'Three months' she thinks to herself, as she drinks some of her juice. That is how long she had been living in her new home, and it was a perfect house. It had three bedrooms, one for her, one became her office and the third for the elliptical.

She hated going to the gym with all of those skinny woman and the FBI gym well she could but she liked to memorize her lines for what ever play she was going to be in next while she worked out.

Repeating lines while you worked out was not something she wanted to do in the FBI gym, they all thought she was crazy enough as it was. It was just easier and to start the CD and learn her lines at home.

Not being home a lot of time meant that buying furniture could wait until she found pieces that she liked and wanted. What she wanted was not what she had before, she no longer felt the need to hide behind the clutter of her old apartment.

The bedroom furniture, office furniture and a small dinette for the eat-in-kitchen were the only things she had purchased so far, that plus a dollhouse.

Not just any dollhouse but a Victorian dollhouse at one inch scale. It was a beautiful kit and she was taking her time building it. It was a labor of love, each little piece of wood had to be sanded and tacked into place with care. She had no time limit and to tell the truth she found it cathartic. A foolish choice to be sure, but it was a long held childhood dream.

Hotch had called her the night before telling her to go home, that it was late and they were all very tired and would be leaving in the morning. That she could stay home the next day as well. So she did, after she finished her report she logged off of the main frame and closed down her entire system. Then went home to a warm bath, a quick meal she ate while she finished the roof of her dollhouse.

It was just after nine thirty in the morning when the sound of someone knocking on at her front door that startled her out of her thoughts. Missing the counter by a hairsbreadth she swears as the glass shatters as it hits the floor.

She looks through the peephole and smiles, then opens the door. "Will, come in, where's Henry?" She calls over her shoulder leaving Will to close the door and follow her.

He stands there and watches as she kneels down to clean the mess. "Penelope." He says softly.

She knows that tone of voice she has heard it often enough from members of her team. Looking up at him as she reaches for a piece of glass and can see something in his expression, a look she knows all to well.

"Damn." She yelps pulling her hand away from the glass quickly. She can see the blood start to seep out of the cut on her hand. Standing she goes to the sink and runs the cold water. After a few moments she looks and can see the cut will need stitches, but right now that is the least of her worries. She looks at him and asks the one question that she fears above all else. "Are they alive?"

"Yes, my friend no one has died."

"How were they hurt ?"

"Your hand Penelope." Will says as he watches her try and stop the flow of blood by wrapping it tightly in a clean kitchen tea towel.

"Never mind my hand, Will please tell me what happened."

"They were on their way back, Tony was driving one of the SUV's he had Morgan and JJ with him. Some kid ran a red light, Tony turned into the truck taking all of the damage on the drivers front side. JJ was in the back seat right behind him."

She swallows and blinks her eyes willing herself not to cry. "How badly are they hurt?"

"I don't know, I got a call and Dave asked me to come and get you."

"I just need to get my shoes, give me a minute" Coming back in just a few minutes she sees that Will has cleaned up the glass and the juice.

"Gibbs, Gibbs. Did you see the news? Major car crash, kid ran a red light and a SUV stopped it by turning into it."

"How does this concern us Abby?"

"Tony was driving the SUV. I saw the kid stagger out of the truck he was driving, the news camera panned over to Tony, he wasn't moving Gibbs. There were two other agents in in the SUV i saw them moving just a little but they were moving."

"Did they say what hospital?" asks sharply.

Abby tries to answer without crying. "No. I'm guessing G.W. Gibbs?"

"Abby go back to your lab, he doesn't work here anymore remember not our responsibility."

"We should be there he is family after all." she mumbles as she leaves.

He knows he is wrong to have waited so long to repair the damage that he caused his friend and the best agent that he ever worked with. He just couldn't leave things like they were, not after all this time, it was never too late to admit you were wrong and say you were. He was man enough to say he was sorry it was past time in fact.

"Ducky." He says as he walks into the morgue.

"Ah Jethro, I'm ready. I called the police and confirmed the hospital, also I have called Bradley and he will meet us at G.W. , he has privileged there as well. Shall we go? You can more than likely stop and get coffee

"Abby?"

"Of course Abigail told me, and after all of these years I knew that you would be down here to get me."

"Duck."

"He is a grown man Jethro and it was time for him to move on. He has done very well for himself."

"Did you know about the degree."

"I'm surprised at you, Anthony was never one to sit on his laurels. But you know this, yes I knew about the degree."

To say he was surprised at seeing Gibbs would be an understatement, but at seeing Dr. Mallard he was not.

"Ah agent Hotchner, I came to offer my services, to run interference , I also took in upon myself to call Dr. Pitt. It is always better to have an "in" as the saying goes. Bradley will keep us informed as to Antony's condition. Now tell me about the rest of your team? Do you need me to ascertain any information for you."

Just a touch of a smile appears on his face before he says anything. Dr. Mallard might be a little long winded but it was nice having someone on your side that knew Tony's medical history and could cut though the red tape. "Thank you Dr. Mallard, we haven't heard anything yet, we just got here ourselves. How did you get here so quickly?"

"Jethro drove." Ducky answered gesturing with his hand to show where Gibbs was as he talked to the LEO's.

Hotch understood at once, agent Gibbs and his notorious driving were well known among the agents in the area.

Hotch and Rossi could see the fright in her eyes as she came closer, but what worried them most was the towel wrapped around her hand.

"How are they?" She asks before she even comes to a complete stop.

"We are still waiting for news, Kitten. But what happened to your hand?"

"I dropped a glass, I wasn't paying attention while I was cleaning it, it's not important right now."

"I tried to get her to stop and get help. She glared at me, well at least she tried to glare." Will tells the agents.

"Please Will, I told you that I would go to urgent care after we found out how they all are."

"Looks like we won't have to wait much longer." Hotch tells them as he sees Ducky come out of the ER doors.

Gibbs seeing Ducky come over and joins them wanting to know how they are as well. "Thank you for not telling me to leave." He tells Hotch.

"As long as you keep your temper in check, we have no problem having you here. We know how you feel about Tony even if you deny it at times."

"Dr. Mallard." Hotch says softly. He watches as Ducky gives them all the once over. Not much gets by him no wonder he is well liked and respected by all of the agencies.

"Why don't we all go over there and sit down, I will tell you what I have learned then I shall take care of Penelope's hand. Shall we wait for Timothy and Abigail?" He asks seeing Tim and Abby walking quickly toward them.

"How is he Tony I mean, and the other two agents?" Abby asks as her eyes bounce from one agent to another.

"Abigail, sit down." Ducky tells her firmly. "Now . . .