<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Tim and Tony were silent as they watched Abby drag their boss out of the waiting room -- knowing she was the only one with a prayer's chance of actually getting him to move.<br/>
<br/>
"Um.  Is it just me, or did Gibbs just threaten to cause an international incident if Kate doesn't make it?" Tim asked hesitantly.<br/>
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"Wasn't just you, probie.  I saw it too."  Tony's face was somber.  "And for the record?"  He turned and fixed Tim with almost as intense a stare as one from Gibbs.  "I'm on his six, if he goes after Ari."<br/>
<br/>
* ~ *<br/>
<br/>
Gibbs let Abby manhandle him out of the hospital -- even though he wanted to stay and keep vigil for Kate, he knew that Abby's intentions were good.  (And that DiNozzo would call immediately if something changed -- call Abby's phone, Gibbs added, because he'd left his own with Tony.)<br/>
<br/>
He didn't know how to tell Abby that he couldn't focus more on Kate than he already was -- that nearly ever fiber of his being was focused on her.  "I don't know, Abbs," Gibbs admitted after she released him.  The hug had carried its usual special magic -- he felt somewhat calmer.  "I don't know what I'll do if she takes Ari back to Israel.  He should be tried as a terrorist -- for the assault on Gerald, for the assault on Kate..."  and it was going to stay a damned assault, because he couldn't face the idea of it being a murder, "... not extradited back to Israel to go back to running ops for Mossad."<br/>
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His gaze strayed to the window.  "I don't know what I'll do if she dies.  Last time I buried a woman I -- cared about, it damned near killed me.  I don't know if I can do it again."<br/>
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Any other time - any other circumstance - Gibbs wouldn't have admitted that to anyone.  He wouldn't have been able to allow anyone to see him vulnerable, but this was Abby.  He loved her, as much as he was able.</span></span>