Gibbs sat down on Tony's bed and attempted to hold him. Tony resisted and struggled against Gibbs, but Gibbs would not let go. Eventually, Tony relaxed; he wouldn't hug Gibbs back, but he stopped trying to get away. After a few minutes, Tony fell asleep in Gibbs' arms. Gibbs move to make himself more comfortable without waking Tony.
Brad came in the room and took in the sight. He doesn't think he has ever seen Tony so relaxed as he is right now.
"I hate to disturb him; but we need to run some tests."
Gibbs nodded and untangled himself from Tony. Tony opens his eyes and stared at Gibbs and Brad.
"We need to run some tests. Gibbs can come back after we are done." Brad informed.
"Don't bother. Just go home. I will be fine on my own." Tony answers as he closes his eyes. A nurse who had been waiting outside the door entered the room to take him for the tests.
"Tony, I will be right here when they bring you back." Gibbs responded.
Tony didn't say anything as the nurse took him away.
"How is he doing? It looked as though he was out of his depression when I walked in and saw him sleeping in your arms."
"The only reason Tony came to you was because you are a doctor and that means you get paid to take care of him." Gibbs answered.
"I may be his doctor, but I am also his friend. I would take care of him, even if his insurance wasn't paying me."
"Don't tell him that. He thinks that he is a bad person because he is sick."
Brad looks at Gibbs in shock. He has never heard that before and certainly wouldn't think it about Tony. Tony is one of the bravest and most courageous men he has ever met; a little reckless at times.
"You mean that is why he wants to go through this alone. That is crazy. He needs people who care about him around him. Why on earth would he believe that?"
"I never knew it before today. I knew that Tony's mother died of cancer when he was a child. His father had told him that she was sick because she was a bad wife. After her death Tony had gotten a bad case of tonsillitis and a throat infection. He was left alone in the hospital with no visitors believing that he was a bad child and that was why he was in hospital."
Brad could not believe what he was hearing. How could anyone do that to a child? Well he has to make sure his father doesn't show up at the hospital; that would due him more harm than good.
"What does his father look like? I want to make sure he is not allowed to visit."
"You don't have to worry about that; he died from a heart attack a few months ago. Tony found out last week. The funeral was over and so was the reading of the will. Tony pretends that he doesn't care about missing the funeral; but I know he does care. His parents have been on his mind a lot this past week; not that he would admit it to anyone, especially his father."
"We have to do something to change his attitude and before tomorrow. I am going to go check on his tests. It will be another hour before they bring him back." Brad informed as he left.
Tim, Ziva, Palmer and Ducky watched as Abby paced back and forth waiting for the word that they can go see Tony. Everyone stood as they saw Gibbs coming.
"How is Tony? Can we see him now?" Abby asked as tears streamed down her face leaving black streaks on her cheeks.
"No, I couldn't get him to agree. We all need to get Tony to believe and understand how much we love him. But unfortunately, that is easier said than done. Abby, Tim, I want you to make a recording of everyone telling Tony how much he means to us all. He needs all of our love if he is going to survive his surgery tomorrow. After everyone's message is recorded put it on a continuous loop."
"Sure Boss, we can do that." Tim spoke up.
"Get started on that. When you are ready to record my message call me; and I will give it to you over the phone. The rest of you go with them to record your message and then go home. Be here tomorrow at 6 am." Gibbs ordered.
Gibbs watched his team leave. He hopes this plan works and lets Tony know that they are all pulling for him.
"Shannon, tomorrow Tony is having a life threatening surgery. I need you and Kelly to take care of him and make sure that he comes back to me. I never thought I could live without you two; that is until I met Tony. We need each other; not that either one of us will admit to it. If you have any pull up there; please help him to understand that he has a family here that needs him and loves him. Please don't let me lose him too." Gibbs begged.
"Gibbs, we are taking Tony back to his room." Brad said interrupting his thought.
"Okay. Brad, I have an idea. Abby and Tim are making a recording of messages from everyone sending Tony our love. Will he be able to listen to the recording during the surgery or do we need to play it for him before the surgery." Gibbs asked.
"Before and during the surgery is fine. He can use his headphones. The messages will sink into his subconscious and hopefully gives him that fight he desperately needs. In a few minutes Tony will be back in his room. They will be setting him up under the oxygen tent. If you want to stay with him under the oxygen tent that is fine with us." Brad explained as he walked away to check on another patient.
As Gibbs walks to Tony's room his phone rings; it is Abby ready to record his message to Tony. Gibbs thought for a minute about what he wants to say. After giving Abby his message, he continues on to Tony's room. The nurse was getting ready to move the oxygen over a sleeping Tony. Gibbs climbed into the bed to hold his son as he had once done for his little girl when she had to sleep under an oxygen tent.