Summary: A terrible accident may change the lives of the MCRT forever.

Categories: Angst

Notes: Written for the NFA "King Me" Challenge. Title comes from the Stephen King short story of the same name. The plot bears no resemblance to the original story.

Characters: The Team

Chapter One

The ER was bustling with activity when Gibbs rushed in, bringing the cold DC air with him. He immediately went up to the Security desk upon arrival. The guard's name tag read Manny.

"My Agents were brought in not too long ago," he said, showing his badge. "There was a car accident."

"What are their names?"

"Tony DiNozzo, Tim McGee and Ziva David," Gibbs said quickly. He impatiently tapped his foot while Manny searched his computer.

"Ah, here we are. I can send you back to see Mr. DiNozzo. He's being treated in Room 11 right now, back in the ER."

"And the others?" Gibbs asked, his gut twisting around in knots.

"Perhaps I should get a nurse to accompany you. She'll be able to bring you to your agents."

"Thank you very much," Gibbs said, politely as possible. He really wanted to barge through those doors and search the entire hospital until he found them all. Manny got up and flagged over a nurse that happened to be passing by.

"Nedra, This is Agent Gibbs. His team was involved in that crash on the beltway. Could you bring him back to see them?" Manny asked her gently.

"I absolutely can. Come right this way, Agent Gibbs." Nedra smiled at him. She was a petite woman, with long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and striking blue eyes. He followed the pretty nurse back into the crowded ER. "Agent DiNozzo is being treated right over here. He has a slight concussion, and some bruises and contusions. Otherwise, he seems to be fine." She stopped in front of a room being covered by a curtain. "Go on in."

Gibbs pulled back the curtain and stepped into the room. Tony was lying in a bed, staring straight forward. He had bruises on his face and arms, and a bandage covered a wound on the right side of his forehead. His right wrist had been casted.

"Hey, DiNozzo," Gibbs said gently, walking over to the side of the bed. "You all right?"

Tony didn't seem to realize Gibbs was there, and if he did, he was doing a hell of a job ignoring him.

"Tony," he said, louder this time. Tony moved his head this time, to look at Gibbs. He seemed to come back to reality from wherever his mind had just taken him.

"Boss…"

"You all right?"

"For the most part."

"What happened?"

"Where are Tim and Ziva? The hospital won't let me see them."

"I don't know, Tony. What happened out there?"

"It's my fault," Tony said quickly, turning his eyes downward to his blanket.

"I'm sure it's not."

"I was driving, and I shouldn't have been."

"You don't mean—"

"We went out for a few drinks after you cut us loose for the weekend. We'd all had one too many. Ziva insisted on calling a taxi, but I was convinced I could drive. So I—I got behind the wheel. I remember Ziva getting in the car with me, but after that it's a blur."

Gibbs sat back and recalled the news report in his mind.

"The accident on the Beltway was serious, Tony. The news report says that no one was killed, but there were serious injuries."

Tony closed his eyes as he let out a groan.

"What did I do?" he asked, almost with a whimper. "I could have killed someone with my stupidity!"

"You're damn lucky no one was killed, DiNozzo. I agree that it was a stupid thing to do, but I'm not going to get mad at you for it. That would be counterproductive at this point."

"You should be mad, Boss! I caused a serious accident, and almost killed someone!"

"You're lucky to be alive, so just count your lucky stars."

Tony nodded silently.

"I want to see him!"

Tony's head snapped up at the familiar voice on the other side of the curtain.

"Probie?"

He saw the curtain move, and then pull back. There stood Tim, dirty and covered in bruises. He stood there on crutches.

"Tony! Are you all right?" Tim said, crutching halfway into the room before Gibbs guided him to a chair.

"I'll be fine. I'm just so glad to see that you're all right, Probester!" Tony said, smiling. "Have you seen Ziva?" he asked immediately.

"No, I thought you might have."

"You don't think she—"

"She's not dead, Tony," Tim said immediately. "Don't even think that."

Gibbs stepped forward.
"I'm going to go find out what the hell happened to Ziva. You two stay right here," Gibbs said in a commanding tone.

"Yes, Boss," Tim said as Gibbs left them.

"What do you remember?" Tony asked.

"About the accident? Not much. I remember getting into the backseat of your car. You were driving like Gibbs for what seemed like forever. I was kind of half lying down back there. When I heard your tires screeching, I sat up just in time to see us go through the guard rail. I hit my head and that was it."

Tony collapsed into his pillow and shut his eyes.

What the hell was I thinking? How could I put my friends in this position? How stupid could I be to get into a car after having that many drinks?

The curtain sailed open, bringing Tony back from his musings. Gibbs stormed into the room and pulled it closed again. He did not look happy.

"I found Ziva," he said solemnly.

"What happened?" Tim asked.

"She's in Intensive Care. Ziva is in a coma."

Tony stiffened, covering his face with his hands.

What did I do?

TBC...