Chapter 27: Sleep and Pray

Disclaimer: Really, DPB, I'm open for negotiation...This'd make a pretty cool episode if I do say so myself...and I've already got it cast (considering the people are based on real people)

Author's Note: Here's a really short chapter, but it's necessary to get some little stuff (like letting Gibbs and McGee know about Tony and Ziva's situation) taken care of.

Gibbs and McGee waited patiently for Beau to exit surgery at the hospital. He was out for most of the afternoon and into the evening.

Eventually, Gibbs decided to call Tony and Ziva to tell them that it was over. He tried Tony's cell first, but it didn't go through; then he tried Ziva's and was met with the same problem.

"Damn it! Why don't those two have their phones on?!" Gibbs cursed.

"Boss," McGee called from where he and the others were plastered in front of a television, "Where were Tony and Ziva at?"

"Judson Hill, why?"

"Boss, you gotta come see this," McGee said, standing up so Gibbs could see the TV.

"-Anyone that's in the area needs to take their tornado safety precautions right now!"

"What are some of the places we're looking at here, Mike?"

"The storm has just passed the community of Judson Hill. If we could go in a little closer here we can point out some of these street names...If you are living on Jackson Road, this storm is right on top of you. Once again, this is a spotter confirmed tornado just north of Judson Hill. We've got reports of damage to the grocery store in Judson Hill, trees down across the main roads...folks, I can not urge you enough get into a basement, a storm shelter, a saferoom...if you don't have any of these, get into an interior room; cover your body with pillows, blankets, put on bicycle helmets. This is a very dangerous storm. We have tornado warnings for: Cleburne, Faulkner, Independence, Jackson, Lonoke, Prairie, Pulaski, White, and Woodruff counties right now. Let's go back and put a stormtrack on this one-"

"Damn it!" Gibbs growled.

McGee turned the volume down on the TV as a nurse came in and told them that they could go back and see Beau.

Gibbs walked back to the room and saw Beau setting up in bed watching the weather reports on the TV. His shoulder was bandaged, but he was no more worse for wear.

"Lookin' bad over in the east, huh?" Beau said.

"Yeah, I got two agents over in Judson Hill and I can't get a hold of either of 'em on their cells," Gibbs replied, setting down in a chair.

"Talk to some of the officers, I bet they could get you through to local LEO's in Judson Hill; they just did a big radio thing for homeland security so that we can talk to local police, fire, paramedics, first responders, whatever."

Gibbs nodded and looked Beau over, "I owe you."

"Nah," Beau waved his good hand.

"Yeah, you saved my life back there."

"It's what the job calls for."

"That? Naw, that was above and beyond...or some shit like that."

"You'd've done the same for me."

"Ya think?"

"I know."

"Yeah?"

"You're a Marine. You wouldn't've just let a bystander get shot. It hurt you to see David get shot, even though he was a murderer and a kidnapper. You've got a good heart, Gibbs. World could use a few more men like you."

"Oh, believe me, the world could not take a few more men like me."

"I know what you mean. That's what my men say about me."

"I hope you get better. I still owe you."

"I hope your people are okay."

With that, Gibbs left Beau's room.

McGee met him with a grim look, "I still can't get Tony or Ziva."

"You won't be able to. The tower's down," an ASP officer said.

"Hey, can you get through to Judson Hill P.D. on your radio?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah, but they've only got two police officers and they've both taken shelter for the time being. There won't be anything out of there 'til sunrise, sir."

"So, what do we do?" Gibbs asked.

"In this type of situation, I'd say all we can do is sleep-"

"Sleep?!" Gibbs barked.

"Sleep and pray."

"Sleep and pray," Gibbs echoed.

A.N.: First, the TV meteorologist is based on Mike Francis who is always gives the best coverage of severe weather around here. He's "Your Weather Authority"...or at least that's what the ad says. I know that whenever there's tornado warnings, we always watch KARK and Mike Francis. (Maybe that'll get me on one of those 'All Hail Mike Francis' commercials KARK runs)

Second, the radio networks that I mentioned are real. Despite that being something that seems trivial in this fanfiction, I put it in here because my uncle David (no, not that David...I know too many Davids) helped establish that radio network. He works for the State and did some work involving homeland security or something like that...I dunno what he really does. I just know that he was a project manager for this...I think it's called the ARWIN radio network, but don't hold me to that.

So let's review for advanced radio networks, project managers, people named David, and most of all for Mike Francis (then maybe you'll get mentioned in the commercial, too ;])...That smiley with a parenthesis kinda looks like a winking Jabba the Hutt.