Chapter 7

Back at the Gibbs residence Jethro was starting to get a little bit worried, because of the fact that it started to get dark outside and his daughter still wasn't home. Of course it didn't go by Hollis unnoticed that he was deeply lost in his own thoughts, barely paying intention anymore to what happened on the TV screen and that could only mean one thing: Something bothered him a lot right at this moment and she had a hunch what was on his mind at this very moment. "I know that you're worried about Kelly, but she's probably running late because there's a lot of traffic on the street that keeps her for being home earlier. Trust me on this Jethro because I know from experience that there are still a lot of cars on the road even in the late evening."

He sighed shortly before he replied: Ok maybe you're right and I shouldn't worry so much anymore but sometimes I can't help but think that I have some kind of sixth sense for danger." He then tried to put his worries away for now, focused back on the things that happened on TV screen and Hollis tried her very best to console him a little bit by softly squeezing his right hand for a moment. Gibbs smiled at her shortly, silently thanking her for all the moral support that she always had to offer him when he needed and if anybody would have told him three years ago, that he would have a good functioning relationship again he surely would have called that person crazy. Of course nobody would be able to replace the love of his life Shannon ever in his heart, because he would never be able to forget her. A little bit later Gibbs couldn't keep his eyes open anymore, so he closed them for a moment, just enjoying the closeness to Hollis at this very moment before the ringing of his mobile phone suddenly brought him back to reality. Slowly but surely Hollis opened her eyes again also and asked with a very exhausted sounding voice: "Are you expecting any calls at this late hour of the day?"

Gibbs didn't need to think about that question very long, he didn't expect any calls at this late hour and that of course made him worry a little bit right now: Had something happened to his lovely daughter? Even if he tried very hard not to think about that possibility, he deep down knew very well that he had to consider it as much as he hated to do that. After a short sigh he finally grabbed his mobile phone and said: "Gibbs here, who is this?"

"Mister Gibbs, I'm Doctor Keller and I called you because you are the emergency contact of Kelly Gibbs and I'm afraid that I have some bad news for you." Jethro was shocked by this statement, a lot of questions started to come up in his mind as he tried his best to process all this: Why was Kelly in a hospital? How bad had she been injured? Gibbs surely couldn't take it, if he would lose her again and this time for real so he prayed that she had suffered just some minor injuries as he was able to get out after a longer pause: "What happened to my daughter Doctor?" Hollis now scooted a lot closer to Gibbs sensing that he was in a lot of distress just from the sound of his voice and she deep down knew that this could only mean one thing: Something was wrong with Kelly.

After being busy with going through some of the worst case scenarios that he could come up right now in his mind, he was able to say something again: "What has happened to my daughter? How serious is her medical condition right now?" Of course Doctor Keller always hated to be the messenger of bad news when he made those difficult phone calls, especially when it was a young teenage girl that still had so many years ahead of her.

"She has been involved into a car accident, a car that drove on the wrong lane crashed directly into hers and even if the airbag has prevented worst injuries she has suffered a concussion and lost a lot of blood." Hollis now put one hand on his back, trying her best to calm him down just a little bit as she was aware of the fact that he was close to cry. Some more minutes passed before Gibbs was able to get out: "In which Hospital has she been brought?"

"Your daughter is in the Washington General Hospital and let me assure you Mister Gibbs that her life signs are stable right now and the prognosis for the recovery is also looking very good. I don't know either you or your daughter personally but I know that she will get through this, you have to believe in that the whole time no matter how difficult that might be to believe at this moment."

Gibbs was so touched by those words that a single tear ran down his left cheek and it took some time before he was able to get out: "Thank you for that kind words and we'll continue to talk later in the hospital." Then he hung up the phone, Hollis wrapped him up in a hug without much hesitation because it was obvious that he needed as much emotional support as possible. For a long moment Gibbs took comfort in that embrace and it really felt like his whole world was about to collapse onto him at any minute. Seeing Gibbs really letting his emotion take over was still kind of a surreal thing for Hollis to see, because in the past it seemed to her that he wasn't the type of person that wanted to let anybody look into his mind and that surely had bothered her a lot at the beginning of their relationship.

A few minutes later both made their way to Jethro's car, because Hollis knew that he needed all the support he could get at this very difficult time even if he would never admit it in front of her. Keeping the image of the strong man that doesn't get unsettled by anything was very important to him but the unexpected reunion with his daughter had changed his character one way or another.

AN: Thanks to- laura b house 7 for adding this story to her story alert subscription, adding it to her favorite stories list and adding me to her favorite authors list. Thanks to- Guest for reviewing this story. Please read and review