Aw, Duck! Is this really necessary?
Ducky finished drawing blood from his unhappy patient. Let me call Abby and have her come get these vials and then we'll get you thoroughly checked out, Jethro.I'll be fine, Duck, really, Gibbs muttered, rolling his eyes. Just let me get some decent sleep in my own bed. His words were accompanied by the sound of the Autopsy doors hissing open.
Hey, Boss. I've got it all set up wow! That is a nasty purple lump on your forehead, isn't it? That must really hurt. McGee stopped dead and stared at his superior.
What do you want, McGee?Timothy will have to wait, Jethro. I need to take a look at those ribs, Ducky said, inserting himself between the two men. He helped remove Gibbs' shirt and began removing the wrappings. I'll need to get an x-ray, since our unauthorized departure left me without a proper set of records. Gibbs began his protests anew, just as the Autopsy doors swished open to admit Agent Balboa.
Ducky, you're still here! I was just going to drop off those files from Corporal Hersch's doctor. Hey, Gibbs, McGee, Balboa greeted the other agents, then asked, Were you waiting for some tapes from a hospital? They just arrived; I dropped em off with Abby.Thanks, Balboa. I appreciate it. McGee told him.
As he turned to leave, Balboa couldn't resist commenting on Gibbs obvious injury. Hey, Gibbs, nasty purple lump on your forehead! That must really hurt. He walked away, shaking his head.
Gibbs shot a glare at the departing man before fixing his gaze on the junior agent.
What are you still doing here, McGee? Get on those tapes!But, Boss, we have to discuss security for you, the junior agent protested.
Not until after I've finished this examination. Now, Jethro, please lay down so I can— Ducky was interrupted as the doors to Autopsy slid open once again. Oh, what is this? Grand Central Station? he muttered in exasperation as Tony and Laurie entered the brightly lit facility.
Hey, Duck! I thought you might have a few questions for Gibbs' nurse, so we came down here as soon as we got back. Tony then turned and took his first good look at Gibbs. Oh, hey, Boss. That's one ugly lump on your forehead. That must really hurt.
Ducky hid a smile, as Gibbs looked ready to snarl at the younger man. Nice to finally meet you, my dear, he said to Laurie, attempting to regain control of the situation one more time. Now, let's get this exam Once again, the coroner was interrupted by the swish of the Autopsy doors and he had to resist the urge to throw his hands up in frustration.
He watched as Hurricane Abby tore through the room, rushing up to Gibbs only to stop short. As she spoke she bounced lightly on her feet, as if she were only barely containing the impulse to wrap her arms around the man.
Abby, the blood vials are over there— Ducky began.
I came down as soon as I could. Wow, Gibbs, that's a really purple lump on your forehead. You know, that's a pretty cool color! I have some nail polish that's that exact She trailed off at the stares of the men around her. I'll bet it hurts, she added quietly.
Yes, I have a lump on my head! Yes, it hurts! Now can we all please stop talking about it? growled the wounded man.
Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs! Calm down! Yelling is so not good for you, Abby responded. Ducky, I'll get the tox screen started as soon as I get back upstairs; I should have your results in a couple of hours. So what was our fearless leader shot full of, anyway? Laurie replied, holding out her hand to the dark-haired girl. Laurie Bradford, Mr. Gibbs' nurse. Before the Stelazine he'd apparently had a caffeine overdose.
Abby laughed. Gibbs? Not possible. I've seen that man drink half a dozen large coffees and never twitch. He'd have had to take it straight IV in massive quantities to have a
Abby's words quieted the crowded room, as Tony caught Abby's stare and transferred his gaze to McGee who then stared at Gibbs. Ducky watched them as the realization hit home for each of the team members.
I know I only had two cups of coffee Thursday morning, Gibbs supplied. As one, Tony, McGee and Abby all turned to Ducky. Tony asked the question.
Could he have been injected with enough caffeine to cause an overdose, Duck?It's certainly possible. But why would anyone want to go to that kind of effort? Why not just poison him?Thanks, Ducky, Gibbs said, dryly.
Well, Ducky has a point, Gibbs, Abby responded. Why give you a caffeine OD and then dose you with a drug for psychotic anxiety? What's he up to?Maybe he's trying to make me look crazy, Gibbs muttered, as he raised a shaking hand to his brow. It was clear that he was tiring.
Once again the doctor noticed as a look passed between the two agents. It was Tony who spoke, however. You know, Boss, that's not such a crazy idea.Yes, well, I have an idea, Ducky interjected. How about if I examine my patient before he passes out? Will all of you kindly take this discussion elsewhere?
Abby stepped closer to Gibbs and rested her hand on his arm briefly. I just needed to know you were okay, Bossman. You take it easy; we'll get to the bottom of this. Then she turned to McGee. I'm going to start going over those tapes. Join me when you're done here, okay? And with that she left, blood vials in hand, the swish of the doors behind her.
Tony looked at McGee, before turning to the coroner. I'm staying with Laurie. When she's done with you, Duck, I'm taking her upstairs to get her statement.
McGee chimed in, I'm not letting him out of my sight. We have security issues to discuss.Oh, very well! Just stay out of the way, then. Laurie, my dear, would you be so kind as to tell me about the caffeine overdose? Ducky positioned Gibbs for a chest x-ray and motioned for the unwanted audience to move behind the shield as he set up the portable machine.
I'm afraid I wasn't in ER with Mr. Gibbs, so all I know is what was in his chart. She waited until the doctor had finished setting up the X-ray machine, then handed over the copy of Gibbs' chart she had made and smuggled out of the hospital. When I saw him he seemed much calmer, although desperate to get free and go after some man named Ari.
Once the X-rays were complete, the group loosely ringed the table where Ducky continued his examination of the bruised and battered body of his friend. And what happened with the Stelazine?I don't honestly know. I know I didn't give it to him, and he believes me. Laurie paused and Gibbs nodded.
I saw him, Ari stood there in the room with a surgical mask. Once I'd seen him he put the mask back on and took off. He had to have been the one to give it to me. Laurie came in afterward, but by then I was already out of it.How much was he given? Tony asked.
Nearly three times the normal dose, Laurie said quietly. Any more than that and it would have been fatal. Your terrorist certainly knew what he was doing.And I assume it was injected? Ducky continued.
There was evidence that his IV line had been tampered with. It's a safe assumption. Laurie agreed.
He's very lucky this wasn't fatal. How are you feeling now, Jethro?Like a science experiment, the patient muttered irritably.
He sounds pretty normal to me, Tony volunteered.
Ducky merely rolled his eyes and continued. And his ribs? I've taken x-rays, but what was the diagnosis at the hospital, Miss Bradford?Two cracked, Doctor. Again, it appears he was lucky.Mmm, save for that lump on his head. All right, my friend. Provided you take it easy for the next couple of days, and keep those ribs taped, I'll release you. But only into the custody of one of these two gentlemen. Ducky stared into angry blue eyes.
Ducky, this is ridiculous! I have work to doBoss, we have work to do. Don't you dare try and shut us out again, Tony interrupted. Abby already has proof that your car was tampered with and we're trying to trace your attacker from the hospital surveillance tapes. We're a team, Gibbs.
There was a moment of silence before Gibbs let out a sigh. I was only trying to protect you, too, he said quietly. But you're right. We all lost Kate, we all have a right to avenge her. The coroner met his gaze as he continued. I draw the line, however at staying with either one of them, Gibbs told him. I'm going home to my own bed.Uh, Boss, that's not such a good idea, McGee chimed in. Now it was McGee's turn to receive Gibbs's glare and Ducky tried not to chuckle. McGee stood his ground, though and pressed on.
Your car was tampered with in a secured parking lot and you were attacked in a hospital full of surveillance. Going home without security, Boss McGee shook his head.
Then, I'll just stay here, the older man ground out, frustration apparent in his voice.
Tony began, but his superior cut him off.
End of discussion, DiNozzo.