He blinked and then swallowed. His eyes felt scratchy, and his mouth was cotton. He licked his lips and coughed. There was movement to the right of him.

"Jethro?" A cool hand touched his forehead.

He turned toward the voice. Ducky.

"Tony?" he whispered.

"He's all right. Just a bump on the head. And you're going to be all right, too." Ducky reached over and took a cup of water from the bedside table, held it to his lips. Gibbs sipped at the liquid thirstily.

"Easy." Ducky drew the cup away. "Not too much."

Gibbs sighed and let his head settle back on the pillow. He tried to analyze his condition. There was an IV in his right arm, and, apparently, they were giving him the good stuff because, other than a dry mouth and scratchy eyes, he was feeling very little pain. He could tell that his right leg was immobilized, and it was numb. He reached his left hand up to his forehead and felt a bandage there.

"How bad?" he asked with a groan. It wasn't painful yet, just damned inconvenient.

Ducky rubbed his shoulder. "Your right leg is broken in several places, just below the knee, just above it, and below the hip. They had to put a pin in the bone below your hip, so no more going through metal detectors without an explanation. There's a fiberglass brace on it, and you have your fair share of stitches."

"How long?"

"Complete bed rest for four to five weeks, then intensive physical therapy."

"And?" Gibbs prompted. There was something Ducky wasn't saying –something that had put him here, in ICU, and not in a regular ward.

"And then we'll see."

"See what?"

Ducky hesitated.

"Duck?"

"It's going to take a while to get you back on your feet, Jethro. Right now, there's some swelling around the base of your spine. We can't rush it."

"But I'll be able to walk again, right?" There was an edge in his voice.

"The doctors think so. It's just… It's not going to be easy." Ducky squeezed his shoulder. "But we'll get you there."

Gibbs groaned again, not wanting to push too deeply – not sure he wanted all the details yet. "And my head?" It was easier to deal with the basics for right now.

"No stitches. Just a cut."

Gibbs closed his eyes and sighed. "And Tony's all right?" The basics and Tony – all he could handle.

"He's fine," Ducky assured him again. "Jenny's with him. And I was down there a little while ago. He's a little frightened, and he's worried about you. But he'll be fine." Ducky pulled a chair over and sat down next to the bed. "Jethro, the police say it looks like your front tire blew."

He nodded and opened his eyes. "That was it… and the rain… I tried…"

Ducky touched his shoulder again. "I know you did… It was an accident. We're just so relieved that you're both going to be all right."

"So much for chili," Gibbs muttered.

And Ducky laughed slightly. "In a little while, I think they're going to bring you some Jell-O."

Gibbs sighed. "Not Tobasco sauce? Or ice cream?"

Ducky's smile faded.

"What?" Gibbs questioned, concern tingeing his voice.

"When you see Tony, don't mention ice cream. He's feeling a bit guilty about the trip to the grocery store. He thinks it's his fault because he wanted ice cream."

"Damn, Ducky, it was a joke," Gibbs exploded.

"I know," Ducky sighed. "But he wanted it, and for Tony, there's a direct correlation between wanting ice cream and-"

"Slamming your car into a tree," Gibbs interrupted, finishing the doctor's sentence.

"Well, I wasn't going to use the word slam, but yes, that's the way he's looking at it."

Gibbs started to sit up. "I've got to talk to him."

"Jethro." Ducky's hand pressed firmly against his shoulder. "You're not going anywhere right now. You're not even sitting up. Understand?" He waited for Gibbs to nod and relax back into the mattress; then he continued. "We'll bring Tony up to see you. Maybe tomorrow, okay?"

Gibbs released an exhaustive sigh and settled his head further into the pillow. "All right. Just… tell him it's not his fault, will ya'?"

Ducky smiled. "I'll deliver the message myself." He smoothed a hand over Gibbs' forehead, careful of the bandage. "Now, get some rest. Doctor's orders."

"Like I've ever listened to those," Gibbs groused, but let his eyes fall closed nonetheless.

Ducky just smiled and sat with him until he fell asleep.

~vVv~