The Best Medicine
Gibbs lay in his hospital bed. He was sick to death of being poked at, prodded at, stared at, listened to, and talked about as if he weren't even in the room.
"I'm blind, not deaf," he finally said, pissed off beyond all reason.
The nurses looked at each other, and one of them patted his shoulder as she said, "Cmdr. Webster will be here shortly to go over your latest test results with you." Gibbs was about to launch into a tirade of some kind, but the nurses had already left to check in on their other patients.
When he was certain that he was alone, he blinked rapidly, trying to stop the tears that were inevitably appearing. In spite of his best efforts, however, he felt one slide down his cheek, and soak into the pillow, followed much too quickly by another.
He was startled to feel a gentle hand brush it away. He calmed his breathing, and concentrated on the clues.
The hand was soft, but not feminine. There was a familiar scent, one he smelled every day, without noticing. Sporty, expensive smelling, but not overpowering. There was another one, as well. Equally familiar, also subtle and light, yet definitely masculine. More traditional than the other scent.
A throat was cleared. Definitely not masculine. Not even adult-sounding. A small hand touched his face, guided, it turned out, by one of the adult's hands. The young voice spoke, feminine, and youthful. "Special Agent Gibbs?" she said, carefully.
Gibbs suddenly understood. "Sandy?" he asked, with wonder.
Tony and Tim exchanged a look of relief.
This beautiful little blind girl was just what the Boss needed.
……………………………………………………………………………
"Well," Kate pressed, when her colleagues had returned, with their special visitor in tow. "How did it go?"
"Okay, we think," Tony said. Sandy smiled, as Tim crouched down to her level, out of instinct, more than necessity. "I think Abby is in the lab, if you want to go visit her?" Sandy smiled widely, delight shining in her unseeing eyes. "Can I?" she asked hopefully. Tim chuckled softly. "You sure can, sweetie," he said, as he took her by the hand. "You remember the way to the elevator?" Tony asked softly. Sandy grinned, "Ofcourse I do," she giggled, as she expertly led Tim out of the bullpen, navigating her way almost instinctively around chairs, desks and filing cabinets.
Tony and Kate watched the two departing forms in silence, for a moment.
"I think she really did him some good, Kate," Tony said finally, sitting down. "I know he's scared, but already Cmdr. Webster is seeing some improvement. I think he can see shadows already. Sandy really cheered him up."
Kate nodded, sitting down at her own desk. "Does the doctor have any idea when Gibbs will be back to work again?"
Tony shook his head. "No idea whatsoever… why, Kate? Don't you like me for a boss?"
Kate grinned. "I refuse to answer that, and you can't make me, Tony," she said, with finality. They looked up as the elevator doors opened, and Tim returned alone. "Sandy and Abby are already engaged in some serious girl talk. I got out while the getting was good," he said, smiling at Tony, who returned the look with an understanding grin.
Kate giggled. "That's my cue," she said brightly, heading for the elevator. Tony looked at Tim, and shook his head questioningly, as Tim shrugged in response. "Women," Tony muttered, as Tim chuckled softly.