Day Gone Wrong
By Marla Gilmore and Crying Cowgirl
Disclaimer: All NCIS characters are own by DPB. We are just using them.
As the cold rain fell on the late November day, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo lay in an ally in the Adams Morgan part of Washington, D.C., wondering if anyone at headquarters had missed him yet. He had been sent out several hours ago to follow up with a witness, instead finding his suspect. Chasing him down a fire escape, Tony found himself alone in the dark alley with a broken leg and no way to summons help.
As Tony lay on the ground, he could see just beyond his reach, it was only inches but with the pain he felt it looked and felt like miles. Tony pulled himself along the pavement an inch at a time until he finally reached the phone. Wrapping his hands around it, he flipped it open and dialed the familiar number.
"Gibbs," the voice snapped on the other end of the line.
"Boss, I need help." was all Tony managed to get out before a figure from the shadows kicked the phone out of his hand.
"McGee gets me a location on DiNozzo's phone, NOW." Gibbs said as he grabbed his badge and gun.
"I got him, Boss," McGee yelled grabbing his gear. "He's is in Adams Morgan near Rock Creek park, he hasn't moved."
"Call Ducky and have him meet us in the parking garage, Tony's hurt." Gibbs yelled on his way to the elevator.
Ziva called Ducky as she grabbed her backpack, quickly making her way to the elevator to join the team. Once inside, she got an update from Gibbs as to what he knew which proved to be not a whole hell of a lot.
In the parking garage, Ducky was brought up to speed on what they knew and decided to take Ziva and follow Gibbs in the medical examiner's van. It didn't take long to find the ally in which Tony called from.
"NCIS, step away from that man," Gibbs yelled as he moved towards Tony and the man kneeled beside him.
"Boss, stop he helped me. Please, don't shoot him or anything; I swear he's one of the good guys." Tony pleaded for the man's safety.
"Anthony, where does it hurt, my boy," Ducky asked moving to the young man, placing his bag on the ground near Tony.
"Leg's broken, hit my head, some bruises, cuts but I am okay. If someone could help me up, I'll be good." Tony's injuries weren't as serious as they could be but in no way were they as minor as Tony was downplaying them to be.
"Anthony, please let me take a good look at you before you try moving around," Ducky stated firmly. Tony, who up to this point had been moving around a great deal suddenly, lay as still as he could so that Ducky could examine him.
"Ziva, get an ambulance here now," Gibbs barked as he bent over Tony trying to shield his senior field agent from the rain. "What happened, DiNozzo," Gibbs asked the concern evident in his voice.
Drawing a deep breath, Tony focused and tried to keep the pain at bay. "I was interviewing a witness when a hit came in on the BOLO. I called in for back up but nobody came, I saw Nelson come out of apartment 4 E. When I approached him to slow him down, he bolted. I chased him down the hall and he fled down the fire escape. I followed him but my foot must have slipped because the next thing I know I was hitting the ground."
Ducky gently probed at Tony's arms and head before moving down to his obviously broken leg. Gibbs watched, his heart breaking with every hiss of pain that escaped from Tony's lips.
"Boss, I'm sorry my cell fell out of my reach, it took me a while to crawl to it. By the time I got it and called you, Mr. Parker happened by. Tony pointed in direction of the man standing off to the side talking to McGee.
"Anthony, I am afraid this is a pretty nasty break, my boy. You're probably going to need surgery," Ducky said turning to see the ambulance pull up. "Jethro, I want Bradley to take a look at our boy too. I don't like it that he has been out here in the rain and cold all this time, it could bring complications.
The EMT's got Tony onto a back board and immobilized his leg. Carefully, they loaded him into the ambulance and made room for Gibbs who gave them no choice in the matter. "I'll be at the hospital, call me with an update when you have one," he yelled as the ambulance doors closed.
An orthopedic surgeon was waiting for Tony in the emergency room when they arrived. The x-rays showed that Tony's fibula was broken clean through and his ankle was dislocated. Surgery was the only option as the bone would be too unstable to treat any other way.
"Before you take him to surgery, he needs to be seen by Dr. Pitt. He had the plague a few years back, his lungs are badly scarred," Gibb stared at Tony being hooked up to IV's, monitors and change into a hospital gown.
Gibbs stood terrified watching and waiting, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Brad round the corner and enter the room.
Gibbs stood in the corner of the exam room watching as Brad examined Tony. Leaving his side, Brad and the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Polly Hill, came over to give Gibbs and update.
"We are going to have to watch him closely. Right now things look ok but in Tony's case that can change quickly. We are going to do a chest x-ray before the surgery and post op so we can stay ahead of any problems. I have to talk to Dr. Hill and I am going to be observing the operation, I'll be ready to intervene if necessary." Brad said as he looked at the surgeon for confirmation.
"To be quite honest, Agent Gibbs I welcome Dr. Pitts input. Seeing that I have never treated a patient who has had the plague before," Dr. Hill stated.
"How long will the surgery take," Gibbs asked.
"Surgery is going to take two to three hours, he'll be in a cast four to six weeks," Hill responded.
"Tony is going to hate that," Brad answered remember how having to spend a week at home after being released from Bethesda nearly drove him crazy.
"Can I talk to him before you take him up," Gibbs asked as he started to move past the doctors.
"Sure, but keep it short. We want to get him to x-ray as soon as we can," Brad answered as he turned to confer with the orthopedic surgeon.
Walking towards his agent, Gibbs could see that Tony was resting. Gibbs had an overwhelming need to make sure that his senior agent was okay. Quietly, Gibbs reached for his free hand, holding it tight until Tony opened his eyes.
"Hey, how are you feeling," Gibbs whispered trying not to excite Tony at all.
"Like hell, boss. I'm sorry that I messed up." Tony's voice was cracking with emotion of being hurt and a little frightened.
"Listen to me DiNozzo; you're going to be just fine. I've got your six; I'll be here when you wake up from surgery. I promise to bring you pizza as soon as you're able to sit up enough to eat. You just listen to everything Brad tells you, I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner," Gibbs pep talk was cut short when transport came to take Tony to x-ray.
Gibbs could only watch as they wheeled Tony away. "Any hits on the bolo for Nelson?"
"No boss, our witness Mr. Parker said that Nelson ran out the ally way and headed west. We have the trains, metro and airports covered." McGee replied nervously, knowing that an injured Tony means that Gibbs will be less friendly than usual.
"I want you and Ziva back at that the office and I want Nelson caught by the time I get back." Gibbs gave Tim the infamous stare as he issued the order.
"You're not coming back with us," McGee questioned, realizing instantly it was the wrong thing to say.
"No McGee, I'm not. I don't think it is a good idea for me to go since I am Tony's next of kin," Gibbs stated, wondering sometime how McGee got to be a federal agent.
"You'll call us and let us know when he is out of OR, Yes?" Ziva asked as ready for the returned back to the crime scene.
"Of course, now get going." Gibbs yelled turning back to the two agents.
"On it Boss," McGee replied as they started to walk out the emergency room. "Did you know that Gibbs is Tony's next of kin?" Gibbs heard McGee whisper to Ziva.
"No, I didn't. It's odd isn't it" Ziva whispered back.
Turning form his agents, Gibbs sat in the uncomfortable seats and waited for news. After waiting for what seem like hours, Gibbs was joined once again by Dr. Pitt.
"We are prepping Tony now; the surgery is going to take about 2-3 hours. Why don't you go across to the Starbucks and get yourself some coffee." Pitt advised, knowing that a decaffeinated Gibbs was not a happy Gibbs
Gibbs hurried to the Starbucks located in the lobby of the cafeteria, ordering himself two cups of his favorite coffee. There was a feeling in his gut, that he just couldn't get rid of, something just didn't feel right. As he got out of the elevator, his feelings were confirmed as he heard Brad yell for him as he went running from Tony's room to the nurses station.