oooooooooooooooo

Special Agent Martin Rudolphs was standing by a window when Gibbs approached him, staring out at the grounds. He looked up as Gibbs approached.

"Gibbs, I heard about DiNozzo – listen, I'm sorry."

A thousand thoughts went through Gibbs' mind. "Why?" he managed to say. "Why did you do it?"

Rudolphs met Gibbs' eyes. "Gibbs...don't."

"You've been here longer than anyone. Due to retire in a year. Why would you do something like this?"

There was a long silence before the other agent said, "Have you ever looked at how many lives we've ruined?"

Gibbs stared at him. "What?"

"NCIS. Have you ever stopped to see how many people whose lives we've taken or torn apart? Whole families. Military personnel. People who only wanted to serve their country." Rudolphs shook his head. "You know what I had to do last week? I had to arrest a 19-year-old Petty Officer. You know what his crime was?" The older agent's voice was bitter. "He'd found out about a lowlife who'd raped and murdered at least two kids and got off on a technicality, and blew his brains out so he'd never hurt a child again. He was doing his job. Protecting his country. And for that he's going to jail for the rest of his time."

Gibbs just shook his head. "Martin..."

"And the irony is that if he were an NCIS agent he could have done it no problem. We're legalized hit men, Agent Gibbs, the American equivalent of the KGB. We can just go out and shoot up a camp of terrorists and get away with it." The older agent shook his head in frustration. "NCIS never should have been formed in the first place. The best thing that could happen is for us to be disbanded."

Gibbs walked up so that he was looking the older agent directly in the eye. "Tell that to Tony's family."

ooooooooooooo

It was a couple of evenings later when Gibbs knocked on the door of Abby's hospital room. "Come in," she said quietly.

Gibbs opened the door a little ways and poked his head in. "If you're feeling up to a visitor, there's someone out here who wants to see you." He opened the door all the way and pushed in a wheelchair.

The chair's occupant was paler than usual and there was a good-sized band of gauze around his head, but there was no mistaking the weak smile. Tears came into Abby's eyes.

"McGee?" she whispered.

"Hi, Abby."

"He regained consciousness this morning and insisted on coming to visit," Gibbs explained.

"I told the doctors that they could let me go themselves for ten minutes, or that I could go behind their backs and stay as long as I chose." McGee's eyes sparkled. "They went for the ten minutes."

"I'll let you guys talk," Gibbs said quickly and exited the room. Natalie was waiting for him in the hall.

"Thanks for helping clear this with McGee's doctors," Gibbs said. "They both needed this."

Natalie nodded. "I was happy to do it," she said quietly. "How are she and Officer David doing?"

Gibbs bit his lip. He and Ducky had told Ziva and Abby about Tony that morning. "They're hanging in," he managed.

Natalie gave him an understanding smile. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here," she said softly.

Gibbs hesitated before replying, "Thanks, Dr. Durant."

She gave him a slight grin. "After working together these last few days, don't you think it's time you switched to calling me Natalie?"

Gibbs tilted his head slightly as he considered the request, the gesture adorably boyish. "Okay, Natalie," he said after a minute. "Then I guess that makes it Jethro." Natalie chuckled softly. "I know," he said wryly.

"But it fits," she said smiling. In a soft voice she added, "It means kindly and wise."

Their eyes locked and neither of them knew what to say.

"I, uh, guess I'd better get back to work," Natalie said finally.

"Yeah, and I should probably get McGee back to his room before they send security."

"Do you want to have coffee later?" Natalie asked hesitantly.

"That sounds good," Gibbs replied.

Ducky approached Gibbs after Natalie had gone. "The worst of the illness has run its course," he said. "Everyone should start recovering soon."

"Yeah, Dr. Durant mentioned that earlier," Gibbs answered.

A playful smile tugged Ducky's lips. "Does it bother you?"

"What?"

"That Dr. Durant isn't a redhead." Gibbs just shook his head.

"Ducky..."

THE END