PROLOGUE

Pacing the small waiting room, impatiently waiting for news about his senior agent, Gibbs was unable to shake the vivid memories of what had happened only an hour before. He barely had time to shout a desperate warning to Tony to watch out as he watched in horror as the car sped in Tony's direction, giving the NCIS agent little time to dive out of its deadly path. Even now, Gibbs knew that it was going to be a long time before he would be able to forget the horrible thump as the car slammed into Tony, throwing the younger agent violently into the air as it struck him, nor would he forget the sight of Tony's body as Tony slammed hard onto the pavement and rolled like a rag doll across the road before stopping face down in the gutter. Gibbs shivered unconsciously as he remembered his fingers trembling as he pressed them into the side of DiNozzo's neck as he desperately searched for a pulse….

He stopped his pacing and turned expectantly towards the door as the door opened and Ducky entered the room, holding a Styrofoam cup in his hand. "How is he, Duck?" he demanded as Ducky slowly crossed the room to where he was waiting.

"He has a broken leg, two broken ribs and a moderate concussion, Jethro, but considering just how fast the car was going when it hit him, young Anthony is extremely lucky that his injuries are not more severe. The doctors are just setting his leg before they transfer him to a room" The Medical Examiner told the anxious man as he handed Gibbs the steaming cup of coffee before he added softly, "You know what happened to Tony today was not your fault, Jethro."

"Ya think, Ducky?" Gibbs growled as he glared at his friend, "I knew that something was going on with DiNozzo …"

"And you tried to find out what it was." Ducky reminded him firmly.

"But I didn't, I let it drop when I realized whatever was going on in DiNozzo's life, he didn't trust me enough to tell me." Slamming the cup down on the table, ignoring the hot liquid as it splashed over his hand, Gibbs sighed, "And today, Duck, those secrets DiNozzo is trying to hide from me almost got him killed."