Abby came inches from his face. "Gibbs…I'm here…"

Ziva had left to inform the staff and it was only seconds before a slue of nurses entered the room and broke through the team's circle. They quickly checked his vitals. "He appears to be improving…I will inform the Doctor, we may be able to get him into surgery earlier than expected."

"He squeezed my hand you guys…he's gonna be okay…" she turned towards him again. "You're gonna be okay Gibbs..."

Tony managed a smile as he felt Ziva take his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. Maybe everything would be okay after all. Franks couldn't help but take in his surroundings. He noticed the proximity of Abby to Gibbs; Ducky's head bowed in silence, and Ziva's caring expression. But most of all he noticed the silence of one distant, Timothy McGee. But before he could open his mouth in response, the Doctor entered and stepped towards Gibbs bedside.

"I must say, I didn't expect him to stabilize so soon. We hope to retrieve the bullet successfully and allow the wound to heal properly. There is still substantial risk…"

Abby interrupted him. "That's okay, cuz Gibbs has always beat the odds and he's not gonna stop now…right guys?" She watched the three of them nod then turned towards McGee. "Right Tim?"

McGee took a step towards them. "Right Abby."

"See?" She insisted. "It doesn't matter what the risk, Gibbs is gonna be just fine. Just do what you do."

The Doctor was used to hearing positive expressions but had never quite encountered someone with a spirit like hers. "Very well. A number of staff will be in shortly to prepare him for surgery…we are going to need the room cleared out."

Tony stepped forward. "Can you give us just another minute Doc?"

"Sure." He shook Tony's outstretched hand and left quietly.

Tony took in his team, and decided to go first. "Alright boss, we're not going far, just come back to us." He placed a soft hand on Gibbs arm before stepping aside and allowing Ziva to say her piece.

"You are one of the strongest men I have ever met…do not stop fighting now." She left him with a gentle kiss and watched Mike take her place.

"These kids, they really care for ya. Be a pity if you brought them his far, just to leave 'em. That's not your style Probie…so do me a favor? Come outta this." He gave his hand a squeeze covertly; but knew each of them had seen it.

It was then Ducky stood up slowly from his wheel chair and came close to his side. "I do hope you'll give me the opportunity to make up for the wrong I've done." He leaned forward and placed a hand on his forehead. "Do come back to us." He eased away and it was as if all eyes were on McGee.

Tim nodded his head towards Abby expressing that he'd wanted her to go ahead. And she did.

"We won't be far okay? And don't you even think about leaving me, cuz I don't know what I'd do Gibbs. I really don't." She hid in the crevice of his neck for a moment before whispering gently. "I love you, you know that." She placed a soft kiss on his face as a tear dropped beside him. "See you soon okay?"

Tony had made his way over and took her hand to lead her out the door .The nurses began to fill the room and Franks interrupted them. "You got something you want to say kid?" Everyone knew he was speaking to Tim and watched as he shook his head. It was then the remainder left the room and watched from a distance as they rolled their leader away to surgery. Abby clung tight to Tony's side until he was fully out of sight before Ziva led her to the waiting room. Ducky slowly followed. The remaining three men stood quietly in the hall way for a few moments, staring in the direction of where Gibbs had just been taken.

"Think now would be a good time to give the stapler back?" Mike questioned the two of them; who were still in a bit of a daze.

Tony snapped out of it first. "I think she'd like that Mike, just watch your fingers."

Franks agreed and shot a quizzical glance in Tim's direction before leaving. Tim started to follow just as Tony reached out for his arm to stop him.

"Something on your mind Probie?"

Tim shrugged. "You mean besides Gibbs life hanging in the balance because of me?"

Tony shook his head. "This is probably where I say, it's not your fault. But I'm curious…what possessed you to go in without back up anyhow? I mean someone as anal as you would've had a plan."

"Guess I screwed up." He started to walk away before Tony reached for his arm a second time.

"You don't just 'screw up' McGee…I mean sure, everyone makes mistakes, but not with Abby and Ducky's life on the line...you were trying to play hero."

"I'm not in the mood for a lecture Tony." He stepped away, the look in his eyes daring Tony to reach for his arm a third time. And when he did McGee responded by shoving him away. "I said, I'm not in the mood…"

Tony was a bit in shock but put his hands up at his side in response. "Alright McGee, sorry for pushing it…guess I'm a little out of sorts too. In case you forgot this whole things started with me."

Tim had started down the hall and turned back. "No, this whole thing started twenty years ago when the Directors dad took a bribe…"

"Then if I can't blame myself, neither you can Probie."

McGee let a wry smile fall across his face. Sometimes Tony could be pretty insightful. "Listen, about shoving you…"

"Hey…I deserved it, been a while since we tussled anyhow, kinda missed it."

Tim's smile faded. "I missed a lot of things Tony…"

"Me too Probie." He eased his hand to clasp Tim's shoulder before guiding the two of them towards the waiting room. Right now, they needed to be together.

As the seconds ticked by into minutes and minutes into hours, each of them was lost in a myriad of their own thoughts.

Ziva found herself grasping at her Star of David and praying for the first time in a long time. Something had changed in her over the last month; and it wasn't for the worst. The heart she'd convinced herself needed to be stone cold had slowly begun to melt. Not fully perhaps, but it was a start. A start of something that was new and beautiful. She only hoped it would last.

Franks was moving between pacing and sitting down for hours. He hated waiting. He always had. He tried to keep his mind focused on his beach in Mexico, but not even that helped. If he lost Gibbs, Mexico might lose of some of its allure. And that worried him…because if he couldn't run away to forget. Then he couldn't run away at all.

Ducky had been forced back to his room a short time later, but returned soon after. His stomach was in knots; how could something that started out so simple become such a travesty. He tried to calm his anger in fear it would exacerbate his condition, but was struggling. He had been lied to, they all had. And as he took in each of their faces, he couldn't help but begin to blame himself.

McGee was hunched over most of the time, twiddling his thumbs and flipping through every magazine he could. Anything to distract him from thinking about Gibbs. He was failing. All he could think about was the night of that stake out…searching for Tony…not finding him…and the subsequent days of torture that followed. He remembered it like it was yesterday, and the feelings were just as raw as ever.

Abby was resting comfortably on Tony's shoulder as she shed silent tears and clung to her stapler for dear life. Her mind would try and picture what things would be like without Gibbs, but she fought to push them away. It wasn't going to happen, that's all there was to it. Then she couldn't help but realize that the day would come eventually, no matter how hard she tried to deny it. And it was at that realization she closed her eyes and wished it all away.

Tony was watching each of them carefully. He knew the most he could do for them he was doing right then. Being there. He'd been gone long enough, and even if every bone in his body wanted to tear Jenny limb from limb, he had to put up the stoic facade. Gibbs could do that better than anyone. But Gibbs wasn't here and somebody had to. He was scared, angry, sad. But he didn't matter, and as he glanced to the person resting on his shoulder he realized that nothing else mattered now but his team.

Each of them broke free from their thoughts as a Doctor appeared.

"Are you Agent Gibbs family?"

A resounding "Yes," escaped each of their lips simultaneously; causing the surgeon to smile slowly.

"We were able to retrieve the bullet…we expect a full recovery."

Before he could continue he found himself engulfed in a crushing embrace. "I...can't breathe…"

Abby eased away but only for a moment. "Sorry…" Then hugged him again, this time with a little less force. "Oh I'm so happy, I could kiss you!"

The surgeon had to smile. "As much as I'd like that, I'm married…"

She giggled momentarily before throwing her arms around him a third time. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you."

"No need to thank me, your Dad did most of the hard work…he really hung in there…"

She smiled at his reference and returned to her teammates who had all begun to exchange hugs, well everyone but Franks who simply shook hands. That was until Abby got a hold of him. He tried to ease away quickly. "Now how will Jethro feel when he finds out I've been hugging his girl?"

She punched him in the chest playfully. "You are a silly man."

"So you're not denying it?" He questioned, but she was already leaping into Tony's arms.

McGee was solemn but still managed to look relieved. Ducky eyes were lifted towards the heavenlies in silent thankfulness. Ziva was all smiles as her turn for an Abby embrace came around. But it didn't take long before Tony got down to business.

"When can we see him?"

"He'll be back in his room in a few minutes. It may be some time before he comes out of anesthesia, but like I said, we expect a full recovery."

Tony shook his hand. "Thank you…and not just a sappy thank you like they do in the movies but a real sincere thank you."

The Doctor continued his smile; which hadn't wavered since the moment he stepped into the waiting room. "I can't say enough who the real hero is here…" He released his hand and started towards the door. The rest of the team expressed their thanks before piling into the elevator behind him. Abby assaulting them with hugs at any moment. Maybe everything would be okay after all.

"Good to see you Leon." Fornell took the tall man's hand as he appeared in the recording room.

Leon peered through the glass at a lost Jenny Shepard. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

Fornell sighed. "Is it ever?"

"True…how is Agent Gibbs?"

"I just received a call from Agent DiNutzo; he appears to be out of surgery and is expected to make a full recovery."

"That's good news." He watched Fornell nod in agreement. "Just wish the news was good for Jenny."

"I don't…" He stated firmly. "So who gets to take the collar for taking down the Director of NCIS?"

Vance cleared his throat. "Who said anything about a collar?"