The doctors looked at each other for a few moments before Ducky motioned for Brad to speak.
"It shouldn't." Brad looked Gibbs in the eye. "We can give him something to take for a while to build up the lung strength again and do X-Rays twice a year to keep a closer eye on his status."
"Why didn't you give him the lung strengtheners before?" Gibbs asked.
"Their wasn't a problem before. I don't treat for symptoms that haven't appeared yet. Tony had not reported any shortness of breath or pain in his lungs. It's possible there weren't any problems until he hiked in the cold. If he takes it easier in the future when he has colds he should be fine. Just watch him closely." Brad said. "Overall though, he should be fine to continue as an active agent. But not for a month or so. I don't want him doing any more than riding a desk with paper work for at least that long. He won't be doing anything until he has my clearance."
Gibbs nodded with a slight grin. "He's not going to like that."
Brad smiled openly back. "he doesn't have to. We're taking the vent out tonight." Brad announced, out of the blue, making Gibbs look up sharply.
"Tony is doing at least every other breath. He doesn't need it at the moment. I'll be here for the night to make sure there are no problems." Brad said.
"When are you bringing him out?"
"Tomorrow morning. We'll discontinue the drugs keeping him under at six A.M After that it should be an hour or two until he comes out. The nurses know the whole team will be here." Brad added making a note on the chart .
"I'll stay with Anthony for a couple hours Jethro go home and rest. Brad will not do anything until you are back." Ducky ordered.
"Ducky…"
"Go Jethro." Ducky said settling into the chair.
"Fine." Gibbs stood and picked up the box of takeout he had been eating and headed out.
"Thanks Duck." Gibbs said as he left his jacket slung over his arm.
As soon as he was out of the ICU he pulled out his cell phone. He called Ziva first.
"David." He voice came over the phone.
"Ziva."
"Boss. Is DiNozzo alright?"
"He's fine. They are taking him off the vent tonight. They are going to let the team come in tomorrow morning when they bring him around."
"What time do you want us there Gibbs?"
"He's off the drugs at six."
"We will be there. I will let McGee know." Ziva's voice said then Gibbs heard the line disconnect. He had to listen closely to hear the relief in her voice. But it was there. Hope.
He threw the takeout away as he left, pulling on the jacket in the chilly air.
(--------------------------------------------------)
"Who was that?" McGee asked Ziva as she snapped her phone shut in the restaurant they had gone to for lunch.
"Gibbs." she answered looking around.
"Is Tony alright?" McGee asked. Ziva picked up on the worry.
"They are taking him off the machine for breathing today. Then tomorrow they are allowing us to come when they bring him around." Ziva answered.
"Tony's going to be fine?" McGee asked. Ziva picked out the weariness. McGee and Tony had been through a lot together. They were true partners.
"What was it like?""What?" McGee asked looking up and taking another drink.
"The plague." Ziva leaned forward and unconsciously lowered her voice.
"It was my fault." McGee said.
"How?""I was looking through the mail and we were teasing each other. I pulled out the letter with the SWAK. When Tony reached for it I just let him have it. I should have given it to Gibbs."
"SWAK?"
"Sealed with a kiss. The lipstick had lead which allowed the Y Pestis to survive. It blew into his face. We showered and burned out clothes. Kate had a cold so she went to Bethesda with him. Gibbs went a little crazy solving the case. I don't think I've ever seen him that angry before. He interrogated a guy while holding a gun trained on the guy."
McGee paused for a moment.
"Kate told me he was coughing up blood. The medicine they were pumping him full of was doing no good. It was altered not to respond to them. He got really bad. Then Gibbs storms in and ordered him not to die."
Ziva was quiet for a while.
"He's alright now." Ziva declared.
"Yes. He'll be fine." McGee nodded.
"Now pay the check Probie." Ziva grinned and stood her jacket on. "I'll call Abby and let her know." She left with a grin.
(---------------------------------------------)
Abby was almost detoxed. She hadn't had a Caf-Pow in days. Not since the last one Gibbs had brought her. She didn't like it.
She was sitting on the floor in the middle of her lab, Burt cuddled against her, music blearing around her when she felt the rush of air next to her. A plunk in front of her tempted her to open her eyes. She squealed when she saw Gibbs sitting crossed legged next to her having just settled a Caf-Pow in front of her.
"He's going to be fine?" She smiled and hugged him tightly letting Burt fall abandoned to the ground. "How'd you know Abbs?"
"Gibbs," Abby said giving him the 'duh' look. " I know you. You're happy. Not worried." She paused and looked Gibbs over. "Well not as worried. You're hiding something." Abby looked at his face for a while.
"they're bringing him around tomorrow." Gibbs confirmed.
"What are you hiding Gibbs?" She demanded after picking up the Caf-Pow and taking a deep swallow.
"Abbs. They are taking him off the drugs at six tomorrow." Gibbs said pushing him off the ground and making his way out of the lab in ever silent shoes, leaving Abby sitting in the middle of her lab Burt once again cradled in her arms and a strangely cold feeling settling into her gut.
(------------------------------------)
They had been waiting for hours as Tony lay still as ever on the sheets breathing in slowly through the oxygen mask on his face.
The whole team had been focused completely on the pale agent on the bed looking for even the smallest hint of life. It started with a twitch. His foot moved in a tiny almost invisible jerk.
They all drew a little closer. His eyes fluttered under closed lids. Abby unconsciously latched onto McGee's hand and he winced slightly at her grip.
Gibbs hit the button to notify Brad that there were changes. He came into the room a few seconds later as Abby reached forward with her other hand and gripped Tony's hand.
Brad went to stand next to Ducky who was studying the vital signs closely.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"he's twitching." Abby answered in breathless voice her eyes glued on Tony's face.
Brad opened Tony's eyes and flashed a light in them.
"It looks like he is coming around." Brad said. "It could take a moment or two for him to open his eyes."
He stepped back to let Ziva move closer to the bed.
His eyes fluttered again behind closed lids. Again. His breathe hitched then began again. Abby felt his hand open then clamp tightly around her own.
"Tony." she said her voice quiet.
His eyes fluttered open once but quickly closed again.
Once again they opened. They stayed open for a few more seconds this time before fluttering closed.
A minute passed while the team waited with breathless anticipation. Again his eyes fluttered open, this time staying open for a while. At first he stared blankly forward, blinking fast. After a moment of breathless waiting on the teams part his eyes moved. They lingered blankly on each face for a few seconds before moving to the next they stayed longest on Gibbs before fluttering closed again.
"It might take a couple hours for him to be fully be free of the drugs influence." Brad said in a quiet voice. Gibbs looked away from Tony to meet the doctors eyes. His look was loaded with a warning and full of grim worry.
A/N Alrighty Another chapter. That one was fun to write. Hope you liked this one as much as I did. As always thanks for the wonderful reviews for the last chapter and all the people who have favorited and put this on alert. I have made it over 50 reviews so you guys are all pretty awesome. As always reviews and advice are alwys appreciated.
Wolfgirl