Chapter 17.
Gibbs stayed where he was next to Tony's bed until he was sure that he wasn't going to wake up any time soon. He needed to talk to Tony's doctor. He had to find out what was wrong with his agent. Because something was still wrong with Tony. It seemed like he couldn't really follow along in the conversation they had had earlier. Tony had said that he had just answered what Abby had asked him. And he had, but both Gibbs and Abby had assumed that he had been joking, but apparently he hadn't. It was like he couldn't understand the situation. The fact that he couldn't do that scared Gibbs. Was it something wrong with his head?
He found the doctor before he could find Abby. He had thought that she would be close, but she wasn't in sight. He explained to the doctor what had happened and how Tony had seemed. He didn't seem all that worried though. He promised that someone would come by and examine Tony later.
Gibbs set out to find Abby after that. He found her and Ducky in the cafeteria. Abby had a large caf-pow in front of her. He explained that Tony was fine now and sleeping and that the doctor knew about the situation. She didn't seem all that convinced but left it alone.
"He wasn't mad at me right?" she asked. "I didn't mean to hurt him or make him upset."
"I know that Abby. DiNozzo was just worried about you."
"Let's get back to the boy and see how he is doing." Ducky suggested.
Tony was still asleep when they got there, but they took a seat in his room anyway. Ducky and Abby had a whispered conversation and Gibbs sat silently and observed his agents and listened to them. Suddenly his cell phone rang, and woke Tony up. It was McGee that announced that they had a new case, that they couldn't get out of, Tim had already tried he said.
"What's going on boss?" Tony groggily asked.
"You feel okay DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, ignoring his question.
"Yeah. I'm good." He said. "Do we have a case?"
"We do, not you."
"But I feel fine now."
Gibbs glared at him.
"Okay, I don't feel so bad. I don't really need to be here anymore. Maybe I can go with you and just rest at the office."
All three of his colleagues protested, until he reluctantly agreed that he would be a good boy and stay at the hospital.
"Are you sure you are okay staying here by yourself Tony?" Abby asked. Gibbs could see something unfamiliar pass over Tony's facial expression, but he answered her just like he expected him to do.
"Yes, Abby I'm fine. You go and catch some bad guys."
They all took farewell from him, and told him that they would be back later.
"Yeah, maybe you could close the case fast." Tony said. "Even though it will be harder for you without me."
"See you later DiNozzo. Behave." Gibbs told him from the door way.
"I always behave boss."
"Call me if you need anything." Abby told him and kissed him on the cheek. Then they were gone.
– NCIS –
Tony watched the door close behind them. He wished he could go with them, and not be stuck here all by himself. He hadn't want them to leave. He played it cool of course, but he had wanted to ask them to stay. At least one of them. Why did they all have to go?
He didn't know why he still felt like this, like he didn't want to be alone. It was not like he was in any danger. Not that he wouldn't be able to defend himself if he was. He felt pretty good actually. A bit more tired than usual, but other than that it didn't hurt anywhere anymore. He just felt a bit messed up in the head. And maybe he was. Or apparently he was since all he wanted to do know was to call Gibbs and ask him to come back, or maybe come back and then take him with him. He just felt anxious here, and a bit scared. But he had kind of promised to stay here, and he didn't want to make them upset with him. He really didn't want to do that. It felt like it would be a really bad thing. After all, if his colleagues got mad at him, he wouldn't have anyone left. He didn't have any other friends that he could call that would come and stay with him. It was only the people at NCIS. He didn't have anyone else. Or did he? Of course he had his father.
His father was his family, and family was supposed to be there for each other. He had been on pretty good terms with his dad lately. Maybe he could come over and sit with him for a while. It was not so much to ask, and his father wanted them to spend time together, Tony knew that. His father had hardly ever been there for him as a child when he needed him to. And now in the hospital bed Tony suddenly longed for his father in a way he hadn't done since he was that abandoned child.
Surely he would come if he called him. Tony fumbled for his phone that Abby had put on the nightstand to his right. He found it and pressed a few buttons until his father's number was showing on the screen. He dialed. Five signals went through before his father answered.
"Yes?"
"Hi dad."
"Tony?"
"Yeah. How are you doing dad?"
"I'm fine, Junior. What's on your mind? I was just about to…" Tony interrupted him.
"I was just wondering if you are busy?"
"Actually son, I'm heading out of the country in a few days."
"All right. But dad, I was just going to ask if you maybe could come and visit me?"
"You want me to come and visit? Did something happen?" Tony wanted to sigh, of course he would ask that. His father knew him better then he thought. He hesitated for a second, unsure if he should tell him what happened or not.
"I'm in the hospital."
"You are? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine now. I was poisoned, but it is pretty much out of my system."
"Oh. Well that's good then. So you are okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just bored. I'm not allowed to leave here yet. So I just thought if you aren't busy you could drop by."
His father got quiet for a moment before he hesitantly answered.
"Look Tony, of course I would come and spend some time with you…" He paused and Tony knew what was coming next. "The thing is that I have another arrangement in just a moment that I really do have to attend to."
"But dad…" he said.
"Now Junior, you said it wasn't anything serious, except that you are bored. I'm sure you can figure something else out to keep you occupied. Can't you?"
Disappointment flowed over him. "So it's a no then?" He wanted to know for sure.
"Unfortunately it is Junior." His father said. "If that's all? It was nice talking to you son. Good bye."
"Bye." He heard a click from the other side and then nothing. He stared at the phone in his hand for a second. He didn't know why he felt so incredibly disappointed by his father turning him down, it was kind of expected after all. But still, not even his own father, his only family wanted to come and spend time with him in the hospital. What was wrong with him?
He had no one left to call now. Everyone at NCIS was busy now. They wouldn't want him to bother them. Besides if he called any of them and asked if they could come and keep him company because he didn't want to be alone there, he was pretty sure that they would laugh at him and think that he was joking. Well, maybe not Gibbs. He had given him a weird look before he left earlier. Like he had somehow known. But then he left anyway, so probably not. Either that or he didn't care.
Tony never asked them for anything, surely he would be entitled to ask for this. Just spend some time with him, they could stand that right? But his pride stopped him from calling and asking them to come.
No, his dad had been his only other option. He had failed him again. He was so stupid for believing that he might show up one day. He never had been there before, why would he be this time? No, of course he wasn't going to show. Tony was an idiot. But he really had wanted him to come. It would have been so nice if he had showed up, just for once. Suddenly he felt tears well up in his eyes. He tried to blink them away but more kept coming. He angrily wiped them away and cursed himself for letting this affect him so much. He shouldn't be surprised. Surprised was one thing, but disappointed another. He had wanted him to come so badly he realized, and now he wasn't. No one was coming for him. He didn't bother to try and stop the tears any more. It wasn't like anyone were there to see it anyway.
– NCIS –
The case turned out to be pretty complicated. Gibbs understood why they insisted on all of them there. But Gibbs found that he couldn't really focus, his thoughts kept wandering, and McGee asked him the same question three times before he realized that the younger man was talking with him. He just grunted out an order and stepped to the side for a moment, waiting for Ducky to finish his initial examination of the dead body in front of him.
His thoughts kept coming back to Tony. He hadn't felt comfortable having to leave him there. He couldn't forget that look that had crossed Tony's face before at the hospital. He also couldn't get rid of this gut feeling he had that everything wasn't right with Tony. Something was still wrong with him, he just knew it.
"Jethro? Are you alright?" Ducky was suddenly in front of him.
"What? Yeah."
"Something has you preoccupied. Might it be our young friend at the hospital?"
"Something is still wrong with him Ducky. He wasn't himself."
"That is to be expected Jethro, the drug he was exposed to was pretty strong. He will be fine."
Gibbs nodded. He knew that. Tony would be fine, but he wasn't now.
"Let's wrap this up Ducky." He said, and went to order Ziva and McGee to do the same. He needed to get back to the hospital.
It took him an hour before things were under enough control so that he could leave. He didn't tell the other two agents where he was going, but he was pretty sure that they knew already.
Gibbs noticed that something was different as soon as he opened the door to Tony's hospital room. He quietly closed the door behind him and made his way into the room.
The sight that greeted him made him stop in his tracks. Tony was flat on his back on the bed, staring straight forward, and he was crying. He wasn't moving at all, the only motion around his person was the tears that streamed down his face. He wasn't making any sounds at all. He looked so small and sad.
"Tony?" He quietly said, not to startle him. It didn't work, because Tony jerked on the bed and his eye went wide in surprise of seeing Gibbs standing there.
"Boss!" He exclaimed. "You're back." he said and his voice broke a little. "You came back." He repeated, as if he couldn't believe it. "Thank you." He whispered next.
"How are you doing DiNozzo?" He dragged a chair closer to the bed and sat down.
"Not great, boss."
"You in pain?" Tony shook his head. They were quiet for a moment, Gibbs waiting on Tony to start talking.
"I called my dad." Tony said after a while. "He wouldn't come." Gibbs didn't say the things he wanted to say, it included some bad words. All that man did was causing Tony heartache. It wasn't right, it was his father for god sake, the one man that should always be there for Tony, but never seemed to be.
Tony wiped his face, and Gibbs handed him a tissue from the night stand.
"I just really wanted him to come and he said no." He laughed a dry laugh. "I don't know what's wrong with me for actually thinking that he might show."
"There is nothing wrong with you."
"I didn't want to be here alone." Tony said and bit his lip.
"You aren't."
"Did you leave the scene?" He asked.
"No, we are done with it."
"Okay."
"Ziva and Tim are fine on their own for a while." He said.
"Thank you, boss." Tony whispered.
Gibbs ended up staying for two more hours with Tony at the hospital. Tony had stopped crying pretty quickly, but wouldn't really talk to him now. He claimed that he was tired and wanted to sleep, but he didn't close his eyes, even though Gibbs ordered him to do so. When Tony didn't, he just decided to let him be. He felt that now was not the time to push his agent. He just sat there next to him as Tony fought sleep.
Gibbs did have to leave after that when the medical personal kicked him out. He assured Tony that he would be back later and Tony told him he didn't have to. But the look on the younger man's face said something else.
Gibbs went back to the office and worked on the case, before he knew it was getting dark outside, and he remembered his promise to Tony.
Gibbs felt kind of bad when he was in the car on his way over there again. Tony probable thought that he wouldn't show. Just like his dad hadn't. He had been surprised when Tony told him that he had called his father. It showed just how much Tony had wanted company, for him to actually call his old man. However he didn't show, no surprise there, but Tony had seemed really disappointed. It angered Gibbs that Tony then thought he was stupid for expecting something from his father that he had never lived up to before.
Before he stepped into to Tony's room he went to speak to his doctor. He was pretty sure that drug was completely out of Tony's system by now. He said that he thought Tony was fine, and he could be released if he had someone to take him home and to keep an eye on him during the next twenty-four hours. Gibbs said that he had. He just wanted to know one more thing though.
"What about his head? He was acting strange and confused before."
"There is nothing to worry about. He might act a bit out of character for the next few days. People have different reactions to drugs and Tony seems like he is prone to the side effects. He has met with our physiatrist, and she deemed him stable."
"Good."
"Do you have any other questions?"
"No. That was it. Thank you."
Tony might act out of character. That was certainly true. The Tony he had left at the hospital earlier hadn't been his normal agent. But Tony would be fine, he would make sure of it. They have had some pretty hectic and scary days, but things seemed to be over now. The crazy woman was behind bars, Tony was getting better and would come and stay with him for a few days now, whether he wanted to or not. Something told him however that Tony wouldn't object. Things would be fine.
– NCIS –
He had been staring at the door for what felt like hours now. He had been examined and had to talk to a psychiatrist which made him a bit annoyed. Did they think he was crazy? Sure he had felt a bit different and confused, but he wasn't crazy. He got a bit worried though when he was asked a bunch of questions that he didn't really want to answer, or think of. He managed to get her of his back eventually, and see seemed satisfied. He had been left alone after that. It had been hours and hours. He really thought that Gibbs was going to come back, he had said that he would, and Tony didn't really think that he would listen when he said he didn't have to. He regretted that now. Of course he wanted Gibbs to be there. Anyone really.
He didn't think it was that much to ask to just sit with him. He knew that his colleagues liked him, but the thing was that they didn't know that he wanted company, and they wouldn't figure it out themselves. They wouldn't think like that about him. He was always managing on his own, and that's how they saw him. But now, he didn't really feel like that person. He wished for comfort, for company. That was why he had been staring at the door, hoping.
But it had been hours now, and he was getting unsure. Maybe Gibbs wouldn't show up. Could he call him? The thing was that they had a case, and they were already a man short, him being gone and all. He shouldn't bother them. He couldn't.
So now he was just hoping.
And it worked! Suddenly the door opened and Gibbs was standing there and thirty minutes later they were heading out of the hospital doors. He was going home.
He felt a little shaky and tired still. Like after a really bad stomach flu, but at least he didn't have to use a wheelchair. Gibbs opened the car door for him and he got in. They hadn't really spoken yet. Gibbs just gave him short orders like "Don't fall on your ass DiNozzo" when he shakily had gotten out of the bed to change clothes, or "Watch your head" when he got into the car. He had complied.
He didn't really talk as they started driving, and Gibbs kept throwing him side way glances, he was probably worried about him, since he wasn't talking like he normally would. He just didn't feel like it. And Gibbs didn't say anything either. A few minutes into the drive he noticed something that made him react.
"Eh…Boss? This isn't the way to my place."
"I know."
"Okay…So are we going to the office first?"
"We are going to my place. You will be sleeping on my couch tonight Tony."
"Oh, okay." Was all he said. Truth be told he was relieved. He hadn't really looking forward to going home to his empty apartment.
"That's alright Tony?" Gibbs suddenly asked.
"Yeah boss. It is. Thank you."
Gibbs just nodded his head once, and Tony leaned back in his seat. He felt like he could finally relax. This whole ordeal was finally over.
They had dinner and Tony was starting to feel more like himself. He suggested that they would watch a movie and Gibbs agreed. After the movie ended Gibbs set up the bed for him while he went to take a shower.
Gibbs said good night and went to his bedroom. Tony laid there for a while thinking about the events that led up to this moment. All of this because he upset some crazy lady with access to poison. The whole thing could have ended very differently. He had been a bit stupid after all, drinking the whole bottle, but how could he have known what was going to happen? He had kind of made a fool of himself in front of his colleagues, but he was pretty sure they wouldn't use it against him. And now he was on Gibbs' couch. He was asleep moments later.
– NCIS –
Gibbs groggily sat up in bed. Something had woke him. What the hell was it? Then he remembered. Tony! Tony was on his couch, and he was what had woken him. He was downstairs just seconds later. Tony was trashing around on the couch, making whimpering sounds that Gibbs didn't realize that the younger man was capable of doing. He was clearly trapped in a nightmare, from the dim light he could see perspiration on his forehead. He was next to his agents in a few strides and kneeled beside him. He shook his shoulder carefully to wake him.
"Tony? Hey, wake up. It's okay."
Tony opened panicked eyes and looked around. He was breathing heavily.
"What's…What's going boss?" He whispered.
"Nothing is going on. You were having a nightmare."
"Oh…okay." He was still breathing erratically.
"Tony, hey, calm down. I got your six."
He did calm down after that. Gibbs was silently sitting next to him the whole time when while he took deep calming breaths. They stayed like that for a while as the night turned into day. Tony whispered out into the room.
"Thank you boss, it means a lot to know that you got my six."
"Just don't get poisoned again DiNozzo."
– The End –
I haven't updated this story in for ever now, so I thought it was time to end this story. Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing, and I hope you like the ending and enjoyed this story.