Chapter Four
Tony woke in a hospital bed feeling better than he should. Judging from the IV drip, he knew pain medication had a great deal to do with that. Looking around the hospital room he took in the dull institutional look of the room, as well as Gibbs sitting up napping in a chair. Tony tried to move. His left shoulder was trussed up and his right side. Of course, his stomach was growling.
"Tell your stomach to go to sleep, DiNozzo," Gibbs mumbled without opening his eyes.
"Stomach has a mind of its own, boss," said Tony.
"How are you feeling?" Gibbs asked.
"High as a kite, boss; high as a kite," smiled Tony.
"Pain medication," Gibbs sighed.
Tony looked around the room and moaned, "I hate hospital rooms."
"What did a hospital room ever do to you?" asked Gibbs.
He never got a good answer from DiNozzo on this question, but this time his IV gave him hits of morphine for the pain, which meant Tony flying higher than normal.
"My mother died in one. She and I were watching TV, an old movie, on a black and white TV that was in her room. I think it was a Jean Arthur movie, you know, like The Devil and Miss Jones. Yeah, that was the movie. We were watching it. I was on the bed beside her like usual and I thought it was strange how quiet she was, so I gently shook her. Of course she was quiet but she was dead," he told Gibbs.
Gibbs noticed an expression of pain on Tony's face that no amount of pain medication could alleviate.
"Where was your father?" asked Gibbs.
"He was in New York City finalizing a deal to sell the trucking company my grandfather had started. He wanted out of the trucking business and into the world of high finance business. I guess he just wanted to be an even bigger shot. He turned out to be a con man," chuckled Tony. "I really hate hospital rooms."
"You won't have to stay here much longer," promised Gibbs.
"Thank you, boss," mumbled Tony. "Wake me when it breakfast time."
"Just get to sleep," said Gibbs.
NCISNCIS
Morning came and Gibbs was gone. Tony woke feeling hungry and more than a little pissed off since he knew he said more than he wanted to the night before to Gibbs because of pain meds. The idea of revealing too much of himself while high on meds really pissed off Tony. He buzzed for the nurse then waited. The nurse came into room.
"Hello, Tony," said the nurse. "What can I do for you?"
She was an attractive brunette. Years earlier she would have had his full attention and he'd be flirting, but those years were behind him.
"Less pain meds and can I have breakfast?" he asked.
"I think we can manage some oatmeal for you," she said as she walked up to the machine that dealt with his pain meds.
He thought about arguing about the oatmeal, but knew it was useless. They never gave him what he really wanted to eat. The only thing to make him really feel better would be to get out of the hospital.
"On scale of one to ten what is your pain level?" she asked him.
"Four," he answered from experience knowing that four would bring down the pain med level to something he could handle better without running his mouth off too much.
"Are you lying to me?" she asked.
Tony gave her his million dollar smile and answered, "Would I lie to you?"
"So it is four, right?" she asked again.
"Yeah, I'd say four," he smiled.
She adjusted his pain medication then she offered him a sincere smile. He grinned back at her.
"I'll be back with your oatmeal and orange juice," she said.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"I'll check if you can have coffee yet," she told him and then left.
Yeah, the sooner he got out of the hospital the better. In his opinion the worst place in the world to get better was a hospital room.
NCISNCIS
Vance had arranged for the number of marine CID agents to guard Tony from four to eight. Gibbs spoke to them before he left for the hospital to check on Tony. He wanted two in the driveway guarding the back and two put front of the house protecting the front of the house. Now all he needed to do was get Tony released from the hospital early.
When he arrived at Tony's hospital room, DiNozzo was eating a steak and cheese sub with Abby, McGee, and Bishop telling Tony stories about their day. Gibbs stared at Tony as he took a big bite from his sandwich.
"Bishop brought me a sandwich, boss," Tony said with a grin. "She's becoming my favorite probie."
"Finally, I'm no longer a probie," said McGee.
"You're McProbie," said Tony.
Abby laughed. It was then that Ducky entered the room. He was nattily attired as usual and in a good mood.
"Where's Jimmy?" asked Abby.
"Mr. Palmer had to meet his wife about the potential adoption of a child," said Ducky.
"He's going to be a great father," cooed Abby.
"How are you doing Anthony?" asked Ducky.
"Fine," he said with a mouthful of sandwich.
"I checked with your doctor. You shoulder with need physical therapy, but you should get full rotation back. As for you side wound, the bullet missed vital organs," said Ducky. "I think we can convince to let you go tomorrow, especially if you have a doctor looking in on you daily."
"You are the best, Ducky," said Tony.
"I try," smiled Ducky.
"So where will I be going to now?" asked Tony.
"My house. I've already replaced the broken windows and Leyla has been nagging me to redo my dining room and kitchen," Gibbs said.
"Boss, I can't do stairs for a few days," said Tony.
"You'll stay on the sofa. I've got a cot I can put in the dining room. Stray bullets ruined the dining table. I have to build a new one, so there is room there for me to sleep," said Gibbs.
"I don't Cortez will try and take you at Gibbs house considering how it turned out," said McGee.
"Statistically speaking, when a…" Bishop started.
"Bishop, no statistics now," growled Gibbs.
"Yes, Gibbs," said Bishop.
"Boss, what will Bishop and I do while you protect Tony?" asked McGee.
"Next week you be working on the case and reporting in to me, as well as dealing with Fornell," said Gibbs. "After that I think Tony should be able to come the office."
"Desk duty," Tony sighed.
"Yes, Anthony, desk duty," replied Ducky for Gibbs.
NCISNCIS
The marine CID agents out front of the house and in the driveway made no effort to keep a low profile. It was almost like they wanted to be attacked, so that they could get revenge for their fallen. Gibbs pulled up on the street behind the marines and he and Tony got out. Grimacing while he took the steps and with his left arm in a sling to help keep his shoulder immobile, he walked up the front steps to the front door. Much to his surprise they were greeted by Amira and Leyla.
"Jedde, we are making dinner," said Amira.
Gibbs dropped Tony's bag and picked up Amira in his arms. Leyla came out of the kitchen looking sweet in a red summery dress. She walked over to Gibbs and kissed him on the cheek.
"I am making tabakh rohoo," she said, "and flat bread."
Tony looked bemused.
"That lamb stew with vegetables," said Gibbs.
"Sounds good," he smiled.
Leyla looked at him and shook her head.
"You should sit down. You just got out of the hospital," she said to him.
"Yeah, I think I should sit down," he agreed.
With Leyla's help, she guided him to the couch and helped him sit down. Gibbs smiled at this then said, "Don't spoil him. He'll expect me to treat him the same way."
"I need to check the bread," she said and headed back into the kitchen.
"Jedde Gibbs, dining room is ruined," said Amira.
"I know, but I'm fixing it," said Gibbs, as he walked into the dining room with her in his arms.
Tony noticed that Gibbs had already ripped up the wall and started to replace it. He had also started gutting the walls in the dining room. When he got the time to do this much work perplexed Tony. Leaning back on the couch, he closed his eyes. Tony estimated his arm would be in a sling for a couple of weeks and his side should be healed enough the same time. If they didn't have Cortez by then it would be time for him to start hunting Cortez on his own. He wasn't about to keep Gibbs, the team, and the marines in danger for long.
"Tony," he heard Leyla's accent. It had been some time since he heard his name said with an accent similar to hers. He opened his eyes.
"Yes, Leyla," he said.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked.
He smiled. What was it about people from hot places that they liked tea so much? You would think they would drink ice tea more than hot tea.
"I'm not much of a tea drinking," he said.
"It will help in your healing," she countered. "It is a cinnamon anise tea."
"Okay, I'll try a cup," Tony smiled.
"Good," she said then gave him a smile that made Tony smile in return.
Gibbs reentered the room. He had his jacket off, but his sidearm was still on his hip.
"Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes," stated Gibbs.
"When did you get this work started, boss?" asked Tony.
"When I had the time," smirked Gibbs.
"Hey, boss," Tony lowered his voice, "is it safe for Amira and Leyla to be here?"
Gibbs grinned.
"Leyla has been in more dangerous areas in her life and Amira will be fine," said Gibbs. "She wanted to come over to feed us and to make sure you are okay. You are important to me so you are important to Leyla. That is just how she is."
"You don't have a bathroom on this floor, do you?" asked Tony.
"You've been here enough, DiNozzo, to know that answer," said Gibbs.
"Yeah, I'm just not looking forward to walking up the steps," said Tony then he slowly got up.
Carefully and taking his time, he headed for the staircase and started up the stairs at a glacial pace. By the time he got to the top of the stairs, his wound on his side was screaming. After going to the bathroom and washing up, he headed back down the stairs. Slowly, one step at a time, he made his way down. When he got to the bottom he made his way back to the couch and sat down. Gibbs was waiting for him.
"Remind me not to get shot again," Tony said. "It's not as much fun as when I was younger."
Gibbs smiled then said, "After we eat Leyla is going to check you bandages."
"Why not you, boss?" asked Tony.
"Because I'm going to be taking Amira to the store for ice cream, DiNozzo," Gibbs stated.
"Dinner is ready," called Leyla.
They eat in the living room. Tony was surprised by the stew and had a second bowl which delighted Leyla. Once everyone was done with dinner, Gibbs grabbed the medical supplies for Leyla then took Amira to get the ice cream. With an uncomfortable silence surrounding them, Tony finally broke it.
"You don't change gunshot wounds often, do you?" he asked.
"Mike had a few I helped him with and my brothers were often at war in Iraq," she said.
"Oh," he smiled.
Slowly he took off his sling and then unbuttoned his jean shirt. Sitting forward, Leyla helped him take the shirt off. As she got closer to him he found himself smelling her hair. It smelled oranges and peaches, which made him grin. Of course, the fact that he was smelling Gibbs de facto family and Mike Franks' daughter in law's hair did make him slightly uneasy.
"I'll check your shoulder first," she said.
"Okay," he grinned.
Leyla checked his shoulder wound, even putting the salve on it that Ducky left, and then she bandaged it. After that she did the same with his side wound. When she was done she helped him on with his shirt.
"Thank you, Leyla. It's been years since a woman has dressed me," he joked.
She blushed then collected the used bandages and wipes, got up, and went into the kitchen to throw them away. When she was gone, Tony sighed.
"Fight the urge, DiNozzo, she is off limits," he mumbled to himself.
She returned from the kitchen.
"So, do you like movies?" he asked.
"I am starting to like them, especially old musicals and what is called rom coms," she said.
"Romantic comedies," he smiled. "I have my Blu-ray and some movies here. Would you care to watch one with me?"
"I would like that," she said.
"I think I brought Bringing up Baby with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. I think you'll like that," he smiled. "Let me set up the TV."
"I will help," she said.
Fight the urge, Tony reminded himself. Fight the urge.