CHAPTER 1: NEW YEAR, SAME STORY

The clock strikes 12 and all over the country people hug and kiss each other as they welcome in the new year, its a joyus time for
everyone until someone gatecrashes the party stumbling into the room looking like he has taken the festivities far too seriously
eveyone is sure he has had far too much to drink as the security guards take hold of him he becomes lifeless in their hands
and until the lights go up they never realise how lifeless.

"Oh my god, he's dead!" A woman screams and the whole room falls silent
"I know who that is, call NCIS!" A man shouts

Over at the NCIS building, the team are bringing in the new year in the squadroom all of them together. They have been drinking
and are having the time of their lives dancing and singing and holding onto those they love and respect. They are also celebrating
the recent promotion of Ziva who has now been promoted to full time agent at NCIS after leving Mossad. When Gibbs' cell rings
the festivities stop and they all know what comes next.

"We've got a dead body, Commander Shaw" Gibbs says grabbing the sig out of his drawer
"Where boss?" DiNozzo asks grabbing his own sig
"Capitol building" Gibbs answers
"What is it doing there?" McGee asks
"Its new year McGee, important people have parties too" DiNozzo tells him
"Well it is not a happy new year for someone" Gibbs says heading towards the elevator

They arrive at the scene and see photographers and just about every government employee know to man, they manage to weave the
truck between the crowd, they make their way towards the doors and meet with one of the security guards that handled the body.

"Special Agent Gibbs, long time no see" The large security guard says
"Bernard" Gibbs says shaking the Guards hand
"I would say its good to see you but under the cicumstances" Bernard says
"What have we got?" Gibbs asks
"Always to the point Gibbs" Bernard says smiling, Gibbs laughs

They move in to the room and see Commander Shaw slumped on the floor in the middle of the room covered in blood.

"What happened here?" Gibbs asks
"The victim entered the party at midnight but was not noticed untill a woman saw him around 2 minutes later" Bernard said
"Was the body touched?" Gibbs asks
"When the victim was seen it was assumed he was drunk and me and the guys were about to escort him out when he died" Bernard
said
"We will have to take your prints and DNA to rule out any involvement" Gibbs says
"I know the drill, anything i can do to help" Bernard says
"Its great to see you again Bernard" Gibbs says
"Great to se you too Gibbs" Bernard says

Bernard goes to round up the other security guards and Gibbs makes his way back to the team.

"Who was that boss?" DiNozzo asks
"You know the drill!" Gibbs barks
"Yes boss" they all say in unison

They all begin to do their jobs, Tony and Ziva Sketching and shooting, McGee and Kate bagging and tagging.

"Boss, we have a problem" McGee says
"What is it McGee?" Gibbs says sounding angry
"He is Brittish navy" McGee says
"Does that mean Veron is coming back?" DiNozzo asks
"I guess so DiNozzo" Gibbs says taking out his cell

CHAPTER 2: THEY'RE BACK

The time was 5:45 am and Veron was passed out on the sofa just after 3am after most of the guests had left the building, they had
decided that this year they were going to have a party at the office just for the fun of it, it has been alright apart from the small fight
that broke out when one of the probies had thought tonight was his lucky night and had tried to get together with Vicky, big mistake
as she kneed him in the balls much like she had done to Tony some months ago. Veron's cell rang and he looked at it with squinted
eyes and he read his caller ID.

"Jethro?" Veron said sleepily
"Jason, we have a problem" Gibbs said
"What is it?" Veron said sounding a little more awake and sitting up on the sofa
"We have a dead commander that belongs to your navy" Gibbs says and with that Veron woke up
"We will be there asap" Veron said and closed his cell
"Get up guys we are going to DC" Veron said awakening Vicky and Emma it was going to be a long day.

Making it to the airport and getting everything onboard is easy but the 2am flight is not so easy, exhausted and barely thinking
they boarded the jet and got down to business. Veron opens his cell and dials Gibbs' number after less than 2 rings he answers.

"Gibbs" He answers
"Jethro, its Jason we are leaving London now, we need all the info you have, can you email?" Veron asks
"Whats that?"
"Get Abby to send over the files we need we willbe there as soon as we can" Veron says hanging up

The flight was rather smoth apart from the fact that they kept falling asleep getting up to date on the case. Vicky was in her chair
reading through the notes of the case while Emma, now nearly 5 months pregnant was sleeping in the most uncomfortable
position on one of the chairs and Veron was overloading on Pepsi to get himself prepared for what will be one of the longest days
of his career.

The jet arrives just after 6am and Gibbs and the team are waiting at the airport to escort them to NCIS.

"Nice reception" Veron says shaking Gibbs' hand "long time"
"Not long enough" Gibbs says smiling
"Dinozzo, Kate, Ziva McGee" Veron says shaking their hands
"Great to see you again Vicky" Tony says smiling as Kate smacks the back of his head

They all make their way back to the cars and head off towards the NCIS building, this is one reunion they all wish they never attended.

CHAPTER 2: THEY'RE BACK

The time was 5:45 am and Veron was passed out on the sofa just after 3am after most of the guests had left the building, they had
decided that this year they were going to have a party at the office just for the fun of it, it has been alright apart from the small fight
that broke out when one of the probies had thought tonight was his lucky night and had tried to get together with Vicky, big mistake
as she kneed him in the balls much like she had done to Tony some months ago. Veron's cell rang and he looked at it with squinted
eyes and he read his caller ID.

"Jethro?" Veron said sleepily
"Jason, we have a problem" Gibbs said
"What is it?" Veron said sounding a little more awake and sitting up on the sofa
"We have a dead commander that belongs to your navy" Gibbs says and with that Veron woke up
"We will be there asap" Veron said and closed his cell
"Get up guys we are going to DC" Veron said awakening Vicky and Emma it was going to be a long day.

Making it to the airport and getting everything onboard is easy but the 2am flight is not so easy, exhausted and barely thinking
they boarded the jet and got down to business. Veron opens his cell and dials Gibbs' number after less than 2 rings he answers.

"Gibbs" He answers
"Jethro, its Jason we are leaving London now, we need all the info you have, can you email?" Veron asks
"Whats that?"
"Get Abby to send over the files we need we willbe there as soon as we can" Veron says hanging up

The flight was rather smoth apart from the fact that they kept falling asleep getting up to date on the case. Vicky was in her chair
reading through the notes of the case while Emma, now nearly 5 months pregnant was sleeping in the most uncomfortable
position on one of the chairs and Veron was overloading on Pepsi to get himself prepared for what will be one of the longest days
of his career.

The jet arrives just after 6am and Gibbs and the team are waiting at the airport to escort them to NCIS.

"Nice reception" Veron says shaking Gibbs' hand "long time"
"Not long enough" Gibbs says smiling
"Dinozzo, Kate, Ziva McGee" Veron says shaking their hands
"Great to see you again Vicky" Tony says smiling as Kate smacks the back of his head

They all make their way back to the cars and head off towards the NCIS building, this is one reunion they all wish they never attended.

CHAPTER 3: CATCHING UP

"I cannot believe how long it has been!" Abby says running up to Emma and giving her a huge bear hug
"Its great to see you too Abby!" Emma says struggling to breathe
"I hear you have been promoted Ziva" Vicky says
"Yes, it was a big shock" Ziva says
"McGee, you have changed so much" Emma says hugging him
"I have Abby to thank for that, she helped me change my wardrobe and making me go to the gym" McGee says looking fondly at Abby
"I see you managed to tame him Kate" Vicky says smiling
"Of course" Kate says holding Tony's hand and looking deeply into his eyes

They had been catching up in Autopsy over Beer, coffee, Caff-pow, Pepsi, KFC, Ice cream and salad, discussing their lives over the past 5 months and also getting down to the case.

"Ducky what do we have?" Veron asked opening his can of pepsi and taking a large gulp
"One stab wound to the chest, not fatal, he bled out poor fellow" Ducky said scooping ice cream into a bowl
"At least we know the TOD" Gibbs said
"What forecsics do we have Abby?" Emma asked and she took a bite out of a large peice of chicken
"There were a few fibers and a stain on the front of the victims shirt but not alot to go on" Abby said taking a large slurp of her drink
"What about evidence at the scene?" Vicky asked Kate and McGee
"There were no weapons at the scene, but we did find his cell" Kate said tucking into her ceasar salad
"All of his personal possetions were still on him so that rules out robbery" McGee said trying to ignore the large amount of food on the table and taking a mouthful full of water.
"What about suspects?" Veron asked Gibbs

It was almost 8 am by the time they had de-briefed and had been able to get on with solving the case, it was a rough day, they had spoken to over 100 witnesses and had so far
come up with no suspects. Abby and Emma had spent most of the day trying to keep themselves busy with eveidence but stuggled with the lack of it, they had made a game
that they had thought was so funny but was garanteed to annoy Gibbs off but it kept their mind off of having nothing to do.

"Ok now if the baby kicks it is a yes, if it doesn't its a no" Emma Said
"Whats going on here?" Gibbs asks striding into the lab
"Just playing a little game with the baby" Abby says looking all googly-eyed at him
"Can we just get down to work?" Gibbs asks not affected by it
"I thought you would never ask!" Abby says smiling

CHAPTER 3: CATCHING UP

"I cannot believe how long it has been!" Abby says running up to Emma and giving her a huge bear hug
"Its great to see you too Abby!" Emma says struggling to breathe
"I hear you have been promoted Ziva" Vicky says
"Yes, it was a big shock" Ziva says
"McGee, you have changed so much" Emma says hugging him
"I have Abby to thank for that, she helped me change my wardrobe and making me go to the gym" McGee says looking fondly at Abby
"I see you managed to tame him Kate" Vicky says smiling
"Of course" Kate says holding Tony's hand and looking deeply into his eyes

They had been catching up in Autopsy over Beer, coffee, Caff-pow, Pepsi, KFC, Ice cream and salad, discussing their lives over the past 5 months and also getting down to the case.

"Ducky what do we have?" Veron asked opening his can of pepsi and taking a large gulp
"One stab wound to the chest, not fatal, he bled out poor fellow" Ducky said scooping ice cream into a bowl
"At least we know the TOD" Gibbs said
"What forecsics do we have Abby?" Emma asked and she took a bite out of a large peice of chicken
"There were a few fibers and a stain on the front of the victims shirt but not alot to go on" Abby said taking a large slurp of her drink
"What about evidence at the scene?" Vicky asked Kate and McGee
"There were no weapons at the scene, but we did find his cell" Kate said tucking into her ceasar salad
"All of his personal possetions were still on him so that rules out robbery" McGee said trying to ignore the large amount of food on the table and taking a mouthful full of water.
"What about suspects?" Veron asked Gibbs

It was almost 8 am by the time they had de-briefed and had been able to get on with solving the case, it was a rough day, they had spoken to over 100 witnesses and had so far
come up with no suspects. Abby and Emma had spent most of the day trying to keep themselves busy with eveidence but stuggled with the lack of it, they had made a game
that they had thought was so funny but was garanteed to annoy Gibbs off but it kept their mind off of having nothing to do.

"Ok now if the baby kicks it is a yes, if it doesn't its a no" Emma Said
"Whats going on here?" Gibbs asks striding into the lab
"Just playing a little game with the baby" Abby says looking all googly-eyed at him
"Can we just get down to work?" Gibbs asks not affected by it
"I thought you would never ask!" Abby says smiling

CHAPTER 4: DOWN TO BUSINESS

The Team had finally got some sleep after working on the case for 3 days running, Gibbs getting the least as usual, had spent most of his time staring at the picture of the dead
Commander whilst drinking coffee and it made him angry that he was not able to provide answers to alot of the family's questions. Emma got the most, pregnancy was tough
on her and she slept at all times of the day in any situation. She would be in the lab chatting away to Abby while they process some evidence and the next minute Abby would
turn around and there she would be, sitting in the chair, head bent into her chest fast asleep. Abby found it amusing, she would wait for Emma to fall asleep and then eat her
food, usually sweets chocolate and Emma's favourite, marshmellows.

"Jethro, you still awake?" Veron asked snapping Gibbs out of his thoughts
"Yeah, i can't sleep when i don't have answers" Gibbs says gravelly
"I am the same, i have been going through the suspect files and i think we need to interview the wife again" Veron said
"why?" Gibbs asks
"I know that she was not with her husband the night he died as he was seen out with friends shortly before his death" Veron said putting up the wife's picture on the plasma
"How do you know that?" Gibbs asked confused
"Because Vicky's brother was one of them!" Veron said looking at Vicky
"Why didn't i know this before?" Gibbs asked
"Because even i didn't know until Emma and Abby went through the surveillance" Veron said
"We need to get him in here, now!" Gibbs says shouting and walking towards the elevator

Lee Smith entered NCIS and was walked the dredded path to the interrogation room, Gibbs awaited him and this was the most difficult thing for Vicky to face, her brother was
a suspect in a murder investigation, she thought she would never hear herself saying that but it was true and there was nothing she could do. She washed fer face with cold water
and had been in the bathroom for over 10 minutes when Emma walked into the bathroom.

"Hey Vicky, are you ok?" Emma asked
"Not really my brother is in interrogation right now being attacked by a feirce rotweiller named Gibbs" Vicky said tears in her eyes and turning to look at herself in the mirror
"It will be ok, he didn't do anything wrong, it will all blow over" Emma said giving her a hug
"You don't know that! his only allibi was the guy laying on a cold slab in the morgue" Vicky said running into one of the stalls
"Yes i do, i know he didn't do it" Emma said looking down at the floor as the stall door opened and a shocked Vicky looked at her
"How do you know?" Vicky asked confused
"Because i was with him all night" Emma said
"How you were with us at the office party" Vicky said looking even more confused
"We were video conferencing from where he was staying" Emma said knowing what would happen next
"You and my brother?" Vicky said getting angry
"Yes, its been about 4 months" Emma said looking up all teary eyed

"Where were you mr Smith?" Gibbs barked
"I was in my hotel room with someone" Lee said trying not to show how afraid he was
"Why don't i believe you?" Gibbs asked
"Because i was not technically with someone, were were video conferencing" Lee said looking Gibbs in the eye
"I have heard some bull in my time!" Gibbs said but got interrupted
"Agent Gibbs may i please speak to you?" Vicky asked
"Not now i am busy" Gibbs barked
"This won't take a minute, its important" Vicky said
"I will be back" Gibbs says picking up his coffee cup on the way out

He walks out of the room and faces Vicky, he is not impressed he looks like he could kill someone and that it may be Vicky

"NEVER, interupt me during an interrogation, you understand me?" Gibbs said with anger in his voice
"I understand that but i have some important news" Vicky said
"Make it quick!" Gibbs says getting more annoyed
"Lee was with Emma!" Vicky said and the confused look on Gibbs' face said it all.

CHAPTER 5: POPPING THE QUESTION

"Where is she?" Vicky asked trying to move Abby out of the way
"Calm down" Abby said
"Calm down, calm down, how would you feel if she was with your brother?" Vicky asked
"Well she would not be his type" Abby said jokily
"This is not funny, when she has given birth i am so going to give her what she deserves" Vicky said turning and storming off to the
elevator
"That was a close one!" Emma said stepping out of the locker she could barely fit in
"You won't be so lucky if the next time you annoy her you have popped the little one out" Abby said getting back to work

The team were in various places Vicky and Ziva were questioning witnesses, Gibbs and Veron were in Fornell's office arguing over
who does what as usual which left Tony, Kate and McGee at NCIS with mounds of statements and footage to route through.

"Hey McGee?" Tony whispers
"What Tony?" McGee asks sighing
"Could you give us 10 minutes of alone time?" Tony asks looking in Kate's direction
"Sure Tony, but if Gibbs comes back you made me go, alright?" McGee says grabbing his work ready to move to the lab
"Your a saint Probie!" Tony says going back to his work
"Where is McGee going?" Kate asked seeing McGee fleeing towards the elevator

Tony stands up and walks to Kates desk and holds out his hand wiling Kate to take it.

"What is going on Tony?" she says taking Tonys hand and standing up, still silent he leads her towards the stairs leading to
MTAC. "Tony, please tell me what you are doing, please?" Kate begged as he led her into a darkened MTAC.

Tony opens the door to MTAC and walks Kate down the stairs and stands her in front of the large screen. After a few seconds
the door closes and Kate turns around only to find Tony has gone, alone in the room she finds a seat at the front and sits down
unaware of the surprise he has arranged for her.

After a few minutes music starts playing and the screen shows pictures of her and Tony over the past few months.

Adesso no, non voglio più difendermi
Supererò dentro di me gli ostacoli
I miei momenti più difficili
Per te
The screen then changes to a picture that shows Kate looking at the sunset on the first night they spent together then the following was written on the screen:
Kate, i have loved you since the first time i set eyes on you, you are the best thing that has ever hapened to me.

There is no reason, there is no rhyme
It's crystal clear
I hear your voice
And all the darkness disappears
Everytime I look into your eyes
You make me love you
Questo inverno finirÃ
And I do truly love you
Fuori e dentro me
How you make me love you
Con le sue diffcoltÃ
And I do truly love you

You have opened my eyes to a world i never thought i would never ever see, and have never let me down.

I belong to you, you belong to me
Forever

Want you
Baby I want you
And I thought that you should know
That I believe
And your the wind that's underneath my wings
I belong to you, you belong to me
So Kate......

Ho camminato su pensieri ripidi
You're my fantasy
Per solitudini e deserti aridi
You're my gentle breeze
Al ritmo della tua passione ora io vivrò
And I'll never let you go
L'amore attraverserò
You're the piece that makes me whole
Le onde dei suoi attimi
I can feel you in my soul
Profondi come oceani

Vincerò per te le paure che io sento
Quanto bruciano dentro le parole che non ho più detto, sai...
In front of all our friends and family......

Oh..
Want you
Baby I want u
And I thought that you should know
That I believe
Kate begins to tear up as she wipes away a tear before allowing one to fall from her face.

Lampi nel silenzio siamo noi yeah
I belong to you, you belong to me

You're the wind that's underneath my wings
I belong to you, you belong to me
Yeah hey yeah he

Adesso io ti sento
I will belong forever to you
The door opens and Tony walks towards her standing in front of her and getting down on one knee.
"Will you make me the happiest man alive and agree to be my wife?" he says with the bggest smile she has ever seen.
"Nothing would make me happier, Yes Tony, i wil marry you!" she says unable to stop the tears and they uncontrollably fall down her face.
Tony stands up and places the ring on her finger as the screen shows everyone down in the lab cheering and shouting at them. This was the best day of thier lives.

CHAPTER 6: BUSTED

It was one of those days where everything that could have gone wrong did, firstly Tony and Kate were late for work, then the computers went down,
and to top it all off the air conditioners went into over drive and turned the building into an ice cave.

"Its so cold in here Gibbs" Ziva said crossing her arms hoping to get some heat
"Live with it" Gibbs says agitated
"Take my jacket Ziva" McGee says handing her his jacket
"Your a true gentleman McGee" Ziva says putting the jacket on
"Where the hell is DiNozzo and Kate?" Gibbs shouts to no one in particular
"Here boss" Tony says stepping off the elevator without Kate
"Wheres Kate?" Ziva asks as her phone begins to ring "Hello?, yeah ill be right down"
"Where are you going?" McGee asks Ziva
"Abbys lab, girl meeting" Ziva says getting up and making her way to the elevator
"Not even going to argue" Gibbs says as the guys all get back to work

Abbys lab was full of black roses and candles, with the computers down there was not much for Abby to do but to hold a girly pow wow.

"So Kate where is this rock?" Abby asks as Ziva walks in and takes a seat on the blanket on the floor

Kate shows her hand that has the most amazing pink diamond ring on it. The girls just stare at it for a couple of minutes saying nothing.

"That is such a beatuiful ring Kate, you are so lucky!" Emma said
"I know i have the best man ever!" Kate said smiling from ear to ear
"Where is Vicky?" Kate asks Emma
"She was not invited as she is after Emma for dating her brother behind her back" Abby says slighty smiling
"Its not funny, she threatened to get me after this little one is born" Emma says rubbing her now slighty enlarged stomach
"It will be fine soon, i have a plan" Ziva says "I am going to introduce her to Ed from upstairs"
"Not hot Ed?" Abby and Kate say in unison
"Yes that same one" Ziva says as both Kate and Abby sigh
"Aren't you guys taken?" Emma says to Abby and Kate
"We can dream can't we? and you have not seen him have you? you will understand when you see him" Abby says smiling

Little did the girls know that Ziva did not put her phone down properly and the guys had all heard what they said.

"Who is Ed?" Tony said

The girls all looked around at the intercom with faces of shock.

"TONY!" the girls shout
"Oh s..." Tony says putting the reciever down
"Lets get him!" They all say and make their way to the elevator.

CHAPTER 7: SAVED BY THE BELL

Tony was about to face the biggest showdown of his life, in about a minute or so he will be faced with 4 of the most leathal women he
had ever know and they were all after him. The elevator doors opened and Gibbs and McGee quickly made their way to the staircase
they decided it would be safer there and they could also have a prime view of seeing Tony squirm like a little girl. They had only just
got off the elevator before it started.

"Tony how dare you listen to our conversation!" Abby shouted
"Well it was Ziva's fault for leaving the phone off the hook" Tony said with a slight smirk

Tony had the 4 women circling him they looked like birds of prey circling their kill.

"Don't blame this all on Ziva!" Kate said as all 4 women Gibbs slapped him
"Ouch! take it easy!" Tony said trying to escape
"Take it easy? oh you haven't felt the half of it!" Emma Said looking a little tired, she was pregnant afterall
"Your just lucky that Kate loves you so much" Ziva said as the women move to rest against Kate's desk

Gibbs cell rings and he answers it with a huge smile on his face, watching Tony being backed into a corner by these women was a slight
comfort to him, he knew better than to mess with all 4 at once.

"Gibbs" he answered
"On my way" he said closing his cell and making his way to his desk
"Saved by the bell DiNozzo, we got another dead marine" Gibbs said getting his sig from his draw and loading it
"Ladies i need you to all go into the lab and try to find any information on the marine in autopsy" Gibbs says as he walks towards the elevator

Gibbs, Tony and McGee had been at the crime scene for what seemed like an eternity but Tony was glad to be out of the office and away
from the 4 women attack on him he had encountered earlier. It had taken them over 2 hours to finally finish everything at the crime scene
being down 2 agents had not helped but Gibbs knew that if Ziva and Kate had been here they would have not got any work done and he
was just not in the mood for that.

"Jehtro, i thought you would like a hand" Agent Veron said making his way towards him
"Your a little late Jason we have been here for 2 hours and are just wrapping up" Gibbs said finally glad to have an extra pair of hands
"Where is agent Smith?" Veron asked
"She is checking out the marines car" Gibbs says pointing to a SUV parked in the driveway

They all begin to make their way towards the SUV to see what Vicky has found when all of a sudden the SUV explodes into a huge fireball
sending car parts in all different directions.

CHAPTER 8: DEAD OR ALIVE?

"Tony, Tony, can you hear me?" Tony could hear her voice faintly in the distance but could not speak or move the more he tried the worse he
felt.
"Tony, its me Kate, please wake up" Kate said through tears
"Kate hunny, how is he?" Abby asked standing in the doorway of Tony's room
"Its not good Abby, doctors say that he could be scared for life and he may never recover his hearing" Kate said trying to hold back tears but
failing. "Hows McGee doing?" Kate asked as she turned around to face Abby noticing that she looked worse than Kate felt.
"He is still unconcious, they say that if he does not wake up soon he may slip into a coma" Abby had barely got the words out before falling
to the floor in tears.

Kate jumped out of her seat next to Tony's bedside and ran to her friend and pulled her up hugging her tight. She walked Abby back to McGee's
room and sat her down in the seat by the window. She turned and looked at McGee who looked like he was sleeping apart from the burns
to his face neck and hands and the patch on the right side of head where his hair should be but all she saw was more burns. She felt for her
best friend, she would hate to be in that situation if Tony had been where McGee was when the SUV exploded.

"Ill go get us some Caff-pow" Kate said and exited the room
"Thanks Kate" Abby said in almost a whisper

Abby walked into the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water and dried it with the towel that hung on the side of the chair and walked
towards McGee, reaching out she touched his hand.

"Hey baby, it me, Abby" She said trying to fight back tears
"I thought you said that you would never leave me, us?" Abby said taking his hand in hers
"I need for you to tell me that you love me and that you will be ok" She said looking at his scarred face
"You need to wake up for me, i can't do this alone" Abby said stroking his hand as tears fell onto the bed
"Your not alone Abby" Abby turned round to see Gibbs in a dressing gown his face showing a large cut down the left side
"Why Me, why does this always happen to me?" Abby shouted to Gibbs as he moved towards her and held her tightly
"He will be fine, he is just saving up his strength so that he can see you again" Gibbs said as Abby cried into his shoulder
"Your just saying that to make me feel better" Abby said pulling away from him
"Did it work?" Gibbs asked giving her a small reassuring smile
"A little" Abby said giving him a small smile "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine Abs, just a few cuts thats all" Gibbs said turning to walk out
"Is it true, about Vicky?" Abbys asked knowing what the answer was
"I'm so sorry Abs" Gibbs said swallowing the lump in his throat
"Come and see the others" Gibbs says holding out his hand to her
"I can't leave him Gibbs" Abbys says looking at McGee
"He will be fine Abs, let him rest for a little bit" Gibbs says walking over to her and putting him arm around her shoulders.
"Ill be back soon baby, you get some rest" Abby says and lets Gibbs guide her to the visitors room just down the hall.

"Abby" Ziva says walking over to her and giving her a hug
"Abigail, my dear" Ducky says giving her a hug too
"Here you are Abs" Kate says giving her the large Caff-pow and sitting her in a chair
"How is young Timmothy?" Ducky asks Gibbs in a hushed voice
"Its not looking Good Ducky" Gibbs whispers back
"Caitlin is taking all this rather well" Ducky says to Gibbs
"She is putting up a strong front for Abby" Gibbs says and takes a seat next to Jenny
"I'm glad you're here Jenny, it means alot" Gibbs says giving her a small smile
"You are all my friends no matter what happens in the office" Jenny says squeezing his hand

They all sat there is silence for what seemed like an hour when a doctor came into the room, his face was expressionless as he made
his way towards the group.

"Special Agent Veron?" The doctor asked not knowing who is was trying to find and looking at Ducky and then Gibbs and then Jenny
"I'm Special Agent Gibbs, Agent Veron has just stepped out can i help you?" Gibbs said standing and shaking the doctors hand
"Miss Harvey is awake and asking for him" The doctor said nodding and looking at the others
"Are we all able to see her?" Abby said looking a little more hopeful then before
"I'm sure that will be fine but i do warn you that she is a little fragile at the moment so you will have to be patient, the last thing she
needs is more stress" The doctor said with a hint of warning in his voice that scared most of them "This way please"

The doctor led them down to a small room at the opposite end of the hall a few rooms away from where McGee was. They walked in the
room one by one and saw Emma half sitting up on the bed staring into space, her eyes were bloodshot and she looked like hell. She had
blacked out after find out about the explosion which ha taken the life of her best friend Agent Smith.

"Emma we are so glad you are ok" Ziva said trying not to look at her
"Where is Jason?" Emma said not moving her eyes from the ceiling sounding groggy
"He just went out for coffee" Gibbs said lying, he was really in London getting Vicky's family to bring them to NCIS
"Don't lie to me!" Emma said in a horrid tone
"You need to calm down Emma, its not good for you or the baby" Kate said walking up to her and holding her hand
"Get off of me!" Emma said moving her hand away from Kate's
"Emma its ok just let it all out, its natural to be angry" Ziva said joining Kate at her bedside
"Its not ok!" Emma said looking at Ziva coldly
"We are here for you" Abby said joing the other 2
"I've lost my best friend, she's.. she's... gone" Emma said and broke down

The three girls all gave her a huge hug, Gibbs was a mere spectator to all this but he found it strangely comforting that in a time of crisis
this team worked better than any he can remember working with. He walked up to Emma and kissed her on the forehead, squeezed
her hand and made his way back to his room. Jenny followed him and sat on the bed in his room, Gibbs walked into the bathroom
and appeared a few minutes later dressed and grabbing his things out of the small bedside cabinet.

"And where do you think you are going?" Jenny asked watching Gibbs running around the room
"I am going to catch the b*stard who did this to my team" Gibbs says making his way towards the door
"Jethro, you are not fit to leave yet, the investigation can wait" Jenny said grabbing his arm
"Try telling that to Agent Smith" Gibbs says trying to get out of her grip
"Stop trying to be funny with me" Jenny says releasing his arm
"Go into the room and tell them that you are not allowing me to catch the b*stard that did this to their friends, colleagues, partners"
"Do you need back-up?" Jenny said looking Jethro in the eyes
"Call in a group of agents, ill get the car" Gibbs says walking towards the elevator and stepping inside "You've messed with the wrong son
of a b!tch" He says as the elevator doors close

CHAPTER 9: LIFE WITHOUT TIMMOTHY MCGEE

McGee opens his eyes and finds himself in a cemetary, he has no idea how he got there, he looks around and sees everyone gathered
around a coffin. He walks over to the gathering and sees Abby, Tony, Kate, Ziva, Emma, Gibbs, Ducky, Jimmy, Jenny, his parents and
his sister, they are all crying as the minister is saying something, he can't make it out but he begins to fear the worst. He moves to the
front of the coffin and blocking Abby from seeing it which is pretty useless because she canot see him or hear him, she can't even
feel him.

He sees that the coffin has not been sealed yet and his curiosity gets the better of him, he lifts up the lid and sees his lifeless body
looking peaceful wearing his favourite suit which he knew Abby would have picked out for him. His face is all messed up but
someone has tried to cover it up, they did not do a very good job at it. He then begins to look around the cemetary to figure
where he is but when he turns back to the gathering there is just Abby and two small children standing over a headstone.

"Hey baby, its me again, Abby" she says holding the little boy's hand in her left and the little girl's on the right.
"Abby, its me i'm right here" McGee says but it is no use, they cannot hear him
"I cannot believe it has been 5 years already its crazy, you couldn't even see your babies grow up" Abby says shedding a tear
"Oh my Abby, they look just like you" McGee says trying his hardest to get them to notice him
"Tony and Kate finally got married, took them long enough" Abby laughed at the thought
"Mummy, can i give my picture to daddy now?" The little girl said
"Sure hunny, put it under the rock and he will see it later" Abby said lifting up the small rock the children had painted for him
"Gibbs has a new girlfriend which is really funny because i tease him about it all the time" Abby said bending down

The two children begin to chase each other around the cemetary, laughing and making alot of noise as Abby washes down the
headstone and replaces the near dead flowers with fresh ones. McGee stands next to Abby and puts a hand on her shoulder
and she shudders.

"Abby you can feel me, i'm here, i'm here" McGee said rubbing her shoulder
"I want you to know that even though they have neven seen you, they knew who you were and how great you were to me" She says
standing up "They will never forget you as i won't"
"Mummy! Mummy!" Tim jr and Molly shout
"What is it babies?" Abby says looking at them
"Its Aunty Kate and Uncle Tony" They shout running up to them

Kate and Tony make their way to Abby, Tony is carrying their 6 month old baby in his arms, they reach Abby and exchange hellos
as they all stand in silence of a few minutes to remember Tim.

"Hey Probie" Tony says smiling but still feeling the loss
"Hey McGee" Kate says holding Abbys hand as they begin to cry
"Women" Tony says to the tiny girl he has in his arms
"Tony!" Kate and Abby say in unison
"Probie, meet my little angel, Antonia Caitlin DiNozzo, Antonia, Probie" Tony says bending down and showing her the stone.

McGee closes his eyes and hopes that it is just a dream and that when he opens his eyes he will be at home with Abby and
everything will be back to normal. He opens his eyes and he is standing in someone's back garden, it has a huge silk tent in
the middle and there are people in wedding outfits and they are all sitting down facing a dark haired woman and a man
at the very back of the tent, he makes his way through the crowd and stands between the couple and the crowd.

"I know that my father would have been so proud of this moment that his only daughter is getting married" The woman said
a glass of champagne in her hands
"I know that he is here today smiling and i know that he would wish us the very best for the future" She said tearing up
"I would like to thank my mum for all her help through my life and for teaching me everything i know, Cheers" She said
holding her glass up as the guests all joined her and sipped their champagne.

Closing his eyes one more time he felt a huge pain in his heart as he opened his eyes he was in a hospital bed he looked
around to find nothing was familiar he had no idea where he was and why he was there all he knew was that he felt like
his face was on fire and he was hearing this annoying buzzing sount in his ears. He tried to move but could not feel any
part of his body, why was he here? where was he? he had no idea. He saw someone enter the room, look at him,
saying something he could not hear then disappearing again so he shut his eyes hoping he was still dreaming. After a few
seconds he opend his eyes again but still the same this time he was not dreaming.

"Abby" he struggled to say it, he was not even sure he did because he did not hear it.
"Its ok sir you are in the Bethesda naval hospital, you were in an accident" The nurse said as several others rushed in

'accident' was all he could understand from that he had managed to learn some lip reading techniques from spending
so much time with Abby

"Abby" he tried saying again but it got lost in his throat
"Sir, your fiance is outside she would like to see you" The nurse said going to fetch Abby
"Hey baby, its me, Abby" She said as McGee closed his eyes he did not have the energy to keep them open
"Abby" was all he could say but he felt her touch his hand and he knew it was her.