"I will allow you to go for short walks but only because I know you are too stubborn to stop yourself, you being a Special Agent and Marine. However, Agent Gibbs I want to stress that it is very important that when you walk you have at the very least one person."
"Yeah doc, they'll keep me in line." He said.
"Oh I know they will, but you are tricky, you'd wait to be alone" Gibbs just smirked and ducked his head.
"Which just so happens to be why you'll be alone in the bathroom, well technically. Someone will be sitting by the bed, wide awake."
"Yeah, I know." He sighed.
"Well, it's all settled then." The doctor said and left.
A few minutes later Gibbs threw his blankets off. He turned in his side, staying on his elbow. The team jumped up. McGee, Abby, Ellie, And Ducky were to his back. Tony stood up as Gibbs put both hands on the head rail. He pushed up arms shaking slightly with the effort, he grunted when he was mostly upright. He straightened slowly everyone watched with exasperated fondness as he forced himself upright. He just had scrub pants on, because wearing a shirt on hurt his abdomen too much. He controlled his slide of the bed with hands on each rail. He landed gently leaning against the bed. Tony handed him the pump pole as he recovered. Gibbs straightened and Tony took his bound forearm and put the other around his waist, with his hand curled around his side just above his hip, for balance.
"Thanks." He grunted out. They stood for a few minutes. Gibbs kept one hand on the pole, leaning very slightly into Tony's support.
"Anytime Gibbs, anytime." He said. They smiled that the clear friendship between them.
The others stand by the bed. They turned and three steps from the bed. Then turned to the right and walked parallel to the bed. Gibbs was taking slow but slightly shaky steps. They stopped a foot from the wall, turned and walked back. Gibbs was panting and wincing. He was leaning slightly heavier against Tony. They stopped a few steps from the end of the bed. Gibbs had his head bowed and was clutching the pole tightly. He took a shaky half step and stopped.
"Do you need to sit down, boss?" McGee asked.
Gibbs nodded shakily. McGee grabbed a chair and rushed over. He set it next Gibbs side. He and Tony turned him with a hand on each shoulder and forearms. Ellie and Abby held him by his side and back gently as they guided him to the chair. Started to lean back slightly, about to collapse but they held him steady to control his decent. They slowly sat him down and once he was Ducky handed him the pump control. Gibbs had his head bowed and he didn't notice with his eyes squeezed shut. Ducky opened on clenched fist and put the control in it. He pressed it three times. After a few minutes he relaxed. They stood there waiting for the next move. He scooted to the edge of the chair. Tony took the same position, when Gibbs went to grab the pump for leverage; McGee took his forearm and shoulder. When they got a slight nod they gently pulled him up. They helped him get to the bed. They stepped back and sat down as he leaned against it. They watched as he put his hands on the rails and he pushed himself onto the bed. He scooted back slightly. He turned and he laid down.
"You okay, Gibbs?" Abby asked, getting a slight smile and a nod.
He sighed slightly as he tried to relax into his pillows. His eyes were pinched and his mouth was a firm line. He felt for the pump and Ellie handed it to him. He sighed again as he pressed the pump twice more. He relaxed and fell asleep after a few minutes. They smiled knowing he was really getting dtronger. An hour later he woke up and they ate lunch. Two hours after that McGee and Ellie helped him walk. He had to sit down again, but he was stronger than he was a few days ago. He went back to sleep after pressing the pump a few times. This would become a habit so they continued this pattern of a few short walks a day. He had been there for four weeks the next day would be the first day of the next month.