Chapter 15

AN imporant: so sorry, I know it's been a while. I have been away and haven't really written in a while, and my life is fulling apart. I'm also still dealing with the amazingness of the last scene of 16x23.

I have a few more chapters written so I might update them, but my life is falling apart so I've found it really hard to write.

HUGE THANK YOU TO: RMK1983 who is my beta.

Three days later, to everyone's concern Jack still hasn't woken up. Ever since, apart from his revenge trip to NCIS, Gibbs hasn't left her side. The rest of the team, plus Fornell and even Tony, McGee and Delilah, have been taking turns being at the hospital with Gibbs in case he needs anything. Ziva has taken over the Major Case Response Team, and is making it clear on a regular basis that it is only temporary and she has no interest in ever making that a permanent thing, even if Gibbs was willing.

"I'm really not sure this is a good idea," Faith says to her two best friends as she, Kayla and Emily are at the hospital where Jack is.

"You've been saying the last couple of days that you want to see her," Emily tells her friend.

"And I do, but…." Faith starts to say, before trailing off.

"But what, Faith?" Kayla asks, in a gentle voice.

"But what if no one wants me here?" Faith asks, looking concerned. "From everything you guys have said, everything I've seen, this team is a family, and I'm the reason Jack's in critical condition," Faith explains.

"No, you are not," Ziva says, walking up to the girls, and Faith notices that neither of her friends look surprised.

"You told Ziva?" Faith asks surprised, looking between her friends and not even realising that after Jack got hurt she has taken to calling her Ziva rather than Agent David.

"Because you can trust Ziva," Emily assures her.

"You really can, trust me," Kayla says, looking at her friend, and putting her hand on Faith's arm. After her mother was killed Ziva was there for her, she even always had an email which she could email Ziva at, and Ziva would always respond, something which only stopped after Ziva's 'death'.

"Okay," Faith says, with a nod, trusting her friends.

"Faith, I want to make one thing clear," Ziva says, looking directly at the young women. "Nothing that has happened is your fault. No one blames you and you should not blame yourself," Ziva assures her, though she knows that these particular words tend to be hard to believe.

"It's hard not to," Faith admits. "Jack turned herself into…. Richards, to protect me, to save me, and now she's in ICU and may not wake up," Faith says, getting upset, and so both Kayla and Emily put their arms around her.

"Faith look at me," Ziva says, taking both of Faith's hand and forcing the young women to look at her. "Jack made a choice. The only one to blame for hurting her is Richards. Everything that has happened is on him, not you or anyone else," Ziva says. "Jack is my friend, and I would say I know her better than most people. So, I know, without a doubt, that she would not want you to blame yourself, okay?" Ziva asks, and Faith gives a little nod. "Would you like to see Jack?"

"Can I?" Faith asks, and it is clear from the look on her face that she would really want to.

"Of course," Ziva says to her. "Kayla and Emily can wait outside the room for you," Ziva says, knowing that Faith needs the comfort of her friends.

"Thank you," Faith says, and the four of them head towards Jack's hospital room.

Arriving at Jack's hospital room, Kayla can see the look of hesitance on her friends' face.

"It will be okay," Kayla tells Faith. "You can do this," she says supportively.

"She's right," Emily says. "And trust me, once you're in there it's less scary," Emily says, not being able to help but think back to when her dad was in the hospital.

"Okay," Faith says, and she forces herself to walk forward, and into the hospital room, where Gibbs, who knew she was coming thanks to Ziva, is still sitting by Jack's side holding her hand.

"I'll give you some privacy," Gibbs says, letting go of Jack's hand.

"You don't have to do that," Faith says, not wanting to impose.

"I need more coffee," Gibbs explains, getting up and walking across the room. "You can talk to her, I have," Gibbs says, before leaving, leaving Faith alone in the hospital room.

"Um hi," Faith says, walking to Jack's bed. "This isn't how I imaged our first real conversation to go," Faith admits. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Faith reveals, tears coming to her eyes. "This should never have happened," Faith admits, wiping her tears. "When I found out I was adopted I wondered why, and then years later Mom and Dad explained the reasons to me, and I was grateful," Faith explains. "You made the best choice for me, the hard choice, and you gave me an amazing life, so thank you," Faith says. "But I still want to know you Jack. I don't know if you want to know me, but I want to know you," Faith admits. "I don't know what that will look like, but It's something I want to experience. I want you to know me, know about the life you gave me, and I want to know about your life," Faith says. "So please Jack, wake up, not just for me but for everyone else who loves you." Faith asks, as she sits down on the chair opposite to the one Gibbs was sitting in.

While Faith is in Jack's room Ziva and Gibbs have gone to get coffee together.

"Have you eaten today?" Ziva asks as she watches Gibbs get a cup of coffee.

"Ziver…." Gibbs says, with a sigh.

"Gibbs, I am worried about you," Ziva admits, having no shame in doing so.

"I'm not the one you should be worried about," Gibbs admits.

"Have you talked to her doctors today?" Ziva asks curious as she knows Gibbs ahs been doing that regularly as he and Vance are in Jack's file as people as emergency contacts/next of kin.

"Yeah, they said the same," Gibbs admits. "They're not sure why she hasn't woken up, hoping that she does," Gibbs admits Ziva can hear the pain in his voice.

"Gibbs, you know better than anyone that comas can take a while to come out of," Ziva points out, wanting to do something to help Gibbs.

"I know," Gibbs says, as honestly that's what worries him. "But they're saying the longer she takes to wake up the more concerned we should be," Gibbs reveals, and Ziva reaches over and puts her hand on her father figure shoulder.

"We should get food, then go back to Jack," Ziva says, and from the look on her face Gibbs knows there is no point in arguing.

"Fine," Gibbs answers, and the two of them head to get some actual food rather than just coffee.

After a pretty quiet lunch, where Ziva had to prod to get Gibbs to actually eat, the two of them returned to Jack's hospital room, where Kayla and Emily are still waiting outside of. While Ziva hands them some coffee Gibbs heads back into Jack's hospital room.

Walking back into Jack's hospital room Gibbs walks over and sits back down in the chair that has become his.

"Is it okay if I stay?" Faith asks curious.

"If you would like," Gibbs answers, without looking away from Jack as he once more takes her hand.

"I think I'll stay… for a little while," Faith reveals, and in response Gibbs nods.

Gibbs and Faith drift into silence as they both hope that Jack is going to wake up and be okay.

For the next few hours, Gibbs and Faith sit by Jack's bedside, until Faith finally decides to leave, leaving Gibbs alone, in the room. Once he is alone Gibbs just sits and stares for a while, before he finally leaves forward, moving closer to Jack.

"Come on Jack, this is enough," Gibbs says. "I need you to wake up, please, wake up," Gibbs tells her. "You missed Faith, she was here," Gibbs reveals. "She's worried about you, wants to know you," Gibbs explains. "I know you want that too. As much as you try to hide it," Gibbs admits. "So you need to wake up Jack, she needs you too, I need you too," Gibbs reveals.

After Gibbs speaks he doesn't move back from Jack, rather he just stays close to her, and waits, desperately hoping that Jack opens her eyes.

Since talking to Jack Gibbs just continued to sit close to her, waiting, hoping that she is going to wake up. As doubt starts to rise up inside of him that maybe Jack won't wake up Gibbs finally sees what he has been waiting for, Jack's eyes flickering.

"Jack," Gibbs says, leaning forward even more. "Can you hear me?" Gibbs asks, and Jack's eyes flicker even more. "Come on Jack, open your eyes, please," Gibbs begs, and to his relief Jack's eyes open. "Hi," Gibbs greats, sounding relieved.

"Gibbs…" Jack manages to say, her voice pained. "Faith?"

"She's okay, she's completely fine," Gibbs assures her, knowing what she is trying to ask, as he reaches over and presses the button to call the doctor.

"Love, you, too," Jack tells Gibbs, clearly trying to get used to being awake once more, as the doctors come into the room to examine Jack.

About ten minutes have passed since Jack woke up, and for that entire time, Gibbs hasn't left Jack as the doctors check to make sure she is okay.

"You will need to take things easy, and without your spleen you are at risk for getting more infections, so you will have to keep that in mind," the doctor informs Jack.

"When can I get out of here?" Jack, who is more aware than she was when she first woke up, and is now sitting up, asks.

"At least a few days, most likely about a week," the doctor informs Jack. "You had major surgery, almost died, you need to take things slowly." Jack rolls her eyes, which Gibbs notices.

"Fine," Jack says, though it is clear that she is annoyed.

"If you need anything, press the button," the doctor tells Jack, before leaving.

"I hate hospitals," Jack says, once the doctor leaves.

"I know," Gibbs says, moving closer to her, and taking her hand once more. "But you need to be careful, Jack."

"I'm fine," Jack says. "I don't need to be here for so long."

"Three fractured ribs, two broken eye sockets, broken nose, concussion, internal bleeding, splenectomy, and punctured pericardial sac, not to mention coma for three days, isn't fine," Gibbs tells Jack. "You need to heal."

"I must look awful," Jack laments

"You look beautiful," Gibbs tells her.

"You haven't left? Have you?" Jack asks curious.

"Not unless I had too," Gibbs reveals. "You scared me, Jack. I thought I was going to lose you." Gibbs admits.

"Don't worry, you can't get rid of me that easily," Jack teases, looking amused.

"There's being nothing easy about the last few days," Gibbs reveals.

"I know," Jack says, as she squeezes Gibbs hand.

"I meant what I said," Gibbs says. "I love you, Jack. I never want to lose you," Gibbs's face making it very clear that he completely means everything he is saying

"I love you too, Gibbs," Jack reveals, and Gibbs leans forward and gently kisses her, something he has wanted to do most for the past four days.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO UPDATE THE CHAPTERS I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN LET ME KNOW. I JUST CAN'T PROMISE THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CHAPTER OTHER THAN THE ONES I'VE ALREADY WRITTEN.