"I'm sorry Agent Gibbs." Dr. Pitt replied voice cracking.
"Wha... happen?" Gibbs asked struggling to from words.
"When the fire started I grabbed Tony and ran. We were two steps away from the first floor. Almost out. When a beam fell. I fell down the stairs and didn't suffer any injuries but Tony. Tony was pinned under the beam. I tried to save him but the other doctors made me leave. Saying he was too sick to be worth me risking my life for." Dr. Pit explained.
"Are you saying Tony's dead?" Gibbs asked.
"He's alive but he has severe burns on his arms and legs. He's breathing partly on his own the ventilator is at ninety-five percent again." Dr. Pitt explained.
"That sounds like good news." Gibbs replied,
"I'm sorry but we have done all we can for him. There's just too much damage to his body." Dr. Pitt explained.
"I don't care! Just help him! You gave him fifteen percent when he had the plague and even less of living a normal life afterwards! He was back in the field after a month! Help him!" Gibbs yelled.
"I'm sorry he's just too weak. Any medical intervention now would just prolong his pain." Dr. Pitt replied.
"So what do we do now?" Gibbs asked.
"I suggest you gather the rest of your team and anyone else close to him and you all say your goodbyes. Then I suggest we turn of the ventilator and let nature take its course." Dr. Pitt replied.
"O...Okay" Gibbs replied.
Gibbs stood outside the front entrance to Bethesda. He could not believe what Dr. Pitt had just told him. Tony had seemingly run out of lives. That bastard Jarvis had taken his Tony away from him. All because Pedro was Clayton's friend. The man had taken everything from Gibbs and he had gotten justice on his own. Why was Tony the one who had to pay the price? Taking a deep breath Gibbs withdrew his phone from his pocket and dialed.
"Hello?"
"McGee it's Gibbs."
"Boss is everything okay?"
"No McGee it's not."
"What's wrong?"
"McGee, Tony is dying."
"What?"
"Tony's injuries from the fire and his illness are just too much for him."
"What? No."
"I need you to get Abby, Ducky, and Jimmy and get to Monroe as soon as possible."
"Yes Boss of... of course."
"See you later."
"Right"
Tears were pouring down Gibbs's face. He was curled up on the couch in the ICU waiting room. Everybody else was taking turns saying goodbye to Tony but he could not face his son. He kept curling himself tighter and tighter. Wishing that he could just disappear and be with Tony forever. He felt someone lightly shake his shoulder. He looked up and saw McGee standing over him unshed tears in his eyes.
"What do you want McGee?" Gibbs asked.
"Boss Tony is really weak. You have to say goodbye." McGee replied.
"I can't McGee. I just can't." Gibbs replied.
"I know it's really hard but I also know you will always regret it if you don't." McGee explained.
"It's just so final you know?" Gibbs asked.
"Yeah I know." McGee replied.
"I'm just not ready to never see him again." Gibbs replied.
"You seem really stressed out. Would you like to go back to Ducky's and sleep for a bit?" McGee offered.
"No I need to say goodbye." Gibbs replied.
"Would you like me to come with you? I can stand outside the door. So you'll still have privacy." McGee offered again.
"No I need to do this alone." Gibbs replied.
"Okay" McGee replied patting his boss's back.
"Thanks McGee." Gibbs replied.
"Hey we're family." McGee assured.
Jimmy sat in his car at a red light. He had just left the hospital after saying goodbye to Tony. His friend was really dying. The worst part was the person responsible was the SecNav. Somebody who Jimmy thought he was an at least halfway decent human being. He had almost gotten Tony killed before but that was different. The first time was work related and Jimmy already didn't trust the man. This was just wrong he had actually planned out murdering Tony. Jimmy heard agitated honking behind him. He looked up confused the light was still red.
"What?" Jimmy asked himself confused.
"YOU SAT THROUGH TWO LIGHT CHANGES GENIUS!" Somebody yelled behind him.
Gibbs walked down the hall towards Tony's room. If he hadn't promised McGee he would do this. He would have bolted and be on his way most likely on his way out of DC right now. He stopped outside the door and took a deep breath. Before turning down the door handle and walking in.
"I'm here Tony." Gibbs whispered.
Jimmy looked at the light again. He didn't even notice that anytime had passed. He must have fallen asleep at the wheel. He was lucky that it happened at the traffic light and not moving down the highway. He instantly realized that he had no business driving. The light changed again and Jimmy drove until he saw an empty parking lot. He pulled in and grabbed his cell from his jeans pocket. He had no idea who to call. Breena was most likely sound asleep and he couldn't wake her. She needed all the sleep she could get. Both for her mental health and both her and the babies physical health. He thought about Ducky but he would most likely want to stay at the hospital with Tony. The only other person he could think of was Ed. He pressed four on his speed dial and waited for Ed to pick up.
"Edward Slater"
"Hi Ed it's me Jimmy."
"James is Breena alright?"
"Yeah she's fine."
"Is it Gabe?"
"No he's fine too."
"Then what do you need at this hour?"
"Can you pick me up?"
"Have you been drinking?"
"No I was at the hospital. My friend is dying."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"So can you take me home?"
"I guess so. Where are you?"
"You know what I'm in the parking lot of Jim's Sports Bar."
"About a mile from Bethesda?"
"Uh huh"
"Okay I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thanks"
"No problem."
McGee poured himself a cup of coffee. He never had caffeine or sugar this late at night but he knew there would be no sleep tonight. Not with two dying partners and the other one about to completely fall apart. Ducky was sitting behind him in one of the tables in the hospital cafeteria.
"I'm just really worried about him." McGee said.
"I am too Timothy. This loss may just be too much for Jethro." Ducky replied.
"Is there anything at all we can do?" McGee asked.
"Just be there and watch him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Ducky explained.
"Alright" McGee sighed.
"I believe I will go wait for him. He is going to need some consoling after saying his final goodbyes to Anthony." Ducky replied.
"Alright I think I will take Abby home." McGee replied.
"Have a good night and sleep well." Ducky replied.
Jimmy was half asleep and feeling dizzy. He looked at his phone it had been twenty minutes since he had called Ed. He had no idea how much longer he would have to wait. He rested his head in his hands. He hadn't felt this bad in a long time. Not sense Ducky and him had been kidnapped by Lincoln and those freaks in the woods and his blood sugar had dropped.
"Shit" Jimmy whispered reaching for his meter.
Sure enough his sugar levels were low. He grabbed the snack pack of cookies he kept in the car for situations just like this. Only to realize the container was empty. He forgot that Breena had gotten hungry last time they were in the car together. He looked up and saw a car moving towards him. The other car pulled to a stop and Ed climbed out and knocked on Jimmy's window.
"Hello?" Jimmy asked.
"Jimmy it's me Ed." Ed replied.
"Oh hi Ed." Jimmy replied.
"You sure you haven't been drinking?" Ed asked.
"My blood sugar is low." Jimmy explained.
"Come on I have cereal bars in my car." Ed replied.
"Alright"
Gibbs took one last deep breath. It was now or never. It was time to say goodbye to Tony. He stepped closer to the bed and pulled Tony's hand into his own. He closed his eyes and rubbed Tony's hand with his fingers.
"Tony I just wanted to say. That I love you so much. You were my son and the best day of my life besides when Kelly was born. Was the day I adopted you. Dammit son I should have done that sooner. Every second I was with you. Every thing we've been through good and horrible. I love you Tony. I love you so much." Gibbs told his son as he fought back tears.
Jimmy sat in Ed's car and ate one of Ed's cereal bars. While the older man wrote a note for Jimmy's car explaining the situation. Eventually Ed returned to his car. Jimmy started to fall asleep as Ed drove down the street. He found himself having his first vivid real life dream since the one when he was waking up from surgery after being shot. He saw Gabe about four years old running around the living room of Ducky's house. Eventually the toddler was scooped up by somebody wearing a black suit. It was Tony but Tony was dying.
"Jimmy wake up. You're home." Ed whispered.
"But you're dead Tony." Jimmy mumbled.
Gibbs stood completely frozen in Tony's room. Doctor Pitt had come in to turn off the ventilator. Everybody had said their goodbyes and this was the best thing for Tony. At least that's what Brad and Ducky had told him. He knew it was extremely selfish but Gibbs wished that he could keep Tony on the ventilator and alive forever. At least until it was his own time.
"Well that's it." Dr. Pitt sighed.
"I can't do this." Gibbs replied.
"I know this is rough but it's what's best for Tony." Dr. Pitt replied.
"I suppose." Gibbs sighed.
"Gibbs my Hippocratic oath says do no harm and besides Tony is er was one of my closest friends. I will always do what's best for him or I guess I always did." Dr. Pitt tried to assure.
"Wait what's happening?" Gibbs asked pointing to Tony's bed.
"I think he's. No that's impossible." Dr. Pitt replied.
"What?!" Gibbs demanded.
"Boss?" Tony asked weakly.
A/N: So Tony was as good as dead and came through at literally the last second. As only he could do. New chapter should be up Wednesday. Please review and thanks for reading.
A/N 2: I finally got my net book laptop fixed and should get it back Friday!
