Disclaimer: Not mine.

Except the Marks family, Sanchez, Zoe, Bryant, and Wessman.

12-9-19

Jack, Landry, and Caitlyn Marks stood out in the hall with Doctor Bryant, as she explained all the injuries Adam Marks had sustained. "He lost a fair amount of blood, so we are in the process now of replacing what was lost and have him on an antibiotic, to hopefully combat any infection before it starts."

"When can I see him?" Caitlyn asked.

"He's being moved into a room as we speak. I can take you up there now if you'd like."

"Yes, please!" Caitlyn answered as she turned to Jack. "Can you please keep an eye on the kids for me? I promise to be back soon."

Taking her hand Jack replied, "Don't you worry about the kiddos. You take as long as the Doctor will let you. Do you want me to say anything to them, or let you when you come back?"

"Just say that I went to see their dad, that he'll be fine, and I'll tell them more later."

"Sounds good."

"Caitlyn, do you mind if I join you?" Landry inquired.

"Not at all General. Thank you."

As the three were turning to leave another doctor came around the corner. "Doctor Wessman." Doctor Bryant greeted.

"Hello Kaylee." The newcomer said. "I heard your patient is all settled into his room."

"Thank you, we were just headed up there now."

"I'm looking for a Zoe Martinez."

"I.D. Sir?" The Captain at the door asked.

"Excuse me?" Doctor Wessman asked bewildered.

"Our men were kidnapped, held hostage, and injured. We're just taking every precaution necessary to keep their loved ones safe." General Landry stated.

Nodding his head without a word, Wessman handed over his badge. The Captain handed it back after comparing it and stepped into the waiting room, shutting the door behind him.

"Would you like to go up now?" Doctor Bryant asked Caitlyn.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to stay for a moment and be with Zoe, while the Doctor talks to her about Marco."

"I can only talk to those listed on his contact information." Doctor Wessman started to say.

"Anything you have to say, you can say in front of all these people. They are Marcos family too." Zoe said as she came to stand next to Caitlyn, and grabbed onto her hand. "Is Adam ok?"

"He will be. Banged up, but still in one piece." Caitlyn said with a slight smile. Everyone turned their attention back to the Doctor.

"I'm Doctor Wessman. I worked on Lieutenant Sanchez. First let me start by saying he's going to be fine." He stopped for a moment as the group let out the breaths they had been holding. "He's going to have a long recovery, but I believe that the Lieutenant will be able to return to full duty."

As he started to tell the group exactly what injuries Marco had, Zoe stopped him, "Please don't. I really do not need to know everything. Just the fact that he is alive and going to stay that way is enough for me. Maybe later, when Marco's ready and able, he can tell me himself."

"That's fine. I assume you'd like to go see him?"

"Yes, please!"

"I believe the two are in the same hall. Shall we?"

As the two Doctors, women, and Landry walked down the hall to the elevators, Jack stood still watching them. The feeling of pure exhaustion swept over him. The door behind him opened and closed. Gibbs came to stand next to him, not saying anything.

"Both Sanchez and Marks are going to be ok. Sanchez's recovery will take a little longer, but they'll both be fine." Jack said, still staring straight ahead.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that." Gibbs sighed in relief. "Want to go get a coffee? It's not the greatest here, but it's something?"

Letting out a small chuckle, Jack said, "Sure, but give me just a second. I promised Caity I'd watch the kids, so let me just go talk to them quick."

"No problem. I'll wait out here."

"Doctor, I'm glad you showed up when you did."

"Me too."

"Pressures still not coming up Doctors."

"But I don't know how much good it's going to do."

"Oh he'll fight this, won't you Daniel? Besides Jack will kill me if you don't hold on. You wouldn't want that would you?"

"I think I see were at least one of the bleeders are."

"There!"

"One more down, who knows how many more."

Gibbs and Jack sat in the cafeteria, each with a cup of coffee. Neither one actually drinking it. Jack rubbed his face with both hands and then ran them over his head ruffling up his hair. Letting out a frustrated sigh he slouched down in the chair. "You hear anything from your other teams about the warehouse?"Jack asked.

NCIS had taken over gathering any and all evidence from the crime scene. "I got a call while you were talking to the kids. They have the scene wrapped up and are just now headed back to headquarters. It will take awhile to process everything. Especially since I don't think Abby's going anywhere till we have news on Daniel."

"No, no I don't think she is. And I couldn't tell her to go back to work, even if I had too."

Gibbs just nodded. Sitting, waiting, worrying. Those where things he had never, and still wasn't good at. He couldn't help thinking back over the last few days. It had started late Sunday night when Captain Johnston was found. They had gathered up all the evidence, and then they had hit a brick wall. Literally. Had it only been Monday when he had first met the man sitting across from him? Looking at his watch it was 3:18pm Wednesday afternoon. Three days. Three people dead. Two more had been kidnapped. Including one of his own. Taking a deep breath, Gibbs finally let himself think about how scared he had been, when realizing Tim was gone. The feeling of relief when he saw him standing by the ambulance. Tim and Daniel had only been out of his sight for fifteen hours. 'Goodness had it only been fifteen hours?' Tim had came back to him and the team healthy and whole, without a scratch on him. Looking up at Jack, he could only imagine the thoughts and feelings he must be having.

"I'm sorry."

Startled Jack looked up. "Thought Tim said that was a sign of weakness?"

"Not if there's a valid reason for the apology."

"What could you possibly need to apologize for?"

"Letting Daniel get kidnapped."

Jack just stared at him for a minute unblinking. Gibbs started to wonder if this was what his agents felt like, when he stared at them. He was brought out of his thoughts as Jack broke into laughter. "You really think, you let Daniel get kidnapped? That there was anything different you could have done?"

Gibbs sat silent for a moment.

"Look Jethro," Jack stopped to take a deep breath, "There is nothing you could have done. I talked to Reynolds, you did everything right."

"Should have kept him with me."

"Seem to recall you got knocked out too. Just... stop blaming yourself. If it's anyones fault it's mine."

"What? How's it your fault? You weren't even there?" Gibbs was thoroughly confused.

"I shouldn't have let him work the case in the first place."

"Really. He would have just sat back, and let you keep him on the side lines?"

"No. No he wouldn't have. Daniel always has to be in the middle. Be the peacemaker. Help the one in need. He has no sense of self preservation. He'll just jump into the fire without testing to see how hot it is. He..." Jack trailed off, silent for a few minutes. He spoke up again, much quieter this time looking up at Gibbs as he continued, "The first time we met, I was on a suicide mission. Long story short, I didn't have a single reason to live. So I figured I'd go out in a blaze of glory. On my terms." Letting out a half laugh Jack said, "Only Daniel happened along. Needed him as a translator. Man I hated him. And he knew it too. I had no need for a geeky kid. That mission, lets just say things didn't go to plan." Jack stared of to the side, lost in memories as he talked, "Daniel took a shot meant for me. Died right in front of me. Or so I thought. Why would this kid, who knew I didn't like him, knew I wanted to die, save my life?" Looking back at Gibbs, Jack breathed deep, "Because I mattered. To him. To other people. Whether I knew it at that moment or not. My life was more important, than a single moment in time. So, Daniel gave me something to live for. Me. And after time, him. The team, other people around me. That's just who Daniel is. He makes others people.." Jack trailed off again, not knowing what words he could possibly use to describe Daniel.

Some one quietly spoke from behind Gibbs, "He makes you realize your part in this world. That you matter. That you are important. That if you don't think you have anyone to lean on, you have him." Looking up the two at the table saw Tim standing there with a sad smile on his face.

"Exactly." Jack agreed.

"Um, a nurse said Daniels Doctors are on the way to talk to us."

Shooting out of his chair Jack grabbed Tim's arm, "Well what are we waiting for."

Gibbs slowly got up and followed the two men back down the hall. Hoping for one more miracle.

A/N: This isn't the original written chapter, but my computer crashed. I lost everything. All my notes, and the writings for all my unfinished stories. So it's back to square one. I had a hard time restarting, but I hope you enjoyed this.