Chapter Five
His headaches and nausea were gone, so they began simple independence training at Walter Reed for Tony. His first lessons were in the use of the cane. Julie, his trainer, told him he couldn't be timid or apprehensive because that would get him into accidents. He needed to be bold but polite.
She set up a little obstacle course for him in the gym and she made him walk it back and forth until he avoided all obstacles and should the proper amount of aggression and confidence when he walked. This was an acting job for Tony. The darkness of blindness had sapped his natural confidence. He didn't want to admit to her that he just wanted to lie down on the floor and curl up in the fetal position instead of tripping over mats and plastic milk crates.
Walter Reed would introduce him to can training and the beginning of learning to read braille. In depth independence training such as technology, home management, travel, organizational skills, residential instruction, home maintenance, and vocational training were available to him in a live in rehabilitation center. It was a six week program, which Tony was adverse to register for. He was tired of being in a hospital and he equated the rehab center as just another version of a hospital.
"Tony, you should register for the program," Julie pushed him.
"Is there a way I can get a sword cane like the one Zatoichi has in the movies?" he evaded her pushing.
"I don't think I've ever seen that movie," she said with a smile.
"Movies not movie. I'm talking double digit movies. They even did an American version with Rutger Hauer, It was called Blind Fury. He was a Viet Nam vet. It was entertaining but nothing is better than Shintaro Katsu's portrayal as the blind masseuse during the Edo period," he babbled on.
"Are you going to register?" she asked.
"Can I get a sword cane?" he smiled.
"I'm not going to give up on you until you say yes," Julie said.
She led him to a bench and then sat down. Even though his learning to walk with a cane was much exercise he was sweating through his tee shirt and sweat pants. It was a matter of nerves more than effort.
"You were a cop, weren't you?" she asked him.
"Yeah, I was. First a city cop than a navy cop," he said.
"You know you're going to have to learn a whole new way of making a living," she said.
"Julie, it's all I know," he said.
"Agent DiNozzo," an unknown voice interrupted his conversation with Julie.
"Julie, give me a description," he said.
"There are two men in grey suits looking very serious," she said.
"FBI or IAD?" asked Tony.
"IAD. I'm Agent Harris and this is Agent Ahmed. We need to discuss with…," Harris was speaking.
"With me how I got blind and if my team is culpable," he said.
"Yes," said Ahmed.
"Murphin hit him with a lead pipe which is why I'm blind. He also tossed me in Chesapeake Bay and Agent David dove in the water and saved my wife," Tony said.
"Are you aware that Agent McGee hit a pothole causing the car to breakdown and your teammates to not have your back leading to your blindness?" asked Harris.
"I didn't know who was driving, but I knew the car broke down," Tony said feeling a headache starting behind his eyes and in his temple.
"How do you feel about the situation? Don't you think there should have been better planning?" asked Harris.
"My meeting was supposed to be in a bar with the two POs who were selling the drugs," said Tony. "I wasn't supposed to be meeting with the supplier but I was supposed to be having a conversation about him. It wasn't supposed to be dangerous."
"But someone exposed you," added Ahmed.
"Yup," he said and his headache got a little worse.
Julie noticed he was started to squint.
"Tony, do you have a headache?" she asked.
"Yeah, Julie, I do," he said.
She stood up: "I'll get you water and some painkillers."
She left him there with Agents Harris and Ahmed.
"So, why did you go with Turlington and Kline?" asked Ahmed.
"I thought my backup would be able to follow me via the GPS in my smart phone," he said.
"So, you were surprised when they showed up late?" Harris asked.
"I was disappointed but I assumed something had happened that was unavoidable," said Tony.
"Like a pothole," said Harris.
Tony smiled: "You making fun of the blind man, Agent Harris?"
"No, but I find the playing of this op was amateur. They left you out to dry," he said.
"My team didn't leave me out to dry. It was supposed to a simple meeting. It got screwed up. No one is at fault, especially Agent McGee, who is an excellent agent and one I trust with my life," Tony stated.
Julie returned with a bottle of water and two pills. She took his hand and placed the pills in it. He popped the pills in his mouth then held out his hand for the water then drank down half the bottle.
"You don't blame your team for your condition?" asked Ahmed.
"No, Agent Ahmed, I don't blame them," he said.
"Thank you for your time, Agent DiNozzo," said Ahmed and the two agents left.
NCIS
Gibbs, Ziver, and McGee sat at the conference table in Vance's office along with Vance and the two IAD agents.
"Agents Harris and Ahmed from IAD have finished reviewing the incident with Agent DiNozzo," announced Vance.
"You team has been found innocent of any wrongdoing in this action. It was an accident," Ahmed said.
"We talked to DiNozzo yesterday asked him what he thought of Agent McGee hitting a pothole and leaving him exposed and he defended you. He defended the op and even defended his former team," said Harris. "He's blind and you are all fine. It just doesn't seem right to me."
Gibbs looked at the man with a look so intense you expected laser beams to be emitting from his eyes.
"Agent Harris, if you have a problem with me or any member of my team, then take it up with me outside of this office," Gibbs barked.
Ziva looked at the table top. Harris was right about one thing: it wasn't right that Tony was blind and none of them were injured. When he needed the most, they weren't there. That won't happen again.
"Agents, you can leave," Vance said to Agents Harris and Ahmed.
The two IAD Agents got up and left the office. Vance waited until they were gone and the door closed before he spoke up.
"I know this is a difficult time for your time. Agent DiNozzo was integral part of this running, but he is not coming back and you need to move forward," said Vance.
"You putting us back on active duty, Leon?" asked Gibbs.
"Starting Monday," said Vance. "I also need you to pick a new senior field agent and a new team member. I forward personnel files to you."
"McGee will be my SFA," said Gibbs.
"Congratulations, Agent McGee," said Vance.
Instead of looking happy McGee looked miserable.
"Send me the files, Leon," said Gibbs.
Gibbs stood followed by Ziva and McGee then the three exited the office and walked down the mezzanine stairs and into the bullpen.
"We have the next three days off and the weekend. Get out of here," Gibbs said.
"Boss, I'm not sure I want to be the senior agent," McGee said.
"McGee, you have no choice. I've chosen you and you've been trained by the best," Gibbs said. "Go blow off some steam this weekend."
"Yes, boss," said McGee, who then grabbed his bag and coat and headed off.
Ziva slowly packed a few things into her backpack then stood up.
"Are you going to Walter Reed?" asked Gibbs.
"Yes," she said.
"Give DiNozzo my best and tell him I'll see him in a day or two," Gibbs said.
"I shall, Gibbs," she smiled then headed off to the elevator.
NCIS
Julie had helped Tony get dressed in jeans and a zip up hoodie then escorted him to one of the patients' recreation center. In it there was a piano. Tony had told Julie he grew up playing the piano.
"So, are you hooking me up with a game of blind checkers?" he asked.
"I have a surprise for you," she said as she led him to the piano.
She sat him down on the stool then took away him cane and folded it up and finally placed his hands on the keyboard.
"Really, a piano," he said.
"Play something for me," she said.
He started to test the keys until he found a comfortable placement for his hands then he started to play. Since he wasn't in the mood for Sinatra, he started playing Bobby Darin's If I were a Carpenter. After playing a few bars, he started to sing.
"If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, would you marry me anyway, would you be my baby?" he started to sing.
Ziva walked into the recreation center. She stopped and listened to Tony play.
"If a tinker were my trade, would you still find me, carrying the pots I'd made following behind me," he sang.
Ziva walked closer and closer towards Tony.
"Save my love through loneliness, save my love for sorrows, I've given you my onlyness, come give me your tomorrows," he continued.
Ziva walked passed Julie and came up behind Tony and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"If I worked my hands in wood, would you still love me? Answer me babe, 'Yes, I would I'll put you above me,'" he sang and Ziva kissed the top of his head.
"If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, would you marry me anyway, would you be my baby, would you marry me anyway, and have my baby," he finished.
Ziva put her loosely around his neck and bent over to whisper in his hear: "Is that a proposal?"
"I won't saddle you with a man who has nothing to offer," he softly said to her.
"I keep telling you that I will judge what you have to offer," Ziva said.
"You must be Ziva," said Julie.
Ziva turned and looked at Julie.
"And you are?" Ziva asked her.
"Just call me Julie. I'm training Tony on how to use a cane," she said. "And he is doing great."
"Okay, girls, don't fight over him, but love me," Tony said. "I need my cane."
He reached out for it and Julie placed his folded cane in his hand.
"Zi, what time is it?" he asked.
She looked at her watch: "Four o'clock."
"Almost dinner time," he said. "How would you like to join me for dinner?"
"I would be honored," she said.
Unfolding the cane he reached out for her arm, which she offered to him.
"Lead on, my lady," he said.
She settled him down at a table in cafeteria then she went to get them their dinner. When she returned with a tray full of food and drinks, she started to unload the tray. Tony sniffed the air.
"Okay, I smell pizza with pepperoni," he smiled.
"I got you two slices," she said and put them in front of him.
"I also smell a hamburger, or is it a cheeseburger, with French fried," he said.
"You are correct. That is for me," she said. "I am glad we are doing this."
"Not great pizza, But easier to eat than something with a knife and fork," said Tony.
He brought the slice of pizza up to his mouth and took a big bite. Ziva stared at him. She loved him and knew she was ready for whatever kind of relationship he was willing to have.
"I need to get out of here soon," he said. "I hate hospitals."
"Ducky mentioned something about you needing to go to a rehabilitation center for a six week program that will teach you new skills," she said.
"I found out that I can take most of the necessary classes other places," he said. "I really don't want to spend any more time in hospitals or rehab centers, which are nothing more than smaller hospitals."
"Then what do you want to do?" she asked.
"Well, I asked and I can leave as of Friday as long as I have somewhere to go and some help," Tony said.
Ziva smiled and her heart started to pump just a little faster: "Gibbs checked your apartment and it is on the third floor, no elevator, and he doesn't like the building either. We have decided that you will move into my apartment. My apartment is on the first floor. I have a spare bedroom, if you want to use it, and there is a piano, as well as less clutter."
"Less clutter for me to trip over," he smiled.
"Yes, less clutter for you to trip over," she said.
"Some of my stuff has meaning, so I don't want to get rid of it," he said.
"We can put it in storage until we either get a bigger place or you are ready to get rid of it," Ziva suggested.
"We get a bigger place," he smirked.
"I keep telling you, Ahuvi, you are not getting rid of me," she said.
"Well, my TV and Blu-ray player can be sold unless you want them and I'd like to put my DVD collection in storage for now," he said. "I guess my furniture can go into storage and my suits for now."
"Your suits?" Ziva said.
"Yeah. I don't have any reason to wear them," he said.
"Let me choose what goes into storage and what doesn't. I know Gibbs and McGee will help me. On Friday I'll pick you up in the morning and bring you to my place and you can be surprised," she said.
"I leave it in your beautiful hands," he smiled.
"Good. Friday, you are coming home and then we will take it from there," she said.