Finding someone to talk to them was the first obstacle but badges have a way of quickly getting attention. First a nurse directed them into a small waiting room off to the side of the main triage department then a doctor came in to tell them that CJ had been rushed into surgery. Her appendix had burst and because her fever had spiked to such a high level she'd lost consciousness.
Ok, Tony thought this is totally manageable. Appendix burst all the time, people do fine. Yet the tightness in his own chest didn't loosen even a little. He really wasn't good with situations in which he wasn't in control. And he had absolutely no control over what was happening or how to make it better. He began to pace the tiny space.
"Would you hit it off" Ziva spat at him.
"Knock it off, Ziva, it's knock it off. And no I will not knock it off. Pacing makes me feel better."
"You are making the room feel like a cage. Pace in the hall if you must" her tone just as sharp and hurtful as his had been.
Tony stopped moving, took a deep breath and looked deep into his partner's eyes. For the second time in his life he saw fear behind the mask. This realization quickly brought out his need to protect and it gave him something to do. He enveloped his wife in his arms and kissing her cheek he whispered into her ear "it's going to be just fine. CJ's a tough cookie and this is so routine that things will be right as rain in no time."
He felt it before he heard her, Ziva's shoulders raised and lowered as she cried into his shoulder. The stress of the moment allowed the worry and accumulated tension of the year to escape. They stood like that for some time before the tears stopped flowing and anger soon replaced the anxiety.
"Did she say anything to you about feel sick?" Tony asked Ziva.
"No, she did not. She would have been feeling sick for some time, yes?" Ziva answered in reply.
"I had appendicitis as a kid and yeah, it hurts way before it burst and you don't feel well, sick to your stomach. WHY didn't she say anything? What was she thinking?" Both parents stood confused as to their daughter's actions.
The frustration of not being told what was happening by CJ and the continued worry had the room feeling very warm in no time at all. Tony turned to seething instead of concern. She wouldn't be in this situation if she had just let them know she was unwell. None of them would. Tony continued to internally chastise his daughter, it covered the fact that he should have seen that she had been unwell. Isn't a parent supposed to notice when their kid is sick? He was a lousy parent… or at least he'd turned into one without knowing it. His anger at CJ soon turned inward and he was berating himself for not paying more attention he CJ's needs.
He flopped down into the battered old couch that was the only furnishing in their small cell. Leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees he repeatedly rubbed his palms across his face.
It felt like forever sitting in the tiny space that burst at the seams with over wrought emotion. It wasn't only their emotion but that of those who previously occupied the room. It was as if the negativity of the experience lingered well after the inhabitants vacated the space. These walls were talking and the conversation was not a pleasant one.
Neither Tony nor Ziva wanted to leave the room as they wanted to be there the moment the doctor returned with any news. When 2 hours had passed Tony was no longer able to stay cooped up and went in search of someone who could give them an update. He was sure that his surgery for appendicitis hadn't taken this long, what was the hold up?
Ziva remained in the room and surreptitiously turned on her cell and texted everyone she could think of that would want or need to know what was going on. Abby would be beside herself by now, Ziva had forgotten she knew only enough information to be worried. To Abby, Ziva also sent an apology for the delay.
Tony having found a nurse in the hallway two away from the waiting room asked how he was to get more information on his daughter who was currently in surgery. Without words the nurse pointed him in the right direction. It was a good 15 minutes and several wrong turns before Tony found a nurse's station labeled "Surgery Ward".
"I'm looking for information on my daughter CJ, she's in surgery right now" Tony demanded of the small overweight woman standing behind the counter. She looked at him through the top of her eyes and with the most dismissive tone one could imagine said "We don't have a patient named CJ in surgery right now." The woman made to walk away but Tony's initial shock of hearing that they didn't know where CJ was dissipated and he realized they would have her official name on the registration papers. "My daughter's full name is Caitlyn. Do you have a Caitlyn DiNozzo?" With pursed lips and a dreadful scowl the nurse looked at the clipboard again. "Yes" was her only reply. "Well what is taking so long?" his impatience barely contained. "How should I know? I'm out here and she's in there" the nurse said dismissively pointing towards the large blue doors labels OPERATING ROOMS 3 – 6.
Tony did not have the patience to deal with someone who hated their job. "Look, my daughter went into surgery hours ago and it was my understanding it was just for appendicitis which doesn't take this long. So… I want to KNOW. WHAT. . TO. MY. DAUGHTER. NOW!" Tony said in a quiet growl, emphasis growing with each word. The nurse rolled her eyes but started towards the big blue doors. Tony stood with his arms folded across his chest and leaned against the counter. It was several moments later that the nurse returned followed closely by a very very young looking doctor. Tony questions if the young girl coming towards him would be old enough to have finished med school let alone a specialty in surgery.
"Mr. DiNozzo?" she asked.
"Yes" Tony answered hesitantly.
The doctor then led him back to the waiting room so that she could explain everything to both parents at the same time. Once together she began to explain how the surgery had gone and the terrible state of the appendix when she opened CJ up. She explained that the surgery itself went well and that there would be no longer term repercussions for her. The reason the surgery had taken longer than expected was that initially CJ had reacted to the anesthetic and they had to deal with the allergic response before they could continue the surgery.
Both Tony and Ziva were shocked neither of them had a problem with receiving anesthetic. The doctor finished explaining and told them they could see CJ as soon as she woke up. Exhaling loudly Tony hugged Ziva as relief flooded their bodies.