Ch. 4 I DON'T OWN NCIS
"Sarah, let me just help you take off your shoes for you. We need to process the blood on them," pleaded Abby, looking at the blood covered girl. Sarah still had a scared look in her eyes. Gibbs watched from the sidelines as to not interfere and scare the girl even more. He didn't think of himself as too terrifying, but he only was a terror when he needed to be, it just came naturally to him.
"O-OK, Abby, you can take my shoes off for me. Let me just sit on the floor, OK." Sarah plopped onto the lab's floor so Abby could take off her shoes. Abby had a tough time taking the girls shoes off because the girl kept twitching her feat.
"Can you help me, Tony? I just need you to hold Sarah's legs still. Try not to get too much blood on you," Abby requested of Tony. He gave her a nod and held Sarah's legs still and they finally got the girls shoes off her feet so they could run the blood tests. "Can I have your vest also, please, Sarah? It would also help us catch the scary bad men." Tony and Gibbs were fairly confused on why Abby was talking to Sarah like she was a five year old.
"Ok, Abby. Thank you for helping me," Sarah said with a very childish voice, instead of her mature young lady voice.
"So that's why," thought Tony and Gibbs. "Sarah returned to the mind state of a child. My poor girl, I hope she'll be able to recover from whatever she saw."
"Abby?" asked Sarah looking towards the older woman in front of her.
"Yes, sweetie? What's the matter?" Abby replied with concern in her voice.
"Can you take of my vest for me? My arms hurt a lot when I move them," Sarah asked her with hurt in her eyes.
"Here, let me look at your arms for you." Abby took the girls right arm and examined it. Her eyes widened enormously which Tony could see, making him concerned. "Tony! Why didn't you notice this before! Her arms are slit open!" Gibbs eyes widened at the announcement, wondering how the hell Tony missed the cut on the young girls arm.
"What?" yelled Tony, taking a step forward he tried to look at the girl's arm, making Sarah flinch back towards Abby. She looked at him with scared wide eyes.
"Did-did I do something wrong?" asked Sarah, struck with terror at being yelled at. Gibbs felt his heart ache at the fear in her eyes.
"No, sweet heart, you didn't do anything wrong. Tony just missed something he should have seen earlier. That's what made him angry. We're going to go see Ducky now. You like Ducky, right?"
Sarah nodded her head and said, "I do like Ducky very much. He's a very nice man." Gibbs felt a smile play on his from the girl saying that.
Abby started leading the young girl to Ducky's autopsy room and replied to the girl, "That's good."
"Do you like Ducky, Abby?" the girl asked innocently.
"Of course, Ducky is a very good friend of mine. Just like Tony, and McGee, and Ziva, and Gibbs are all my friends."
"Oh, OK. That's good. Having friends is nice, isn't it?"
"It very much is, Sarah. Here we are. Oh Ducky!" called Abby to her old friend. The man pocked his head from around a corner.
"Why, hello Abigail, Jethro, Tony. What are you in need of today? How are you, Sarah?" asked the kind older man to the young girl, spotting all the blood on her clothes.
"I'm fine; it's just my arms hurt a lot when I move them. Abby looked at them, and then she yelled at Tony about him not noticing something on my arm," replied the girl. Her state of mind shocking the Doctor, he realized right away that she was in pain from experiencing something traumatic. She was acting like a child, explaining something to a well trusted adult after something bad had happened.
"Well then, let's take a look at your arms, shall we? Please sit up here, Sarah." Ducky patted a spot on one of the autopsy tables, which Tony helped Sarah get on since it was a little tough for her.
After a few seconds of examining her right arm, Ducky exclaimed, "Oh dear me! This is rather deep. Sarah, do you remember how you got this cut on your arm?" Sarah shook her head, making Ducky sigh. "Do you know what happened tonight, at all?"
"I remember Mrs. Goldings and I were watching The Wizard of Oz and then I think the door was kicked down, and men in black came in and they tried to hurt me and Mrs. Goldings. Everything went black after that. I remember riding my motor cycle on the sidewalk I think it is? Then I was talking to Abby, and then we came to see you, Ducky. That's all I remember," replied the girl honestly. This made Ducky sigh.
"You might need stiches, but first I'm going to see how deep your cut is, and then we'll be able to see what we can do about those men in black. Does that sound good, Sarah?" asked the wise man, getting out his first aid kit. Gibbs sighed from the background, hoping that the girl didn't have to go to the hospital to get stitches.
"That sounds really good, Ducky!"
After cleaning of the semi-dried blood, giving the cotton balls and Sarah's vest to Abby and bandaging Sarah's arms up, a call came in from Ziva to Tony.
"Hello?" answered Tony, putting the phone on speaker so Ducky and Gibbs could hear too.
"Tony! Are you with Gibbs?" asked Ziva, almost rushing her sentence.
"We're here, Ziva," replied Gibbs stepping away from the wall, joining Tony who was next to Ducky and Sarah.
"Well, first off Tony your place has been trashed, and there is blood everywhere. We're sending pictures to Abby as we speak. There is in fact a dead body of a woman named Mrs. Goldings. She's sixty-four, widowed, and living alone. We informed her children of her death, and most of them didn't take it well. There was blood on the bathroom floor as well." This made Tony's heart stop, and he looked over towards his ward, who gave him a confused, sad look. "Boss, we would like you to come over as soon as possible to check out the apartment, just in case we missed anything," reported Ziva.
"Yeah, I'll be there in five minutes. Tony and Sarah come with me," ordered Gibbs to the two. He walked out of the autopsy room towards the garages.
"You heard Gibbs, Sarah. Let's go." Tony held out his hand for Sarah to grab a hold of so she could get off of the table. "I hope we'll be able to tolerate the sight," Tony whispered to himself.
Sarah looked at Tony with worry in her eyes. She asked, "Tony, what's wrong?"
Tony looked down at the sixteen year old girl with a small smile on his face, and he replied, "I don't know what we are going to do now, since our home is a crime scene. That's all."
"Well, can't we live here, at NCIS?" It was such an innocent question; it made Tony laugh a little bit.
"No, sweet heart, we can't live here. There aren't any beds or anything like that."
"We could use sleeping bags!" Sarah blurted out, with determination on her face.
Tony laughed again, and stated this, "Maybe Abby will let us stay at her place."
"Really? I would love to stay at Abby's house! Can we please, please, please?" The girl was looking at Tony with a sad puppy expression.
"I said I'll ask her, OK? I can't make any promises."
"Fine, Tony." Sarah pouted and crossed her arms in front of her.
"How about I call her now and ask her?" asked Tony getting out his phone while they got into the car with Gibbs in the driver's seat turning on the car.
Sarah face brightened up immediately and she shouted, "Yes, please call and ask her!" Sarah started jumping up and down in her seat with excitement.
A couple minutes of talking with Abby, Tony finally turned around in his seat and spoke to the girl, "Abby said we could." Sarah smile widened more and she squealed which caused Gibbs to grimace slightly.
"Hurray! I get to sleep-over at Abby's tonight with Tony! This is going to be fun!" yelled Sarah with the most excitement Tony and Gibbs have ever seen coming from a teenager, but then again, Sarah wasn't in her right state of mind then either. She was a young child of five years old most likely.
"OK, OK, calm down now, Sarah. Just after we make this trip to the apartment to get our stuff, we'll be able to go to Abby's, OK?"
"Ok, Tony that sounds good!"
The three arrived at the apartment building and Gibbs said, "Sarah, stay here. We'll be right back."
"Can't I go with you guys though?" asked the small girl looking at Tony with a pleading expression.
"Boss, you know that we can't just leave her here. She's not in her right state of mind. She'll probably trust any stranger right now, and she can't defend herself without opening her wounds up. Please can she just stand outside of the room?" begged Tony, looking at his Boss with a pleading expression.
Gibbs sighed and then motioned for Sarah to follow them. Sarah smiled, jumped out of the car, closed the car door, and ran up to the two. She hugged Tony then went inside, skipping after Gibbs.
"Stay outside the room with Ziva, OK Sarah?" Tony told the girl.
"Yes, Tony! Hi, Ziva!" greeted Sarah, waving at the ex-Mossad agent.
"Hi, Sarah, how are you?" asked Ziva.
Tony closed the door so Sarah couldn't sneak a peek into the apartment.
"Poor Mrs. Goldings, she was such a nice, old lady," commented Tony, looking at the body on the ground.
"Tony, can you please come to your bathroom? There is something I need to show you," called McGee from the bathroom. Tony went into the bathroom, looking at McGee, wanting him to show him what he needed to see. Tim pointed to the mirror. On it was a bloody handprint, led by a trail of blood dragging down the mirror.
"Oh my god. Do you… know who's it is?" asked Tony with fear brewing in his stomach.
"We got a swab for evidence. Abby's going to look it over once we get back to NCIS. I know what you're thinking, Tony. I hope it isn't hers either." Tim gave Tony a look, one that can be read as compassion and empathy. He was in this same position as Tony; McGee knows how it feels the fear of a loved one coming up to you, covered in blood, and the confusion on if you should the right thing or the wrong thing.
"Thanks for the concern, Probie." Tim groaned at the nickname given to him long ago. "Oh, come one, Probie! Don't give me that kind of face! We got to keep our heads held high. Make sure nothing can bring you down, OK?"
"Yeah, Tony, you're right. Thanks for the advice."
"Anytime, McLovin'." Tim glared slightly at Tony's retreating back heading towards Gibbs.
"What was in the bathroom, DiNozzo?" asked the senior agent.
"A bloody handprint on the mirror," replied Tony, looking behind him toward the bathroom. "Do you think Sarah will be alright, Boss?"
Gibbs looked directly into Tony's eyes and replied, "I don't think, DiNozzo. I know she will be alright. All we have to do is wait for the right time. You never know, she might be better-," Gibbs sentence was cut off by the apartment's door slamming open.
"Gibbs, Tony, Sarah passed out while we were talking. Should I call an ambulance, or should I drive her there myself?" asked an alarmed Ziva, running up to the two with terror in her eyes.
"What?" asked Tony with shock written all over his face.
"Tony, pick Sarah up and carry her to the car. Tim inform the hospital we're on our way. Ziva, call Abby and tell her to meet us there. Ducky, hurry with that body and tell Palmer to take the body back to NCIS. You're coming with us Doc," ordered Gibbs to his team, which they got straight to it.
"Sarah? Sarah, can you hear me?" Sarah's vision was fuzzy, just waking up from the black abyss she was just in.
"Tony? Is that you?" asked Sarah, trying to sit up so she can see around better.
"Keep laying down sweetie," commanded Abby's soft, gentle voice. "You lost a lot of blood today. You can't get up just yet." Abby lightly pushed the girl back down to the bed. She pet Sarah's head trying to keep the girl calm.
"Abby? That's you right?"
"Yes, it's Abby sweet heart. How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. Who else is here?" Sarah inquired about the people in her room.
"Tony, Ziva, Tim, Gibbs, Ducky, and I are all here with you, Sarah," Abby stated, Ziva grabbed Sarah's hand so she could hold onto, giving the young girl comfort.
"Thank you all for coming," the girl said, ending with a yawn.
"I'll tell the doctor you're awake," Ducky said, going out into the hallway to find Sarah's doctor.
"She's awake now? That's good. Thank you for informing us doctor (A/N: OK children, for the people who do not watch NCIS, Ducky is in fact a doctor)," the group heard a male say to Ducky. The doctor walked into the room. He was about fifty, but he looked like he was around his late thirties, he had black hair, and brown eyes. "Hello, miss DiNozzo. I'm Doctor Joseph Hunt. How are you?"
Sarah looked it from her bed to take a look at her doctor, and her eyes widened. "Uncle Joe?" asked the girl with shock in her voice.
"Sarah? Is that my niece, Sarah? Oh my goodness! It is you! How have you been? I haven't seen you in three years," the doctor said, going over to Sarah's bed to talk to her better. "You wound up with some nasty cuts on your arms, didn't you?" It was more of a statement than a question. "What happened?"
"I'm ok. Some men ambushed me in my caretaker's apartment. They killed my babysitter who was trying to protect me. I was so scared, but then I wound up fine after going to his work and calmed down, or at least I think that's what happened," Sarah replied to her uncle.
"You think?" asked Joe, giving her a skeptical look, writing her answer down on his clipboard.
"Doctor, she had a traumatic experience, cut her some slack," commented Abby, grabbing Sarah's free hand in her grasp.
"That is true, some people block out bad memories from their mind, but in Sarah's case it might mean something else."
"What do you mean by, "in Sarah's case" Doctor?" asked Tim, looking towards the girl with compassion in his eyes.
"Who knows what, Sarah?"
"Only Tony knows," Sarah said, nodding to Tony standing at the foot of her bed.
"Well, Mr. DiNozzo, may I please see you in the hallway?" asked Doctor Hunt, leading Tony into the hallway.
"Sarah, do you care to tell us what those two are talking about?" asked Gibbs from his spot leaning against the wall.
"It's a really long story, but I guess I'll tell you some of it. Sometimes of have metal break downs because of stuff that happened in my past. I would revert back into that of a child at age five, but I wouldn't be conscience about it. It's kind of like sleep walking. It would also happen with traumatic experiences, mind you. Abby, did I act like a child when I went to NCIS?" Sarah asked the woman to her right.
"You did, sweetie. I'm sorry for everything you went through," replied Abby, hugging the girl to her chest. "Is there anything you need?"
"I am a little parched. Do you mind getting me some water?" asked the polite girl.
"Tim would be happy to get you some water, wouldn't you, Tim?" Abby said shooting the man a look and he went right on it.
"Sarah, I may have some unhappy news for you," Doctor Hunt stated, walking into the room with a glum looking Tony behind him.
"What is it?" Sarah asked her uncle noticing Tony's face, she knew this information wouldn't end well with the team.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to hospitalize you."
"What?" yelled Ziva, Abby, Gibbs, Ducky and Tim, who just got back from getting Sarah's water, with shocked expressions.
"I won't allow this," Abby declared, becoming defensive of the young girl.
"I won't allow this either," Gibbs affirmed, walking towards Sarah's bed.
"Neither will I." McGee walked in front of Sarah's bed, waiting to defend the girl.
"Of course I won't allow this," Ziva said, ready to get her hidden knife out to force the doctor to rethink his decision.
"It'll only be for a week, folks. It won't be for any longer. I give you my word on that," assured Doctor Hunt.
"No! We refuse any type of hospitalization for Sarah, no matter how long it is!" shouted Abby stepping toward Doctor Hunt, but she was held back by Gibbs.
"Just let him do it," Sarah said in a tired voice, sounding like she was giving up. "I'm used to being put into a hospital." She rolled over so her back was facing the doctor who now had a pained expression on his face.
"No! Gibbs! Tell him he can't do that!" Abby cried out.
"Hospitalization won't do anything for Sarah! The poor girl has been put through enough today! I don't want her put through any more," Ziva screamed at the doctor.
"Ladies, calm down. The man is just doing his job," reasoned Ducky, trying to get the girls to calm down.
"But it isn't fair, Ducky!" cried Abby, tears threatening to fall out of her eyes burning with fire.
"Can we at least lower the number of days that she is going to be hospitalized?" asked Tim with a sad, kicked puppy expression adorning his face.
"Tim! Are you on his side, or Sarah's side?" Abby demanded of McGee, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I'm on Sarah's side of course! I'm trying to compromise with Doctor Hunt."
"I guess she can stay for four days. No less than that though. That's my finale deal," stated Doctor Joe Hunt, looking over all the members of NCIS.
"That's better, I guess," mumbled Tony, looking out into the hall way instead of looking at his ward, feeling ashamed of himself for not being able to protect her.
"Let the man do what he wants, I have to go there one way or another," Sarah droned out, looking over her shoulder toward the door.
"Why do you say that, Sarah?" asked Ziva looking at the depressed girl with confusion seeping through her voice.
"They are the reason, Mr. Norton and his cronies." Sarah pointed toward the three men in the doorway.
The three men were very tall fellows, all dressed in black suits and white shirts underneath. The middle man was the tallest of them, and he was the first to speak, "We are Mr. Norton's colleges. My name is Phil Cray, this is Fin Dermal, and this is Mark Mitogen. We have come to take Sarah to be hospitalized."
"We are NCIS, and we forbid you to take Sarah anywhere," Abby shouted at the men, but Gibbs grabbed her before she could advance more than a step.
"Abby, we have no authority over social workers. Plus, it's only going to be for a couple of days anyway. We can make it through those days, we're tough people!" encouraged McGee, trying to make Abby feel better.
Tears fell down Abby's face, trying to be tough like McGee said that they were. "What they ARE," she corrected herself.
Sarah lifted herself from her bed, and her uncle helped her with the equipment. "Thank you uncle, for caring about me." She gave him a quick hug, and then she proceeded to hug the NCIS team. "Come visit me please?"
They all nodded their heads, sadness in their hearts, their expressions, and their souls.
Tony collapsed in one of the chairs and fell asleep. He couldn't stand the overwhelming feeling of guilt weighing on his conscience. The rest of NCIS looked towards Tony, trying to express their sympathy with Tony, their sadness, and their guilt also. The team started filing out with Ducky leaving first, until all that was left was a sleeping Tony.
Hours later, a nurse came in and woke Tony up from his guilt ridden dreams. After leaving the hospital, Tony thought, "How am I supposed to be a good father, when I can't protect my own ward?"
For the rest of the night, Tony stayed awake, thinking of what to do next.