CHAPTER 52
"Thanks dad. I think I am starting to believe it."
Gibbs thought about those words many times over the next few hours. Terry had interrupted their conversation when he knocked on the door. Tony, having had Terry sees him in all his glory on more than one occasion was not perturbed by Terry's presence.
"Let me take a look at that knee. I want to see if I need to go get anything from the office. Gibbs, I'll check your arm for you too." Terry was all business. He didn't like to see his friends suffer. Gibbs was now the pseudo father for Tony and as such, Terry needed to take care of him as well. Had it been Senior he wouldn't give two licks to help him. "Tony how are you feeling? Before you start, tell me the whole truth."
"I think the tub is helping. It was hurting this morning when I woke up. But, I've been in here for a while and it seems better."
"How's the pain?" Terry could tell the swelling had gone down but it wasn't back to normal yet.
"Not as bad as yesterday. Maybe a 5 or a 6 for the knee. Ribs feel better, just an ache." Tony really did feel better, but anything was up from the night before. He hated drugging himself into oblivion. However, the pain was too great and he couldn't accept it.
Terry knew Tony about as well as anyone. He knew it was hard for Tony to admit to not feeling well. "You do know it's sad that you can give a pain scale answer without being asked. How's your head this morning?"
"Dull ache. Was a little nauseous this morning but not so much now. I think it was nerves but dad got me to calm down. I didn't know where I was when I woke up." Tony was no longer making eye contact with any of them.
"Tony, it's got to be a little disconcerting to wake up with out any idea of where you are especially after everything you have been through recently. I would be more worried if you didn't get a little anxious this morning. But I want you to remember a couple of things while you stay here." He waited for Tony to look up. "It's me. You've known me for like ever and you know I will never judge you. This is your home away from home, always has been, always will be. No matter where I am that's home for you. You, your dad and grandpa need to make yourselves at home. If you need anything, let me know. If you don't feel well let me know. If there is something you want to eat, if I don't have it, I'll get it. Above all else…you never have to feel ashamed, uncomfortable or whatever about how you feel or what you are thinking when you are here with me. You are now and will always be my brother. So, think you can remember those rules?" He smiles as he ended. Tony was always one who felt the need for rules to make him comfortable. He needed the structure. He may have rebelled against it at times but more often, he thrived when he knew what was expected of him. Once Tony smiled at him, Terry turned to Gibbs. "I hope you can live by those rules as well. We are all a family, all of us brothers. This is your house for as long as you all are here. Please make yourself at home and tell me if you need anything."
"Thanks Terry, I appreciate everything you are doing for all of us." He looked over at Tony, "Can you help me get him out of the tub? I want to get that knee re-wrapped and check his temperature. He felt a little warm this morning."
Tony looked at Gibbs as if he had two heads. "I feel good." He didn't want them to think he was lying to them.
"You felt a little warm. I don't think it was enough for you to really notice with everything else you had going for you." Gibbs wanted to reassure Tony. He knew Tony hadn't realized he was possibly running a low-grade fever. With as upset as he had been before getting in the tub it didn't surprise Gibbs.
It took all of them a lot of effort to get Tony out of the tub. He was weak from his injuries. Gibbs felt awkward because of the cast and Terry was anxious to avoid injuring Tony any further. Once they had him settled back in bed, Terry re-wrapped the knee and checked Tony's ribs. Everything seemed fine.
"Okay Gibbs, lets see how you are doing. Tony relax for a few minutes. Once I'm done with Gibbs we'll check your temp and see what's up with that, alright?"
Gibbs seated himself next to Tony on the bed. He knew it was no use with any of these people to argue. Terry began checking Gibbs movement with his fingers and his capillary refill. Everything seemed good.
"Ok. It's looking good. The swelling seems to have gone down. I want you to continue keeping it dry and use the sling as much as possible. You can move more as you see fit but don't over do. If you let it hang too long it will swell again." Terry turned back to Tony. "It's looking pretty good. The swelling has gone down in you knee but you still need to keep the brace on. I think in another couple of days you and I can start doing some light physical therapy. That means I will be doing the work and you will relax as we go through the movements. Ribs seem to be getting better. Take it easy and I'll grab everything I need at the office. I'll stop and get groceries on the way back, is there anything…"
"Coffee." Gibbs didn't even let Terry finish. He was anxious for some coffee.
Terry and Tony laughed. "I told you he was an addict. I would get a lot of coffee if I were you. He drinks it non-stop. Could you get me some hazelnut creamer?"
Gibbs snickered. Yes snickered. Tony and his hazelnut creamer. Thank God for something normal.
Ziva prowled around the apartment building. She didn't want to be seen. The tools of her trade were packed into her backpack. All she needed to do was to get to Tony's apartment. How dare he think he can out smart me! I will kill him in his sleep. There will be no doubt I am the better agent. I can hear it now, "He couldn't even protect himself in his own home?"
Ziva crept up the back steps. Once on the Tony's floor she checked to make sure no one was around. Quietly she made her way down the hall and then picked the lock to get into Tony's apartment. One way or another she was supposed to get rid of Tony DiNozzo. Her father had wanted to destroy NCIS from the inside out. She had tried to make Tony look incompetent. She had helped frame him for murder. Now she was going to take a more direct approach. She was going to terminate Tony.
She kept the lights off as she made her way into the apartment. She had been in here before, when she was providing information to Ari. Nothing had changed. She checked the couch but Tony wasn't there so she moved on down the hall. She took out her knife. She wanted to see the look of terror in his eyes as she ground the knife into his chest.
Her anger turned to fury as she made her way to the bed and discovered it empty. She raised the knife above her head and drove it in all her fury into the mattress. For the next ten minutes, she shredded Tony's bed and sheets. When she finished destroying the bed, she began to break anything in site.
It had been an hour since she had entered the apartment. Her anger had only mildly settled. He may not be here but I will find him. For now, I will destroy everything he owns and treasures.
She took out additional items from her bag. The fire would be contained to the apartment with no one else being affected. She placed the device in the middle of kitchen. She set the timer and then quickly made her way out. She would be able to see the flames from outside.
