Drury Parking Area
Gibbs pulled up close to the parking area where the car had been located, pushing the car into park, he exited his car, forgetting to close the door, he was in a hurry, the terrorist had a B plan, he was sure of it, as sure of anything he had been that Ari had killed Kate..
Ziva and McGee met him at the yellow tape, worried looks on both of their faces. "The hasmat team thinks the backpack in the back seat may contain Sarin but a bomb was placed underneath the car, the bomb squad is unable to diffuse it, it's nothing they've ever seen." McGee explained.
"And what about Ziva? Did you get a look at it?" he asked, continuing to walk towards the car, passing officers who were attempting to evacuate the area.
"I did not recognize it, it is set on a timer, we have less than thirty minutes at the least, but it might be best to place it in a metal container and blow it after filling the car with sodiumhydroxide. There is a problem though, moving the vehicle could ignite the bomb.
"What does the hasmat team think about filling the car?" Gibbs continued, walking forward, the car now in view.
"They think it's risky boss." McGee replied, feeling that they should get out of range of the blast.
"We have to do it though, or people will die." Gibbs commented as he walked to the back of the car, getting down on the asphalt to take a look himself, though he didn't recognize the type he stood and walked to the front of the vehicle, looking into side view windows, he noticed the backpack, it was similar to the one on Raheem's back. "Get hasmat and the bomb squad over here now, we need to fill this car with the sodium hydroxide."
"But boss, what if they won't?" McGee asked, knowing that they had already discussed the possibility and dismissed it.
Gibbs turned and got into McGee's face, "It wasn't a request!" he shouted at his agent.
"Yes sir, will do boss." he turned to find the man in charge of hasmat, knowing that he would have his hands full attempting to convince the man to do something he had already deemed too dangerous.
"Zivar, call the bomb squad back over, I think I have an idea!" Gibbs ordered as he rounded the car, taking in the contents on the seat and on the floor of the car, the were windows left down a quarter of an inch to allow the cloud of Sarin to escape. The bomb was located at the back of the car, it was not designed to destroy the car, it would just move the car, flipping it would assist in mixing the chemicals to create the chemical cloud, the B plan. They would fill the car with the sodium hydroxide, strap down the car so it could not flip when the bomb blasted. He had a plan, it would hopefully work. It would have to work.
Bethesda Hospital
ICU
Brad entered the cubicle, he would take Tony off the ventilator now that he could breathe better, the bronchospasms improved , he looked at his watch, it would be another hour before Tony's next blood gas, he would wait until then, he turned and left, leaving Tony alone in his room, Grace was busy with another patient who was having diffuclty.
A shadow crossed the length of the small room, the curtain concealing their identity, as they looked down at the supine form of the man who had stopped their plan, whose face had been on the television, the man who had placed Raheem Hussein into the shooter's scope, he would have to pay the ultimate price for his interference, soon. The shadow disappeared as fast as it appeared, the person had exited the room.
Grace entered a few minutes later, she had read the orders to get the blood gas as soon as possible so that Dr Pitt could take Tony off the vent, she looked around the room, something was out of place, but couldn't put her finger on what it was, just a gut feeling she had that something was wrong, that something had been moved. She shook her head, it had been a long day. She glanced at her watch as she walked out of the room, she would tell respiratory to get the blood gas at 1800hours.
Tony's backpack sat in the corner of the room now, it was just a matter of time.
Drury Parking Area
The parking lot had been evacuated except for the NCIS team, hasmat and the bomb squad. The car now secured by large metal wires bolted into the ground, the car filled through the vented windows with the sodium hydroxide, the timer was ticking down. Gibbs, McGee and Ziva in hasmat suits, ready to evacuate themselves if their theory was wrong.
The sound of the explosion thundered through the parking area, the car though stood upright,no movement as the back end of the car exploded, the falling debris minimal due to the car being secured, hasmat quickly getting readings, the air was clear. After several minutes they called it 'All clear!'
The car was then loaded into a metal container to be disposed of properly, it was deemed too hazardous to take to any lab for processing, the container or containers of Sarin inside could still pose a threat.
"Do you think this was the B plan?" McGee asked Ziva, who was trained in terrorism.
"I do believe this was their second chance but this does not mean they will give up, it only means they will be delayed." she turned and looked at Tim, "I'm going back to the hospital to see Tony." she walked away, just wanting to see her friend, her partner.
Gibbs stood in the background, it was still there, that feeling that he was missing something. Had this been too easy? He thought to himself, feeling that there was still more,still something that was being overlooked. He shook his head as he followed his team away from the scene, they had an agent down, they needed to be with him now.
Bethesda Hospital
ICU
1830
Tony's tube removal had been delayed due to a code in the room next door, but now Dr Pitt was focused on his patient, wide eyes staring up at him, the nurses holding Tony's hands to stop him from removing the tube himself.
"Okay, Tony, I need you to cough as I pull out the tube. Do you understand?" he asked his nervous patient.
Tony nodded, attempting not to panic but it was overwhelming him to have something down your throat.
"Cough Tony!' Dr Pitt directed as he deflated the balloon holding the tube in place.
Tony attempted but it wasn't happening, he couldn't produce a cough, he was too weak.
"Tony, you need to cough so Brad can take out the tube, I'll help you." Grace instructed as she gently pushed down on his stomach as he pushed the tube out with a cough. "Very good." she consoled her patient as she raised his bed into a sitting position, getting the sputum bowl in front of his mouth as he coughed up more green phlegm, tears now streaming down his face from the event.
"You did good Tony." Brad was taking off his stethoscope and placing it into his ears, listening to Tony's chest, making sure a lung had not collapsed during the procedure.
Tony remained silent though, his throat raw from the insertion of the tube and the exposure to the wind, he just looked up with appreciative eyes, glad that the tube was out.
Grace placed the mask over Tony's face until the doctor felt he could go to cannuli, within just a few minutes Tony's sats improved from the procedure and the order for nasal cannuli was given.
As Grace applied it she looked down at her sleeping patient, he needed the rest after what he had been through today, she thought to herself as she adjusted his tubes and wires then raised the bed rail into position. She would allow her patient to rest.
The team was coming into the ICU area as Grace exited Tony's room, Brad now sitting at the nurse's station.
"How is he?" Gibbs asked before anybody else could ask the question.
"Actually better than when you left him. He's sleeping now, I just removed the tube from his throat." Dr Pitt pointed to the cubicle, a sound asleep Tony was evident from the window.
"Can we see him for just a few minutes, I promise we won't wake him." Ziva asked, just wanting to see the man who had saved the day, again.
Dr Pitt looked over at Grace, both ready to leave their shifts, "Sure, but make it quick, he's had a rough day."
They nodded in understanding and walked towards Tony's small room, they could see that he wasn't resting well, he was restless, his eyes darting back and forth under closed eyelids.
As they entered they could hear him mumble, he was having a nightmare, of Raheem on the roof, he was begging the man not to jump.
"Tony, it's okay, you stopped him. Everybody is fine, I promise." Ziva's calm voice broke through the vision of the man on the roof, Tony's eyes opened, he was covered in sweat.
"Did he shoot me in the neck?" Tony asked, the pain in his neck was real, it hurt.
"Tony, it's a new line that Dr Pitt had to place, you're fine, we're all fine." Gibbs voice was low and calming to the man in the bed.
McGee picked up the cup of fresh water at the bedside, noticing that it was missing a straw, he helped Tony sit up so he could take a drink from the cup.
The absence of the straw was not lost on Tony, as he gave them a small smile, he took a few sips of the water, it felt good going down as it soothed his very sore throat."Can I go home now?" he asked as he laid back down in bed, his hand automatically going towards the tubes in his neck, which was stopped by Gibbs abruptly.
"Don't touch that Tony or I will head slap you." Gibbs gave him a smile, but his words were serious.
"Yes boss, but I hate these things." remembering his time with the plague and the multiple lines that he had received.
"I know. I know." he patted him on the shoulder and took a seat beside his agent.
"We found Raheem's car, it was loaded with a bomb and more Sarin, it's disposed of now though." Ziva informed her partner.
Tony nodded, he looked over at Gibbs, "What does your famous gut say?" his voice gravelly, knowing his boss as he did, if he felt like it was over, then he would accept it, but not until Gibbs was satisfied.
Gibbs ignored the question though, "Tony, you need to rest, I promised Brad we would only stay a few minutes, so we need to leave. I'm going home to sleep, it's been a long day."
Tony was not sure if that was the answer or not but he would wait another day and ask again. He waved good-bye as they exited the room. His tired eyes closed again, all he wanted to do was sleep.
Tony's backpack still sat in the corner of the room.