A/N: Okay, so here it is. The last of the chapters. See, I said I'd finish it in the next 48 hours (go me!).
Hopefully it's not too bad, I'm not sure that it comes close to the dramatic end I was wishing for when I first starting writing the fic, but hey, that's life. Anywho, onwards and upwards. Enjoy!
Kate watched the steady rise and fall of Gibbs' chest, thankful that he was no longer on that blasted machine that did it for him. She was surprised to find that he actually looked mildly better than the last time he'd come out of surgery. But that was probably because he'd been slowly bleeding into his brain ...
Kate shook her head, and raised her eyes as she heard movement by the door. Tom Morrow walked in with two coffees and a small smile on his face, "Special Agent Todd, no stay seated," he said as she was getting to her feet, "No need to get up for an old man like me,"
"You're hardly old, Sir," Kate responded as she gratefully took the coffee Tom handed her
Morrow smiled, "Ziva's keeping watch on the others, who're asleep in the common room,"
Kate nodded, "It's been an exhausting few days,"
"Indeed. So how are you?" Morrow asked, pulling up a chair for himself, "The last we talked, you were lounging on a beach in California,"
Kate smiled, "They did say anywhere, Sir,"
"That they did. And call me 'Tom', we're off duty," Morrow replied
"I'll try. Yeah, I'm good, better now that everything is over and ..." Kate glanced at Gibbs on the bed, "Well, I'll be even better when ... if..."
"He's strong, Kate," Morrow told her, glancing at Gibbs as well, "I've lost count of the times I thought he would ..." Morrow stopped and cleared his throat, not wanted to jinx himself by saying the words, "I've just come to accept the fact that he isn't human,"
Kate chuckled, "Alien or superhero?"
"Maybe a mixture of both," Morrow responded, with a grin of his own, "But he will pull through this, he doesn't have permission not to,"
"Well, we're on the same page then, Sir," Kate said
"Tom" Morrow corrected, taking a sip of his coffee
"So, how long will you be staying at NCIS, Sir?" Kate asked
"Tom," Morrow corrected again
"Okay, Tom, how long will you be staying at NCIS?" Kate asked again
"Until they find a replacement," Morrow responded, with a pointed glance at the figure on the bed
"Gibbs? He'd never accept a desk job," Kate said in surprise
"He hasn't in the past, but I think things are changing and this time he'll accept," Morrow responded
"Not a chance in hell," they heard a croak from the bed
"Gibbs?!" Kate gasped, going to the bedside
Gibbs grunted and opened his eyes, then quickly clamping then closed again with a soft groan.
"I'll get a nurse," Morrow told then, before leaving the room
"How do you feel?" Kate asked softly, feeling like a moron for even asking, he obviously felt like shit
Gibbs grunted again softly and licked his lips, but didn't open his eyes, "I'm not ... I think..."
"Jethro?" Kate called softly when Gibbs didn't continue, taking his hand in hers and rubbing slow circles
"Mmmph," Gibbs responded, blinking his eyes open again
"Hi," Kate said with a smile
"Hi," Gibbs whispered in return, his eyes already starting to close
"Mr. Gibbs, it's good to see you awake," a doctor said as he entered the room, followed by the Director
Gibbs hummed in response, his eyes opening shortly to see the doc, then closing them again, "Tired," he whispered
"I'm not surprised," the doc commented, moving to the bedside and getting out his penlight, "I just need to run a few checks, make sure you're progressing okay. Can you open your eyes for me?"
Gibbs reluctantly did as he asked, moving his eyes this way and that as he was directed by the doc.
"Are you in any pain?" the doc asked, as he started checking out Gibbs' reflexes
"Yeah," Gibbs murmured, squinting his eyes
The doc nodded and asked him to move his hands, followed by his feet. As he finished up and started writing notes in Gibbs' file, he asked, "Okay, so where is the pain?"
"Everywhere," Gibbs responded quietly, "Can you turn the lights down? Too bright,"
Morrow did as he requested, as the doc made more notes. "I'll be back shortly with some pain relief," the doc said and left the room
Gibbs slowly gazed around the room, his eyes falling on Kate, then turning back to Morrow, "Sir...?"
"I'll give you two some privacy," Morrow said, turning to leave
Gibbs breathed out a small sigh of relief, "So you can see her too?"
"Not a figment of your overly active imagination," Morrow assured him, "And I want you to think about the Director position, Jethro,"
"Sir, I'm really not - " Gibbs started
"Jethro," Morrow interrupted, "Just... think about it. I want to leave someone I can trust in the position. And you - well, you were always my first choice when I left,"
"I don't like playing politics, Sir," Gibbs replied
"I know. But you'll do what's right for the agency," Morrow told him, "Now, I need to get some rest. Tomorrow is full of briefs due to this debacle, starting with a meeting with secret service in the morning. I'm sure they'll be by at some point. I want you to think - actually think - about the position. And I want your answer by close of business the day after tomorrow,"
Gibbs gave a small nod, "Understood, Sir,"
With that, Morrow left the room. Gibbs sighed, "Well, I suppose it'd make space to have you and Ziva on the team,"
"She seems nice," Kate said, in agreement
"Yeah," Gibbs breathed out, "And it'd give Tony a chance to be promoted, be team lead,"
"You're going to take it?" Kate asked, watching Gibbs think it over
Gibbs gave a small shrug, "I don't think I really had any intention of turning it down," Gibbs sighed and turned to look at Kate, saying softly, "Hi,"
Kate smiled, "Hi,"
Gibbs pursed his lips together and properly looked at her, up and down, "You're actually here,"
"I am," Kate responded, caressing his hand with her thumb
Gibbs glanced at their hands, belatedly realising that Kate had been holding his hand the entire time. "So...?" he started, but wasn't sure how to ask what he wanted
After a moment, Kate got up and planted a big kiss on his lips. Gibbs responded in kind, before Kate pulled back after too short a time.
Gibbs smiled, "Okay,"
"Does that answer your question?" Kate asked softly, perching herself on the side of his bed
"Yeah ... no, I think you need to ... answer the question again. More slowly," Gibbs responded, with a cheeky grin, tilting his head up in expectation
Kate grinned, but stood up and mentally gathered her courage. "Well, actually ... " Kate started, then dropped to one knee and unceremoniously dug around in her picket until she found what she was looking for
"What're you doing?" Gibbs murmured with a frown, shifting in the bed to see her better
Kate smiled, taking out the small plastic egg-like shaped container and opening it to reveal two plastic rings inside. She turned the container around and with a deep breath asked, "Leroy Jethro Gibbs, will you marry me?"
Gibbs' raised his eyebrows and tried to sit up, causing him to gasp and clutch his side in pain. Kate quickly got off the floor and tried to help, but Gibbs shooed her off, then gasped, "Ha, sorry to ruin the moment, gimme a minute,"
Kate anxiously waited as Gibbs settled himself, then gazed up at her, "Can I have a do-over?"
Kate grinned, then gasped as Gibbs grabbed her wrist and pulled her down for another big kiss. "Yes, the answer's yes, of course," Gibbs whispered against her mouth
Gibbs released her for a moment, as she put the plastic rings on their fingers.
"One condition though," Gibbs murmured, as he inspected the ring on his finger, "We need to get proper rings,"
"I don't know, I kind of like 'em," Kate responded, before capturing Gibbs' mouth in another kiss.
A/N: Finished! Hope you enjoyed the ride! Please review! Maybe I'll think about finishing some of my other fics on here :)