Chapter 5

As usual, Abby found Gibbs sleeping. She only stayed half an hour until visiting hours were over. She called everyone when she got home and told them where Gibbs was moved to and that they could go see him.

She went back first thing in the morning. She was not surprised to see Tony was already waiting outside the room looking at his watch. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Waiting for visiting hours to start. And they do in…10..9..8-"

"DiNozzo, just come in already!" Gibbs shouted from the room.

"Sounds like he's feeling better," Abby said as she walked past Tony and into the hospital room.

"He's been standing out there for 10 minutes. It was driving me crazy," Gibbs grumbled.

"How did you know I was there?"

"I could smell you."

Abby leaned in and sniffed Tony. "You put cologne on to visit Gibbs?!" she laughed.

"No! I put it on for the nurse."

"You're not really my type," a rather hefty, mean looking woman said entering the room behind Tony and Abby. "The night nurse might like you though." The nurse, L. Jennings according to her name tag Abby noticed, walked over to examine Gibbs' IV.

"Oh yeah? What's her name?" Tony asked hopefully.

"Greg." Abby and Gibbs laughed. Gibbs started coughing and then winced in pain. He placed his hand on his chest, over his incision. "How are you feeling, Mr. Gibbs?"

"Like I've been cut open," he replied. His eyes were still closed and he laid his head back down on his pillow. "DiNozzo, get me a coffee. I hear its been about 3 days since I've had any."

"Got it, Boss." Tony turned to leave.

"No, 'Boss', he doesn't," Jennings said. "DiNozzo, don't go anywhere!" Tony stopped and turned back into the room. "The doctor will be in to see you in a few minutes."

"You've been saying that since I woke up."

"That was only 20 minutes ago, Mr. Gibbs."

"And stop calling me that. 'Gibbs' will be just fine. Now, how do I get this damn thing to move?" Jennings helped Gibbs to sit up.

"Sounds like he is back to normal," Tony whispered in Abby's ear.

She giggled. "Must have gotten his boat back." Tony tried not to laugh, but failed.

"What about my boat?"

Tony and Abby kept laughing. "Oh, nothing," Abby said. "It was just the morphine talking."

Within the next 15 minutes, Ducky, Ziva, and McGee ended up squeezing into the small, private room. Gibbs couldn't really remember what had happened since he first walked into Abby's lab so many days ago. The team spent the next few minutes catching him up until the doctor came in.

"Mr. Gibbs! How are you feeling?" he said overly chipper.

"Like there's a big hole in my chest."

The doctor walked over to Gibbs and checked his IV and monitors. "Can I take a glimpse?" he asked gesturing to Gibbs' chest. Gibbs nodded. The doctor pulled back the neck of the hospital gown and checked out the bandages. He gently pulled the bandage away to see the incision. "Not too bad. A little red around the edges, but that's to be expected. There's no swelling, so I don't believe there is an infection. We'll keep a close eye on it though. I'll get Nurse Jennings to check on it again in about an hour." The doctor reattached the bandage. "So, I see you've got lots of friends here." Tony tried to suppress a laugh, but couldn't quite do it. Instead it came out as a snort. Both Abby and Ziva elbowed him in his ribs. He gasped and bent over. Ziva hit him a little harder than Abby.

"When can I get out of here, Dr. Jordan?" Gibbs asked while glaring at Tony.

"I want to keep you here at least another day or two."

"A day or two?!" Gibbs tried to sit up too quickly and felt a pull at his chest. His hand automatically went to the incision as he winced in pain. McGee naturally took a step towards Gibbs, but Ducky put his arm out to stop him.

"Take it easy," said the doctor gently pushing Gibbs back onto the bed. "You keep doing things like that, you'll never heal." He checked the bandage. "You're bleeding a little. We'll have to change that bandage again in a few minutes. I want to talk to you about your diet right now though."

"What diet?" Ziva whispered to Tony.

"What was your diet like before?" asked Dr. Jordan.

"You'd have to ask General Wi," said Tony.

"Who's that?"

"That's who Gibbs gets most of his take-out from," McGee said. Ducky chuckled.

"You're going to have to start eating better," said Dr. Jordan. "You'll have to include lots of fruit and vegetables. Your cholesterol was high, so you'll have to monitor that. Home cooked, low-fat meals would be best."

"He's doomed," said Tony.

"You'll also have to cut out the caffeine." Collective gasps filled the room. Gibbs looked at the doctor like what was just said wasn't affecting him, but his eyes were raging. "I take it that could be a problem," Dr. Jordan said slowly.

"Nope, no problem," Gibbs said through a clenched jaw.

"We're all doomed," said Tony.

"Can Gibbs survive on his own home cooking and no coffee?" McGee asked Ducky.

"Do you two want to keep your jobs?" Gibbs said louder than necessary. No one even dared to breathe.

"We should talk about your stress levels. As a federal agent, I'm sure your job is very stressful. I'm far from expecting, or even asking, you to quit. There are a couple of stress-reducing techniques you can learn such as deep breathing and meditation. Some gentle exercise should help, too. Things like tai chi and yoga."

"Honestly, do I look like the yoga type?" Abby giggled.

"Do you exercise at all?" Dr. Jordan asked.

"Does chasing suspects count?"

"Do you do that a lot?"

"More often than I would like," Gibbs grumbled. "When can I get back to work?"

"Most people can return to work within a few weeks. But since your job requires extensive physical activity, we'll have to see how you do first. You may not be able to chase after the suspects. Send someone else after them if you can."

"You know, that one there," Gibbs said pointing at McGee, "once ran through a running car wash instead of around it?" Tony laughed and McGee lowered his head.

"And I doubt he'll do it again," said Dr. Jordan. "You are going to need a lot of support after you leave here and I have a feeling you usually don't depend on others." Dr. Jordan turned and looked at the group gathered in his patient's room. "I also have a feeling you all care about him very much. I'm trusting you all to help keep an eye on him when he gets out of here. Is there anyone else who works with him here?"

"All of us do," said Ducky. "And we are glad and willing to help him with the transition back to his regular life."

"He's a doctor," said McGee.

"Really? What kind of doctor?"

"He works in the morgue," said Gibbs. Then he added, "But that doesn't mean he isn't capable."

"Good," said Dr. Jordan. "Good. Alright, I'm going to get Nurse Jennings to come and replace that bandage then I want you to rest. Before you object," he said cutting off the coming moans, groans, and cries, "the more you rest, the sooner you heal, the sooner you can go home."

"I feel fine now."

"You just had major heart surgery, Jethro," said Ducky. "You need to let that ticker repair. You know, I once came cross a case where-."

"You know, I am feeling a bit tired," Gibbs interrupted. "Can you get that nurse, please?" Dr. Jordan nodded and left the room. Gibbs motioned for Tony to come closer and he did. "Tony," Gibbs whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "I need you to quietly get me a coffee. Right now."

"But-."

"No 'buts'. Just do it."

Tony had a sneer spread across his face. "Say the magic word."

"Fired!" he growled.

The smile didn't leave Tony's face. He had expected as much from him. "You got it, Boss." Tony left with almost everyone expecting what he was going to do.