The last thought he had going about in his mind - Did Ziva get out in time?
The first thing that came to his mind was why his head hurt so much. It wasn't excruciating per se, but it was enough. His eyes fluttered beneath his eyelids, slowly gathering the strength to open them to reveal green orbs. With a low groan, his forehead scrunched in protest as he cracked his eyes open slightly.
God the light...The light was blinding. All he could see was white. His eyes closed again, but this time there was a voice calling his name.
"Tony."
He tried opening those eyes again, and this time in place of the light he saw the worried face of McGee. Tony squeezed his eyes shut once more to fight off waves of pain in his head, before blinking rapidly as he focused on his fellow agent's face.
Tony brought his hand up to touch the bandage which was wrapped across his forehead and around his head as he finally croaked out.
"Is this heaven? I know it's supposed to be sunny up here but this is way too bright."
McGee heaved a sigh of relief, even though the doctors had already said that the man was going to be fine. He helped Tony sit up slowly in the hospital bed, explaining "You're in the hospital. The doctors said you had a concussion. You've been knocked out for a day."
Tony took a while to wrap his disorientated mind over the fact that he was in the hospital. As McGee poured him a glass of water for his dry throat, he noticed the absence of almost everyone else. More significantly, a certain someone. This time, it didn't take even a second for his head to formulate the many questions that invaded his mind.
"What happened to Ziva? Sh-she was in the explosion too. She said she'd be right behind me. Where is she?" He asked suddenly, his voice strained and rushed.
"Have some water Tony." McGee advised weakly, his face giving away just about everything.
"Answer the question." Tony had a pleading edge to his voice.
"Your throat must be dry." McGee was buying time.
"Screw the water, screw my throat. I need to know what the hell happened to my partner!" Tony exclaimed angrily, his throat starting to irritate as he coughed.
Okay, that wasn't doing anything for his headache. What would help though, was if McGee answered his damn question.
"Tell me what happened, and damn well tell me now!" Tony's voice was threateningly low.
McGee couldn't stand to look the senior field agent in his eyes. Instead he just stood there with an apologetic face, eyes on the glass of water still nervously held in his hands.
"Say something. Please." Tony whispered hoarsely, his mind already fearing for the worst.
McGee's eyes flew in response to the broken voice of his co-worker and friend. How the hell was he gonna break the news now? He hated to see Tony like this, and he never wanted to hear that broken voice again if he ever had the choice.
Like a life saviour though, Gibbs swung the door open at that particular moment. The two agents had their attention on their boss instantly.
"How you doing DiNozzo?" Gibbs questioned softly.
At this, Tony's face dropped even further than he thought it could go. If Gibbs was being affectionate towards him, shit had definitely hit the ceiling.
"McGee wouldn't tell me what happened to Ziva, Boss." Tony's voice clearly displayed how lugubrious he was feeling.
"She's alive."
Tony swore he almost blacked out when the words came out of Gibbs' mouth. She was still breathing.
"Thank god." The senior field agent exhaled shakily, smiling just slightly.
Gibbs looked back at him pointedly, but it dissolved into slight sympathy and that's when Tony wished he didn't see Gibbs in the first place. He was just confirming his fears. Tony's face was one of pure fear now.
"It's not that simple, is it? Ziva once said that things are never that simple. Tell me...Gibbs." He choked out, afraid now more than ever about getting an answer.
Gibbs sighed. A heavy, heavy sigh. Some god up there sure did have impeccable timing. This had to happen, just a day after he got the person closest to a daughter he had, back. This was some cruel sick joke their makers were playing.
"Tell me!" Tony hit the bed agitatedly, panicking at all the answers he wasn't getting.
"C'mon DiNozzo, I'll take you to her."
"Oh god. What have I done?" Tony had his hands in his hair as his eyes fell upon the figure lying in the ICU.
If he wasn't already sitting in a wheelchair right now, he had no doubt he would have collapsed to the ground with no feeling in his...anywhere. McGee was right beside him, with one hand on his shoulder as a form of support. Gibbs was directly behind him, manning the wheelchair.
Upon Tony's audible comment, the two familiar figures standing by the glass panel turned around promptly. Abby and Ducky had somber faces on.
"Tony! You're awake!" The usual happy goth had long vanished, replaced by a teary-eyed one that hugged Tony the best she could from that angle.
He didn't hug back.
"What...what happened to Ziva?" Tony forced out as Abby still clung onto him, arms linked behind his neck.
He heard Abby sniffle before she pulled out of the hug, drifting back to hook her arm through Ducky's. It had to be something huge, because it was the first time he's heard Abby so silent.
"The doctors said that forty percent of her skin was scorched. Her bullae were punctured by shock waves. Air also entered her blood vessels and then her brain, thus she's in a coma. Her condition is still critical." Ducky, ever the doctor, explained with sadness in his voice.
"This- this isn't possible." Tony shook his head unbelievingly.
TBC
Greetings peepz! Been scrolling down some NCIS tumblr threads and saw some spoilers! Now I really really can't wait for Season 10 :D Tell me I ain't alone!
