**All belongs to CBS. The day I own NCIS, elephants will grow wings. *** This will get more interesting, I promise. My idea is to have Gibbs experience a very peculiar dream while he is sick... sort of an alternate universe...? Well, I'm still sorting things out, but it will turn out awesome! (I hope.) Until then, reviews are greatly appreciated. Much Love and head slaps, R.

Chapter 2

Forensic Specialist Extraordinaire Abigail Sciuto was aroused by an anticipated dinging sound. "My babies!"

Immediately, the tired woman began clicking furiously on her computers, trying to make sense of what they were telling her. With a gasp, Abby ran into her office, dragging out her partner.

"What is it, Abby," yawned McGee, forcing his heavy eyelids to open.

"It's Gibbs!" Suddenly, Agent McGee was ready to go, expecting a glare from his boss at any moment, but when he remembered why he had fallen asleep in Abby's Lab in the first place, he felt his stomach tie in knots. "Go get Tony and Ziva!"

In the squadroom, Agent DiNozzo was astonishingly awake, and he stared across the room awkwardly at his sleeping partner, whose head was slumped against her desk.

"Are you actually awake?" asked McGee.

"Couldn't sleep. What's going on? Did you get something?"

"It's Gibbs!" repeated the excited Abby, who proceeded to drag Ziva into the elevator. The four went down to her lab, where the computer screen flashed a hopeful sign.

"He turned his phone on!" exclaimed McGee. Without delay, he typed away, frantically trying to pinpoint his boss' location. The other three looked on in eagerness and expectation.

"Hurry up, Probie!" said an irritable Tony.

"I'm going as fast as I can, DiNozzo." The tension reached a high point, but was quickly dissipated by a sad and frustrated groan from Abby. On the screen, the message indicated that Gibbs' signal had been lost. The phone had not been traceable for even three minutes, and the team was losing hope that they would soon find their leader.

"Damn!" Tony slapped the desk.

"Tony!" Abby warned. "I know you're tired, and we're all tired, but we can't get upset. This is Gibbs we're talking about. I'm sure he's fine." And this remark was as much to boost her morale as anyone else's.

"It's been almost four days."

"Abby is probably right, Tony. This wouldn't be the first time Gibbs left us in the dark," mentioned Ziva.

"But this time we actually know that something bad is going to happen if we don't do something." Very Special and very exhausted Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo was in one of his moods. The ones where he sheds his outer layers of confusion and resorts to his rock-hard instincts, usually fueled by some negative emotions. He looked as tired as any of them, with the messy hair, baggy eyes, and a few pizza stains on his white shirt.

"Or has already happened," said McGee, earning three troubled glares. "Sorry." He closed his mouth, feeling and looking rather stupid.

At that moment, the four could feel the presence of another and wheeled around to find the daunting figure of Director Vance staring at them with his usual authoritative glance.

"Director?" Ziva ventured.

"We found Gibbs." The team breathed a long sigh of relief. "Gear up. He was in an alleyway off of 6th Street. And I'd hurry along."

"He's not..." Abby's eyes turned to saucers. When the team was normally called in the middle of the night to an alleyway to meet a found missing person, it was usually because they were dead.

"No. But close to it. You'll need to take care of the crime scene, then meet him at the hospital. He's already on his way." Vance gave a curt nod, then exited without another word.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go!" Abby practically screamed. She pushed the three field agents out the door as she grabbed the keys to her hearse.

Tony, Ziva, and McGee did a quick job at the crime scene, which produced only a few samples of strange fluids, and a used washcloth. After, they made their way to the hospital. And with no complaints, Ziva drove. Fast.

The "Family of Leroy Jethro Gibbs" soon arrived at his hospital room, and waited outside, peering in at the window.

"Oh, boss," Tony whispered. Gibbs looked a mess. His hair was matted with sweat, his face was cut up, and there must have been about six tubes poking into his skin, and one that Tony knew was for breathing. "Now I remember why I hate hospitals." Just then a pretty nurse walked into the room to check Gibbs' vitals. "I really hate hospitals."

Abby anxiously checked with orderlies, doctors, anyone she could ask about Gibbs' condition. She came by the others and said, "Gibbs is in a coma," and then added, "again."

And it was with heavy hearts that the team looked in at their leader, their father, and wondered what the consequences would be this time.