A/N: A little thank you to Jonte. and anonymous readers – thank you so much – I can't respond to you though to express my gratitude individually, since the system does not allow.
Palmer helped Ducky get an I.V. into Tony, with a basic saline drip.
As Ducky was on the phone with Dr. Pitt, he found himself staring at the sleeping figure on the gurney.
He couldn't understand how anyone could purposely hurt another human being like that. They had seen very horrifying things in autopsy, but never done to someone so close to him. He absently wrung his hands together, feeling suddenly helpless.
"Alright, Mr. Palmer," Ducky said after hanging up the phone, "I'm adding in a broad spectrum anti-biotic and some percoset to our friends regimen. Be so kind as to go fill my requests at the pharmacy," he said, handing some scripts to him. "In the mean time, I'm going to give Tony a morphine injection, just to give him some relief until we have him taking the percoset."
"Ah, these are made out to me, Doctor Mallard..."
"Indeed they are, Mr. Palmer," he smiled slightly," certain people believe our friend is dead, and for now, we can't take any chances of his information being spread electronically."
"I understand. I'll be back then."
As the door closed, Ducky looked at Tony, who was moving a little again, mumbling something in his sleep. He groaned, brows knitting together.
"Tony," Ducky called gently, hoping to rouse him out of an unpleasant dream his fevered mind was producing.
Tony opened his eyes just for a moment and closed them again.
Ducky sighed deeply, "You're exhausted my poor, dear friend. And who could blame you."
The younger man flinched when he gave the morphine to him, injecting it into a part of his thigh where he knew there was less damage. It seemed to rouse him, as his eyes slowly opened again. He looked confused.
Just then, the door opened and it was McGee, poking his head in, looking inquisitively at Ducky.
Ducky motioned to him, "Come in, Timothy. He's just waking again, I believe."
McGee approached Tony, seeing a bit less than Abby had, since they had covered the injured agent up to keep him warm.
Still, plenty could be seen on Tony's chest and the one arm on top of the sheets, the one with the I.V. in it.
He looked up at Ducky, tearfully, and quietly wiped at his face while he looked back down at Tony.
Ducky turned to give them a moment, and review Tony's xrays, one more time.
"Tony..." McGee put a hand gently on his friend's arm, trying to avoid some of the cuts and bruises. "I'm so sorry."
"What're you sorry for McGoo..." it was a soft murmur, as Tony looked at him sleepily. "I'm the one who was a complete dick to you and punched you in the nose." He let out a soft chuckle. "Boy was Gibbs mad at me."
McGee snorted. "Yeah, you did. And that really hurt Tony." Suddenly he realized how stupid it was to complain about that, in light of what Tony had suffered.
"M'sorry, Tim...I thought...I was protecting you guys..."
"I understand Tony, and...you did. You did protect us. Though I wish you'd found another way...maybe told us..." McGee was trying to reign in his emotions," I'm...I'm so glad you made it back alive...we had no idea what happened to you. We looked into every old case, even your cases from Baltimore."
He saw Tony's one brow lift.
"And Gibbs was suspecting Jarvis had you on another op, but, he got no indication from Vance that you'd been given a mission. He's been…meaner than usual, which puts him on deck with…I dunno, the antichrist maybe. We were all so worried…but it was like he knew. He knew you were still out there and it had something to do with Jarvis."
Tony blinked a few times, "Well he was right...that gut of his..." he stopped to lean forward and cough for a moment, "like the nose of a bloodhound...but it all happened so fast...because Jarvis let Latham in on the information."
"And...Stratton."
Tony nodded and seemed to shiver. "And Stratton..."
McGee saw the look in Tony's eyes, some horrific memory coming to surface. Then he seemed lose focus for a few moments, looking away from McGee.
McGee called his name, and got concerned when he got no response.
At the second attempt, Ducky heard the slight strain in McGee's tone, and walked over to look at Tony.
"What?" Tony asked softly after finally coming out of the daze.
"You okay, Tony?" McGee asked, with deep concern.
Tony looked at him for a moment, and said, "Oh, I think I'm pretty far from okay, Tim, but...hey, my screws weren't all that tight before this were they, Probie?"
Before McGee could answer, Gibbs walked into the suite.
He gave them a quick assessing look and nodded wordlessly, and then strode over to Ducky.
"How is he?" he asked in a slightly hushed tone.
Ducky turned to him, "A bit more comfortable, I think, after I gave him a morphine injection for the pain. His blood sample revealed what we expected, traces of LSD and a few other things, one being a synthetic type of adrenaline, do doubt to keep him aware longer. The last of the drugs are working their way out of his system, and the levels are low. But when I have a look at the other sample they took on base in Cagliari tomorrow, I'll have an even better picture." Then the M.E walked a few paces to turn on the box lights to illuminate Tony's films. "Three broken ribs, right side, two just bruised, and thankfully no other damaged bones." He switched films. "His lungs don't show pneumonia yet, but with the bronchitis started and fever, Dr. Pitt and I decided on a long course of anti-biotics. Within a day or so the fever should come down. And we also agreed on some pain management, percoset."
Gibbs felt some relief was over him, but it was momentary as he thought of some things Ducky had left out.
"The cuts and burns?"
"I will remove the sutures when necessary, and the anti-biotics will help with any infection. It seems being immersed in the seawater dried them out, so they are healing. But we also applied burn cream where necessary."
"And...the long term effects of the drugs they gave him ?"
The room had become quiet, as McGee and Tony caught what they were saying and wanted to hear the rest.
He looked at Gibbs. "As you know, LSD can cause flashbacks, which can occur suddenly, often without warning, and may occur within a few days… or more than a year later. We will have to wait and see how it goes for Tony, but it may not be too bad."
"Not too bad..."Tony murmured, disgustedly. "I'm still seeing halos and hearing things...some Special Agent I'm gonna be now." Then, "OW!" as Gibbs smacked the back of his head on the gurney.
"You think you're getting outta' this job that easily, DiNozzo?" Gibbs growled.
"Ahhh, no Boss, not at all," Tony said weakly, smiling a little.
"Jethro, I hope you're going to be more gentle than that at home," Ducky scolded.
"At home?" McGee and Tony said it at the same time.
"Can't go back to your place. Too dangerous. And you're not exactly in any condition to be alone."
Tony glanced at McGee while he said, "He still likes me best."
Gibbs smiled at McGee's irritated expression.
Gibbs looked over at Tony in the car, as they stopped at a light.
He'd gotten up and around a bit better after the morphine, and Gibbs had the rest of the medications to administer at home.
Tony's head was leaning back, his eyes closed.
"You should take a picture, if you're gonna stare like that."
Gibbs snorted, "Just glad you're back, DiNozzo, just glad you're back."
They got into the house, and Gibbs ordered him to sit on the couch.
They were waiting for Ziva, who wanted to come over and see Tony. Gibbs told her to come bearing pizza.
As he got Tony's medication set up on the kitchen counter, he heard him ask, "So, what is the plan on Latham and the chip?"
Gibbs froze for a moment, feeling a little put off by Tony jumping right into it. He shouldn't have expected any different. But, they'd just gotten him back…he had just gotten Tony back.
He walked into the living room, arms crossed as he leaned on the kitchen doorway.
"Maybe you could get some rest first and we could talk about it in the morning."
"Or maybe," Tony said with a little twist to his expression, "You'll just skim over it or happen to leave out a few more things then."
Gibbs stared at him for a moment. Out from the pale face the green eyes were bright with anger.
"Just what are you talking about exactly, DiNozzo, because I did catch the dig you threw me from interrogation…and I don't know what is in that head of yours. And," Gibbs started getting louder, pushing away up from the doorway, "while we're on the topic of disclosure what in the world were you thinking getting that chip implanted? Of all the stupid –"
"I was protecting the team," Tony growled angrily.
"You are the team! You're part of us too! He served you up on a frickin' platter to Latham. You had no real backup!"
"Tell me about it."
"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?"
Tony shifted a bit on the couch leaning forward. "I wanted to tell you, Gibbs," he choked, "I was going to tell you. And then I saw that goddamned file-" he saw Gibbs' mouth suddenly hang open, -yes, that one, on Phantom Eight."
Gibbs saw it now, so clearly, he groaned. "Tony-"
"NO, GODDAMMIT!" he stood up suddenly. His tone became sad, almost begging. "I wanted you to trust me enough at this point to not keep important information from me ! I know you always have your reasons, but we're partners. I thought we were past that ! How long until I get to be in the know? I've only ever lied to you when I was ordered to do it! Gibbs, I-" he suddenly coughed harshly, a wet rumbling sound, and swayed, expression switching from fury to confusion.
"Tony," Gibbs called to him, a little anxiously, immediately going to his side to ease him back down onto the couch.
Tony had his eyes closed, and he was shaking. Gibbs knelt in front of him, one hand on his knee.
"You alright son?" His tone was gentle, though his heart was still pounding in his ears.
Tony cracked his eyes open, and frowned a little, sadly.
"Why Boss?" He continued weakly. "I should have seen that file, way before Jarvis ever approached me to do the implant. I'm not saying it was a smart idea. But…if I had known Stratton…" the man's name made him swallow convulsively, "Stratton and Latham were in it together…I could've talked Jarvis out of it…maybe…or maybe none of it would've been different… I dunno." The last part was laced with defeat.
Gibbs looked into his green eyes and saw the deep well of hurt.
He looked down for a moment, swallowing back his own regret. He knew Tony was right.
He sighed sharply, "Tony, I-"
Just then, the front door opened, and Ziva entered, smiling, carrying a pizza box. "I hope I got the correct type of pizza you wanted," her tone cheerful, as she closed the door behind her.
Then she saw them, Gibbs crouched in front of Tony who looked like he was going to be sick.
"Is everything…alright?" She asked eyeing them both as Gibbs got up and took the pizza from her.
"Peachy," Tony muttered, and slumped back even further into the cushions.
Her eyebrows arched up, and she frowned, watching Gibbs walk stiffly into his kitchen with the box.
"I can see that," she said sourly.