Shrapnel

Gibbs walked into what was left of the squad room, slowing a little at the sight of such destruction. A cough sounded and he looked up in relief to see McGee standing in front of his computer.

McGee looked up as he approached. "Hey Boss."

Gibbs rested a hand on McGee's arm. "You okay?" he asked.

Tim looked a little unsure. "Uh, yeah, I think so. You?"

Gibbs shook his head, breathing a small sigh as he took in the carnage around him. He would not be ok for quite some time. "Where's Tony and Ziva?" Gibbs strode over to his own desk.

"Um, elevator. Workers are on it." Tim continued to look around in disbelief as Gibbs tried the phone. The line was dead.

"It feels really warm in here. I think I'm gonna go get some fresh air," McGee said, stepping forward as he started to remove his jacket.

Something caught Gibbs' eye as he looked up. "Hey! Stop," he called, moving quickly around the desk his eye focused on McGee's shirt.

McGee looked puzzled as he froze in place. "What?"

Gibbs stood in front of him and reached forward. Carefully he pushed back the front of Tim's coat revealing a large shard of glass protruding from McGee's midsection. Dark fresh blood was already beginning to soak through the white shirt. Tim looked at Gibbs in alarm.

"Uh oh," he said in a small voice as Gibbs cupped the side of Tim's face.

"Sit down a minute, Tim," Gibbs said gently, guiding his agent to sit on the edge of the desk. He spotted another agent nearby. "Johnson! Go get the paramedics and a gurney!"

Johnson nodded, hurrying out the door. Gibbs pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and cautiously placed the folded cloth just under the shard, holding it in place. McGee gasped. "Take it easy, Tim," he said, squeezing the younger man's shoulder.

The emergency personnel were there in minutes, guiding McGee to sit on the edge of the gurney. With one swift movement, they had pivoted his body and had him laying comfortably on the stretcher. They began a rapid fire exchange on the health of their patient, and McGee looked momentarily overwhelmed, even a little frightened. Gibbs leaned over the stretcher and tapped Tim's cheek to get his attention.

"You're in good hands, McGee," he said with a half smile. "You come back only when you're ready, ok?"

McGee nodded, relaxing a little. Gibbs reached out and briefly gripped the young man's hand. Words eluding him momentarily, Gibbs could only nod his head, and McGee responded in kind. Then Tim was whisked away, and Gibbs sighed heavily as Fornell approached.

"Agent McGee?" he inquired.

Gibbs shook his head. "Glass shrapnel. He should be ok." Turning, Gibbs strode towards the elevator to check on the rest of his team, Fornell falling in to step behind him.

Seeing the rescue team still working, Gibbs briefly inquired on the status of his agents. Satisfied they were uninjured and knowing there wasn't anything he could do to help, Gibbs and Fornell ascended the stairs to the Director's office.