A/N: Second to last chapter, guys! To give you fair warning, please don't expect this story to finish with all the loose ends tied up in a happy ending, because it just won't happen. There will be a sequel in the not too distant future. F.

Thanks goes to Trina109, as always.

Abby looked up in surprise as Sarah burst into the crowded waiting room. Tim's little sister was usually so self contained. She rushed over to where Abby was sitting and grabbed her arm, dragging the older woman to her feet.

"Gibbs needs you. Tim's awake but there's something wrong, I don't know what, he just said to get you." She was pulling Abby towards the door as she spoke. Abby let herself get dragged out the door and down the hallway towards McGee's room. She looked back over her shoulder at Tim's parents, who were on their feet looking apprehensive. "What about your parents? If Tim's awake, shouldn't we-"

"Gibbs said just to get you!"

They were at the doorway to McGee's room. From inside, Abby could hear Gibbs trying to calm Tim down. She pushed open the door and hurried into the room.

A pitiful sight met her eyes. McGee was huddled in the bed, frantically trying to undo the tape holding his oxygen tube in place. His eyes were open but unseeing. Gibbs was holding his shoulders, repeating "Abby is not dead" to a clearly uncomprehending Tim. At the sound of her entrance, he turned his head.

"Abs! Need you over here. McGee's not going to calm down unless he sees you."

She rushed to the bedside, grabbing one of McGee's hands and stopping him from tearing at the tape across his face. She looked across at Gibbs and signed awkwardly with her free hand "He thinks I'm dead?" Her heart sank with Gibbs' nod. She knew how she'd felt these last few days, with Tim's life hanging in the balance, and she'd only just realised how much she loved him. She'd tried to force herself to imagine losing him and her mind had shied away from the thought. She looked down at McGee and gently stroked his face.

...

Someone grabbed his hand. For a fleeting, wonderful moment he thought he smelt the faint gunpowdery scent that Abby wore. He pushed it away, dismissing it as wishful thinking. When the same someone gently stroked his face, he unwillingly glanced towards them- and felt his heart skip a beat.

It was Abby.

He squeezed his eyes shut, expecting her to be gone when he opened them again but hoping against hope that she'd still be there. He opened them again slowly.

She was still there.

"Abby?" he tried to say. The thing in his throat stopped the word from coming.

"Shh... don't try to talk, Tim. There's a tube helping you breathe." She smiled shakily down at him. He was dimly aware of someone new coming to stand on the other side of his bed, but all his attention was on Abby.

He still couldn't believe she was there.

The someone on his other side was becoming insistent. Reluctantly he looked in their direction- he couldn't seem to raise or turn his head- and saw a doctor standing there.

"Now that you're back with us, Agent McGee, I want to take that tube out."

McGee managed a slight nod. The doctor peeled away the tape from across his face.

"Ok. Take a deep breath, then when I tell you to, cough as hard as you can." McGee nodded again and took the requested breath.

"Right. Now!"

He coughed, gagging on the tube as it slid out of his sore throat. The doctor reached across and looped a pair of nasal prongs around his ears, checking that they were sitting just so.

"These should be enough for now. If your oxygen levels drop or you feel any dizziness or shortness of breath, we'll put you on a mask. Keep the talking to a minimum" he admonished. "You've been down a long time."

He nodded, his attention elsewhere.

"Abby?" This time a sound came out, somewhere between a croak and a whisper. To his embarrassment, he realised that he was crying.

So was she. "I'm here, Timmy."

"I thought- I thought you were dead." He could see the line of bruising around her neck where the chain had bitten in. The marks were beginning to yellow and fade. How long had he been out for?

She shook her head. "Gibbs and Ziva got there just in time."

"Thank God for Gibbs and Ziva" he croaked. "Abs, if I ever lost you..."

She shushed him again. "I know, Tim." She leant over him and kissed him gently.

There was a discreet cough from the doorway. Abby straightened, and McGee could see his family clustered in the doorway.

"Can we come in?" his dad asked.

"I'll come back later" Abby told him.

"No. Stay." He grabbed her hand, stopping her from moving away. "Please?" He wasn't ready to let her out of his sight just yet.

"I'll stay as long as you want." She gave him another shaky smile. Somehow he didn't think she just meant now, by his bedside. And that was alright with him.