A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews and alerts. Still not mine (full disclaimer in profile.)
Chapter 10
Three days later and Tony's ICP had stabilized. The drain had been removed but the doctors were still limiting Tony's movement. They were also pleased that his ability to speak had returned though not without problems. While Tony was able to talk again, his speech was halting. Some words simply would not come and he would easily become frustrated. As a result, he sometimes refused to talk at all, resorting to ASL.
The neurologist said that Tony's brain would eventually reroute the connections around the damaged area. They believed that with time and therapy Tony would regain close to full ability. There would probably always be some hesitations in his speech but nothing that would limit his ability to do his job.
Tony hated the way he sounded when he talked but Gibbs refused to respond to ASL. If Tony signed, Gibbs simply ignored him until he voiced the question or statement. "I hate this," Tony said slowly. "I sound . . . I . . ." Groaning with frustration, Tony signed 'stupid' to finish the sentence. Why could he think the word, even sign it, but not say it? "I want to go home."
Gibbs sighed. While Tony wasn't talking much, the one thing that he was vocal about was his desire to leave the hospital. Gibbs had been trying to reassure him, telling him to be patient, but Tony was growing more and more impatient every day. "Let me talk to Ducky and your doctors. If they agree – and that's a big 'if' – you have to promise to do everything they say. Got it?"
Tony nodded, then at Gibbs' pointed look, answered, "Got it. Please, just get me out of here."
Gibbs leaned over and gently kissed Tony's forehead. "Let me go see what I can do. You try to get some rest."
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNC ISNCISNCIS
Abby was tired of being persona non grata at NCIS. Everyone knew how she had treated Tony and as a result she was being given the cold shoulder. Even Tim had been distant, but she hoped that he would come around soon. She had to make things right. If she could only talk to Tony - she knew that if he forgave her, everyone else would eventually get back to normal. Well, everyone except Gibbs. She didn't think things would ever be the same between the two of them and she mourned the loss of that relationship.
Now she was at the hospital again, hiding out and waiting for a chance to talk to Tony. The problem was that he was never alone. Gibbs only left for a few hours at a time, and somebody else, usually Ducky or Jimmy, was always there until Gibbs returned. She moved quickly back around the corner as the door to Tony's room opened and Gibbs stepped out. Finally! This was her chance, perhaps her only one, to fix things. She just hoped she could get in and out before Gibbs returned.
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNC ISNCISNCIS
When the door opened, Tony expected to see Gibbs and started to ask him what he forgot. He was surprised (and not pleasantly so) to see Abby standing just inside the door, wringing her hands nervously. He waited for her to say something, and when she didn't, he said coldly, "C . . .cat got your tongue? Funny, you didn't have any tr. . .trouble speaking your mind last time I saw you."
Abby was stunned at Tony's speech, the normally smooth cadence slow and uncertain. "I know I have no right to be here. Just give me a minute and I'll be gone." Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I'm sorry. I know that's not enough, but it's all I can say. I was jealous of you and Gibbs. I realize that now, especially after Ducky let me have it. I understand now. I know that nothing excuses my behavior, but I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me someday."
Tony just looked at her, trying to formulate a reply and hoping he could get it out without getting stuck on the words. Mistaking his silence for dismissal, Abby turned to leave, stopping when she heard Tony call her name. He motioned for her to come closer but when she approached the bed, intending to wrap him in a hug, he stopped her. "Not r.. r..ready for that, yet. Not ready to forgive you yet either. Not because of all of this," he gestured toward his head, "that's not your fault. The bleed was there and I would have ended up here anyway. H..H..How could you accuse me Abby? Why would you think I would do something like that? I thought we were . : ." Speaking had become almost impossible by now as Tony's anger and frustration mounted. He continued his tirade in ASL, '. . .friends. What did I do to you to make you hate me so much?'
'I don't hate you, Tony," Abby signed back. 'I could never hate you. I never meant to hurt you.'
'But you did. And I don't know how I feel about that right now.' He saw her face fall and her eyes fill with tears, but he continued on anyway. 'I think you need to go now, Abby. I need some time.'
The tears were falling freely now, but Tony would not be swayed. Not this time. "Okay, Tony," she said quietly. "I'll go. Can I text you? Not every day or anything. Just to say hi?"
Tony nodded, not trusting his voice. He was near tears himself and he didn't want to lose it in front of Abby. He turned his head so she wouldn't see, and Abby sadly walked out the door.
And ran into a furious Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNC ISNCISNCIS
Gibbs hurried back to Tony's room, eager to share the good news. The doctors were pleased with Tony's recovery and felt that it would be safe for Tony to go home the following day, albeit with some stipulations. His activity was still limited, but he could at least sit on the sofa and watch TV. He would also be under to watchful eye of Dr. Mallard and would have to follow all of his instructions to the letter. Knowing Tony's tendency to push, Gibbs planned to point out that if Tony tried to rush his recovery, it could result in permanent damage (and if Gibbs implied that there was greater danger than there actually was, well, it as for Tony's own good.) The speech therapist would come by three times a week at first, and Gibbs and Ducky would also work with Tony on regaining his ability to speak smoothly and clearly.
As Gibbs approached the room he heard voices, and he frowned knowing that Tony was not expecting any more visitors today. When he realized that Abby was in the room, his first inclination was to storm in and throw her out. Instead, he decided to eavesdrop on the conversation. He frowned again when the room went silent, realizing that Tony had shifted to ASL. Before he could go in, however, Abby opened the door. Her shocked expression was a dead giveaway that she hoped to be gone before Gibbs returned. "Go to the waiting room and stay there," Gibbs ordered. "I'm going to check on Tony and make sure he's okay then I'll be out to deal with you. And you damned well better be there when I get in there or there'll be hell to pay."
Eyes wide, Abby nodded and fled to the waiting room. Gibbs watched her go then schooled his features, trying to remove all signs of the anger simmering below the surface. But when he saw Tony's obvious distress, it was all he could do not to go into the waiting room and toss Abby out on her tail. Taking a deep breath, he went to Tony's side and took him into his arms. He would take care of Tony first, and find out what Tony wanted to do about Abby. Hopefully, he would then be able to deal with the young woman he once thought of as a daughter, knowing that that relationship was shattered beyond repair.
TBC