McGee stood surveying the damage around him. Bodies and wreckage lay all around him. He could see the smoke, hear the screams that gradually faded to nothing but none of it seemed to apply to him. He was beyond all that. He felt no pain, just a feeling of uncertainty. What was going on? He took a step forward, but was yanked back as if someone had tied a rope to him.

McGee frowned. What was going on? He turned then froze. There, at his feet, he saw himself, covered with blood and lying very still. McGee blinked in confusion. How could he be lying on the floor if he were standing here?

"You're dying, Tim."

Tim whirled to find Kate Todd standing just a few feet away. But how could that be? Kate had died years ago from a gunshot to the head. Yet, she looked as real and as solid as ever.

"Kate?"

She smiled. His stomach swooped. He'd always liked Kate. "Yes, Tim, it's me. I'm here to help you."

Tim frowned again. "Help me?" His attention was drawn away by some activity nearby. A man had suddenly appeared at the side of Tim's body on the floor. Tim watched for a moment as the man began to administer aid. Then he looked back at Kate. She too was sadly watching the man.

"You're dying, Tim. You've been badly hurt in the blast."

Strangely, Tim didn't seem surprised. He now remembered the burst of agonizing pain as the explosion had sent him spinning across the room. He looked again at the body at his feet. Funny, he didn't think he looked that badly injured. A few nasty cuts but otherwise, he looked unhurt.

He looked beyond Kate, where the wall had once stood. An immense bright light now took up the sapce. He laughed. "There really is a light."

Kate smiled. "Yeah, I know. Kind of cliché but what can you do?"

Tim felt drawn to it. He took another step. He felt another tug, but it was weaker this time.

Kate noticed his hesitation. "It won't be long, Tim."

It was then Tim spotted another figure moving towards him. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. It was Gibbs. Tim felt a sense of relief. At least Gibbs had survived the blast.

"They all survived, Tim," said Kate as if she read his thoughts. "Ducky has suffered a heart attack, but he'll live."

Tim nodded absently, still watching Gibbs. "That's good."

He moved away another step. The pull was even weaker.

"We're losing him!" snapped one of the paramedics. Another swooped in beside him. Tim really couldn't see what they were doing, nor did he particularly care. The light was calling him.

But then, another voice called him. "Tim!" the voice commanded. "Listen to me. You will not die! Do you hear me. Fight it, Tim. Fight, dammit!"

Tim slowly turned, the force of that voice was even stronger than the pull of the light. He frowned in confusion. Gibbs was calling him. Tim always did what Gibbs told him to do. He was torn. He turned to Kate who watched him sympathetically.

"Kate?"

"Tim, you seem to have a choice. You can choose to stay now, and live awhile longer at least, although there is no guarantee you will survive. You just won't die at this moment at this place. You could still die in the ambulance on the way to the hospital or tomorrow or even next week. You've been severely injured. If you survive, you will pay a heavy price. There will be a lot of pain, your life will change. You may never be the same person or able to do the same things you could before the blast."

"And if I choose to go?"

"Then you follow the light and your pain and the cares of this world will be gone." Kate sighed. "I can't tell you what to do, Tim. I wasn't given a chance. Ari's bullet killed me instantly, but you do have one. Only you can decide if it's worth taking."

Tim glanced back at Gibbs. His boss was still calling him, cajoling him to live. Tim took a step back, then another. The tug had strengthened again. He turned to Kate. She smiled and gave him a small wave. "Good luck, Tim. If it means anything, I think you're making the right choice." Then, she was gone.

Tim took a deep breath and turned fully back towards his body. A strong tug yanked him down and in an explosion of pain, he suddenly understood how high the price of survival might be.

xxxxxxx

Gibbs watched as the paramedic began CPR and his partner prepared the defibrillator. "Come on, Tim," Gibbs urged, "Don't give up. Stay with me!"

Images of a battlefield flashed through Gibbs' mind. He could hear himself calling to another young man, begging him to hold on until the medics arrived. But that was then. Another time, another place, but the result was the same. Another young man again stood on the precipice between life and death. But this wasn't Afghanistan or Iraq. This was Washington, D.C. in the middle of a well secured government installation. Yet, Dearing had outsmarted them all and now McGee stood to make the ultimate sacrifice. Gibbs felt ill.

"He's back," sighed the paramedic in relief. He pulled the stethoscope from his ears as two more paramedics arrived with a stretcher. Gibbs watched as the men transferred McGee and securely strapped him in, every movement practiced and smoothly accomplished.

Two of the paramedics lifted the gurney while the third quickly began packing up his supplies, preparing to search for any further survivors.

"What do you think are his chances?" asked Gibbs.

The man paused and looked at the man beside him. "If you want my honest opinion, not good. He's lost a lot of blood. I'd guess he has a ruptured spleen, possibly a lacerated liver, lung damage, and who knows what else. The concussive force of an explosion like that can do a lot of damage that you can't see. He took a big hit." He sighed wearily. "Now, if you'll excuse me, maybe I'll get lucky and find another one. Not many made it out of here alive."

Gibbs watched as the paramedic continued on his grisly tour. Gibbs stood undecided for a moment. He'd found them all and for the moment, they were all alive. He moved back towards the elevators. They were just moving the car up to floor level. Gibbs watched as Carson and another man pried open the doors to reveal the two disheveled agents. Gibbs immediately moved forward embracing them both. He'd almost lost McGee, may still lose him as a matter of fact, and seeing Tony and Ziva battered, but alive, was overwhelming.

"We're okay, Boss." Tony tried to assure Gibbs but a wave of dizziness caused him to stagger. Gibbs quickly readjusted his grip keeping DiNozzo on his feet. A paramedic had already taken charge of Ziva. Tony could hear her protesting that she could walk.

Gibbs looked back at the ruined squad room. "C'mon, Tony, we need to get you and Ziva out of here."

With the help of the paramedic, Gibbs escorted his two agents down the stairs and out of the building towards a waiting ambulance.

"Boss, we don't need an ambulance." Tony tried to pull back but Gibbs tightened his hold.

"You and Ziva need to both get checked out. You've got a head injury and her arm is obviously broken. So shut up, and get in the ambulance."

Tony's expression was troubled. "But…but what about Tim? We have to find him."

Gibbs took a deep breath. "I already did. He's been hurt but should be on his way to the hospital. Like you."

"But you're sure he's alive?" Tony tightly gripped Gibbs' arm. Ziva was already in the ambulance. "You're not lying to me, are you? He's not dead, right?"

"He was alive when the paramedics took him. That's all I can tell you for now. I'm going to try and find out where he is, but you need to go. Get those injuries taken care of." Tony looked torn. "Tony, go. Until you're checked out, you can't do anything to help. The sooner you're cleared for duty, the sooner we can nail that bastard, Dearing."

Tony sighed and turned to the waiting paramedic. Then he looked back. "Cole's dead, isn't he?"

"Yeah."

Tony's shoulder's slumped as he allowed the paramedic to assist him into the ambulance.

Gibbs watched silently as the emergency vehicle began to weave its way through the throng of rescue people, military, journalists and god knew who else. He thought of Cole. There was no way he could have made it out alive. In Gibbs's book, he'd redeemed himself in the end. Suddenly, Gibbs' phone rang. He pulled it from his pocked and frowned. Jimmy Palmer. Why would he be calling? Unless he'd heard about the explosion. Poor kid. Gibbs flipped his phone open.

"Gibbs"

Agent Gibbs! Thank god, you're all right! What about the others? Are…are they okay? I heard about the explosion.

"Yeah, Jimmy. I'm okay. McGee has been seriously injured but the others should be fine." Gibbs hesitated. "Does Ducky know?"

For a long moment, Jimmy didn't answer. When he did, his voice was shaking. Gibbs felt a frisson of fear run down his back.

Yes, Dr. Mallard knows and um, well, Dr. Mallard is part of the reason I'm calling. I mean, I wanted to make sure all of you were okay, but I needed to let you know about the doctor.

Gibbs clenched his jaw but his calm voice belied his growing impatience. "What about the doctor, Jimmy? Is Ducky all right?"

Jimmy's words came out in a rush. Dr. Mallard as suffered a serious heart attack, Agent Gibbs. I…I found him lying on the beach. I thought he was dead! Jimmy's voice cracked. I performed CPR and called for the ambulance. He was still alive when they got him. He'd just found out about…about the explosion there and it was too much for him. I…I'm at the hospital, still waiting to hear how he is. But, I wanted to let you know. I knew he'd want me to call you."

Gibbs could hear a rushing in his ears as his body went cold. Not Ducky! Gibbs had been so grateful that Jimmy and Dr. Mallard were safe and sound in Florida, out of harm's way. Now, he was in danger of losing not only Tim, but Ducky as well. That son of a bitch Dearing would pay heavily for this.

Agent Gibbs? Are…are you still there?

Gibbs took a deep breath. "Yeah, Jimmy, I'm still here."

I was about to head back to Washington when this happened, but I can't leave Dr. Mallard.

Gibbs wearily rubbed his eyes. He felt a hundred years old. "No, Jimmy, you stay there. I need you to stay with Ducky and keep me posted. Someone has to be with him."

Thank you, Agent Gibbs. Gibbs could hear the relief in Jimmy's voice. I will call you as soon as I know anything.

Gibbs knew how close Palmer was to the older man and Gibbs couldn't think of anyone else he'd want watching over Ducky right now. He wished he could be there himself, but he knew there was nothing he could do and he was desperately needed here.

Agent Gibbs, should I call Director Vance? Oh, god, is the director all right? I mean…

"It's all right, Jimmy. The director is fine. I'll let him know what happened. You just take care of Ducky."

I will and please, let me know how Tim is and tell the others I'm so glad they're okay.

Then, Jimmy was gone. Gibbs stumbled over to a nearby bench and collapsed onto it, his mind trying to process everything that had happened in the last twenty four hours. It was staggering. And Ducky's heart attack on top of it all. What a nightmare.