Chapter 14

Tony struggled to breathe, thrashing around in his bed as the nightmare went on. He felt someone put a hand on his forehead and a cold cloth, trying to comfort him. A voice was whispering softly to him, but he couldn't understand the words. A cough was rising in his chest and he couldn't stop it. He opened his eyes, trying to get from the bed and ripped the IV from his hand. Blood oozed from the open wound as Gibbs tried to calm him down and Brad held him to the bed with Ducky helping him. Nurse Emma held gauze to his hand, putting pressure on the wound. Abby backed away from the bed, covering her mouth as she watched the scene unfold.

"Tony, Tony it's okay," Gibbs murmured, getting his attention.

The coughing continued as Tony gasped. It passed and he lay back against the bed as another nurse held a full oxygen mask to his face until he could breathe evenly.

"Oh Tony," Abby whispered, coming closer.

Emma bandaged Tony's hand and prepared to insert the IV into his other hand to administer the medication and fluids that he was losing. Tony weakly tried to pull his hand away, but Gibbs held his arm down. Ducky gave him a shot in the leg, knocking the man unconscious for the time being. They settled Tony in the bed, after changing the bedding and cleaning up the blood. Brad checked on Tony's stats as Gibbs comforted Abby away from the bed. The doctor finished and motioned for Gibbs to meet him in the hallway. Ducky followed behind them, leaving Abby alone with Tony. She walked up to the bed, taking his injured hand and dropping down beside him.

"We need to keep Tony sedated until his fever breaks or he will continue to pull the IV from his hand," Brad reported. "Doctor Mallard and I have also considered inserting a feeding tube to help Tony receive the nutrients he's not getting since he can't eat and has thrown up twice since he woke up, quelling any attempt getting a little food into his body."

"It's for the best," Ducky added, seeing the worried expression on Tony's face.

"Do it," Gibbs answered, after taking a look at the sick young man, lying still in the hospital bed.

He had to do what was best for Tony, even if Tony wouldn't like it very much. Gibbs decided to take a break and left Tony in the capable hands of Abby and Ducky. Ziva was at his house, monitoring McGee and helping him. He had been discharged the day before, but was struggling not to use his arm and get some rest. Tim wanted to be at the hospital with Tony. Gibbs insisted that his health was important too and he needed to take care of himself for the time being. The older man drove home slowly, not wanting to inform the rest of his team that Tony was being put on a feeding tube and sedated. Just when he thought Tony was getting better, it was one step back.

Gibbs broke the news to Ziva, who was sitting on the couch with McGee, watching a movie but not looking the screen. Both of them were distracted.

"Do they know when his fever will break?" Ziva asked.

"No, it's all up to Tony and his body."

"I need to go see him," McGee mumbled, half asleep.

"What you need is more pain medication and sleep," Ziva answered, entering the kitchen and returning with a glass of water.

McGee reluctantly took the offered pill, feeling the pain and stiffness in his shoulder was steadily increasing. Ziva helped him upstairs to get some rest in the guest room since Tony wasn't using it. Gibbs made himself a sandwich and sat down on the couch to eat it, feeling the stress of the past few days catching up with him. When Ziva returned from downstairs, she smiled. Gibbs lay on the couch, with the half-eaten sandwich on his lap, resting softly. She picked up a blanket from the chair and gently draped it over him. Gibbs opened his eyes and made to get up.

"Stay," Ziva whispered. "I will watch over McGee and keep my phone on incase Ducky calls. Get some sleep."

He wanted to protest, but was too tired. Gibbs closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Two days passed with Tony sedated and his fever high. Gibbs was at home on Ducky's orders when the older man called him at three in the morning. Ziva heard the phone ringing and came into his room, dressed in one of his t-shirts and a pair of sweat pants. Her long hair was tangled, hanging loose on her shoulders and she looked as if she hadn't been sleeping well.

"Gibbs," he answered.

"Good news Jethro," Ducky greeted warmly. "Anthony's fever broke about twenty minutes ago. His body temperature has dropped to an acceptable level and he's resting peacefully. Doctor Pitt has decided to let him wake up naturally and see how he takes it."

"When can we see him?"

"He won't wake up for several more hours. Get a little more rest and I'll call you when he starts to wake up."

"Understood. Thanks Duck."

Gibbs hung up his phone as Ziva sat down on the edge of his bed, worry etched on her face. He smiled at her, sitting up so it was easier to talk.

"How is Tony?"

"Ducky said that his fever broke a little while ago. They are going to take him off the sedation and let him wake up naturally. He's gonna be okay."

Tears of relief formed in Ziva's eyes and she couldn't stop them from falling. She couldn't keep her emotions back. Gibbs slipped across the bed and pulled her into a tight embrace, letting her cry on his shoulder. He felt the same way, letting the moisture form in his own eyes, but preventing it from falling. After a few minutes, Gibbs realized that she had gone still. Ziva had cried herself to sleep in his arms. He gently kissed her forehead before moving into a position where he could lift her to the head of the bed. She was lighter than he imagined and he made a mental note to make sure she was eating well. Ziva didn't stir as he covered her with the blanket. Gibbs prepared to climb in the other side of the bed, but heard a sound coming from down the hallway. It sounded as if Tim was having a nightmare. Gibbs hurried into the guest bedroom and flipped on the small lamp beside the bed. McGee was tangled in the blankets and breathing heavily as one hand absently rubbed his shoulder. He groaned, calling out for Tony in his sleep.

"Tim," Gibbs spoke softly, putting his hand on the young man's arm to wake him up.

McGee's eyes flew open and he immediately stopped flailing. He grimaced in pain, rubbing his shoulder in pain. Gibbs stepped into the bathroom and returned with some medication for the young man, helping him take it with a sip of water.

"You okay?"

"Yeah Boss. I just had a nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

McGee shrugged his shoulders. "It was raining again and we were all standing outside… at Tony's funeral. He didn't make it. There was nothing I could do to help him. Abby was so upset and she was kneeling in the wet mud, just crying. I felt like… like I failed him somehow."

Gibbs put a hand on his arm, sitting down beside him. "I have some good news. Ducky called a few minutes ago. Tony's fever broke and he's gonna make it. You can come to the hospital with Ziva and I tomorrow."

"You sure he's okay?" Tim asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"Yep. You have to get some sleep first though."

McGee nodded, but he didn't want to go back to sleep. He couldn't go through Tony's funeral again, even if it was only a dream. It was so real. As if sensing the need, Gibbs turned off the lamp and crawled onto the other side of the guest bed. There was a soft knock on the door and Gibbs looked up to see Ziva standing in the doorway. He motioned for her to come in and waited as she crawled in between the two men and pulled the blanket up, closing her eyes without a word. Gibbs smiled at his team members and let sleep take him.

Gibbs was at the hospital at six in the morning, drinking his coffee with Ziva and McGee behind him. All three looked like they hadn't got a full night's sleep, but they looked okay. Ducky met them at the door, helping a sleepy Abby from Tony's hospital room. She had stayed all night, comforting Tony when he would cough.

"Before you get to see Anthony, I want you all to head to the cafeteria and have breakfast," Ducky ordered.

"Duck," Gibbs began.

"No buts, Jethro. All of you need to eat something before I will let you see Anthony. He will sleep for a little while longer."

Ziva, McGee, Abby, and Gibbs slowly walked to the cafeteria and picked up a tray of food to appease the medical examiner, not wanting to face his wrath if they disobeyed. Ziva and Abby picked at their food until Tim convinced them to eat it. It did smell wonderful, but their thoughts were on their friend as he began to wake up. They didn't want to miss the moment.

"We wouldn't want Tony to make fun of us for looking worse than him," McGee joked.

"That is true. The pot calling the kettle black," Ziva laughed.

"You got it right."

"Thank you McGee."

Abby began to recount some story of bowling with the nuns as Gibbs finished his toast, looking around the room at the few people. Ducky appeared across the room and without a word, Gibbs got up from the table and approached him. The rest of the group followed him, standing close behind Gibbs as they waited for news. Ducky looked at the face of the group, exhausted and emotionally spent, but desperate to know that their friend was going to make it. McGee put his good arm around Abby and Gibbs put a hand on Ziva's shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.

"Anthony is awake. He's asking for you, Jethro."

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