Gibbs must have nodded off because McGee and Ziva carrying a laptop and several bags with what smelled like lunch woke him up an hour later. The smells woke Tony up too. When Tony saw McGee and Ziva his face erupted with one of his Mega watt smiles, "Pobie one and Probie two, I am so glad to see you guys."
McGee gave Tony a wave and Ziva came over and went to kiss him on the forehead when she laughed, "Let me guess, Abby came and visited you today."
Tony looked weird at Ziva, "No I don't think so."
Ziva looked at Gibbs puzzled, "Then who left a black SWAK on his forehead?"
Gibbs smirked, "Tony you were asleep but you did get a visit from Abby and that black lip mark is indeed from her."
Ziva smooched his forehead on the other side and left her orangey pink lips next to Abby's black ones, "There Tony now you have a matching set of lip marks."
Tony made a face and used his blanket to try and wipe the lips off his forehead but ended up aggravating his burns on his chest and he yelled out in pain.
Gibbs was out of his chair and at his side in a flash, "Calm down now, you need help with stuff you ask, that is why I am here." Gibbs took some tissues and wet them in his water cup and gently wiped the lip marks off his forehead and snidely commented, "There now you are beautiful again."
But he gently ran his fingers through his hair to calm him and assure him that his words were in jest and not angry at all.
Once Tony was calmed down it was McGee's turn to comment to Tony, "Man Tony only you could have doctors Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford and a security guy named Thomas Hanks. Next thing I know you are going to start getting sponge bathes from a nurse named Pamela Anderson."
Gibbs chimed in, "Knowing DiNozzo's luck his sponge bathes will be given by a creepy guy named Bella Lugosi." Every one laughed until Tony started to cough and wince in pain at every cough. Gibbs offered him some water and it quieted his coughing down but he was in so much pain that Gibbs pushed the button for some more Morphine. He told Tony to sleep, that they will all be in the room eating then discussing the case.
Tony smiled at the three members of his little family and slurred out, "I love you guys" before he fell into a peaceful sleep. Ziva squeezed his foot and said, "We love you too."
After a shared lunch of sandwiches from their favorite Deli down the road from the Navy Yard McGee got out his laptop and began to share with Gibbs what they have found after two days of research.
"The AFP or Alliance for Peace was founded by Marshall in 2008 right after he started college. They are a so-called Peace group that has a record for not being very peaceful. Not only do they picket the White House and hold signs against the war they actually picket soldier's funerals at Arlington. They have damaged property and even a few members were accused but not convicted of beating and raping two Navy ROTC coeds at Gorgetown last year. It is a relatively small group so our suspects are thankfully limited. There are 20 known members and 2 of them are dead and 4 of them are locked up. After what happened this morning we will have no problem making sure that they don't get the option of bail. That leaves 14 people. These are the college id pictures of the other 14 members. Two of them are serving in the peace corps s that leaves us with these12 (clicked their pics on the computer)."
Gibbs took another bite of his sandwich and looked at the 12 pictures and ordered, "Figure out which two were accused of beating and raping those girls and lets start with them, get these photos to Abby and have her run facial recognition of these people and the videos from the hospital. Also I need you to look into their family histories and see if anyone has any relatives that work in the hospital. We also need coordinate with Hanks and get him a list of Doctors and Nurses who are allowed in Tony's room. Also when I am not here I want people to be photo identified before they come into this room. Also I need Ducky to come to the hospital this evening. Abby is going to stay in her Lab under guard until this whole mess is over and I would like for you all to at least never be alone and make sure that Ducky and Palmer are never alone either. I think they are primarily gunning for Tony and or me but I don't want anyone taking any chances okay. You all be smart and be safe."
The two agents gathered their belongings and assured Gibbs that they would be careful. Gibbs got up from his chair and put both hands on McGee's shoulders, "Tim listen to me, I need to be here to protect Tony but I am only a phone call away. I will step out and check with you every two hours okay, but know while I am here you are the Senior agent in charge of the MTAC team. I know you will make Tony and I proud."
McGee had a look on his face that was somewhere between pride and throwing up. He nodded to Gibbs and said, "I will handle everything at the shop you just take care of Tony. I will make you proud."
Gibbs patted his shoulders before he let them go and smiled, "You always do Tim." And he went back to sit down at Tony's side.
Once they were alone again Gibbs started to notice a weird gurgling noise in Tony's chest and he was beginning to have some trouble taking deep breaths. He was about to alert the nurse when Abby barged into the room.
Gibbs was concerned for her safety and asked, "Abby what is the matter what is going on? Why are you here and not safely in your lab?"
Abby took a moment to catch her breath, "Gibbs I couldn't wait, I ran a piece of the note through Major Mass Spec just to make sure that it was just paper and it wasn't just paper the paper had traced of NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS. Meningitis Gibbs, I think that they didn't just leave the note threating to kill Tony they infected him with something that could kill him quickly but slowly and painfully enough to make a point. We have got to get his Doctors here and have them begin treatment. Has Tony begun coughing yet?"
Gibbs looked so afraid, "Yeah he started coughing about 20 minutes ago. I am going to go get the doctors, stay with him Abbs."
Gibbs ran out of the room to the nurse's desk, "I need Dr. Brad Pitt and Dr. Harrison Ford to come to Tony's room immediately it is an emergency."
The nurse tried to remain calm and asked, "Can I tell them what the emergency is?"
Gibbs yelled, "Tell them we think Tony was infected with Meningitis and he has all ready begun to cough and have trouble breathing. They need to get to his room NOW!"
The nurse frantically picked up the phone and began to page both doctors and then she dialed their pagers and left them both a 911 page. Both Doctors were running down the hall as Gibbs was walking back to the room.
Brad spoke first, "How the hell did Tony get infected with Meningitis?"
Gibbs scowled, "Abby analyzed the note that was left and it had traces of the bacteria on it and Tony has begun to have trouble breathing and coughing. I think that those Bastards infected him when they left the note."
Brad rubbed his hands through his hair, "Damn it. Meningitis can kill a healthy person on a good day, I can't even venture a guess to Tony's chances of beating this."
Gibbs opened the door as he said, "Lets not forget he only had 15% chance to survive the plague and he did."
Brad shook is head, "Your right Gibbs, Tony is a fighter but the guy deserves a break. If he survives this he may never be an agent again. Is Abby in there with the analysis of the bug?"
Gibbs quietly said, "Yeah she is in there. I will be there in a minute."
Gibbs went to the nearby waiting room that was thankfully empty and sat with his head in his hands. He kept running Brad's words over and over in his mind, "Even if he survives, may never be an agent again." Gibbs did something he hadn't done in years, he prayed,
(Well shoot that was another cliff hanger wasn't it. I am sorry The reviews on this have made me so happy. Thank you so very much. I hope you are enjoying this and I promise to update again soon and not leave you hanging again for long )
