Slow Burn

A/N: Spoilers for Till Death Do Us Part. Also a change in canon – I'm ignoring the phone call to Ziva from Eli in the elevator, partly because I need to or the scene below wouldn't have worked, and also coz I never bought that they could have got a signal in that elevator, and certainly not when most of the cell towers in the area were probably overloaded anyway.

Chapter 6 – Ashes to Ashes

"... without further bloodshed."

Those words from earlier in the day echoed in Tony's head as he sat slumped on the floor in the stifling heat of the elevator.

God knows how many hours he'd been trapped in here with Ziva after the bomb went off but right now, it felt like a week. But the longer they were stuck and the more they didn't hear any news on their phones, the more convinced Tony became that Gibbs was dead.

He'd tried not thinking about that and that didn't work too well... and now it was all he could think about.

And how many others were dead?

Vance's car had been parked right out front and from the way the explosion had rocked the elevator, for all he knew, half the front of the building may have been destroyed.

Were Abby, McGee and Vance among the injured... or dead?

How many other co-workers and friends were badly hurt or gone?

At least Ducky and Jimmy were safely out of harm's way. It was a small crumb of comfort, no more.

Ziva hadn't talked about the team either but Tony was pretty certain she was deliberately avoiding the subject, just like he was, because the worst case scenario was just too horrible to contemplate.

It was almost like if they talked about it, that would make it real.

But however he looked at it, Tony couldn't imagine any other outcome than that Gibbs and Cole had been killed when the bomb went off outside the NCIS building.

He'd seen the two of them headed for Vance's car as he and Ziva left the bullpen to help with the evacuation. So unless they'd managed to get the bomb out of the car and themselves to a safe distance, there was no way Gibbs would have walked away from that car, even if the bomb was counting down under his nose.

He'd have been right there at the car to the very end.

It would be a very Gibbs thing to do.

And the thought that Gibbs could be dead caused an overwhelming grief to rise up and nearly choke him.

So his thoughts spiralled around in ever decreasing circles until Tony thought he was going to freak out, any second now.

Banging noises and the door opening a crack startled Tony out of his morbid thoughts and when it widened to reveal Abby's smiling face, he felt relief bubbling up at the sight of his friend.

Crawling forward with Ziva, he joined in the laughing admonishment as Abby went into one of her familiar rambles but Tony had to agree with his partner, he'd never been more glad to see Abby's gorgeous face.

And never had he been more thankful to see her smiling.

A sliver of hope was uncurling inside him as he took in her wide grin and listened to her babbling.

There was no way Abby would look that cheerful if Gibbs was... not okay.

Sliding out of the elevator after Ziva, Tony waited until she'd been swallowed up in an enthusiastic Abby hug and when the two women separated, Tony tugged Abby into his arms. Her own came around him and squeezed tightly as she hung on and for once, Tony didn't protest at the stranglehold which closed off his airways but relished the warmth of his friend.

Tony waited until Ziva had walked away with the rescue guys before pulling back to examine Abby's face. She was covered in dust and dirt, her pigtails askew but she looked unhurt, except for... Tony tilted her neck, noting the bandage covering the pale skin but Abby cut him off before he could say anything.

"It's fine, Tony... it's just a cut."

"So glad you're okay. Is..." he broke off, his voice failing him.

He felt her hands cup his face and Abby smiled up at him, leaning in to murmur. "He's okay. Gibbs is okay, Tony."

Tony swallowed around what felt like a boulder in his throat and he hugged Abby close again, closing his eyes as the relief washed over him, needing more than a moment to calm down after the strain of the past few hours.

Abby's arms came around him again, holding him close. "McGee's at the hospital but he's gonna be just fine. He got cut by flying glass but it's only a few stitches. Leon is okay too."

Tony pulled back. "What happened? I thought Gibbs'd be by the car."

Abby's smile was bright, even as her eyes filled with tears. "He saved me, Tony. He came back into the building... left the car. I mean, it was right outside my window… I didn't even know," she finished in a whisper.

Tony tugged her back into another hug, rubbing his hands soothingly up and down her spine. "No way you could, Abbs. It all happened so fast."

"Cole persuaded Gibbs to go back in when they saw me through the window. Like… everyone else is heading outta the building but Gibbs came back in. He rescued me." Tony cupped her cheek, smoothing a smudge of dirt off the pale skin as she went on, her voice small and quiet as she bit her lip. "I might not be here if he hadn't, Tony."

Tony rested his forehead against hers as he took it all in. "Sounds like you saved him too, Abbs. If he hadn't come in to get you..."

"I know, Tony. That's been going around in my head ever since. He was already my superhero before but after this..." Abby waved her arms. "I mean, not that you're not my superhero too, you know that, right?"

Tony chuckled. "Glad to hear it." He kissed her forehead. "Was worried about you... both of you. Hell, I was even worried about McGoo."

"I know," Abby smiled fondly at him, tilting her head. "And Gibbs has been worried about you too. We all have, wondering how badly damaged the elevator was, but Gibbs has been pacing about like a grizzly bear, growling at everyone to get that door open and get you both outta there."

"Where is he?"

"Here."

Tony's head snapped up at sound of that familiar voice.

Never had that deep voice sounded so good or the sight that greeted him as he turned around so welcome.

Gibbs was standing at the end of the corridor, covered in dust, his face drawn and tired but the relief on his face obvious.

Tony walked towards Gibbs, eyes locked on his, not caring what his own face might be revealing. When he came to a halt in front of Gibbs, he felt his vision blurring as his eyes filled with tears and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse.

"I thought you were dead."

Tony stepped forward, letting his emotions get the better of him, and pulled Gibbs into a fierce hug, expecting resistance or, at the very least, tension so he was more than a little surprised when the Marine's arms came around him and hugged him back... hard.

Tony let his forehead drop to Gibbs' shoulder as he drew in a few ragged breaths, trying to get himself under control. He felt Gibbs' hand come up to squeeze the back of his neck...

... both men oblivious to a softly smiling Abby standing watching them at the end of the corridor. She nodded once to herself before turning to walk away.

Eventually, Tony pulled back from the hug, laughing shakily and scrubbing at his face. "Boy... the dust in here sure makes your nose run and eyes water, Boss."

Gibbs smiled softly. "Sure does, DiNozzo."

Tony held his breath as they stared at one another for a long moment, seeing that Gibbs' eyes were suspiciously bright too. He expected Gibbs to pull his hand away any second, but the older man seemed unconcerned that it had slid around to the side of his neck, his thumb now grazing Tony's jaw.

Gibbs' eyes roamed over his face and Tony saw him struggling with something before he eventually spoke. "Thought any minute I was gonna hear that elevator fall."

Tony smiled. "It wouldn't dare... not with the Ninja on board. Looks like it held up to all the abuse you've given it pretty well too."

Tony had meant it as a joke to lighten the moment but instead, he saw Gibbs flinch and felt the hand tighten briefly on his neck. Momentarily startled, Tony stepped closer again. "Hey, you weren't thinking about that, were ya? I mean I know I tease you about all the emergency stops but I really doubt it was a factor in what happened."

"Crossed my mind," Gibbs admitted after a moment.

"Gibbs, don't go there, 'kay? We're both fine. Well, except that Ziva's cranky from being stuck in there with me." He rested a hand on Gibbs' shoulder, feeling the tension in the muscles and squeezed reassuringly. "Abby told me about McGee... he really gonna be okay?" Tony asked, feeling a change of subject would be good.

Gibbs nodded, finally letting his hand fall and Tony missed the warm contact immediately. "Yeah... Tim didn't realize he was injured at first. Hospital's fixing him up now."

Tony reached up to turn Gibbs' head, seeing the blood on his ear. "And you?"

Predictably, Gibbs shrugged it away. "It's nothing."

"Coulda been a lot worse. Abby told me what happened. Stuck in there, I was so sure you were at the car until..." Tony trailed off, unable to even finish the thought.

Gibbs shook his head. "Cole stayed at the car. We saw Abby was still in her lab. She was just yards away from it, Tony. Didn't even know the bomb was in the car. She had no idea how much danger she was in."

Gibbs drew in a deep breath and Tony's heart ached for the terrible choice his friend had been faced with. Tony cleared his own throat against the upsurge of emotion, at the realization of how close he'd come to losing two people he loved.

"And you went back for her."

"Yeah." Gibbs nodded. "Cole insisted I did too, which... surprised me."

"Wow." Tony ran a hand over his head as he processed everything. "Then I guess this time I owe him a big thank you, for saving you... and Abby."

"Yeah, me too but he didn't make it."

Tony stared at him for a moment. "How many more didn't make it?

"Too many." Gibbs shook his head and Tony saw his jaw clenching. "They're still doing a body count... even more injured at the hospital."

Tony blew out a breath. "Helluva day, and I gotta tell you, Gibbs, it's not right up there in my top five."

"No kidding."

"At least Ducky and Jimmy are safely out of it and having a good time, hopefully. Has anyone gotten through to let 'em know, though I guess the phones are down... we couldn't get a signal in the elevator and believe me, I tried." Tony saw the pain flash across Gibbs' face and stumbled to a verbal halt. "What?"

Gibbs swallowed hard and Tony thought he'd never seen him look so... defeated. "Dispatch called Ducky to tell him. He had a heart attack."

Tony felt the shock of that hit him.

What the hell else was gonna happen today?

"Oh, jeez... d'ya know how he is. Abby didn't mention it."

"She doesn't know, not yet. None of 'em do. Palmer's with him. I just got off the phone with him. They're gonna operate tomorrow but he's made it this far."

"Ducky's a tough old bird. I'm sure he'll be okay... gotta think positive, right?" Tony reached out to rest a hand on Gibbs' arm, waiting till he nodded.

They stared at one another for a few more seconds until Tony cleared his throat, conscious he was close to embarrassing himself again by pulling Gibbs in for another hug.

"Guess we better get back to work."

Gibbs nodded. "Lots to do. Can you get Ziva and Abby together in the bullpen and I'll tell 'em about Ducky after I've told Vance."

"D'ya want me to tell 'em?" offered Tony.

"I'll do it." Gibbs paused. "Will you take Abby home later? Don't want her to be alone."

"Sure, Gibbs." Tony nodded. "Probably not a good idea to let her brood on... stuff. But who's gonna babysit you?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Fornell's hovering like a mother hen already."

Tony chuckled at the mental image. "Okay, I'll leave you in charge of that one. Right, let's get this show on the road, shall we?" Tony turned to go as Gibbs nodded and then he paused to look back at Gibbs. "Scared the crap outta me, Jethro. Thought I'd lost you there... for more than a second."

Gibbs blinked slowly. "Thought the same, Tony."

TBC...