<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">"Abbs, relax," Tim ordered.  "Kate's fine, there's been no change.  There's a pair of Marines on her door -- Gibbs had already sent them when you were attacked, they just didn't get here in time."  Tim put a hand on her good shoulder and helped her stand up.  "We can go sit with Kate -- but you have to promise me that you're going to sit, Abbs.  Better yet, lay down.  You scared the hell out of me.  I walked up to you and you were just covered in blood and babbling... don't do that to me, Abby."  He had to stop as they walked to wrap her in a crushing hug.  "First Kate and then you -- I can't lose either of you, Abby.  I just can't."  He pulled away when she squeaked and went back to leading her to Kate's room.  He produced his ID for the Marine on guard, and gave a Gibbs-worthy glare when he demanded Abby produce ID.  "How many blood-covered Goths do you think are running around Bethesda tonight?  Miss Sciuto is the one that took out the last perp -- I'd say that gives her a pass on digging in her purse for her damned ID."  Tim hustled Abby into the room and, after a quick survey, pushed her towards Kate's hospital bed.  "You need a cuddle.  Get up there.  You can protect her from there."<br/>
<br/>
It was completely against protocol, and Tim didn't care.  He was exhausted, terrified, heart-sick, and utterly out of fucks to give.  "Lay down, Abbs.  I've got your back.  Both of your backs."<br/>
<br/>
* ~ *<br/>
<br/>
Gibbs was standing rigidly at attention in MTAC, his face an unreadable mask.  As the details were relayed to him about the attack in autopsy and at the hospital, Gibbs stayed in place, waiting.  There was a feeling coming -- a building wave of emotion that he needed to wait for.<br/>
<br/>
Kate, shot and in a coma.<br/>
Abby, stabbed.<br/>
Tony, showered in Kate's blood.<br/>
Tim, protecting Abby and Kate.<br/>
David - Ziva, protecting Ducky.<br/>
Ducky, made vulnerable in his own space... again.<br/>
<br/>
He waited, until the crash of emotion surged over him, filling every cell of his being and firming his resolve.  His enemies had crossed one step beyond getting their asses kicked, Gibbs decided.  It wasn't enough that Ari Haswari was dead down in autospy -- every last person who swore allegiance to him needed to follow.<br/>
<br/>
And Gibbs wound ensure that they did.  Swiftly.  "One shot, one kill," he said aloud, and Jenny looked at him in shock.<br/>
<br/>
"Ziva!  I want to know everything you know about the cell Ari was working with."  He didn't call Ari her brother -- never would again.  Ari had lost that right when he'd forced Ziva's hand... and he realized that she'd truly become Ziva in his mind, the instant she'd used her gun to protect his people.  To protect him, that was worthy of respect.  To protect his people?  That was worth everything.</span></span>