<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Tim met Kate's eyes when she spoke, and didn't react to the odd timbre of her voice.  Was it already normalizing for him?  But he sure as hell reacted to what she had to say.  Amputation.  He had a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University -- he knew precisely what that meant for Sarah's future mobility.  Even saving the knee -- that helped, but it was going to be tough as hell for Sarah to adjust to life as an amputee... and as the surviving girlfriend of a dead Marine.  A dead on-again-off-again fiance, no less.<br/>
<br/>
He followed Kate to Sarah's room in a daze, and hugged her tight.  Thank God for Kate, because he had no idea how he'd have handled this without even that little bit of time to absorb the news, to try and prepare himself for what had happened to Sarah.<br/>
<br/>
As soon as his arms were around his neck and she couldn't see his face, he let his own tears fall.  "It's okay, Sarah-bean.  You don't have to be tough for me," Tim said -- and as it had when they were kids, knowing that she needed him dug out strength he hadn't expected.  "You can be tough for Mom and Dad, but it's just us.  Be sad and mad and scared and pissed off -- I can take it."  He pulled back far enough to kiss her forehead, not even caring if she saw his tears.  Didn't matter.  Getting her to let it out mattered.  "I'm so sorry about Wesley, sis.  I'm sorry about everything.  And I can't fix it, but I'm here.  I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere, okay?"<br/>
<br/>
* ~ *<br/>
<br/>
Tony nodded to show he'd read Kate's note, but couldn't speak immediately.  Couldn't save the leg.  Baby Probie was permanently disabled.  "Arrested the perp a couple hours ago," he managed to say -- before remembering that Kate couldn't hear him.  Fuck.  He blew out a frustrated sigh, which turned into another cough.  "Fucking hell," he managed between bouts, and turned away to cover his mouth.  He wasn't contagious, but in a hospital everyone glared at you if you didn't cover your damned mouth.<br/>
<br/>
Gibbs dug in his jacket and produced Tony's inhaler... which he'd pocketed after the earlier incident.  He handed it to Ziva with a significant look, and reached into the other side to produce Kate's tablet.  <i>We got the guy.  Not-so-former drug dealer, also killed Davis's best friend.  Two counts murder, one attempted.  Wish I could let you choke him, kitten.  He killed a Marine and a civilian, came damned close to killing Tim's sister - and he called Ziva a bitch to her face, and I still had to let the bastard live.</i>  He handed the tablet to Kate, watched her read it, and then took it back to add, <i>DiNozzo's on his second coughing fit of the day, I think he picked up something at the lake.  It looks bad, but I am watching him.  If it doesn't resolve by tomorrow, I'll call Dr. Pitt myself - so don't give him too much crap.  Ziva has already read him the riot act today, and she's as good at it as you are.</i>  He handed it back to her with a smile before checking on Tony -- breathing better, thanks to the inhaler -- and then letting himself relax, just a little.  Yes, Sarah was in the hospital, and yes, her life was going to be terribly altered... but she was alive.  He could handle that.  He took a deep breath and smelled the hamburgers and fries -- and was suddenly ravenous.  He found a bag with a cheeseburger and fries and began to nibble, his eyes on Kate.  When she finished reading his second message, he gestured to her with a fry -- then just offered it to her lips with a glint in his eye.  He couldn't remember the last time he'd fed somebody, and it felt silly... but it also felt right.</span></span>