A/N: I'd almost forgotten how much fun fanfic can be. At least when the ideas are flowing. More soon.

Thanks goes to Trina109 :)

Abby woke to find Luca sitting next to her bed. He was looking towards the door, which someone was closing gently behind them. When he realised she was awake, a slow smile spread across his face.

"Hey; how're you feeling?"

She tried to stretch a little and winced. The bandages that covered her back felt stiff against the weals left by the chain.

"Sore. Very sore." Her throat felt swollen; it was hard to talk above a whisper.

"I'm not surprised, Abby." The sympathy in his eyes let her know that he'd been told what had happened.

"How's McGee?"

"You call your boyfriend by his last name?"

She waved a hand, dismissing that.

"How is he?"

Luca sighed. "Last I heard, there's been no change. He's still in a coma in intensive care."

Abby felt her face crumple and tried not to cry. She felt Luca's hand touch hers gently. "Abby, right now that's good news. He hasn't deteriorated any and that's the main thing at the moment."

"I want to see him."

"Abs, I don't know if that's a good idea..."

"I don't care, Luca. I want to see him."

He sighed again. "Ok, I'll clear it with the nurses."

He got up and left the room. Outside, she could hear him talking to the nurse, who obviously wasn't very happy about letting Abby get up. She caught snatches like "she'll open those wounds" and "can't you talk her out of it?" She snorted. No one was going to talk her out of seeing McGee again. Gibbs had already made her wait this long.

Luca came back into the room a few minutes later. "Gibbs wants to talk to you first, Abby." She started to protest and he put up a hand to stop her. "Then we'll take you to see McGee. I promise."

She subsided.

"So how long have you been dating McGee?"

"This time? Two months."
"This time? You mean you've dated him before?"

"Well, yeah. Years ago now, before he joined Gibbs' team."

"What's he like?"

Abby looked at him suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I'd like to know more about the guy that's apparently got your number." Luca gave her his best innocent smile as he said it. She just stared at him.

"Oh come on Abs, I've never known you to go back to dating a guy after you've broken up. And two months has to practically be a record for you. So tell me about him."

She sighed. "He's sweet, and funny, and loyal. And smart- MIT smart. He's a bit of a geek. He loves computers and he's brilliant with them. Much better than I am. But don't tell him that. And he's stubborn, and overprotective and a little naive..." She could feel herself getting choked up again. "Luca, what happens if he dies?"

"He's not going to die, Abs." Gibbs spoke from the doorway. He walked over to her bed. "We won't let him."

"I can see him now?"

"Not so fast, Abs. There's a couple of things you should know first."

Luca got up and motioned for Gibbs to take his chair.

"He's heavily sedated. They had to take a piece of bone out of his skull, and they've put a tube down his throat to help him breathe. He... doesn't look good right now Abs. Are you sure you want to do this?"

She nodded. "Of course I am"

"Ok. Then let's go."