So I know I said that Kate moving into her dorm at Salem State was next. But I got blackmailed into posting this chapter next. The payout for posting this will be well worth it though. I'm not telling what I'm getting, but it'll be well worth mixing up the random order this story will be going in.
In this chapter Kate is sixteen, and is kinda fed up with school in general. because she's this close to summer vacation REVIEWS I NEED THEM!!!!!
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Kate sat in her math class completely oblivious to the events on the dock the night before. While her mom and Abby had scrabbled to get to Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Kate and Becky had been swapping ghost stories and fashion tips.
Today however was a different story. "Miss Gibbs," Mr. Sullivan said. "Ms. Donovan wants to see you in her office."
Kate sat up puzzled. "Did she say why?"
"No. She mentioned that your mother is here however." Mr. Sullivan said as he filled out a hall pass.
"Okay." Kate said picking up her messenger bag. "Do we have homework tonight?"
"Not tonight." The class of sophomores cheered. "I'm hoping you aren't in trouble." Mr. Sullivan added.
"Me too." Kate said. "Bye, Mr. Sullivan."
Kate walked down the hallway, down three flights of stairs and down another hall to the main office. Kate opened the office door and slid in. "Uh…" Kate said to the secretary. "Ms. Donovan wants to see me."
The secretary looked up from her computer and pointed to the principal's office and returned to the romance novel propped up on the keyboard.
Kate opened the door and saw her Mom and Ms. Donovan conversing quietly. "Hey, Mom." Kate said.
"Hi, Honey." Jenny replied as she stood up and wiped her eyes. "I'm afraid I have some bad news."
"OH MY GOD!!!" Kate said dropping her bag to the ground. "Who got hurt?"
Jenny smiled sadly. "Your Dad was caught in an explosion last night…"
"No! No, no, no, no, NO!!" Kate cried as she ran to her mom and threw her arms around her. "Is he gonna be okay?" She asked as she buried her head in Jenny's neck.
"I don't know, Sweetie." Jen admitted. "He's in a coma right now, and Tony and the team are trying to find a missing suspect and finding the person responsible for setting the bomb off."
Kate began to cry even harder. "I wanna go see Daddy."
"I know Katie-Pie," Jenny said using her old nickname for Kate. "I know."
"Take as much time as you need from school." Ms. Donovan said handing Kate a box of tissues. "Your absences will be excused until your father's injuries have been fully healed."
"Thank you, Ms. Donovan." Jenny said. "We appreciate this."
"It's the least I can do." The matronly principal said as she ushered the upset Gibbses out of her office. "I do hope Mr. Gibbs makes a full recovery quickly."
"Me too." Kate said. "Thanks again Ms. Donovan."
"Good bye Kate, Mrs. Gibbs." Mrs. Donovan said.
Jenny and Kate got into the back of one of Jenny's black Lincoln Town Cars once Kate had been signed out, and sped off towards Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
"Mommy, I'm scared." Kate admitted. Jenny was stunned. Never in the eleven years Jenny had known Kate, had Kate called Jenny 'Mommy'. 'Mommy' was especially reserved for Shannon, her birth mother.
"I know, Kay. You've got to be strong for your Dad." Jenny said squeezing Kate's hand. "He's going to need us when he wakes up."
Kate nodded, the tears falling freely. "I want my Daddy!" she whimpered, "I want him to wake up now!"
"Oh, Baby." Jenny crooned. "Demetri." She snapped.
"Yes, Madam Director?" the driver, Demetri, responded.
"Step on it. I don't care how many traffic laws we break, SPEED!" Jenny ordered. "Better yet, drive like Officer David."
Demetri laughed. "Yes Ma'am." He replied. "You and Miss Kate may wish to tighten your seatbelts and hold on."
The two quickly adjusted their safety belts and grabbed the 'Oh Shit!', or as Kate used to call them, the 'ocean' handles as Demetri expertly weaved his way through the DC traffic.
"Where'd you learn to drive like this?" Kate asked.
"Watching NASCAR!" Demetri replied as they dodged a Metro bus. "And the Jason Bourne movies."
"Oh." Kate said and gripped the handle even tighter. She'd seen the state of the cars Jason Bourne used in the chase scenes. Those cars were barely drivable by the end of the chase.
Despite Demetri's erratic driving, Jenny and Kate made it to Portsmouth in one piece.
"We're here to see NCIS Senior Special Agent Gibbs." Jenny told the nurse throwing out Jethro's full title.
The head nurse just sighed and buzzed them into the trauma wing. After all, wouldn't you let the woman who had Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, on speed dial in?
"Is Dad alone?" Kate asked as they made their way to the ICU.
"No." Jenny said. "Abby's with him."
"I meant does he have his own room." Kate said.
"Oh," Jen said. "Yes, in that sense, Jethro is alone."
"Can I stay until he wakes up?" Kate inquired hopefully. "Cuz that's what he and Tony did in shifts that one time Dr. Finch thought I had meningitis while you were in Europe."
"When was that?" Jenny asked.
"September of 2000." Kate replied. "That's how Becky and I met."
"Oh, yes." Jenny said as the stepped off the elevator. "Now I remember."
"KATIE!!!!" Kate spun to the right to see Abby heading their way.
"ABBY!!!!" Kate cried back and sprinted to Abby. The two connected in a hug that had Abby lifting Kate up and spinning her in a circle.
"Oh Sweetie! This is so scary!" Abby said as she squeezed Kate.
"I know!" Kate sobbed. "I just want him to wake up."
"We all do, Kate." Jenny added. "We all do."
"Which room is his?" Kate asked.
"This one," Abby said as she pulled Kate into the room.
"Oh, Daddy." Kate said as she started to cry again.
Jethro's head was wrapped in white gauze and bandages. Half of his face, the half not facing the door, was covered in burned skin. His complection was pale, and there was a breathing tube down his throat. Kate couldn't tell if there was anything else wrong because of the blanket up to his chest.
"Do you think he'll wake up soon?" Kate asked, her voice sounding small.
"I don't know." Jen admitted. "The doctor said he could wake up today or next month."
"How long was he in a coma for when I was born?" Kate asked, and idea forming in her mind.
"I don't know." Jen reiterated.
"Can I call Callen and ask him?" Kate requested. "Please?"
"Here" Jenny said handing Kate her BlackBerry. "The Los Angeles OSP office number is in here."
"Thanks, Mom." Kate said accepting the phone. Kate stepped out into the hallway to make the call.
"OSP LA." A voice said as the phone was answered. "This is Eric."
"Is Callen there?" Kate asked as she sunk to the floor.
"Uh, nope." Eric said. "May I ask who's calling?"
"Kate Gibbs." Kate replied as she began to hug her knees. "Can you tell him that 'The Gunny got himself blown up and he's in a coma' please?"
"Sure thing." Eric said. "Does 'The Gunny' have a name?"
"Gibbs." Kate said as she wiped her face. "Actually, do you know where he is?"
"On assignment." Eric said. "It's obviously top secret, as this is the Office of Special Projects."
"Hold on a sec." Kate said. She got up and opened the door to her Dad's room. "Hey, Mom?"
"What, Kate?"
"Can you make Eric tell me where Callen is, please?" Kate asked holding the BlackBerry out to her Mom.
"Sure." Jen said getting up from the cot in Jethro's room. "I'll be right back Abby."
"Okay, Director. I mean Jenny. I mean Director Jenny." Abby said. "I'll just be quiet now. Just hurry incase the Bossman decides to wake up."
"Alright, Abbs."Jenny said. "Eric?" she said into the phone sweetly.
"Yeah? I'm still here." Eric said. "Like I have anywhere else to be today, like the beach." The computer whiz/surfer added.
"This is Director Sheppard." Jenny said.
"Director!" Eric shouted. You could hear him scramble to sit up and minimize some windows on a computer like Jenny had snuck up behind him. "What can I do for you Ma'am?"
"Get me Agent Callen on the phone." Jenny ordered. "I believe Miss Gibbs told you to find him."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Eric said. "I'll have him call this number right away, Ma'am."
"You do that Eric." Jenny said sweetly. "Kate will be waiting to hear from him." The director disconnected and handed the phone back to Kate. "Here you go, Kate. We really need to get you your own phone."
"Thanks, Mom." Kate said. "Can I get a Razor?"
"I'll think about it." Jenny said and went back into her husband's room.
Just after Jenny went back into the ICU suite the phone rang. "CALLEN!!!" Kate yelled as she answered it, not bothering to check the caller ID.
"I'm sorry?" A female voice asked.
"Oops. Sorry Dr. Rice." Kate said recognizing the Secretary of State's voice. "A friend of my Dad's is supposed to be calling me back on Mom's BlackBerry." She explained.
"It's alright Kate." Dr. Rice said. "I'm just calling to check up on Jethro. Mr. Bush sends his sympathies as well."
"The PRESIDENT? The president of the United States wants to know how MY Dad is feeling?" Kate asked. "No way!"
"Yes, way." Condi said. "How is Jethro?"
"Still in a coma." Kate said sullenly. There was a beeping noise. "I think Callen's trying to call me."
"Alright, Kate. Just be sure to tell your Mom that your Dad is in our prayers."
"Thanks Condi." Kate said. "Bye."
"You're welcome."
Kate hung up, and the phone rang again. "Hello?"
"Kate?" It was Callen. "What's wrong?"
"Oh Callen!" Kate said as she sank to the floor again and the tears fell.
"Katie Baby, what's wrong?" Callen asked her.
"Daddy's in a coma!" Kate said. "There was an explosion and he's not waking up and…and I'm scared!"
"Does your Mom know how you feel?" Callen asked her as he weaved his way through a crowd to get to his car.
"Yeah." Kate sniffled. "Can you come out here? Please Callen?"
"I can't make any promises Kate." Callen said as he bypassed the parking garage and entered the cleverly hidden OSP office. "But I'll try."
"Thanks bro." Kate said.
Callen and Tony DiNozzo were Kate's overbearing, and overprotective big brothers. Even though they weren't really related, these guys watched out for Kate and fondly threatened any potential boyfriends on AIM.
"No problem, Kiddo." Callen said as he waved to Hetty and climbed the stairs to Eric's cave/computer lab. "I'm gonna try to be on the next flight to DC."
"Hey, Callen…" Eric was hard to hear. Kate suspected that Callen was covering the mouth piece.
"Tell the Gunny to wake his ass up." Callen ordered. "And try reading to him. I'll be there in the morning."
"Okay." Kate said. "I'll try reading him Harry Potter."
"Alright." Call said. "Buck up Katie."
"Will do G-Money." Kate replied. "Bye."
"Adíos." Callen replied and hung up.
"So?" Abby asked as Kate came back into Gibbs' suite.
"Callen's gonna try to be here in the morning."
Abby nodded. "I need to get back to the lab. Tony has me running all sorts of tests and I'm at the end of my rope. I'm so worried." Abby babbled.
"It's going to be okay, Abbs." Jenny said comforting the normally energetic Goth. "I'll give you a ride back. I need to pick up Jay-jay and brief SecNav, the White House, and the Pentagon on Jethro's condition."
"Thanks Jenny." Abby said as she gathered up her things.
"Can I stay Mom?" Kate asked as she handed Jenny the BlackBerry. "Callen said I should try reading to Dad."
"Of course, Kate." Jen said. "Ducky's dropping by for the night after he finishes in Autopsy for today."
"Okay." Kate replied as she pawed through her bag and pulled out a well worn copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Jenny kissed Kate's forehead. "I'll see you later."
"Bye Mom. See ya Abby." Kate said as she opened the book and pulled the chair closer to her Dad's bed.
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The next morning G Callen slipped into the Trauma wing and into ICU completely un-noticed and slid into Gibbs' room to find Kate reading to her father.
"Hey Squirt." Callen said.
Kate dropped her book and threw herself at Callen. "CALLEN!!" she shrieked happily.
"Hey Kate." Callen said as the sixteen year old squeezed the beejebbies out of him. "How's Pops doing?"
"He's doing better." Kate said. "He twitched when I got to the part with the Dementors on the Quidditch pitch."
Callen chuckled and kissed the top of Kate's head. "That's really great news Kate."
"I know. Ducky jumped too." She added cheekily. "He fell asleep."
Callen and Kate both laughed. "It's a good sign that you're laughing." Callen said as he let Kate go. "You're gonna be okay."
"I'm okay for now." Kate admitted as she sat down on her cot. "The nurses keep telling me it's gonna get easier to deal with the longer he's in a coma.
Callen nodded. "Where is everybody?"
"The Naval Yard." Kate said as she bit into an apple. "Except for Ducky. He went to the bathroom, like ten minutes ago."
"Cool." Callen said as he put his rucksack down under Kate's cot. "Does Tony know I'm coming?"
"Yeah, Mom told him last night. He's gonna need your help to find that missing guy."
"Ah! Mr. Callen," Ducky said as he ambled out of the ensuite bathroom. "When did your plane land?"
"About an hour ago, Duck." Callen said as he pushed Kate over to sit with her. "Director Sheppard said she called Mike Franks out of retirement to come up here, too."
"Uncle Mike's coming?" Kate asked as she picked up the almost forgotten Harry Potter novel.
"Yup." Callen said. "He's on his way up from Baja now."
"Sweet!" Kate said. "I can't wait…"
Before Kate could finish her sentence, a gurgling sound was heard. Three heads turned to see that Gibbs had woken up and was trying to say something with the tube down his throat.
"NURSE!! NURSE!!" Ducky called out. "He's awake! He's awake!"
A team of doctors and nurses flooded the room. Callen grabbed Kate by the arm and pulled her out into the hall.
"Callen! Let me go!" Kate demanded.
"Kate, we need to give them room to work with your Dad." Callen responded. "We can go in when they're done. Okay?"
"Fine." Kate huffed. "Jay-jay's gonna be happy to see Dad again."
"He's two." Callen said. "He's happy to see everybody. How's Pops doing Doc?"
Ducky had come out of the room with a stunned look on his face. "Jethro doesn't remember me at all."
Kate let out an ear piercing shriek and Callen's face blanched. This was NOT good at all.
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Sorry about the length, I didn't realize how long this really was until I typed it. But, I got it done for your enjoyment. Review please and let me know how you think I handled Hiatus (Part One). I'm gonna need at least ten reviews for you people to see Hiatus (Part Two) and some time to rewatch the episode. But I hope you liked it!
Random fact: I listened to the song 'According To You' by Orianthi like 30 times on repeat while I typed this up. It's my new favorite song. Check it out. =D