Tony literally skidded past the admittance desk of the hospital in his haste and turning wildly, frantically saw Abby, Gibbs and Ziva walking quickly towards him.
A thousand thoughts were colliding in his head and he couldn't get them into any order to enable him to speak. Suddenly he found himself swept into an Abby hug, which took away his capacity to breath as well as speak.
"Its ok Tony…..it might not be him……just because he fits the description….and McGee's car was reported a few feet from where this guy was injured….and McGee isn't answering his phone…….it might not be him. Oh Tony I don't know if I want it to be him because then we at least know where he is or if I don't because then McGee might be ok but still out there somewhere!"
A single thought was all Tony could hold onto and it was like a bright beacon of light in his head.
Timothy McGee loved him.
He would NOT loose him before he got the chance to see him again.
"Are you the people from NCIS?" A doctor complete with white coat materialized beside them, smiling and was suddenly mobbed.
"Please, please… I will take you to see him. I'm hoping you can identify him for us. All we know is that last night he stepped in to stop a mugging and possible rape of a young woman by three attackers. It turned violent and she was knocked out in the scuffle. When she came to her rescuer was unconscious and bleeding out from a single knife wound. They had taken his wallet and he never got the chance to tell her his name. She then managed to raise the alarm. The stab wound actually isn't that serious but what caused concern is that it was untreated for a period of time and he lost a lot of blood and is very weak. The EMT's managed to get his first name out of him before he passed out again. Lets see…"
The doctor flipped through the chart he was carrying as he walked briskly through the harsh white cold corridors with the others trailing along desperately.
"Oh yes…. Tony"
Tony literally reeled as he saw Tim, alone and bleeding out in a cold dark alleyway calling out to him, his big eyes huge with panic and despair as he felt his strength and consciousness slipping away from him along with the growing pool of hot blood surrounding him.
"No no no no no no no no ….." Tony hadn't realized that he had been speaking aloud and then he felt Ziva's warm hand slip around his waist and he leaned into her.
Gibbs' blue eyes were hard as he watched his Senior Agent nearly buckle to his knees.
"Take us too him. We need to know."
The Doctor simply nodded and continued his brisk pace deeper into the hospital.
"Here we are. Our John Doe….or Tony Doe…as the case may be."
There was a split second rush for the doorway before the others allowed Gibbs to walk through. The four people stood clustered, shocked around the hospital bed of a stranger.
"That's him" Gibbs confirmed knowing that underneath the unfamiliar weak and pale shadow the man known and loved as Timothy McGee still resided.
The Doctor nodded. "Alright. May I ask his name then?"
"NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee"
As Gibbs named him, Abby exhaled in a long sobbing sigh and reaching out gently stroked the unbruised side of his face.
"He will be ok…he's just very weak right now. We are waiting for him to fully regain consciousness. It might take a while and generally leaving the body to recover from the shock of massive blood loss at its own pace is best. You may stay if you wish, just don't disturb him too much. I can be reached through any of the nurses on this floor. I'm Doctor Richards by the way."
Gibbs nodded, acknowledging the information before turning back to look at his young agent.
"Tony? Tony? He's going to be ok…Tony?" Tony could hear Ziva's concerned voice coming from very far away and he blinked and nodded. He looked down at the rustling sound and realized that he still held Tim's letter crushed in his fist.
Okay. He's going to be okay.
Was this what it felt like to love and to be loved in return? Love steel bands constricting your chest so you think you can't breathe and a pain in your throat as you try and swallow the terror of loss?
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Hours had gone by and still he laid there, his breathing and the machines the only indication he lived. Tony had gradually inched closer to Tim until his chair was right beside the bed and he didn't notice Abby and Ziva catch each others eyes and nod towards the door.
"Hey Tony… Ziva and I are going to step out for a minute. Can we get you anything? Coffee or something to eat?" Abby was gentle as she watched her friend with worried eyes.
Tony just shook his head silent, his eyes never leaving Tim's scratched and bruised face. Abby and Ziva slipped out to give Tony a minute with Tim to himself.
"Hey there Timmy……." Tony's voice was soft as he reached across and once again gently swept Tim's silky fine hair off his forehead with the tips of his fingers.
"I hope you don't mind but I read your letter… I don't know if you ever really meant for me to read it but I'm glad I did. Please don't be mad…. We were worried about you…..and it seems with good reason. See what happens when I'm not around to keep you out of trouble?"
Tony's voice trailed off into the silence of the room.
"I need you to wake up now Tim. I need you to tell me that everything is going to be alright. Because I realize that I can't stand to see you like this. There is so much I need to tell you….so much I want to show you…….. you were right you know about what it really means to be a man. I realized that you are the best man I know and I could do a lot worse than be more like you. You are strong, brave, fearless, caring, gentle, smart and really oh so beautiful……
So Tim …I need to tell you you're the man for me…in every sense of the word."
Tony stood and leaning forward gently kissed Tim softly on the mouth.
"I love you Timothy" He whispered quietly as the tears threatened to spill down his cheeks.
He leaned back and watched for a reaction and then gave a sad laugh at himself.
"Wake up sleeping beauty….. your not so Prince Charming has just declared his love for you…….." Tony sighed and sat back down
"You're not going to make this easy on me are you? Well you know Tim…that's ok. Because I can handle it. I'm through with the freak outs and the panic attacks…..and instead of fighting against you I'm just going to go with it."
Tony stroked Tim's long fingered hand lying beside him on the bed.
"You know this is the longest conversation we've had in weeks? I've missed it ..you know being able to talk to you, laugh with you. You have a beautiful laugh. Did you know that? Your eyes spark and go all mischeivy…… I don't think that's a proper word but it's what I think when I see you laugh.
I just realized…. You missed our first kiss. You see what happens when you sleep too long? So Tim, Timmy you really should wake up soon… and maybe if you're lucky I will kiss you again."
Gibbs watched quietly from the doorway as his Senior Field Agent, his eyes flooded with unshed tears placed a gentle kiss on the lips of the unconscious man.
Aw Hell DiNozzo. You big idiot. Finally…..maybe now they might all get some work done.
"Awwwww that is too cute. " Abby sniffed quietly, suddenly appearing at Gibbs' side.
"I think McGee is too good for him really… but then there is no accounting for taste" Ziva quietly teased from Gibbs' other side.
Gibbs frowned at the two giggling woman.
"Don't you two have…..coffee to buy or something? Shoo "
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Tim woke from the darkness to find Tony asleep, his dark head pillowed on his arms on the edge of his bed beside him and his letter still held tightly in his fist.
A kiss…had he dreamed it? Tony loved him?
He glanced down at Tony's face to see the little smile playing against his lips.
No.
Tim managed to move his hand through the quicksand it seemed to be placed in and lay it gently on top of the sleeping mans head.
Silly Tony. He could talk his way out of a hostage situation but write the man a letter and he went all to pieces.
With a soft sigh Tim allowed himself to fall back into the comforting darkness with the smell of Tony's shampoo and the touch of his hand keeping any nightmares at bay.
He was safe. He was loved.
(
(Awwww thought you all deserved some love after the anxiety. But still Tony having a 'boyfriend"? Im making myself laugh. Those two trouble makers together are going to be a worry. Please let me know what you think and review. I will keep the sex out of this story and will write their first time as a seperate story M rated for those interested. But still a few chapters off yet i think. Precious)