HELD OVER

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have written yet another Dead Air related story. I know. I know…Enough already! I didn't think I had another approach to the episode in me. But here goes, hope you like it.

Tony was still and it was most unlike him. The man who, normally, could not or would not shut up or keep still was unrecognizable in his current condition. That condition being attached to a respirator, a couple chest tubes and what seemed like yards and yards of IV tubing.

Only days earlier... Tony could not talk. Ducky had told him to save his voice. But Tony had not needed to say a word for both Ziva and McGee to know he was pissed. His anger had been building as soon as he got back into the car, into the backseat. They had made their confession and, well, Tony had gotten quiet. He had not said anything on the way back to NCIS. This was before Tony had actually lost his voice and it had Tim and Ziva concerned. They both kept sneaking looks back at Tony. He just sat staring out the window, his hands in his lap. To anyone else he wouldn't have looked angry. But Ziva and Tim knew the signs. His silence was the key, primary clue. But the fact that his knuckles were white and that his hands were clinched tightly in his lap didn't escape their attention either.

By the time they had reached NCIS Tony, indeed, could barely speak. It was a blessing, in disguise, for McGee and Ziva. Neither was sure what Gibbs' response would be to the news. But they knew, without a doubt, it would not be good. They had hoped the time that Ducky had told him to keep quiet, save his voice, would allow him plenty of time to calm down. It was not to be.

Tony walked into the bullpen the next morning visibly upset. He sat his backpack down in the floor and power up his computer, all this without a word to either Tim or Ziva They had beaten him into work that morning and seemed to be waiting for him to say something.

"Tony…." Tim started.

"WHAT!" Tony said, turning his full attention to him, his eyes boring into Tim. "Did you think that the time I had to take to let my throat recover would allow me to calm down? Well, sorry, McGee. It didn't happen!"

"Tony…We…." Ziva began.

Tony got up and came around his desk. "Would I have done that to you?" He demanded, standing in front of Tim's desk. He then turned to Ziva, not waiting for an answer from Tim. "How about you? Would I have done that to you?"

Tony paused for just a moment. He didn't give either Tim or Ziva time to answer and in reality they were too surprised at his anger to even form a response.

"Have I ever done anything like that to you?" Tony demanded. He then slammed his fist down on Tim's desk and Tim jumped. Tony raised his voice, not caring that few people who had actually arrived early to work that morning were starting to drift over to their bullpen, just to see what was going on. He then leaned over Tim's desk. "I wouldn't even consider it, Agent McGee!" Tony paused, sucking in an angry shaken breath. "I would NEVER leave you, or Agent David, over there…" He said, pointing in Ziva's general direction, without looking. "…without backup!" Tony said shaking with anger.

"Tony…." Ziva began, trying again.

"I understand the meaning of the word 'team.' I…we are SUPPOSED to be a team. I look out for you. You are SUPPOSED to look out for me." Tony stated, barely concealing his anger. "But then again…" Tony said, his tone turning sarcastic. "…maybe I don't understand it correctly. I mean I am certainly not as well educated as you, Agent McGee. And I am not as well versed; I don't know as many languages as you, Agent David. So…maybe I don't understand the meaning of the word." Tony paused. "Perhaps one, or both, of you needs to explain it to me."

Tony paused, silently daring either one of them to answer.

Both Tim and Ziva could read Tony's mood and didn't say anything.

Gibbs exited the elevator at that time, coffee cup in hand. He walked into the bullpen and immediately noticed the change.

Tony quickly sat down at his desk and Tim and Ziva made themselves busy. Gibbs looked at from one member of his team to the other. No one looked up at him, but he could feel the anger coming off Tony in waves.

"Tony?"

Tony looked up. "Tim, Ziva and I have some…issues we need to resolve."

"Tony!"

"I can handle it. It'll be okay." Tony reassured Gibbs.

"If you're sure." Gibbs stated.

"I am." Tony replied.

Gibbs nodded then snatched up the phone on his desk, only letting it ring once. "Grab your gear, dead Marine in the Shenandoah."

Tony, Ziva and Tim followed Gibbs to the car. The ride to the site was unusually quiet. Tony only spoke again after they all had started to process the scene. Gibbs had walked away, out of earshot, to talk to Ducky.

"WE will take care of this." Tony said to both Tim and Ziva. "I need to trust my partners. I need to trust the two of you." Tony paused. "And I don't right now. You need to earn my trust." Tony said. "That happens…I feel like I can trust you again…Gibbs never has to find out about this." Tony paused again. "If not…."

"What do we have to do?" Tim asked. "What…?"

Tony replied. "You have two weeks." He then turned back to his work.

Ziva went over to him and bent down. "Two weeks, Tony that…."

Tony looked her in the eye. "It only took you two seconds to destroy it." Tony replied. "Two weeks seems like it should be plenty of time."

"Tony, I…I'm sorry."

Tony shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ziva. It's not enough. I…What you did was…I could have died. Anything could have happened to me out there. And neither one of you would have known about it." Tony paused. He felt himself getting angry again. "You weren't listening to the damned radio! I REALLY don't think you two understand that! You don't GET it!" Tony said, quietly, but Ziva could see the anger. Tony then stood up and walked away.

TBC