Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviewers, favorites and followers of this story…
Here's the next chapter… Enjoy!
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Abby anxiously waited outside Gibbs' room wondering why the doctor and nurse were taking so long. She hated seeing Gibbs like this. He looked …. Scared! Her silver haired fox… scared. It was something she never expected to see in him… ever.
"What's wrong?" Tony asked running up to her. Ziva was with him.
"Oh Tony." Abby wrapped her arms around him and simultaneously drew Ziva into the embrace.
"Abby, what is going on?" Ziva asked, hugging her in return for a second before pulling away.
"He is in so much pain. And…" Abby sobbed.
"And?" Tony asked. He was tense and irritable.
"And he couldn't hear anything when he woke up about 20 minutes ago."
"Shit!" Tony exclaimed. "But why is he in pain again. Aren't these doc's giving him pain meds?"
"They said they would. I think they are still to start the treatment plan, once they identify the type of infection." Ziva commented.
"They why is he in such bad pain?" Tony ran his hand through his hair. This was so frustrating.
"Maybe they need to up the dose." Ziva said, quietly.
"What are we going to do if he loses his hearing, permanently?" Abby whispered.
"Don't say that, Abs." Tony admonished. "He won't lose his hearing. This is just temporary. It has to be."
"We don't know what's going to happen, but we should prepare for…." Ziva was cut off but the serious almost hostile glare Tony gave her. Luckily Ducky arrived at that moment too.
"Dr Smith asked me to come over. He wants to discuss Jethro's treatment options." He said hastily, moving past the team and into Gibbs's room.
The tension in the hallway was palpable.
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"Ah, Dr Mallard." Dr Smith greeted.
"Dr Smith," Ducky said moving to the bed and taking him Gibbs' expression.
"His condition is getting worse." Dr Smith said.
"How so?" Ducky asked his hand on Gibbs shoulder, patting gently.
"Duck," Gibbs grimaced. "Get Abby."
"Abby?" Ducky's lips moved.
"Yes, I want to know what the hell you two are talking about. She can tell me."
"Ah yes, she can." Ducky walked to the door, opened it and called Abby. But Tony and Ziva moved forward with her and Ducky decided to let all of them in. Gibbs saw then and rolled his eyes. This was turning into a circus and he was the clown. Crap, he hated this. He could see that his team was distraught. Tony was agitated, Ziva was quiet and didn't look directly at him, Abby was still crying and clutching her hands in front of her chest.
Gibbs signed to her, "Translate what they are saying, please."
Tony and Ziva looked from Gibbs to Abby and then at each other.
"Of course!" Abby signed back, moving closer to the bed.
"Agent Gibbs are you okay with having all of these people in here as we discuss your condition?" Dr Smith asked and Abby signed to Gibbs.
"Yes, they're family." Gibbs verbally replied.
"Okay, as I was saying to Dr Mallard," Dr Smith said turning to face Gibbs, "your condition is getting worse."
Everyone in the room stilled and focused on Gibbs.
"No kidding?" Gibbs said drying. "What are you going to do to fix it?"
"I can tell you that the blood cultures are days away for giving us any insights, but the result on the rest of the blood work and on the discharge from your ears, indicates you have a bacterial infection."
"So you will begin a course of broad spectrum antibiotics?" Ducky asked. Abby signed every word of the exchange to Gibbs. Tony and Ziva watched and listened.
"Yes, that is the plan, but I believe we need to tackle the infection more intrusively and within the next few hours."
"What are you suggesting?" Ducky asked.
Gibbs rubbed the side of his head, his only indication that he was still in pain.
"A Myringotomy to drain the fluid from both ears and to prevent possible Mastoiditis. Currently there is significant swelling of the ear canal and the constant build-up of fluid around the eardrum is causing Agent's Gibbs hearing loss. If we wait for the antibiotics to kick in, there is a risk of is causing more damage and permanent hearing impairment."
Gibbs tensed as Abby's hands faltered. Tony's shoulders bunched up and Ziva looked mad as hell.
"I see." Ducky said contemplatively. "And I agree with your recommendation." He turned to Gibbs, placed a hand on his shoulder again and said, "It is a necessary procedure, Jethro." He watched Gibbs watch Abby as she explained what was said.
Gibbs waited a second, before verbally saying, "Do it, tonight."
Dr Smith noted and said, "Give me a few minutes to make the arrangements. I will advise when we will take you into surgery. You have not eaten anything so that allows us to proceed without delays. I will explain further details about the procedure and associated risks when I get back."
After Dr Smith left the room, everyone stared at Gibbs.
"Go home and get some rest." Gibbs said. "I'll get the doc to call when everything's done."
"No, I'm staying." Abby insisted.
"I ain't going anywhere." Tony stated.
"Me neither." Ziva responded as McGee entered the room with an overnight bag in hand.
"Brought your things, Boss." McGee said. "What's going on?"
"Let's give Jethro a chance to rest now. We'll explain everything to you Tim, in the waiting room." Ducky said indicating that everyone should head for the door.
Tony hung back and moved to Gibbs' bedside once the door to the room was closed.
"Tony?" Gibbs said questioningly.
"I've got your six, Boss." Tony said and indicated by very deliberate hand gestures that had nothing to do with sign language.
"I'm counting on it, DiNozzo." Gibbs replied, and Tony's face lit up.
"Now get some rest, cause it's gonna be a long night." Gibbs finished, pressed back into his pillow and closed his eyes.
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