Tony looked down on his own lifeless form in the bed but his eyes were drawn to Abby, her mascara had run staining her cheeks and her hair was a mess.
"Doesn't look like our, Abby, does it?" Said Kate's voice from behind him.
"That's exactly how she looked when you died" He replied.
Abby was falling asleep in the chair, but she looked far from restful. Kate chuckled and Tony glared at her.
"I just can't believe you are married"
"Every one says that, no one can believe it" He replied "Talking of which, why did you say I would not just be leaving Ziva behind?"
"I meant everyone, the whole team"
Tony looked her in the eye, and a thought entered his head that she was lying, but he decided not to pursue it, he now had an idea of what Ziva's intended surprise was.
"Kate?" He asked "How can I get back. I want to wake up"
She considered making light of the situation and making a joke just as they had always done when she was alive, but she knew this wasn't the time or place he looked like a lost child, his male pride and tough exterior was gone.
"Give it time, Tony" She said "It's a nasty injury, you need time to recover and besides everything happens for a reason.
Tony glared at her.
"Don't get all cryptic on me, Kate"
"All right" She sighed "This guy, Thorn, if Gibbs doesn't catch him you will not be the only casualty, he'll go on to kill loads of people"
"That's nothing to do with me being here in this limbo"
"I wasn't finished, Tony" She said irritated "You know probably better than I do how Gibbs gets when one of his team is killed or injured"
Tony nodded.
"Remeber Ari?" She said rhetorically "Gibbs would never have got him if he didn't have my death as motivation"
"So you're saying that me being in a coma is motivating Gibbs to end Ray Thorn's life?"
"Not just Gibbs" She answered.
McGee looked at the police tape where his friend was almost killed and feelings surged through him, Thorn needed bringing down. He heard hysterical laughter but he was unsure of where it was coming from.
"Does Gibbs think I'm stupid?" Said Thorn coming into plain sight.
"What is this Gibbs?" Shouted Thorn "I expected revenge for killing your partner but this is just pathetic" He said indicating towards McGee.
Now it was McGee's turn to be smug.
"You just confessed, Thorn" Said Tim as he fumbled to pull out his gun and a tape recorder.
Before McGee even had a chance to react Thorn too had pulled a gun and was ready to use it. He shoved McGee backwards and grabbed his arm pulling the agent towards him.
"Too slow, Kid"
"Are you going to let me kill another agent?" Said Thorn.
Gibbs came out holding a gun of his own, but saw the position Thorn had McGee in and decided not to take a shot.
"I'd have thought you'd have learnt by now, it takes more than two to take me down"
Ziva had ideas and scenario's running through her head but none of them seemed to point to a solution to the situation. She knew Gibbs would be expecting something soon, but she couldn't risk giving away her position to Thorn and shooting him would certanly risk hitting Tim. They outnumbered and outgunned Thorn three to one, there had to be a way to take him down, but Ziva was holding back letting fear of losing her unborn child get in the way...
"You had better be dying, boy, I've travelled all the way from..."
"Don't talk to Tony like that!" Commanded Abby from the corner of the room.
Paul DiNozzo hesitated in the doorway and looked at Tony.
"The boy on the phone wasn't exaggerating was he?" Said Paul.
"The boy on the phone was called Special Agent Timothy McGee" Said Abby standing up.
"Fiesty little thing aren't you?" Smiled DiNozzo.
Abby could see Tony in his father, the way he covered shock or sorrow or even grief with a joke or insensitive comment. Abby softened when she was reminded of why they were both there facing each other. She turned to Tony and kissed his cheek.
"Where are you going" He said "Don't leave on my account"
She disappeared out of the room in the direction of the coffee machine, by leaving the room she had taken away what was distracting him from facing the real problem, truth be told Paul DiNozzo did love his son he always had done, but showing it had always been a problem for him. Personality clashes and his pride aside Paul DiNozzo suddenly became just like any other parent worrying for their child.
"I'm not sure what to do or say to be a good dad, even when you're awake" He said as he sat down on the end of the bed.
"But I guess being here when you need me is a start, what do you think?" He said to the silent room.
Tony watched the entire exchange between Abby, his father and his comatose self play out. Kate stood next to him with her hand supportivley on his shoulder. Tony wandered over to his father.
"That just typifies my dad" He said to Kate.
She didn't say anything, she just decided to listen to what he had to say.
"The nicest thing he's ever said to me is at the time he thinks I can't hear him"
"But you can" She replied "And he is here after all, he's not a robot"
"Maybe you're right, but I'd still prefer that to be Ziva sitting on the end of my bed"