Bit of an emotional chapter. I like reviews!

Note: This story may be a little longer than I thought

Chapter 11

6:12pm, August 6

Bethedsha Naval Hospital

It was three agonizing hours before the lead ER doctor came out to discuss McGee's condition. It was not good news.

"Because of all the injuries...Agent McGee...well..." The nervous doctor stopped speaking, then shrank under Gibbs' glare. Tony spoke up, trying to save the man.

"Just tell us." The doctor sighed, before relenting.

"He crashed three times...once at NCIS, once in the ambulance, and once on the table. All three times we were able to get him back. He lost an astonishing amount of blood during the attack, not to mention the internal damage. We will start with what we know: the gunshot wound to his leg. The bullet went right through a muscle below the knee, and while we believe it will heal, there could be complications. As for the other wound...we are still operating." Gibbs didn't feel like beating around the bush, even as Ziva turned pale, tears welling up. Tony put a friendly arm around her shoulders, while Ducky comforted Abby, who was about to break down.

"What are his chances?" he demanded. The doctor sighed. He hated telling this to anyone, but it had to be done. He cringed as he spoke.

"Bluntly, 50 percent." Ziva looked down. Jenkins gritted his teeth. He knew how hard it was to lose a close friend. That thought brought bitter memories to his mind, and he stalked out of the room angrily, Ivan ready to follow. The doctor turned motioned for the Russian to wait before he turned to Ducky.

"As for Mr. Palmer, he will heal fully, with the exception of a slightl limp, that Agent McGee will likely suffer from as well, to a worse degree." Now, the doctor turned to Ivan as a guilty look spread over Ducky's face.

"Your man, Clancy, took two shots to the shoulder, in and out. We do not know if he will regain use of his shoulder. The bullets tore tendon, muscle, and bone. It is not pretty, but know we are doing everything we can." Ivan nodded, and thanked the doctor quietly. The man turned back to the NCIS agents.

"As is with Agent McGee. We are trying our best. Be prepared for a long wait, possibly six, seven, maybe eight hours. His body took alot of stress. He shouldn't of been fighting with that wound!" He left the room, leaving Ziva to cry with her friends. Ivan nodded to Jenkins, and they got up, giving the team privacy. Ziva looked up.

"He was fighting to protect me! And you!" she said, and put her face in her hands. It was going to be a long night.

7:00pm

On the other side of Bethedsha, another young man waited for word on his friend, the only friend he ever had. One who had looked out for him for months. One who he trusted with his life.

It was nearly seven at night when Jerry got word on Tom. After hiding outside of headquarters during the violent and bloody attack, the two friends tried to flee. At the last moment, a PD officer saw them and opened fire, hitting Tom in the back several times. Although tired and weakened, Jerry managed to drag Tom to Bethedsha, where the doctors began operating on him. It was a long three hour wait. Finally, a nurse exited the operating room.

"Jerry, right?" she asked. The teenager, in sort of a trance, nodded. The nurse began to speak.

"We tried Jerry. We had to operate and remove the bullets from deep in him, and...it didn't work. I'm sorry, but there is nothing we can do. Would you like to see him?" Tears running, Jerry walked into the room, where Tom lay, barely breathing. The injured man's eyes lit up at the sight of his friend.

"Jerry...go. Get out..maybe...Location 4 for now...no, police will check that. Go to five." Jerry was heartbroken.

"Tom, I don't, what do I do?"

"Go in hiding! Go with God...Shalom my brother." Tom sighed and took his last breath, leaving a devestated Jerry alone in a world of enemies. He couldn't goto the police, as he used to work for the enemy, but he betrayed them, so if he went to them, they would kill him.

The directionless young man left Bethedsha at eight o'clock, and didn't look back.

8:35pm

Silver Springs

At Gibbs suggustion, Ziva and Tony went to Tim's house to get a few things for him, mainly his dog, who his neighbor had, and his manuscripts.

To Tony's surprise, the cops that were casing his place were gone, so all he had to do was pick the lock, an easy feat for him. They entered te damaged house, and remembered just how bad it must have been for Tim to be trapped. Tony was beginning to feel guilty for making fun of him.

Reaching Tim's bed, Ziva noticed a sheet of paper. Picking it up, with Tony hovering over her sholder, she paled when she saw it.

"Ziva...that...we..." Tony was speechless. Ziva could barely read the letter. A tear entered her eye as she did.

Director Leon Vance, NCIS Headquarters, Washington DC

I have been a member of the MCRT for years now. I have been through countless situations with my team, and solved a massive number of cases. Yet, I am always the odd one out. Everyone else includes each other, Gibbs, Abby, Tony, Ziva, even Ducky and Palmer, but I am always out. Everyone has their six covered, except for me.

According to Tony, all I do is useless computer work. I have never been tortured or shot. I guess no one appreciates what I do, as toiling as it is.

Tony and Ziva get appreciation and friendship from each other, but all I get is pranks and laughter. I can't take it anymore.

Therefore, this letter is my official resignation from NCIS, effective in one week. I will need time to clear out my workspace, and say goodbye to the few people around that actually appreciate what I do.

Scincerely and Sadly,
NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee

Tony could've slammed a door in frustration. "We did this to him Ziva. We forced this on him. I can't...Will he ever forgive me?" Ziva smiled sadly at him.

"McGee has a kind heart. Yes, he will. I trust he will."

Tony and Ziva sat for several minutes, lost in their thoughts. Then, they got what they came for and left.

12:05am, August 7

Bethedsha Naval Hospital

It was late in the night when the doctor emerged again, his face grim and sweaty. Abby lifted her head from Gibbs' lap, and Tony roused Ziva, who was sleeping alone in a corner chair. Ivan elbowed Jenkins, who had dozed off an hour ago. All waited.

"Well, we patched him up as best we can. It will take time, but I think he will make a nearly full recovery. He will probably walk with a limp from now on, and may experience pain in his leg, but other than that, he should be fine. He was a lucky and brave man."

Ziva's heart jumped. Jenkins managed a sleepy smile, and Ivan got up and shook Gibbs' hand, who actually looked happy for once. Abby was jumping for joy along with Tony, which made it easy for the doctor to slip away unnoticed. The team had a long way to go, but they would make it.

6:00am

Location 7, Pennsylvania

At Location Seven, the leader, along with his right-hand man, met with the leaders of the assualt teams, all had survived. The leader spoke quietly.

"You all did well. Yes, Alpha, I see your question. Those who died, they were expendable. Very expendable. Those who survived, they are brave. They are good. We will succeed."

The leader pulled out a drink, and shared it with the survivors who made it to Location 7, 10 of them. Their numbers may have been cut to 12, but the terrorist's fight was long from over.