An Agent's Weakness
Despite the trouble at the hospital, Holly's operation went ahead as planned and at 9 in the evening, Gibbs, Vance, Jared, Abby, Darren, Tabby, Tabby's father, Ziva and Tony all stood in the waiting room.
Occasionally a surgeon would come out and one of them would ask how Holly was but every time, the surgeon ignored them and did what they needed to do and went back in.
Finally,Ducky, who had been allowed in to speak to the doctor, came out looking sad.
"Duck," Gibbs rasped. "I can't bury another child, I just can't."
"Good, because you won't have to," replied Ducky. "She's going to be fine."
"Yay!" Abby hugged Gibbs.
Darren was more subtle as he walked over to Ducky.
"Can I see her?" Darren asked.
"She's just coming around," Ducky smiled, leading Darren into the room.
Holly lay on a bed, seemingly asleep but when they approached, she said.
"Who is it?"
"It's me," Darren said timidly. "It's Darren."
"Darren, I thought I said I never wanted to see you again," Holly replied faintly.
"I know," Darren replied.
"No matter," breathed Holly. "I understand now. Matt's death wasn't your fault. If we'd got out of the warehouse she'd have met us all out front and killed all of us."
"No, I still made the suggestion," Darren sighed.
"You didn't fire the bullet though," replied Holly quietly. "I'm sorry Darren, I'm sorry I doubted you. Sorry I treated you so harshly."
"I forgive you," replied Darren, grasping her hand. She squeezed back.
NCIS
January 2014...
Holly Gibbs was back and ready for her first day at school after her long medical absence. Although her sounds had healed and she was her normal self again, her stomach still hurt if she put too much pressure on it and she had occasional sharp pains in her side.
"Holly!" Darren hugged her as soon as she left Gibbs' car.
"Take care Holly," warned Gibbs. "And be sharp Darren, I'm counting on you."
"Yes Gibbs," nodded Darren.
"Come on then! Where's Jared and Nathan and Tabby?" Holly asked cheerily.
"I don't know," Darren laughed. "Let's go and see shall we?!"
"I think not!" Sophie stood by the door, three large men accompanied her. One lunged forward and grabbed Holly up, effortlessly lifting her over his shoulder.
"Hey! Get off her!" Darren ran at Sophie, headbutting her in the stomach.
"Ow!" Sophie screeched. "Take him too!"
"Yes ma'am," the second man grabbed Darren as the first and third jogged across the lawn to a white van parked near where Gibbs was.
"Run!" Sophie yelled as Gibbs got out of the car. She leapt in, quickly jumping into the passenger seat as Darren was thrown into the back seat.
Gibbs got off four shots but the men were just too fast. He swore as the van drove away, past the warehouse Matt had died in and into the distance.
"Damn!" Gibbs cursed. He immediately pulled out his phone.
The End
Next Time: Sophie and Rivera choose a particularly original method of torture to use on Darren and Holly, the team attempt to track them down.
I think everyone can see where this is going and how it'll end. I'm open for guesses.