Author's Note:
Thank you so much for all the reviews, favourites and followers …
And thank you for your sweet messages regarding my precious Yorkie. We miss her lots but know that she is with the angels now.
Here's the next chapter. Enjoy…
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The next few hours were pure agony for Gibbs.
He'd been examined in the ER, had blood drawn, been hooked up to more fluids and been sent for X-rays. The pain, grogginess and exhaustion were overwhelming. His fever was high. But his fear for DiNozzo was increasing exponentially with each passing hour.
Once the doctor had all his test results and x-rays, he'd been informed that he would be admitted to a ward and no amount of shouting and threatening swayed his doctor.
Hell Ducky didn't even budge as he was being settled into the ward.
"Jethro, it is well within my power of authority to ensure that you remain in this hospital for as long as I deem it necessary. You have two fractured ribs and are fighting an infection. Now we have two options."
"Yeah?"
"One, you behave and actually get some rest."
"Or?"
"I have you sedated."
Gibbs glared at Ducky clearly communicating what he thought about those options.
"That won't work on me. I know you too well." Ducky stated. "My God Jethro, you are clearly exhausted and in pain. It is okay to admit it and rest now. You are not letting Anthony down by taking care of yourself."
"I need to know that his okay, Duck."
"I know. But I need to make sure that both you and he are going to be okay."
Ah hell…
"Your choice, Jethro. I can sit here and keep an eye on you. Or I can go and check on Anthony."
"Go already." Gibbs growled. "I ain't going anywhere."
He was feeling terrible and knew that the nurse had administered more pain killers and antibiotics into his IV. Hell he felt so unstable and knew he wouldn't be able to walk out of the hospital no matter how much he threatened to.
"Good choice."
"I'll be waiting for an update, Ducky." Gibbs warned as he settled back against the pillows and sighed.
What harm can closing my eyes for a few seconds do?
"Of course." Ducky replied as he headed for the door.
But he didn't leave until he heard Gibbs' breathing become deeper indicating that he was falling asleep.
One down, one more to go.
Anthony, I hope you are okay.
Tony was unfortunately still in surgery, but the OR nurse offered to get Ducky an update.
Ducky paced the OR waiting room, revealing his agitation and concern over Anthony and Jethro. This was a terrible situation. He had never seen Jethro so emotional. There could be no doubt of the level of paternal feelings Jethro harboured for Anthony. Ducky hoped that he had communicated said feeling to Anthony during their ordeal out in the wild.
"Dr Mallard." The nurse said as she entered the waiting room. "Agent DiNozzo's in the recovery room and Dr Johnson asked if you could join him there for an update on his condition."
"Of course. Thank you my dear." Ducky said as he followed her.
"How is he, Dr Johnson?" Ducky asked when he entered the recovery room.
"Hello Dr Mallard." Dr Johnson said. "Your agent's been through quiet an ordeal."
"Yes." Ducky concurred as he looked at Tony. He was unconscious and not responding to the nurse's attempts to wake him. He was pale and still.
"His shoulder was badly infected." Ducky stated.
Dr Johnson nodded as he said. "We surgically debrided the various wounds and were forced to remove a considerable amount of dead skin. Cauterizing the wound drastically reduced the amount of muscle mass we needed to remove. But the injury is bone deep and I can only imagine the pain Agent DiNozzo must have been in."
"Yes. It was awful from what Jethro told me." Ducky replied. "What is your current prognosis?"
"He is stable but still unconscious. There is no intracranial haemorrhaging or swelling but he does have a concussion."
"So the sooner he wakes the better."
"Exactly. Secondly due to the exposure and near drowning, he has developed broncho-pneumonia."
"Oh dear. After undergoing surgery his chest must be under even more pressure."
"Yes. But he held his own throughout the surgery and we did not have to put him on a ventilator."
Ducky nodded as Dr Johnson continued, "We'll be moving him to the ICU for the next 6 to 12 hours. We've applied chemical debridement dressings to his shoulder where we had to remove skin and tissue."
"Do you expect any permanent damage?"
"Unfortunately nerve damage is always a major concern and his injury does encompass the entire shoulder area. But we will not know the extent of it until Agent DiNozzo awakes."
"Do you think he could lose the use of his arm?" Ducky asked the question he feared most.
"I don't like to speculate, Dr Mallard. Let Agent DiNozzo wake up and then we can assess the situation."
"But it is a real possibility!"
Dr Johnson didn't reply.
He didn't have to.
Oh Anthony… My dear boy…
How do I tell Jethro?