So this is it, the last chapter. Thank you all for reading and reviewing and I hope you enjoy the conclusion.
Chapter 25
Gibbs bounded up the stairs to the Intensive Care Unit, followed some way behind by Ducky.
He ran to the Reception Desk. "Is anyone with Agent DiNozzo?" He barked, banging his hand on the desk.
"Yes, a doctor and one of your agents." The nurse quickly replied.
He ran to the end room, his heart quickening as he noticed the Metro officer no longer guarding the door.
He stood outside, his weapon drawn. He kicked open the door. "Step away from him." Gibbs ordered, his weapon trained on the professor, as he quickly surveyed the room.
She stepped back from the bed, her arm covered in a red tinged towel. "I need to deal with Anthony, Agent Gibbs. He is in acute respiratory distress; your colleague just tried to kill him, and me."
McGee and Ziva ran in, their weapons drawn.
Ducky looked in the doorway and immediately assessing the situation, turned back to alert the nurse of Tony's condition.
Ziva moved passed Gibbs to Tony's side and placed the mask over his mouth, but his lips were turning blue and his eyes were closed. "He's not breathing Gibbs." Ziva said, her fingers checking his neck pulse.
They heard buzzers sounding, alerting all medical staff to a potential situation.
Gibbs re-holstered his weapon, as he moved to Tony's side. He quickly checked Tony's pulse before leaning down and starting mouth to mouth resuscitation in a desperate attempt to get air into Tony's oxygen-deprived lungs.
Doctor Lovell and his team came running into the room.
They cajoled the team out of the way, as they started to assess the situation.
"What's going on?" Lovell asked, as his team got to work providing Tony with mechanical ventilation.
"Agent Nova adjusted the fluid intake and it's saturating Anthony's cavities, compromising his lung and heart functioning." Professor Norman said. "I did what I could to readjust the flow, but it was too late. We'll need to perform a thoracentesis to extract the fluids."
"Nurse Jonas, inform theatre we have an emergency thoracentesis" Doctor Lovell said. "He'll need an immediate chest x-ray and ultrasound scan."
"Yes doctor." The nurse left the room.
"All of you out now. Including you Professor Norman." Lovell stated.
"Where's Nova?" Gibbs asked the professor.
Before she had chance to answer, they heard a groan from the wash room. Gibbs opened the door to see Nova witheringly on the floor, blood oozing from his arm. Gibbs and Ziva eased Nova up from the floor and helped him stand.
"I stabbed him with my scalpel after he attacked me." The professor said, "I was trying to stop him murdering your agent. And me." She held up her towel-clad arm.
"Gibbs, I'm ..." Nova collapsed into Gibbs' arms.
The nurse came rushing back in. "Theatre number two is ready for you doctor."
"I'm not asking again." Lovell said. "Everyone out."
OOO
Gibbs stood in the visitor waiting area, while McGee and Ziva paced around, sipping on lukewarm cups of coffee. Ducky was in the medical personnel room trying to find out what was going on.
"Why would he do it?" McGee asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "I know he hated Tony, but..."
"If I knew the answer to that McGee, what fun would I have interrogating him?" Ziva replied, smiling. McGee refused to respond to her attempt to lighten the atmosphere. She sighed. "All we know is he is the one who took Tony's paperweight. He must have had his reasons."
Gibbs started pacing in front of them, oblivious to their discussion. "It doesn't make sense." Gibbs said to no one in particular.
McGee and Ziva looked at one another.
"Boss?" McGee gently said. "What doesn't make sense?"
"If you are talking of Nova's hatred of Tony," Ziva said, "it makes perfect sense. Nova believed Tony stood for everything he hated: a disregard for regulations, a disrespect for authority, a dishonour towards the badge. He probably thought he was doing the agency a favour."
"He has an alibi for when Celina was killed." Gibbs said. "He was with us. And his hatred of Tony couldn't possibly lead him to kill an innocent woman."
"But he just tried to kill Tony!" McGee said. "Professor Norman said as much. He messed with his fluid intake."
"It makes no sense." Gibbs said again.
"Boss," McGee said. "I hate to say it, but do you think maybe you're wrong on this one? I mean none of us have slept in twenty four hours; we might not be at the top of our game."
Ziva shot McGee a look of horror. "McGee!"
"Sorry Ziva, but we know Nova tried to kill Tony. The professor had to stab him to stop him killing her too. How much more evidence do we need? I'll toss you for who gets the pleasure of arresting his sorry ass."
"You can have the pleasure of arresting him McGee." Ziva said smiling, "And I will have the pleasure of interrogating him."
Before they could discuss it further, Ducky made his way from the medical personnel room of ICU to the visitors waiting area. He saw the solemn faces of his three colleagues. He suspected they mirrored his own.
"What's going on Ducky?" Gibbs asked, approaching the doctor before he'd barely got through the double doors.
"Agent Nova adjusted Anthony's fluid intake, causing excessive fluid build up in his pulmonary and heart cavities. He's still in surgery having the fluids removed, but his respiratory system has once again been compromised and we have no idea the period he was deprived of oxygen." Ducky's usual calmness was beginning to fail him.
"How long will he be in surgery for?" Gibbs asked.
"Not long, although recovery will take longer. Doctor Lovell has called in the police. The Metro Officer is guarding Agent Nova and Tony's room is now a crime scene."
"He will be okay wont he?" Ziva asked, peering earnestly into the doctor's eyes.
"He has been through so much Ziva; there is only so much the human body can take."
"He's not going to be aright?" McGee choked on the words.
"It is too early to say Timothy. But Nova knew what he was doing, he hit Anthony where it would hurt him most; his respiratory functions. He must have known his medical history, his biological frailty, and tried to use it to his advantage, although how he knew Tony's medical history is beyond me."
"DiNozzo will be fine." Gibbs boldly said. "I've not given him permission to be anything else." He moved towards the doors. "I think it's about time we made an arrest."
"I think that's a very good plan indeed." Ducky said.
Gibbs phone rang as they were making their way down the corridor to Nova's room. He ignored the stares of the nurses and picked up. "What you got Abs?" After a brief conversation, he put the phone down.
"What was that Boss?" McGee asked.
"Final piece of the puzzle McGee. Abby found out who entered Celina Grantham's building; apparently Nova's more friendly with someone than we knew." He turned to Ducky. "It answers your question about Tony's medical history too Ducky."
The three agents walked passed the officer and into Nova's treatment room, while Ducky returned to the Medical Personnel room, awaiting further news on Tony.
Nova sat upright on the bed, holding his heavily bandaged arm and sporting a massive bruise on his forehead.
"Agent Gibbs."
"What were you doing here Nova?"
"I came to see Agent DiNozzo. I was getting him to sign some forms."
"These forms?" Ziva said, waving the documents Vance had instructed them to take with them to the hospital.
"I..."
"You what?" Gibbs said.
"I..." Nova was for once finding it hard to express himself.
"You've made Tony's life hell." McGee said. "You never believed he was innocent of the accusations against him, and you hated him for it!"
"You were the one who informed a contact about Tony's whereabouts." Ziva said. "You cannot deny that."
"I believed at the time that he was a fugitive. I thought I was doing my job, doing the right thing. And surely that proves I wanted him caught alive."
"There was a reward for his capture." Ziva said.
"Alive, not dead. How was I to know those idiots would shoot him or that his friend had drugged him?" Nova looked at Gibbs. "You've got to believe me; I might have hated him but I didn't try to kill him, I swear."
"What about the paperweight?" McGee said. "We know you took it. Why?"
"To give to someone else." Gibbs said. "A newly formed acquaintance."
McGee and Ziva's heads spun in the direction of Gibbs. "Boss?" McGee said.
"Always obey authority figures do you Nova?" Gibbs sarcastically said.
"I'm, I'm sorry Agent Gibbs. I was an idiot." Nova said, his head hung low. "She called me, said she wanted to get a copy of it done for her husband, for their anniversary."
"She?" McGee said, looking at Gibbs.
"That's why you came here tonight, to speak with her, not Tony."
"Gibbs? What's going on?" Ziva asked.
"As soon as I found out it was Agent DiNozzo's paperweight which killed Ms Grantham," Nova said, "I came straight here to confront Professor Norman, but I lost my bottle. She's a highly respected professional; even my father's heard of her. I couldn't go in and accuse her of murder. There must have been a mistake, a misunderstanding somewhere."
"Professor Norman!" McGee said.
"I decided to speak with Agent DiNozzo first." Nova continued. "He must have had two paperweights or Professor Norman must have returned it to him or something."
"You still believed Tony killed Celina?" Ziva said. She walked up to him and prodded him in the chest. "You are the worst agent I have ever encountered Nova. I have worked with animals with better judgement."
"Ziva, back off." Gibbs said. "Continue Nova."
"Agent DiNozzo looked so pathetic lying there, that I thought it wise to leave my questioning for another time. I didn't want him accusing me of getting his confession under duress, but I wanted him to be sure that I knew what he'd done, so I basically told him I was on to him, and that his luck was running out." Nova explained. He looked up at Gibbs. "Then she came in and ordered me out."
"But you didn't leave?" Gibbs said.
"No, I left, like the obedient dog I was." Nova noted the last bit of respect Gibbs had for him disappear. "But I went back." Nova hastily said. Gibbs look remained the same. "I knew I was being blind. It made more sense that she was involved in the murders than DiNozzo. She had access to all the drugs needed to kill Chaplain Mahoney and Colin Caller and the paperweight which killed Ms Grantham. It all became clear and I knew DiNozzo was in danger. I went back in and that's when she attacked me with the scalpel."
McGee looked puzzled. "Boss, I don't understand. What's Professor Norman got to do with any of this?"
"She is the 'N' in CSN Pharmaceuticals." Ziva said, looking down at her cell-phone and an email Abby had sent them all. "She was married to Peter Corby's father." She looked back up. "They are mother and son!"
"Norman knew the firm would be finished if details of Project Sesen were made public." Gibbs said. "She was protecting her son's livelihood and her own reputation."
"So I'm in the clear?" Nova said.
"Hardly." Gibbs sternly replied. "But you're not going to be charged with attempted murder. Consider it your lucky day."
"Gibbs?" Ziva said, "I just have one question. I assume Professor Norman helped kill Benson's father, so Benson wont be naming Norman in any deal he cuts with the FBI, so who exactly will he be dropping in it?"
OOO
The team sat at Tony's bedside. Tony sat unconscious but upright, allowing the remaining fluids to drain out of his lungs. The doctor had replaced the mechanical ventilation with a less invasive nasal cannula.
Doctor Lovell had indicated that the procedure had been as successful as they could hope for and that a subsequent CT scan hadn't demonstrated any significant brain damage, but that it was too early to say for certain.
"He's been through a hell of a lot." McGee said, as he sat on the window-ledge studying his friend.
"He should have told us." Gibbs replied. He was pacing up and down, the resolution of the immediate problem having brought the cause to the forefront of his mind.
"I agree." Ziva said. "He should have trusted us." She looked over at her friends pallid complexion, his lips still not returned to their normal hue. She saw the IV feeds plastered to his right hand, circulating blood, fluid and drugs around his system, this time at the right rate. At least the handcuff have been removed, she thought to herself. "You will not be too hard on him though will you?"
Before Gibbs could answer, Tony started stirring. The team rushed to his side. "Tony, you okay?" Gibbs asked.
"Okay." He sounded hoarse. Gibbs lifted a glass of water and straw to his lips. He took several small sips, before closing his eyes again. "Ziva go and tell the doctor that he woke up."
"We're here Jethro." Ducky said as he entered with Doctor Lovell.
"He sounded okay." McGee said hopefully.
"It's still too early to say Timothy." Ducky said. He studied the disappointed face of his colleague. "But the signs are good." He patted McGee on the shoulder. "Anthony has been through significant turmoil and distress both physically and emotionally, which means Agent Gibbs will be nothing but congenial to Anthony until he is ready and able to withstand the onslaught of his rather uncompromising if extremely compassionate team leader." Ducky's steel eyes matched that of his old friend. "Is that clear Jethro?"
"Crystal Ducky."
"Good."
"His vital signs are getting stronger," Doctor Lovell said. "but I expect the young man is exhausted, so may be flitting in an out of consciousness for a while. The fluids are also still draining out of his lungs, so once he is fully conscious, we'll remove the cannula and see how he fairs breathing for himself again."
"What about signs of brain damage." McGee said. "I mean his brain's been deprived of oxygen."
"I cannot say for certain Agent McGee, but I would hope that his brain functioning will be just as it was before." He smiled at the team. "I will leave Anthony in Ducky's capable hands for the time being. Just call if you need me."
"Just as it was before." McGee repeated. "Is that good or bad?"
"My Probie's turned into a McComic."
McGee turned to his friend, but Tony had once again drifted into unconsciousness.
OOO
Gibbs had taken Tony's continued sporadic journey into consciousness as an excuse to head back to the Naval Yard and get an update from Vance.
"Davenport has offered his resignation." Vance said. Gibbs was standing by the cabinet pouring himself a glass of water. "Secretary of Defence has accepted his immediate retirement. He'll get his full pension and benefits."
Gibbs moved to sit opposite Vance.
"I will be offering my resignation too." He waited for a reaction, but got none. "They're trying to trace anyone else involved in Project Sesen and determine if there's any case of criminal negligence. It doesn't look like the Second Chance Programme is under scrutiny, for the moment."
"I would think that and the arrest of a senators wife for paying someone to bribe Celina Grantham and set up a federal agent, may keep the media happy for a while."
"Yes, Fornell came good with Benson. Six thousand dollars paid by Sinclair to Benson: three for Benson, three to bribe Celina Grantham into stating she'd been physically assaulted by DiNozzo. Abby's confirmed that fingerprints found on the bills belong to Sinclair."
Gibbs laughed, but there was no humour to it. "I knew the Kellock's were involved. There was no way they'd let a pesky federal agent get in the way of their grand political plans."
"The worrying thing is, they'd have probably got away with it, had Professor Norman not decided to take things into her own hands and kill Ms Grantham." Vance said. "She's one dangerous psychopath."
"No argument from me." Gibbs replied. He studied the still tense features of the Director. "There's little chance of your true identity coming out Leon."
Vance smirked. "DiNozzo talked then?"
"No, but he's trained to investigate, as am I." Gibbs looked at Vance, as his shoulders sagged. "It's a hell of a weight to carry round with you."
"It was the right decision at the time, and I've never once regretted it. My father was a criminal of the highest order and my mother flew just below the radar of the authorities until she got caught trying to prostitute my cousin. I got taken away and put on the Second Chance Programme, showing just enough promise for someone to see my potential. To them my background was ideal: no commitments, no attachments. But I wanted something more than to be a CIA agent who no one would miss should I be KIA'd. I knew I had to reinvent myself and an old friend offered to help. I changed my name, changed my background, got myself a desk job as an intelligence analyst, met Jackie and the rest is history." He stared deeply at Gibbs. "My family are my only concern Jethro, I can live with anything else. I've told my wife and we're working things through. I have a meeting with the Secretary of Defence tomorrow."
"Before you hang yourself by your own petard Leon, you should know that your secret is safe with us."
"I will admit I didn't read DiNozzo right. I understand he's a decent agent with the same moral compass as you, but I can't take that chance."
"Are you saying you think we might blackmail you?" Gibbs laughed.
"You have to admit, two of my agents knowing their director is not who he says he is, leaves me a little vulnerable."
"You do what you need to do Leon. But if I were you, I'd wait for one of us to actually blackmail you, before you throw your career down the drain."
Vance shook his head, knowing he had a serious decision to make. He'd made difficult decisions before, daily, but this didn't just impact on him or his agency, if he lost his job at NCIS, they'd be no way any agency or government organisation would trust him to even open the post for them again.
Gibbs placed his glass on the desk. "While you're thinking it through Leon, I want DiNozzo reinstated as a Senior Field Agent with immediate effect and any adverse reports removed from his file and destroyed." He stood to go. "Then you'll speak to him."
"Consider it done."
OOO
It wasn't until the end of the following day when Tony was well enough to receive visitors again. He was still hooked up to the drips and being monitored every hour.
The team had gathered again in his room. Abby had taken Ducky to Tony's apartment to get him a change of clothes and some toiletries when the doctor insisted he stay in hospital at least another week.
"Tell me this is over now." Tony turned his head towards Gibbs.
"It's over." Gibbs replied. "We've got Benson for the murder of Langton Mahoney and Colin Caller and the false imprisonment of Steve's family. We've got Betsy Norman for the murder of Celina Grantham and we've got Rosemary Sinclair for attempted bribery."
"The funny thing is," McGee said, "the altering of your fluids was just the last in a long line of attempts by the professor to silence you: the bullet with your name on from Steve's gun, and the heart-attack inducing drug you had syringed into your system by someone. Ducky spoke to Doctor Pitt about that one. Anyway, if any of Professor Norman's other plans had worked, Sinclair would have been in the clear."
"You and I have very different definitions of funny McGee." Tony said. "Anyone else got any pleasant news they've just got to share?" Tony sarcastically said.
"You know you stopped breathing for a while." Ziva said, as she picked up and studied the medical clipboard at the end of the bed. "You were given mouth to mouth resuscitation."
"Please tell me it was you or a pretty nurse." Tony pleaded. "Actually, don't tell me; I don't want to know."
"Consider us quits DiNozzo." Gibbs said.
Tony's eyes widened. "McGee get me some water, quickly."
McGee smiled before handing over the glass and straw to Tony. "It could be worse Tony."
"I don't see how; no offence Boss." Tony sucked down some of the water and licked the liquid around his lips.
Ziva laughed at her friends reaction. "Why are you so bothered? He helped save your life."
"How would you feel if Abby had to give you MTM?" Tony asked indignantly.
Ziva leant in to Tony's left ear. "How do you know she has not." She whispered.
A broad smile appeared on Tony's face; the first in a long time.
"Thought that would take your mind off things for a while." She kissed him on the forehead. "We must go and write up our reports. We will be back later."
"Boss, I'm sorry." Tony said, once Ziva and McGee had left the room.
"I know DiNozzo."
"So, what happens now?"
"Nova's requested an immediate return to the FBI. Doesn't think NCIS is quite right for him; something about lack of rules, regulations and discipline."
"Lack of rules? Did you not teach him the 52 you have?"
"I only teach to those who'll listen."
Tony shifted uncomfortably in his bed. "And Director Vance?"
"Staying on for the time being. I've asked him to come see you."
"Oh." Tony said, worry lines creasing his forehead. "So does that mean I'm coming back or getting my marching orders?"
"You've been cleared of any wrongdoing and have been immediately reinstated as a Senior Field Agent."
Tony couldn't help but grin.
"Don't get too complacent DiNozzo; I haven't accepted you back on the team yet. Even if you didn't exactly lie to me, you certainly withheld the truth."
Tony was about to defend himself when he looked over to the doorway and saw a small crowd of familiar faces.
Henry Denby stood nervously tugging at the blue woollen hat Tony had bought him. Steve stood behind him, with Chloe in his arms, her arms waving frantically at him.
"Mind if we come in?" Steve said.
"No." Gibbs replied. "We were just about done here."
The two men walked passed Gibbs. Steve placed Chloe on the floor and she ran to Tony's side.
"Boss!" Tony called out, as he held his hand out for Chloe to squeeze.
Gibbs turned around, as three faces stared back at him.
"Don't be angry with him Mr Gibbs." Denby said, sensing the atmosphere in the room. "He's a good man."
"Good?" Gibbs said. "He's the best damn SFA I've ever worked with. You've got a week of sitting on your ass DiNozzo, before I want you back in the office doing what your paid to do. But I swear you do anything like this again, and I'll personally shoot you in the butt and pack you off to Montana myself. Understood?"
"Loud and clear Boss."
The End