Tony's Salvation—Chapter 7
Arriving at Gibbs house Laurie doesn't waste time wondering how to get Tony inside. She parks the car then goes around and opens Tony's door, gently leading the agent inside. Once inside, Tony immediately relaxes. He's been in Gibbs house enough times to recognize the immediate layout and tries to direct Laurie to the bedroom he normally uses.
Laurie ignores him and takes him to Gibbs room instead. Tony puts up a token protest before subsiding on the bed in relief. Laurie turns to leave the room, but Tony's hand reaches out to stop her. "Don't…don't leave me…"
There's a slight tinge of fear in his voice, making her frown as she comes back towards him. She wonders just what has happened to this man, to bring him to this point. While not used to talking much, she starts a steady stream of chatter, hoping that it will calm him enough that he can finally relax and eventually sleep.
"It's okay, Tony, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. As you know, we're in Gibbs home, and he'll be here soon with the rest of your team protecting your six. Can you feel my hand Tony? It's still clasped in yours; listen to my voice as you calm your breathing. You know that you are safe here. You know that Gibbs has your six and while I'm here, so do I."
On and on she rambles, until Tony finally falls asleep his hand firmly clasping hers. Laurie smiles as she waits for his body to completely relax before attempting to move away. Certain that he'll sleep for at least the next hour, she heads towards the kitchen.
As the afternoon passes, Tony sleeps and Laurie keeps a watchful eye while preparing a meal for the team. When Gibbs arrives, he drops the folders on the table then goes to the bedroom to check on his agent. Seeing a peacefully sleeping Tony, he heads back down the hall and enters the kitchen.
Laurie is slathering two halves of French bread with garlic butter and mozzarella cheese. She covers the bread with foil, setting it aside until the rest of the team arrives for supper. Gibbs sniffs the air appreciatively. He sighs when she hands him a cup of freshly brewed black coffee.
"Tony?" He asks as he takes a sip of the hot brew.
"Sleeping as you saw, he should wake up by the time the team gets here. As for a medical opinion, I'm not passing one right now."
He looks at her as she starts tearing a head of lettuce, preparing a salad for the meal. She glances at him as she fishes a knife out of a drawer.
"I see you made yourself at home."
"You expected me to stay in Tony's room holding his hand and worrying over him; I'm not that kind of doctor. You want someone who will listen to you, your team and the man in question then sit down and we can talk."
Gibbs glares at her and she glares right back at him. She emphasizes her point by slicing a roma tomato without looking at it and places it on a saucer next to the bowl of lettuce. She does the same to a small purple onion, as well as a cucumber. Gibbs grabs a piece of the cucumber and pops it in his mouth. When she doesn't react he reaches for another piece.
She reaches into the fridge for more vegetables and on her way back cuffs him on the back of the head. He glares at her before laughing knowing that he'd have done the same to any of his team members. He takes another sip of coffee and asks her if he can help.
"Don't eat all the cucumbers and your team will be here in fifteen minutes so you have time for a quick shower if you chose to take one tonight."
"You saying I stink?"
"No, if that was the case I'd actually tell you, 'Gibbs you stink' think of it as something to do before dinner as we'll be busy afterwards."
Gibbs leaves the room and takes a quick shower, pulling on jeans and a t-shirt when he's done. He checks one more time on Tony then rejoins Laurie in the kitchen. She's sitting at the table, munching on a carrot stick as she reads one of the files she'd requested from Abby.
"Thought those were just busy work for Abbs." He snitches another piece of cucumber as he sits down across from her.
She looks up at him over the folder in her hands. "They were, but it helps to know if I'm actually right about something before voicing my opinion on it."
He sighs as he watches her read. She's a speed reader and quickly finishes the first folder before turning her attention to the food in the oven. She puts the folder in the bread box and Gibbs smiles knowing that none of his team would think of looking for anything in the container.
"If you want, you could set the table while I let the lasagna rest and pop in the garlic bread."
"You made one of Tony's favorite meals."
She says nothing as she pulls out the lasagna. She pulls the foil off the bread and raises the oven rack. She turns the temperature on the oven up and puts the bread inside. As she straightens, they both hear the sound of car doors silently closing.
Tim, Abby and Ducky are all ushered inside, where they exclaim over the meal. Gibbs looks at Laurie asking her if they need to wake Tony up. She shakes her head, knowing that the agent hasn't gotten much sleep in the last few weeks. A few hours won't hurt him and it might help him sleep easier that night.
They finish the meal with light conversation as they savor the hot meal in front of them. Soon the only thing left is a pile of dirty dishes and a plateful of food set aside for Tony.
Gibbs and Abby make short work of the dishes while Tim and Ducky set up temporary camp in the den. Tim has his laptop on the table in case they need it. Ducky has started a fire in the fireplace. Laurie checks one more time on Tony, noting that the man will be waking up soon. She leaves the door slightly ajar, so that Tony will know that he's not alone.
Rejoining the rest of the NCIS team, she raises a hand as she walks in the room. She's not about to let them bombard her with questions and says as much.
"We'll go around the room. One question at a time, starting with Gibbs and going clockwise. The main thing you all need to know is that I will try to help Tony IF he lets me."
"Why if?" Gibbs growl is met with an even stare.
"It's still his choice Gibbs, and if he says no, then ALL of you will agree with his decision."
Dead silence from around the room. Then Tim raises his head.
"Do you know or do you have an idea of what is wrong with him?"
"No, and like I told Gibbs earlier, I won't intrude unless I'm asked to and I would prefer that Tony do the asking."
Abby exchanges glances with Tim as she asks, "How long will you wait to help him if he doesn't ask you to?"
"As a physician, and I'm sure Dr. Mallard here can attest to this, my hands are tied unless I have permission from either Tony or his next of kin."
Ducky nods before he says, "Then as Gibbs is listed as Tony's next of kin, if it comes right down to it, Gibbs can give you permission to help dear Anthony."
Laurie smiles at Ducky's formal use of Tony's name. "I can help Tony, I just don't want Tony to be kept in the dark."
A soft, irritated voice comes from the entrance to the den, "Tony agrees with that last statement. Why exactly are we discussing me without me being present?"
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A/N: Yeah, that's a good place to leave it until the weekend. Reviews are welcome.