DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything aside from the idea. NCIS belongs to its rightful owners and so the characters.
AN- So I was thinking about the episode Dead Air and it was one that constantly makes me angry. Tim and Ziva not having Tony's back and switching off the radio was not only unprofessional but it was a pretty bad thing to do to a friend and partner. Tony should have reported that and they should have had consequences. Tim totally disappointed me, more so than Ziva who I can expect that behaviour from. I had read a couple versions of this episode on here and I have loved a few so I wanted to add my own. Older issues will be addressed later on but I wanted this episode to be a catalyst to start bringing to light other issues that were ignored when they should have been dealt with.
Walking along the hospital floor Gibbs found himself holding his breath in. These situations never get easier, you never get use to getting a phone call and hearing that one of your people had been shot, blown up or injured. Thoughts emerged in his mind spinning round and round giving him a headache. This should not have happened. How did it? It was a simple task of questioning a few residents. How did his agent with two back up agents having his back end up shot?
'Boss.' McGee and Ziva stood as soon as Gibbs approached the waiting room. Not being able to meet his eye McGee looked anywhere and at anything but Gibbs.
Gibbs stood firmly analysing them both, 'DiNozzo?'
'He is fine Gibbs.' Ziva answered.
'What happened?' his spoke calmly and steadily.
'He was grazed.' Ziva answered shortly.
'Yeah, I know that, I got the call. What happened?' his irritation began to come through.
Silence surrounded the three and Ziva shook her head and Tim brushed his hand over his face.
'If somebody doesn't start explaining it to me-' Gibbs was interrupted by a voice from behind.
'It's fine boss, it was my fault.' Tony stood behind them with his shoulder bandaged.
'Are you OK?' Gibbs walked over and supported Tony by placing a hand on his unshot shoulder.
'Yeah, just a graze.' Tony smirked. 'It will take more than a bullet to hold a DiNozzo down. Anyway, I was questioning a resident and things got out of hand, and well you will have my report on your desk by this evening.'
Gibbs eyed Tony then looked between him and the two agents standing behind. 'Where were you two?' Gibbs questioned.
'They were in the car waiting for my signal to move out. I told them to stay put right guys.' Tony looked over at his team mates and shook his head. With widened eyes the two nodded in agreement.
'Tony,' Gibbs let go of him, 'what are you not telling me?' Gibbs looked at his senior field agent.
'I told you Boss, I screwed up. It won't happen again.'
'You're damn straight it won't.' Gibbs muttered before walking off in the direction of the nurse's desk leaving behind Tony, Ziva and McGee.
Tony looked at the two of them silently. Tim not being able to handle the look on his face broke the silence.
'Tony, I am so-'
'Shut up!' he snapped. 'Let's just get one thing straight, no, I did not tell Gibbs for your sake. I did it for the team. We have already lost members and I was not going to let this team be torn apart once again. That being said, us three, we are not friends. I don't trust you, I never will again. We are co workers and that is it. Do not even attempt to talk to me unless it is case related. If Gibbs ever pairs me with either of you, just know that I consider me my own partner. The only person who has my back is me. You two are both dead to me.' Tony looked away from them and plastered a small smile on his face as his boss joined them.
'You are being discharged Tony.' Gibbs stated, oblivious to the conversation.
'Great boss, actually, I am feeling a little nausea from the meds, do you mind if I went home?'
'Come on, I'll drive you home.' Gibbs took hold of Tony's jacket and personal belongings. Before leaving he turned, 'I want your reports on my desk asap.' He instructed Ziva and McGee. Still silent they nodded watching their boss and partner leave.
'McGee,' Ziva began.
'Don't! I know, we screwed up.' McGee's voice broke. Closing his eyes he sat down on the chair row by the nurses' station. Burying his head in his hands Tim stayed like that until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
'We did, but we didn't know that would happen. It was meant to be a joke.' She defended.
'One that almost got our partner and friend killed. Did you see how angry he was? I have never seen him like that. He is never going to talk to us again.' The thought alone hurt McGee. Tim and Tony bickered, they occasionally argued but they were partners and friends and had been for years. Tony may have irritated him and picked on him but he always had his back. Then I in return, almost get him killed by not repaying him the same way he has done for me, he thought.
'Tony is angry is now but he covered for us and no matter what he says that means that somewhere deep down he still cares for us. We messed up, yes, but we love Tony and never meant for that to happen. We will just need to make it up to him.' Ziva spoke trying to make sense of the scene.
'How we will ever make that up to him?' he asked.
'I don't know, but as long as Gibbs doesn't know then we can think of something. The minute that Gibbs finds out we are gone.'
'Maybe we deserve that.' McGee looked up in time to answer his ringing cell phone.
'McGee.' He answered.
'Tim what happened? Where is Tony? Is he OK? Gibbs said that he is ok but I want to hear it from you. Does he look ok?' The panicked voice of Abby appeared on the other line.
'Abby slow down, he is, well, he is alive and Gibbs is taking him home.'
'If he is going home then that means that he is ok, right Ducky?' The sound of Ducky's voice also appeared on the line. The two back at NCIS must be speaking through the loudspeaker.
'I am glad to hear that he is OK. Do you who his doctor was?' Ducky asked.
'A Doctor Mann.' Recalled McGee.
'He is a great doctor, I will phone him for a check just to make sure that everything is ok with Anthony.'
'Tim, please tell me that you and Ziva caught the guy who did this?' Abby asked softly.
McGee felt the emotional pain once again, 'We will Abs.'
'Good because we almost lost Tony and I don't think that I could have handled that.'