Chapter 4
Three days had passed since Senior left on his business trip. Gibbs walked into the hospital room and found his senior agent sitting up in bed for once. Tony was talking with Abby and Ziva. They all seemed to be having a good time. Tony smiled as Gibbs walked into the room, "Hi Boss."
"Hi yourself. I see you finally can stay awake longer than five minutes?"
"Yah, Abby was telling me that our Timmy would be coming by tomorrow to see me. She wanted me to make sure I sign his cast and also make sure I check out what Agent Tyler wrote on it. I was told Probie blushes every time someone reads it. So, Tyler has the HOTS for our McBlush?"
Gibbs smiled when he thought about the first time he saw the message on the cast. He had to read it twice to make sure he read it right. Later when he thought about it he wondered if it was possible to do at all.
For the first time in weeks, Gibbs felt he could finally relax with his team. They were having a good conversation until Abby asked Gibbs to go with her to get them all something to drink. Ziva stayed with Tony. She was still hurting a little when she moved around. Once inside the hospital cafeteria, Abby asked Gibbs to sit down at a table with her for a few minutes. She needed to talk to him about something.
"Gibbs, I think something hinkey is going on with our boy. When Tony first woke up he asked us some strange questions. He wanted to know where his Uncle Jack and cousin Leroy were. At the time, I didn't know what to say. He then asked if he was going to get to stay with them this summer. He had a good time last year. It scared both Ziva and me because he sounded like a small child. I went to get a nurse but by the time I got back he was himself again. Do you know what that is about? Has he ever done that before?"
Gibbs didn't know if he wanted to tell her or not. He knew how she sometimes can get carried away with things like this but he also knew she would be the best person to talk to. He wondered if she was going to think he was crazy for what he is about to ask. "Abby what…what do you know about reincarnation?"
"Are you saying the soul of someone in the past is in Tony's body?"
"Please…Abs, I really don't know what I am saying. Look, I once had a cousin named Billy. Years ago…Billy used to come and visit us during the summer. I was ten and he was only five when he first started spending his summers in Stillwater. When he was just ten years old, my little cousin died a very violent death at the hands of his own father. My…my little cousin died because that bastard of a father of his was going through some difficult times and blamed the son for it. My father and I really took it hard. We felt like we should have done something but it was too late."
Abby could tell Gibbs wanted to tell her more so she kept quiet.
"Abs, you remember that time, we went to Stillwater to investigate the murder of a marine and the beating of Ethan Lacombe?"
The Goth nodded, "Yah, your father really took a shine to our Tony. Jack even gave him a sweater."
"The first day my father was here at the hospital we talked about it. Something about Tony reminded him of Billy and that is why he gave him that sweater."
"Could still be just a coincidence?"
"There is more, when Senior was here he mentioned something about Tony having an imaginary friend when he was just four. Tony called his imaginary friend Billy and they played in a place called Stalewater. Do you still think it is just a coincidence now?"
Gibbs waited to hear her laugh but she didn't. She sounded very serious when she spoke. "Gibbs, I have a friend who truly believes in reincarnation. She has even studied it in college. After I take Ziva home, I am going to go visit her and see what she thinks. Maybe she can help us understand what is going on with our boy. I will get back with you as soon as I can."
When Gibbs and Abby return to Tony's room he was sound asleep. Ziva was sitting and reading a book. She smiled when she saw them. "He tried but he just couldn't stay awake." Ziva put her book away. Ziva and Abby stayed about another hour before they decided it was time to leave. They promised Gibbs they would come back tomorrow with McGee. Both women walked over and took turns kissing Tony on the forehead and whispered to him to have a good night. They did the same thing with Gibbs but reminded him he needs to take care of himself.
Abby did call him later that evening. Gibbs walked into the hallway. He didn't want to wake the sleeping man up, "What do you got Abs?"
"Do you by any chance remember the exact time of Billy's death?
"Abby, I don't think I will ever forget it. Billy's time of death was 12:05 am. I remember it as if it was today."
"OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!""
Gibbs had to move the cellphone away from his ear, "Geez Abs, you almost busted my eardrum. Try and calm down."
"Sorry, Gibbs. I looked up Tony's time of birth before I called you. Tony was born at the very time and day Billy died. This is too much of a coincidence Gibbs. My friend said from what she heard so far it is possible your cousin's soul went into Tony's body when he was born. She would like to hypnotize him to find out."
"Abs, Tony is still recovering from a severe head injury. I don't want anyone messing with his mind right now except for the experts."
"My friend said this would be the best time."
"I said NO Abby and I mean it."
Abby knew not to push him, "Alright, I will tell my friend. Maybe she can do it when he feels better."