Disclaimer on chapter one.

AN: Another chapter hope you like. One more to come. Enjoy and leave your comments at the door on the way out, thanks, dark rolling sea.

Gibbs was still unconscious as Kate sat in his darkened room. They had put a bed in there for her, told her to stay in it, but she hadn't listened. She was sitting, with her leg propped in the position with the least amount of pain, next to Gibbs' bedside. No one could make her move, and so far, no one had tried. The doctors had voiced their opinions, but Tony had interfered and assured them that she would be ok. She would have to remember to thank him for that.

Kate spent two days, and most of two nights, watching over Gibbs. They said the next forty-eight hours was critical and she wanted to be there, for good or bad news, but no news is what they got. The only good news they had received was when the doctors removed the breathing tube, Gibbs breathed on his own.

Kate couldn't help but gently stroke the side of his face, and run her hand through his hair. The tears had stopped, almost twelve hours ago, as she had cried them all out. There was nothing left, except the pain in her heart.

His eyes would roll, jolt, and dance behind his lids, but he wouldn't open them. His hand would twitch and his arm would move, but he remained unconscious. The doctor assured her it was normal behavior and encouraged her to talk to him, to try to draw him from the comma. She had nodded, waiting for everyone to leave the room, before she struck up a one sided conversation.

Time seemed to stand still, as she waited for the best or worst, and not knowing made it ten times worse she felt. Three days passed and Gibbs still hadn't woken. She rarely left the room and when she did, she didn't go far. The team seemed to keep a wide berth around her, watching her from the hall, or sitting on the other side of the room while visiting. She knew things were different, but she didn't care. Kate didn't even know if Tony had told them anything, but she figured it would be pretty easy to figure out.

It was the middle of the night, on the fifth day after the shootings that Gibbs' eyes opened to slits. Kate happened to be awake, sitting at his bedside holding his hand. He squeezed his hand to gain her attention and she looked at him in disbelief. He tried to speak but couldn't seem to muster the strength to form words. Kate shushed him gently and cupped his jaw in her free hand. His eyes slipped slowly closed and he drifted off into sleep once again.

The next day he opened his eyes again, and Kate smiled at him. He blinked a few times at the brightness in the room and squinted. Kate reached down and took his hand again. He again tried to speak, but movement at the door stopped him. Kate looked up to see the nurse coming in.

"Agent Todd told us you opened your eyes last night," the nurse said sweetly. Gibbs looked at Kate, and she could see the grogginess and fog in them. He smiled softly before his lids slid shut once more.

"How long before he really wakes up?" Kate asked the nurse, her attention still on Gibbs.

"Hard to tell really. The doctors are optimistic," she replied. Kate nodded slowly. "You really should be in bed."

"Not until he wakes up," Kate answered softly. The nurse gave Kate an understanding smile before leaving her alone with Gibbs once again.

Another two days passed with Gibbs waking more and more each day. Kate reluctantly left his side on the eighth day to have her stitches removed and her leg x-rayed and casted. When she returned to his room he was awake. She rolled the wheel chair to his side reaching for his hand.

"Hi," he croaked out slowly. Kate smiled wide as tears escaped from her eyes.

"Welcome back," Kate said in a hoarse whisper. Gibbs nodded as he looked slowly around the room.

"How long?" he asked as his eyes slipped shut.

"Over a week ago," Kate said. Gibbs opened his eyes and looked at her, giving her an apologetic look. She shook her head. "It's not your fault."

"You must have been so worried." Gibbs struggled to get the words out. Kate put a hand on his jaw and nodded.

"But it's ok now."

"How bad?"

"They don't know yet. The doctors were waiting for you to wake up so they could assess the damage."

"But it's bad?" Gibbs said, the fatigue raring its head.

"We'll know more later."

"What aren't you telling me?" Gibbs asked gripping her hand and struggling to keep his eyes open. Kate pursed her lips quickly before she continued.

"Your heart was damaged. And your knee was torn severely."

"My career," Gibbs said softly with a frown as the exhaustion overwhelmed him and he slipped into a restless sleep. Kate stayed by his side, moving over to the bed to get some rest.

With each passing day, Gibbs gained more and more strength. The doctors explained his condition to him, and Kate could tell he took it hard. No one knew how much of a recovery he would make. The team visited often now that Gibbs was awake and Kate kept her self more and more reserved when they were around. It was late one night, two weeks after the shooting, and Tony was sitting on the foot of Gibbs' bed. Kate was in her own bed, staring at the wall, counting down the minutes until Tony had to leave.

Tony looked at Gibbs, who was watching Kate, then at Kate, who was staring at the wall obviously preoccupied with something, and back to Gibbs again. He took a deep breath, drawing the attention of Gibbs, which had been his goal.

"Problem, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked softly.

"Stop fighting it," Tony said quietly. Gibbs looked at him with confusion and Tony let his eyes drift to Kate. Gibbs was still staring at him when Tony looked back at Gibbs.

"What?" Gibbs asked as Kate looked over at Tony with warning in her eyes.

"I know what happened on the mountain, Gibbs," Tony continued softly. "Stop fighting it. She's right there."

Gibbs' eyes drifted across the room to Kate, as Tony stood from the bed and walked towards the door. Kate continued to stare at the wall opposite him. Gibbs closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He was about to say something to Kate when Tony paused in the doorframe.

"Don't let this slip away, either of you," Tony continued before turning and exiting the room. Gibbs let his eyes scan Kate's form. Thousands of thoughts tumbled through his mind, as memories of the mountain drifted in and out of his consciousness. He hated being trapped in the bed, not able to move about on his own free will. He could tell something was bothering her; something was weighing on her mind.

"Kate," he called softly to her. She ignored him the first time so he tried again, "Kate."

When she looked at him it almost broke his heart. She was distressed to say the least and he sensed that he had something to do with that. It was the last thing he wanted to do to her. He composed his thoughts in his head quickly.

"About this…what happened on the mountain."

"It's ok, Gibbs."

"Listen. I…" Gibbs started but then stopped. His memory flashed on audio, something from his subconscious: Kate's voice expressing her love. He cocked his head to the side and tried to recall more of the memory but couldn't. Kate saw the shift in him and wondered what was wrong.

"What?"

"I just remembered something," he said softly as his mind registered the impact of the words. He rolled it over quickly in his mind and looked at Kate. "Tell me how you feel about me."

"What?" Kate asked slightly shocked.

"Tell me how you feel about me," he said stronger this time. Kate locked eyes with him and swallowed. He could see it written all over her face, but he wanted to hear it. He wanted to know if he was remembering something real, or something imagined.

"I…" Kate hesitated as she fought for control. "I love you, damn it. I have for a long time."

Gibbs was quiet; he didn't know how to respond. He knew she had feelings and he knew he had feelings but he'd never really let himself explore it in the past. It had always held too many complications, and he liked his life to be simple. Suddenly it didn't matter. He saw what Tony was talking about, and he saw what his future could hold. NCIS may not be an issue anymore; it was only him in the way now. If what the doctors were saying was correct, there was a good chance he wasn't going to be able to perform as a field agent anymore, and a desk job was not for him.

"Say something," Kate said as tears slipped from her eyes. He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"I love you too, Kate. Up on that mountain, it was fear holding me back. Now, I…I guess it doesn't matter anymore does it? I think we can work it out. I think…"

"We can give it a try," Kate finished for him. He simply nodded slowly as Kate pushed from her bed. She grabbed one of the crutches and hobbled over to his bedside. As soon as she was in reach, he reached out and took hold of her. She sat on the side of his bed, leaning down slowly.

They paused staring into each other's eyes for a moment before Kate closed the distance and placed her lips on his. Their kiss was slow and exploratory as they both savored their new confessions. When they broke apart for air, Gibbs took hold of her hand.

"A new beginning," Gibbs said as he kissed the back of Kate's hand. Her lips curled into a face splitting smile, as her eyes sparkled with love. Gibbs closed his eyes and pulled her down beside him. Kate settled against his body and soon they were both sound asleep.

Dusty had kept in contact with Agent DiNozzo, getting updates on both Agents Gibbs and Todd. He rarely left Grayson's side in the two weeks since Levi had died. He had helped Grayson cope but there was a long way to go.

Grayson was seeing a shrink already, one that NCIS had provided for him, and Dusty could see a difference already. It was going to take some time, as the guilt was heavily manifested in the young man, but Dusty saw light at the end of the long tunnel.

Zack was being an immense help. He was on medical leave from the Navy while he healed from his gun shot wounds, and he spent every waking moment with his brother. Dusty had moved in with Grayson and Janie, as had Zack, and they had begun to live as a family. It was something Dusty had never experienced before and he found himself liking it.

His relation ship with Janie had been evolving ever since that fateful day and he wasn't sure where it was headed, but he decided to stop fighting it and let it take its course. As far as he could tell, Grayson hadn't any objections to it. Grayson had continuously asked for updates on the agents, making sure that they all survived. Dusty was grateful that they had, added guilt and grief would have destroyed Grayson for sure.

As time moved forward he saw the healing process starting to take hold, and it pleased him. That day was slowly being left behind them and everyone seemed to be healing at their own pace. As he stood on the porch, on the Colorado mountainside, the chill air of the early winter nipping at his skin, he felt things were going in the right direction.

TBC…