"That was not intended for her ears, Jethro," Ducky said as they both stood to go into the kitchen.
"It is alright, Ducky," Ziva said as she stood from the table. "I should not have been listening," she met Gibbs' eyes before turning to the fridge, opening it to fetch two bottles of water. "The antacids you said you had in your bag...can you get them for me? I will make sure he takes them when he comes down."
"Of course," he said as he left to fetch his bag from his car. Ziva opened one of the bottles and looked up at Gibbs who was standing at the end of the table.
"You and Tony were gone a long time. What did he say to you?" she asked, then took a sip of the water.
"Exactly what I told you," he told her as he narrowed his eyes. "He's got a lot on his mind. Part of that is you." She sighed and closed her eyes.
"I should not have told him."
"No, Ziva, you should've told him a long time ago. Now I think he's questioning himself," his voice was quiet but stern.
"Questioning himself about what?" she asked with furrowed brow.
"What the hell do you think?" She flinched at the statement, and her eyes darted around the space between them.
"He has never hurt me," she said when she realized what he meant.
"Then tell him. He's the one who needs to hear that. Not me," his voice softened as he saw unshed tears in her eyes. "I know you didn't realize this, Ziver. I didn't either," he moved closer to her. "But I can't convince him he's wrong. You have to do that." She bit down on her tongue, but nodded in acknowledgment and turned to pick up the other bottle of water and head into the living room as Ducky returned with his bag.
"As luck would have it, I happen to have some over-the-counter anxiety medication to go along with the antacid," Ducky said as he handed the two bottles to Ziva. "Hopefully, he'll be able to keep something down and get a restful night's sleep."
"Sleep sounds great to me," Tony said as he descended the stairs; hair still damp, and an old tee-shirt and navy pajama pants clinging ever so slightly to his haphazardly dried body. Gibbs motioned for Ducky to follow him as he made his way out to the deck again.
Tony was so exhausted, he didn't question the sudden disappearance of the older men as he made his way toward Ziva. "Ducky said this will help your stomach," Ziva handed him the pink bottle. He opened it and took a long drink. "You should measure it, yes?" she asked with furrowed brow.
"Even if I keep it all down," he said as he grimaced from the taste, "It'll be fine. What's that?" he pointed at the other bottle.
"Something to calm your nerves," she said, "But I think you should try one of the nutrition shakes first," she turned and went to the fridge as Tony plopped down on the couch. He was mid-yawn by the time she returned with the shake, which she adorned with a bendy straw. "You did not get much sleep last night, did you?" she asked as she sat down beside him.
"I slept a little," he said, taking the shake from her and sniffing in cautiously. It passed the smell-test, and his stomach didn't seem to lurch. He took a few sips from the straw, and Ziva studied him carefully.
"I brought you some water. Do you want to try this other medicine?"
"Sure, why not," he replied, flatly as she read the instructions on the back. Fetching the appropriate dose, she handed him the pills and water, holding his shake for him as he took the pills.
"I want to talk to you," she said, "Because apparently you are under the wrong impression about something." He set the bottle down on the coffee table and she handed the shake back to him as he looked at her. "At no point of time in our relationship, have you ever caused me discomfort or pain," she said as she put her hand gently on his face.
Tony furrowed his brow as he searched her eyes. "Are you sure, Zi?"
"I am sure. Absolutely. I would not have hidden that from you."
"You did hide something from me, though."
"Not because I did not trust you," she moved closer to him and took his hand in hers. "I just did not want you to think I was made of glass. I did not want to put limitations on what we could do," she gave him a seductive smile. "And I hope that you are not dissuaded now that you know."
Tony put his hand on her cheek and leaned in to kiss her, "I love you, Ziva," he whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"And I love you," she kissed him again. "Now drink the rest of this shake, and go to sleep. Abby is sleeping with McGee, so you can use the room upstairs."
"Abby's sleeping with McGee?" he grinned. She play-smacked him in the shoulder.
"They were watching a movie and fell asleep," she squinted at him. "I am going to take a shower. Do not spy on them."
"If I'm gonna spy on someone, it'll be you...in the shower," he sent an infamous smile her way as she looked back at him from the stairs. She winked at him before heading the rest of the way up.
Tony sighed as he took another sip from the shake. He glanced lazily around the room, realizing how quiet it was, and that he was alone. He set the shake down on the coffee table and curled up on the couch, meaning only to shut his eyes for a few moments, but quickly falling to sleep...
Abby quietly made her way out of the guest room just as Gibbs and Ducky came in from the deck. "Hey, Gibbs," she said quietly. "Where's Tony?"
"It looks like Anthony has fallen asleep on the couch," Ducky smirked as they came into view of the sleeping agent. Tony's back was facing them; his tee shirt twisted slightly from his movement onto his side. His arms were hiding in front of him.
"Aw, doesn't he look so cute and innocent when he's sleeping?" Abby grinned right before a big yawn. Gibbs smirked at her.
"Go on upstairs and get some more sleep, Abs," he told her.
"Well, what about you and Ducky? Are you just gonna stay up all night?"
"We'll take shifts, Abigail," Ducky assured her. "I think I've gotten more sleep then the lot of you. I'll take the next few hours."
"Wake me up when you get tired, Duck," Gibbs said as he turned to head up the stairs. Ziva started down them as he headed up. "You stayin' here?" he asked her as the paused.
"To keep an eye on Tony, yes," she smirked.
"He fell asleep," he told her.
"On the couch? He will be complaining all day tomorrow about his back." Gibbs smirked as he continued up the stairs.
"You can stay with me," Abby offered as she climbed the stairs.
"Don't worry, Ziva," Ducky said, "I'll keep an eye on him for you."
It was two in the morning before Ducky went upstairs to wake Gibbs. Four hours of sleep the agent had never been so grateful to have. "I took the liberty of setting out Timothy's medications after discovering one of mother's old daily pill organizers," he told him in a hushed voice. "Pain killers are due, if he needs them. But I didn't want to wake him just yet. Antibiotics and anti-nausea meds can wait until sun-up. It's all written out downstairs on the counter for whomever should be here during the day."
"Thanks, Duck," he said sleepily as he made his way out of the room. "You can sleep in here if you want."
"Much appreciated, Jethro. I was going to drive home, but I don't think that would be a wise choice," he said as he yawned. Gibbs smirked.
"G'night, Duck," he said before quietly closing the door. Gibbs peeked into the open door of the upstairs guestroom and grinned at the sleeping women on the bed, trying to stifle a laugh at the display. Ziva was turned the opposite way; head at the foot of the bed, and feet at the head. She lightly swatted at Abby's feet in her sleep, turning her head away from them before settling back down.
He pulled the door closed a little more, then headed quietly down the stairs. As he entered the living room, he noticed Tony hadn't budged an inch since he'd last seen him, and he had to pause for a moment to be sure the agent was still breathing. The expanding of his ribcage through his shirt, put Gibbs' mind at ease, and he reached out to grab the abandoned nutrition shake from the coffee table.
As he dumped the remaining contents into the sink, he seemed a bit satisfied that Tony had at least downed half of it. But what Gibbs wanted right now, was coffee. So, as stealthily as he could, he prepared the pot for brewing. Next to the coffee maker, lay the pill organizer; marker sketched on every little door, telling approximate times of day each container needed to be given.
Gibbs moved toward the guest room where Tim slept, as the coffee began to brew. Quietly, he opened the door just a bit, to peek a check on the agent. He was still, in fact, sleeping, and seemed to be peaceful for the moment. There was no wonder why Ducky had chosen not to wake him for his meds.
After closing the door, Gibbs returned to the kitchen to pour himself the fresh brown liquid and turned off the pot after doing so; a courtesy for Tony's uneasy stomach. Then he headed downstairs to the basement. Surely, a little sanding wouldn't wake anyone. He needed to clear his mind, anyway. His sleep hadn't been very restful in that last hour. Had it not been for the fact he'd need to get up and take over watch, he would've helped himself to one of those anxiety pills Ducky had given Tony.
After taking a long drink of the steaming coffee, Gibbs set the mug on the workbench and picked up a sanding block. As he headed to the back of the boat, he listened for any sounds that might come from upstairs, before beginning his work.
--Trapped...Tim couldn't move...awkwardly positioned in the elevator shaft, he tried to fight away the monsters he knew lingered behind him. But he couldn't move...--
McGee opened his eyes and looked down at his trapped body. He'd somehow twisted himself in the blankets. I'm just at Gibbs' house, he thought to himself. I'm at Gibbs' house... Carefully, and quietly, he dislodged himself from the tangled trap and felt out of breath. He needed to get out of there...just for a moment.
He crawled out of the bed, immediately feeling the sharp pain in his belly, causing him to sink quietly down on the floor. As he felt the flashback coming on, he looked over at the door and pushed his back up against the side of the bed. Tim tried to hold onto that image...the door...he was at Gibbs' house, not the elevator. Not the elevator...I'm at Gibbs' house...I'm at Gibbs' house, he said over and over in his head...
*~.~*
Tony stirred slightly to the sound of sanding coming from the basement; not completely roused from his sleep, but seemingly comforted by the sound, he decided to close his eyes again. But before he drifted off, he heard the unmistakeable sound of the power going out...followed by an eery silence.
*~.~*
Gibbs was suddenly consumed by the darkness of the room. He knew the power had, for some reason, decided to go out, but he'd half-expected it to only be momentary. So he waited...and he listened. He began to hear a muffled voice from somewhere upstairs. Then he heard a thump, which he knew came from the living room, followed by hurried footsteps across the floor...Tony was going to McGee.
That's when he realized where the voice had been Tim's. He began blindly feeling his way across the basement...he wouldn't let Tony do this alone...
*~.~*
"Ow!" Tony muffled a cry out, after his leg ran violent across the corner of some random piece of furniture, causing him to lose his footing, and sent him to the floor. But as he heard Tim's struggled voice, he quickly pushed himself up and over to the room.
"I'm at Gibbs' house...I'm at Gibbs' house..." Tim's voice sounded, and Tony saw his silhouette lit by the light of the moon, sitting on the floor by the bed. He needed some kind of light...he ran back into the living room to the mantle, where there was a kerosene lamp and a small box of matches. He quickly lit it and carefully made his way back to the room.
Tony set the lamp on the dresser next to the TV and turned to Tim; his eyes were shut tightly as he hugged his knees to his chest. Tears streamed down his face as he rocked slightly back and forth. "McGee," he said as the agent continued his mantra. Tim's eyes shot open and toward Tony's voice.
"I'm at Gibbs' house..." he continued.
"Yeah, you're at Gibbs' house. Power went out, is all," he said as he sat down beside him and put his arm around his shoulders.
"I'm at Gibbs' house," he whispered. His eyes closed again; his breath was labored, and Tony could feel his increased heart rate. "But I can see them," he cried.
"They're gone, McGee," he pulled Tim's head toward him, just under his chin, as he tried to pull his friend from his flashback. "They can't hurt you anymore."
"Tony, it hurts..." he squeaked. "Make 'em stop hurting me, please..." Tony bit back tears.
"I'm right here, Probie. Right here with you. They can't hurt you...are you in pain?"
"Yes," he struggled.
"Let me go find your meds-"
"Please don't leave me here!" Tim panicked and grabbed at Tony's shirt as he cried. "Please..."
"I'm not gonna leave you," he held him. Inwardly, he was pissed that no one had given him the pain killer he'd obviously needed. Pissed at himself for not checking...
Suddenly, Gibbs was at the open door and looked at Tony. "I dunno why the power went out," he whispered. "He okay?"
"He needs his pain killers, Boss," Tony said, grateful that he was there to help. Gibbs disappeared into the kitchen, flashlight in hand, and returned with the pill organizer and a bottle of water, crouching down in front of McGee as Tony tried to convince him to take his pills. "Gotta take these, Tim," he told him as Gibbs took the pills out of the first compartment and placed them in Tony's hand. "It'll make the pain stop, okay?"
Gibbs opened the bottle of water as he watched Tim nod and grasp the pills from Tony. McGee shakily took the bottle from Gibbs, nearly dropping it en route to his mouth. But Tony reached out and held it for him as he drank, swallowing the pills quickly.
Suddenly, the power came back on, filling the room with light, and Gibbs and Tony shared a slightly relieved glance. Then they turned back to Tim, who suddenly laid his head down on his knees, hiding his face from them.
"It's gonna be okay, Probie," Tony said softly as he comfortingly rubbed his hand back and forth between the agent's shoulder blades. McGee's arms curled around his head, in attempt to block out any possible sight of his face as he began to sob.
"I'm sorry..." he cried. Gibbs' heart sank, and he reached out an unsteady hand, hovering nearby the agent's head, unsure if he would make him uncomfortable. He glanced to Tony, who gave him a nod as reassurance, and he laid his hand on the back of Tim's head. And when Tim didn't flinch, he allowed his fingers to move slightly; something that used to soothe his daughter when she woke up with nightmares...so long ago.
"Never apologize, McGee," he said softly, then removed his hand and stood, going to the kerosene lamp and blowing it out. As he turned back toward them, his eye caught view of blood dripping down what was exposed of his ankle and shin, and saw a tear in the pajama pants under his knee. But Tony didn't even seem to notice it, as his concern was mainly focused on McGee.
Gibbs heard someone descending the staircase, and backed into the hall for a moment. He saw Ziva when she rounded the corner, and he crooked his finger for her to come to him. She quickly complied, realizing her suspicions that something must be wrong, were accurate. "First aid kit under the sink upstairs," he said quietly, and she nodded in acknowledgment, waving any thoughts of curiosity for the moment as she quickly went back up to get it.
As he reentered the room, he noticed McGee had calmed a bit; his breathing somewhat returning to normal, and his arms loosening their fixed position around his head. Tony seemed to be relaxing a bit too.
Tony was beyond grateful that the pain killers were taking effect so quickly. "Want me to help you get back into bed?" he asked calmly. Tim picked up his head and looked around for a moment, then began to push himself up off the floor. Tony helped guide him, and Gibbs walked around the other side of the bed to move the blanket out of the way as he laid down.
"I don't want that," Tim said, partially dazed still, motioning to the blanket.
"Might get cold, McGee," Tony said.
"I'll be fine," he retorted and laid his head down on the pillow. Gibbs could tell that his presence was somehow affecting the agent's mood, so he quietly set the blanket down in the chair and walked out.
"Why ya bein' mean to the Boss, McGee?" Tony asked as he sat down on the bed.
"Didn't know I was," Tim furrowed his brow.
"Does it make you uncomfortable to have him in here?"
"I...don't think so..."
"C'mon, Probie, it's a simple yes or no question," he reached out for the blanket.
"I don't want that!" he said more sternly. Tony shot him a questioning look.
"Okay...what's wrong?" he asked.
"I...I'm just tired, Tony. Just wanna go back to sleep. Can we talk about it in the morning?"
"Speaking of the morning," he said, "You feel up to goin' someplace with me?"
"Where?"
"I've got an appointment with my therapist. He said it'd be okay if you wanted to come along. Or...I could get you a separate appointment...or...whatever you're comfortable with."
"I dunno," he said skeptically.
"He knows about medication that can help stop the flashbacks, Tim. You want them to go away, right?" Tim looked away at the mattress before nodding. "It's your call. You just let me know when you're ready."
"Kay." Tony set the bottle of water on the night stand and stood.
"You okay for now?" he asked.
"Yeah. Thanks...oh geez...Tony, you're leg!" he sat up. Tony looked down at what he now realized was stinging.
"Just a flesh wound, Probie," he flashed him a reassuring smile.
"I'm sorry," he cringed, "You fell coming in here, didn't you?"
"Promise you'll give my therapist a try, and I'll forgive you," he smirked. Tim's eyes darted around the air between them. "Doesn't hafta be tomorrow." He looked back up at Tony, then nodded. "G'night, McGee," he grinned, "Right down the hall if you need me," he walked out, leaving the door slightly open as he left.
As McGee settled back into his pillow, he felt a pang of guilt for what he was obviously putting Tony through. He made up his mind, then, that he would go with him in the morning. This had to stop...for both of them...
Tony entered the living room and saw Ziva sitting on the couch, and Gibbs on the chair across from her. He eyed his water bottle and sat down next to Ziva as he picked it up.
"Let's see that leg, DiNozzo," Gibbs said. Tony flashed him a nervous grin.
"It's fine, Boss. Just hit it on something when the lights were out." But his boss's glare won out, and he obeyed by putting his leg up on the coffee table, and rolled up the pant-leg. Somehow, seeing the wound made it hurt more... It wasn't bleeding any more, but the blood had begun to dry along its path down his shin. The cut itself wasn't much longer then an inch, but it was swelling all around it, and beginning to bruise in sickly purple.
"Ziver, clean him up while I get him some ice for that," he said as he stood and made his way to the kitchen.
"I can do it, Zi," he said.
"No, let me," she told him. "You have been taking care of McGee. Let us take care of you." He watched her and leaned back on the couch as she began to pour peroxide over the cut, holding a cloth beneath it so it wouldn't spill onto the table. Tony clenched his jaw in attempt not to indicate how much it stung. Ziva gently wiped down his leg with the damp cloth to remove the blood.
"These were my favorite sleep pants," Tony mumbled as Gibbs returned to the room with a make-shift icepack.
"They are very old, Tony," Ziva commented.
"That's why they were so comfortable!" he argued in a hushed voice. She put a hand on his knee and looked him in the eye.
"It was their time to die," she said very seriously, but soon curled her mouth into a smile. He made a face at her and then yelped as Gibbs set the icepack on his bruising shin.
"Thanks, Boss," he took hold of the ice as Gibbs let go. They watched as he started back toward the basement door. "You stayin' up?" Tony asked.
"Already had coffee," he told him. "You two go back to sleep," he closed the door behind him as he went down the stairs.
"I'll probably not be able to get back to sleep for a while," he sighed as he leaned back on the couch.
"Well," she said, laying her head on his shoulder, "What if I sleep here with you?" Tony smirked.
"Dontcha think that'll seem a bit suspicious when Gibbs comes back up?"
"I have a feeling he already knows," she said flatly as she drew little circles on his chest.
"You have a feeling?" he furrowed his brow, putting a hand over hers.
"We had a discussion when we went for coffee Saturday. He implied he knew something about our...relationship."
"And he didn't fire us..."
"Yet," she smirked and pulled her head up to look at his worrisome face. "Oh," she laughed and put her hand on his face, "I do not think he has a problem with it, Tony."
"Yeah, maybe not. But I'm pretty sure sleeping together in his house could change that..."
"It is just sleeping," she squinted. "I was sleeping with Abby not fifteen minutes ago."
"Oh really?" he raised a brow and smirked at her.
"But yes, you are right," she stood from the couch, "It would be disrespectful for Gibbs to find us like that." Suddenly, Tony's face was flushed with disappointment.
"Hey...that's not fair."
"Well, you can always come sleep up here with us," she smirked as she began to climb the stairs.
"I'm tellin' McGee you're sleepin' with his girl," he squinted.
"Oh please feel free. Maybe he won't be such a...chicken," she grinned.
"Oh, that's it," he pushed up off the couch and went after her. She hadn't expected it, so she was stunned for a moment before trying to escape up the stairs. But he caught her and spun her around, pressing her up against the wall as he crushed his mouth down onto hers.
"You think doing this is less conspicuous then sleeping on the couch?" she teased as he kissed down her neck.
"I think this is a nice way to pay you back," he retorted.
"Pay me back for what?" she moaned as he pressed against her.
"For trying to get me all hot and bothered and leaving me by myself," he replied.
"I do not understand how-" He cut her off with another kiss, then pulled away completely.
"G'night, Zee-vah," he grinned and descended the stairs, leaving her there, flushed and frustrated.
"He expects me to follow him...well, two can play at this game," she thought, and smirked at herself as she continued up the stairs, into the guest room, and quietly shut the door.
He was partly relieved when she didn't come back down. Partly disappointed...but relieved. He was tired, and his mind was filled with terrible thoughts; nothing that would allow him an honorable performance with the woman he loved.
Minutes later, Tony found himself walking down the steps to the basement. Gibbs looked up from where he sat at his workbench, a glass of bourbon in his hand. "Can't sleep?" he asked his senior agent as he got to the bottom.
"Usually, I'd stop thought-overload with a good Audrey Hepburn flick," he smirked as he took a seat beside his boss. Gibbs poured another glass and slid it to Tony. "Thanks, Boss."
more later! :)