The lunch wasn't as bad as Alex thought it was anticipating. They ate, and Gibbs told Alex just what NCIS does. And Alex asked about the head slapping but Gibbs just laughed.

Then Gibbs asked about Alex's life. But not the spy part, he acted as though that was not the reason the two of them had ever met in the first place. He just simply asked about his hobbies,sports he liked, his friends, and other basic stuff you would ask if you were meeting someone new. The only time he did mention MI6 was when he asked how spying interfered with his schoolwork.

And at first Alex was on the fence about answering his questions but he quickly warmed up to the man. Alex felt that he could trust him, and he didn't get that feeling a lot anymore.

He felt oddly like he was talking to his Ian after he had been gone on a very long mission and was trying to get caught back up on Alex's life.

"So, after I get my change back what do you say we go to your apartment and pick up Ms. Starbright? Then we'll head to NCIS so we can work out all of our plans. I'm sure she's wanting to go see her family and old friends that still live around here, but she will need an agent close by to keep an eye on her. Better safe than sorry," Gibbs said, getting up and putting his coat on.

"Who's watching her now?" Alex asked.

"The FBI is doing us a favor and watching over her. Just until we get everything set up. We've barely had a day to plan for this," Gibbs explained.

"Are the FBI as good as NCIS's track record apparently is?" Alex asked following Gibbs out of the pizzeria.

Gibbs shrugged, "They have their moments."

They got into the car and headed towards Alex and Jacks apartment. They drove a few miles when Gibbs' cell phone rang.

He answered, listened for a few seconds then shut his phone without so much as a 'bye'.

Then the cars speed picked up. Alex didn't even dare look at the speedometer. And then Gibbs started driving even more recklessly than he was before.

Alex could tell something was up. And they had missed their turn to get to the apartment.

"Gibbs, where are we going?" Alex asked warily.

"The hospital," Gibbs replied through gritted teeth, not looking at Alex.

"Why? What's wrong?" Alex gasped as they narrowly missed an oncoming car as they made a sharp right.

"Alex.....It's Jack. She's in the hospital. She left a bag out on the front steps of the apartment, I', assuming to unlock the door, and when she went back out to get it, she just collapsed. But luckily the FBI saw it happen and got her to the hospital. The doctors think that it's poisoning, Alex," Gibbs explained as gently as he could manage.

"Is she going to be okay?" Alex asked trying and failing to keep his emotions out of his face and voice. Jack was all he had left, he couldn't lose her.

"I don't know, Alex." Gibbs answered honestly, "But we're about to find out."

They flew into a parking space and nearly ran into the hospital. They then made their way to the receptionist, but got cut off by Agent DiNozzo.

"Don't waste your time, Boss. This lady is one rude chick," Tony said giving the blonde lady behind the desk a look, then leading them to the waiting room.

"How is Jack?" Alex asked as they approached Ziva and Mcgee who were also in the waiting room.

"Ducky is back there now, trying to get whatever information he can, he knows quite a few of the doctors around here," Mcgee said, more to Gibbs than to Alex, but he didn't care. He didn't even care who or what 'ducky' was as long a Jack was okay. That's all that mattered right now.

Alex sat down and stared at the double doors where he was desperately wanting a doctor to come through and tell him his guardian would be okay.

Gibbs and the rest of the team had moved off to a corner and was talking, giving Alex some space. Then the double doors did open making Alex jump up.

"Ducky, what have you got?" Gibbs asked the man who had came through the doors, ushering Alex to his side.

But he ignored Gibbs (which is something Alex had a feeling not a lot of people could do and get away with it) and looked at Alex.

"Ah, you must be young Alex Rider, I've heard quite a bit about you young man. I'm Doctor Donald Mallard, but you can call me Ducky," The Doctor replied with a Scottish accent.

"It's nice to meet you Ducky," Alex replied trying his best to still be polite to the man but right now he didn't care about introductions.

"If you're done with your introduction there duck can you tell us what going on with Ms. Starbright?" Gibbs asked again.

"Yes, of course. Well first of all Ms. Starbright was poisoned. With a plant known as the Golden Chain. It makes you excited, and makes you stagger, it can send you into convulsions, and...It can put you into a coma," Ducky finished with a grave look on his face and Alex could tell what was coming.

"She's in a coma isn't she?" Alex asked warily.

"I'm afraid so, Mr. Rider," Ducky replied.

"May I see her?" Alex asked in a daze.

"Yes, you may. Follow me please," Ducky said heading for the double doors again.

Alex followed Ducky so did Gibbs and the team.

Gibbs caught up to Alex and walked beside him, "Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah I'm just peachy," Alex replied sarcastically before he realized the words had left his mouth.

Luckily Gibbs understood and let it go, and fell back to the rest of the team as they approached the door Ducky had stopped.

Alex took a deep breathe and went in. The rest of the team waited by the door letting him have his own time with Jack.

Alex walked in and he saw the cords, tubes, needles, and he felt suddenly nauseous. It hurt to see Jack like this.

Yet he sat down in the uncomfortable chair, moved it closer to Jacks bed, took her hand, and waited.

A/N – Well what do you think? I finally introduced Ducky and I PROMISE Abby is coming for all you Abby lovers out there.

And about the Golden Chain poisoning-apparently that's a real poisonous plant, and that's the symptoms or at least thats what it said off of the Internet if I'm totally off I'm terribly sorry!

And I apologize if Gibbs is OOC around Alex or if he just acts different period. I'm trying to make it like he's taking him under his wing like he does most of the other kids on the show. Haha that parts hard with out changing his character completely...But hang on I'll get there. I'll make him better in the next chapter.

And a Question- Was Alex okay? Not OOC? Maybe A little?

Jesusfreak100percent-It might help you to look it up.....and I'm not just saying that for my fic's purpose it's a really good show. But if you don't look it up and want to still read this fic when you don't get something you can always PM me and I'll explain it to you. But it's completely up to you! :)

R&R is greatly appreciated.