A Gathering Crowd (open)

[bobby dessler almeida]

The doors to the ER burst open as nurses and doctors raced up to meet the gurney carrying one Bobby Almeida and rushed into immediately into surgery.

Jack Bauer could only stand in the sidelines and watch, knowing that the life of his godson is now in the hands of medical personnel. He could do nothing but wait now.

-------------------

Four hours later, the waiting room had nearly become fully occupied with so many people waiting to hear the news about Bobby. Jack had given calls to Chloe O'Brian who was here with her husband Morris and young son Preston. Former Chief of Staff Mike Novick also came. Jack's daughter Kim had come along with her husband Stephen and little daughter Terri. Even the President had joined them in the waiting room along with his Secret Service detail. And somehow, Aaron Pierce had made it to the hospital too, leaving his second in command in charge of the crime scene once everything had been taken care of.

Jack knew one more person was missing, someone who meant the whole world to Bobby Almeida, and that person was his father Tony, who is still serving a life sentence for his role in the attacks on DC years ago. He knew it may be difficult, but Jack owed it to Bobby to try, the younger man needed his father now more than ever.

Before he could do more, the double doors opened to reveal a young male doctor with dark hair. The crowd in the waiting room set their gazes on him with bated breath.

"I'm Dr. Jacob Lancaster." He introduced himself before going on, "Agent Almeida is still in critical condition at the moment. The single bullet did a lot of damage. It punctured his left lung, broke 4 ribs, and grazed the spleen. He's currenly on a ventilator to help him breath. There was large amount of internal bleeding, he's lost alot of blood too. We're giving him transfusions as we speak. He's being set up in the ICU, and please, one visitor at a time. Nurse Johanson will take you all up there."

A blond haired nurse had appeared and gestured for the group to follow her, they got up to the ICU floor and was directed into a private waiting room that apparently the President had requested beforehand.

"Go Jack, go see him." The President had spoken up after a few seconds of silence.

Jack looked around and everyone seemed to agree with the President's words. But before he left, he needed to make sure of one thing, "Mr. President, I know this is unprecendent, but I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important. Can you please arrange for Tony Almeida to be brought to the hospital so he can visit his son? I know he's considered a traitor and high security risk, but whoever he may be, his son still means the world to him. And his prescence will be paramount for Bobby's recovery."

"Of course Jack, it's the least I could do." The President agreed without hesitation, he knew he was taking a risk with this move, but he had once seen Tony Almeida's love for his son, and he could trust in that love. As long as Bobby was in the hospital, then Tony Almeida would not b anywhere else.

Jack nodded a thank you to the President before turning to go to Bobby's room.

Seconds later, his eyes landed on the still and unresponsive form of his godson, the only sound heard came from the ventilator's mechanical beats. He sighed and sat down on the chair next to the bed before reaching up and gently touching Bobby's forehead, sweeping away a stray lock of hair. This wasn't the first time the youngest Almeida had been in critical condition in the hospital, but Jack could only wish things like this didn't happen. Bobby had been through enough in his childhood, he deserved better than this.

Laying back against the chair, Jack closed his eyes for a litle bit of rest, his hand now holding Bobby's limp ones in his own, he was determined to stay and watch over his young charge.

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai was brought into the hospital, she was not in that bad of shape, she was going to have a bruise on the side of her face and she was going to been shaken up for a while. Kai walked into the greeting room. She saw two children, her eyes soften a bit, the sight of the them made her smile slightly.

Kai stand there as she looked at everyone in the waiting room. Then she was about to enter were she had a feeling Bobby would be at, when she was stopped by the nurse..

"Ma'am you can not go back there, you are going to have to wait."

Kai then snapped her head to the nurse and then said as she get into the face of the nurse...

"Let me tell you something nurse lady, I had a gun in front of my face today and is not in the mood to be told with to do, I'm was a NCIS hostage agent today in a old warehouse, with Agent Bobby Almeida, so if you have something else to say or can I go in?"

The nurse then gulped and then was about to say something, but stopped before she could open her mouth, Kai smiled and then walked pass the doors and then started walking and looking for Bobby, when she finally got to the room. Kai then find Bobby and then notice a man.

Kai narrowed her eyes, wondering who this man was. Who was this man? Kai shaked her head and then looked at Bobby with sorrow in her eyes.

[bobby dessler almeida]

Loud voices attracted the attention of the quiet residents in the waiting room as their eyes watched a red-headed girl stalking past a nurse into Bobby Almeida's room.

It was Aaron Pierce who set everyone's hearts at a relief by telling them that it was Kai Anastasia, the other agent who was kidnapped. But there was an air of bitterness and resentment too, at the red-headed woman who had brought trouble onto their friend.

Kim Bauer knew her father was more than formidable to go head to head against the red-headed fury, but she figured having a more calming woman presence wouldn't hurt either.

With that decided, she handed Terri to her husband Stephen and headed for Bobby's room.

--------------------------------

Jack Bauer had long learned to sleep with his alerts on full action mode, that had saved his life more than once, and now clearly useful as he watched over his godson.

Even in his light slumber, he immediately caught the presence of another person in the room. Opening his eyes and swiftly getting up to stand between the door and Bobby, Jack's sharp light eyes landed on a red-head, he recognized her as Kai Anastasia, the NCIS agent whom the kidnapper Addae Xenos was targeting, the girl that Bobby had risked his life protecting.

"What do you want?" Jack Bauer was not impressed with this girl, her reactions to Bobby's parentage was more than enough for Jack to deem her undeserving of Bobby's help. Sharp eyes glared darkly at the female NCIS agent, "You know, I can tell Bobby a thousand times not to save a damsel in distress because I want him safe, but he'd never listen, too d**n compassionate and loyal to ever let something like that happen, even to the person who caused him pain. If you have any decency, you'd best stay away from Bobby, he's got enough on his plate without worrying about your problems."

Jack knew he was being harsh, but it had to be, he was not going to let his godson be trapped in some mess that he never started, he had made that mistake once when Bobby was a child, and it had cost the young boy a happy childhood. He was not going to let the rest of his life be ruined as well.

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai listened to the has he speak to her in a harsh manner. Kai's snapped and then she said..

"As long as he is working for NCIS, he will be near me and I'm NOT A DAMSEL IN DISTRSS! I'm a former Marine Sniper! I just didn't have my guns at the time, it was a risk I had to take, and two I save Bobby's life! I had to play nurse/mom while you people looked for me and Bobby. Bobby may have a dark past that is way wrost then mine will ever be, I have scars from Addae outside and mentally. I was 21 when my mom and father were killed! I had to raise my siblings, who were just newborns at the time. I risked everything to make sure my friends were safe from Addae, when I was 18 years old. I know you are very protectived of Bobby, but he is a adult, he doesn't need to be babyed! "

Kai growled at the man in front of her. How dare he! He knew nothing that she had been thourgh, he was lucky they were in a hospital, or she would have jumped from across the room and gone all Marine Sniper on him. Kai then looked at Bobby. He as not meant to dragged into her problem with Addae Xenos. Kai knew that she was not going to get any sleep at all tonight. Kai then said...

"He was there at the wrong place, wrong time. He saved my life and in return, I saved his until people came to help. When... When.... NEVERMIND! I'm still trying to connected the pieces on why I'm still here."

Kai then grabbed a chair and then sat down and she kept on firing back words after words of hurt,pain,sorrow, angry to the man in front of her. He knew nothing.

[bobby dessler almeida]

Kim Bauer could heard the raised voices as she neared Bobby's room, shaking her head and sighing, she knew her father's overbearing nature would not clash well with the NCIS agent.

Coming into the room, Kim caught the conversation between the two very angry people, "Okay, why don't we all take a breath and calm down. Bobby doesn't need all this negative energy around him right now. We need to support him, not fighting each other. We're all on the same side here."

Reaching out to her Dad, Kim spoke clearly, "I know you love Bobby, Dad, but Agent Anastasia is right, he's not a baby anymore, you can't stop him from doing the things he wants to do. And besides, growing up with you guys, how could he possibly watch someone in trouble and not help? You guys have always taught him to protect the innocent, you instilled in him that sense of loyalty, just like you guys, he's a protector by nature, he's never backed down from protecting people, you can't expect him to change now."

Noticing her father looking rather chastised, Kim turned to the still furious looking Kai, "And you Agent Anastasia, I know you didn't mean to get Bobby into this mess, but please do understand that the people here out in that waiting room all care about Bobby very much, we're his family, and we're just afraid and concerned about how this incident will effect him. He's been through a lot in his life and we just don't want this to take him over the edge. I know my Dad can be blunt here, but please don't take it the wrong way. We understand the tragedy in your life, and we're really sorry."

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai was about to say something else when a lady walked into the room and started talking to her and the lady's father. Kai narrowed her eyes and then said.

"And may I ask who you are Ma'am?"

Kai was still over taken with the emotions she felt from the kidnapping still running fresh thourgh her veins. Kai closed her eyes as she remembered clearly of what happened at the White House. Bobby's face lit up in fear, him falling to the ground hard. Kai then snapped her eyes opened when she hear the lady stand up for her side of Bobby not needing to be babyed anymore. Kai smiled at what she said and someone agreed with her. Kai seemed to have calm down by a lot. But those emotions still raw. But Kai would be fine for the time being.

Kai then hear lady talk again and Kai then said...

"Please, call me Kai, not Agent Anastasia. The day Bobby entered the door of NCIS, he himself became family. As much as me and him had problems in the beginning, this has opened my eyes to his world a little bit....."

Kai ran her hand thorugh her hair, and then kept on saying...

"He may not like being at NCIS very much because of me after what I did, but I guess that is the price of trying to be his friend."

[bobby dessler almeida]

Kim Bauer smiled gently at the red-headed female and introduced herself, "I'm Kim Bauer Carter, this grumpy man here is my father Jack Bauer. He's Bobby's godfather, which makes me his godsister."

Listening to Kai talking about her feelings about Bobby, Kim had to smile, she had to admit, Bobby had a tendency to make friends in the strangest ways. And somehow, those friends would always end up being friends for life. There was something about her little godbrother that made people drawn to him, well, that something also had a tendency to draw trouble, so maybe it wasn't all that good.

"Believe me when I say Kai, that you aren't the reason Bobby doesn't like NCIS, like I said he's been through a lot and the government has been responsible for most of that. He's just had enough, it's a miracle we even convinced him to do this job."

Noticing her father's disapproving glare, Kim shooked her head, making up her mind to talk to Kai in the more private place.

"Come on Kai, let's go take this conversation somewhere else," Kim said as she gestured for Kai to go with her, "Bobby's father's gonna be here any moment, we should give them some alone time."

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai listened to lady, who just stated that she was Kim Bauer Carter. Kai then narrowed her eyes back to the man in front her, then she laughed softly. She was going to enjoy this very much. Kai then smiled and then said as she nodded her head.

"Nice to meet you Kim."

Kai then frowned a bit, she was going to have to deal her aunt. Her aunt was former Navy Sniper with a very protective side to her. Kai then brought herself out of her daze state and then listened to Kim again, Kai in a way felt relieved that Bobby didn't hate her or wasn't mad at her. Kai smiled softly, but then Kai thought, what if he hated her now? Kai then turned her head to Bobby and placed her softly hand on the top of his head, then said softly.

"Bobby get well soon, I'm not leaving this hospital until I know you are out of the woods. You are not alone in this war, I like to called since I was 18 years old, 'the painful memories of Addae Xenos..' I will not be far...."

Kai then heard Kim talk to Kai again, and Kai nodded her head and kept talking softly..

"....away from this room, when you wake up yell Kai as loud as you can., Bobby."

Kai then stood up from her chair and then said..

"Okay, out of the room we go."

Kai then walked out of the room to Kim and she notice three people in her life waiting for her in the waiting room...

Marie...
Ben...
Aunt Eliz...

[bobby dessler almeida]

Kim led Kai Anastasia to a private room and gestured for her to sit down. After seeing the way she was with Bobby, Kim knew that Kai was no danger, sure she was curious, but she wouldn't be a threat to Bobby, although Kim of all people knew that unless they really knew someone, there will always be a doubt.

She knew that Kai would want to know alot of things, things that are classified, but Kim figured it was better to hear from the real source rather than Kai getting into trouble and have alot of secrets revealed, and besides, there were circumstances that even classified files could not do justice. Kim knew Bobby wouldn't want his life to come out to the open, but on the other hand, having someone who knows what he has been through and understands his way of life may go a long way to help the younger man heal. Every soldier needs a friend, even her Dad had Tony and Chloe.

Looking to the red-headed woman, Kim figured she should start the conversation, "So....I figured you were curious about Bobby's life, after all, you did hack into classified files. Mike Novick told me he let you off the hook this time with a warning. I figured things might work better if you just hear it from an accurate source. Believe there are people who doesn't want you to know Kai, but I think Bobby needs someone else to watch his back who knows what he has been through. He's got me and he's got his best friend Johnny, but we can't be out on the field with him. He needs someone he can trust, and I think you can be that person for him. So, go ahead, ask away."

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai listened to Kim and nodded her head. Kai then narrowed her eyes a bit and then said...

"I...I...I want to know how Bobby reacted to the bad areas he was put in...? I want to know..... I do not know where to start... There is so many things I want to know about him... "

Kai closed her eyes as Kim kept on talking. Kai then opened her eyes and then said again as the put her hands in her pockets.

"I can be trusted, I'm trustable."

Kai then felt bad about hacking into those files, but it was a risk she had to take, if she was wanting to be his friend. Kai nodded and then stared at Kim as she waited for to tell her everything about Bobby. Her mind was still on what just take place hours ago. Kai knew that she was going to have to make sure that everyone she loved and care for was save and sound...
Kai listened to Kim and nodded her head. Kai then narrowed her eyes a bit and then said...

"I want to everything about him, I want to be his friend."

Kai closed her closed as Kim kept on talking.Kai then opened her eyes and then said again as the put her hands in her pockets.

"I can be trusted, I'm trustable."

Kai then felt bad about hacking into those files, but it was a risk she had to take, if she was wanting to be his friend. Kai nodded and then stared at Kim as she waited for to tell her everything about Bobby. Her mind was still on what just take place hours ago. Kai knew that she was going to have to make sure that everyone she loved and care for was save and sound...

without her there... from danger....

Kai blinked her eyes, she was going to have to leave the states without DiNozzo and the others finding out about it and she knew that Jack and Aaron would keep tabs on her, because they didn't know if they could trust her or not.

[bobby dessler almeida]

Kim smiled slightly upon hearing Kai's words about knowing everything about Bobby, well, that sure was complicated, even now after all these years, there were moments when even Kim herself couldn't figure out her little godbrother.

"Well, I guess we can start with how he reacted to alot of things that's happened." Kim spoke thoughtfully, "Believe it or not, this isn't Bobby's first trip as a hostage. When he was about 8 years old, a terrorist cell targeted LA and they went after my Dad because he was the lead agent in charge, so in order to get my Dad to fold, they took Bobby and his adopted mother Michelle hostage to force my Dad's hand. They had a video camera running the entire time, had it broadcasted on the network channels so everyone could see what was happening to Bobby and Michelle. They had Michelle tied up in a chair with a gag, and one of the terrorists, the leader, had his hand around Bobby's neck with a gun to Bobby's head, threatening to my Dad that if he doesn't make a deal, then we were all gonna watch Bobby's brains being blown in front of our eyes. I know Bobby was scared, he was trying to put up a brave front but I could see the fear in those baby blue eyes. I mean, he was just a kid, he didn't even belong in the fight. My Dad was torn, he had promised Bobby's father Tony who had been in jail at that time for treason, not for the DC attaks, but this one was a long time ago when he let the bad guys escape in exchange for Michelle's life, but anyways, Tony had been in jail, Dad had promised that he would look after Michelle and Bobby. So here was a huge dilemma. We just didn't negotiate with terrorists, but we couldn't just stand there and watch Bobby pay the price. And before we knew it, the leader pushed Bobby forward and pulled the trigger, the bullet hit Bobby in the back and he was down just like that. We were all just shocked, my Dad was furious, he had everyone out there and it took nearly 12 hours before we managed to break into the warehouse that they held Michelle and Bobby in. By the time my Dad got there, Bobby was going into shock, it was amazing enough that he had held out that long."

Chuckling slightly at the memory of her tough little godbrother, "Bobby's tough, always had been. He got that from his parents, both biological and adoptive. His real parents Robert Corbetti Sr. and Aliana were South African informants for CTU, they were close to Bobby's eventual adopted father Tony. 17 years ago, Tony, Michelle, and my Dad had to go the South Africa to stop a terrorist cell, Bobby's biological parents were there to help. In the end, the family was targeted and was massacred, only Bobby managed to escape, and in a twist of fate, he was the one who took out 3 shooter and rescued Tony, Michelle, and my Dad, all at the age of 5. I guess you could say that fighting had always been in Bobby's blood....well, after that, Michelle and Tony, who had just engaged, they decided to adopt Bobby. Brought him back to the states where the then President David Palmer awarded him the highest civilian award for courage."

Knowing her godbrother was compassionate to a fault even despite all the darkness, Kim felt a pang of sadness at the harsh realities the young man had to face, "Bobby, he took all the stuff we did in strides. With Tony and Michelle's work hours, he spent alot of time inside CTU, picked up on alot of the stuff happening. I never really thought about how well he adjusted, but nothing seems to keep him down. He'd bounce back so quickly with that big infectious smile of his, a bundle of energy that kid was. Everything only went downhill when Michelle died and then Tony was thought to be dead, it destroyed Bobby to watch his parents die, and then to learn that it had been because of President Charles Logan, that the President himself and joined ranks with terrorists and used Bobby's parents as collateral damage to a cover-up. It just killed him. He stopped smiling then, part of me thinks he just shut down, jaded by everything. I mean, Tony and Michelle had finally gotten away from it all, Bobby's life had finally returned to a normal one, Michelle was pregnant and a baby boy was on the way. But in that one moment, the day President David Palmer was assassinated, everything just went to hell. I can't tell you what Bobby after those horrifying hours since I wasn't there, but after that day, I went to see him, he was so despondent, all he did was sit in his room and stare at pictures of his parents. All he ever wanted was his Mom and Dad to be happen together, and it ended being a dream that would never happen. And then about 6 years later when Bobby was 17, his Dad Tony came back when everyone thought he was dead, well...you heard about the DC attacks, Tony was so full of rage at the people responsible, he was willing to go anywhere, do anything, to get to Alan Wilson, the mastermind behind the conspiracy that Charles Logan worked in. I think by then Bobby had just given up hope that things would ever get better, his Dad had just been arrested again after putting my life and my Dad's life in danger and nearly killing us all. After all that, he just went back to South Africa, Pretoria to be exact, he wanted quietness, the simple life."

Sighing, Kim carried on, "I guess life now has gotten better, but Bobby was so young when everything just exploded in his life, he pretends to be strong on the outside, but really, Bobby's fragile on the inside, he's carrying alot of hurt. My little godbrother is one tough cookie, but there are times when he's just that scared little boy who wants to know what he did so wrong that life had to become like this."

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai's eyes widen, she thought she had a bad life. Bobby really had it bad. Kai looked back in her own memories and shaked a bit. Kai took in all of the information Kim had just told her and Kai then said...

" I thought I had it bad.... When....When I was 18 years old, my bestfreinds were kidnapped by Addae Xenos. I went to a old warehouse in Indiana and then realized as soon as step into the warehouse. It was going to be me or Addae Xenos. My bestfriends had been beaten and tied down. Me and Addae talked for a only a short time and then we both fired our guns.."

Kai removed the towel from over her shoulders and you could see the scars on her shoulder and arm, from the gun shots. Kai then looked at Kim and said...

"That day, change my life forever, once a girl, who could talk without struttering and being shy. Became shy and struttered every time she talked. Lost her ablely to trust those around her complete. The fear that Addae was getting a little close to killing me off. Then when I was 21 years old, my parents were in a car crash and burned to death. But they thought it was a munder case. But nothing pointed it to being a munder case. End the end, I was left to take care of my twin siblings Ben and Marie by myself. They are the only thing that keeps me moving in this life, If they were never born, I do not know what I would to now."

Kai smiled slightly and then said..

"That's part of my life, It's never easy is it?"

[bobby dessler almeida]

Kim nodded along with Kai's words, she could understand, her own mother and unborn sibling had bee murdered too when she was a teenager, the loss never leaves.

"I know what you're saying, when I was 16, I was kidnapped by this arms dealer Victor Drazen, they were trying to force my Dad to assasinate David Palmer, at the time he was the Presidential Candidate. We managed to escape all that, me, my Dad, and my Mom. But then she was killed, by the very woman, her name's Nina, that we had trusted. Nina was my Dad's fellow CTU agent, but she was also a traitor. I never got over losing her Mom and her unborn baby either. It was one of the reasons why I left my Dad and LA years later. I just felt so tired of trapped in all that trouble. In a way, I can see why Bobby wanted to leave too. He's been through more in his years of life than I could ever think of."

Before Kim could say more, a head poked into the door, it was a young man with dark brown hair and emerald green eyes.

"Hey Kim, your Dad wants you back in the waiting room. And Bobby's Dad just arrived." The younger man informed, casting a glance at Kai Anastasia, which Kim caught.

"Yeah Johnny, I got it..." Deciding to make friends, Kim turned to introduce the new presence, "Kai, this is Bobby's best friend John Kennedy Lancaster. Johnny, this is Agent Kai Anastasia...."

"The girl with Bobby, yeah I heard." Johnny finished for Kim before speaking again, "Call me Johnny, my parents had a fascination for the Kennedys, it's an unfortunate side effect of having obessed parents." Giving Kai a smile, Johnny turned to Kim, "Terri threatened to attack Prescott with a baseball bat, Steven tried to play peacemaker, but you know no one's ever made that work except Bobby, so I think you might wanna handle this too."

With that said, Johnny gave a wave to the girls and left the room.

"Well, I guess we better get back. I leave for one second, and it becomes warzone out there" Kim sighed, "Sometimes I think I'm the only pacifist around here."

[kai ann armstrong (mcgee)]

Kai listened as Kim started to talk again about herself.Kai's eyes widen once more, from hearing Kim's story. Kai was about to say something when, Kim said that they better get already to leave the room. Kai nodded her head and was about to say something. When a man walked into the room with dark brown hair and emerald green eyes. Kai listened to the man and then Kim and then she saw the glarce and Kai smiled as the man said who he was and Kai then said


"N-nice t-t-o m-me-et y-you Johnny, y-you c-can cc-all m-ee K-Kai."

Kai then watched as Johnny walked away from the room, and then she raised an eyebrow and then said.

"Warzone?"

Kai started making her way to the door, Kai then stopped, she was going to have to find a way to get out of the United States without DiNozzo found out.

"I might as well, My Aunt Eliz and brother and sister are waiting for me in the waiting room."