AN: Well as discouragement begins to plague me as a result of lack of reviews after the last chapter, perhaps I will wrap up earlier than I'd hoped. However, I have enjoyed writing with this idea, and I hope that most of you enjoyed reading it too:)
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Shannon watched as her husband couldn't resist the chance to comfort a person he loved very much, he hadn't changed, he was still the man she had married.
"Don't you say it Shannon…I just needed to give her that. She will be fine."
"If you thought she was going to be fine, you wouldn't have turned back at the sound of her voice."
"I just realized that I was going to miss it…just like I missed yours. But people die, she knows that."
"She just isn't ready for you to go Jethro."
"Who is? Do you think I was ready to lose both of you? That I would have ever been ready?"
Kelly approached at that moment and stood next to her mother.
"Daddy, you love her."
Gibbs smiled. "Just as a friend sweet heart."
"But you looked at her, kinda like you look at me…"
"Darling…" He began but was cut short.
"She's right Jethro."
"I can't leave you two again, please don't ask me to…"
Shannon cradled his face in her hands. "You have to. You've had your time with us, now go finish the time you have with them…" She pointed and Gibbs could once again see McGee cradling Abby in his arms.
Gibbs lifted up Kelly and embraced her stronger than he ever had before. "I'm so sorry I left you before sweetheart."
"Don't be sorry Daddy, me and Mom are okay." He kissed her once, then again and once more. He set her down and wrapped his arms around Shannon.
"It's okay to love again Jethro..."
"I'll never love anyone like I loved you."
"I know, but go love like I know you can."
His tears started and he held onto her even tighter. "I can't believe I'm leaving you again…"
He released her and she went to stand beside their daughter.
"You never left us…and we never left you."
With a final flash of their faces, he awoke with a series of coughs and the feeling of a soft warm bed beneath him. As he looked up he saw an un-familiar face.
"You're in good hands Mister…"
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McGee waited as Abby closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. He peered out into the water from which they had just came and let out a deep sigh.
"Sure do wish you'd come back too boss."
He lifted her softly and carried her to his car, and the ride to his home was quiet. He laid her in his bed, and tucked in the covers. Just then he heard his cell phone ring in the next room.
He jumped slightly at the ring and went to answer it quickly. "Hello?"
"Probie, its Tony…"
"Figured you'd be the only calling me at this hour, what's up? Need me to pick you up from somewhere too?"
"Too? Who you been picking up…wait, don't answer that…listen Coast Guard just spotted a large fishing boat, that has some pretty extensive damage from the storm…the skipper on the boat, said he rescued a man at sea, around Gibb's age, they are taking him to Mercy General as we speak."
"Then stop speaking…I'll meet you there, I'm bringing Abby with me." He closed the phone, leaving Tony with his mouth wipe open in mid question…
"Abby eh? Oh Probie." He ended the call, and started to dial three other people he hoped wouldn't be too upset about this wake up call.
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Tony, McGee, Ziva, Jennifer, Ducky and a slightly intoxicated Abby all found their way into the emergency room corridor, all within moments of each other. Each of them, hoping and praying to whatever it was they prayed to, that the man brought in that night, was the man they wanted back in their lives so badly.
Jennifer approached the desk and searched for her badge, but Tony was already prepared.
"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS, Coast Guard phoned, you had older gentleman brought in an hour ago…"
"Right, the one that was out at sea, he's currently in ICU undergoing IV replenishment and…" She continued to ramble on but when she looked up, the group that had been standing there was already headed quickly down the hall towards ICU…
Ducky held onto Abby's hand as the group walked in stride, Tony at the lead.
He approached the desk and spoke the same request he had given moments before…
"Older guy, silver hair, permanent serious look on his face…"
"We had no identification for him."
"That's what we're here for." Tony waved his hand in the direction of the group standing behind him.
"All of you?"
"All of us." They each said in unison.
She stood up and pointed. "Through those doors to the left, the EMT's that brought him in are still waiting…" And again the group was gone before she could finish. "…for the next of kin."
--
Each of them stood still outside the glass, Tony uncharacteristically took the hands of his Director as well as Ziva's. McGee and Ducky gripped Abby's hands tightly as well, as each of them sighed, the last sigh all of them hoped they would take for a long time.
"Told you he'd come back McGee."
McGee smiled and released his hand from hers and wrapped it slowly around her waist.
"Abby, that's an 'I told you so' that I'd be okay hearing over and over again."
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Days later, it was an old friend that sat at his bed side when he first opened his eyes.
"Jethro, welcome back my boy."
A smile fought its way on his tired face. "Duck."
"The one and only, now, you mind telling me what you were thinking taking that boat out on waters like that?"
"You've just been waiting to yell at me haven't you?" He said ending with a slight cough.
Ducky smiled. "I've missed you my friend."
He nodded in thanks. "Abby?"
"She is alright…she's downstairs getting coffee with Timothy…." He paused for a moment before continuing. "What was it like Jethro?"
He shifted in the bed to get a bit more comfortable and just peered back at his friend with a confused look.
"Seeing your family again."
Gibbs eyes widened. "How did you…?"
"The sailor who saved your life…when he was nursing you back to health, he said, that that entire time you were rambling on about a Kelly and a Shannon…"
He smiled. "Even you couldn't find the words to describe what it was like."
"Well in that case, I'll let you tell me over tea when you get out of his hospital room."
"It's a date." And they shook hands gently.
Just then, Abby announced herself by dropping her cup of coffee to the floor.
"I knew you would come back!" She raced over and made herself comfortable on the bed, curled up at his side, like a kid sleeping in the middle of their parents. She wrapped her arm around his chest and laid her head on his shoulders.
"I missed you so much Gibbs…"
He grinned and felt a tear fighting its way through.
"I missed you too Kelly…"
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AN: Hope you enjoyed it. Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!