The kids were at school but Tony had called in sick to work. He had said that he wanted to spend the day with Ziva and AJ. That was true but mainly he was needing to process the previous day. He had suffered two flashbacks that day and nightmares all night long. Seemingly overnight his life had become a living hell. He wondered how much longer he would be able to keep up the facade that everything was fine. He wondered how his family would react. If the children would be embarrassed or if Ziva would be ashamed. After forcing himself to eat breakfast. He showered and tossed on a pair of jeans and his NCIS sweat shirt. He grabbed his phone and checked for updates from Ziva. He had no calls or texts and she had not posted to AJ's page since the night before. He sent her a quick text, letting her know that he was on the way, and then headed out the front door. It was going to be a long day.
Tony was driving to the hospital when he got the call. It was one of those things, where he just knew that there was going to be bad news. His phone had barely buzzed and he did not even have to see who was calling. He just knew that doom was waiting on the other end. For the first time in weeks this feeling was preceded by something other than a nightmare or the heart race before a flashback. This feeling came but he suffered no flashback. His being awake immediately ruled out the nightmare option. It was in that moment that he heard the ringing of his phone. He pulled over to the side of the road, before answering the phone.
"T...Tony?"
"I'm here Ziva? What's wrong?"
"It's AJ"
"How bad?"
"Bad, very, very bad."
"Ffpphhh, tell me."
"He officially has double pneumonia but that is the least of our worries."
"You're scaring me."
"About an hour ago he had a massive brain bleed. He's in emergency surgery now. I am sorry I didn't call you sooner but this is the first time I've had since it happened. I had all these forms to sign and the doctors needed to talk to me."
"Do they know anything? What should I do?"
"They aren't very optimistic. Just get the girls to the hospital as soon as possible."
"Of course"
Tony wait for Ziva to hang up, before dropping his phone to the floor. He rested his head on the steering wheel and began to heavily sob. The past year and a half had been filled with complications. It had just become a part of their lives, but he was not ready for this. How could he ever be prepared for even the idea of losing AJ. Ziva and him had signed a DNR when this ordeal first started. He had been revived twice and Ziva couldn't bear for it to happen again. If AJ's heart stopped, he would die. That was it. There was no time for intervention of changed minds. All it would take was a second and they would lose him forever. The nausea was overpowering. Tony flung the door open, leaned out, and heaved onto the grass. His breakfast was reduced to a puddle on the sidewalk and he still felt like he was going to be sick. Tears still flowing he grabbed his phone and called Lily and Marley's schools. He had no memory of the calls or getting the girls. He really couldn't recall anything until he was standing in the overly bright Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, waiting room.
"Have you heard anything?" Tony asked.
"He's going to be back a while. The hemorrhage was huge. He is in for a long surgery. We may never see him again. I didn't even really get time. He went into a seizure and they kicked me out. Then they were rushing him away." Ziva explained.
"I'm not ready for this." Tony sobbed.
"How could we ever be? I mean even if it were cancer or something where we knew. How can you ever be ready?" Ziva questioned.
"God, even if AJ were grown up. Even if he were an old man. How could we ever be ready?" Tony asked.
"We shouldn't be so negative. He is a strong kid. Even if we are back to square one. Even if square one is ahead from where we end up and all hope is lost. AJ will get through. We will get through." Ziva explained.
The following hours were agonizingly long. Calls were made and periodic updates were given. Visitors poured in and out, and around the third hour Breena and Abby took the girls. Throughout the entire ordeal, Tony and Ziva clung to each other, struggling to hold back their tears. Ten hours ended up passing before the doors to the surgical hall opened. The surgeon's scrubs were covered in blood and he wore a grim expression.
"Family of AJ DiNozzo?" The surgeon called.
"Over here" Ziva called.
"We were unable to totally control the bleed but we have it is significantly smaller now. We are going to run scans in the coming hours but he is in recovery for now." The surgeon explained.
"Do they know how bad the damage is yet?" Tony asked.
"We won't know anything for sure until he wakes up but I have a bad feeling it is going to be significant." The surgeon explained.
"May we see him?" Ziva asked.
"Just as soon as he is back in his room. It should be about an hour." The surgeon replied.
"Will we be able to have our daughters in there? They are four and eleven." Tony asked.
"You will have to speak with the PICU nurses but given the circumstances. I would say that they would allow them inside." The surgeon explained.
"Thank you so much doctor. It means everything. That you at least gave us more time." Ziva sniffed.
"Just doing my job." The surgeon explained.
A/N: Will AJ be able to beat the odds again? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
