"Thank you so much, Agent Gibbs," Tammy Groce said through her tears. "When I think about all you had to go through at his hands…"
"Don't worry about it. Better me than you or Sam," Gibbs reminded her.
"Keep in touch," she added.
"Sure," Gibbs replied as he hung up the hospital phone.
"How'd she take it?" Tony asked.
"About as expected," Gibbs answered. He looked over at Tony and smiled. His face ached with the simple motion.
It had been nearly twenty-four hours since they were brought to the hospital. Tony had been admitted to a semi-private room. When Gibbs was finally ready to be moved from intensive care to a regular room, the other bed in Tony's room had still been available. Gibbs had only just gotten settled in.
"Uh, Boss?" Tony began. "I should probably warn you about something."
"What's that?" Gibbs eyed him suspiciously.
"Abby might have said something about coming by…" Tony hedged.
Gibbs couldn't hide his smirk. Of course Abby would be coming to visit, like a whirlwind or tornado full of well wishes and platitudes and hard-to-follow conversation. Gibbs had truly believed he would never see any of them again. He found himself looking forward to the flurry.
As if on cue, the door burst open and Abby breezed in.
"Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs!" She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "It is so good to see you alive and well. Mostly well. Recovering. You know," she rambled. She left several bags sitting in the floor and rushed to Tony's side. "Tony!" She greeted him similarly and then eyed each of them as if they were up to something.
"Don't you guys realize it's less than two weeks until Christmas? And the doctors have said it isn't likely either of you will be officially released for at least a week." She tapped her foot impatiently, as if they should know what she was going on about. "I brought decorations!" she explained as she reached for the handles of two of the bags she had brought with her and lifted them so they could see.
"I have a little Christmas tree, and lots of garland, and popcorn and cranberry ropes – I made those myself, and tinsel and gads of ornaments. And a lovely star for the top of the tree. Of course, the tree isn't here yet. Timmy and Ziva are bringing it later. So I'll have to get started on the rest of the room first, and then pick up when they get here," she trailed off as she began rummaging through the bags.
Tony caught Gibbs' eye and winced, but Gibbs only smiled. Sometimes it takes coming back from something truly horrible to appreciate the love you have all around you.
"Lights!" Abby nearly shouted. "I knew I forgot something."
"It's fine, Abs," Gibbs said softly. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," she smirked. "I have another surprise for you."
Abby reached into a bag and handed each of the men a package.
"Tony, I know how much you hated walking around in that hospital gown. And I know Gibbs won't want to bare his backside for the world. Correct?" she asked.
"Correct," Gibbs confirmed.
"So I brought pajamas! Christmas pajamas. They're really quite nice. Soft fabric. Really cozy," she smiled.
Tony and Gibbs shared skeptical looks, then shrugged. What did they have to lose?
***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS*** NCIS***
Abby paced up and down the hallway of the hospital. She knew it would take Gibbs and Tony a long time to change. They had to take turns using the small bathroom, and both were moving very slowly. She had offered to help them change, but they hadn't taken her offer seriously.
"Abby?" Ziva asked, as she and Tim stepped of the elevator with more stuff. "Is everything okay?"
"Of course," Abby replied. "They're just taking this opportunity to change into less revealing clothes."
Ziva giggled remembering Tony in the backless hospital gown. "Good idea," she confirmed.
"I thought so," Abby agreed.
Tim set the tree down outside the room leaned against the wall next to it.
"I cannot believe it is almost Christmas," Tim commented.
"Hanukkah is already over," Ziva added. "But I know what you mean. This past week has felt like two months that passed in the blink of an eye."
"I haven't even done my Christmas shopping," Abby admitted. "Except for the pajamas, of course."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a yell from inside the room.
"Abby!" Tony bellowed.
"Oh, time to go in!" Abby said excitedly.
The three visitors filed into the hospital room. Abby smiled. Ziva giggled. Tim just shook his head. How Abby managed to accomplish this was confounding.
Gibbs and Tony sat in their respective beds, each sporting brand new Christmas pajamas. Gibbs was dressed as Santa Claus, and Tony as an elf.
"Guys!" Abby protested. "You have to wear the hats!"
THE END