Title: The Fastest Donation
Rating: PG
Spoiler: Season 8 Defiance
Author's Note: I thought this was funny coming home from a blood drive to the scene where Abby is grilling Tony on why he hasn't donated blood yet. I am a phlebotomist for the American Red Cross and wanted to let you know a few things about blood donation. First thing is right now in the East Coast we are in critically need for blood. Due to all the snowstorms and nasty weather the American Red Cross has lost hundreds of blood donations due to cancellations of drives and donors not showing up. Second thing is donating blood is important. You can save up to 3 lives with one donation. People need blood for surgeries, accidents, sickness and your donation can help them. Third thing is if you decide to donate always make sure you eat a good meal and drink lots of fluids like water, juice or milk. It is important your fully hydrated when you donate. Last thing is your donation does make a difference and takes about an hour for the whole process. Anyone here would like to ask me questions about it -just pm and I'll try to answer them. Thanks.
Also, I put in a short scene from Defiance where the team comes back from the blood drive. I added to the conversation.
Chapter 2
"I guess I won't get that prize. I was six minutes and 58 seconds." McGee said to Abby as he was walking toward the canteen.
"Next time McGee." Abby smiled as she continued gently squeezing the ball in her hand so the blood could continuously flow into the blood bag.
"Gibbs, I know your gonna beat my time but don't beat it too bad." Abby told Gibbs.
They spoke to each other and with the phlebotomists while they donated.
"Your all done." the phlebotomist, named Heidi ,told Gibbs and she took away the ball from his hand. As she crimped the bag at the scale she told Gibbs his time. "Your time is four minutes and 10 seconds. I think you'll be my fastest donor today."
She quickly and painlessly pulled the needle out into the needle guard while applying pressure to where the needle went in. Heidi raised his arm straight above him and told Gibbs to apply the pressure where her hands where.
" I just need to finish up here and then you can have some snacks." She scanned the scale and then printed out the tags for the blood. She came back and checked on Gibbs' arm.
"You stopped. You can put your arm down and relax." She scanned the blood and brought it to the processing table. She walked back and wrapped up Gibbs' arm with gauze and co-band. Heidi sat Gibbs up and gave him instructions about his donation. She led him to the canteen. "Thank you so much for coming in." Heidi smiled to him. "Thanks Heidi." Gibbs said back.
"I knew I couldn't beat you but must you be so good at everything Gibbs?" Gibbs turned and smiled at Abby before sitting down at the canteen with Ziva and McGee.
"Your almost done Abby." Her phlebotomist told her. the scale beeped letting the phlebotomist know she was done.
"Don't forget to get my my time." Abby smiled at him.
"Six minutes and twenty seconds." The phlebotomist told her.
"I beat you McGee." Abby said as she was bandaged. As she was being brought to the canteen her phlebotomist thanked her for her donation.
"See you next time Bruce." Abby waved good-bye. Bruce smiled back at her.
They all sat at the canteen eating snacks and drinking juice or water. Abby grabs the donation stickers and puts it on all three of them including herself.
Abby smiled at Gibbs. "I guess your in first place for now."
"I'm wondering what this prize is?" Ziva said
"Hopefully coffee. I could use one right now." Gibbs answered Ziva
"I feel the same way you do Gibbs. Can't wait to get to my lab and have a caf-pow." Abby said while not looking at no one in particular.
"You went without a caf-pow this morning?" McGee asked
"Yup-too much caffine-remember?" Abby answered him
"I can't believe I'm drinking more water. I think I have to use the bathroom again." Ziva said while taking another sip of water.
"Good. Your fifthteen minutes are up. We can all head upstairs then." Gibbs motioned everyone back to work. Abby headed towards her lab.
As the team entered the Bull pen, Tony was sitting at his desk laughing as he was making funny faces of his team mates on the computer.
"Having fun there, DiNozzo." Gibbs looks at distorted picture of himself on Tony's computer.
"Sorry Boss. It's just the new program and ..." Tony tries to explain.
As Tony puts a distorted picture of McGee on his computer, McGee and Ziva hover over the wall that separates Tony desk from the aisle. "So, why didn't you answer my text?" McGee asks.
"Text?Oh. Gosh. Sorry, it was on vibrate." Tony looks and opens his cellular phone.
"It is Tuesday, Tony. The Blood drive. Eight to ten."Ziva says
"We all gave." McGee adds
"Where were you?" Ziva asks Tony.
"Oh, thats today. It's just after 10:00." Tony keeps looking at his watch. "Well, there's always next year."
"They are going to be there every morning this week." Gibbs tells him as he files away some papers.
"Of course I could always try tomorrow." Tony says .
"You can't push for agent of the year if you don't give!" McGee tells him as he heads towards his desk.
Gibb's phone rings and he heads towards MTAC.
Ziva heads toward the bathroom. "No more water for me today."
Tony glides over to the printer and picks up a distorted picture of Abby he made on his computer. He takes out his stapler and staples her picture to one of his walls at his desk.
McGee looks over. "You know Abby tried calling you a few times this morning.I should call her up and tell her your here. She is the person to be afraid of more than that needle if you don't give. Not a smart move putting that picture up either."
"That's the difference between me and you probie. I'm not afraid." Tony walks slowly towards McGee's desk
"Of Abby or the needle?" McGee stops typing and looks up at Tony.
"Neither-now back to work McTattle." Tony wonders back to his desk.
Okay thats it for now.
