*sigh* Wow, how did I miss out on this story last year? Where WAS I??!! Geez, this is perfect. I'm glad you didn't explain how and why Tony was shot - I love a good Tony-whumping as much as the next girl, but that isn't the point of this particular story. It is exactly as long as it needs to be, and each word is perfect.

"He steps forward, his hand touching Tony’s shoulder, and then Tony starts, gasping as though coming up from drowning, and lunges for the gun on his bedside table. Gibbs stops him midway, blocking his outstretched arm and clasping his hand, until he drops back against the bed, closes his eyes. Forces nightmares away." that's my favorite part - I can completely picture it - lovely imagery and a really great scene between Gibbs and Tony.

Seriously: thanks for writing this one.

You know, I'd love to see you write more whumped Tony stories. I'm evil like that, but I like to see how characters (namely Gibbs in this example) react to situations happening to people they care about. Come on, majorly whump Tony. Gun shot? Explosion? Doesn't matter. Muhahaha. :)

Quality always shines through and this little snippet of a story is riddled with it. Can't get enough of your works and just wish you'd extend yourself once again to a fullblown epic for me to get my teeth into(plessee). Your stories always kickstart the grey matter and leave me pondering the blurred lines of reality and fact. More please.

*wibble*

Excellent Story..Well put together..Just reading it I can actually see the characters haing the conversation..Awesome work..

Heartwrenching: Gibbs' memory of the injured Tony is so poignant--and so clear. Even more chilling, then, were the words Gibbs feared he heard. Those lines are riveting and really pull the reader in for more--so well done.

Actually, paragraph after paragraph, the thoughts and actions of each man are clear and moving, but even more, the language used to express them is so well drawn. This story is similar to your past Tony explorations, which were great, but this... ah, the next level? I wish I could express it better, but this one just seemed so beautifully done, I can't pull out one favorite part from thr next. Thanks for sharing.

And finally--thank you for recognizing that it's better to face the Truth than to ignore it: the striped shirt _was_ stupid.

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This was fabulous. What I really liked about it was the fact that even someone like Tony, who seems to have so much going for him, may contemplate ending his life in the line of duty. Characterisations were great, and spot-on as usual.

Excellent work

first of all i must say that you are a brilliant writer.

secondly- is there a chance that you will add a chapter - i'm curiouse to know what happened and how tony took the bullet...
tnx