AN: Shorter update here, but more to come soon. Thank you for all your faithful reviews. It means a lot. Enjoy.
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Fornell rubbed his ears out sarcastically. "I'm sorry, for a second there I thought you said what collar?"
Leon stepped a few feet away. "Do you honestly think you can just 'take down' the Director of NCIS? The implications would be disastrous, not to mention the fact that no Federal Agency would take us seriously for a very long time."
"I'm not too sure I'm taking you seriously right now."
"You should."
Fornell shook his head and oddly enough, began to laugh.
"Something funny Agent Fornell?"
He stopped for a moment. "If you think that Gibbs is going to let her walk away from this, than maybe I am getting too old for this."
Vance managed a smile. "You leave Gibbs to me."
"Oh believe me, he's all yours."
Abby had placed herself at Gibbs left, one arm over his head, the other across his chest. After a five minute argument with a nurse, and a temporary confiscation of the stapler, Tony convinced them to let Abby lay beside him on the bed. She seemed fairly content as they waited patiently for their leader to wake up. Ducky had been asked back to his room; but was promised to be updated as soon as anything changed. Franks was biding his time between cigarette breaks and trying to be patient. And Tim had once again placed himself in the corner of the room in silence.
Tony had taken a seat beside Ziva; and couldn't help but sigh outwardly.
"Tired Tony?"
He shook his head. "I'm too tired to be tired."
"Is that supposed to make sense?"
He managed a small smile. "Does anything anymore?"
"Ah, I love a serious Tony DiNozzo."
The smile remained. "I have my moments…guess with everything winding down, I'm just trying to make sense of it all."
"We may never get all the answers."
He agreed. "Seems like we never do."
She was quiet for a few moments as she considered his answer. "This has taken a toll on all of us…but time will pass and things will return to normal. You believe that yes?"
Tony had gotten lost for a moment at the image in front of him but responded assuredly. "Yeah, Ziva, I believe that."
Tim could over hear their conversation and couldn't help but shake his head at Tony's reply. Because to him, things would never be the same again.
"You tell me a judge who would sentence a woman with less than six months to live; to a life sentence? Let alone a woman who has served this country in the way she has. This is the only way to keep this from giving NCIS a black eye."
If Fornell would've had something in his hand he would've thrown it through the glass. "A black eye? Leon, it's bleeding alone in a dark alley at the moment."
"Gibbs people can be contained. I'll make sure of that."
Tobias almost laughed in his face a second time. "You really think that's possible?"
"I do."
"And just how do you plan to do that?"
Leon shook his head. "That's need to know."
Fornell threw his hands up. "Oh and I don't? Well I guess my next question is…how you plan to shut me up?"
Franks had just returned from his most recent cigarette break to find everyone asleep but one. Gibbs had been gracious enough to allow them some much needed rest. Mike couldn't stop smiling when he approached his bed side and spoke in a whisper. "Still gonna deny she's your girlfriend Probie?" He motioned towards the face hiding between his neck and shoulder.
Gibbs could only smile and tried to lift his hand up for Mike to take. And he did. "Good to have you back Probie."
The movement itself caused Abby to stir, and she slowly opened her eyes to find Gibbs bright blue ones staring back at her. "Am I dreaming?"
Gibbs shook his head slowly. "I just asked myself the same thing…" He replied, his voice still a bit weak.
Trying to contain herself she gently placed a hand on his face. "It's real…you're okay…" Her eyes immediately welled up with tears as he reached up and placed his hand over hers.
"I'm okay." Gibbs replied, and the two simply stared at each other in silence for a few moments, until it was broken.
"Boss! Thank God!" Tony almost ran to his side and stopped short at Abby and Gibbs proximity, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, was I interrupting something…"
Gibbs would've head slapped him if he could've but motioned for Ziva to do the honors.
She obliged and delivered one promptly. "My pleasure Gibbs." She was now grinning from ear to ear. "Welcome back."
He tried to smile, but soon realized someone was missing. "Ducky?"
Abby immediately replied. "He's okay…he's in a room on the third floor resting. He's gonna be so happy you're okay though."
Tim had stood up; but remained in the corner of the room as the scene played out; waiting for Gibbs to ask for him. But he didn't get the chance.
"Probie…" Tony prompted, waving him over. "Wake up over there…"
McGee was hesitant; but soon placed himself at the foot of the bed. "Glad you're alright boss."
Gibbs cleared his throat and was quickly handed a cup of water by Ziva. "Was going to say the same thing about you McGee."
It was silent for a few moments before a number of nurses entered. Abby was a bit hesitant but eventually hopped down off the bed and stepped aside. The others stepped away as well and couldn't help but sigh a collective sigh of relief. It was then Tony patted each of them on the shoulder playfully.
"We're gonna be okay now guys, just a matter of time."
Each of them responded with a nod; but Tony couldn't help but notice the look in McGee's eyes. But before he could open his mouth a Doctor entered the room and asked that they leave.
"Sorry folks, we have to run some prelimary tests. Regs are you have to wait outside."
Tony motioned towards the door. "No problem Doc…come on guys." He took Abby's hand and waited in the hall way for the remaining member to follow. Only he didn't. "Probie…"
McGee put his hand up and with one look conveyed his intentions to the Doctor. He stepped aside momentarily as he approached Gibbs bedside.
"Tim?" Gibbs questioned; his eyes not quite able to meet his younger Agents.
"Still can't look me in the eye can you boss?"
Gibbs sighed. "This can wait McGee."
"No…it can't." He reached into his pocket and placed his badge in the palm of Gibbs hand. "There are a lot of words I've wanted to say to you over the last month, but I'm smart enough to know that most of them wouldn't change anything…but one will." He started towards the door and turned around slowly. "And it's Goodbye."