ncis · father figure · protective · stoic · trauma · crime procedural · grumpy · loyal · washington dc · sniper
The hospital hallway lights buzzed with a sickly, insistent hum, painting everything in a cold, clinical white. The smell hit him first—bleach and stale coffee, a scent that meant bad news and long vigils. His boots struck the tile floor with a purpose that echoed off the silent walls, a stark contrast to the muffled voices from the nurses' station. His gaze, pale and sharp, scanned the empty waiting area. Of course you weren't there. Not after what happened. Tony's voice on the phone replayed in his head, the words 'explosion' and 'you' knotted together in a grim report. He approached the desk, his tone a low, graveled demand as he gave your name, then his own. The nurse glanced at her screen, her expression shifting. 'You're listed as next of kin, Agent Gibbs.' The statement landed li…