Gibbs arrived at the hospital five hours later, to find Abby sitting with Tony, holding his hand. Gibbs stepped into the room and sat down next to Abby.
"They wanted to throw him right into the Mental wing" Abby said quietly, "Said it would be better for him there. Ducky's talking with them now, about releasing him into your care" Abby continued, "They had to drug him again, and now he's drooling" Abby finished, picked up a napkin and wiped the drool off of Tony's chin.
"Why'd they drug him again?" Gibbs asked.
"Kept calling out for Carmen, screaming her name over and over again, that he had to get back there or they'd kill her, told them to look in the cell next to him" Abby said and again wiped some drool off of Tony's chin. "Poor baby" she mumbled and ran her hand through Tony's long hair.
"Christ, Abs, Carmen's dead" Gibbs said with certainty. "We found a woman, she was starved to death" Gibbs said, "There's no more bodies down there" Gibbs said. Tony whimpered and closed his eyes. "Hey you" Gibbs said. IV fluids and a nasal canula, plus a feeding tube, were all present on Tony. He had obviously been bathed and put in scrubs instead of a gown, but his beard and his long hair told it's tale. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way Tony, but Carmen really is dead, or non exsistant" Gibbs said. Tony whimpered again and tried turning his head, unsuccessfully. Gibbs looked at Tony and felt a lump rising in his throat. He was too skinny, too afraid, too out of it to remember.
"I'm just going to go outside a little" Abby said and disappeared out the door. Gibbs ran his hand through Tony's long hair and looked him into his eyes.
"Do you remember anything Tony?" Gibbs asked. The dull green eyes looked at him with suspicion. "I guess you don't" Gibbs said and sighed, once again running his hand through Tony's hair. "Don't worry, you'll remember in time, I know I did" Gibbs said, "Until then, I'm going to take care of you" Gibbs said and grabbed a napkin, wiping of the drool on Tony's chin. "Musclerelaxant and tranquelizers" Gibbs sighed to himself, "They had no right to do that to you" Gibbs said. Ducky chose that moment to enter the hospital room.
"Hello Jethro, I've talked with the hospital staff, they are not happy, but I managed to convince them that if I was ready at a moments notice for you two, everything would be alright" Ducky said, "Hello again Anthony" Ducky said and smiled. Tony said nothing in return, too drugged up to really be aware of anything other than that Carmen was dead. At least that's what the silver haired man had said.
"Do you think he remembers us?" Gibbs asked.
"No" Ducky replied. "I don't think he rememberes much of anything anymore" Ducky said and sat down next to Gibbs, "He obviously didn't remember me or Abigail, and I do not think he remembers you either Jethro.. he must be so scared" Ducky said, "Just like you were"
"Yeah" Gibbs said and ran his hand through Tony's hair again. "Guess so" he continued.
"He will remember us in time Jethro" Ducky said.
"Question or statement Duck?" Gibbs asked, not taking his eyes off of Tony.
"Little bit of both I'm afraid" Ducky said quietly. They listened to the heartmonitor beep steadily in the small room. "He has to stay here for a while Jethro, until his life is out of danger" Ducky said, "Then I will show you how to help him eat if he doesn't remember, and all those other things" Ducky said. "There's a lot of scars" Ducky continued, "On his chest, on his back, on his arms.. the scar on his face.. he will never be the same man again Jethro, he may never be able to work another day" Ducky finished.
"I know" Gibbs said, "All I want is for him to remember that we're his friends and.." Gibbs swallowed.
"I know Jethro, you want your Tony back" Ducky said and laid a hand on Gibbs's shoulder. "You want your lover back" Ducky said. Gibbs turned his head to face Ducky and gave him a smirk.
"You always know, you should be an investigator" Gibbs said.
"Learned from the best" Ducky said and squeezed Gibbs's shoulder.
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AN: Ooooh, dark minds think alike, my plot bunny was up for some really dark things.. hope it works for you guys.
Disclaimer: All hail DPB