"Tony!" he heard a voice yelling happily.
He didn't even have the time to open his eyes before Abby was lying on top of him, hugging him carefully.
"I've been so scared!" she said, near to tears "Don't you do that again, agent DiNozzo!"
"I'm sorry" Tony replied trying to catch his breath without her noticing that he'd even lost it.
"Abby, why did you have to throw yourself at him like that?" Ducky said, trying to get her to let go of Tony "He's wounded, for God's sake!"
"It's okay, Duck" Tony said, glad to see his friends again.
"No it's not, Anthony. You need your rest!"
"So I've been told" Tony chuckled.
Abby seemed to understand that Ducky was right. She kissed Tony's cheek and reluctantly went to sit in the chair next to his bed.
Once he was free Tony stirred and sat up, wincing at the pain coming from his shoulder.
"Where's Gibbs?" he asked as he reached for the glass of water on the table next to his bed.
"You know him, he went to get his coffee" Abby said as she gave him the glass.
"Of course he did" he smiled "Thanks" he said, referring to the glass of water.
"All you had to do was ask" she smiled, and Tony couldn't help but laugh as he recognized the words Gibbs had said a couple of hours ago.
"What about Ziva and McGee?" Tony asked after he'd taken a sip of water.
"Gibbs told them they won't be allowed to leave their desks until they were sure Janssens didn't have anyone to help him with that twisted plan of his" Abby laughed while putting the empty glass back on the table.
"You're right, it was twisted. But I kinda understand him" Tony said. That last statement made the room fall silent for a short while.
"What do you mean?" Ducky asked.
"He's a real bastard, Tony. Nothing else" Abby said, anger shining in her eyes.
"He had reasons for what he did. The sorrow led him to do that"
"Tony…"
"He's right, Abs. Even though I can't approve what he did" Gibbs said as he walked in.
"Damn straight you can't!" Abby practically yelled "How can you defend him?"
"If you knew what happened to him, you wouldn't ask"
"Then what happened?"
Tony sighed wearily as he pulled the covers closer.
"I'll tell you this lovely story later, okay?"
Frowning, Ducky slowly stood up.
"Yes, I think we all ought to go home and let Anthony rest. He really needs it" he added when he saw Tony yawn.
Abby wanted to argue with that, but a look from Gibbs was enough to make her nod and get up too.
"I'll see you tomorrow" she told Tony as she softly kissed his cheek.
"Bye guys" Tony said as he watched the others leave.
Left alone, he sank back in his pillow and as soon as he closed his eyes, he found himself facing a well known person.
"Kate?"
The figure just smiled softly.
"Hey Tony. You missed me?"
He felt like his heart had skipped a beat.
"Of course I did. A lot"
Her smile grew wider on her face, and Tony couldn't help but admire her.
"You know, you scared me this time" Kate said, a look on concern on her face.
"Why is that?"
"I thought you'd come to join me, it was pretty close"
"Don't you want me to join you?" Tony asked sadly.
"I'd really love to be with you, Tony. But it wasn't fair for you to die that way. Plus I knew it wasn't your time"
"How do you know?"
"I just do"
"And when it will be my time…"
"…I will be right here waiting for you" Kate smiled again.
"I didn't know you liked Bryan Adams"
Kate laughed and it felt like it was the most beautiful sound Tony had ever heard.
"Why do I have this dream?" he asked.
"You mean you don't wanna have it?" Kate teased.
"No, no Of course I do! But it's so weird…"
"I know"
Kate took a step closer.
"It's just that… I didn't get a chance to say goodbye"
"It can't be goodbye" Tony stated, near to tears "You can come with me"
"I don't think so" Kate sadly lowered her eyes.
"Well I do" Tony said, gently grabbing her by her wrist "Come back with me, please"
He saw a tear running down her cheek.
"I can't"
Then she leaned and kissed him.
"I just want you to know" she whispered in his ear "That I've always loved you. And I always will"
"I love you too" he said "Please, don't let me go back alone"
"You have to" she said tearfully "I'll wait for you Tony"
"Kate, no…" Tony tried but Kate put a finger on his lips before kissing him again.
"Goodbye Tony"
Author's Chapter Notes:
Tony's having a dream. You decide if it's a good one or a bad one.
Chapter End Notes:
I always thought it was a shame Tony didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his true love.