Battle Scars: Tony angst, some hurt comfort from a mystery woman, has been in my head the past few days: this may be alternate universe because I want Kate Todd as Tony's partner and Jenny Shepard as director. Ziva may be around since she still took out Ari. Kate was shot but the one that hit her in the vest not the well other one that ended her life from Ari's snipers nest on the episode Twilight. Oh there is a woman in his life but I am still working on her identity, maybe someone original for him this time around in this one.
Three days before: The emergency room at Bethesda. Tony said "Just stitch me up doc and put a band aid on it, it is just a Knick not a big deal. My victim is alive because I jumped the guy after all."
The doctor said "Agent Dinozzo, you have a deep wound to your left side that cut your abdominal muscle. You need to have some painkillers and stay here a few hours at least while we make sure there is no internal damage."
Tony sighed. "Ok then but I don't handle painkillers well. Give me the mildest ones you have."
The doctor said "All right we will start you with an IV of some Percocet. Meanwhile lay still and the nurse will be in to clean your wound and get it ready for stitching."
Tony sighed. "Have no choice. Will just lay here then. My team is going to be in the hall waiting for an update. I'm a federal agent with NCIS."
Then Tony felt the painkillers begin to start taking effect. "Feel kind of sleepy, think I'll take a nap. Hmm my fingers are finging. Told you these things make me a little wacked out."
The doctor sighed. She had had him in here before. He always tried to tough it out and get out of there as soon as possible. Poor guy. He attracted danger like a magnet it seemed.
Tony was laying there on his back when McGee walked in to his room. "How are you feeling Tony? They might want you here overnight."
Tony said "Don't be blue McGoo. I'm finer than fine. If they want me to stay I'll stay."
McGee said "All right Dr. Seuss clearly your painkillers are kicking in."
Tony looked at him. "Kicking me when I'm down probie?"
He replied "No just saying at least you're less stubborn than Gibbs when something happens and haven't tried to get out of here on your own yet."
Tony nodded. "Yeah well I'm kind of on an IV of something and to be honest I don't feel all that wonderful. Certainly not up to Very Special Agent standards."
McGee said "Well there was a pretty good slice taken out of you so it could make you hurt."
Tony felt his side throb then. "Thanks for reminding me that I should hurt Tim." He pushed a button to give himself more pain medication nearby.
McGee said "Get some rest Tony, Gibbs will probably be by later."
He said "Great probably going to tell me how stupid I was and give me a head slap into next week." He sighed softly
McGee said "You helped our victim and saved her which counts for something."
Tony smiled a little. "Yeah I did." "Worth the fact that I am going to have a killer scar now. "
McGee said "Yes you will, should impress the ladies."
He yawned then "I'm kind of wiped Tim. Pain medication kicks my ass."
McGee nodded and went back out to the hall again. He would keep an eye on Tony's room as ordered by Gibbs until he could get there and handle things.
Tony moved in the hospital bed and tried not to lay on his left wounded side. Then his eyes closed and he drifted off into sleep.
Then there were footsteps that clicked into Tony's room. High heels and something that smelled like lavender and vanilla. Tony's eyes opened and he smiled. "Hi honey."
She replied "What am I going to do with you Anthony Dinozzo?"
He said "I'll be ok, this well just goes with the job Maria."
She nodded. "I am a federal agent to so I am aware." She held his hand as she sat down in one of the chairs near his bed. "Did you really let someone use a knife on you to save a woman?"
He sighed. "She was pregnant and a hostage. I didn't want her baby at risk."
Maria ran her thumb over the back of his hand. "Oh Tony."
He said "I'll be fine, going to be sore for a while but it will heal."
She touched his face. "Sleep baby. I'll be right here with you."
Tony mumbled. "Sorry and I love you."
She smiled "I love you too."
A while later Maria heard footsteps coming toward Tony's room and stood up casually with one hand on the butt of her gun. Then a silver haired man stuck his head in the doorway and said "You must be Tony's new friend."
She replied "SSA Maria Nicolette with the FBI, I work in Cyber Crime there and help Agent Fornell with the occasional stakeout and surveillance. I met Tony at a picnic at his house for the team."
Gibbs replied "I'm Jethro Gibbs, the boss of Tony's team."
She smiled. "Nice to meet you Agent Gibbs."
He said "I warned Dinozzo about dating a woman who carries a sidearm that one day she could use it on him if he pissed her off."
Maria laughed. "That's funny. I'm not the greatest shot honestly."
Gibbs nodded. "Dinozzo is."
She said "So he is here because he got introduced to the wrong end of a knife while saving a victim."
He replied "Yeah. Pretty ballsy move but it cost him. He's going to be on the bench for a while for this one."
Maria nodded. "I hope he will let himself heal and not push it. I have seen that in my office with the guys."
Gibbs said "I won't let him."
Maria smiled. "Then you and I will get along just fine Agent Gibbs."
Tony stirred and mumbled. "Hey boss, that's Maria."
He said "We met." Gibbs reached down and rubbed the back of his head. "Rest Dinozzo and heal."
Tony smiled a little. "On your six boss." His eyes closed again as another woman entered the room.
She said "I sent McGee back to the office Gibbs. He wanted to finish more of his report there."
Gibbs nodded. "Agent Kaitlin Todd, this is Tony's friend Agent Nicolette. Maria works at the FBI with Fornell and doing the cyber geek thing too."
Kate smiled "I am Tony's partner. Well one of them. There are another few members on our team. My friends call me Kate."
She held out her hand to Maria and they shook.
"You know Tony is well different with me than at work. He is very sweet. He has even cooked me dinner a few times." Maria said.
Kate nodded. "I am glad he has you Maria. Sometimes in the job we do it can be lonely when people don't understand it."
She said "Yes it can. I have known a few men who didn't like dates being interrupted or plans cancelled when we got a hot one. Tony understands that at least."
Kate smiled. "So how bad did he hurt himself? I wasn't on the scene when it happened so I didn't see it."
Gibbs said "Got some stitches, twenty I think and he's taped up pretty good. He's going to be sore for a while, it did a number on his left side. He's on painkillers too."
Kate nodded. "Oh boy, it's going to be fun at work with him. "
He said "He may be on medical leave for a while. Where is Officer David?"
Kate replied "Giving her statement to IA since she took out the suspect after he hurt Tony."
Gibbs nodded. "Better go make a call to Madame Director then."