Kate's breathing had finally grown soft. It brushed over their hands, tickled against his fingers, as she exhaled.
Gibbs stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. The skin there felt too hot, despite his every attempt to bring her fever down (which had been severely limited by location and supplies). Shifting his weight forward, he leaned into her space slowly, silently. He brushed his fingers over the cloth he had wrapped around the back of her neck, too warm now to be doing any good. He should change it-should be strong enough to move away, to force himself into action.
They needed the space. He needed the space.
This is killing me, Kate.
Gibbs exhaled. She needed the sleep more than he needed his sanity. They'd worry about the rest later. He leaned back again, thumb sliding over the softness of her hand, without a second thought to the red flags he saw all around them.
Sucking in air, Gibbs tried to lose himself in the action-tried to force it deeper into his lungs, where it might stand a chance to clear his head. He felt far too willing to drown in Kate. She could be home. She'd do his heart a hell of a lot of good, if he could bear the cost of losing her-and he would lose her.
And break her heart.
Gibbs cleared his throat, forced his eyes off of her face.
Her boss. You're still her boss.
When they made it out of here, that's exactly what he would be again. Gibbs would still die for her. He'd still be a bastard, and totally unreasonable, and everything she'd expect from the man she knew. He'd get to stand back, with smile she'd never see, and watch her shine in the silence. Nothing here changed any of that-not how much he loved her, or how little that love could be allowed to matter.
He let his eyes fall on her again. Gibbs reached out, brushed matted hair back from her bruised face.
Sighing, he let her go at last. He slid his hand out from under hers, watched her hand curl in on itself. Kate drew in a quick breath. Gibbs held himself still, tight-reminded of another moment, sneaking away from another sleeping and beloved form, felt a familiar stab to his heart-and waited until she settled again.
He really shouldn't let her sleep.
Logic, reason, all his training said he should wake her.
Right now, though, his world seemed to be made of 'shoulds', and he couldn't bring himself to give a damn about another one. He'd keep watch a moment longer, keep her safe a moment longer.
Gibbs moved to the window, wrapped his hands over the basin of the sink and gripped it tightly. Leaning his weight against it, he closed his eyes, bowed his head.
Keep her safe
At the sound of shifting behind him, a chair squeaking, Gibbs jerked his head up. His mouth went dry, as his veins flooded with adrenaline. He glanced back at Brad, dark eyes met his. Looking back out the window, down the drive, he saw lights rolling their way at last.
He turned for Kate, reached out for her.
Tony
Tony slowed the car, rolled it to the side of the drive. Dust settled as his eyes searched the night before him, though the car holding Ajax-and the woman Abby had identified as Alexa Jones (who had one hell of an arrest record)-had already faded out of sight. Abby confirmed it was still there, just beyond his vision. Too far. Shoving the car into park, Tony yanked the key from the ignition. His heart pounded inside his ears, but still couldn't drown out the screaming of the silence.
"Talk to me, Abs," he said, glancing over at McGee.
McGee met his eye, and Tony wished he could feel half as steady as his partner looked. He'd been so busy trying to be the strong one, he'd forgotten McGee might just be capable of being a rock himself.
"The car has stopped ahead of you, Tony," Abby said, her voice floating in, pushing back the quiet. He heard the sound of keys on a keyboard being clicked quickly. "There should be a house there."
A house. Tony nodded at McGee, and pushed his door open.
"Got it, Abby," he whispered.
A shiver rolled up his skin, and he yanked the zip on his jacket a little higher. Gibbs and Kate were here, he could feel it in his gut. And he had a promise to keep, to Abby and to himself. He'd get them home again.
Cars-filled with uniformed officers and backup agents-kicked up more dust as they too stopped and joined his car near the ditch. Engines faded out, and Tony's jaw grew tighter as silence prevailed again. He shoved his hands into his pockets, took in their faces as they moved to join him standing there. All of them were here for the same cause, to bring back his family-to bring back their own. And they were waiting on his orders to do it.
His.
Kate and Gibbs' lives were in his hands, hanging on his words-his ability to lead.
Keep it together, DiNozzo
"We'll move for the house," he said, nodding into the direction the car had faded from his sight. "Assume they're armed, and don't forget my people are in there." He looked at McGee. "Let's go."
The group surged forward, Tony's feet stopping just short of a run. Darkness seemed to reach out for him, and his fingers twitched for his gun more than once. At last, the pinprick of light turned into an actual light source- a porch light, to see by. A barn, and a house. He didn't know which one held Kate and Gibbs, but both would have to be cleared, secured. Both had to be addressed, and logic told him to ignore how much he wanted to be the one to find Kate and Gibbs. He didn't want to wait another moment, couldn't get in a full breath, until he saw them for himself.
"Take your team," he said, looking to the closest group of uniformed officers. "Secure the barn."
They responded at once, started moving. Not a single one of them seemed to notice the fear in his eyes, or gave obvious signs of doubt that he was anything but a capable leader. Gibbs, well, he'd be proud of this Tony, if he ever got the chance to see him.
Tony watched until they faded into the night, taking the darkest path back to the barn. Pulling his gun from his holster, he started forward, out of sight, towards the house.
He only made it about two steps before a shot rang out. Tony dropped lower to the ground, palm against McGee, forcing him down beside him. His heart hammered, certain they had been spotted. Glancing over, he ran his eyes up and down McGee, until he felt satisfied neither of them had been harmed.
"Don't think that was for us, Tony," McGee whispered.
Tony shoved himself up again, moving for the house. All the fear, and exhaustion faded. All that mattered, all that had mattered since losing them, was finding them again. McGee reached the porch first, Tony nodded, and he kicked the door. The wood splintered loudly, but Tony didn't hesitate to step in.
It wasn't hard to find them, though time seemed to stand still in the moments it took to do so. The hall opened on the left, out into a large kitchen and living room. He stepped in, running his eyes over the room. He saw Gibbs first, standing tall-despite the obvious injuries. Tony ran his eyes down him, all the way to the floor to where a gun rested under one of his shoes. Gibbs held a second gun, pointed at Ajax.
Movement caught Tony's eye. He jerked his gun lower, before his eyes followed the same path down. Kate. His breath rushed out of him, as he looked her over. Her eyes found his, and he realized just how certain he'd been of this not having a happy ending.
Tony swallowed against a lump, against the could have been, and looked down farther still. Kate's hands were pressed against Alexa, holding a blood soaked cloth against Alexa's shoulder wound. Gibbs had taken her down, done what he had to do, but they couldn't stand by and let her die. And, there would never be enough justice in death. She, they, didn't get off that easily.
"Found you," he said, softly.
"Took you long enough," Kate said.
It lacked any bite, but it felt like home. It got his mind focused again. His job didn't end, just because he found them. Tony holstered his weapon, looked back at McGee, who slowly did the same.
"It's good to see you, boss," Tony said, moving behind Ajax, yanking his arms down, snapping a cuff onto each wrist. He tightened them against the skin, the small amount of revenge he'd allow himself, before the better parts took over again.
Gibbs met his eye, nodded. His jaw tightened, his eyes moved over Tony's face, before his expression softened to something just below steel. It was likely the closest Tony would get to a 'you too, Tony', but he didn't mind. He had long ago realized that Gibbs wasn't the island he imagined himself to be. Any relief,-absolute and overwhelming- at seeing the other person, wasn't one-sided.
Gibbs moved to Kate, pulled her up. His boss wrapped his arm around her back, and the two of them disappeared from his sight. He wanted to follow them to the hospital, wanted to make sure not another thing could harm them, but knew that Gibbs would expect what he always expected. So, Tony did his job.
McGee
Tim's head slipped off the chair, before stopping suddenly, and painfully against something much softer than he expected. He jerked his head up, blinking in the low light, until he could make out Tony's shoulder. Tim shifted, biting back a groan, as he sat up straighter. The cooler air of the hospital room pulled the heat from his cheek. He'd spent far too long with his face pressed into its vinyl. He'd kept drifting off, despite his best intentions.
Tim rolled his neck, ignored the knot that seemed to have taken up residence, and looked at his watch.
Six hours. It had been since hours since Kate and Gibbs had arrived at the hospital, longer since Alexa and her little cult had been taken into custody. He still couldn't quite get his mind to accept their motive, to believe they actually had faith in ascending to the heavens as gods-if they just murdered enough people to earn their place.
Stretching, he forced himself to let go of the anger again. He imagined it was a track he'd have a repeat, until it finally managed to stick for good. Tim looked over at Tony again, face propped up precariously against his open palm, elbow on the arm of the chair. He looked more than a little uncomfortable, would likely feel as awful as Tim did when he woke up, but he didn't dare try to shift his position.
He did a quick sweep of the room, searching for Abby. She'd been restless, far too much Caf-pow in her system, far too many hours spent in worry. He hoped, when he didn't see her, that she'd finally settled down in Kate's room. She needed the rest, and his fried nerves needed a break from the way she paced across the room silently.
He glanced over at the bed that held Gibbs, eyes still closed. His heart beat reassuringly on the monitor that hung above their heads. Tim scrubbed a hand over his face, leaned forward. He wondered when the exhaustion might finally ease. If he needed more time in a bed that wasn't actually a chair, or if relief could only be found when they were finally home-when they were back at work.
"Go home, Tim."
He looked up at once, at the sound of Gibbs' voice. Tim stood, edged closer, until he could see Gibbs in the moonlight. Gibbs shifted slowly, winced as his fingers found the bed controls. The motor whirred softly, until Gibbs seemed satisfied, and motioned Tim closer.
"You shouldn't move too much, boss," he said, stepping over, around Tony.
He kept his voice low, took his cue from Gibbs. Let Tony sleep.
"I'm-" Gibbs started, mouth drawing tighter before he let out a long exhale. "I'm fine, McGee. Had worse."
Now that, Tim didn't doubt for a moment. Gibbs looked up at him, his expression surprisingly soft. Gentle. Tim didn't let himself believe, not even for a moment, that his boss was about to change his ways-that they were about to have a heart-to heart.
"You should rest, boss,' Tim said, glancing at the glass, beyond Gibbs' head.
"How's Kate?" Gibbs asked.
"She's okay," Tim said, couldn't have imagined the relief he heard in Gibbs' next breath. "Resting. Ducky and Abby are with her."
Silence, though Tim could almost hear the nod. He didn't want to look down, didn't want to face Gibbs in the quiet, not when his emotions were too close to the surface. He didn't think Gibbs would appreciate knowing how close he'd been to fear shutting him down, how close he'd been from being unable to do his job. Or, maybe, he just didn't want Gibbs to know his shortcomings. Tim was still the new guy, still had some very big shoes to fill. Gibbs wouldn't keep him, if he couldn't do that.
"They're all in custody, boss," Tim started, shifting his weight. "They-"
"What about you?"
Tim dropped his eyes down to meet Gibbs.
"Me?"
Gibbs didn't roll his eyes, but Tim imagined it all the same.
"You all right?"
"Glad to have you back, boss," Tim said, after a moment.
The corner of Gibbs' mouth twitched, an almost smile, and he leaned father back against the pillow. He rolled his head to look at Tony, lingered there for a moment, looking as proud as any father.
"You two go home,' he said, again. "Get some sleep. That's an order."
Tim nodded, and Gibbs closed his eyes. After a moment, Gibbs' breathing slowed again, and Tim crept back to his seat. He settled back into his chair again, closed his eyes.
Kate
Sunlight. Her eyelids did their best to halt it, to slow it down, but it slipped past her defenses anyway-pulled her from a place of dreamless sleep. Kate wanted, felt like she could really use, about another week of rest before even considering returning to reality. Her body, however, seemed to ignore the request. Her stomach growled, deep and persistent.
Even in the stillness, with her mind dragging a solid step behind, she could hear voices. They were soft, and close, and wonderfully familiar. Kate opened her eyes, fully prepared to regret it-certain the agony within her mind previously, could only have gone dormant.
Ducky. Abby. Two faces she hadn't had the privilege to see in far too long. She shifted up, her whole body overly tight and resistant, and fumbled until she found the button to lift the head of the bed. Abby jerked her head at the noise, nearly dropped her Caf-Pow (and, were the cups always that large, and Abby that jittery?), before shoving it onto the nearest flat surface.
Kate had only a moment to prepare herself, before Abby rushed forward. Arms were thrown around her, trying to be gentle, much too firm to actually succeed. This, was more than worth the pain.
"Good to see you too, Abby," Kate said, voice muffled by the fabric of Abby's shirt.
Abby pulled back at last, and Kate drew in a breath of air that didn't faintly smell of laundry detergent. Ducky stood beside her now, smiling down at Kate. He reached out, gave her hand a warm and gentle squeeze.
"Catlin," he said, letting her go. "It's good to have you home."
"It's good to be home," she agreed, looked around the room anyway.
And it was home, had been since the day she had arrived to work at NCIS. Right now, though, a piece of home seemed to be missing. She couldn't say anything about it, wouldn't say anything about it. She didn't want to think about him, if she could help it. Kate couldn't handle thinking about how much things had changed, or how little things would change. Instead, she focused on the friends in her room-on being back where she belonged.
"Tony and Tim will be right here," Abby said, pulling out her phone, fingers moving quickly. "They'll be so happy."
Abby turned, talking into her phone, her voice too low for Kate to pick up on.
"Gibbs is okay," Ducky said, looking down at her. His voice was just as quiet, almost as though he and she were sharing a secret. Maybe they were. "He's been asking about you. Frequently."
She nodded up at him, thankful. And if anyone could see what Kate and Gibbs themselves had been fumbling around, it came as no surprise that it had been Ducky.