Chapter Eleven
When the teams showed up men in biohazard suits were in the lobby and people were being quarantined. For a few days people were going to have stay until they made sure no one came down with the plague. The CDC wasn't going to let a new plague start. At Walter Reed Medical Center the isolation cube was being prepared for Tony. Gibbs, Fornell, Ziva, Burley, McGee, Sacks, and Ruiz were stopped from entering too deep into the hotel. Surgical masks were handed to them and they were told to put them on or leave.
Fornell paced as he waited for Tony to be brought out. Gibbs looked over at Ziva to see his agent was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. This hadn't gone as well as he had hoped. At least, the damned terrorist was dead and the situation contained.
"Coming through," cried someone
Men in biohazard suits escorted Tony, who now was in one, through the crowd and towards an awaiting ambulance. As he got close to Fornell and Ziva he stopped.
"Sorry, Tobias, but I did what I thought best," he said.
"I'll be at Walter Reed with you," he said.
Ziva reached out and grabbed his now protected and gloved hand. She wasn't letting go.
"Ma'am, let go," one of the men said to her.
"No," she said.
"Ziva, I gotta go," Tony said.
She saw his smile through the protective plastic facemask. No, she wasn't letting go.
"Either give me a suit or tell me the surgical mask is enough, but I am not leaving me. I am going in the ambulance with him. He is my boyfriend. I am not leaving him," she said.
"Okay, come with us," the guy said.
Fornell smiled then looked at Gibbs, who had a slight smile on his face. Holding Tony's hand, Ziva went with him into the ambulance. The two teams watched as it drove away.
"Fucking plague," sighed Fornell.
"Yeah," Gibbs said.
"If that bastard Hasan wasn't dead, I'd kill him," said Fornell.
"I'd help you," said Gibbs.
TWO ROADS
Tony's clothes were incinerated, his body scrubbed, then he was given surgical scrubs to wear. Once he was dressed, he was escorted into the sterile, controlled atmosphere of the cube. The cube had six beds and was bathed in a blue light, which killed germs. Much to his shock, he found Ziva waiting for him. She wore scrubs, also, and a surgical mask.
"They are letting you stay," he said.
He couldn't believe it. Either this meant they thought he was a dead man and this was his last request, or they thought morale support might help him. The nurse motioned him to get into bed and he did. She attached electrodes to his chest, so that they could monitor him.
"I gave them no choice," she said.
He knew she was smiling under the mask because her eyes were smiling.
"I want you to leave once it gets bad for me," he said. "I don't want you to see me die."
"You are not going to die. I won't let you," she said.
"You'll go," he said.
"No, I will not," she said, "and I'll shot anyone who tries to make me."
"Stubborn," he smiled.
"The Jewish people are known as the stiff necked people because they are so stubborn," she said.
"I thought we broke up," he said.
"I changed my mind," she said then went to take his hand, but the nurse Emma stopped her.
She handed Ziva surgical gloves to put on. Ziva put them on then took Tony's hand.
"So, if we get a few more people in here, we can have a card game. I'm thinking strip poker," Tony joked.
Emma laughed. Ziva snorted. He laughed her laugh. It was either a snort or a full throat laugh.
"I have seen you naked. I'd rather play for money," Ziva said.
"Hey, you have to be nice to me. I'm sick," he smiled.
"No excuses," she said to him.
Emma left them alone. Tony and Ziva heard the hermetic seal of the door. Ziva let go of his hand, retrieved a chair then brought it over to the bed and sat down. She took his hand in hers again.
"When you are released from the hospital, I will stay with you and take care of you," she said.
"Okay. Whatever you say," Tony replied.
"You think you are going to die, but you are not. You are even more stubborn then me. What were you thinking confronting Hasan?" she said.
"I thought were could contain the damage. It looked like it worked," Tony told her.
"But at what cost, Tony. You are too important to throw your life away. You are too important to me," she said.
"You broke up with me," Tony said.
"That was a stupid, stupid mistake. It won't happen again. I guess you are stuck with me," Ziva said.
"At least for the rest of my life," he smirked.
"It will be a long life," Ziva told him.
As they were isolated in the cube, Fornell and Gibbs showed up. They sent the rest of the teams back to NCIS. There were reports to be made before this nightmare was over.
"I guess one of your rules is being broken," said Fornell.
"I can be wrong," said Gibbs.
"I know," said Fornell.
Gibbs looked at Fornell with a smirk on his lips. He walked over to the intercom and pressed the button to speak.
"Ziva, I need to talk to you," he said.
Ziva looked at him and sighed. She let go of Tony's hand then got up and walked over to the intercom. Pressing the button she responded"Yes, Gibbs."
"We don't know if Hasan had allies or associates, so for the time being you are on twenty-four seven protection detail of Agent DiNozzo. Do you understand that, Agent David?" he said.
Ziva's eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you, Gibbs," she said.
"Now, go be with your duty," he said.
She turned around and rejoined Tony. Gibbs returned to standing beside Fornell.
"You going home, Tobias?" asked Gibbs.
"No. I can't leave him," said Fornell. "I always told him I'd have his back."
"I understand that, Tobias. I've got your six," Gibbs said.
"Thanks, Jethro," said Fornell.
"I'll get us coffee," Gibbs said.
TWO ROADS
Tony was coughing. It was just a wet chest cough, but a full body, bone-rattling cough that denied his body oxygen. Emma sat him up and put a tissue in front of his mouth to capture his sputum. When she checked it out, she saw that it was bloody. The worse of it had started. Ziva didn't let go of his hand.
Dr. Pitt stood beside Fornell and Gibbs.
"His body is being denied oxygen and his lungs are started to fill with phlegm. I'd intubate him, but we need to have him clear his lungs. We are going to start a therapy which should loosen the phlegm," he said.
"How?" he asked.
"It's sort of old fashion," Dr. Pitt said. "We sit him up and pound on his back loosening it up. He needs to have the strength to cough it up and spit it out. What he needs is to keep fighting like he is now until he's out of danger."
"Is that all you can do for him?" asked Fornell.
"We are pumping him with meds now. If I can get his lungs cleared then I'll intubate him to help his breathing," said Dr. Pitt.
"This isn't right," sighed Fornell.
"Has anyone else gotten the plague?" asked Gibbs.
"No one. The CDC is sterilizing the hotel bathroom and vents, but so far it looks like he is the only one," said Dr. Pitt.
"He did good, Tobias. He did real good," said Gibbs.
"When does he stop being infectious?" asked Fornell.
"Don't worry, Agent Fornell. I'll let you visit with him once he's out of the woods," said Dr. Pitt then he looked at Ziva. "Maybe we can convince her to get some food, a shower and some sleep soon. He's going to need her for the long run not just today and tomorrow," said Dr. Pitt.
"I'll talk to her soon," said Gibbs.
TWO ROADS
Ziva slept in a bed three beds over. Exhaustion overtook her as it did Tony. He was wheezing and coughing still, but he kept fighting just as she told him to do. He wasn't going to give up as long as she didn't give up.
Fornell sat in a chair and dozed, as did Gibbs. They were like two sentinels who didn't leave their posts. Time didn't matter for them because they were men of their word and they promised to have Tony's back. There was no way that they were leaving.
Tobias smartphone rang. He answered it.
"Yes," Gibbs heard him yes several times was shocked what came next.
"If you want my resignation then you'll have it. Agent Dinozzo succeeded in stopping a bio attack and kill the terrorist and only one hurt was DiNozzo. If you ask me he deserves a medal, but you want an IAD investigation you do one," growled Fornell.
Again, Fornell was quiet as Gibbs listened. He waited for the next explosion, which he was sure was coming. Finally, the next explosion came.
"I'll call personnel. I'm on vacation until further notice. I refuse to participate in the IAD investigation. If you have a problem with that you can eat me," Fornell hung up.
Gibbs was about to offer a suggestion when someone else spoke up.
"It seems that you and Agent DiNozzo aren't appreciated Agent Fornell," Vance said as he walked up to the glass wall of the cube and looked at Ziva and Tony. He started to cough uncontrollably. Ziva got up from her sleep and returned to his side to hold his hand, which seemed to calm. "They make for a sweet couple."
He turned and looked at Fornell.
"IAD investigation?" asked Vance.
"Yes, Director," said Fornell.
"You seem like you want quit. Am I right?" asked Vance.
"I refuse to let them railroad, DiNozzo," said Fornell.
"Loyalty to your people is a good quality to have, but do you know what is a better one, Fornell?" asked Vance.
"No, sir, what?" said Fornell.
"Intelligence. Now if you were in a position to help Agent DiNozzo, say that you were the deputy director of another agency, let's say the deputy director of NCIs, wouldn't you be able to help him more?" asked Vance.
"I suppose I would be," said Fornell.
"Monday nine A.M. I expect you in my office Deputy Director Fornell. We can discuss the future of Agent DiNozzo, as well as many other topics," Vance said then he turned around once again and looked at Tony and Ziva. "Sweet couple. They can't serve on the same team, but that shouldn't be a problem. Balboa is retiring in two months. I take it that DiNozzo would make a good team leader."
"The best," said Fornell.
"Good. By the time he is ready to come back to work, the team will need a new leader," said Vance.
He turned and looked at Gibbs and Fornell.
"Gentlemen, keep me informed on Agent DiNozzo's condition and tell Agent David I expect to be invited to the wedding," Vance smiled then he left.
Fornell looked at Gibbs, who just shook his head.
"You're the boss, Fornell," smirked Gibbs.
"I'm a field supervisor not a…," he stopped himself.
He needed to protect DiNozzo, so he guessed that he was a boss.
"The things we do for family, Jethro," sighed Fornell.
"I know, Tobias," said Gibbs.
"DiNozzo is going to be alright," said Fornell.
"I'd say so. And he better not hurt Ziver or he'll wish he died in there," smiled Gibbs.
"You're going to be a pain in my ass, aren't you?" Fornell said.
"I usually am," said Gibbs
EPILOGUE
Tony was asleep in bed his body perfectly hugging Ziva's body. The alarm went off and Ziva reached over and turned it off. He groaned.
"I don't want to go to school, ma," he said.
"It is your first day at NCIS, Ahuvi," she said softly. "You don't want to be late. It will make a bad impression on your team."
"I do a lot of bad impressions, Mrs. DiNozzo, so they should get used to it," he said and snuggled his wife.
"Get up and no sex for a week," she said.
"Like you could go that long," he chuckled.
"Do you doubt my discipline?" she asked as she turned around and faced him.
"There is no right answer for me on this one, is there?" he said.
She raised an eyebrow and waited.
"I'll do what you say and get up," he said.
"Now, that is the right answer," she said then kissed him. "Anyway, Deputy Director Fornell expects you in early for breakfast with him. You don't want to disappoint him."
"No, I don't," smiled Tony.
He sat up and hung his feet over the side of their bed.
"NCIS," he sighed. "No one is going to know who the hell that agency is. It was so much easier when I'd just have to say FBI. Everyone knows them."
"Stop whining, Supervisory Special Agent DiNozzo," Ziva said. "Remember, we are having dinner with McGee and Abby and Stan and his latest girlfriend. We are celebrating your first day with NCIS."
"I should just get used to you bossing me around, shouldn't I?" he said.
She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his midsection.
"For the rest of your life," she purred.