A huge 'thank you' to finlaure, for being a patient proofreader. You rock! ;)

You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for keep coming back, for putting the story and me on alert and for your kind words, keep them coming!

Speaking of alert, does someone else has trouble with the author alert, I don't get the notifications for new stories?

As for the kind words, I will reply, I'm just way to tired right now and I thought you all would appreciate an update :)

ENJOY!

-19-

The last thirty-nine hours he heard nurses come and go, while his eyes stayed on the familiar features of the pale figure on the bed. The various hospital employees kept on checking her vitals, noting the measurements and the not existing changes down on her chart and asking him if he wanted something to drink or to eat.

The first few times he hadn't reacted to the nurses at all, after five hours he had found his ability to shake his head again and declined their offered hot liquid. When the drowsiness threatened to overtake his mind completely, roughly another five hours later, he had accepted the coffee the nurse had brought with her.

During the whole period of time, Jethro only had left Abby's side three times, each time someone of the team was with her instead, though he didn't go far, only using the bathroom which was attached to her room. Too huge was the amount of fear something could happen to her while he wasn't there.

Hours passed and his body fought for its own right to have some sort of break as well. The adrenaline that had pumped through his veins hours ago had long worn off and left him completely exhausted.

At some point even the coffee couldn't keep his body from falling asleep. When his chin hit his chest for the fourth time he gave up. With closed eyes he lowered his upper body down till his forehead met the linen of the blanket Abby was covered in. Only a small power nap, a few minutes.

Minutes turned into hours. Hours in which he missed the knowing glances of the nurse and the fact that she had covered him with a blanket as well.

Disorientation. The first feeling she was aware of as her mind slowly decided she had slept enough.

Not really sure how much she had slept at all, but judging by the way her entire body felt it was quite a while.

No parties for a while Sciuto.

After a few more seconds she realized, unfamiliar noises and smells were the reason for her disorientation.

The next thing that tickled her senses was the unique smell of Gibbs, which was the only thing that kept her from panicking further.

Something heavy rested on top of her thigh.

Laptop? No too warm and Gibbs wouldn't let me sleep me with my laptop on my lap.

The next thing she noted were warm fingers curled around her hand.

The hand seemed anatomically correct since it turned into an arm which was pressed against her thigh.

Abby opened her eyes and groaned as the bright light caused her pain.

She couldn't remember the last time she partied so hard that she couldn't face the light the next day.

Odd enough Abs couldn't remember she had partied at all. The last conscious thing she could remember was eating some chocolate and dancing through the kitchen.

Her noises and the movement of her body let the sleeping man began to stir.

Again Abby opened her eyes, groaning as the brightness of the room caused her eyes to burn like fire.

Said groaning let the body next to her jolt into a sitting position.

Okay head, not laptop.

Abby blinked a few times as the light above her head kept on blinding her; it took a little until she could focus on the worried face looking down at her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." Her throat was dry, causing her voice to sound weak and hoarse.

The blink of an eye later he was hovering over her, holding her face in his hands tenderly, while kissing every free inch of skin not covered by his fingers.

One or two tender pecks followed before he spoke up.

"Abby Sciuto, don't you ever do that again."

She looked at him blankly, having no idea what exactly she had done.

"What?"

"Get yourself poisoned."

She didn't have a response to that.

Jethro kissed her lips one last time before he straightened up.

"I'll call Ducky and the Doctor." Abby just nodded and relaxed into the cushions.

Poisoned?

As soon as the door had opened and Abby's doctor stepped in

Gibbs had excused himself to talk with Ducky and Tony.

The last ten minutes Abby had endured the checking of the doctor without saying much, except a friendly hello.

Too many questions occupied her mind right that moment. God, sometimes she hated it when Gibbs was right, which tended to be always.

"Okay Miss Sciuto, you are still running a low fever, but considering the circumstances not surprising."

"Abby please." She said with her customary friendly smile. Her voice still was nowhere near normal.

Smiling back at her. "Alright Abby, call me Laura."

Glancing to the bottle of water on the table, the Goth was about to ask for some of it when the doctor handed her already a glass. "Only a little sip, your stomach can't handle more right now but I'll get you some ice-chips."

Abs sighed in relieve as the water cooled her hurting throat. "How long was I unconscious?"

"Three days." The doctor answered matter-of-factly.

"Three days? Let me guess Gibbs never left the hospital."

"No, I don't think he left the room." The doctor scribbled something onto the file in her hand, before she continued to speak just as Gibbs followed by Ducky re-entered the room.

"Your fiancée has a very protective personality, hasn't he?"

Abby's eyes widened in surprise, unnoticed by the examining doctor, but noticed by the man in question.

Abby looked right into Gibbs' shocked face and answered the female doc with a soft smile. "It is part of his charm."

The doctor laughed softly.

"Hey Duck-man, hey fiancée." Emphasizing the last word Abby spoke up smiling brightly at two of her favorite men as soon as they stopped at the foot of her bed. Ducky smiled back while Gibbs face still looked shocked.

Before she said anything else Abby began to sign.

*Didn't know that but I'm open for everything as long as it'll lead us to sleep in one bed.*

A smile broke free on Gibbs' face. *We'll talk about it later.*

Finally Abby focused back on the doctor.

A gazillion questions, pokes and one blood draining session later she was alone in the room with Gibbs and Ducky.

Exhausted.

She had barely been awake for more than forty minutes but her body obviously still needed some time to heal, not fighting it she closed her eyes and listened to the talking men.

The voices were soothing and soon they had lulled her back into sleep.

Both men noticed the change in her breathing at once. The special agent couldn't help himself. His eyes wandered to her face and stayed there for a few moments.

He took in the relaxed expression as the slumber turned into a deep sleep.

Ducky's hand on his shoulder let him focus back on his old friend.

"Don't worry Jethro; she is going to be fine. Her body needs the sleep to heal faster."

"I know." Seeing her awake had finally made him believe in the doctor's prognosis. She would be okay.

"Duck, would you stay with her for a little while?"

"Certainly, I can stay the whole night."

Gibbs knew it was a well-meant offer, an offer he would decline and Ducky knew it. He needed to stay with her for his own sanity. For what was left of it anyway.

"I'll be back in an hour." The elder man smiled and nodded, while watching Jethro bent down to kiss Abby's lips.

"I'm back in a little." With that he left the room.

What he felt right now was relief. Relief and gratitude.

His head rested against the headrest of the driver seat while his hands rubbed over his forehead and down his temples.

For the last couple of days his mind constantly wandered around many questions.

Who could possibly want her out of the way?

Was it revenge of some sort?

Was she really the indented victim, or was it just means to an end.

Was it an old grudge, someone held against her- or more likely him?

Was it to make a point?

For now he was just glad Abby would be okay.

He still had her in his life and for sure he would do whatever he could to make sure that didn't change.

My dear readers, what do you think? Do you have answers to Gibbs' questions?...

Let me know what you think!