The doors to the waiting room were pushed open and everyone including Astor went to attention thinking it was a doctor but it was Ellie and Tim coming to give Gibbs an update. When Gibbs saw who it was he sighed and leaned back in his chair, "Sit Rep McGee?"
McGee stuttered, "Uh t-the id Astor found belonged to a William Watson who is known to associate with a Ted Murphy who is the son of Agnes Murphy who recently committed suicide after a failed love affair with AD. That is what we think the motive behind Tony's attack was. Balboa and his team are out rounding the two up now. They offered to do that so we could come check on Tony and they said they would put them on ice until you could come and interrogate them."
Gibbs nodded to McGee, "Good work. There is no news on DiNozzo yet. He is in surgery and has been for three hours now."
Ellie asked the group there, "Is there anything any of you need? I can run out and get food or coffee or anything else you might need. I can take Astor back to my house too if you want to be free of her?"
Astor looked at Ellie like she understood what she had said and gave her a quiet little growl and then buried her head into Gibbs stomach until he started to pet her again.
Gibbs let out a little laugh, "Well I personally would love some coffee and I think Astor let you know how she felt about leaving Tony."
Ellie leaned down to pet Astor, "I am sorry girl, I wont take you away from your Tony. I just didn't know if you were allowed in the hospital. You are a good doggy thank you for helping Tony."
Astor licked Ellie's face and Abby commented, "I think that is her way of saying all is forgiven."
Ducky told Ellie, "Normally pets would not be allowed in the front door of the hospital but Astor wears this yellow vest that entitles her to all the same rights as a human the ADA helped make it law that service dogs could never not be allowed to be with their owners. Astor here is a trained professional and she always makes sure that her human is safe."
Jethro began to say something when the doctors came into the waiting room. Everyone including Astor gave their full attention to the medical duo that came in.
Neurologist Dr. Watts who was the attending the first time Tony was brought in and the ever-present Dr. Pitt came into talk to everyone. Dr. Pitt began, "Tony is alive and hanging in there let me tell you that first off. He took a pretty good beating he has three broken ribs, bruised kidneys, a broken left arm and what appears to be a busted knee. Unfortunately the same one I dinged in college so he may need to get it replaced latter on. He is not currently on a vent but I am watching him very closely and the first hint of troubles I will put him on one. He has been through hell the last 6 months and I am not going to take any chances with my star patient."
Dr. Watts continued, "Tony also received several damaging kicks to the head. The kicks were hard enough to actually fracture his skull. He had several strong seizures and unfortunately it looks like his brain is swelling some we will keep an eye on it over the next 24 hours. I don't think any thing will have to be done to relieve the pressure but only time will tell. He is currently unconscious and we expect for him to be so for the foreseeable future. All that said nothing he is dealing with wont heal in time. He should be fine in the long run."
Dr. Pitt added, "That is the long run I fully expect him to be unhappy when he finds out he will be in a wheel chair for at least a couple of months. His knee is going to have to be operated on, I mentioned that, and with that arm he wont be able to use crutches."
Dr. Pitt bent down and looked at Astor, "Is this is seizure dog?" Astor answered with a quiet bark and a tail wag. Dr. Pitt gave her a head rub and told her that she was a good dog for helping Tony. He also told her loud enough for Gibbs to hear, "Now Astor you are a service dog so don't let anyone tell you, that you can't be with Tony okay. If anyone gives you any problems you get Agent Grumpy to come and get me okay."
Astor licked and loved on Dr. Pitt for a minute. Then he looked at Gibbs, "Seriously Gibbs you and Astor are the best medicine for Tony and with those clowns that hurt him still out there he needs both of you to be with him."
Gibbs swallowed hard, "Thanks Doc, they are working on getting the creeps now but Astor and I will make sure Tony is well taken care of."
He smiled at Gibbs, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Unfortunately we will be taking him to ICU so only you and Dr. Mallard will be the only humans allowed to see him right now. If he stays stable in 36 hours we can put him in another room so everyone can come. I am really sorry."
Abby got up and put her arm through McGee's "That is okay Doc that will give us time to make sure that the guys that hurt Tony will be going down. Gibbs, tell him that we love him and we will see him when we can. If you need anything call me okay?"
Gibbs looked down at Astor and then back at her, "Do you think you could take my girl here outside to the head so she can be ready to be in ICU all night."
"Absolutely, come here girl lets go out and do our business."
Astor looked at Gibbs then looked at Abby and then back at Gibbs. Gibbs laughed, "It is okay girl, go with Abby she will bring you back and then we will go see Tony okay?"
Astor jumped off the seat and stood beside Abby and waited till she picked up her leash and they both went out of the waiting room. When they left Gibbs looked at Ducky, "I really think she understands me when I talk to her it is the damndest thing I never met a dog as smart as she is."
Ducky smiled, "Seizure dogs are the best of the best she is a very special canine and it is obvious that she loves young Anthony as much as we do."
Gibbs came over and squeezed his shoulder, "Thank you again for making Astor possible. I haven't seen Tony this happy well ever. He needed a best girl and her got her."
"Jethro it is my extreme pleasure to have aided in Anthony and Astor finding each other. Anthony not only needed her as a service dog but I think he needed her as a friend as well. It was reward enough for me the first night when I saw the two of them wrestling on the floor."
Jethro laughed, "You should come over for dinner some night when he is healed they do that every night. I haven't seen him so happy for a long long time. I hope Astor can work her magic and help him through these next hurdles. The poor kid can never get a break. Sometimes I want to take him and Astor and go and live on a deserted island."
Duckylaughed, "Well you do that dear boy than young Anthony will fall victim to rouge falling coconuts."
Both men laughed, "You are probably right trouble seems to find him no matter what."
Both men turned when they head Astor's tags coming down the hall. Astor shook Abby's hand and then climbed up on the seat next to Jethro and took her place with her head on his thigh.
Jethro thanked Abby and a few minutes later a nurse came out and brought Dr. Mallard and Jethro into the ICU to see Tony. The nurse was not happy about Astor being allowed in the ICU but she was under orders from Dr. Pitt and Watts to allow the dog in the ward. She told the men that the first time she spotted that dog on the bed that she would kick everyone out. Both men agreed to her conditions.
Jethro took his place at the side of the bed and Astor curled around his feet under the bed and they waited.
(thank you all for the well wishes and the review. Thankfully the new meds quieted my daughters seizures. Hope you enjoy as Tony faces this new struggle. I wonder if Michael Weatherly knows us fanfic writers just adore abusing him tehe thanks again for reading and reviewing I so appreciate it)
