UNTIL INNOCENT
CHAPTER 14
A little shorter than the other chapters, but sometimes it just works out that way. The next one is longer. Thanks for your continued interest. Zan. x
Tony awoke to the sound of something akin to bath water being sucked down a plughole. He tentatively opened his eyes a crack. Directly in his line of sight was a large, open book framed by black pigtails. Again he heard the noise that seemed to be coming from behind the book. Lifting his head a little to get a better look, he made the bean bag rustle. The book was immediately lowered to reveal Abby's bright face, her mouth still clamped around the straw leading into the massive CAFFPOW on her lap.
'Where's McGee?' he managed to ask, his mouth dry. He was going to have to stop taking the pain meds. It seemed that every time he woke up, he had to be brought up to speed.
'Well, good afternoon to you too,' retorted Abby. 'Hi Abby would have been a nicer greeting,' she continued, pretending to be stern.
'Hi Abby,' Tony conceded. 'Where is everyone?'
'Well,' said Abby, putting her book aside, 'Gibbs and Ziva came back up after talking to that shmuck White. Gibbs sent McGee and Ziva to interview Maxwell's wife. Gibbs called me up here to Tony-sit, and Gibbs has gone to see Fornell.'
The developments prior to his nap gradually flooded back into Tony's mind. At least the team had some solid leads to work now. He wondered how the conversation between Gibbs and Fornell was going. One thing was certain: it wouldn't be pretty. He turned his attention back to Abby.
'You don't have to stay here,' he told her. 'Haven't you got stacks to do?'
'And miss out on looking after my favourite Tony?' she exclaimed. 'No way! And besides, Gibbs was very specific about you not being left alone.'
Tony felt warmth flow through him at the idea that Gibbs was appointing people to look after him during his absence. He really had gone though much of his life, childhood included, with no-one to watch his six. Of course Gibbs would explain it by saying that he didn't trust Tony to not do something stupid, but Tony had seen Gibbs' real concern for him over the last couple of days. It was something he would always be grateful for- whatever happened. For the first time in a while he felt optimistic about how recent events would unfold.
Using his good hand as leverage, Tony moved himself into a more upright position. His ribs did not protest quite so much and his head ached only slightly.
'Feeling better?' asked Abby, returning his smile.
'Yeah, I think I am,' said Tony. 'Think it must have been the pizza. You should have seen McGee pleading with Mario's to get that thing here quickly. He even asked if there was the equivalent of priority post. It was quite pathetic.'
'You are so mean,' Abby accused him, swatting his arm. But she couldn't resist laughing at the thought of a frantic McGee.
'He didn't think to order dessert, though,' continued Tony, enjoying himself. 'You'd think he could have been a little more thoughtful.'
Abby pointed at him meaningfully before reaching behind her to retrieve two double chocolate muffins. She presented them to him with an elaborate flourish.
'The pizza was a good start. One of those may well lead to a complete recovery,' said Tony, licking his lips.
As the pair tucked into the delicious dessert, their minds turned to the case.
'Why would an FBI agent get that tattoo?' said Abby out aloud. 'He should have known it would attract attention. And why didn't it attract attention until you saw it?'
'Fornell's not gonna like hearing what Gibbs is gonna tell him,' remarked Tony. 'He's gonna insist Maxwell's innocent.'
'But you saw what you saw,' Abby continued. 'And Ducky confirmed seeing it on the photographs. Fornell can't deny evidence like that.'
'Did Gibbs tell you what White had to say?' asked Tony.
'To quote Gibbs,' said Abby, 'White is either a liar, stupid or both. He's been taken into custody. He confessed to taking a bribe for agreeing to let Sharlon escape.'
'And supplying the gun?' asked Tony.
'No, he claims he had nothing to do with that,' Abby told him. Passing Tony an uncapped bottle of water, she regarded him thoughtfully.
'The whole Maxwell thing aside, I just don't get why Sharlon named YOU as his accomplice,' she said. Tony sipped the water slowly before passing the bottle back.
'Neither do I,' he admitted. 'Just lucky I guess. Unless I suddenly remember doing a deal with him, I've got no idea.'
Abby frowned at Tony before cuddling up next to him.
'You so did NOT make any deal with Sharlon,' she told him as she gently curled her arm across his middle. 'Sharlon's what Ducky would refer to as a nasty piece of work. There's no way you'd deal with him, whether you were undercover or not.'
Tony draped his arm around Abby and allowed her to rest her head against his shoulder. Again he felt a rush of warmth at the knowledge that Abby had such vehement faith in him. She was a true friend.
'Thanks for coming to visit me in the hospital,' he said softly. 'I.. I was in a pretty dark place there for a while. Seeing you really helped.'
'Don't be silly,' said Abby as she flicked muffin crumbs off his sweatshirt. But she noted the utmost sincerity in his voice and was pleased she had made a difference. She and Gibbs both knew that Tony never received visits from his biological family while in hospital.
'It's true Abs,' Tony continued. 'I owe you.'
Abby sat up a little so that she could look him in the eye. He noticed that her eyes were gleaming and he was instantly on the alert.
'Tell me about Gibbs looking after you at his house,' she said suddenly.
'What? Why?' asked Tony, confused by the sudden change of topic.
'Because it's so, so un Gibbs-like to be playing nurse!' she blurted. 'Does he have a separate set of rules for the house, or do the usual rules still apply? Were you exempt because you were injured? Did he have an alternative for the head-slaps given you had a concussion?'
Tony shook his head but couldn't help grinning at Abby's curiosity. Gibbs really was something of an enigma. He could understand the team being curious, but he was also reluctant to give too many details. It kind of felt wrong to do that.
'Oh, the rules still apply,' he told her. 'Meals are regular and lights are out at a respectable hour. I don't really think I did anything to deserve a head-slap.'
'Oh, come on Tony!' she urged him. 'Give me something! Did he make you hot chocolate and cookies? That would be so sweet if he did.'
Tony thought about the way Gibbs had fussed over him without making it too obvious, and how he had sat up with him with a hot chocolate after the nightmare.
'Okay, he did make a hot chocolate for me one time. But he wasn't over-the-top, and I'm kinda glad. If he'd been too Florence Nightingale, I would have been wondering where the real Gibbs was.'
'Tony!' Abby suddenly exclaimed as she sat bolt upright. 'That's it!'
'That's what?' asked Tony, totally bewildered by her response.
'Don't you see?' she continued, her eyes sparkling. 'Fornell's convinced that Maxwell couldn't be a traitor, and Gibbs is convinced that he is. What if they're BOTH right?'
'I'm not following you,' said Tony, his mind spinning.
'I'm willing to bet ten CAFFPOWS,' said Abby as she reached for the phone, 'that the Maxwell that you met in that prison was not the real Maxwell!'