Once Gibbs was moved to ICU and fixed up with regular pain management, Abby was finally allowed in to see him. But he'd fallen asleep soon after, and she and Jackson decidedly sat in silent vigil beside the bed.
McGee had briefly stopped in to greet him, but left to take Tony to the house so that he could change clothes, and then they'd stop and get Abby's car on the way back, to take to the hospital lot. Once they returned, Abby would take Jackson back to the house to get settled, and return in the morning to bring him back to the hospital. They'd secretly made plans to bring some Christmas items for his room and a few gifts to brighten the day.
But no one was willing to leave Gibbs alone at the hospital. Tim and Tony would have the night shift, and Tony was fairly certain there'd be no way he could sleep otherwise.
As the group made their silent switch, Ducky was still speaking with the doctor somewhere in the hospital.
The ICU room was fairly dark, the only light coming from somewhere behind the hospital bed. That, and the glow from McGee's phone, which he was currently texting on. That's when something occurred to Tony.
"Hey, McGoo?" he whispered. Tim looked at him in question. "You're not going to your parents' for Christmas?"
Tim shook his head. "Honestly? I was gonna come over tomorrow morning to Gibbs' place and spend it with you all."
"Won't your family be disappointed?" Tony asked incredulously.
"This is my family, Tony," he explained with seriousness in his tone. "I thought it'd be nice, for a change. And besides, I'll be going up there for New Year's. If we don't get a case, that is." He half-smiled.
Tony swallowed. "You stayed here for me?"
"Don't flatter yourself, DiNozzo." Tim smiled and shook his head, then met his partner's shining eyes and couldn't mess with him any longer. "Yeah, Tony... I kinda stayed here to spend Christmas with you. I thought it'd be nice, ya know, doing it without it being forced because of work and all. You guys are like a second family to me. The least I could do was show up and spend the day with you."
Tony was speechless as he looked upon his partner..no, his friend.
"You're a good man, McGee," Gibbs' voice sounded weakly from the bed, and they both looked over at him.
"Didn't mean to wake you up, boss," McGee told him apologetically.
"I was just resting my eyes," he told them with a weak smile. His smirk quickly turned to a grimace.
Both agents stood, but Tony was by Gibbs' side in a flash. "You in pain, boss? Should I call for a nurse?"
"Jus' my neck," he slurred.
McGee spotted the sudden irregularity on the monitor that showed his heart rate, and shared a quick glance with Tony before hurrying out of the room to get a doctor.
"Where on your neck?" Tony asked as one of his hands moved up to check and see if there was, perhaps, something he could feel.
"B-back of it... Feels like...burning," he squeaked out, and suddenly the monitor started to alarm beside him.
Tony's eyes shot to the monitor to see the dangerously low heart rate and oxygen levels, before snapping his attention back to the man in the bed. "Boss?" Gibbs seemed to be gasping for breath. "Gibbs, calm down...it's gonna be okay. McGee went to get a doctor," his voice cracked as Gibbs' hand latched onto his arm. His eyes suddenly rolled up into his head, and the monitor flat-lined.
"Gibbs?" he pressed a hand to his boss's chest and shook him. The only effect was Gibbs' hand dropping to the mattress. "Gibbs!"
Tbc...