Gibbs wasted no time, he got Marley into fresh clothes and rushed her out the door. He called Ducky from the door and the older man agreed to meet him at the hospital. Ducky had also agreed to call the rehab hospital so that Tony could be informed. Neither wanted to waste time going to get Tony if the hospital was leery of releasing him. Patients could be checked out but it had to be scheduled twenty-four hours in advance and there was only a certain hours of the day it was permitted. They knew it was an emergency but neither man was thinking clearly at the moment.
The drive to the hospital was a total blue for Gibbs. He had Marley curled up in the backseat and she was all was concerned about. He parked the car in the hospitals parking lot, grabbed Marley, and rushed inside. Nothing registered to him until he was standing in front of the reception desk, Marley groaning from pain in his arms.
"She has appendicitis." Gibbs announced before the receptionist could even knowledge him.
"Are you sure?" The receptionist asked.
"My daughter had it years ago I know." Gibbs insisted.
"Take these and fill them out, somebody will be with you right away." The receptionist explained.
"See that they are!" Gibbs demanded.
Tony flipped through the channels on the outdated TV that hung on his wall. The rehab hospital was relatively new and top of the line but the televisions and computers were for the most part at least five years out of date. They said it was because they wanted patients to focus on recovery and not on technology but Tony was still grateful that he had brought his own laptop and DVD player. McGee had even offered to set him up with a nice TV that he didn't need anymore after moving in with Delilah but Gibbs had vetoed that one. At least he would be out of here soon and he was going to buy all new gadgets once he was free. He knew it was idiotic to be worried about computers and televisions when he should be recovering but he needed a distraction. Marley and Gibbs were supposed to be here now but had yet to show. Marley was probably refusing to see him and after what he had done he deserved it. He was acting like Senior and it was disgusting. He had always sworn that he would never become that man. If he were lucky enough to have a living child yet now that Marley was alive. He was becoming Senior and it terrified him.
"Mr. DiNozzo you are being checked out by Dr. Mallard. Would you like some help with redressing or can you handle it yourself?" Nurse Marie asked.
"I can handle it myself but why am I being checked out. It is past the time patients are released and Ducky didn't say anything to me." Tony questioned.
"Your daughter has been admitted to DC General for acute appendicitis." Nurse Marie replied.
"Is she OK?" Tony asked.
"She is being prepped for surgery as we speak but the doctors are confident that they will get everything out in time." Nurse Marie explained.
"Who brought her in?" Tony asked.
"Gibbs" Nurse Marie replied.
"Good now I am not so worried." Tony sighed.
Tony managed to redress himself. He could only get on a pair of athletic shorts and a gray cotton t-shirt but it was better than before. Marie helped him with getting his shoe on and getting into the wheelchair. He wanted to walk but it was against hospital policy unless he was having Physical Therapy. They arrived downstairs and he was immediately whisked away to Ducky's car. He was fairly surprised how easily Ducky got him and his wheelchair into the Morgan. Until he remembered that Ducky must have done this a million times with his mother before she passed away. Ducky must have driven that old car at it's highest speed because they made it to the hospital in no time. Upon arrival Ducky got him and the wheelchair out in record time, before rushing him inside. Gibbs waived them over and Tony rolled himself to the correct spot. While Ducky went off to see if there was any word on Marley condition.
"The good news is that they don't think that the appendix burst. The bad is that she won't be able to visit for a couple of days." Gibbs explained.
"I can see her here." Tony assured.
"As long as you behave yourself." Gibbs warned.
"Yes dad" Tony sighed.
As it turned out Marley's appendix had not burst and she would likely be home by the following afternoon. Surgery had gone remarkably well but she would still be weak for a few days. The doctors were letting Tony visit outside of visiting hours, but he would have to be quiet and make it relatively short. Marley was still sleeping off the anesthesia. She had woken up but was pretty groggy and couldn't stay awake more than a few minutes. Tony sat at his girls bedside, his hand cupped around her wrist. He was so relieved that she was OK, that she would be OK, that she had been alive all this time. He knew that he could not correct his mistakes or Jeanne's but he could do his best to love Marley. To make up to her what had happened and to love her more than life itself. He had lost Ziva and AJ but he had Marley, and he had to remember how precious she was. The way he saw it he had gotten a third chance with Marley and he was not going to let it slip through his fingers. He certainly was not going to become Senior. He would always be there for Marley and treat her right. He would never abandon her again. Because the odds of a fourth chance were extremely slim, less than one percent actually.
"Hey baby girl, I am here and I am going to be here for you now. I am sorry for what I did and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you." Tony spoke.
A/N: This is the start of a three chapter arc that leads Tony and Ziva back together. Next chapter will be Ziva and AJ at the hospital and the next will be Tony and Ziva working things out while the kids get to know each other. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.