Disclaimer: not mine, just borrowing
A/N: I thought it would take away some of the charm to write stuff before or after the prologue, so I decided to do it here. Nasty start of a story, hea? But don't worry, Tony still lives. I do wonder what is up with the whole 'lets-hurt-Tony-thing' in stories haha, he get hurts enough already in the show. But this story didn't leave my head, so I decided to give it a go. Hope you like it, and if you any thoughts about it you want to share: there is a purple/blue button right at the end of this chapter ;-)
Warning: no beta-reader, and English isn't my first language, so sorry for any mistakes.
3 months, 5 days, 21 hours and 10 minutes later
'Good morning Tony! Are you ready for today?' The nurse walked in with a happy smile on her face. She pulled the curtains open, and looked at her patient, who was already awake, and smiled happily at her.
'Yes I'm ready. I want to go home!'
'Is there anyone who will go with you? It isn't wise to be alone the first days,' the nurse looked a bit worried. She had met his teammates and his boss, but relatives hadn't shown up at the visiting hours. She missed the flash of darkness in Tony's eyes.
'I'm fine, really. I will manage perfectly,'
'You really thought that we would leave you alone DiNozzo?' Gibbs walked in the room, one hand in his pocket and in the other one coffee. Ziva, McGee, Ducky and Abby followed him in. Tony looked bewildered for a moment, but than a smile crept on his face. He hadn't dare to ask them for help, but he could have known that it wasn't necessary to ask. They knew he wouldn't so they filled in the blanks.
'Thanks boss. So, were are my wheels?' The nurse smiled relieved, and walked around the bed. In the corner of the room stood a black wheelchair. She rolled it to the bed, and wanted to help Tony in it. A grim look appeared in his eyes.
'Please don't. I have to learn to do this without help eventually,' he looked up at the others. 'If you guys don't want to see it, that's cool you know. It won't be the prettiest sight in the world. I won't think any less of you if you want to wait outside,'
'I've seen you in almost every awkward, disgusting, slimy, muddy, smelling, wet situation possible. I'm fine,' Ziva winked. Gibbs didn't even answer his statement.
'I don't think you'll look less prettier than my dead bodies ,' Ducky smiled and nodded friendly. McGee hesitated, shuffled his feet.
'It's okay Probie. Really,' Tony said it softly, but serious. McGee nodded, looked at Gibbs but he didn't say a word. Making up his mind, he turned around and left the room. Abby looked shocked. 'Go on Abs, follow him. He can use you right now,' Abby nodded, but ran to Tony first. She hugged him, a tear escaping from her eye. After that, she went after McGee.
'Are you sure you don't need help?' the nurse asked again.
'Positive,' Tony nodded. He sat up straight, pushed the sheets back, and bend over to the chair. The nurse had put it right next to his bed. Tony set it on the breaks, and sat back up straight. He got his legs with both hands and slowly maneuvered them over the side of the bed. After that he levered himself up, one hand on the arm rest of the chair, one on the bed. A bit clumsy he slid himself in the chair. He set his feet on the plateaus, and sat up straight. 'So, what are we waiting for,' he grinned.
A few minutes later he wheeled out of the room, his bag on his lap. It looked as if a small parade was going through the hospital hallways: Tony in front, Ziva and Gibbs were walking next to him and Ducky, Abby and McGee after them. Nurses stopped them, giving Tony a hug or a hand, patients waving and smiling at him, even some relatives of patients waved him goodbye. Gibbs waited patiently while an elder woman thanked Tony for the way he had distracted her from her operation. He couldn't help wondering how it was possible that DiNozzo was doing so well, after discovering that he maybe couldn't walk again. Ever.