Chapter 2
Abby's usually white face was stained red, the priority wasn't to get her clean it was to keep her alive. Her hair looked stringy drenched in blood, it stuck to the side of her face and neck. The glass from the windshield had cut into her face, some pieces glinted under the hospital lights. The on-call doctor ran to meet her on the guernsey as they immediately rushed her to an operating theatre. Dr. Melis was quick to assess the damage. "Massive internal damage, head trauma." She ran along side and helped guide them to the correct room. Nurses prepared the room and helped her scrub in.
Gibbs arrived at the hospital and left his vehicle unlocked and parked on an angle. He paced in the emergency waiting room, running his fingers through his hair. He'd already been left vulnerable today, Kate's death had rocked him. He blamed himself, Ari had killed her to get to him. And now Abby was in surgery because he'd caused Kate's death and she'd come to talk to him. He sat down heavily, rubbing his face hard with his hands. His sharp blue eyes stung with tears of guilt.
Ducky strode through the doors and looked around the room, seeing Jethro with his head in his hands on first sweep.
"Jethro." Gibbs stood up to greet him.
"Duck."
Ducky slapped a hand on Gibbs' shoulder.
"A car accident?" He seemed incredulous and concerned.
"Outside my house ," He ran his hand through his hair again, faster this time. "Looked like she'd been reversing. A pick up ran into the front of her hearse." His eyes were wide, and uncharacteristically frightened.
"Do you know who her doctor is?"
"She got here before me."
Ducky patted his shoulder and walked to the front desk to talk to the nurse.
It was dark outside and Gibbs stared out the glass wall into the car park. He felt angry with himself, helpless, guilty for letting this happen. Worried. He was so worried that Abby would die, or be damaged for life. He clasped and unclasped his hands, frowning at his reflection. A car accident. Another car accident to take away the woman he loved. The only thing he could think of was her in a wheelchair, or in a coma, or even dead. His head dropped lower and he wanted to slam his hand through the window.
Ducky came up behind him. "They're working on her now, no news yet. She has Doctor Melis, I've heard of her. She's good Jethro."
Gibbs continued to stare at himself.
"It's not your fault Jethro."
Gibbs' eyes narrowed. "It is Ducky. Ari killed Kate because of me." His voice didn't sound like his own, just saying those words didn't seem real. He still hadn't accepted her death. "And Abby came to my house tonight because of Kate's death." 'And I promised to keep her safe.'
Ducky gave him another moments silence, he knew that the only thing Jethro could do right now was worry and blame. Necessary emotions, and as long as they weren't pandered to they would disappear.
"You can't take it upon yourself Jethro. It was an accident." Ducky said it gently.
They were both quiet. It made sense but how could he not blame himself, how could he not take the responsibility for some part of this accident.
Inside the operating theatre Dr. Melis worked furiously to stop the bleeders, stitching and searing the flesh. "We need more blood here." She said evenly. The nurses complied. "She looks pretty bad," said the first year intern in Dr. Melis' care, with sympathy, "Is she going to make it?". "I'm not giving up on her yet." She said with determination shining through her words.