I know his 'recovery' seems really quick, but I need to speed it along for the rest of the story to work. This isn't 'True Life in the ER' so forgive the medical "rush".

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Tony decided not to risk another nightmare, so this time he stayed with her, and Abby, tucked up against him, seemed to sleep free of nightmares until sometime after nine.

Tony felt uncomfortable tucked under the covers of Gibbs bed, but he knew Abby drew comfort from being there, so there was no way he'd suggest they move to the guest bed.

Again he didn't bother with trying to get her to eat, she was already slightly irritated at herself for sleeping so long. They arrived at the hospital to find Ducky standing outside speaking with Dr. Williams.

"How is he?" Abby leaned into Ducky when he put his arm around her in a half hug.

"He's doing remarkably well. He's been awake since eight, and Dr. Williams here just informed me that he was breathing on his own all night, with no problems."

"So you can take the tube out…?"

"Yes, I'm just waiting on one of the nurses. We'll ask you to wait outside, it should only take a few minutes, and then you can come in. His throat will be sore, but it shouldn't last two long, and sucking on ice chips always seems to help. Try to keep talking to a minimum for today."

Abby nodded and Tony smiled. "He doesn't talk much anyway."

The nurse arrived, pushing a cart in, and with a nod Dr. Williams followed her in, closing the door behind him. Jack rounded the corning, having stepped out with Ziva for a cup of coffee, and the five waited together, and Abby cringed when she heard a horrible coughing fit coming from Gibbs' room. A few minutes after that Dr. Williams stepped out. "He's asking for Abby."

Abby's eyes lit up and headed towards the door.

"Remember, don't encourage talking, but a few words won't hurt. There is a bucket of ice on his tray." Dr. Williams held open the door as the nurse stepped out and Abby stepped in.

Dr. Williams turned to Ducky. "His sutures will be removed in a few days, and I don't see why he can't go home a few days after that. I think he'll be well enough to discharge on Friday."

"Wonderful news, doctor, thank you."

As Abby stepped inside and she suddenly felt slightly shy, unsure of what to say, so she settled on something familiar. "Hey, my silver-hair fox."

"Ab-" His voice was hoarse and scratchy, and Gibbs frowned upon hearing himself. "Abbs."

"Shh, doctor said you needed to go easy." Abby moved slowly towards the bed. She bent over him, touching her lips to his gently. "I love you."

Gibbs would never again take those words for granted. He made the sign and repeated the words at the same time.

"Want an ice chip?" Gibbs nodded and Abby smiled as she slipped the smooth ice between his lips. They were silent for a while, looking over one another, formulating questions and then dismissing them as unnecessary. Eventually Gibbs' curiosity got the best of him, and rather than ask the question, he reached out and lifted the hem of Abby's shirt slightly to reveal the bruising that still covered her torso.

"How bad?"

"Not bad." It wasn't a total lie. She knew it could've been worse, could've been much worse. She lifted up her wrist to show her cast. "It's not a bad break; this'll be off soon."

"Concussion?" He croaked out.

Abby frowned. "Tony," she grumbled. "I'm okay, I'm the one that's been discharged. You're the one who needs to be worried about, I'm fine. I'll be sore for a while, but bruises fade."

"You don't need to worr-"

Abby cut him off. "I will worry. There is no way you can change my mind about that, so don't even try. Just accept it and move on."

Gibbs nodded and shifted slightly, motioning for her to move around to the opposite side of the bed. "Other side, Abbs."

Abby moved slowly around the bed. Gibbs shifted again and suddenly it dawned on Abby, what he wanted her to do. The sutures were on the other side – he wanted her to lay beside him.

"This won't hurt you?"

Gibbs shook his head, and took the ice chip that Abby offered.

"You'll tell me if it does?"

This time he nodded and reached out for her. It took Abby a few tries to find a spot that was comfortable for her, and where she didn't feel like she was leaning too heavily on Gibbs. Resting her head on his shoulder, she wrapped both arms around his arm and let out a soft sigh.

"Well that didn't take long." Tony pushed through the doors, followed by the others. "How you feeling, boss?"

"He can't talk, Tony." Abby chided lightly.

"I can too." His voice was still hoarse, but the ice had helped soothed his throat. "I'm fine, DiNozzo." He hesitated briefly before adding a soft 'thanks'. The team sat around chatting softly, and almost, if only for a second, Gibbs felt like they were relaxing at his house after ordering in Pizza – something they had done more often since Abby had moved in. But then the hum of the medical equipment and the steady beep-beep of the heart monitor broke into his train of thought and he remembered where he was.

Ducky and Jackson were happily sharing stories when Ziva elbowed Tony and nodded towards the hospital bed. Gibbs was awake, but Abby was sound asleep, clutching Gibbs' arm, and her fingers wrapped tightly around the dog tags that she had yet to take off since getting them returned from the ER. With the way she was curled up beside him, he couldn't get an arm around her, so he settled for kissing her forehead, murmuring soft reassurances against her skin.

Feeling that the focus was back on him, Gibbs looked to Ducky. "She's really okay?"

"She'll be fine, Jethro. She took quite a beating, but she'll be one hundred percent in no time. You know how quickly Abigail bounces back. They wouldn't have discharged her from the hospital if they still had concerns. And the team here has been doing a wonderful job watching out for her."

As the day turned into early evening, the nurse came in and quietly asked everyone to leave. Abby had woken up from her nap, but still clung to Gibbs. "I don't want to leave."

"I'm sorry, but I really must ask you…" The nurse started, but trailed off when Ziva stepped up to her and ask to have a word outside. Everyone watched silently as Ziva followed the nurse out. It didn't take long for Ziva to return. She looked slightly satisfied with herself when she retook her place next to Tony. "She will bring in a second bed for you Abby. We compromised that you had to sleep in your own bed, but you can stay."

Abby looked beyond relieved. "Thank you Ziva, thank you so much."

A short while after, the nurse wheeled in a second bed, avoiding eye contact with Ziva.

"You guys don't have to stay tonight, I'm not going anywhere. We'll be okay, right?" Abby sat on the edge of Gibbs bed and squeezed his hand.

"We'll be fine."

"You guys could all use a good night's sleep in a real bed. Go home."

The team said their goodbyes, and filed out one by one. Jack lingered a few moments long, watching as Abby scooted her bed a few feet closer to his sons' bed before he too headed back to his hotel.

Abby kissed Gibbs before climbing into her bed. She rolled onto her side so she could see him, ignoring the slight ache from bruises still covering her hips, and slowly drifted to sleep.

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TBC…