does seem to splash still a little though" Nix replied, then remembered something "and dad' got a boat he's building in his basement, so I'll be able to help build it & we'll definitely have heaps of space to work on my projects" he added with a grin.

Gibbs had to smile at his son's eagerness about the boat, but the words he used, he was clearly meaning their home, and that just meant the world to him.

Stephens shot Dayle a queried look, a boat, in a basement? The reply was merely a shrug in return, he looked back to Phoenix who was still smiling "then there should be no reason for you to not get all A's on them next year"

Shannon saw her son had realised that his statement had gotten him into academic trouble so to speak "he will certainly have the tools available to do his best work, however if you're expecting motorised tool work, that we don't have" he was now going to have to put the effort in & she knew husband detested power tools.

Gibbs saw her smile at him "not a power tool in sight, don't believe in them"

Stephens nodded in agreement "we don't teach with them, we don't believe in teaching anything with shortcuts, everything must be earned & worked out from scratch. We find the boys getting a better sense of accomplishment if they can create & build something by hand rather than through shortcuts. This helps prepare them for making a difference in the wider world and it's a philosophy that the school employs throughout its classes"

"Sounds like a wonderful philosophy" Shannon commented, this was definitely something she agreed on.

Stephens nodded "We know you'll be busy for a while yet, so please don't feel compelled to have to send to Phoenix to school, we've only got a few weeks left of the year. If you don't feel like sending him or he doesn't want to come, that's fine, at the same time, if he wants to, he's more than welcome. Your daughter has the school details, as well mine, so when you're ready to come in & see the place, please just call so we can set it up"

"Thank you, it's very much appreciated" Shannon remarked.

Dayle nodded, but he had to go "I have to go check on my brother, I was wondering if you & Phoenix, would you like to come as well?" he asked Gibbs.

"I would" Gibbs nodded, he looked to his son & saw the nod "we would" he amended his statement.

"I'll let the nurse station where we are but I'm going to go check on Kelly" Shannon remarked.

"I'm off, but I'd like to walk you outside?" Stephens offered.

Gibbs nodded "will meet you outside" he said to his wife & gave her a kiss.

Stephens wasn't sure what to say, but had one topic he could run with & after a few minutes spoke "how is Kelly? She seemed a little off when we passed in the lift"

"Struggling, like we all are, though there is something bothering her especially today" Shannon admitted.

"Well it's, been quite the ordeal for her these last few months, so that's understandable" Stephens replied "She's got a good head on her shoulders, she'll get there."

"She has had a lot to deal with" Shannon agreed, as they exited the building.

"I'm sure, but you should know just how much she cares for her brother" Stephens remarked as his eyes cast to Kelly who was sitting on some grass with their dog in her lap.

"The pair are close" Shannon smiled

"Not sure that's the word I'd use, it doesn't quite seem enough" Stephens smiled before continuing "when she came to check the school out with Phoenix, she insisted on visiting every building, corner of the school he'd be in & meeting every teacher he'd have. She clearly wanted to make sure the environment he was coming into would suit & benefit him. She spoke to me about his previous school and how she thought it wasn't the best environment for him to really excel"

Shannon nodded "yes, his previous school while quite prestigious wasn't the best fit for him. He has many of sister's traits, quite smart yet fairly…" she wasn't quite sure the best way to put to her son's teacher.

"Head strong, stubborn" Stephens supplied, he saw the smile "we encourage robust debate amongst the students, it helps them to really engage in the deep issues we try to teach them, we draw the line though if it gets out of hand & rest assured, while you're son has started to delve into these debates, he's never taken it too far"

"It sounds as though he's started to really feel apart of the school" Shannon smiled "if you'll excuse me though Mr Stephens I really must go" while she knew what the man was attempting to do, she had other things to deal with.

"Of course, please don't let me keep you, please let me know if there's anything I or the school can do for you & your family" Stephens remarked.

"Thank you" Shannon nodded. While she was glad to know that her son seemed to be a school that was helping him, she had other priorities right now, and one was siting right in front her, the other was lying 3 floors up & she just prayed was doing better than the last time she saw them.

She was about to head off towards her daughter when she saw a doctor approach, it was the doctor that had been looking her mother over. Shannon turned around & headed for him, time to see how her mum was doing, she'd go get her husband for this, and had to reside herself to dealing with her daughter in a few minutes.

A/N: Looks like Lt Dayle isn't doing too good, but I'm sure his brother is right, he'll get there & the teachers were right, it wasn't Nix's fault. It seems that Gibbs & Shannon like the cut of Nix's teachers, but how is Joanne? How are the others doing? And what exactly is up with Kelly this time?

You know I love to hear your thoughts/comments, so review away, more up soon!