Chapter Three

Abby lay still in the hospital ward. They were keeping her in intensive care to be under the constant watchful eyes of the nurses. She was hooked up to three different drips and a bag of blood, drains and stitches surrounded by blue bruises dappled her abdomen.

Ducky and Gibbs followed the green painted lines on the hospital floor through the IC ward, only two visitors were allowed at any time. A nurse was checking her monitors when they reached her bed, both men seemed to remain respectfully out of the way. "When will she wake up?" Ducky asked.

The nurse looked over Abby's face, "She suffered some head trauma, she might have to go in for another procedure when she's strong enough. We have her sedated so that she won't wake up, she needs time to heal." She said it delicately.

"Head trauma?" Gibbs repeated.

"We won't know how serious it is until Doctor Carmen takes a look, He's our leading neurosurgeon." She finished up her tests and jotted down some notes on her clip board. "I'm sorry, I have to look over some of the other patients." She slid between the white curtains and disappeared. Her comforting presence left with her.

Gibbs moved to her side, gently brushing the hair off her damp face with the lightest touch. The nurses had cleaned her up, and her hair was still wet. It looked like black ink trailing down the pillow. Ducky looked worried.

"What are they going to do to her Duck?" He was stern, voice gravelly. He didn't want them to do anything unnecessary. But who was he to tell them not to do anything at all that they wished. He didn't know anything about medicine. He felt a wave of helplessness once more.

Ducky walked slowly to the other side of the bed, his hand resting on Abby's arm. "MRI" He said.
"Dr. Carmen," He said the name elegantly, "Will assess whether or not there is a need for surgery on Abigail's brain." Gibbs looked up sharply.

Ducky held his stare. He tried to hide his sympathy.

A different nurse entered with a fresh bag of clear fluid.

"Nurse, has this patient had her MRI yet?" Ducky enquired as if Abby were one of his patients.

The nurse didn't look surprised, "Yes, they took her before bringing her here." She hung up the bag and switched the pipes over. Checking the levels of the others she added, "Doctor Carmen will receive the results within the hour. She's on the top of the priority list."

Gibbs didn't know whether to be relieved or more worried. Top of the priority list meant two things, that she was going to get immediate care, and that she was in bad shape.

Ducky nodded at her, his eyes returning to Abby's pallid skin. The nurse left them in peace.

Gibbs slid his fingers into the palm of her hand, and gripped it gently as if it were made of thin crystal, something precious. He leaned over her, looking over the cuts and bruises and needles.

Ducky slipped out of the room to return to the reception area. He'd called the rest of the team while Gibbs had paced up and down waiting for news.

Gibbs didn't watch him go, he was mesmerised. "I'm sorry Abby." A tear gathered in the crease under his eye, he hadn't felt this alone since he'd heard the news of his wife and daughter. Now Kate and Abby in the same day. He bowed his head and squeezed his eyes tightly shut, kissing her hand. He regained his composure. The team would be here by now, he had to be strong. He shuddered on the inside suddenly angry that he had to put up a front right now. Annoyed that he was always looking out for them. He stopped his thoughts, selfish thoughts. Irrational thoughts that came with grief. He shook his head and gritted his teeth. 'She is not going to die'

"We're going to get through this Abby, together. I won't let you go, not like this, not before me, not because of me. Not ever." He wished she would open her eyes and smile up at him. But she just lay there.

The first nurse entered and asked him politely to leave, visiting times in ICU were short. Too short for Gibbs, but he didn't argue. He just kissed her with a feather touch on her forehead, avoiding the cuts and scrapes best he could. The nurse treated him with the touch of a woman who had seen this many times before, and somehow it gave him comfort to know that she was taking care of his Abby.

Gibbs left the cubicle and stood gathering his thoughts, stooped slightly, before leaving. He sighed, and shut his eyes, stood up tall and brushed down his suit. He was tired, it had been a long day, he looked at his watch. It was tomorrow already. He took a deep breath and walked towards the double doors. They opened on sensing his movement and he was greeted with the sight of Jenny, Tony, Ducky, McGee, and Palmer all standing as a group. They looked up at him simultaneously, all eyes on his, searching for answers, searching for hope, or a sign. His steely eyes hid his fear well, but did not mask his concern. They all knew how close Abby and Gibbs were, there was no point in denying it, he didn't want to.

He only slowed for a second before head towards them purposefully.

"Gibbs?" McGee seemed to plead with him to tell them good news.

"I've already filled them in on what happened." Ducky advised.

Gibbs felt lost for a moment, unsure of how to tell them, or what to tell them.

"How is she?" Jenny asked.

Gibbs looked each of them in the eye, "She's unconscious." He stopped, how much should he tell them? Should he tell them that she looked paler than he'd ever seen her? That her face was cut to ribbons? That she had drains and drips inserted all up her hand and arm? "She's been sedated until they get the test results back. She was in surgery for two hours." It didn't feel like enough, he glanced at Ducky signalling him to continue.

Ducky waited til he'd finished, "She had some head trauma, they have to make sure there's no brain haemorrhages, or any pressure build up." Tony's expression hardened in a bid to hide his fear.

"Abby would want us to be positive." Ducky clasped Tony on the shoulder, "We just have to stay positive." he repeated as if it gave the words more power.