Chased By The Shadows 4
Take a look around you at the world you've loved so well and bid the aging empire of man a last farewell. It may not sound like heaven but at least it isn't Hell – Artilleryman, Brave New World, War Of The Worlds
Brad protected his eyes from a couple of remaining sparks with his forearm until they settled down. Time passed quickly before he grabbed hold of his faculties to react to what was going on around him. He wondered where Emma was, she was there not long ago. She was nowhere in sight now. He pressed the button to open up the first set of doors but the chamber was nonresponsive. Inside, he could see Tony lying down in an ever growing pool of blood. It actually looked like he was bleeding out.
Brad picked up the chair that was sitting by the chamber's entrance and swung it as hard as he could. This action only succeeded in jarring his hand as the chair bounced off the glass. Next time he swung the chair more like a hammer throw competition and released the chair. He ducked when the chair returned.
All he could do was continuously press the button, try and break through the damn doors himself, since nobody seemed to be coming in response to his screams…
Brad felt his body being violently shook by an unseen force so much so his head was going back and forth. He naturally tried to fight off the invisible force that disturbed him. His arms flailed as he opened his eyes and felt disorientated. Emma was shaking his shoulders. His confused eyes darted around before focusing on her. He noticed himself breathing again.
"Tony, he's…" he looked into the chamber and found that everything seemed so normal. The machines were in perfect working order.
"He's asleep," Emma told him.
"I must have been dreaming," Brad said as he straightened up in the chair and cricked his neck slowly.
"You sure were… You were sounding pretty agitated," Emma told him. Usually when he dreamed he was silent. That was unless the dreams were disturbing him in some way.
Brad attempted to shrug it off. "I must've needed the sleep. I didn't even realize I fell asleep."
Hell, if I'm going down, I'm going down swinging. Tony thought to himself. He may not have had too much fight left but there was some buried deep within his reserve. After taking in some deep breaths,-as-he-could, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and landed on his feet. They felt really wobbly and he used the bed to keep him upright. If he could just make it to the doors and back, it'd get him motivated. Come on, it's just a few steps. He tried to convince himself to make his legs to obey his commands. Come on.
Tony dragged the IV stand alongside him. He held on to it like a cane to keep his balance. His legs refused to listen and wobbled. A coughing fit hit and robbed him of his breath, he began to gasp and struggled to take in the air he needed. It felt as if the whole chamber was swaying. Bad idea. He cursed. When he turned around, everything began spinning. Tony's body crumpled into a heap on the floor…
Abby had been watching him and watching the two Doctors talking about something. She was too fearful to go in but as soon as Tony hit the ground she hit the button as hard as she could. There was no way Abby was going to stand around and watch Tony lie on the floor. The doors hissed open and then closed. She waited for the second doors to do the same.
"Tony!" She exclaimed, rushing to his side. Tony was lying still on the floor. Abby draped his arm around her neck and tried to lift him up. His body was dead weight and proved difficult for her to lift. "Tony?" Abby made sure he was still breathing. He was, but it was irregular, almost gasping.
Brad Pitt came rushing through the doors barely giving them time to open. Thankfully, with the two dragging Tony to his feet, it didn't seem so much of a battle without Tony's assistance.
"Get him in bed," Brad ordered. This earned a quizzical look from Abby who decided it was best not to say anything. "Ems, get the oxygen mask ready. What the hell were you trying to prove, Buckeye?" He asked rhetorically.
"That I have something left," Tony wheezed out and fought for breath while he was placed into the bed.
"Were you going to tell me personally?" Brad said in an annoyed voice. He worked to place the oxygen mask over Tony's face, to increase the amount of oxygen that was going into his body. "It's great you are fighting but lying on the ground isn't helping," Brad chastised.
Abby ran her fingers through Tony's hair. "Abbs," Tony weakly called to her. He recognized the delicate touch of her fingers. "You came," he muttered.
"Oh, Tony… I'm sorry I didn't come in earlier," Abby said, guilt laced in her voice.
"It's ok," he said tiredly. "I'm sorry, this should've never happened," Tony said with remorse.
"Shh," Abby told him. "You look like you need to sleep," she added while still stroking his hair.
"I'm tired," he sighed.
"Then go to sleep for Pete's sake," Abby said. She knew he was really bad when his eyelids closed without any protest.
Abby turned around to face Brad Pitt who breathed out heavily and rested his hands on his hips for a moment. "Usually I have to fight to get him to close his eyes," he distractedly told her.
"You alright Doctor?" Abby asked. She noted how his cheeks seemed to have a green tinge around them. "Looking a little green around the gills," since her eyes were no longer fixated on Tony; she could see other things going on around her.
"I'm good," Brad smiled warmly but it seemed a little forced.
Abby eyed him suspiciously but shrugged. "You're the doc, doc," she studied his features carefully. "Can I stay here for a bit?" Abby asked.
"Sure," Brad answered. He could see the concern in her eyes. "Just don't wake him," he ordered.
Abby raised her hand with three fingers outstretched. "Scout's honor," she said quickly.
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Emma watched Brad sit down. "She's right you know," she told him.
"Yeah? What about?" Brad asked. He appreciated the time not be on watch that was given to them by the gothic visitor.
"You look a little sick," Emma answered. She was sure that Brad knew what she was talking about but typically wanted her to spell it out. "Perhaps you should have your blood tested," she told him.
"Nah, it's all good. When all this is done, I'm going to take a long vacation," Brad had his hands behind his head. "I hear the West coast of Australia has some really good spots this time of year," he changed the subject.
"I've been meaning to ask for awhile now," Emma asked. "How'd you break Tony's leg in that game you were talking about? You never mentioned it before," she emphasized the word IT.
"Well it's not something you brag about," Brad swiveled around in the chair to face her. "It's pretty difficult to find a space during dinner conversations to place a 'by the way I broke someone's leg when I played college football.'" Brad decided to recall the story.
"It was the beginning of the fourth quarter when we were trying to block them from making any ground at all. College football's a blood sport at times. Well, I was the one to tackle down Tony and try to drive him backwards. Well Tony had other ideas, he decided to try and jump me. He didn't jump high enough and I broke his leg as I sent him crashing down," Brad explained.
It wasn't something he was proud of doing but it was an unavoidable accident. "Tony was ready to kick my ass as well," Brad told her.
"And what is it about "Kissing your sisters?" Emma overheard that part. "Was that some sorority/frat thing?" She began massaging his shoulders.
"No," Brad said as he relaxed a little. "Kissing our sisters refers to a 13-13 draw," he said.
"Oh a one next to the three, I get it now," Emma responded.
Tony coughed hard the minute he woke, which made McGee jump in the chair. This was the first time he'd seen Tony since he had contracted the plague. Tony had a habit of getting into trouble and injured, but this was different. He couldn't just shake this off and roll up to work the next day. Whenever Tony got hurt, they never heard the end of it. They knew the hell that he must be going through but this would never be lived down.
"Probie?" Tony asked. His voice cracking still and all through the effort it was tough to hear him audibly. Tony saw the ghost of a smile on his face. "What's so funny Probie?" He was curious as to what possibly could have tickled his funny bone.
"Nothing, I'm sorry," McGee said. "How are you feeling?" McGee winced. He couldn't believe what a stupid question he'd asked.
"Something's obviously amused you," Tony didn't bother answering the question. "Out with it," it was an order.
"It's just, ah nothing," McGee replied.
"Spit it out," Tony coughed a couple more times to try and get the invisible blockage out of his throat.
"Would you," McGee rubbed his hand over his head and mouth. "Do you mind saying, You will obey the supreme beings into my phone," he asked nervously.
"What?" Tony asked. He has to be kidding me. "Why?" He thought that he'd find out the reason before tearing into the younger agent.
McGee had expected the reaction and that's why he really didn't want to say anything. "Because you a sound a lot like Davros," McGee answered simply.
"I'm almost afraid to ask… But who the hell is Davros?" Tony asked. He motioned for him to bring the phone closer.
"He was the leader of the Daleks until they got sick of him and tried to do away with their leader," McGee explained. "Come on, you're not familiar with Doctor Who? You actually mean I'VE found an old TV show that you're not familiar with?"
"Can't be too good," Tony replied. "You will obey the supreme beings then?"
McGee nodded. "Doctor Who's been going on for over 30 years before it was taken off the air," he said. "Say it like you're really mean and annoyed," McGee continued.
"That's how I'm feeling right now," Tony responded.
"Ah, forget I asked, it was stupid of me," McGee said apologetically.
"Give it here," Tony snatched the phone from McGee and searched through the menu options to find the voice recorder mode. His gravely voice spoke into it. "You will obey the supreme beings known as Daleks," Tony took the phone off recorder mode and handed it back to McGee.
McGee put it back into his pocket. "Thanks for that," he gave a small smile.
"You owe me," Tony let McGee know.
"Yep," McGee replied.
NCIS AUTOPSY
Ducky took down another X-ray and put it into a yellow envelope as he heard the entrance doors open. He put the X-rays into another folder and closed it before writing some notes and placing it on a pile of other folders.
"I need to have a word with you Duckman," Abby said.
"Sure Abigail," Ducky said as he took off the blue sheet that covered him. Abby's voice sounded normal which was abnormal for her. Whatever the talk was going to be about, Ducky knew it had to be serious. "What seems to be the problem Dear Abigail," he was playing his usual role as team confidant.
"I was at Bethesda earlier on, you know visiting Tony," Abby said in her usual round about way.
"How is Anthony?" Ducky asked. He was planning to go after he organized some of the paperwork.
"He's doing better, but still not so good. But he did get out of bed for a little while," Abby answered. Ducky knew that that wasn't what she was going to talk about. "It's about the Doc,"
"Ah, Doctor Pitt, what about him?" Ducky asked. He couldn't even hazard a guess to what Abby was trying to say. He really hoped that she wasn't going to be cryptic all through this conversation.
"When I saw Tony today," Abby stopped for a moment to remember what she had seen.
Ducky went around and sat on a chair as he listened. Abby had a habit of talking in circles before getting to the point.. "Anyway, when we were helping Tony back into the bed, because he got out of bed and went for a walk but he fell to ground," Abby continued.
"Abigail… I do trust that there is a point," Ducky interrupted to try and keep her somewhat on track. The main topic of the conversation seemed to have something to do with the doctor.
"Yes, I'm getting to the point," Abby acted all put out at being interrupted. "I don't think the Doctor is good," she told him of her suspicions.
"You've peeked at his records?" Ducky arched an eyebrow before lowering it again. Of course, McGee and Abby would have found a way to peek at the Doctor's record.
"This isn't what that's about," Abby answered Ducky. "I meant he doesn't look too hot," she explained.
"What do you mean?" Ducky stood up in alarm. In usual instances, the infection of the pneumonic plague could be prevented by wearing a face mask. This however, was not the usual pneumonic plague.
"He looked like he was feeling sick," Abby answered simply.
"I'm on my way there now," Ducky said flatly. "I'll check to see how Doctor Pitt is then. Are you coming with me, my dear?"
"Not this time Duckman," Abby answered. "I have some tests to run and if I hold off any longer, the people who are waiting will soon be out for my blood," Abby smiled.
"Any thing else you noticed about the Doctor?" Ducky asked.
"His eyes looked a little glassy," Abby added.
Ducky hastily threw his jacked on and adjusted the collar. "One thing I hate about doctors," he was still talking on the way out. "They make the worst patients," he mumbled.
Abby shook her head as she left Autopsy to go and continue with her own work. Knowing that Tony was somewhat on the mend made it possible for her to concentrate more on her work. Now it just seemed they were all taking shifts in being there for him. But she felt better after going to see him for herself. Gibbs was definitely so smart and she no longer felt the need to throw Caf Pow at anything.