CHAPTER 7

"I'd rather see Jimmy. Don't want to talk to Ducky. Don't want to face him. Jimmy's…he's cool. Won't rub it in my face." Gibbs knew not to bother asking about that for the moment. His first priority was to get Tony seen.

"Ok, why don't you let me help you back into bed then I'll get Jimmy and some ice water." Tony shrugged his shoulders as Gibbs helped him to the bed. Gibbs pulled back the cover on the bed and shifted the pillows to help keep Tony more upright. After making Tony comfortable he proceeded downstairs to get Palmer.

"Palmer, I need you to take a look at Tony. He's sick. I need to know how bad and anything else I am not obviously seeing. He feels like he has a fever. I'll get him a glass of ice water and meet you back upstairs."

"Are you sure you don't want me to get Dr. Mallard? I don't think he has his mother this evening." Palmer was confused as to why he was being asked to look at Tony. He felt comfortable doing it but didn't think Tony would feel the same.

"No, that won't be necessary. Tony would prefer you do it. And Palmer," Gibbs paused not sure how the young man would take his next comment. "I need you to keep this to the strictest of confidence. Noone besides Tony and myself are to see the results of what you find. I am requesting you, unbeknowenst to Tony, to treat him as a victim and do a thorough exam. I need to be made aware of any and all injuries and findings. Do you understand?"

Jimmy was a little surprised. First, Tony was not only willing to be examined but Tony was willing to let him do the exam. Second, Dr. Mallard was not only not wanted but was to be kept in the dark about whatever is found. Third, Tony was to be treated as a victim but he didn't know of what. Without any idea he wasn't sure in what direction he should be taking this exam. And finally, Agent Gibbs was willing to trust Tony into his care. Gibbs wasn't known for relinquishing Tony's care to anyone.

"Yes sir, I understand. Agent Gibbs I'll need my bag from the car and I need to ask a couple questions before I examine Tony. Is there something in particular I should be looking for? What was he a victim of? That will change some of the test I might need to do and labs I need to run."

Gibbs ran a hand over his face. "Palmer, I don't know what to tell you at this point. I want you to look him over for any signs of abuse, neglect…hell, I don't know what to tell you. He was left in a cell without a shirt, without a blanket, no food and was up vomiting all night. Now he's running a fever, still vomiting and unsteady on his feet. If he was hurt, he hasn't said but that doesn't mean anything. He's not saying a whole lot. I just don't know but I feel like there is more going on than meets the eye. I need you to help me find out what happened to him." Gibbs anxiety was palpable. He hated having to rely on someone else to help him solve a problem with his son. He felt he should know. But he didn't and the fear of what might be hidden was driving him crazy.

"Ok, I'll get my bag." Jimmy started to walk away shaking his head. "Agent Gibbs, aren't we all working for the same thing? I mean FBI, CIA, NCIS…aren't we all suppose to be working for justice? How could they do this to a fellow officer?"

"There will be justice for Tony for what was done to him. I assure you of that fact. But for now we need to concentrate on getting him better."

Tony was sleeping restlessly upon Gibbs and Palmer's return. His face was covered in sweat. Tony was mumbling and rocking his head back and forth. It was obvious the nightmares had returend. Gibbs figured he better get a handle on this before it got to far.

"Palmer, whatever happens in here stays here. I don't know what Tony is going to say or do but it's important you keep this in confidence." Palmer nodded his head in understanding. "Palmer would you get me a wet cloth." He didn't even look to see if Palmer would comply, he knew he would. Gibbs reached a hand out and ran his fingers through Tony's hair. "It's ok Tony. You're safe. I'm right here son. Wake up. You're safe."

Gibbs continued to mumble soft comforting words until Tony awoke. He startled and began to cough. Gibbs helped him sit up higher and held him against his chest as he patted Tony's back. When the fit had subsided Gibbs let Palmer begin his exam. Tony held onto Gibbs hand and didn't break eye contact with him. For Gibbs part, he continued to run fingers through Tony's hair and kept speaking to him in low soft comforting words.

Palmer's exam was thorough and fast. He made sure Tony knew what he was doing before he did it and what he found as he did the exam. "Tony, we're going to begin at the top and work our way down. If at any point you need me to stop or want me to explain something just say the word." Jimmy took Tony's silence as his consent. He examined his friend with ever increasing concern. "Agent Gibbs, would you please write down my findings on that pad. Tony afterwards if I have any questions we can refer back to the notes. Until then, I want you to tell me if anything hurts or doesn't feel right. Let's start with the head. As I run my fingers across your scalp I'm looking for any tender spots, bruising or bumps. I can feel a small hematoma on the right oribital skull. No bleeding. Follow my finger with your eyes. That's good. Pupils equal, reactive and follow appropriately. Facial features normal. Tony's I'm going to take your temp now then check your throat."

The exam went on for close to 45 minutes. The final conclusion was: flu with upper respiratory infection, dehydration, hypotension, abdominal tenderness, bruising to the left upper abdominal area, and bruising to the right knee with no additional swelling. Another concern was Tony's elevated temperature of 102.5 degrees.

"Ok, we need to get you on some Tylenol to reduce your fever and that should help with the general soreness. But before we do that I need to ask a few questions. How did you get the bump on your head and did you lose consciousness?"

"I tripped and no." Tony averted his eyes to the floor when he responded. A churning began again in Gibbs' gut.

"How about the bruising on your stomach, how'd that happen?"

"When I fell…hit it on something. Same as the knee."

"Tony, when's the last time you ate and kept it down?"

"The night before I was brought in." Tony cringed away looking at the floor. Palmer noticed but refused to acknowledge it.

"Ok, I want to do a couple of things. I think we can take care of this here at the house but I am going to need a little cooperation from you. Do you think you can do that?"

"No hospital. I'll do what I have to do to stay out of the hospital. Don't want to be stuck there alone." Tony was afraid of being left alone in the hospital. He never liked hospitals but after his stay with the plague he was terrified of them. Now the anxiety over going to the hospital and the guards behavior was just adding to his stress. The guards had been horrendous to him. He was afraid if he told anyone they'd treat him the same, they'd believe he deserved it for being in jail. He didn't want to face that again. Logically he knew Gibbs wouldn't but with the fever and everything that had happened he was afraid.

"I'm going to need to take blood samples and have them run. I want to get a quick blood sugar. I have the feeling on top of everything else you are dehydrated and hypoglycemic. We need to start an IV. You need fluids and I'll be able to administer everything you need through the IV. Do, are you good with that?" Jimmy looked at his sick friend and hoped he would cooperate. Tony needed to be taken care of, he needed a hospital but that wasn't going to happen. This was the next best thing. He knew Tony hated hospitals and didn't want to add to his current condition.

"Do what you have to do Jimmy. But I'm not going to the hospital. I…I just can't." The look of defeat in Tony's eyes was disconcerting.