While pursuing a subject, Tony is injured.
Ziva, Gibbs and McGee's heads snapped up in unison as a gut wrenching scream came from Tony's direction.
Grabbing his gun from its holster Gibbs motioned with a wave of his hand for Ziva and McGee to stay behind him.
They were processing a crime scene of what looked like a home invasion at a Petty Officer's house and they had cleared the scene and checked the general vicinity for any dangers…obviously not well enough.
Carefully checking around corners and bashing in doors to clear rooms, Gibbs, Ziva and McGee walked down the hallway, heading towards the study; the room Tony was processing.
Worry was etched in their features at the thought that their colleague was in danger, or had been attacked. It happened too often in their profession that one careless mistake could cost someone's life, or limb.
Having cleared all the rooms on the way down the hallway Gibbs finally pushed open the door to the study; half expecting to see Tony either lying on the floor injured or in a struggle with their assailant.
What he wasn't expecting to see however, was Tony leaning up against a bookshelf, thumb stuck in his mouth, sucking on it like a one year old with a dummy.
"Tony?" Ziva questioned, pushing past Gibbs to get into the room and see what was wrong with her partner.
"What?" He mumbled from around his thumb.
"What the hell do you mean 'what'?" Gibbs thundered, "We heard you scream, we thought you were being attacked.
"Oh." Tony said, at least having the decency to look slightly ashamed. "I…ah…" He gestured with his free hand to the book lying open at his feet.
Gibbs just raised an eyebrow, more curious to what had caused the scream than angry.
"Well, ahh…you see," He took his thumb out of his mouth and cleared his throat. "I was…" his cheeks coloured slightly in embarrassment. "I was looking through this book on applied mathematics you see…" he trailed off. "I just though it'd be cool if I could tell you guys something really smart and I umm…" again he trailed off, trying to figure out how to finish explaining what had happened. "And I dropped the book 'cause its heavy and I got a paper cut on my thumb and then I screamed."
Gibbs let out an exasperated sigh and frowned at his two other agents as they tried to stifle their laughter. "I suppose if any one asks we can say you were injured while pursuing a subject…"
end