---

When Alex, Abby and Tony finally pulled in front of Jackson Gibbs general store, Tony was ready for the car ride to be over. Alex and Abby had insisted on played every car game they could think of, but it was quickly forgotten as he registered the burnt frame of a car.

"What happened? Everyone alright?" Tony asked Ziva who was surveying the damage.

"Gibbs?" Alex asked, her eyes not leaving the burnt out car.

"He is fine. Everyone is fine. We have just lost a lot of potential evidence. That is all" Ziva said, placing a reassuring hand on Alex's back.

Tony nodded and moved inside in search of Gibbs while Alex and Abby went to unload the car. Inside Tony explained the warrant he had obtained.

Jackson Gibbs watched this man, obviously intimidated by his son, yet also full of respect. He tuned out of the conversation, not completely understanding what was being said anyway. He watched the expression on his son's face. Leroy's face, he noted, didn't show any emotion. There was no sadness, he noticed with a sigh of relief. He didn't see any happiness either, but compared to the last time he had seen his son, at the funeral, he was somewhat surprised that his son was still alive. Jackson's thoughts were interrupted by the door to the store opening, he watched curiously.

Two women walked in carrying stacks of various boxes and cases. One was dressed from head to toe in black, black shirt and black jeans. Her hair, also black, was in pigtails and her dark makeup completed her look. The several tattoos he saw were the first clue that these weren't local women with his latest delivery. His second clue was the gun on the hip of the second woman. She was wearing grey slacks and a dark purple satin blouse. His final clue was the height on her heels. Local women didn't wear shoes like that.

"Gibbs!" He watched them greet his son warmly as both Gibbs and Tony stepped forward to help them with the load they had carried in.

Jackson watched as his son absentmindedly placed a hand on the back of the second woman "You look nice"

"Flattery Gibbs, I like it. I'll get you everywhere" Alex giggled "Ask Tony."

Jackson was astonished at the smile that appeared on his sons face

"I know. You make me breakfast every morning, don't you?" Gibbs gave a light tug on Alex's sleeve. Jackson was glad no one was looking at him, they would've wondered if he was having a heart attack. This woman lived with his son? He was dumbfounded. He hadn't spoken to his son in years, but he was fairly certain his son wouldn't have gotten married and not told him about it.

"Gibbs, you are such a player" Alex feigned insult.

"Boss this is where you say something snappy like, don't hate the player, hate the game" Tony read the look on his boss' face and continued "Right, shutting up now boss."

Alex intervened "I was part of the intro-meeting for the new hire's this morning. Thought I'd give them a bit false security, you know, make them think the agency is all professional. This way, it's more entertaining when Tony brings them crashing into reality when he scares them in the elevator. We've got it all worked out. Next week will be the greatest week of our lives, right Tony?"

"She's right boss, next week will… be a very busy week as we are hard at work at NCIS" Tony turned his attention to the warrant in his hand.

"Abby, Alex this is my fath-" before he could finish Alex and Abby had moved over to Jackson and had his sandwiched in a hug.

"Hello Ladies. Call me Jack"

After introductions, Gibbs instructed Tony to take Ziva and McGee to get DNA samples at the coal mines while he would return to get DNA samples at the Winslow residence. Abby and Alex followed Tony back to the car to get the last of their stuff so he could leave.

Jackson stared at his soon as the door closed behind the others "That woman lives with you?"

"It's a long story"

"One that you'll fill me in on after we get that DNA you need?"

"There is nothing to fill you in on, Jack" Both Gibbs sighed as they headed for the door.

When they returned with the DNA samples they all sat back to let Abby work while McGee sat silently next to her as she worked. Tony and Ziva had gone outside for a walk and Gibbs helped his father by pricing things. Alex lifted herself up on to the front counter of the store, and Gibbs senior sat idly around the counter behind her.

Two young men entered the store "Hey Jackson, looks like you've got a crowd"

"Hello Fellas, don't mind them. Their busy with some work"

The men nodded and found what they were looking for. They approached the counter where Alex was sitting and set two six packs of beer on the counter to pay. Alex scooted over to make room for the beer and then smiled at the guys. "Ooh, party time, huh?"

The first guy smiled back "Something like that. I'm Jared and this is Mike"

Alex shook their hands, "I'm Alex"

"I'm assuming you aren't from around here"

"Nope, how could you tell?"

Jared eyed her up and down once and laughed, "It could be the Malibu-Barbie outfit"

"Hey, this is New York fashion, buddy. Don't go there"

He held up his hands, "Ok, ok. Changing the subject now. Mike and I are going to meet some friends by the lake, if you aren't busy" he looked around at the others in the shop "you are welcome to join us"

Jackson watched the exchange between Alex and Jared and at the same time kept an eye on his son. He saw a flash of jealousy on his son's face as he watched from afar, but as quickly as it appeared it disappeared.

"Nah, my boss is a slave-driver" Alex peered over Jared shoulder and winked at Gibbs. "You kids have fun" Alex looked over at the cash register "and that'll be $14.75 for the man behind the counter"

"Let us know if you'll be back in town sometime. I'd love to show you around."

"Show me around? You can point to everything in this town from the front step of this store"

"There is more to this town than what you see" Jared laughed.

"Well, maybe I will" Alex waved as the guys left the store.

The rest of the afternoon was spent checking and then re-checking DNA. The early evening went by in flash, arresting Nick and his counterparts. With everyone safely in custody the team gathered in the general store. They pulled up chairs to the table and dug into to the pizzas they had ordered. Ziva agreed to share her hotel room with Tony and McGee agreed to share with Abby so that they wouldn't have to make the long drive that night.

"Oh, I see how it is. Jack you have a sofa I could crash on?"

Jack chuckled, "We'll put Leroy on the sofa. You can have his old room"

The rest of the table went quiet and Alex laughed "no no, the sofa is fine. We've got a long ride home tomorrow, all of us stuck in the suburban together. We don't want to ride with a cranky Gibbs"

"Lex…" Gibbs warned.

"Geez, Leroy. These people sure cater to your every need. You really are the boss, aren't you?"

"No, we all cater to each other's needs." Alex defended "It keeps us all happy and the team working efficiently. We take care of each other. So if that means sleeping on a sofa to ensure a peaceful ride home? No sweat. Plus, it's not like I'm agreeing to sleep out back. Unless your sofa is out back, is it? I'm sure I could find Jared. He'd take me in…"

"No no. It's inside in the living room. And that's nice; you know, that you take care of each other."

Around 9 pm Ziva, Tony, McGee and Abby agreed that they were tired and would head back to their hotel. Jack, Gibbs and Alex continued to sit around the table and talk, mostly about NCIS. Alex could tell Jack wanted to talk about more personal things; she didn't blame him seeing as his son hadn't been in contact for over ten years, but Gibbs skirted the subject every time.

"Oh man" Alex faked a yawn. "Maybe you could point me in the direct of the sofa"

Jack nodded "The living quarters are upstairs. Follow me" Jack showed Alex the sofa and found an extra pillow and blanket while Alex changed into something more comfortable. Alex, Abby and Tony had brought extra clothes for this very reason.

Alex made herself comfortable on the sofa, but sat up again before Jack went back down the stairs to the store "He's not just a boss. He cares about us"

Jack nodded, "I see that. Goodnight"

"Night" The yawn that followed wasn't fake, and Alex nestled down into the soft cushions.

Jackson returned to his chair at the table across from his son and sat down "Well Leroy, are you ready to fill me in on that young woman upstairs?"

"She's a great agent"

"She's living with you?"

The younger Gibbs sighed, "Her boyfriend left for the middle east. Then he died. A year later he walked into the office and admitted that he faked his death, because he had been injured. She was heartbroken and needed a place to stay until her lease ran out. She's a good cook and good company, so I offered my guest room"

"How long ago was that?"

"It was six, maybe, seven months ago? I don't know"

"You're in love with her?" Jack wasn't sure if he had meant it as a question or rather as a statement. He thought it was rather obvious.

Gibbs didn't answer. He had wondered himself the past several months, but never had it been said out loud.

"You were jealous of those guys who came in"

Gibbs didn't answer.

"And you touched her, a hand on her back, the pulling at her sleeve. It's obvious."

"You sell books about body language in here?" Gibbs asked "There is nothing going on, she's a good friend who has been there for me when I need her, so I try and do the same. That's it."

"Why do you assume that's it, Leroy? She seems like a very special woman"

"Because… because one day she'll move out and move on with her life. I've accepted that"

"She doesn't have to move out"

"I know, but she will. You saw how she was with that guy Jared. She's young and beautiful. She's not…"

"She's not Shannon"

"I was going to say she's not in love with me. But no, she's not Shannon".

"And that's a good thing. I adored Shannon and that girl Kelly, but they're gone. If she was like Shannon I'd be worried that that's why you're with her, but she's different. Shannon was quiet, like you. Alex is, from what I've seen, anything but quiet. She's loud, and she's direct. In that way you are similar. She doesn't dance around the point she's trying to make. Are you so sure she doesn't feel similar for you?"

"I haven't asked"

"Don't you think she would've moved out by now, if she didn't feel at least a little something?"

"I don't know, Jack. I don't know"

"Well, I'm going to bed. And Leroy, I want you to think about what I've said. You are right in the fact that she is young and beautiful. And if she is interested in you, she won't wait around forever for you to stop dragging your feet"

Gibbs nodded and watched his father move to the stairs and disappear out of sight. He finished his cup of coffee before following the same path in which his father had taken. The top of the stairs opened to the living room where Alex had long ago fallen asleep. A small light in the corner of the room left enough light for him to make the outline of the sofa. He paused briefly before making his way to the bathroom and then to his old room to change into a thin pair of sweatpants and a clean white t-shirt.

With his eyes more adjusted to the darkness he returned to the living room. Alex looked peaceful as she slept, clutching her pillow to keep it from falling to the floor. Gibbs sat on the coffee table to sit and watch her sleep. Gently he tucked a few stray stands of hair behind her ear. Alex stirred and mumbled something in her sleep, he couldn't understand her, but he smiled anyway.

As his eyelids got heavy he stood to go to bed. On impulse he leaned over and placed his lips tenderly on Alex's temple, holding his soft kiss a moment longer than usual.

He straightened up to walk away but froze when he heard her mumble "I love you, Gibbs" He looked back down at her and saw that her eyes were still closed. She shifted in her sleep and her pillow dropped to his feet. He hesitated briefly before sliding an arm under her knees and an arm under her shoulders. He lifted her easily off the sofa and her head lolled against his chest. He walked back to the room of his childhood and pushed the door open with his foot. He crossed the room towards the bed to lay her down and was halfway across the room when he heard her whisper "stay".

He looked back and nodded "I'm just closing the door"

Her eyes closed again as she made room for him to lie next to her. It wasn't the first time that they'd shared a twin size bed, he knew that they'd fit. When he laid down next to her she fit herself into the crook of his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. The steady sound of his heart beat had her back asleep within seconds.

He ran his hand up and down her back as he looked at the ceiling. I love you, Gibbs. It played through his mind over and over again and it made his heart skip a beat. He wasn't 100% sure if she had been awake or not, but just hearing it sent a calmness through his body. As he neared sleep himself, he turned his head and whispered "I love you, Lex" against her forehead.

As usual Alex woke before Gibbs. It took her a moment to figure out where she was, and it was a little unclear as to why her arm was draped over Gibbs chest, but she wasn't complaining. She eased herself out of bed to keep from waking him and changed quickly. Silently she made her way to the kitchen where she found Jack making coffee.

"Good morning Jack"

"Morning. I don't have much for breakfast, but help yourself to whatever you find"

"Do you have the ingredients for pancakes? I could make some"

He smiled "I own a general store, I'm never out of pancake mix"

Alex got to work quickly. When the pancakes were done she put a small stack on three plates, putting one in the oven to keep warm. Picking up the other two, she went down to the store to find Jack who was getting the store ready for the day.

"So tell me about you and my son?" Jack asked before taking a bite of pancake "These are very good, by the way"

"What about me and Gibbs?"

"You live together don't you?"

"Yes"

"Well, why?"

"It's a long story. My life has been a mess the past year and a half and Gibbs has pulled me through. Whether or not he realizes that, I don't know."

"Pulled you through?"

"My fiancé died and then came back a year later to tell me he was 'just kidding'. My friend Kate, a fellow agent, was killed by a blood thirsty terrorist and then not too long ago, the director of NCIS a good friend of mine as well as Gibbs, was killed."

"Sounds like my boy has had a rough year as well"

"He has"

"Are you there for him?"

"Of course, Jack, and I'm speaking metaphorically here, but when Gibbs bleeds, I bleed. I bleed on my own too. I guess I've been bleeding a lot lately, but anyway, I guess we just understand each other, and we're there for each other"

"That's good. My son needs someone he can go to"

"He does"

They sat silently for while.

"Tell me about him as a little boy. I've got a list of questions from Tony" Alex stopped when she heard someone on the stairs.

Gibbs appeared at the base of the stairs with a plate of pancakes in hand, "No reporting for DiNozzo, Lex"

"Aw, Gibbs. I'm making $20 bucks off him for a little investigative work"

Gibbs passed behind her and positioned a gentle kiss on the top of her head, "And I'll pay you $20 to tell him nothing"

"Hm, conflict of interest here. I'm sure Tony would up it to $50. Continue Jack"

Gibbs rolled his eyes and started into the breakfast before him while Jack gave a short introduction to Leroy as a child. The rest of the team arrived shortly after nine.

"So, Alex… wanna sit in the back of the suburban with me on the way home?" Tony had sat down in the chair next to her and causally wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I might, but I should let you know that the price went up to $50 due to unforeseen complications"

"I can live with that"

---

They left Stillwater with promises to visit. The long ride home was uneventful. Gibbs drove, with Ziva in the front passenger side seat. Abby and McGee were in the second row and as agreed Alex and Tony were in the back. Every so often Gibbs would look in the rearview mirror. Alex would be laughing at something Tony had said. He was fairly certain they had moved on from the mini biography she had gotten from his father. Now they were likely discussing movies or celebrities, things they both had a passion for. Occasionally she would catch his eye and smile before returning her attention to Tony.

Back in the Navy yard they all spread out to their respective cars. Gibbs watched as Alex pulled out of the parking lot before entering the building to debrief the director.

Gibbs stood awkwardly in front of director Vance, ever since Jenny had died, he felt uncomfortable in the director's office. As their conversation came to a close, Cynthia burst in.

"Gibbs! Director!" Cynthia held out the cordless office phone in her hand. Both men reached for the phone, but Vance was closer. He pressed the phone to his ear and his eyes closed as he listened "We're on our way". Hanging up the phone, he handed it back to Cynthia.

Gibbs searched the director's face for any clues. "Well?"

"Evans. Her car was hit by what appears to be a drunk driver. Two blocks from here. She's on her way to Bethesda medical center. The nurse said nothing else"

Gibbs was out the door at the word 'Bethesda'. He didn't wait to see if Vance was following. He didn't wait to see if Vance needed a ride. He just drove. When he arrived at the ER he halfway expected to see Alex waiting with a few cuts and bruises, arguing with a nurse about whether or not she really needed stitches. He knew she was afraid of needles. When he didn't see her, he found the first nurse available to ask her condition.

"I'm special agent Gibbs, and one of my agents is here. She was hit by a drunk driver. Where is she? What's her status?"

"Name, please?"

"Evans. Alexis Evans"

"I'm sorry sir, I haven't heard anything. They doctors are still with her" The nurse pointed to a window looking into trauma room one. The world slowed down as he approached. He was only acquainted with death, not dying. He had received phone calls to tell him that Shannon and Kelly were dead, the same with Jenny. Kate had died right in front of him, as had many criminals. But it had been quick; there had been no struggle for life like which he saw in front of him at that moment.

He saw Alex's body as three doctors leaned over her, he watched as one put a needle in her arm while the other worked a tube down her throat. He watched as her hands clenched into fists at her sides, as if there was no other way to express what her body was going through. Suddenly her hands relaxed and the third doctor who had been studying her eyes, grabbed two paddles and pressed them to her chest, waited for the others to step back and delivered a deliberate shock.

He watched her torso rise and then fall as the electric current passed through her body. His eye sight wasn't good enough to see the screen that showed the presence of a heartbeat, but assumed there wasn't one when the paddles were returned to her chest once more. The doctors paused again to see if her heart would beat on its own. As Gibbs watched them hesitate before shocking her again, the same thought looped over and over again in his mind, I never told her I loved her.

Gibbs felt a strong hand on his shoulder. He didn't turn to look at the person, but he could see Vance's face in the reflection of the window. "I've called the others, they are on their way. Why don't we go sit in the waiting room. You shouldn't watch this. They'll take good care of her."

"I can't…"

"You won't make a difference if you stand here or 20 feet away. You can will her to live from the waiting room."

Gibbs allowed himself to be directed towards the waiting room. Ducky was at the nurse's station "Jethro. I came as fast as I could. I was down the street at the pharmacy picking up mothers prescription. Any news?"

Gibbs shook his head.

"I've got some connections; perhaps I can find something out" Ducky placed a hand on Gibbs shoulder before walking away, "She's strong Jethro. She's a fighter."

"Oh Gibbs! Abby launched herself into Gibbs arms "She has to be ok, she will won't she? She can't die, Gibbs, you can't let her"

"I don't know, Abby"

"You can't let her. Do something!"

Ziva found Gibbs and Abby, the director waiting off to the side. "Abby, you know Alex. She would not let a drunk driver be the end of her. She will fight"

Abby nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. Tony and McGee jogged down the hallway towards the rest of the group, "Any news?"

"No"

Dr. Mallard stood with Dr. Anderson, "She crashed three times, but she's stable now. Physically, I think she should make a full recovery. We're waiting to get a full CT to rule out any internal bleeding. We should be able to take her up in ten minutes or so. Once we've done that and taken care of anything we may find, we will likely do an MRI to get a closer look at her brain, it looks like her head was knocked around in the crash. She was semi-conscious when they pulled her out, but has been unresponsive since"

"You fear brain damage?"

"It's a realistic possibility, but something I can't speculate upon until she's awake"

"Can they come and see her while you wait?"

"We really don't allow people back here…"

"Just one person, a quick visit, I know it'll do them both good"

"Just one" Dr. Anderson held the door open for Ducky.

"Duck!" Gibbs jumped to his feet when the doctor walked back into the waiting room.

"Jethro, they are waiting for the CT scanner to free up, it should take ten minutes or so. Dr. Anderson kindly agreed to let you step in and say hello"

"How is she?"

"She's unconscious but she's stable. She's in serious condition, but they'll know more after the tests" Ducky said as he ushered Gibbs through the doors.

Gibbs stepped hesitantly into the room. The monitors beeped loudly and the steady whoosh of air reminded him that her heart was still beating and air was passing through her lungs. He stepped closer to her. Her clothes were torn, and soaked with blood, although he expected more. He looked for any major injuries and found none. The majority of the blood, he assumed, was from the gash on her forehead near her hair line. He knew that head wounds bleed more than most. Her eyes were closed and he tried to concentrate on the pretty lines of her face, but the tube jutting out from between her lips kept her from looking like she was just taking a nap. Her arms rested by her side, he reached out and linked his pointer finger around her pinky. He wanted to take her and hold her, but was scared of injuring her further.

"Lex… you've got a whole lot of people waiting here for you to wake up. Hell, you've got my dad waiting for you to drive back up to Stillwater for a visit. You can't do this to me; you just can't do this-"

Dr. Anderson stepped back in the room, "I'm sorry, but we've got to take her upstairs now. A nurse will show you to the waiting room in intensive care. I'll find you as soon as I know anything"

Gibbs watched helplessly as two nurses wheeled Alex's bed out of the room.

The team found themselves pacing the waiting room in intensive care. They had expected the CT to take no longer than 30 minutes, so when two hours had passed, the team had become rather antsy.

"Friends and family of Alexis Evans?" Dr. Anderson stepped into the waiting room.

"The CT came back clear, so no internal injuries, just some bruising. We decided to go right ahead and do the MRI. It shows some swelling around her brain, at this point, we aren't going to do anything, and we don't believe it to be life threatening at this point. The swelling should go down on its own as she heals."

The group let out a collective sigh.

"However, she is still unconscious. We won't know the full effects of the head trauma until she wakes up. She could wake up and be just fine, or… well, we'll just have to see. Physically, on the other hand, she is a very lucky woman. She was driving a fairly solid car, wearing her seatbelt and the airbag saved her a lot of other injuries. We've sewn up the gash on her forehead and all the other cuts were minor enough not to require stitches. She's being moved to her room and then you'll all be able to visit her. Visiting hours here in intensive care are until 8pm, and then we will have to ask you to leave. You may return at 8am tomorrow."

Gibbs looked at his watch. They had an hour. Silently they filed into the room to stand by their fellow agent.

Two days had passed without Alex so much as twitching her fingers. Alex could hear as her friends came and went. As her senses started to return, it was her hearing that came first. The first thing she noticed was the horrible headache she had and no way to ease it. She could feel the needle in her arm, but she doubted the fact that they gave her any pain medicine, at least nothing stronger than a Tylenol. She tried to concentrate on other things, the sound of the machines beeping in the background, the sound of footsteps moving around her bed, and a recognizable sound of air being pressed through a machine, yet should couldn't think of what it was. The soft sound of footsteps pulled her mind back into the darkness and her thoughts slipped away.

Sometime later her thoughts returned. She couldn't hear anyone in her room but she could sense someone. As her mind cleared, she could feel a warm hand over her own.

"Good morning, Jethro. How is our girl doing?" Alex heard Ducky's soothing voice float around her. She couldn't tell which side of the bed he was on. She had been unconscious twice before and woke to the sound of Ducky's voice. She felt at ease. She tried to open her eyes to look for him but she could isolate the muscles to do it. Damn it, she thought.

"No change, Duck" Gibbs voice sounded tired.

I wonder how long he's been here, her mind processed. She could only assume it was Gibbs hand over hers. She tried to wiggle her fingers, but again she couldn't figure out the muscles. She felt panic start to rise.

"Oh Jethro, she's been through a lot. The doctors said it will take time"

At hearing Ducky's words, the panic eased a little. I just need time. I'll heal, I'll be ok. Alex spent the next two days hearing her friends and the nurses' shuffle in and out of her room. Once she relaxed, she listened to the things her friends told her.

"You know, Gibbs hasn't left your side, well except now. He isn't here now. I wouldn't say that in front of him. He might get embarrassed. He really cares about you though, you have to wake up for him. He can't lose you too" Abby chattered during her watch.

Tony and Ziva took over next "Alex... come on, wake up darlin'. I just ordered a huge pack of old action flicks online. They should be delivered soon. Ziva doesn't want to watch them with me, so I thought we, you and me, could watch movies and eat pizza. I'll even buy and have a cold six-pack in the fridge. You just have to wake up, sleeping beauty"

"He is right, Alex. He has been talking about these ridiculous movies for so long. He really needs someone to watch them with him. Please wake up."

McGee arrived to take a shift so Gibbs could go home and shower "I'll watch out for her boss, I have you on speed dial, if she opens her eyes"

"I know, McGee"

Once he left, McGee took his spot by the bed "Alex, you've got to wake up. The office is horrible without you. No one is really talking, we just sit around… and work. And Gibbs, I don't think he's even threatened to hit Tony. I'm pretty sure he's only surviving

After two days she was tired of lying around. She spent what she assumed to be the entire night trying to open her eyes. She was tired of listening to her friends begging her to just open her eyes, to show them that she could hear them, and understand. She heard Gibbs walking. His footsteps were slow as he made his way to her bed. Like the days before he'd pause, gently kiss her forehead and pull a chair up to her bed to sit. And wait.

Alex tried harder to open her eyes. The more she struggled, the faster the machines would beep beside her.

---

"Nurse!" she heard Gibbs call out, his voice panic-stricken. Nurse Emily quickly entered the room and checked the machines. "Her heart rate is elevated. I'm not sure why" Gibbs stood aside and watched as the nurse looked over Alex. His eyes were wide as Alex's hands started to twitch.

"Alexis, dear, can you open your eyes for me? Can you hear me?" the nurse patted her cheek.

Alex opened her eyes and the world was a blur in front of her. She recognized Gibbs face, and then registered the nurses. She tried to open her mouth to say something, but couldn't, at the same she time recognized the whooshing sound of air as a ventilator.

She started to panic as she realized that a machine was breathing for her.

"Miss, you need to calm down. Sweetie, just relax. You're fine" Emily soothed "Keep talking to her; I'm going to get Dr. Anderson."

Gibbs stepped forward and held her hands away from her mouth, as she started to paw at the tube jetting from her mouth. He opened his mouth to say something, but just shook his head.

Dr. Anderson was in the room within minutes, a team of interns with him. Alex had managed to calm down enough to focus on what the doctor was doing. Her eyes were wide with fear.

"Miss Evans, you need to calm down, or else we'll have to give you a light sedative. This tube is to keep your airway open, making sure you can breathe while your body heals. We'll take it out later today, maybe tomorrow. We just need to be sure that your body is strong enough"

Alex blinked as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Hey… it's ok. You're ok now. I'm here"

Without warning Alex reached for the tube again. Gibbs saw it happen in slow motion and was glad he was able to grab her hands before she could pull it out.

"Alex, No. Please don't" He held her arms down by her side and shouted for a nurse. By the time the nurse arrived, Alex had tired herself out from struggling, but the nurse injected a sedative into the IV in her arm. Within minutes Alex eyes had closed and she was asleep again.

"She'll sleep for a few hours now" the nurse said sympathetically to Gibbs.

Ducky rushed into the room, but paused when he saw Alex sleeping "Jethro, I heard she was awake"

"She was Duck, but she panicked because of the tube down her throat. They gave her something…"

"It's not uncommon. They'll take the tube out soon. No need to worry"

"I… I couldn't even calm her down. She looked so scared"

"She's been through a lot. Let's just wait until she wakes up again"

Early that evening Alex started to wake up again. Before she was fully conscious Gibbs called the doctor to her room.

"Miss Evans, I need you to listen to me. I need you to open your eyes and listen"

Alex eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light in the room

"We'll go ahead and remove the breathing tube. It'll be uncomfortable, but on the count of three I want you to cough, ok?"

Alex nodded.

"One, two, three…" As Alex coughed Dr. Anderson gently pulled the tube from her throat. Alex sputtered and took a gasp of air. "Here now, have a sip of water"

Gibbs waited silently at the end of her bed. Alex's eyes were fixed straight ahead, and he couldn't be sure if she was looking at him or not.

"Who's he?" Alex didn't blink.

Gibbs swallowed, "Lex, I…" So this must have been what his team had felt like when he didn't remember them.

Alex closed her eyes and let a small smile tug at her lips, "Not you, Gibbs. The guy next to you"

Gibbs turned his head to see one of the interns. "I… I… I'm just an intern observing"

"You don't have to gawk"

"I'm… I'm… I'm sorry"

Gibbs ignored him and moved towards the top of the bed. He pulled a chair up next to the bed, and smiled down at Alex. "You come back to us and your first words are because you are irritated that someone is staring at you. Welcome back, Lex"

"I never left"

Gibbs felt a wave of emotion start to build. Before she could say anything, he excused himself to call the others.

Much to her dismay, Alex was forced to stay in the hospital for another four days. The doctors would've recommended a few more days, but her constant persistence, with Ducky's promise to look after her, persuaded the doctors to let her go. Gibbs insisted that she stay at Ducky's house for a while. He had offered for Ducky to stay at his place, so that Alex could sleep in her own bed, but Ducky's mother's aid was out of town, and she couldn't be left alone over night.

Gibbs visited every day after work, and during the day he allowed the team to take a long lunch break so they could go visit as well. Gibbs would observe Alex silently, noting each day that she seemed to be stronger, and the bruises were fading. On Tuesday he noted that the stitches had been removed from her forehead.

"You didn't cut those out yourself, did you?"

"Gibbs! That's sick and wrong. No, Ducky did it"

"You've left out the good part of the story, my dear child" Ducky set a tray with tea in front of them, and Alex smiled. Ducky was the only one to get away with calling her 'child', "You see, I found her searching for a pair of small scissors so that she could do it herself. She was due to get them out the next day, so…"

"You took her stitches out early? Duck, is that safe?

"Gibbs" Alex pressed a cup into his hands "My brains haven't fallen out yet, I'm sure I'll be fine." Leaning forward Alex pressed her lips to his temple, in a similar fashion to what he would do at work "You don't have to worry so much"

Before he could open his mouth, Mrs. Mallard shouted from the doorway "Alexis, are you macking on my date?"

Alex laughed, both at Mrs. Mallard and also at the look on Gibbs face. "Sorry, Mrs. Mallard. I just couldn't help myself" then turning to Gibbs, she continued in a whisper "every day that you've stopped by, she has thought that we were on a double date, you and her, and me and Ducky. We haven't had the heart to tell her otherwise"

Gibbs smiled, "Ah, so that's why she grabbed my ass yesterday"

"You loved it"

"Never said that I didn't, Lex"

A week after she had arrived Ducky declared that, by his own professional judgment, Alex was recovered. She still tired quicker than normal, and he ordered her to take another week off before returning to the office, and that he said that she would need another week at least before she should be out in the field. Ducky agreed to drive Alex home Friday evening, after he arrived home from work. He arrived home to find Alex and his mother on the sofa enjoying the day's episode of Dr. Phil.

"That man is just so attractive. Why don't you find a man like him?" Mrs. Mallard pointed to the balding man on the TV.

"He's not my type, Mrs. Mallard. I don't think we'd get along very well. And he's married"

"Is mother pressuring you into a date with Dr. Phil again?" Ducky asked, dropping his hat on the hook.

"Yeah, although secretly I think she wants him to herself. You may find yourself with a new step-father soon, of course, if Gibbs doesn't work out"

"Yes, well, I don't think she's quite Jethro's type, and let's see how the first date with Dr. Phil goes first, before we plan the wedding. Are you ready to go home, my dear? I know Jethro eagerly awaits your return."

"Yeah, I'm ready"

Alex was silent on the ride home. The last time she had been on her way home she had been in a car accent. She thought back to her time in Stillwater. She remembered waking up in Gibbs' childhood room, in a bed with Gibbs sleeping beside her. She didn't remember how she had gotten to his bed, but she didn't really care.

Pulling up to Gibb's house reminded her that her car was no longer there. She had loved that car; however it had been the one thing she had left from Chris, it was full of memories she was eager to forget. She looked forward to car shopping. She had just received her insurance money and it was burning a hole in her pocket.

Ducky carried her bags inside like a gentleman. Gibbs opened the door before they hit the top step, obviously having waited by the door for them to arrive. Gibb's hug was warm and welcoming, and extremely gentle.

"I won't break, Gibbs. Mrs. Mallard hugs harder than that" Alex complained as he stepped away to take the bags from Ducky.

"How're you feeling?"

"I think I'll tattoo 'I'm fine' on my forehead. I think Abby can point me in the direction of a good tattoo artist" Alex plopped down on the sofa and flipped on the TV.

Gibbs ignored her snippy comment and he and Ducky discussed her condition quietly before Ducky left. Unsure of what to do, he stood and watched Alex as she flipped channels on the TV. Feeling his eyes watching her, Alex patted the spot next to her on the sofa and waited for Gibbs to sit next to her. Without thinking, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. Alex pulled the blanket off the back of the sofa and draped it over the both of them before leaning into Gibbs, her head resting on his chest.

She wanted to apologize, apologize for causing him to worry over her, apologize for the time he lost at work to spend with her in the hospital. She knew he didn't like apologies, so instead she pointed to the TV, "If Mrs. Mallard had her way, that'd be Ducky's new step-father. Either that or my husband, it changes daily"

"You watched Dr. Phil with Mrs. Mallard?"

"Mm, hmm…"

"Maybe, we should take you back to the hospital and have your head re-examined"

"Mm, hmm…" Alex heard the question, but was focused on the heartbeat below her ear. The steady thump-thump, thump thump combined with the familiar smell of sawdust and the familiar feel of the house, eased her into a deep sleep.

Gibbs sighed. He had had a nice dinner planned, he wanted everything to be perfect, but he knew she needed her rest. He carried her up to her bed, tucked her under the covers and left her to sleep. Downstairs he boiled some pasta and ate his dinner in silence. He went down to work on his boat, but didn't last long. It had been a long day at work, and the excitement of Alex returning home had tired him out.

---

It was midnight by the time he trudged up the stairs to bed. He brushed his teeth and then changed out of his clothes. It was a chilly night, but not too cold, so he pulled a pair of sweats on, but decided against a t-shirt. He peeked in on Alex one last time, satisfied that she was still breathing, he left the door ajar and found his way across the dark hallway to his own room, leaving the door open, to hear if she called out at any point in her sleep. He pulled back the covers and sat down on the edge of his bed.

He removed his watch and set it on the nightstand before sliding his tired body under the blankets and pulled them up around his chest before reaching out with an arm to turn off the lamp beside his bed. His body was tired, but his mind kept working.

He wanted this weekend to be perfect for Alex. Would she want to stay at home? Meet her friends for lunch somewhere? Should they order in and watch one of the movies she had, stacked up next to the TV with the DVD player she had added shortly after she had bought him the TV. His mind was at work when Alex sat up on the edge of her bed. His mind was so busy in thought that he didn't hear the bare feet pad across the hallway.

She watched him from his doorway. She could tell he wasn't asleep, but she wondered what was going through his mind. She was sure he would've heard her get up. She watched a little longer before she finally spoke, "Penny for your thoughts?"

Gibbs was startled back into reality. Alex was standing in his doorway; she had changed out of the clothes she had been wearing when he had carried her upstairs earlier. Now she was just wearing one of his old shirts that she had stolen when she had first moved in. The shirt fell to her mid-thigh. To him it was a repeat of the sight he had seen the first time they had shared a bed. A sight he remembered often.

She didn't wait for him to say anything, she just stepped forward and pulled back the blankets and climbed in the bed beside him. She lay on her side with her hands tucked under her cheek on the pillow. Gibbs rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow to face her. The room was dark but he could still make out the features on her face. She was beautiful and he wanted her. He had been in love with her for a long time, much longer than he originally had thought.

But looking at her now all he could think was how fragile she was. In the past two years she had been brought to the edge more than her fair share of times.

I should just do it. I can't keep waiting for him to make a move. I'll be dead by the time that finally happens, Alex thought sarcastically, I was ready to make a move last time I was on my way home and look what happened.

"Gibbs…" Alex reached out and touched his chin.

"hmm…?" The soft touch of her fingers on his face made his eyes close. Her fingers traveled from his chin, up to his cheek bone, and then cupped his face in her hands.

Alex pulled his face down to meet hers, allowing her lips to cover his. He remained still when she kissed him. She kissed him once, then twice. She kissed him a third time, hoping that the reason he wasn't returning the kiss was due to the fact that he was momentarily paralyzed rather than that she had misread his feelings. She laid her head back on her pillow and move her hands to his shoulders, "Gibbs?" she was close to crying.

Gibbs flattened his hand against her back, pulled her against his body and pressed his lips to her ear, "I love you, Lex"

"Then why, why don't you want me?" Alex pulled back momentarily to look at Gibbs through the dark. She winced slightly as his rough fingers traced lightly over the scar that was healing along her hair line. He was quiet as Alex pulled herself tightly to his body again. She could feel his heartbeat pounding rhythmically through his chest.

"I don't want to hurt you" It was barely audible.

"you won't hurt me, you could never hurt me" Alex giggled and pressed her face into Gibbs neck to try and stop herself, "I'm asking you to kiss me, Gibbs, to make love to me. Not run me over in your car. Been hit by a car once already this month, that's plenty for me"

"It's not that I don't want…" he hesitated as Alex slid one of her legs between his, "to. I do, I just want to make sure you are 100% better before we do anything. I can't do this halfway. Not with you"

"I don't do anything halfway, you know that" Alex left a small trail of kisses along his jaw bone and smiled as she felt his jaw muscles tense and then relax. This was a battle he wasn't going to win.

"I just need to know that you are ok"

"I will be, if you'll just kiss me"

Gibbs faltered momentarily before making up his mind. Alex gasped when he grabbed her face and brought his lips crashing down on hers. Within seconds he had pushed her back and covered her body with his own without even realizing what he had done. He lifted himself so that he supported his own weight on his knees and his forearms. He pulled his mouth away panting and looked down at the woman below him, "I'm not hurting you?"

"I won't break, Gibbs. I'm not made of glass"

He nodded and a small smile crept up on his face before he kissed her again. Alex felt warm and safe as her body was sandwiched between the supple mattress and his strong body. Her fingers dug lightly into his back and up to his shoulders as he kisses his way along her neck. When the collar of the shirt she was wearing got in his way, he sat up, straddling her legs, and slid his hands down the sides of her body until he reached the hem of the shirt. He paused as he slid the shirt up over her underwear. Pink, he thought, girly and feminine just like her. The underwear sat low, below her hipbones, and as he continued to pull the shirt up, he paused again as her hip bones were revealed. His eyes flickered up to meet hers before returning to the ink in the skin. Her skin wasn't red, so he knew it wasn't new. He brushed his thumb over it, almost as if he was making sure it was real, before his finger traced the four letters, NCIS.

"After Kate died I wanted to get something done, but I wasn't sure what. Then Jenny died and I needed to have some sort of reminder, you know? First I just got NCIS, but as I was looking at it, I decided I wanted more, especially with the team split up, so I did this…." Alex pointed to a cluster of stars, each containing a letter. "K is for Kate, and the J is for Jen. I was going to leave it at that, but I couldn't, so I just got everyone. D for Ducky, M for McGee, A for Abby, T for Tony, Z for Ziva and then" Alex swallowed as she pointed to a larger star in the center of the cluster "LJG for…"

"For me?"

Alex sat up and finished pulling her shirt over her head before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him back down on top of her. Within minutes the tattoo had long been forgotten as fingers explored bodies. It was emotional for the both of them; this night had been a long time in the making.

Gibbs had been right, they couldn't do this halfway.

They were slow and methodical, memorizing curves, muscle tone, and scars; using their fingers and their mouths. Alex kissed the scars of his past. He had imagined their first time together to be fast and full of lust, but he was wrong. They took their time, committing everything to memory, just in case they should wake to find that it had all been a dream.

It was sometime after two in the morning when she whispered, "I can't wait anymore"

Gibbs brushed a strand of hair off of her sweat soaked brow and nodded "Do we need…?"

She shook her head, she was on the pill.

As soon as he entered her, Alex thought she was going to die. Their dance was slow and deliberate as their hips moved together. She was sure she was going to die from pleasure; she knew it wasn't possible, but she was fairly sure she'd be the first case. His name was on her lips, but she failed to put her voice behind it.

Gradually he picked up the pace, urged on by her legs as they wrapped around his waist. When he found himself hovering on the edge of release he pressed his face down into her neck. As he lost control, he let her name roll from his mouth in a deep growl. Hearing her name, his voice low and strained pulled Alex over the edge with him.

As their bodies relaxed, Gibbs was careful not to let his full body weight press down on Alex. He groaned at the loss of contact with her skin, and he shivered as the nights air passed over his chest as he laid on his back beside her. Alex reached for the blankets that had been shoved to the base of the bed and pulled them. Under the softness of the blankets Alex fitted her body against Gibbs with his arm around her. He pressed his palm against her back in a gesture to pull her closer, even though there was no space left between them. Alex trailed her fingers back and forth across his chest, from nipple to nipple, while Gibbs ran a finger up and down her spine.

"I love you, Gibbs"

"Ya think?"

Alex could hear the smirk in his voice but looked up to be sure. He kissed the tip of her nose "and I love you too"

---

Gibbs woke up Saturday to sun streaming in through the window. It had been sometime past five before they had drifted off to sleep, they had laid tangled together, quiet at first; reliving what they had just finished, but eventually they spoke. They talked about the past two years. Her pain. His pain. Her love. His love.

He expected to find her still in his arms, so when his eyes finally fluttered opened, he was surprised to find himself clutching a pillow. Shit, she thought last night was a mistake. He couldn't smell breakfast, so he knew she wasn't cooking. His mind raced, what can I do? I've got to say something. I've got to fix this.

"You awake yet?"

Her voice startled him and he sat up to find Alex sitting on the dresser across from the end of the bed. She was fully clothed, her hair was wet. She had obviously showered.

"I thought you left"

"Gibbs, I'm hurt. Where would I go?" She hopped off the dresser and made her was across the room to sit next to Gibbs, "I told you I love you last night, I don't drop the 'L' word lightly. I said it, and I meant it and I still mean it" She pressed her lips to his in lieu of I promise. "Here, go shower and then put these on" she pressed a clean set of clothes against his chest.

"Where are we going?"

"I need a new car Gibbs, I got my money and now I need some wheels. I've heard that dealerships give men a better deal, something about car knowledge. I'm pretty sure that the flash of my gun and badge would get a similar result, but I thought I'd take the girly route and bring my man to get a good deal"

He only had one thought as she pushed him towards the bathroom. She's vivacious, I like that.