Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviews, favorites and followers of this story…
Here's the next chapter… Enjoy!
…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…
At 10:45pm, Tony watched as Gibbs was wheeled out of his room. Tony walked alongside the bed as they moved towards the OR. He was at a loss. He didn't know what to say or how to say it. Gibbs meant so much to him, more than any other man in the world did. He personified strength, honour, justice and taking care of what was his. He had taught him how to be a man, a good, decent man.
Gibbs watched Tony and could see the anguish in his face. Despite the pain he felt, despite the fear he felt about losing his hearing, he didn't want to see this young man suffer like this.
Ah DiNozzo, wish I'd never put your through this.
He knew that the rest of the team was somewhere in a waiting room having refused to go home. He felt an overwhelming sense of sadness at the possibility of not being able to hear their voices, their playful banter, and their serious and witty investigative deductions.
What if the future will be like this… silent… still… empty…
Gibbs blinked away the angry tears that suddenly pooled in his eyes. The pre-op meds were starting to take effect, making it very difficult for him to mask his emotions. He was glad that only Tony was here to see him in this conflicted and helpless state. But he hated it all the same.
His mind drifted again and he thought about Abby, Ziva, McGee and Ducky. He needed to know that they would all be okay, irrespective of how he faired. The doctor had warned him of potential permanent hearing impairment. If that was the case, he would have to leave NCIS and his family here. There was no way he could stay. He would just be a liability to them, a burden, a hindrance …. A nuisance.
He sighed deeply and looked back up at Tony. Tony was so serious, so sad, so scared. Blinking away the tears that pooled in his eyes again, no doubt from the damn meds, Gibbs whispered, "DiNozzo."
Tony leaned down close and looked at Gibbs, "Boss?"
"Do me a favour." Gibbs said.
"Anything, Boss." Gibbs lip read, seeing concern blossom in Tony's eyes.
"Have a cup of coffee waiting for me when I get out of the OR."
"Coffee," Tony frowned, thrown by Gibbs' unexpected request at a time of such tension. Then a soft smile touched his lips. "You got it, boss."
"Thanks and…,"
"Yes Gibbs."
"Take care of the rest of the team." Gibbs verbalized his voice cracking as he looked at Tony intently, tears gathering in his eyes again.
"Come on, Boss…" Tony growled. He didn't like the where this was going.
Damnit Gibbs, what are you saying?
"Please… Tony."
Ah hell, Gibbs.
They were at the OR doors now.
"Tony?" Gibbs' voice was urgent now. A command, demanding a response.
"Of course I will, Boss," Tony pressed Gibbs' shoulder and made sure he was watching him. "But only until you're back on your feet, which will be by tomorrow morning, right?" Tony stated, brushing a stray tear off his cheek with the back of his hand.
"Good, knew you would Son." Gibbs closed his eyes and let the tears roll down the side of his face as the nurses wheeled him through the heavy OR doors.
Son… Tony marvelled at what that one whispered word from the man he cared so much about, meant to him.
He moved back from the OR doors, his emotions clearly expressed on his face and in the tears that marred his cheeks. He needed space to process all that had happened and to think through all the scenarios.
Gibbs … Deaf?!
Gibbs … With a permanent hearing impediment?!
Gibbs … taking on a desk job?!
Gibbs … Leaving…?!
Hell !
Walking slowly he headed to the nearest waiting room. He needed to be alone for a while. This situation was overwhelming and he wanted to be back in control by the time Gibbs was wheeled out of the OR.
…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…
In the OR the gas mask was placed over his face and within 2 or 3 breathes Gibbs drifted off into a weightless, bottomless abyss.
They were running, Tony, Ziva, McGee and him.
They were ahead of him, their breathing harsh.
Shots rang out in a distance and they each dove for cover.
It was dark and cold and they were outside… somewhere… running, chasing an unseen suspect.
More shots and people shouted…
Sound faded in and out of his field of hearing, getting fainter.
It got darker and colder and it was more difficult to hear anything.
But still he ran and called out, "Tony, Ziva, McGee… you okay?"
There was no reply…
No that's not right…
There was no sound anymore…
Or was there and he just couldn't hear it!
Pain radiated through his head and into his ears.
He couldn't hear anything now.
All he could do was run and look for his team.
Looking around frantically, he shouted, "Tony…"
"Ziva... where are you?"
McGee…?"
Bile rose up his throat and he ran faster through the dark… silent… night.
The moon rose in that instant, bathing his surroundings in horrid, abstract and gaunt shadows.
But everything remained silent… dead silent.
"Damnit DiNozzo, where are you?"
Suddenly his foot catch against something and he was thrown head first across the cold, hard ground.
His body trembled from the impact and the pain in his head multiplied and expanded tenfold taking his breathe away.
"Ahh!" He shouted as he sat up, dazed and confused, his hands pressed over his ears as if to keep the pain away, his eyes shut.
"Stop!" he shouted to the world around him. "I can't take this crap anymore!"
Taking deep gulps of air, he listened to his surroundings.
Silence…
"Shit! Tony…" he shouted opening his eyes despite the pain
And then he saw them…
McGee and Ziva … unmoving… face down in a pool of their own blood.
"Oh God!"
And at his feet…. Tony … his lifeless eyes' glinting in the eerie moon light…
"No! God No…."
But everything remained silent… horribly, oppressively, nauseatingly silent…
"Argh…" He shouted lashing out in front of him, his eyes flying open, his breathing ragged.
"Jethro, there… there. It was only a nightmare. It was only a bad dream. You are safe now. You are in the hospital and you have safely come through your surgery." Ducky's voices rang out across the room as his hands pressed down on Gibbs' shoulders, pressing him back against the pillows.
"Duck?" Gibbs swallowed, his body trembling uncontrollably… the remnants of the dream still clouding his mind.
"It's okay, Jethro. Everything is going to be alright." Ducky said. "The anaesthetic can do this to you, my dear friend. Just take a few deep breathes and calm down. Maybe even go back to sleep for a little while. Things will seem better the next time you wake."
"Duck." Gibbs said again, allowing Ducky to settle him back against the pillows. He looked around the room to reassure himself that he was really here and not out there somewhere in the dark.
"You were in surgery for just over 90 minutes, so it was no small procedure. Dr Smith said you had one of the worst infections his seen in a long time. He can only imagine the excruciating pain you were in. He said the fluid build-up was quiet extreme and his glad that we decided on the surgery. He is convinced that they managed to drain out all of the infected fluid, seeing as they made tiny incisions behind each ear to suction out the stubborn thick pus build –up."
"Ducky." Gibbs said again, raising his hands to his ears and feeling the light gauze dressings.
"I instructed your team to go home as soon as you were wheeled back in here. But you know them. They're all in the waiting room. Tony insisted they eat something and take turns to sleep. But he hasn't eaten or slept all night. He is such a big brother to the others. They complain about his bossiness, but I know they appreciate him being that way, especially now. And I know that you will be proud of how well he is handling everything on your behalf. You have trained that one very well indeed, Jethro." Ducky continued.
"Ducky, I…" Gibbs said, then stilled, looking confused.
"Jethro?" Ducky looked closely at him now. "Are you in pain? The nurse had just been in here a moment ago to hook up your antibiotics and pain medication. Let me get her for you. So sorry to be rambling on, old friend but I'm just so glad to see you awake and I just hope that you can hear me now."
Gibbs took a deep breath staring up at Ducky.
"Jethro?" Ducky looked quizzically at him.
"I, Duck." Gibbs stated to speak, a smirk on his face. "I can… hear… you."
Ducky blinked and then a broad, relieved, joyous smile split his face.
"That is excellent news." He said before giving Gibbs a brief, comforting hug.
"Tell me about it." Gibbs responded emotionally, the images from his nightmare faded completely as he started relaxing and revelling in the sounds all around him….
I can hear …. Everything….
Phew!
…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…xxx…
Author's Note:
That's it for this chapter…
We are almost at the end of this story… Let me know your thoughts….