He wasn't sure where'd she'd gone, but he was frustrated over the next couple weeks. He couldn't get a hold of her. Finally he decided to visit her job. When he arrived at their offices he stopped. One of her agents, a Wilder, Markus Wilder, was there but not her. "Where is she?" he asked sharply, with anger in his voice..

"Agent Gibbs. She said you'd make an appearance. She's on a mission. They called her out with out explaining it. Even I don't know where she is. She told me to tell you that she was sorry? And that she'd call you when she got back." Wilder stood up, after clacking a bit. "She was in a hurry but it sounded like she cared what you thought about her." Wilder said calmly, looking down at the smaller man. Wilder was still intimidated by the marine sniper.

"yeah, well." He muttered something to himself as he thought what to do next.

A noise behind them they turned around. Victoria was standing there looking like she'd walked through a war. She had a bag over her left shoulder, and in her left hand. The other arm and shoulder were in a sling. Her weight was on her left leg, and her face was bruised and cut up. "Victoria?"

"Tori?" both men asked her name at the same time. She winced as both of them came towards her and took her bags from her. "What happened?" Wilder got to the question first.

"I was on a mission? I managed to not get dead if that's any help." She said as Jethro hugged her. She put her one arm around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

"You look like Hell Victoria." He murmured into her hair.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear Jethro. Why are you here?" she asked pulling away, looking slightly annoyed. He sighed, touching her face lightly, as Wilder stood back behind the pair.

"I was wondering where you were. Why didn't you call?" He asked the anger he'd been feeling was gone at seeing her, but he still felt he had a good reason to know.

"I couldn't. Deep cover. It failed four days ago. Nearly got my entire team killed. I'm the only one who's fit enough to walk around. Smith's wife is NOT happy with me." She looked dejected, and discussed with herself.

"what happened?" that was Wilder.

"We didn't hear or see the intruders until they were to close. Didn't lose anyone, but everyone is worse off than me, and we have Sanchez in a coma. I should have known they were going to do that." She was tired, and Jethro could hear the panic and anger in her voice. She was still processing. "We got out two days ago, and they flew us to Bethesda Hospital, and I've just spent forty-eight hours staring at a wall." She said softly, before she started to sway. "I needed to get back here to get paperwork."

"Lire. You wanted to come back here so that you wouldn't have to deal with calling your mom. She's been calling non-stop." She glared at Wilder, who had a straight face. "I'm telling the truth Colonel. You know that as well as me." She sighed.

"I'm not talking to her until tomorrow." She was leaning on Jethro.

"Or not. You are sleeping Victoria. And tomorrow you're eating." She closed her eyes as Jethro spoke. She looked exhausted. He had to stabilized himself as she started to fall asleep. She jolted awake. "Exactly. I'm taking her home. I'm assuming you have time off?" He asked her softly. Her dark eyes looked up at him.

"'M healing. 'm always tired when healin'." She closed her eyes again, and again nearly fell. Her eyes snapping open in surprise and annoyance.

"She does. And it looks like she dislocated her hip and they just relocated it, which explains the limp, that and she's got a sprained ancle."

"How'd you figur' that one out 'lder?" she asked him, sounding a tad drunk.

"You know I'm good at reading you, that and I have an associates in biology. You got hurt. You should go sleep. Gibbs will take you home." He said as she nodded, giggling slightly. Jethro sighed softly. "Don't let her do something stupid. She probably has pain killers and she's funny on any drug of any kind, including beer." Wilder said softly. He'd known her a couple years so he knew her. She'd gotten into more trouble than she'd like to admit, and he was a certified medic.

"I am not!" She said trying to stand up now.

"Like I said. And with out sleep apparently. Take her home. I'll get her stuff done." Wilder said with a grin. He shook his head. "You'll have to walk in the Wounded Warriors part of the parade Tori." He said with a smirk.

"I am not a vetran."

"No, but you did promise you'd walk in the parade. Now we might have to wheel you around." Riley teased her as he grabbed the bags for Jethro. The gray haired man kept quiet. He'd been asked to walk in that parade. It was the Vetrans Day parade. He'd said no.

"She always like this?" he asked as they walked to his truck. He got her in the truck, some how, and she fell asleep almost instantly.

"She's safe. She always stays strong until she gets in a safe place, then she kind of goes… weird. She's always been like that. I mean she's older than me, but her best friend is my sister. She holds herself together until she's in a comfortable place. Don't worry she's fine. Or will be." He said softly. Jethro nodded, and touched her hair lightly, before looking at Riley.

"Talk to ya later." He said as he walked around to get into his truck.

"Take care of her for me. We still need her." The tall man said as Gibbs started his car. He nodded, not answering and put the gray truck into gear.

"Don't need to be told." He told the man curtly before driving off, keeping an eye on the sleeping woman. She was in uniform, and so her hair was back, but whisps of her hair stuck out from her cover (hat), and she looked… beat up. Jethro felt overly protective of her, but he'd kept it under wraps, not wanting to alienate Riley. But only just. What had happened to her? She said her mission had gone wrong, but he wondered. She wasn't telling all. He reached out and touched her hand as he drove. He drove slower than usual (for him), taking in the fact that she was broken, and brused. He stopped at her house, and touched her shoulder. "Victoria."

She snapped awake. "Wha? Home. Jethro, hi." She smiled at him, and he answered that smile with his own. "Thank you." She said as she opened her door, and then stopped. The ground was a hell of a lot farther than she liked. But before Jethro could get out and around the truck she jumped down, landing on her good leg, and using the other for balance.

"You shouldn't have done that." He snapped at her, and that got a glare. She was waking up fast.

"I would have done it either way." She snapped grabbing a bag before he could, and walking into her house, or limping. She crouched as her cat came up meowing sadly, and wrapped her good arm around him, picking him up. He yoweled for a second then went silent as he relaxed into her one armed grip. "I missed you to hon." She murmured to the cat, burying her face in his fur. Jethro moved quietly behind her, stoping and watching her. She practically fell asleep crouched on the floor.

"Victoria, you should sleep." He said softly. She jumped reaching for a gun that wasn't there.

"Don't scare me like that! Your lucky I wasn't armed!" the cat had bolted as she stood up, her hand up. The sling was against her body, and she looked like she was willing to kick him. He put the bag down and wrapped his arms around her, grabbing her hand and pulling it to his chest. She started to cry, and that made him freeze for a second.

"What happened?" He asked softly, as she started to pull herself together. She hated crying, it got her no where. She turned pulling away, going towards her kitchen. "Victoria. What happened."

"I told you. I fell." She snapped. "Lao!" Her voice rang out as she called for her cat.

"Lie. And even if you did fall it wouldn't have left bruses that you've tried to hide." He said angrily, stopping her as she tried to pass him on her way out of the kitchen. "now what happened?"

"I got hurt. It was sapposed to be an easy in and out situation. Hence why the sent me in. Women aren't sapposed to go into any dangerous situation… well ok, flying a jet fighter is dangerous, and they let us up, but that's beside the point. Women are NOT aloud to fight. Medic? Ok fine, but…" her voice faided away.

"You were shot at?" he asked, keeping himself under control. Going to find the guy was not a good idea.

"No. Riley was shot at. I just decided to chace the guy down and try to attack him, with his full six foot six, three hundred pounds of man. Smith managed to catch up in time. Riley's still in the IC. I should be there, but I was ordered home by my CO. I needed to stop by to get papers. Damn I didn't get them." He stopped her as she again tried to go past him.

"You don't need them." He said softly.

"Did I mention James got there in time?" she asked catching the glint in his eye.

"Yes."

"He's in jail now. Not only for crimes against the Air Force but against the Federal Government." She said softly, switching from hurt to guardian of the peace much to easily. "And out of the way. I held a gun on him, and then I lowered it once he seemed docile. Forgot that I'm a buck fourty, buck fifty, and he's a twice my size. Didn't have time to draw. Not the first time I've been in that situation. Seems I keep getting saved by men over five eleven." She said, her eyes distant though pointed at him. "You can't get at him Jethro." Her voice was a great deal sharper than he expected. "And I won't tell you his name." she added, slumping against her fridge as again he didn't let her pass. "He's still asleep." She said softly.

"Riley?" he asked, suddenly starting to understand. "Why?"

"Shock. It nicked an artery, and he lost a lot of blood. Almost to much. But he won't wake up. It's been four days. The… The longer he stays that way the more likely I've lost him." Now the tears came. This time she couldn't control them. He quickly grabbed her as she started to wobble a bit, and pulled her into a hug. "I c-can't l-lose him. I promised Savannah I'd keep him safe… I-I failed." She couldn't talk after that. She cried for a long time. He wasn't sure how long it lasted, but finally she stopped shaking.

"It's ok." He murmured as she leaned back, hickuping, hard.

"N-no. It's *hic* It's not! I asked for him right out of OTS. I picked him because his scores were perfect. He's the perfect soldier, and he's a great agent." She took a deep breath as she leaned against him, just asking for comfort. "He's proved it. And now… now I might loose him. I can't."

"Sh. Sh. It's alright. You haven't lost him yet." He got her to her island, which had wooden bar stools around two sides, and he sat her down on one. "He still might wake up." He said softly, knowing from experience.

"They say there's no brain activity. At least that they can see. I called Savannah and his parents. They are flying out. I can't even tell them that he was reacting to a threat to the capital. I can tell them that he got shot. I know them. Sav is my best friend, and her parents? Like a second family. Or more part of the first. They won't let me stay at the hospital. I'm not family. I was there when he was born, and they won't let me stay and watch over him. He's got no one." She was starting to cry again.

"Come on. You aren't going to relax until you see him again are you?" He asked grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the seat. He was seeing similarities, though not through her long friendship, but through the fact that Riley J. Anderson was her Anthony D. DiNozzo. He'd nearly lost Tony more than once, and he had a feeling that this was the first time for her. She was trusted with the life of her team. And she'd done something stupid.

"But I'm sapposed to sleep."

"You won't get any until you've seen him again. Come on. I'll drive." He said leading her to his truck. The ride to Bastheda was quiet, and the visit was short, but she was calmer for it. He drove her home again. Only this time she was compliant about sleeping. Her bout of 'drunkenness' was back.

"Jethro? Don't go. You warm." He eyed her as she moved towards her bedroom. She was enticing when she was punch drunk. Though he had a feeling she'd taken her pain killers at some point, because she was beyond loopy.

"I'll stay." He said as she lead the way.

"I know." She murmured as she frowned at her cast, then down at her uniform, then just opted to climb up onto her bed and go to sleep, with her clothing on. He chuckled.

"You sure you wanna sleep like that?" he asked sitting down on her bed. She turned to look at him over her shoulder.

"S eas'r than tr'n' ta find somet'in' to sleep in." she murmured, her dark eyes sleepy. He chuckled. "Stay. Here." She motioned with her good arm beside her before she closed her eyes, the hat falling off, and he snagged it and put it on the table. Next he got the shoes off. He couldn't do anything about her coat, or her pants but she looked a bit more comfortable. He grabbed the blanket at the end of the bed and threw it over her, making sure she was covered before he sat down again. She moved so she was closer, her hip touching his. He chuckled.

"Alright, Alright. I get the point." He murmured softly as he layed down next to her, watching her sleep. He started to pull the pins out of her hair. Slowly the bun came apart as he got the pins and the hair tie out of her hair. He was beautiful asleep. He found himself just watching her.

He woke up to something kissing his nose. He blinked quickly as he realized it was Victoria. "You snore." She murmured to him.

"Good morning to you to." He murmured. She smiled.

"Mh. If it is morning." She murmured, closing her eyes for a second, then looking over his shoulder. "I think one in the afternoon mean's afternoon." She said giving him a cheeky grin before sitting up, wincing slightly. He frowned. "I'm fine." She said giving him a stern glare before as she slipped off the edge of her bed. She landed with a slight tump but there was no reaction, or sound. At least that he could see. She frowned as she glanced around her room. She glanced at her uniform and sighed. "And I'm ironing this for a good hour. That's what I get for actually taking the pain killers." She muttered as she grabbed cargo pants, a baggy t-shirt, and a few other articles of clothing and headed for the bathroom. "you know Jethro, you keep staying over here and your going to have to have more than a suit for the next morning." She said calmly as she closed the door, mostly. She changed rather quickly, though he heard a bit of grunting as she tried to get the clothes over her cast, but of course, no asking for help. He was starting to see a pattern with her. She didn't like feeling helpless, and she kept being put in situations where she was. He sighed, looking around her room. Horses and dragons, eagles and hawks adorned her walls, and shelves. One group of horses seemed more prominent. A palomino paint, running. A white stallion rearing. A palomino trotting and a very old, brown paint standing still. He was missing an ear, and the wear on his paint seemed to say that he was well played with.

She came out, and watched him as she reached up and picked up the last horse, turning him over in his hand. "His name is Beethoven. He was the first horse I ever got." She said stopping beside him. "The palomino has two names. Party Feet and Queen Nefertiti. The white one is Cloud. That one is Salpicado and King Tut. Depending on the time period that I was playing with him. But Beethoven is my favorite." She said as he put it back, glancing at her. "I loved playing with them as a child. I lost or got rid of most of my collection, but those four I just couldn't let go of. Something about them was just to special." She said simply. "I take them overseas with me even. Lao gets jealous because sometimes I leave him behind." She giggled slightly, as he picked up the white stallion. "Cloud was the stallion that managed to keep everyone in line. I was a lonely kid, and those four were the center of my world. Salpicado was his deputy, or more like his older brother who could get away with anything. Party Feet was Sal's mare. And Beethoven was their father. It never changed. The stories changed but never them. My guardian angels." She smiled a little. "I was a crazy kid. Horses, Barbies, and Tonka trucks."

"Doesn't sound bad." He said putting the white horse back down and turning towards her. "Doesn't sound bad at all." He touched her shoulder and then pulled her into a hug.

"Tomboy to the core. Except when I'm being in ordinarily girly. You should see me when I'm wearing the skirt in stead of the pants for the blues." She said with a slight smile. He chuckled.

"Hm. Sounds fun." He teased lightly, kissing her lips lightly as he pulled away.

"Oh yes, I haven't heard that one before." She smirked at him as she pulled away. "Food. I haven't eaten in… three days?" he gave her a rather stern look. "you try to eat the food at the hospital. I got a hell of a lot better when I was overseas." She muttered. He laughed.

"I have. It's not that bad. The pudding's pretty good." He said following her to the kitchen.

"Yes but you do need something a bit more substantial than that." She said opening her fridge. "Eggs, Milk, butter, and I obviously haven't been home in the last two weeks because there's pretty much nothing else." She said half glaring at the moldy bread.

"Let me see. Have flour?" He asked as he slipped past her, grabbing the eggs, and the milk.

"Yeah. In here." She tapped one of the cabinets. "And there's everything else for pancakes or waffles." She said smiling at him. He grinned back.

"How'd ya know?" he asked her as he moved about.

"Uh… I've been making pancakes since I was eight, and that was what I was going to make before you decided to ask questions." She said as she sat down smirking slightly. He glanced at her. "Maybe it's not the best idea to be eating breakfast first thing in the afternoon." She said. He stopped and looked at her. "Ok shutting up. I'll just go call my mother." She said with a slight hurmf. He chuckled as she left the room. He heard the cat at his feet and looked down. The gray cat was begging for something.

"What do you want cat?" he asked him as he worked.

"Meow?" somehow the cat managed to ask a question.

"That's helpful… Lao. What? Butter? Milk? Butter. Right." He said softly as the cat meowed at the word butter, and he dropped a small bit on the floor. The cat leaped on it to lap it up. He could hear Victoria's voice. Chatting with someone over the phone.

"Mom. I'm fine. I promise. Yes I'm eating. I'm drinking water. No mother, of course I'm not taking the pills. It's not like I don't need them to not feel the pain. I'm not about to exercise. I nearly broke my hip mom. I'm not stupid." He could tell there was tension, but it also sounded like there was an argument that had been gone over before.

"Mom. I'm fine. No I can't tell you how, but I thought you might want to know. No. my hip isn't broken, just my arm. Yes it's the right one. I know. If I hadn't gone into the Air Force I wouldn't have gotten hurt. I love you mom. I have things to do. Mom. Please. I have to go. Paperwork. Yes I know. When the cast comes off I'll call you. I love you. I'll do that. I know, lots of good food. Green leafy veggies, and you know anything healthy. I'll be sure to do so. Alright I have to go. I love you. I will talk to you later. Tell him I said hello." She said as she hung up. "Bye!" she walked off into the kitchen again. "And she's a wonderful person, but she still doesn't understand why I'm career military." She shrugged, as she put the phone down. She watched him then glanced at her cat. "You gave him butter. Lao? Did you really get him to spoil you already?" she asked as he jumped up on the chair next to her. She reached out and stroaked him.

"He's easy to figure out. How's your mother?" Jethro asked her

"Good. Well good for her. Working hard, and never giving up. She's a diehard hippy, and very much into no pharmaceuticals. Which is not very good when she decides to clean my house. I have plenty of pain pills. Not my fault I keep getting hurt. She freaked two years ago when she decided a good Christmas present was to clean everything, and I mean everything. She had all… thirty of the family here cleaning for two days. When she found the pills she called me at work and freaked out. It was not pretty. Apparently she thought I was an addict. Not sure how she got that." He could hear the stress as he finished her plate and put it before her.

"She love you?" He asked quietly. He remembered his own mother, though she'd died when he was seventeen. Hence the reason he'd become a Marine. He thought a moment about Shannon's mother. His mother in law. She'd been a strong woman. Then again every red head he'd come across was. But Victoria was like them. In her own way. She was quieter, and less likely to get into a fight, but she was feircly independent.

"Yeah. And I know that no matter what happens I can always return. Like to my dad. Though she's not my bio mom. She's like a real mom." She said as she started to doctor her food. She was rather amusing to watch as she scraped with the one hand. She glanced at him with a slight smile.

"That's good." He said softly. "At least she cares." He finished his own plate and sat down next to her. He watched her as she ate.

"Thanks. These are good." She said with a real smile at him. Lao meowed. She held her fork out. "You know Lao, just because I'm eating it doesn't mean you'll like it." She said softly, as he turned his head away from the syrup soaked pancake. "he's the third Lao I've had. Guess I've got to have something that's stayed the same." She said softly, her dark eyes sad for a second. "But they've all been gray tabbies, and all exactly the same. No idea how I pick them, but they all end up the same way. But hey, gotta love constancy." She said with a giggle. He eyed her.

"It's true. Though they all live a long time. Had the same kind of cat since I was eight." She said with a smile. He shrugged.

"Cats are nice. I have a dog named after me." He said with a smirk.

"Yes. I know. Jethro. Nice German Shepherd. Kind of like you. Mostly growl, with a little bite." She smirked. He tried to glare at her. "He's hansom to. Follows orders. I worked with a K-9 unit, so he actually was willing to listen to me. Poor Tim couldn't figure out how to get him to stop barking at every one who might be dangerous to him, including the ladies." She said with a grin. He arched an eyebrow. "What? It's true. He's a good dog. I just never want to have a dog named after me. I have enough trouble with keeping people from calling me Ma'am outside of work." She said with a smirk.

"They call you Ma'am?" he asked teasing her again. "I'd have thought Sir."

"Oh shut up Jethro. Of course Ma'am. I am a woman. At least the last time I checked I was." She smirked as she continued to eat. He arched both eyebrows. "Really? You want to contest that fact?" She waved the fork at him, and he grabbed her hand and took the food that was on her fork and ate it. She gasped. "Hey! I was gonna eat that!" he chuckled as he leaned towards her and kissed her. She laughed as he pulled away, but sobered up as her phone started to vibrate.

"Col. Crane." Her voice was still full of laughter. "Wait. What? They are here? Ok. Get them to the hospital. I'll be there as soon as I can. How's he doing." He could hear a hurried answered through the phone. "Activity? That's good right?" More words. "Thanks James. I'll be there as soon as I can." She hit the end call button and sighed, leaning in on her good arm, closing her eyes.

"He's starting to wake up?" he asked her quietly.

"Maybe. And Sav and her family are here. Along with Jason, her boy friend, or husband. I was never to clear on that. She might be married she might not be." She sighed, keeping her eyes closed. "And I have to go. Like soon. I'm sorry, but I have to. She's my best friend…"

"I understand. I'll drive." He said standing up.

"You have a team to lead. I can drive on my own. Go. I have to do some stuff on my own Jethro. Thanks for the… Linner? Dunch? Never was sure what to call that meal between dinner and lunch. Guess it would be second Lunch or Tea? Oh I have been reading to much Tolkin." She said with a slight laugh as she kissed his slightly scruffy cheek and headed back to her room. He sighed. There were times when he wondered why he ever tried to argue with her. She had her own ways to do things. He got up, have the cat one last scratch and headed back outside. She was quick, and she stopped in her door way when she saw his truck hadn't left. She crossed her arms, or more like, but the good arm over the cast, and stood there for a moment. He chuckled and started the truck, throwing her a playful salute and drove off.