(d6) A/N: proof-reading=not happening tonight. Too tired! Enjoy...

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0500...

Tony inconspicuously peeked into Andrea's room in ICU, relieved to find McGee asleep on the large chair beside her bed. Sinking back down into the chair outside of the door, he sighed. Exhaustion was taking him over at that point, himself.

Ziva had texted him earlier to see what had happened. He knew he'd replied, but couldn't even recall what he'd said. Suddenly, she was at his side, "Good morning, Tony."

His head turned to her as she sat beside him. "Didn't know you'd be coming by," he said, a bit surprised.

"I brought you both some breakfast," she handed him a brown paper bag.

"Thanks...but honestly, I'm so tired I can't even think about eating. And I doubt McGee will eat right now, either."

"You should go home and get some rest," she said. "I will stay here for a while."

He thought a moment about the request. "Did you talk to Gibbs yet this morning?" She shook her head. "Okay...well, thanks, Zi. I appreciate this. But call me when he gets up." He moved to stand, and Ziva placed a hand on his arm.

"How is he?" she asked.

Tony sighed, peeking into the room once more, "I don't think he's completely accepted what happened, yet. Being here with Andy is important to him," he handed the bag back to her. "I think it's the only reason he hasn't snapped at this point," he narrowed his eyes at his own statement. "Let him sleep; he really needs it."

"As do you," she reminded him. "So go home," she gave him a small smirk. He nodded in appreciation and began his journey out of the hospital.

He pulled out his cell, knowing Gibbs would be up by now, and dialed his boss's number. After two rings, he picked up. "Yeah. Gibbs."

"Hey, Boss."

"Everything okay?"

"Considering... McGee just fell asleep maybe half an hour ago. Ziva stopped by; she's gonna stay here a while with him, if that's okay with you. I really need to crash for a while."

"You good to drive?" Gibbs asked, concerned by the obvious exhaustion in his agent's voice.

"Hope so... if not, I'll pull over and sleep on the side of the road for all I care."

"Just come to my house. It's closer."

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Tony shuffled up to Gibbs' front door, letting himself in as Gibbs had instructed. Quickly hanging his coat, he headed for the couch right as Gibbs walked into the living room with a mug of coffee. "You stay up all night?"

"Probie was up all night," Tony said as he plopped down, laying on the couch. "Didn't really wanna be asleep if he ended up...ya know...wanting to talk or something."

"He talk at all to you?" he asked as he leaned in the doorway.

"What little he said, makes me think he hasn't really let it sink in just yet. I know part of him knows it, but he's fighting it; doesn't wanna believe it. Can't say I blame him..."

"Yeah," Gibbs sighed before taking a long drink from his mug. "Any word on Andy's condition?"

"I didn't hear much about it, but I know she's been unconscious since they brought her in," he told him. "Kendra thought of Andy like a daughter," he explained. "I'm pretty sure McGee's gonna wanna take over where she left off; for Kendra's sake if nothing else." Tony stuffed a throw pillow under his neck and leaned his head against the armrest. "Boss...ya think he's gonna be okay?"

Gibbs looked at him for a long moment as he considered the question. "I hope so," he said as he pushed off of the wall to set his cup in the sink. By the time he returned to the living room, Tony was fast asleep. Quietly, Gibbs made his way out the door after grabbing his keys. He'd get into work early, finish up the report and request time off for McGee, and the rest of the day for the rest of his team...

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Tony slipped back into consciousness along with a stretch that seemed to take over his entire body. As his eyes cracked open, he peeked down at his watch and immediately shot up from the couch, "Shit!"

"Hey," Gibbs said as he came down the stairs.

"Sorry, Boss! I slept in...didn't mean to- wait...why are you still here? It's 1400 hours."

"Calm down, DiNozzo," he said as he entered the living room. "I went in. Vance gave us the rest of the day off."

"Oh," he narrowed his eyes before rubbing the sleep from them. "Geez...Ziva must still be at the hospital," he reached for his cell.

"Duck is there, now," Gibbs informed him. "Sent her home."

"Oh...well, I guess I'll...just get going, then."

"You don't have to go," Gibbs told him as he went to the kitchen. "I ordered a pizza. Thought ya might be hungry."

"Yeah?" Tony was a bit surprised. "Thanks, Boss," he moved around the coffee table, stopping when he felt something crack under his shoe. He picked up his foot and realized he'd stepped on a broken piece of glass. Bending down to pick it up, he glanced toward the fireplace and saw the shattered remains of what used to be a bourbon glass. "Have a disagreement with the fireplace?" he asked as Gibbs returned with two bottles of beer and a glare telling Tony to drop the question. Tony took the hint and stood as Gibbs handed him one of the bottles.

Tony appraised Gibbs' stature as he took the bottle offered. His eyes had focused somewhere near the fireplace and seemed lost in thought. "Somethin's buggin' you," he said, finally.

Gibbs met his eyes for a moment, then took a swig of his beer. "Same thing that's buggin' you, DiNozzo," he said passively and turned to go into the kitchen.

Tony followed him, then realizing what must have been going through his boss's mind the night before. "I think maybe it's a little more than what's buggin' me." Gibbs turned to face him again, a glare setting on his agent until he realized the concern he saw there.

His features softened and his eyes darted around for a moment before settling on Tony's once more. "He doesn't deserve to carry that kinda pain the rest of his life," he told him.

"No one does, Boss," he replied, holding Gibbs' gaze. He was sure he saw the man's eyes begin to redden right before there was a knock at the door and he set his beer down to answer it...

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McGee opened his eyes after trying to move and having a stiff pain run through him. It took a few moments to realize where he was; but he was soon well aware. Glancing at the darkness coming from the window, he assumed he'd only slept a short while.

"Ah, you're awake," his head turned toward the sound of Dr. Mallard's voice.

"Ducky? What are you doing here?" he asked, a bit confused.

"Just visiting to see how you're doing, Timothy," he replied. "You had a good, long rest. You must be hungry?"

"I couldn't have been asleep that long. It was dark when I fell asleep."

"Yes; just before sunrise, I'd imagine. And you managed to stay asleep till sundown. It's nearly eight-thirty."

Tim seemed surprised by this, "I slept the whole day? No wonder I feel like I fell down a flight of stairs," he stretched.

Ducky let out a small laugh, "More likely that you slept the day in that uncomfortable chair."

McGee looked over at Andy and stood to go to her bedside. "Has she woken up at all?"

"Not that I'm aware," Ducky said as he stood and joined his side. "Her doctors say she's been through a lot, but they believe she'll pull through," he placed a hand on the agent's shoulder. "I am so sorry about what happened, Tim. And I'm sorry I never had the pleasure of making her acquaintance."

Tim closed his eyes, "I'm sorry, Ducky... I...thought I had more time for..."

"Don't apologize," he squeezed his shoulder. "I understand."

McGee opened his eyes and looked down at Andy, taking her hand in his. "I'm gonna take care of her, now," he told him. "Kendra would've wanted that. I'm not gonna let her slip back through the cracks..."

"That's very admirable," Ducky told him as he gently pulled his hand from his shoulder. "But I think she would also want you to take care of yourself. You haven't eaten in over a day. Perhaps we can slip out for a bit and grab something?"

"I'm not really hungry."

"Just as well, I'll go fetch us both a little something. Perhaps you'll change your mind when I return. You'll be alright for a bit?"

"I'm fine, Ducky," he said with a furrowed brow. "Really, I don't understand why I need a sitter."

"Not a sitter, Timothy. A friend."

*~.~*

"Hey, Duck," Gibbs said as he answered his cell. "How's McGee holdin' up?"

"He slept nearly the whole day, Jethro," Ducky explained. "But it seems it might be a bit of a challenge to convince him to eat."

"Maybe I should come by; see if I can't convince him to come out to eat with me."

"He won't leave that girl's side. I tried to convince him to come out with me for a bit, but he refused."

Gibbs sighed, "Any change in her condition?"

"I'm afraid not."

"I'll come by; you should get home anyway."

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Gibbs had been sitting in the chair next to McGee for a good five minutes. He was sure the agent didn't even realize he was there; his gaze distant and nearly expressionless. It was honestly frightening. "McGee," he said softly, and Tim looked over at him, almost as if in a dream instead of completely awake. "You wanna take care of Andy, you gotta be strong," he told him. "Ya gotta eat; as much as you don't want to, right now." He reached out, taking Tim's hand and put a small paper bag in it.

McGee blinked and looked down, furrowing his brow before meeting Gibbs' eyes again. "Boss?"

"It's a sandwich, McGee. I got it especially for you and I'd be personally offended if you didn't at least try and eat it," he narrowed his eyes at him. For a moment, Tim seemed to snap out of his dazed state of mind as he looked down at the bag and unwrapped it.

He examined it in his hands for a moment. "Thank you," he said quietly before taking a bite. Gibbs grinned a bit as he watched the agent eat, even if it was only because it was him making him do it. After a few bites, Tim seemed uncomfortable. "This is really good, Boss. But I can't...eat anymore," he wrapped it back into the bag.

Gibbs took the bag, "It's okay. Some is better than none." McGee had fixed his gaze back on the patient lying in the bed before them. "Doesn't she have any family to come sit with her a while?" he asked.

"Andy doesn't have anyone," Tim replied, his eyes focusing slightly lower.

"What about friends? She's a dancer, right?"

McGee furrowed his brow, "Yeah..." he shook his head as if he'd come to some realization. "God...I- I should've called them." He stood abruptly.

"Why don't you come to my place and get a shower," Gibbs suggested as he stood. "Then you can make a few calls."

"I've...gotta get the numbers," he told him.

"I'll have Tony do that. You've gotta give yourself a break, Tim. Let us help you." Tim looked at Gibbs for a moment, then back to Andy. "She'll be fine. She's in good hands here."

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"Hey, Boss," Tony said when Gibbs opened his front door to him. "I called everyone on her class list. One of them is on their way over to sit with her right now," he told him as he followed him into the living room carrying a bag of Tim's clothes he'd had in his desk. "McGee in the shower?"

"Yeah. Just put his bag up on the guest bed," he said as he sank down in the arm chair. Tony headed up the stairs, glancing at Gibbs along the way. The shower was still running when he placed the bag on the bed. Though he wanted to ask McGee how he was doing, Tony would have to settle for asking Gibbs to fill him in.

Tony made his way back downstairs, expecting to see Gibbs where he'd left him; in the chair. But he wasn't there any longer. He heard a rustling in the basement, indicating where the man had fled to. So he made his way down the basement steps as Gibbs was pouring himself a glass of bourbon. "Not gonna throw this one, are ya, Boss?" he haphazardly smirked.

Gibbs ignored the comment, "You stickin' around for a while?"

"I can," he replied.

"Good. If he wants to go back to the hospital, you'll probably need to drive him," he said before taking a long drink from his glass.

Tony narrowed his eyes, "You get him to talk to you at all?"

"Not tryin' to get him to talk, Tony. When he's ready, we'll be there to listen."

"I dunno, Boss...I've kinda got a bad feeling about it. He doesn't seem to be himself, which I know is understandable, given the circumstances. But it's like he's still in denial or something. That can't be healthy...right?"

Gibbs turned to face the work bench, stretching his neck to one side. "Just give him some time," he said quietly. Tony ducked his head a bit. In his heart, he knew Gibbs was speaking from experience. But his gut screamed that things weren't going to be that simple...

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tbc...