His hands were pressed into the older man's chest trying in vain to stem the steady flow of blood emitting from the gunshot wound. The blood was seeping unstoppable through the strands of the light fabric of the shirt staining it a glistening bright red. His hands were covered in the viscous liquid; it had quickly made its way under his nails and into the rivets creating his fingerprint, splashes splattering upwards and staining his own shirt.
The world had slowed down around him, the voices of Ziva and McGee nothing but a distant murmur in the background. He couldn't feel the wind lashing at his body, swirling his hair around his face, and whipping his clothes against this body. He ignored the rain as it began to fall, droplet at a time, mocking him. He tore his eyes away from his boss long enough to look skyward. Feeling the first drops hit his face mingling with his tears. As the rain began to pour he didn't feel it soak through his clothes, gripping his body in a freezing chill, plastering his hair against his wet face. Although he could only watch on as the water mixed with blood as it began to pool on the ground around them.
He felt a slight movement beneath him and hope immediately surged through his body. He saw his boss open his eyes for the first time since he'd been here by his side.
"DiNozzo?" it was whispered, in a croaky voice, barely recognizable as belonging to the man that spoke the word.
"Yeah Boss, it's me" he whispered back, afraid that if he spoke too loudly he would break the spell that seemed to be surrounding them.
"Take good care of them ok?" he felt dizzy at the words, his heard stopped for a second, and the pressure he was applying to the open wound waivered in that moment.
"But Boss..." his tears were falling thick and fast now.
"Don't make me slap you DiNozzo" he managed through his wincing pain.
He nodded, smiling in spite of the situation and watched as his Boss returned the gesture, weakly and slowly, draining the remaining strength he had left, his eyes closing one more time.
"Boss?" the word escaped his mouth in desperation, as a sudden overwhelming anger coursed though his body, coupled with the deepest grief and regret imaginable.
His eyes opened wearily for what he knew would be the last time a small smile gracing his features, lightening up his paling face.
"I'm proud of you DiNozzo." The last words slipped away with the life that gave them meaning.
With that he watched as the man lying before him closed his eyes that small smile still playing on his lips.