I open my eyes, which are heavy. There's a bright light. My eyes flutter in an effort to see what's around me. I see a white tiled ceiling and when I turn my head, I recognise I am in a hospital room. I struggle to sit up and I press my "Nurse Help" button.
A kind-looking woman, who has Hazel eyes with light blonde hair runs in.
"Hi! I'm so glad you're awake. I'm nurse Ellie Bishop, but you can call me Ellie." She says, cheerfully.
"I'm Kate. Is my baby okay?" I ask, frantic
"I'll bring in the doctor." She says, and hurries out of the room, and pure terror fills me. Within a moment, a doctor enters
"Tell me what's wrong." I demand.
"Whoa, relax, I'm Dr. Leon Vance-"
"I don't care who you are! I want to know how my team is and my baby is. Now!" I yell, terror making me mad
"Ma'am, please calm down. We did a basic test on your child and he or she is fine. Miraculously, you and your entire team all survived." He says, reassuringly
"Really?" I ask, tears in my voice
"Really." He smiles. "And now that you're awake, we'll move you into the room where the rest of your team is."
"How long have I been out?" I ask, surprised
"A week." He says, and I blink for a moment in shock.
"When will I go?"
"Right now." He smiles, pushing the hospital bed away from the wall and out the door. We go down a few hallways and turn into a large room. The room appears to be divided into three parts by curtains. Two beds are behind the left curtain along with a bathroom off to the side. The middle area has a large couch, a love seat, and a television. There are four beds behind the right side curtain. It looks like boys on one side, girls on the other. I smile as I see Tony watching a movie, what looks like The Godfather. Abby and McGee are sitting on the loveseat, talking, and playing with their phones. Ducky is taking a nap in his bed, and Gibbs is reading a book on his bed.
"Hey Guys." I say, weakly
Abby's head shoots up and with a squeal she runs straight over to me and gives me the best hug she can manage considering lying down in bed.
By the time she's done, Ducky is awake, and McGee, Ducky and Gibbs are all crowding around me.
"Caitlin! Are you okay? Is your baby okay?" Ducky asks, eyes dark with worry.
"I'm fine Ducky. Just a fractured wrist, and a couple of scrapes and bruises." I say "and the baby is fine. Right Dr. Vance?" I double check.
"We did several preliminary tests, and your baby is healthy. Your ultrasound will be later this afternoon." He says, confidently
"Kate, may I talk to you in the hall for a minute." Says Gibbs,
I look up at Dr. Vance and he nods, and helps me up onto my feet, detaching my IV pole from the bed, and unlocking its wheels, handing it to me.
I nod in thanks and silently follow Gibbs down the corridor and to a small hallway.
"What where you thinking?" he hisses in my face, and tears fill my eyes
"How could you possibly think that bargaining your life- you baby's life- would be a suitable option? I am so disappointed in you Kate. You should've told me much earlier about your baby. You're supposed to be the responsible one! You're the one who follows the rules! What happened to rule 12? Never date a co-worker! What happened to Rule 14? Bend the line – Don't break it!"
"I'd apologize, but I need to follow rule 6! And what about 18? What about rule 4? I followed rule 4 and rule 18!" I challenge.
He pauses for a moment, and I take that opportunity to take the offensive.
"There are always loopholes in rules Gibbs! I have spent the last year and a half learning your rules, following them and making them my own. I realize how you wiggle out of situations at work using the holes in what people say, holes in the rules everyone makes. I regret the night with Tony that led to this baby, but I don't regret my baby. Rule 5, Gibbs! You don't waste good." I take his hand and put it on my stomach. "This baby is good. Really good, and I am not taking his or her, nor my life for granted. Rule 8. I had faith that we would be fine. Now I have to follow Rule 45, because I have a huge mess I need to clean up. I am now asking your forgiveness, not apologizing, not asking permission. Rule 18." I look up at him, and I dare to challenge him, looking him straight in his crystal blue eyes. He blinks, once, twice.
Then he says "I'm sorry."
His soft words catch me completely off-guard.
"What about rule 6?" I say, confused
"There are very few moments where the rules can be suspended. Another one of my rules is Rule 51. Sometimes, you're wrong. This is one of those times. I'm sorry." He gazes back at me, and I see a flicker of respect in his eyes.
"Thank you Gibbs." I whisper, and he smiles at me and we walk back into the room.
