WARNING: (wow haven't done this in a while) GRAPHIC CONTENT AHEAD! Content may be disturbing to some readers. Reference to nonconsensual sex. CLIFFHANGER WARNING!
Thanks as always to my wonderful friend who has guided me throughout this story.
No Chains Holding Me
Chapter 29: Threatened
The director was fully supportive of Gibbs and his team checking on Tony—good because Gibbs and his team were already on their way over to Gibbs' house. The lead agent swerved in and out of traffic, his junior agents holding onto the handles over their doors, mouths set in determined frowns. Today they would neither complain nor comment on Gibbs' crazy-scary driving. Today they had to protect Tony. Who was alone. No one was there to watch his six, and the three agents heading towards him were acutely aware of how alone he was.
When they arrived at Gibbs' house, Gibbs sent the two junior agents around back to check the perimeter, while he headed inside. He didn't see anyone on the first floor. Speaking quietly into their com set, Gibbs instructed Kate and McGee to finish up outside and then check the second floor of the house. He was going to head to the basement to find Tony.
Stepping quietly down the stairs, not knowing what he might find here, Gibbs kept his grip steady on his Sig and his eyes scanned the room, quickly moving from one side to the other and back again as he made his way down the stairs. When he got to the bottom of the steps he turned around and glanced back up to the landing, and then turned around and looked around the basement again. He didn't see Tony anywhere. He didn't see Ari either, which caused him to breathe a cautious sigh of relief.
"Tony? You down here?" he spoke softly, his gut tingling. He should never have ended the call with Tony. Should have kept him on the line. Had that sonofabitch taken him? Hurt him? …Killed him?
Gibbs glanced around the basement one last time, before thinking he should head up and see what the others have found. Maybe Tony moved out of the basement and went to another part of the house. He put his foot on the bottom step and then stopped. There was one place he hadn't looked.
Turning around, he rushed over to the boat—still upright from the work he was doing on it and the tryst they'd had in the boat two nights before. The crate that he'd placed there to help them climb into the boat was still where he'd put it and Gibbs holstered his gun, put his hands on the side of the boat, and stepped up onto the crate. He peered over the side of the boat and his heart twisted at the same time he let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Tony!" Gibbs pulled the blanket off of his lover, relieved that he'd found him, and Tony blinked up at him in the weak light.
"Gibbs," Tony whispered. "I didn't…I didn't know where else to hide," he said softly. "I'm sorry."
"No apologies," Gibbs said, helping Tony up. He helped the younger man down, even though his balance was steady, it felt good just to have his hands on his partner again. "I've got you now. You're safe. It's alright." He drew Tony into an embrace, safe and warm, and the younger man all but melted against him.
"Did you find anybody?" the younger man asked softly.
Gibbs ran his hands up Tony's back and back down, his touch firm but soothing. "Not yet," he said softly. "Kate and McGee are checking around."
"I hope it's nothing but me overreacting," Tony said with a sheepish grin. "Although I'll never live it down if it is nothing." He chuckled at himself, but the sound lacked mirth.
"C'mon," Gibbs said, wrapping an arm around Tony's shoulders and steering him towards the steps. "Let's go see if the others found anything."
xxx
While Gibbs was making his entrance through the front door, Kate and McGee were working their way around the side of Gibbs' house towards the backdoor. They didn't see anything suspicious until they got to the back yard and Gibbs' back gate was swinging open, creaking softly in the winter midday. Kate pulled out her camera and snapped a picture. Pulling on gloves, she stepped carefully over to the gate and shut it softly. There were footprints in the snow, heading out of the back yard and through the gate.
"McGee," she hissed. "I've got footprints over here."
They worked quickly and quietly, measuring the foot print and photographing it as well as they could to get an idea of the shoe pattern. Once that was finished, they flagged the area, and the two headed for the back porch. The footprints near the gate started on the steps and it was quite obvious that the footprints were fresh—it had been snowing off and on all morning, so any footprints made in the early morning would have been covered up by the falling snow.
Kate raised her wrist to her lips. "Gibbs we've got footprints," she spoke softly into her com.
"I've got something!" McGee called from the top of the porch. He lifted his own camera and shot a picture of the large brown envelope that was duct taped to Gibbs' back door.
~We're coming up~ Gibbs buzzed through. ~I've got Tony~
McGee pulled the envelope off of the glass pane on the door and headed inside with Kate right behind him. The envelope was sealed, and in thick black letters on the front, someone had written "LEROY JETHRO GIBBS." The younger agent met the eyes of the profiler and both of their faces were grim. This couldn't be good.
xxx
Tony stayed behind Gibbs, but remained close as they walked in the kitchen. "What do ya got McGee?" Gibbs asked as soon as he laid eyes on the other two agents.
"Footprints leading from the back porch out the gate, the gate was swinging open and we need to dust it for prints, and this was taped to your back door," McGee said, confident in what he was reporting—maybe for the first time ever.
Gibbs' eyes narrowed when he saw the envelope and he ripped it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper. Tossing the envelope aside, Gibbs began to read, his anger building with each word.
My Dearest Agent Gibbs
I must express how unhappy I am that you have managed to curtail a good bit of my fun and games by your investigations. I am most displeased at how suspicious people in my circle of friends have become of me. It's degrading, even dehumanizing, to be so untrusted.
I think that it is only fitting, since you stole all of my fun, that I should be able to replace my fun with some of YOUR fun. I heard what happened to your partner—and dare I say it—your lover. It seems someone has already had some fun with him…perhaps he would enjoy a repeat performance?
If I were you, Gibbs, I would watch yours and Agent DiNozzo's sixes. I certainly am.
Warmest Regards,
Ari
Gibbs flung the letter onto the counter, a grimace of disgust on his face. "That dirty sonofabitch," he muttered. "Kate, McGee go fingerprint the gate and make sure it was Ari and not one of his lackeys who delivered this letter. I need to call the director and—" he stopped when he saw the expression on Kate's face change. She was looking over Gibbs' shoulder—at Tony.
Gibbs followed her gaze and turned around. Tony was white as a sheet. His eyes were wide and unblinking, his breathing was beginning to choke off into gasps of panic. Gibbs put his hands on Tony's shoulders and shook him a bit. "Ok Tony? Tony look at me. It's alright, you're safe. No one is going to hurt you. Hear me? Tony?" Gibbs gave him another shake, a bit firmer this time, but the horrible gasping continued and Tony's gaze did not move from the letter from Ari.
"He was reading over your shoulder I think, Boss," McGee said softly.
Gibbs glanced back at the youngest agent and then briefly looked to the letter. Perhaps he would enjoy a repeat performance. Gibbs turned back to Tony. "Listen to me Tony. You with me? Tony? AGENT DINOZZO!"
Nothing. There was no response. Tony was standing as still as a statue, his face pale, sweat beginning to form on his forehead, and his eyes were wide and seemingly unseeing. He was trembling from head to foot, and appeared to be caught in a memory.
Gibbs knew what that memory was, too. Dammit, he shouldn't have let Tony see the letter, but he didn't realize that he'd been reading over his shoulder. He pulled out his phone and flipped it open. He hit a button to dial a number then raised the phone to his ear. "Ok Tony," he said softly, running his fingers lightly through Tony's hair near his temple. "I've got you. You're safe. Hear me? You're safe. Cheryl?" he suddenly turned his attention to the voice on the other end of the phone, even as he maintained his soothing touches with Tony.
"Let's go outside McGee," Kate said softly. "Tony wouldn't want us to watch this, and we need to get those fingerprints done."
McGee nodded and began following Kate, both agents looking over their shoulders at their friend as they made their way out the door.
xxx
Cheryl had just returned to her office when she heard the phone ringing. She was about to call and check on Tony, but figured she'd be taking this call first. "Cheryl Hodges," she said cheerfully.
In the background on the other end of the line, Cheryl could hear someone gasping for air. "Who is this?" she said.
"Gibbs," came the voice on the other end. "I need your help. I've got an emergency situation here and I don't know what to do."
"Ok Gibbs calm down and tell me what's going on," Cheryl instructed gently, knowing full well this could set the man off.
"It's Tony," he breathed. "He called me at work a little bit ago, said he felt like someone was watching him. I brought my team to my house and they found a note taped to my backdoor making a blatant threat against Tony."
"Ok…" Cheryl said softly.
"Tony read the note over my shoulder—I didn't realize it at the time—and the threat was for a 'repeat performance' of what has already happened to him. He read it and now he's completely unresponsive."
"Is he conscious?"
"Yes," Gibbs said softly. "Well. I mean. His eyes are open and he's breathing, but he isn't talking or responding to me at all. I guess he's conscious? He's shaking and his hands are cold though…He kind of is acting like he's in shock…what do I do Cheryl?"
"If he's acting like he's going into shock then you have to take him to the hospital," Cheryl told him, grabbing her keys. "Which hospital do you go to?"
"Bethesda," came the soft reply.
"Can you get him to the hospital or do you need to hang up and call an ambulance?"
"I…I think…c'mon Tony, let's go, you're safe with me, always safe with me, c'mon let's go…Cheryl? He's coming with me. He's letting me lead him to the car."
"Ok good," Cheryl said. "Is there someone there who can drive you? You need to focus on keeping Tony as calm as possible, and honestly you're in no state to drive either."
"Yeah…Yeah Kate and McGee are both here…I can get one of them…"
"Ok Gibbs, I want you to try to keep Tony breathing evenly. See if you can get him to match your breathing. It sounds like he's having a flashback. When you get to the hospital call me. We are not going to let them admit him to the psych ward even though they will probably want to. Isolation and observation is not what he needs right now. I can help him, and once I get to the hospital I'll make sure they know I'm his doctor alright?"
"He can't go to the psych ward," Gibbs murmured softly. "He'll never be able to be an agent again if he goes to the psych ward. We have to keep him out of there at all costs…he'd never forgive me if…"
"Gibbs listen to me. Focus. We aren't going to let that happen. Now get going to the hospital and I will meet you there."
Cheryl got off the phone with Gibbs and climbed into her car. She dialed her secretary upstairs as she cranked the motor on her car and pulled out into traffic—with driving that would rival the man she'd been on the phone with moments ago. "Ellen? It's Cheryl. I'm headed to the hospital to be with one of my patients. It's an emergency. I need you to cancel my calendar for today and tomorrow." She hung up the phone without waiting for a reply and mashed the gas harder.
xxx
My Dearest Agent Gibbs
I must express how unhappy I am that you have managed to curtail a good bit of my fun and games by your investigations. I am most displeased at how suspicious people in my circle of friends have become of me. It's degrading, even dehumanizing, to be so untrusted.
I think that it is only fitting, since you stole all of my fun, that I should be able to replace my fun with some of YOUR fun. I heard what happened to your partner—and dare I say it—your lover. It seems someone has already had some fun with him…perhaps he would enjoy a repeat performance?
If I were you, Gibbs, I would watch yours and Agent DiNozzo's sixes. I certainly am.
Warmest Regards,
Ari
Tony couldn't believe his eyes as he read the note from Ari. Arrogant bastard…he kept reading. Perhaps he would enjoy a repeat performance…
Tony froze and for a moment he thought his heart would stop completely. His vision tunneled down into a pinpoint, focusing only on the words "repeat performance." Repeat performance repeat performance…
Images flooded through Tony's mind. All five of his senses were suddenly attacked by an onslaught of inputs. His eyes saw the dim light of the single bulb that hung from the ceiling, swinging back and forth—but was it swinging or was that from the way his body was being rocked by the attack filling his body from every angle.
So sweet.
Take it bitch.
Drink up asshole, then we're gonna have a party.
Such a tight boy.
Love this.
Gonna fuck you all night long.
Tony felt his nose being held shut, could feel the burn of the liquor as it was poured down his throat, and he felt himself wanting to choke and gag, but the lethargy from the drugs kept him from being able to do so. He felt leaden in concrete, unable to move, barely able to breathe.
The sounds of sex filled his ears, around the hateful, spiteful words that ricocheted around him. He was barely aware of the sound of Jeffrey and Lane arguing. What were they arguing about? He couldn't understand the words…what were they saying to him…what did it all mean? Why were they hurting him? Why couldn't he make them stop?
He could smell the liquor, the creek whose stench still clung to Jeffrey's skin, and the smell of sweat, heat, and body fluids. He could feel the thin mattress beneath him, the ache in his bones from being dumped down the hill and landing in the creek, the chill of fear up his spine when he realized he couldn't move…could barely think…when he realized there was no escape…he could feel the way the drugs threatened to pull him under, slurring his words, making it so hard to think, to move, to breathe…it was easier—was it easier?—to settle into the sensations—to enjoy the feel of blood rushing to his growing erection, to feel the—wait…he didn't want this…he wasn't supposed to enjoy this…feelings of shame coursed through him, and his breath came in even harsher gasps.
Where was Gibbs? Why wasn't he there? Wasn't he supposed to be keeping track of Tony? How had he lost his backup? What was going on? He needed to get away…to escape…needed out of this situation…the inky blackness—the tar was back—threatening to rise up and swallow him whole…he couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, there was only sensations…only the need to get away…the feel of their bodies slapping together, his body rocking—but was it pleasure? Or was it pain? It was difficult to distinguish between the two…he needed to get out…needed to get away…
But how?
"Tony?" He could hear someone speaking to him…calling his name…but they sounded so far away. Was the person outside? Who was it?
"Tony you with me?" The voice sounded so caring…so…concerned. He needed to figure out who it was, who was speaking to him? Where were they?
Tony looked around, forcing his head to roll from one side to the other, searching for the owner of the gently concerned sounding voice. He couldn't see them, but he continued to hear the voice speaking softly to him.
Tony blinked and stared up at his attacker. He could see Jeffrey White…face twisted into a jubilant sneer as he fucked Tony dry…there was no pleasure meant to be had for Tony in this act. Jeffrey leaned over Tony and just before his teeth met his skin to bite him again, the face began to change. Features on the other man's face began to distort, his nose became longer, his eyes became darker, the glasses disappeared…pounds of weight evaporated from White's face, and Tony gasped in horror as Jeffrey became Ari Haswari…and the jubilant sneer began to twist into a satisfied smirk. Ari completed the motion—moving his face down close to Tony's ear.
"Perhaps you would like a repeat performance," Ari whispered into Tony's ear, the voice haunting every corner of his mind.
Tony groaned and struggled, but was mostly held under the power of the drugs he could feel burning through his veins. Unable to move or talk, Tony merely groaned.
"AGENT DINOZZO!" The gentle voice sounded sharper this time, more…desperate? Was the voice angry with Tony? He wanted Gibbs…needed to find Gibbs…maybe…if he could just find a way to get away from Jeff—no Ari—no Lane—who was it attacking him? He needed to get away…then he could focus on finding Gibbs.
Tony vaguely had the sensation that he was moving…he had gotten away from his attacker…he needed to get moving now—he needed to find Gibbs…he didn't even know how he'd gotten here…wherever here was.
xxx
Once Gibbs got off the phone with Cheryl he began moving the younger man slowly through the house, talking to him the whole while—sometimes using a calm, soft tone, other times speaking sharper to Tony, doing anything he could think of to try and snap him out of the memory he was caught in.
"I gotcha Tony, c'mon we're going, you're safe, I've got you. Let's go Tony," Gibbs murmured softly, seemingly to himself.
He opened the front door to his house and led Tony outside. Tony bristled for a moment in the cold. He wasn't wearing a coat—Gibbs hadn't taken the time to grab one for either of them. "With me Tony?" Gibbs asked softly when he felt the younger man stiffen. Gibbs stopped walking and put his hands on Tony's shoulders. Eyeing him carefully, and quickly determining that Tony was indeed, not with him at all, he hooked one hand lightly under Tony's arm, the other held his elbow firmly, leading him carefully down the front steps and out to the car.
For whatever reason, Kate had locked her doors when they got out of the car. He whistled to get Kate and McGee's attention. While he waited for Kate to join them, Gibbs knelt down and scooped up some snow in his hand. "Sorry Tony," he whispered, just as he put the handful of snow into Tony's hand and wrapped his fingers around it.
The sudden burst of cold caused Tony to gasp and he blinked several times. "Gibbs," he breathed softly. "I gotta find him…gotta find Gibbs…"
Kate joined them. "What's up Boss?"
"I need to get him to Bethesda. You're driving," Gibbs told her. "Call McGee and tell him what's going on. Get him to call Morrow and get another team out here."
Kate nodded and hurried around to the driver door. She unlocked all of the doors and Gibbs began coaxing Tony into the backseat. Tony seemed to collapse into Gibbs' frame then, clinging to him and burying his head into Gibbs' warm shoulder.
It was eerily reminiscent of the day they'd found Tony sitting in the car at the storage facility with Jeffrey White dead in the back seat. Tony sank into Gibbs and seemed to be checked out, running on autopilot…obviously somewhere in Tony's mind he'd made the connection that he was with Gibbs and that he was safe, but was having a hard time finding his way back.
xxx
The drive passed quickly and peacefully, with Gibbs muttering reassurances to Tony the whole way, Tony mumbling softly about needing to get away, needing to find Gibbs, needing to get somewhere safe, and Kate trying her best to focus on the slickish roads and not so much listen to the men in the backseat of the car.
When Kate pulled in to the lot outside of the Bethesda Emergency Department, it didn't take her long to spot Cheryl or Ducky—both of whom were standing outside awaiting their arrival. Cheryl all but dove into the backseat as soon as Kate got the car stopped.
"Gibbs how's he doing?" Cheryl wanted to know.
"Been muttering to himself about needing to find me, get somewhere safe, and get away. I keep trying to tell him he's with me and he's safe, but…" Gibbs shrugged. "I don't know that he can hear me. I handed him some snow before we got in the car and it seemed to snap him out of it a bit, but not enough."
"Let's get him inside. You lead him," Cheryl directed. "Ducky go tell the—" she paused, smiling when she saw Ducky already coming back outside with a doctor in tow. "—the doctors that we're here," she finished to herself.
Gibbs led Tony slowly out of the car. A nurse appeared with a wheelchair. "Let's get him inside," she said gently. Gibbs guided Tony towards the chair, but the younger man suddenly gripped his arms, shaking his head wildly. Tony didn't want to sit. "Ok," Gibbs said. "He doesn't have to sit does he?" he ran soothing hands up and down Tony's arms, trying to keep the younger man calm.
"He really needs to be in the wheelchair, with him as unstable as he is right now," the nurse said gently.
"No!" Cheryl snapped. "Tony needs as much control here as he can get. If he's telling us he doesn't want to sit in the wheelchair, then we need to respect his wishes. Otherwise he's going to start shutting down on us and I have no guarantees we'll be able to reach him if that happens. He walks."
The nurse nodded, listening to the woman who was obviously in control of the situation. "We need to take him to triage," she told Cheryl, who nodded.
"Gibbs can you lead him inside or do you need some help?" Cheryl asked him. Ducky was speaking softly with Kate, no doubt making plans for the evening to come.
"I can lead him," Gibbs said softly. "Hear that Tony?" he addressed the younger man. "I'm right here. It's me. It's Gibbs. We're going to go inside now. Let's take a step to your left," he smiled as he watched Tony respond to the instructions. "Good, now we're going to go this way, through this door here," they were slowly making their way into the hospital. Gibbs had his arms hooked gently around Tony's ribs and under his elbow, providing support and leading him in the direction he needed to go. The nurse pointed them towards the triage cubicle and Gibbs headed in the indicated direction.
Inside triage, Cheryl hovered close. "Tony it's Cheryl, can you hear me?"
Tony didn't respond, other than to continue muttering about escaping and finding Gibbs. His eyes were on his shoes.
The triage nurse sat down. "Name?"
"Anthony DiNozzo," Gibbs responded.
The nurse blinked at him. "Your name?"
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs."
"Relationship to the patient?"
Gibbs narrowed his eyes. "Medical Proxy and Power of Attorney," he said, purposefully leaving off the fact that they were lovers. He didn't think the nurse would be amused by that.
The nurse nodded. "Annnnd reason he's being seen today?"
"Psychological shock," Cheryl provided when Gibbs hesitated. "My name is Dr. Cheryl Hodges, I am Mr. DiNozzo's mental health provider."
The nurse met the doctor's gaze for a long moment then nodded. "I need to check his vitals. Mr. DiNozzo?" she addressed Tony, whose gaze remained on the floor. He didn't respond. "Mr. DiNozzo I need you to sit down so I can check your vital signs."
Gibbs moved Tony towards a chair, but once again, Tony refused to sit. Shaking his head desperately, he began to murmur "no" repeatedly, clinging to Gibbs arms.
"Ok," Gibbs whispered. "Ok you don't have to."
"Gotta get outta here," Tony whispered. "Gotta find Gibbs."
"I'm right here Tony," Gibbs said, momentarily forgetting everything else. His entire focus was on getting his partner to recognize him. "C'mon back now Tony, and look at me. It's Gibbs. I'm right here with ya." He patted Tony gently on the cheek and the younger man flinched hard away from the touch. Tony banged his shoulder hard against the corner of the wall and let out a low whine of pain. "Hey easy," Gibbs said, moving in closer to Tony once again. "Easy Tony."
Tony blinked and looked around. Where was he? It looked like…was he in the hospital? How had he gotten here? And there was Gibbs—thank God—right in front of him.
"Gibbs," he breathed softly.
"Right here Tony," Gibbs said softly, nodding to Cheryl.
"What…what happened? How'd I get here? Where are we?" Tony looked around, still slightly panicked.
"Easy, take it easy," Cheryl said moving in close to Tony. "Let's let the nurse finish your vital signs ok? Then we'll talk. You're at the hospital. You're safe. Just relax."
Tony looked uneasily from Cheryl to Gibbs and back again before nodding quietly. He acquiesced to the rest of his vital sign checks, the nurse noting that Tony's blood pressure was very low—almost dangerously so, his pulse was thready and fast, his temperature was a bit below normal, he was sweating, clammy to the touch, and when asked, Tony told the nurse that he was dizzy feeling, and also quite nauseous.
The triage nurse wrapped Tony in a blanket, slapped a bracelet around his wrist, and told them to sit tight while she let the doctors know that Tony needed to be seen as soon as possible. Cheryl and Gibbs supported Tony as he slowly made his way to the waiting room, where he was immediately overwhelmed to see Kate, McGee and Ducky there. The only ones missing was Abby and Palmer, who were both still at NCIS.
Tony didn't speak to anyone, merely sank into a chair and curled up small as he could, and he bent at the waist to tuck his face into his lap. Gibbs hovered protectively, and Cheryl sat in the chair beside him and started speaking very softly in his ear.
"What'd they say, Boss?" Kate asked. She eyed Tony carefully, concern filling her gaze.
"They're going to get him back in just a minute," Gibbs said softly. "His vitals are all over the place. He's showing signs of shock."
"Anthony DiNozzo," a male voice called from the end of the room near the door.
Tony shrank in farther on himself, even as Gibbs and Cheryl moved to help him up. Together the three of them made their way to the doorway where the doctor had grabbed a wheelchair. "Have a seat Mr. DiNozzo," he instructed.
"No," Tony whispered, shaking his head. He didn't know why he didn't want to sit, but something in his gut told him to stay up, on his feet, so he could escape in a hurry if need be.
The doctor huffed, perturbed by his patient's stubbornness. "It will make this easier on everyone if you just have a seat. That way we can push you. You're in no condition to be walking."
"'m fine," Tony mumbled, still refusing to sit. "Shoulder hurts," he mumbled softly, one hand raising to the other shoulder—the one he slammed into the wall.
"He hit his shoulder while he was in triage," Gibbs said softly. "Do you think we can get someone to look at it as well?"
"Mmmh," the doctor muttered, turning his back on his patient and leading the way to the cubicle where he would be examined. "If he'll allow me to do anything," he said, a bite to his tone. He led them into the exam room.
"He's just feeling confused. He had a flashback to a traumatic event about a month ago, and he was unresponsive. He was conscious, but that's why we brought him in. He was displaying signs of shock," Cheryl said.
The doctor turned and looked at Cheryl. "Who are you? His mother?"
"No, I'm his mental health provider," Cheryl said.
The doctor nodded and made a note on Tony's chart. "You said he was experiencing a flashback and hurt his shoulder…I'll call up to Psych and get him a bed set up. We'll have to keep him for 48 hours."
"Nope," Gibbs said shaking his head. "Can't do that."
"Can't do what?" The doctor asked, looking over his glasses at Gibbs.
"You can't put him in the Psych ward," Cheryl said, jumping to Gibbs' aid. "The type of work he does…if a stay in the Psych Ward goes into his medical records he won't be able to continue doing his job."
"Well if he's hurting himself and having flashbacks it sounds like he doesn't need to be doing his job anyway," the doctor retorted.
"May I speak with you in the hall please," Cheryl said, her eyes dark with anger, and her voice very, very quiet and controlled.
The doctor fought the urge to roll his eyes, but followed Cheryl into the hall. Cheryl glanced back over her shoulder. "Won't be a minute," she said to Gibbs and Tony.
Gibbs eased Tony down into the only chair in the room, and the younger man leaned against him. "I'm so glad Cheryl came with us," he whispered to Tony, who nodded.
xxx
Out in the hallway, Cheryl pulled the curtain to give Gibbs and Tony some privacy, and turned around to face the doctor. "Here's the deal," Cheryl said, her voice still dangerously soft. "That man in there is a federal agent. He works for NCIS and was involved in an undercover assignment last month that went south. It left him pretty traumatized and he's been experiencing some pretty scary flashbacks. Now. You can listen to me—his doctor—who has been treating him since this all started, or you can walk around with your head up your ass and be a pompous know-it-all who knows absolutely nothing. I can tell you right now though that if that's the road you want to go down, I will take it all the way to the Chairman of the Board of this hospital, and they will know exactly how you treated this patient. Now. He has not been a threat to himself or to anyone else since this started. He flinched when he was touched suddenly and slammed into the corner of the wall by accident and hurt his shoulder. I suggest you find him a private room that is far, far away from the goddamn psych ward, or I will have you on a platter for lunch. We clear?"
The doctor tugged at his collar and nervously pushed his glasses up his nose. He was a nice looking man, dark hair cut short, combed over on top, light freckles and age lines on his face, and a gentle manner about him. Cheryl wasn't sure why this guy was having such an issue with Tony.
"We're clear," he said softly. "I'll order an x-ray for his shoulder and we'll find him a room. I'd still like to keep him for at least 24 hours just to make sure the shock passes."
"I can agree to him staying as long as you need him to as long as you put him somewhere that isn't in the Psych Ward. It would do more damage than good if you were to put him there. When he has his flashbacks he relies on the people around him to help him come out of them, and to help him understand what happened. If you isolate him in the Psych Ward it's going to do more harm than good because those people—his family—won't be allowed to visit—at least for the first day. Add to the fact that he'd not ever be able to do his job again."
"I see what you mean," the doctor said. "We'll make it work for him, don't worry."
"Thank you," Cheryl said, offering him a smile—a truce.
The doctor nodded and Cheryl disappeared back into the cubicle.
xxx
"So?" Gibbs asked when she poked her head back in. Cheryl quickly noticed how exhausted Tony looked. His eyes had deep, dark circles underneath them, and he was slumping against Gibbs with his eyes shut.
"They're going to admit him," Cheryl said and watched as both Tony and Gibbs bristled at her words. "But they are going to put him in a regular room on a regular floor. He isn't going to go to the Mental Health wing. They're going to keep you for at least 24 hours Tony to monitor your shock symptoms and make sure that you aren't having any complications from that. They are also going to order an x-ray for your shoulder."
"Shoulder's fine," Tony mumbled, shying away from Cheryl. "Just wanna sleep."
"You'll get to sleep soon," Cheryl said. "In fact, if you wanted to, you could crawl up on the gurney here and rest."
Tony shook his head. "No…no I want to go home…I don't want to stay here." Tony raised fearful eyes up at Gibbs. "Please don't make me stay," he whispered.
Gibbs knelt in front of Tony so he could look him in the eye. He took the younger man's hands gently in his own and squeezed them lightly. "I wish I could take you home right now," Gibbs said softly. "But I need to know for sure you're alright. But I'll make a deal with you." At Tony's skeptical glance Gibbs' gaze softened a bit. "I promise you that I will stay right by your side the entire time you're here—even in x-ray if they'll let me. I won't leave you alone here, alright? We're together. I'm not going to let anything happen to you and I'm not going to leave you. But we have to listen to the doctors, alright?"
Tony nodded, then startled badly when the curtain shifted and Ducky poked his head in. "Dear me," the old ME said, "I didn't mean to startle you Anthony. I merely thought I would come and see how you were faring back here."
"They're gonna keep him, at least until tomorrow," Gibbs reported.
"Ah, yes, a wise decision, I would think," Ducky agreed.
Tony seemed to slump in his chair even more. He really just wanted to go home. That wasn't too much to ask, was it?
The ER doctor reappeared. "We have a room ready for him," he said, looking nervously at Cheryl. "It's on the third floor, room 345. We'll stop by Radiology on our way up and get the x-ray of that shoulder. Mr. DiNozzo…would you uh…would you like a wheelchair or would you prefer to walk?"
Tony shot to his feet. "NO! I can…" he stopped suddenly, and closed his eyes for a long moment, then slowly blinked them back open. "I can uhmm…"
"Tony?" Gibbs said, moving in front of Tony, not liking how pale he'd suddenly gotten. "Maybe you better sit for a minute," he said softly.
Tony opened glazed eyes and stared at Gibbs. "'m…gonna…"
With no other warning, Tony collapsed in the floor.
TBC…
