Chapter 4
Gibbs had, in the space of a couple of hours, paced a groove in the floor beside Tony's bed. He had ridden in the ambulance from the accident scene, previous crime scene in Alexandria. He had told Ziva and Tim to stay and process the scene. He would update them on Tony's condition.
Gibbs' gut was no longer churning. He was not sure why. But he supposed it this was the accident that his gut was trying to warn him about. Gibbs thought back over the last few weeks. He had heard Tony arguing with Tim and Ziva at different times. He rarely got close enough to hear the words. But the tone had told him that they were questioning Tony and he could hear Tony's growing frustration.
They each had tried to keep Gibbs out of the squabble. They ceased to talk when Gibbs came into earshot. But they could not prevent him from hearing things.
"Yes, Tony! I know you're the Senior Field Agent. How many times are you going to tell me that today?" McGee growled.
"Until you finally understand it." Tony replied.
"Until you finally understand it." Tim mocked.
"WHAT?" Tony asked.
Tim didn't reply.
"If you're going to mock me…" Tony replied, angrily. "…do it where I CAN'T hear you."
Tim glared at Tony but did not speak.
Gibbs, who had not been seen from his vantage point, had to hold his tongue to keep from reaming Tim out. Tony had told Gibbs he could handle things, but still. The disrespect…it hit a nerve with Gibbs. He supposed it was his military training. But he would never have done the type of things Tim and Ziva had done. He was beginning to think he would have to step in. As much as he wanted to let Tony handle this, he might have too. But, he also knew that if he did, it would look like Tony needed him to fight his battles. Gibbs didn't want that either.
"Why DO you do that?" Ziva asked.
"Do what?" Tony asked. Then he paused, realizing what she was asking. "…because I AM the Senior Field Agent. I have been here longer than you two. I have more experience in this job than you, and I know what I'm doing when I ask you to do something."
"But…." Tim started.
Just then Gibbs phone rang. Director Vance was on the line.
The conversation with Tony, Tim, and Ziva continued, this part unheard by Gibbs.
"I shouldn't have to fight with you to get you to do your job." Tony replied.
"I do my job. There has never been a time when I haven't done my job." Tim justified.
"Sure, when Gibbs asks you to do something." Tony said. "But, when I do…."
Tim opened his mouth to speak.
"When I do, I got an argument. I get questioned, or you just simply ignore what I say." Tony paused. "I may have ONLY a physical education degree, Agent McGee." Tony said, his anger growing. "But I do know what I'm doing. I have been doing this job longer. I have more experience…."
Ziva and Tim just shook their heads.
"I suppose you two were doing your jobs when you turned down the radio so you couldn't hear me." Tony replied. "Is that what you mean by doing your job? Really? What do you call that?"
"That was a joke." Ziva chimed in.
"If it was a joke, then why am I not, laughing?" Tony demanded.
Tim opened his mouth for a snide remark. But he thought better of it when he saw the expression on Tony's face.
"You're little JOKE could have gotten me killed. You left me without backup." Tony said. He then studied their faces for some sort of understanding. When he didn't get it he hissed under his breath. "You don't get it! And you don't give a damn that you don't get it!"
NCIS NCIS NCIS
Thinking back on it, it had taken all of Gibbs' willpower NOT to leave his hiding place and give Ziva and Tim a piece of his mind. Gibbs trusted Tony to be able to take care of things. He didn't have any blinders on where his SFA was concerned. He knew Tony well enough to know he took the job seriously when it really mattered. Gibbs had expected Ziva and Tim to trust his judgment in that regard also.
It was lucky for everyone involved Gibbs had not heard the rest of the conversation. And at any rate, Gibbs was far too concerned with Tony's medical condition and prognosis to think of much else. He refused to leave Tony's beside. And he made it clear to the medical staff that he was to be involved in any medical decisions made.
Tim had been…disturbed to see his friend…his tormentor lying motionless in the middle of a busy street. The sound and sight of Tony's body hitting the car, hitting the windshield, and then rolling off the hood and onto the road played over and over in his mind. He ran into the men's room outside the ER, then again in the ICU. each time he barely making it into one of the stalls before he released the contents of his stomach. He knelt down, vomiting into the toilet. And each time he rinsed out his mouth, and washed his face. He would then make himself presentable before he emerged from the bathroom to join the rest of the team.
Tony could die. The thought nearly sent Tim racing to the bathroom again. Tony had saved his life. If the roles had been reversed would he have just ran out into the road to save Tony's life? Or would he have hesitated? It Tony had hesitated, he would be dead, he now realized. Tim finally got it. He finally understood what Tony had meant about following orders without hesitation, without question.
Ziva had felt tears stinging her eyes as she watched the scene from the safety of the curb. She had seen Tony take off running in her peripheral vision. But she had not known the reason. She looked up in time to see Tony push Tim out of the way. She then stood watching in horror and disbelief as Tony's body was assaulted by the car. Seconds later she and Gibbs were across the street. They dodged cars and ignored honking horns and angry commuters as they attempted to care for their fellow agent. She had not allowed herself to cry at the accident scene. She and Tim had had to keep their professionalism and composure intact to deal with the situation at hand. They had to direct traffic so that the ambulance could get through. And to insure Tony's safety until that happened. Ziva had excused herself at the hospital. She entered the bathroom outside the ER just as soon as Tony was taken through the doors. She stared at herself in the mirror for just a second. She hadn't even realized she had been crying. She grabbed a handful of paper towels and wetted the bunch. She then pressed the towels to her face. She leaned against the sink and sighed heavily. What would she do if her partner, her friend, died? She saw with her own two eyes what Tony would do for him team members. She had no doubt in her mind he would have ran out to save her too, if she had been in Tim's place.
Both Tim and Ziva came to their individual decisions. Then when they saw each other out in the hall of the ICU they knew what they had to do. They approached Gibbs just as he was about to enter Tony's room after his nth coffee run.
"Gibbs…" Tim spoke up stopping Gibbs in his tracks. "….there…there's something I…we need to tell you…."
TBC