Title: Valley Fever
Disclaimer: They belong to CBS and the people who make all the money off this great show, and that would definitely exclude me.
Setting:Three weeks after a case in Arizona.
Bethesda Hospital
The ambulance trip to the hospital was filled with several tense moments. Tony's oxygen sats fell several times causing the paramedics to swith over to a face mask and to start intravenous fluids. The paramedics had threatened to intubate twice and Tony was only able to halt their actions with a rallying response to their minstrations.
Gibbs never left his second's side though, staying with him even as he had entered the ambulance, still with him now as he entered the emergency room. His gruff voice could be heard above all the monitors as he demanded that Dr Pitt be called immediately.
Ducky knew that Gibbs was hell to deal with when one of his own was hurt, ill or in danger but he was ten times worse when it came to Tony. Was he just being an overly protective boss or being the surrogate father to the son he had adopted ten years ago during a case in Baltimore? The connection had been made during their first case and had never been lost between these two men, regardless of their disagreements they respected and cared for each other.
He could hear the desperation in Gibbs' voice, the pain of seeing Tony sick again radiated through his commands which could be heard as he demanded that someone get his second in command immediate assistance. He was in pain, a pain that only a loving father could have for his child.
"Jethro, I just spoke to Dr Pitt, he is unfortunately out of town but his partner Dr Christina Sanders will be here momentarily, she will give the details to Dr Pitt after she assesses our dear sickTony." Ducky explained as he reached his friend, who seemed quite distressed.
Tony was receiving his second breathing treatment, the first had been given on his trip to the Emergency Room. His head was elevated on the stretcher, his eyes closed. It was as if he was just concnetrating on breathing. A portable xray machine entered the small cubicle and they were ushered out for a film to be taken of Tony's chest, the nurses had already started him on different IV fluids and drawn blood.
The Respiratory therapist was now at his side, prepping Tony's wrist for a blood gas, it would be a painful test but one that was needed. As the needle struck the artery he moaned audibly but he did not flinch, he did not want to be stuck again.
The tests were now completed and Tony seemed to be breathing better as he lay on the stretcher, his head still elevated as Dr Sanders entered the cublicle, it had to be her, she looked like the most confident person he had ever laid eyes on, her long legs evident by the short lab coat covering a black evening dress, her red hair pulled up in a curly bun, her blue eyes staring down at one of Tony's many medical charts, the result of his mulitple visits over the years.
"Anthony DiNozzo?" her voice was calm as she talked to her patient. Ducky and Gibbs stunned into silence at the appearance of the drop dead gorgeous doctor.
Tony looked over and couldn't help but to smile, Gibbs was really going to like this doctor visit. Then he was shaken from his inner thoughts of Gibbs getting a possible date out of all of this by Gibbs impatient voice. "Forgot your name DiNozzo?"
"No, Boss. Yes, it's Anthony DiNozzo, but you can call me Tony." he attempted to smile through the face mask.
"Oh boy." Gibbs mumbled, loud enough for only Ducky to hear. "Even sick that boy will still flirt."
"Can't blame him can you Jethro, she is beautiful." Ducky whispered, then turned his attention back to the seriousness of the situation before them.
Gibbs could not help but to grin, Tony was just being Tony.
"I read that you're having problems with your breathing this morning. Dr Pitt has informed me of your health history, it's pretty extensive and very impressive." She had already placed the stethoscope into her ears and was assessing his lungs now. Tony knew if he talked he was be hushed so he just concentrated on breathing deeply for his beautiful doctor.
As doctor Sanders removed the stethoscope from Tony's chest she continued to assess his swollen glands and the rash which seemed to have spread over his arms and legs, a blistery type rash filled with yellow pus.
"Have you traveled recently Mr DiNozzo, I mean Tony?" she corrected herself, wanting to put her patient at ease. She was thinking that the rash might be the biggest clue to what was going on with her patient though.
"He was in Arizona three weeks ago on a case." Gibbs interrupted, knowing that Tony might not give all the information himself.
"Hmmm, interesting. Arizona? " She asked, her diagnosis could be contingent on the answer given.
"It was just for a day." Tony hated Arizona, just for the very reason that he had been there and got the Valley fever before.
"I'm going to run a few tests but from your health history and given the fact that you were in Arizona recently I would say that you have Valley Fever." She started writing down some notes and new orders for her patient.
"Not again." Tony mumbled, he hated it the first time he had it and knew he would hate it even more the second time. McGee should have gone with Gibbs this time but got excused when Vance needed him on a cyber case. Damn his luck! Damn McGee! Damn the Valley Fever!
" You had it before?" Dr Sanders questioned as she reached over to check the rash again with gloved hands.
"A long time ago." He felt a little pouty right at the moment, not even the beautiful woman could get him to see this as a positive in any way, but at least it wasn't the plague again.
"Well. It looks as if you have it again. I'm going to admit you and start you on IV Amphotericin B and watch your pulmonary status. I will also give you something for your nausea and vomiting." she smiled over at her patient as she wrote the admission orders. She could not help but to think that this man might be a runner, as soon as he started feeling better he would hit the door against medical advice, so she wrote a sedative order to be administered around the clock until further orders were written.
Tony rolled his eyes, too sick to argue but knowing that he would as soon as he started feeling better. His stupid diagnosis was Valley Fever or better known in the medical world as Coccidioidomycosis. He hated being sick, the team needed him.
Waiting Area
The word was out, Tony was in the hospital. Now the waiting area for the emergency room was filled with his friends, McGee, Abby, Ziva and Palmer. They paced around the room wondering what had happened to their friend, the information they had received was sketchy at best, Tony was having difficulty was taken to the hospital.
They had been here before, at least McGee and Abby had been, Palmer had barely known Tony at that time, the time of the plague, and Ziva was still in Israel. The memories were still fresh for those who had thought that Tony would die.
Abby stood at the door waiting for Gibbs to appear, he would come and inform them about Tony's situation, that, she knew for sure. Gibbs would not allow them, her, to worry for a very prolonged time.
It wasn't long before Ducky appeared at the door instead of Gibbs. He seemed to be in good spirits though and as he explained Tony's diagnosis to the group they seemed relieved. Almost assured that it was nothing fatal.
"They will be taking Tony to his room soon but the doctor had him medicated with a sedative and wants him to rest. The more rest he gets the sooner he will get better and get to return home and soon after to work." Ducky explained, hoping to get the point across that Gibbs wanted them to go back to work, they had a case to solve, a serial killer on the loose.
They all nodded in unison, all knowing that they would return after office hours to visit, but all knowing the importance of finding the killer who was slaughtering families.
Room 363
Progressive Care Unit
Tony had been transferred to the rather large room filled with monitors and cables that snaked underneath his newly acquired gown. How he got into a gown was still a mystery to him, he had evidently slept through it though, he must have been drugged, he wondered who had pushed for that order, Gibbs or Ducky.
A new IV also adorned his arm and a nasal cannuli now was in place instead of a mask. He actually was breathing better and the rash seemed to not be so the nausea was still there at least he wasn't vomiting, he hated that feeling worse than the soreness in his chest from all the coughing and vomiting the night before.
Am older nurse whose name tag read Agnes entered the room with a bag of yellow fluid, he recognized it from before, it was the Amphotericin B and he knew his stomach would not be settled for very much longer.
" Mr DiNozzo, you awake?" Agnes' voice showed her surprise that the man was able to open his eyes given the dose of Ativan that he had been given.
"Drugs effect me differently, guess you will have to put up with me." he gave her a weak smile/
" I do have other drugs in my arsenal if needed young man, so don't try me, I just want you to get better." She smiled at him and gave him a wink. After hanging the fluids she reached down and adjusted his bed covers then exited the room, switching off the light before leaving.
Tony turned over to face the window, another storm was about to hit the city, the dark clouds were rolling in, it would be a long evening.
So Dr Sanders thinks it's Valley Fever but is it really? With Tony a diagnosis is never that easy...is it? Thank you for the great reviews, you have gone and spoiled me now.