Disclaimer on chapter one.

AN: Another chapter in the saga…hope you're still enjoying the ride. dark rolling sea.

The sun was half way up when Dusty pulled in the hospital parking lot. He put the car in park and sat, leaning his head to rest against the steering wheel. His trip had given him time to reflect and try to come up with a way to tell Grayson. He didn't know any other way but the straight up truth and he wasn't sure the boy would be able to stomach it.

Sorrow and dread filled him as he closed his eyes and pulled deep breaths into his lungs. He had never been good at communicating with others, and when emotion was involved, he was even worse. Part of him wished it was the other way around, that Levi was in this position instead of him, but he knew what he had to do. Ten minutes ticked by as he prepared himself mentally for his next task, before he finally pulled his head back and sighed.

He opened the door and stepped into the chilly morning air. He pulled his coat a little tighter around his chest and slowly made his way to the sliding doors. The hallway seemed too bright to him, the walls to sterile. The smell assaulted his nose and made him cringe. He came to the waiting room he had left everyone in and found it empty. He checked his watch and figured everyone had been admitted to rooms by now. Making his way back to the nurses' station, he asked about Grayson Wilson.

"He's in room 2054," the nurse said in a quiet voice. She looked up and Dusty could see she was curious about the void in his eyes. He had tucked all emotion away when he entered the hospital. Dusty turned to look at the room numbers.

"Thanks," he mumbled her voice making him turn back to face her.

"Except visiting hours are over, you'll have to come back in the morning."

"No," Dusty said in a low flat voice as his eyes pierced hers. She swallowed and tilted her head up.

"Sorry, Sir, but if you aren't family I can't allow…"

"He's the only family I have left," Dusty replied before turning and walking towards Grayson's room. He could feel the nurse watch him as he left, but she seemed to understand enough to let him go. He didn't care; no one was going to stop him this morning. He paused outside the closed door, running his fingers over the number.

Taking a deep breath he noticed the lights were off under the door. He pushed it open lightly and peered in, staying in the hallway. Checking his emotions one more time, he looked around the room and sighed. Zack was asleep on one side of the room, Janie was on the cot in the middle, and Grayson appeared to be sleeping on the far side. Janie lifted her head slowly and blinked slowly at Dusty.

He watched as her face went from sleep, to confusion, to realization of who was standing in the doorway watching. Her face then fell, as she swung her legs over the side. Dusty watched as her hand went to her chest and she looked at Grayson. Getting up from the cot, she moved towards Dusty, who took a step back into the hallway. Janie quietly closed the door behind her and watched Dusty, who leaned his back against the wall, letting his head drop against the cool tile.

"Dusty? Shouldn't you be…"

"Levi didn't make it," he said flatly with his eyes closed, as he tapped his closed fist against the wall. He felt a hand press lightly on his chest.

"Oh, Dusty," Janie said softly as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"They took him into surgery and he died on the table. How am I going to tell Grayson?"

"I know how close you two were," Janie said as her hand patted softly on his chest. Dusty opened his eyes and looked down at her.

"He was my brother, my best friend."

"We may have a problem with Grayson," Janie said biting her lower lip and looking at the closed door.

"What?"

"He feels responsible, he thinks it's all his fault, and with Lee…"

"It might be too much for him," Dusty finished quietly as he took a steadying breath. He nodded slowly and pursed his lips. "I have to tell him."

Janie nodded, taking a step back. Dusty pushed from the wall and walked into the dark hospital room. He stood at the edge of Grayson's bed and watched the young man for a few moments. Grayson had his head turned away from him, and Dusty reached down, gently gliding his hand over the boy's hair. He held his hand softly over Grayson's forward and fought to beat down the emotion that threatened to overcome him.

Grayson chose that moment to turn and open his eyes, staring up at Dusty with disorientation. Slowly he could see Grayson focusing on his face, seeing the void in his eyes. Grayson tried to sit up but Dusty saw the pain flash through his eyes and he pushed gently with the hand on the young man's forehead. Tears slipped from Grayson's eyes as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Why are you back, Dusty? Lee needs you," he said in a hoarse whisper. Dusty swallowed the lump in his throat and ran his hand through Grayson's hair once more.

"You need me more now, Grady. I…the doctors did…"

"No," Grayson said in a cracked whisper turning away from Dusty.

"…what they could, but his injuries were too severe and too much time had passed. They couldn't save him."

"No," Grayson said with a little more fire behind it.

"He died in the OR."

"No," Grayson screamed as the first sob rocked his body. Dusty sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Grayson's upper body tightly into his lap. The young man's entire body was shaking with each sobbing breath, as tears raced from his eyes. Nothing mattered at the moment but comforting the only family he had left, and Dusty did just that. He squeezed Grayson tight, holding on as if he let go everything would be gone.

Kate woke with a start and it sent pain through her leg. She winced and sighed before turning her head and looking around the room. Tony was sleeping in the chair by the window, as the sun shone in, brightening up the room. Trying to sit up, she let out a strangled yelp as the pain raced through her leg again. Tony sprang up from the chair in a semi-awake state and tripped his way to her bedside.

"You ok, Kate?"

"Yeah," Kate ground out in anger and pain. "Any news?"

"No. I called Probie, but just got his voicemail again."

"It's been hours and hours, Tony; they should know something by now."

"At least it's not bad news, Kate," Tony said with a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She dropped her chin to her chest and inhaled a deep breath.

"Get me out of this hospital, Tony; I want to go wherever Gibbs is."

"Kate, I can't just…"

"Tony, I want to be where Gibbs is. I want to be there…"

"Kate, calm down. I'll see what I can do," Tony said with a sigh as he got up to leave the room.

"Make it happen, Tony, or I'll go myself," Kate said with fire and Tony turned to look at her.

"How you gonna drive with that leg?"

"I'll find a way," Kate replied closing her eyes and biting at her lip. "I'll get there."

"I think you would too," Tony said shaking his head. He then left the room leaving Kate to reflect. She hated feeling helpless, she hated feeling trapped. And that was just what she was, helpless and trapped. Her heart wanted to be near Gibbs, with him in this moment, but her body was stuck. She balled her hands into fists and strangled the bed sheets as she waited for Tony to return.

McGee was still sitting in the most uncomfortable chair ten minutes after Ducky had left the waiting room. He tried to still his vibrating leg, but it was of no use, as his mind continued to flood with worst case scenarios. Closing his eyes, he pushed the images from his mind and quickly stood up. A slight head rush caused him to sway slightly on his feet and he realized he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten something.

Thinking about going to the cafeteria, his mind feared he would miss out on news, so he stayed put. Walking the length of the room and back, he stretched his legs and back out. This was quite possibly the longest day of his life; nothing had prepared him for the agony of waiting. As he reached the far wall, he spun around again and stopped in his tracks. Ducky was standing in the doorway.

McGee couldn't read his face, unsure of what kind of news Ducky was bringing, he remained quiet and still. It was a full thirty seconds before he realized he was holding his breath and let it out and Ducky was still quiet. The frustration built in McGee's chest and he sucked in a deep breath through his nose and let it out audibly, while walking across the room.

"Ducky, don't hold back," McGee said with gritted teeth. Ducky looked up at him and slowly nodded.

"I spoke with a Doctor Nielson who was involved in Jethro's surgery. He said that it was a rough time and…"

"No, Ducky…"

"No, Timothy, Jethro isn't dead, but Dr. Nielson said the next forty-eight hours will be highly critical. His heart stopped another three times in the operating room, but they were able to restart it each time. He lost a lot of blood, which they're slowly replacing with units from the blood bank. They preformed surgery on his knee. Apparently he had a high velocity impact on his knee. He tore his Anterior Collateral Ligament, Medial Collateral Ligament, as well as the Meniscus."

"Why does his heart keep stopping?" McGee asked as relief flooded his body.

"The bullet that entered his shoulder from the back fractured his scapula and tore his Teres Major muscle. A piece from his scapula was sent through his pulmonary artery, before the bullet continued through his pectoral muscle and out."

"What's all this mean?"

"It means that Jethro is still at serious risk. They were able to stop the bleeding from the pulmonary artery, and repair the damage to his shoulder, but he lost quite a bit of blood and is in shock. His heart also stopped numerous times and there is a risk that it has been damaged."

"But there's a chance he'll be just fine?"

"If everything goes well, then yes he has a chance for a full recovery, but it's going to be a long slow road, Timothy. I'm afraid to say that this time Jethro has gotten himself into quite the predicament."

"What about his leg, is it going to be ok?"

"His knee was torn in three places. Dr. Nielson's best guess was that it was from a fall or high velocity impact."

"Gibbs fell over a cliff and rolled down the mountain side," McGee replied with a sigh.

"That probably did it then. They repaired the damage and have stabilized his leg. It will be a while before he is up and walking on it but it should heal in time. He may have a permanent limp."

"How long before we know he's out of the woods?"

"I have to be honest with you, Timothy; Jethro could still quite possibly die. Like I said before, the next forty-eight hours are critical to his recovery. If he can get through the shock and the loss of blood then he should recover."

"I have to call Tony," McGee said rubbing a hand over his face. He felt the fatigue wash over him in a rush. Ducky reached out a hand, softly laying it on McGee's shoulder.

"It would be wise. He and Kate should know what's going on," Ducky replied with a nod, while McGee pulled his cell phone from his pocket and headed for the door. It wasn't a call he was happy to make, although at least he didn't have to tell Tony Gibbs was dead. The brightness of the sun stung his eyes as he walked into the parking lot dialing Tony's cell number.

TBC…

AN: Don't knock too hard if I got the medical wrong…tried my best…leave your comments in the little gray box.