I'm working guys, just to let you know I have a good reason for not putting up anything in so long, I hope you're not getting frustrated with my lack of updates, it's completely understandable. Though I've just had the busiest week(s) (Months, years...) of my life, but I think things may settle soon. Hopefully. This story has been fighting me the whole time, and my muse has been absent (Damn you, muse! *Shakes fist at heavens*) but you guys have been absolutely fantastic. I'm not sure about the ending I'm chugging toward but hey, it's my first multi-chapter. Live and learn, right? Now a few notes:
-I would never spring a surprise Major Character Death on my readers, I know that's not some people's thing, so I'd never do that. *Hugs you guys* Don't worry, Tony and Tim will make it out of this.
-I don't respond to reviews, I've just never had the time, which is my bad. As a writer, I should make some effort to thank you guys for reading this...mess. :P I'll try my best to respond to reviews, it might just take some time.
-Mostly Jimmy POV in this chapter, and a bit of Jimmy/Ziva friendship (Or romance if you'd like to see it that way) is here too.
Alright, I hope you guys enjoy. :)
~Bagel
Chapter Fourteen
"Doctor," Jimmy coughed uncomfortably. Ducky and the nurse looked up, the latter looking relieved. "We should probably head back to check on Tony and McGee. We've been gone-" He checked the wall clock and then his own watch. "-Over an hour." Wisely keeping to himself that he didn't think the nurse needed another speech on the intimate details of a standard medical procedure she probably already knew, mixed in with a long personal story.
"Very true, Mr. Palmer. I'm sorry, my dear, we must part for now but I look foreword to continuing our conversation another time." Ducky gave her a small smile and began to walk down the hallway. The nurse sighed. Jimmy flashed her an apologetic glance and followed in Ducky's footsteps.
Surrounded by the harsh smell of disinfectant and medicine, Jimmy crossed his arms a little tighter around himself as if to ward off some nonexistent chill. The wish of wanting to be anywhere but here grew slightly stronger.
Hospitals unnerved him, he felt so completely out of his element. In autopsy everything was definite, Death seemed almost like an old friend (As morbid as that sounds). It resided there and was as part as the place as the drawers or even himself. Here, Death was kept away as long as possible. It was fought against by every fiber of the Doctors' being, only giving in when all was lost. Which was a good thing, of course, but still. It was all so different and yet so similar at the same. Jimmy shivered. It made the impact of Death's calling so much more heartbreaking.
Jimmy picked up speed to catch up with the surprisingly quick pace Ducky was setting, striding down the hall with such grim determination and purpose that anyone would make the mistake of thinking he worked there. He cast an air of belonging. Jimmy caught up and matched his pace.
A faint shout suddenly rang out far down the hall.
"Where's his doctor! Call Doctor- Cassirer!" The voice of an unknown nurse called urgently.
"Doctor Cassirer," Ducky said aloud repeating the shouted name to himself as if trying to recall where he heard it before. In the recesses of Jimmy's mind something clicked on the name, he searched quickly through his memories. A nametag, a nametag he read briefly as he passed by. Oh no. Ducky reached the same realization just as Jimmy did.
"McGee and Tony's doctor." Jimmy breathed out, unnecessarily, seeing Ducky had grasped that conclusion also. Both took off down the hall, dodging doctors, nurses, patients, in a sort of blind flight. Jimmy quickly pulled ahead, attempting to put on another burst of speed as he caught sight of a hospital bed being wheeled out of a room and around the far corner. Out of Tim's room. A Doctor and several nurses flitted frantically around the bed.
By the time Jimmy arrived outside the room, they were gone. Breathing heavily, he turned on the spot and caught sight of Ziva and Abby, holding each other and shaking like the world was crashing down around them. Jimmy calmed and stood quietly in place, clasping his hands tightly in front of him, his stance still rigid, almost coiled from the sudden rush of adrenaline and fear. He felt like he was invading on something private and sensitive, he bit his lip, caught between a fear of interrupting the two emotional women and the questions that attempted to tumble down his tongue and through his lips. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure, when Ducky arrived, having come to the sense of not running in a hospital and settled for a slower jog. And having an obvious amount more tact than himself, Ducky approached the women.
"Abigail, Ziva," Ducky said in a gentle tone, holding out his arms invitingly. Abby broke the embrace with Ziva and fell into Ducky's arms, sobbing almost hysterically. "My dear, what's the matter? Where is Timothy?" He soothingly rubbed circles on her back, though instead of answering she began to cry even harder. Jimmy shifted in his spot, feeling even more out of place than before, crying women were never in his element.
"Are you okay, Ziva?" He asked quietly. Ziva stood awkwardly in the same place she had before, her arms hanging limply by her sides now that Abby had vacated them. "Ziva," Jimmy took a step closer to her.
"I am fine, Jimmy." Her answer was so small and placid that Jimmy almost didn't hear it. He took a deep breath, somewhat grateful she wasn't weeping. Slowly, hesitantly he reached over and took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly. Offhandedly, he wondered if the action would be successful, or leave him short a hand.
"It's alright if you're...if you're upset or scared, Ziva." Jimmy stumbled slightly over the words, praying he wouldn't make a mistake or an ill timed, inappropriate joke. He waited for a response but received nothing. He bit back a sigh, thinking he had said something wrong when she squeezed his hand back.
Stepping almost uncomfortably close, she looked deeply into his eyes, as if to try and see if there was any amusement or falsehood. She was silent until finally, she spoke.
"I might be a bit...nervous for McGee, and for Tony." Ziva's voice was low, clearly intended for only him to hear. Her eyes were shining brightly; either from unshed tears or an unspoken threat of death by stapler if he told anyone of this. After a few moments of silence between the two, Jimmy put gentle pressure on her hand and gave her a, hopefully, reassuring smile. She returned a small, weary one.
Both looked up to Ducky, who was listening to finally coherent Abby update him on Tony's status. His face was unreadable for a second, and then so sad and ancient. Jimmy loosened his posture slightly and used his free hand to rub his eyes. Adrenaline gone, he felt utterly exhausted. Ziva stepped toward Ducky, gently letting go of Jimmy's hand, and began to explain the best she could about Tim. Jimmy stepped back into Tim's vacant room and took the seat Ziva had left, seemingly, ages ago. Slumping down into the chair that was too small for him, he ran a hand through his hair and then placed his head in his cupped hands.
How long ago was it, that Agent Gibbs came down to Autopsy asking about the Petty Officer? How long ago? It felt like a lifetime, no two lifetimes. He hadn't even stayed in the room when Agent Gibbs had come in, but he wondered now what he had missed? What they had all missed. Two lives hung upon a thread, waiting for the Fates to either snip with their golden scissors or let them be.
And there Jimmy sat. Gritting his teeth, he wished fervently that he was anywhere but here, where everything was moving too quickly and so slowly at the same time. With a sudden decision, Jimmy wished to be back in Autopsy, back in his haunts, where lives never stood upon the tip of a knife and everything was normal. Not here. Anywhere but here.
Here, that made Abby weep, that frightened Ziva, that aged Doctor Mallard, that made him feel so tired. Anywhere but this place.
o-o
Running like his life depended on it, Gibbs rushed haphazardly up to the front desk, security hovering behind a few feet behind him just in case he turned out to be some sort of basket case. Ducky smiled slightly, wearily as he grilled the nurse sitting at the station.
Deciding the young harried-looking women didn't need any more stress tonight, he called out. "Jethro!" Gibbs looked up. Ducky came to his side, and looked to the distressed nurse. "I'll take him from here, thank you." He gave her an apologetic glance and she looked relieved. The two security men still looked slightly suspicious but walked away. "You make quite an impression don't you, Jethro."
"Duck," Gibbs gave him a small, there-are-things-to-get-done, glance before continuing. "The Doctor called me, he said something was wrong but didn't say anything specific. What's wrong?"
"It seems that Timothy's lung collapsed a second time, he was rushed into surgery. And Anthony, well, Doctor Cassirer told Abigail that several key centers of Anthony's brain are still swelled and perhaps damaged. He may never wake up, and if he does the chances of any kind of brain damage are...high."
"How high?" Gibbs felt his heart skip a beat as Ducky pressed his lips tightly together into a thin line, and didn't answer. Gibbs silently surveyed the scene, Abby, who, in the absence of Ducky, had latched once more onto Ziva. Ziva held her just as tightly, though with a much greater deal of awkwardness. Gibbs looked into Tim's empty room. "Duck." With a subtle nod, Gibbs directed Ducky to the slumped form of Jimmy. Gathering a still watery-eyed Abby under his arm, Gibbs silently comforted her as Ducky spoke softly to Jimmy, a soothing hand placed on his shoulder.
After a few moments, Ducky and Jimmy rejoined them, looking slightly worse for wear. Taking a second look at the group, Gibbs realized they all did. Every person there in varying states of exhaustion and emotional distress. Gibbs sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Head home, all of you." Abby opened her mouth to protest but Gibbs cut her off. "It's late. Go." The last word spoken softly but forcefully. Abby looked incredibly unhappy but knew she wouldn't get anywhere by arguing.
"I am fine, Gibbs. Someone should stay to-" Ziva began with a steely glint in her eyes, but was interrupted by Gibbs.
"Someone is staying. Now go home. That's an order, David." Ziva looked like she was going to resist some more but dropped her gaze in defeat. "Go." He motioned for them to leave, giving them a hardened don't-mess-with-me look. Ducky took a rebellious, yet exhausted looking Abby under his arm and began to almost forcefully guide her toward the exit. Ziva gave Gibbs a critical look, but slowly turned and began to follow in suit. Jimmy looked almost apologetic, but said nothing. Catching up with Ziva, he spoke softly to her and just as they exited, Gibbs saw him gingerly take her hand. Gibbs sighed heavily, ran a hand through his hair again, and looked down the hall. Stopping once to ask a nurse directions, Gibbs silently ghosted down the halls and into Tony's room, where he dragged a chair over by his bedside and sat down heavily.
"I'd head-slap you Tony, but causing more damage to a head injury seems like a bad idea. But you better listen, you're a fighter. Both of you are. I'm not accepting anything else, and if you give me anything else I'll find the both of you, and kick your asses."
"If anything can help them, that may be it." Gibbs gave a small half smile but didn't turn around at the voice.
"Thought you left, Duck." Gibbs turned slightly to see his old friend dragging another chair to his side, with a tired smile, Ducky sat down.
"And leave you here to dwell on past mistakes and 'What ifs'? Never! I would think you knew me better by now." Ducky said in false hurt tone, the smile on his face grew broader.
"Thanks." The statement so soft, that it was almost lost in the beeping of the machines and the general murmur of those who passed by the room. Ducky, with a knowing smile on his face, stayed silent.