Chapter 4

Jethro returned to the hospital two hours later in a clean –bloodless- outfit and looking even more tired than before. Ducky went to him as soon as he saw him approaching.

'How's it going, Ducky? Did you have any news? How's Tim?' If things had gone wrong they would have called him, he thought.

'We still don't know, Jethro. I would have phoned you if I did. The surgery isn't over and I haven't managed to find a doctor yet to get anything new. He did lose a lot of blood and the bullet hit him in a dangerous place. I'd say it's good we don't have anything new. But the blood loss was too much.'

'Duck, what are you saying?' Gibbs didn't even want to imagine what it was to happen if McGee couldn't make it.

'Timothy's blood type is not the most common Jethro, but the doctor hasn't informed me about being in need for extra blood. Yet' His own blood type was also scarce and after Ducky revealed Tim's, and Jethro wasn't actually too shocked to hear it was the same as his, he was ready to be offered as a donor. Ducky saw his expression and immediately stopped him from even offering.

'You're over the age limitation Jethro. You know that, but you can always hope that we shan't reach to the point of looking for blood.' Ducky was going to be hopeful up to the last moment.

Tony soon joined the two men with a pained expression on his face clearly proving his worry about the younger man.

'We found the shooter, Boss. He was aiming at you in an effort to cause upheaval and manage to escape. He was also responsible for both murders and the drug…' Tony stopped talking when he realised his Boss wasn't paying any attention to him. Well, that was not only obvious but also disturbing. Had Gibbs behaved this way when he was in the hospital; and did he actually think so weak-mindedly?

Gibbs though felt even guiltier hearing that his youngest agent, and probably more, was fighting for his life because he had tried to save his. Despite that he turned back to Tony and asked more explanations, that the younger man provided effortless; soon after that Tony remembered that Gibbs hadn't taken part at the investigation.

'Where were you Boss?' After all those years someone would have thought that Tony knew Gibbs good enough to not make unwanted questions. Later on he ascribed it to the worry and stress, but it was late by then.

'None of your business, DiNozzo! I had already contacted the Director .' Tony knew when to stop asking; despite appearances he was not stupid. He wouldn't have been at Gibbs team successfully if he was. Teasing, laughing and joking between colleagues was one thing and staying calm in difficult situation another. And Tony DiNozzo knew the difference very well.

'How's Probie, then?' He turned his attention to the doctor and since Gibbs already knew he went to take some coffee. The night was going to be long.

When he returned every member of his team were at the waiting room. Tony and Abby were sitting close to each other while Ziva was a bit further apart, leaning on the wall to a corner. Gibbs went to Ducky and in less that a minute Ziva followed him.

'Was his family informed?' she asked. Jethro hadn't thought about them before, so sure as hell he hadn't contacted anyone. Information came from Tony.

'I called Sarah and she said she wanted to be the one to phone their parents…' Tony didn't have the chance to finish his sentence when Abby smacked him! Hard!

'Hey?' He rubbed his shoulder.

'Tony, you idiot! You called Sarah to tell her that Tim is in the hospital?' DiNozzo had the decency to look embarrassed about it and at the same time hurt because no one had thought to do it, even with the same courtesy…or lack of it.

'Well, I was the one who actually did it, Abby, and the Director sent someone to pick her up…'

'…I also called Tim's mother. They're already on their way here.' Jenny said presenting herself out of nowhere. She went to Gibbs' side right away.

'Jethro, are you alright?' Her old lover didn't look well and she wasn't used seeing him like that. Despite destructions and great disasters happening, Gibbs was the pillar who steadied everyone; not this time though. When he had called her earlier that evening asking to stay away from the case saying he had an important matter to attend to, Jenny had thought he meant Tin, even though that wasn't the standard Gibbs' behaviour when one of his team members were hurt. Quite the opposite actually, he was always the first to put the culprit down. Her thoughts were interrupted by the presence of a young woman who threw herself into Gibbs arms and therefore cutting his answer short.

'How's my brother, Agent Gibbs?'

'We don't know yet, Sarah. We'll have to wait for a while until the doctors give us some information about the surgery.' He held Tim's sister securely in his arms.

''I'll go and see if anyone will share any information with me.' Ducky said and left after giving a reassuring smile to the newly arrived.

'What happened, Agent Gibbs? How did my Tim get hurt?'

Tony took over after that and explained to Sharon what had happened leaving out of his story all the gruesome details.

Three hours later the doctor informed them that the surgery was successful and Tim's condition at the moment was stable but critical.

Next morning came and the moment Doctor Hobson was once again giving information about Tim's health his parents arrived. Synthia and Thomas McGee were too anxious, tired and worried about their son. The doctor very kindly repeated the same words for the second time and left them to wait a change for the best that hadn't come yet.

Sarah hugged her Mother and finally let her tears fall. Then it was Thom's turn to give courage to his daughter and take some in return as well and Synthia had the chance to look around at the unknown people who were obviously worrying about her son. Her eyes travelled around until they stopped to a pair of a not so unknown icy, blue eyes and felt the world spinning around her.