(___________Abby_______________________)
Abby Sciuto walked as quietly as she could in her scuffed up platform combat boots watching the side looks the nurses where giving her and her clothing. When she saw Tony she stopped for a few minutes to gather herself together, he looked pale and tiny in the hospital bed with a half dozen tubes and wires jutting out, so unlike who he really was. She forced the tears to stop flowing and smiled, finding a cheerfulness to share.
"Hey Tony." she took another step into the room. "You should see the looks I was getting. Apparently there ICU patients don't get many visitors in black." she smiled at the outfit she wore. A black skirt and white silk button up shirt with a skull pattern with a lab coat she hadn't bothered taking off in her hurry to get here.
"I think the nurses where worried." Abby forced herself to laugh a little, and to take another step.
"I thought we might die on our way over. I rode here with Ziva. How she got her license I will never know. I bet she used her super ninja skills." She flashed another bright smile and took another step. "But I bet Tim had it worse. The look on Gibbs face when we got here was scary. Poor Tim." Abby crept closer and hesitated. The hand closest to her was free of any wires or tube. She took his hand in hers sitting in the chair next to the bed and listening to all the machines that kept Tony breathing and monitored.
"I can't loose you Tony. Not after we lost Kate. I couldn't handle it, so you have to pull through. For me Tony. But not just me." She added quickly. "For Gibbs. He needs you. He hasn't trusted another agent like he trusts you in a long time. And think of poor Tim. Who would remind him he doesn't know everything. Your, like, the only one who can keep him in check." Abby wiped angrily at the silent tears that were pouring down her face again.
"Tony you fought the plague. This is just a little cold. You can beat this." she squeezed his hand. She stared at him in silence for a moment. "I never did tell you the story of the parking attendant you asked about. Remind me when you are up to it. It's hilarious. So you gotta get better. I need to tell the story to someone."
Abby looked at him. "If you don't get better Tony all I'll have of you is the mop with your picture on it again. And it doesn't talk back very well and it sucks at movie quotes and references."
"You have to get better so you can take me to the movies and tell me all those stupid movie facts that drive us all up a wall. There is an old film festival coming up next month. You have to be better by then so you can take me. Kay? It's a date DiNozzo." Abby stood again knowing the others had to some and say something.
"G….. Until later Tony." Abby corrected herself. "You remember what you promised." Abby took one last look at Tony and walked out of the room.
(______________________McGee_______________________)
McGee squeezed Abby's shoulder as she came out and he went in. the quiet nurses directed him to his partners room. Steeling himself he walked in and sat in the chair.
"Tony Kate isn't here to kick you butt into getting better this time so I'm going to have to take over. But I'm not so great at this. Tony if anything happens you realize what will happen right?"
"Who would pull of the daring rescues and keep up with Gibbs? Without you and your annoying hero thing Gibbs would be gone. He would never have got out of that car in the river. Ziva would be who knows where with that terrorist. I would still be in the IT thing you guys rescued me from."
McGee leaned forward and spoke quietly. "You gotta stick around Tony. I need a partner I can trust to watch my back. Don't get me wrong Ziva's great but she and Gibbs both drive like lunatics. I would have to start riding with Palmer and Ducky all the time fir my nerves. Then I would never get to the crime scenes and I'd loose my job." McGee sat back and looked at the rise and fall of his partners chest.
"If you left I'd have to train a Probie of my own and I'm not ready for that. I still have a lot to learn from you. And Ziva would chew the Probie up and spit them out. And you promised to help me with my aim on Friday. I still need the help Tony."
McGee stood and awkwardly patter Tony's hand.
"I'll hold you to it Tony." He looked back once more and left to let another take his place.
A/N i know the chapter was tiny but i only had a little extra time to write. I'm going to write more tomorrow with Ziva's and Ducky's visits hopefully. thanks again for reading and all the people who have reviews and favorited. As always suggestions comments and reviews are appreciated and loved.
