Jackson arrived fifteen minutes after Abby had gotten to Gibbs' room. Abby tired to step back so that Jack could take her spot, but Gibbs grabbed hold of her hand, and tried the best he could to shake his head.

"It's okay, I won't leave you. I'm right here." Abby soothed, running her thumb over the back of his hand. "I'm right here."

"It's alright, Abby, I can stand on the other side." Jack moved around the bed and looked down at his son. "You gave us all quite a scare. Glad to see you're awake, son."

Gibbs closed his eyes briefly in acknowledgement.

Tony watched as Abby seemed to waver, so he pulled a chair up behind her so she could sit.

"Thanks Tony."

Tony just nodded and stepped back.

Abby had a hard time taking her eyes off Gibbs'. She was sure that every time his eyes closed, even in a quick blink that they wouldn't open again.

"Miss Sciuto?" A porter stepped in through the door, bringing a wheelchair with him. "I was told to take you for your scan. It shouldn't take long."

Abby glanced over her shoulder before returning her gaze to Gibbs.

G-o, he formed the two letters against her hand.

Abby frowned but slowly transferred herself to the wheelchair that had been wheeled up beside her chair. "I won't be long, Gibbs. I promise."

Abby was wheeled from the room, and the three agents stepped up to his bedside, Ducky stepping up beside Jackson.

"Jethro, it's good to see you awake, but try and get some rest. It's the best medicine." Ducky placed a reassuring hand over his.

"Yeah, boss. We've been worried sick. Get some rest. We aren't going anywhere, and Abby will be back soon." Tony tried for cheerful, but didn't quite make it.

Gibbs' right hand started moving slowly again. Tony recognized as he spelled out Abby, and then the O-K. "Sure boss, Abby is fine. A little bruised up, and her wrist was broken. They might even discharge her tonight. She'll be moving slowly for a few weeks still, but… I'll watch out for her." Tony promised.

Gibbs fixed him with a glare and Tony continued. "Oh, the scan, right, um… She has… had, I dunno, a bad concussion and there was a little bit of swelling in her brain. Her last scan showed that it had gone down, and if this scan shows that it's gone, they maybe she can be discharged. Though I don't think she'd leave you here."

Gibbs tried to close his eyes, but sleep wasn't coming as easy as he'd have liked. The tube was uncomfortable in his throat, and his body ached. He waited for Abby, and as he did various nurses and doctors stopped in to take a look, noting various things in his paper work, and replacing the IV bags hanging by his bed.

He wasn't sure how long it had taken for Abby to get her scan, but he could hear Abby's chatter with the porter about how happy she was that he had woken up, long before she was wheeled into his room.

"Abby! How'd it go?"

"They'll find me once the neurologist takes a look." Abby shrugged and pushed herself up from the wheelchair. Looking down at Gibbs, she smiled. "Hey you, I told you I wouldn't take long."

Gibbs wasn't sure how long it had been, but if Abby said it hadn't been long, it hadn't been long. He was just grateful to see her smiling down at him. Her fingers traced his face and his eyes fluttering closed at her soft touch. His eyes opened again when her fingers drew back. Gibbs opened his eyes to watch Abby, but soon his eyes grew heavy, and with a kiss to his forehead and a sweep of her hand across his face, he felt himself drifting asleep.

Abby sat quietly by his bedside for three hours before Dr. Sheen came in search of her. "Good news, Abby. The scan shows no sign of swelling. I don't want you alone, but I think we can discharge you from the hospital."

"That's great! And she won't be alone, I can promise you that." Tony stepped up.

"Good to hear. But she needs to go home. She needs sleep, in a bed, not in a chair by his bed." Dr Sheen nodded towards a sleeping Gibbs.

"But I-"

Tony cut her off. "I'll make sure of it."

Gibbs slept through the announcement as well as the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening. Abby voiced her concern, but the nurse assured her that he would likely sleep well into the next day, that his body was exhausted, and although he had been in a coma, he needed more sleep. The nurses' reassurances didn't do much for Abby, but when Ducky echoed the nurses' sentiment, Abby relaxed slightly.

"It's eight, Abby. I'm taking you home to get some sleep. I'll bring you back first thing in the morning."

"No, not yet. I can't leave him yet. What if he wakes and I'm not here?"

"I'll be here, Abby." Jack explained. "I won't leave."

"And I will stay as well." Ziva said. "McGee can go get some rest, and Ducky, your mother is probably waiting."

"I…"

"We will call if there is any change, or if he wakes up again." Ziva stepped up to Abby's side. "He needs his rest, just as you need yours."

Tony guided Abby back into the wheelchair after she said a quiet goodbye to Gibbs. She was silent on the ride home. Tony was unsure if he should bring her to his place, or if she'd prefer the home she shared with Gibbs. In the end, Gibbs' place won out, as all her stuff was there. It had nearly been a week since Abby had been home, and she stood in the entry way observing everything.

Tony helped her upstairs, and dug out a pair of pj's and directed her to the shower. He started the water for her, and placed a clean towel on the rack. "I'll be right outside if you need help, okay?"

Abby tried to be quick in the shower, but the heat soothed the deep ache in her muscles. She used Gibbs' soap instead of her own, and leaned gently against the tiled wall. The relief she felt with him waking up bubbled up inside, and she couldn't help but cry. She tried not to make a sound, but the few sounds she did make were covered by the sound of the shower. With the water eventually running cold, Abby stepped out and cautiously dried herself off before changing.

As he had promised, Tony was waiting right outside. "You okay?"

"Will be."

Tony followed her to the master bedroom, and pulled back the covers for her. "I'll be in the living room watching TV for a bit, and then in the guestroom. Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all."

"I will."

"Good." Tony leaned over her and kissed her forehead before sitting down next to her. "Uh, Abby?"

Abby's eyes had drifted shut, but opened when he had said her name. "Yes?"

Tony shifted slightly before he spoke. "I uh, I don't think I've ever really made it clear, and uh, I was just thinking that you never, well, you never really know when it could be too late…"

"Made what clear?"

"How much I love you, Abbs. I mean, well, you know what I mean. You're my family, Abby. My only family, and if something happened to you, and you weren't able to pull through… I don't know what I'd do. You've been there for me for so long, longer than anyone else and I… I just want you to know that I love you. You're my best friend. The very best, of the best."

When Abby struggled to sit, up Tony wrapped an arm around her to help her up. Abby touched her lips to Tony's cheek before pressing her face against the warmth of his neck. "I love you too, Tony. And of course I consider you part of my family, and you know you are my best friend too. I wouldn't have made it through all this without you. I would've given up long ago if it hadn't been for you."

Tony held her a little longer before easing her back. "Enough of the sap, Abby. A guy can only handle so much."

"You started it."

"And if you tell McGoo, I'll deny it."

"Goodnight, Tony." Tony kissed her forehead one last time and then headed downstairs, leaving the door to the bedroom slightly ajar.

Abby was just dozing off when she heard the phone ring. Jack had promised to call if there was any change. Soon she heard Tony's heavy footsteps up the stairs as he called her name. "Abby…"

-----

TBC…