"People here for Mr. Gibbs?" a doctor's voice caused Tony and Abby to shoot up from their chairs.

"That's us," Tony supplied.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," he told them. "Sometimes our non-critical patients have a bit of a wait before being entered into the system."

"Non-critical?" Tony let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "What's his condition?"

"He was brought in unconscious," the doctor explained. "A few scrapes along the hairline. We took a ton of x-rays which came back with no abnormalities, and we have him set up for a CT, but since he's been awake we don't think there's anything more than a concussion."

"That's it?" Abby's brows rose high. "His car was crushed like a tin can..."

"He was extremely lucky," the doctor said. "Had there been another car or other obstruction on his side of the car, he would've been killed. But the passenger side took most of the impact. In fact, the only reason he was hurt at all was the way he'd been jarred. His head most likely hit the window beside him. And I'm sure he'll be sore as hell tomorrow, but other than that, he seems to be fine."

"Can I see him?" Tony asked. "Can we see him," he clarified.

"He's been hollering for us to contact someone named DiNozzo..."

"That's me." Tony pulled out his ID and showed it to him.

The doctor nodded. "I'll take you to him. But ma'am, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to wait until we run your name by him."

"It's Abby Sciuto," she glared. "Not ma'am..."

"She's with me," Tony told him.

"It's okay, Tony," her voice softened. "You need to see him."

He took a breath, thankful for her understanding, and leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks, Abs."

11 00 11 00 11

"Just bring me a damn phone!" Gibbs' voice could be heard all the way down the hall, and it washed so much of the fear and anxiety that Tony had been holding onto since their call had been violently cut short, that it took everything in him not to run up that hall to his room. "There's no reason for me to stay here, and if you don't bring me a phone, it'll be youwho'll be occupying this room!"

Tony let out a breathy laugh as he rounded the doorway and entered the room to see a moderately frightened male nurse and a slightly roughed-up looking Gibbs standing near the bed. "I've got a phone you can use, boss," Tony said nonchalantly. Gibbs looked over and met his senior field agent's eyes in a bit a relieved surprise.

The nurse took the opportunity to escape the room, leaving the two of them alone.

"Needed the phone to call you," Gibbs told him.

"I've been here," he replied, taking a tentative step forward. "Abby and I. They wouldn't tell us anything. We went to where it happened...saw the car," his voice became shaky, and Gibbs hadn't missed the fact that his hair was a bit disheveled and his eyes were reddened before he'd even begun speaking. "I didn't know what to think." His eyes darted around. "The way your Challenger was crushed, I thought for sure you were in bad shape. The lady at the front desk said that if the information wasn't in the system, you could be in emergency surgery or that you were critical to the point that no one could get away to make a report..."

"She's an idiot, Tony," Gibbs told him, taking the few steps to stand in front of him. "I'm fine; just a knock to the head is all. I don't even remember what happened. Just that I was on the phone with you and suddenly I woke up here."

"I'm s- so glad you're okay, boss," he said in barely a whisper as he met his eyes. Gibbs could see they were brimmed with tears, and he couldn't imagine what kind of things must have been going through his head. "I dunno what I would've done if..." he couldn't finish the sentence.

But Gibbs knew what he was trying to convey. "Hey...c'mere." He pulled the younger man to him and felt his body shaking. "It's okay. I'm okay, Tony. Not goin' anywhere for a damn long time, if I've got any say about it."

Tony let out a half-laugh, half-sob. "Shoulda known better than to think a crushed two-ton vehicle would be enough to take you out, boss." He was silent for a long moment listening to his boss breathing; feeling the rise and fall of his chest, reassurance that he was, indeed, alive and well.

Suddenly his phone rang in his pocket. He pulled away from Gibbs to fish it out and look at the ID. "Oh...almost forgot about McGee," he said as he answered. "Hey, Probie. I'm with Gibbs."

"How is he? I haven't gotten through this traffic yet. I'm kinda wishing I'd invested in a siren..."

"Here," he replied as Gibbs motioned for him to hand the phone over, "Talk to him."

"McGee?" Gibbs said as he put the phone to his ear.

"Boss! Are you okay?"

"Fine, Tim. Where ya headed?"

"I was on my way there with your dad. I picked him up from the airport right before Tony told me what happened..."

"Alright, well just drop him home and come pick us up here, will ya?"

"You're being discharged already?" The short amount of silence that followed the question, answered it for him. "Right, boss. I'll be there soon..."

Tbc...