"You will." It was an answer, and a promise, and a prayer – delivered, made, and offered up in Jenny's next breath.

"Not if I can't take care of myself."'

Damn it, Jethro! She thought it, but didn't say it. She knew it wasn't pity – it was just him, being blunt and honest.

"You haven't even been here for twenty-four hours yet. There's been nerve damage and swelling around your spinal cord. It's not going away in less than a day." She trailed her fingers down along his cheek, felt his facial muscles harden under her touch. "You have to give it time."

"Yeah. Time." But his doubt was evident in his tone and the set of his shoulders.

Jenny shook her head, sat back in the chair. "Optimist never was your middle name."

He sighed. "That would be Jethro."

Despite herself, she smiled at the witty response. "You could try a little optimism, Leroy Jethro. It wouldn't hurt."

"Didn't help much after Tony's accident," he shot back.

And she returned the volley. "Tony could have died."

This time he looked at her. "A part of him did."

And the words stung, but she didn't flinch. "Yes. But don't tell me you wouldn't give anything in this world to keep the part of him that didn't."

There was no response, and she knew: this was his greatest fear.

She was up, out of her chair again, leaning over him, taking his face between her hands, palms pressed against his cheeks. "You're going to be all right, Jethro. And you will take care of yourself and Tony." He blinked, tried to look away. But she held his gaze. "No one will take Tony away from you."

It was another answer – and a promise, and a prayer.

~vVv~

Taking care of Tony, at that moment, wasn't as difficult as Ducky thought it could be. He'd had his bath, even managed to put on his pajamas without assistance. And now he was leaning against the kitchen counter, watching as Jackson cut the pepperoni pizza into triangular pieces.

"Boss does squares sometimes," he offered, poking at the crust.

Jackson brushed his hand away, continued with his task. "Do you want squares?" he asked.

"Uh-uh," Tony answered. "I like pointy pieces."

Jackson winked at him and grinned. "So do I."

"As do I, Anthony," Ducky agreed from his seat at the table, pleased to see that Tony wasn't exhibiting any signs of anxiety.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes, Abs." Tim's voice came closer as he walked from the den back into the kitchen. "I'll pull up in front. See ya' soon."

Tony looked over at him as he turned off his phone and slipped it back into his pocket. "You're gonna have pizza, right, Tim?"

"Not tonight, Tony," he replied, shaking his head. "That was Abby. I need to go pick her up at the hospital." He glanced toward Ducky. "Do you want me to come back and get you after I take her home?"

He started to answer, then saw Tony look at him, his features suddenly tight with uncertainty - signs of anxiety after all. And Ducky shook his head. "I think I'll stay here tonight. If that's all right?" He shifted his gaze to Jackson.

"Fine with me," he answered. "There's plenty of room… and pizza."

Tony visibly relaxed, leaning back into the counter again.

"We will need your help in the morning, Timothy," Ducky continued. "Anthony will be going to the centre, and Jackson and I will need to get back to the hospital."

Tim nodded. "How does seven sound?"

"Perfect."

But Tony objected. "I don't wanna go to school!"

"You need to go. At least until lunchtime. Then afterwards, either Timothy or I will come get you and take you to the hospital."

His face clouded over, not at all satisfied with those particular plans. "But why can't I go with you and Jackson in the morning?"

"Because Boss expects you to go to school, Anthony."

Tony sighed. He didn't want to disappoint Boss. But still…

"He'll be lonely without me," he ventured.

And the three men exchanged concerned looks. Not one could disagree.

Tim stepped over to Tony and took hold of his hand. "You go to school almost every day, Tony, and Boss goes to work."

"But he's not at work," Tony persisted. "He's in the hospital. That's different."

"You're right," Tim agreed. "That is different. But it's all the more reason why you need to go to school."

Tony's forehead wrinkled with confusion, and he dropped his gaze toward the floor.

Tim lowered himself to one knee, still holding Tony's hand. He looked up at him, could see tears brimming in his eyes. "See. Things are different for Boss right now. And, because of that, he needs some things to stay the same. He needs to know that you're at school, and that you're okay, so he can concentrate on getting better."

Tony was silent, but Tim could see that he was thinking.

"And he may be a little lonely without you, but he has lots of people taking care of him… lots of people who love him, like we love you." He squeezed Tony's hand and reached up, brushed a tear from his cheek.

And Tony drew in a deep breath, rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes. He looked up at Tim. "You tell him I'll be there after lunch."

Tim nodded. "I'll tell him."

~vVv~