Friday sluggishly inched its way forward on the calendar for Tony and the team, but surprisingly it rushed like a freight train for Brigs, who was dreading the moment Anthony DiNozzo would return to the building. McGee had blatantly told Brigs to watch out, reminiscing all the things Tony had done in the past and warning him of the pranks, teasing and torture that was certain to come. Brigs hadn't been too sure about the whole thing when Ziva chimed into the conversation, agreeing with McGee and giving him tips on how to check his workspace for traps. Brigs had finally been convinced when Gibbs strolled into the squad room just as Ziva had finished, adding in that Brigs should never consume any unexplainable or mysterious beverages or edible substances that appeared at his desk, without first having them lab-tested by Abby.
Agent Zach Brigs was to aid the Major Case Response Team in any necessary ways regarding fieldwork or situations affected by Tony's impairment. He would spend the rest of his time working his previous job on another level but would be on call at all times. He was disappointed about moving back to his former job but couldn't help feeling slightly relieved; now he wouldn't have to spend ten hours of his day sitting tense at his desk, waiting in anticipation for Gibbs to sneak up behind him and fry him for doing something wrong.
Brigs stood at his desk with a large cardboard box, packing his various items into it in a sullen mood. McGee and Ziva both sat in their chairs, watching both him and the clock at the same time.
Abby bounded into the bullpen, a large Caff-Pow tucked safely under one arm and a cardboard box similar to the one Brigs was brandishing under the other. McGee and Ziva smiled as she entered, she walked purposefully towards Gibbs's unoccupied desk.
"Hey, hey guys!" she said she dumped the box on the desk and took a seat on Gibbs's chair, "Good, I was so worried I'd come up and they'd already be here and it would mess up the whole welcoming back part, I guess then it would be like I was away so they would be welcoming me back, it would of been all wrong."
"Yeah, Gibbs went to pick him up three quarters of an hour ago, so he should be back any minute." McGee said, "What's in the box?"
"Oh, just stuff for Tony."
"Tony's things are right over there, Abby." Ziva said nodding to the other box near McGee's desk; it had gained a lot more graffiti over Tony's absence. Abby had written messages all over it; 'Tony, I borrowed your mighty mouse stapler', and 'Tony, remember you owe me four dollars', and 'I've got it McGee, the substance found on both Henry Jailor and Josephine Bennet's fingers match up!', McGee had scribbled 'What is it?' in reply and their conversation had overtaken the box, causing a irritated huff from Brigs and a growl from Gibbs.
"Oh yeah, these are just some things I thought I could use to, you know; spruce up the bullpen a little. It's certainly not looking appropriate for this ceremonious occasion... Although your desk chair is looking pretty good, Brigs... Could use a little tinsel though."
"Can I see?" Ziva said, craning her neck to get a look.
"I thought you'd never ask!" Abby said, she pulled the box towards her and created a drum roll on the lid with her fingers. She flipped open the top and dumped the entire contents on the desk in front of her, sending tinsel, streamers, un-blown balloons, a stack of candy, multicoloured feathers, some confetti and a bundle of fake flowers cascading across the desk, some streamers rolling decoratively across the floor.
"Oops," Abby giggled as she attempted to scrap the mess into a pile. Bits of candy, feathers and confetti were spread across the desk and dotted the floor below.
"Gibbs is going to kill you, Abby." Ziva smiled, picking up a rubber bouncy ball and a small yoyo, the pile was half the contents of a child's party bag.
"Are these stickers? What are they of - Ahh! Abby! These are disgusting!" McGee said, dropping the packet and wiping his hands on his jacket.
"Well, I used up all of Tony's last packet so I thought I'd by him a replacement," Abby said with a small smile. "Okay, guys! They're going to be here any second and I haven't even begun to get this place decorated! Quick! Ziva - You're hanging streamers! Tim - Start blowing up these balloons! Zach - Hang them, and I want curly string on the balloons, Mister! No cutting corners! Quick! Let's go, let's go!"
As Abby shouted her instructions she plucked up a pack of purple and black balloons and half threw them at McGee. Ziva tried to catch a rain of multicoloured streamers which bounced across the floor. Zach tactfully dodged a pair of scissors and a heavy sticky tape when they came hurtling his way. The three watched bemused, clutching their objects as Abby flew across the room grabbing the bunch of fake flowers and scraping a handful of confetti off Gibbs's keyboard. She clomped her way to McGee's desk and sighed in exasperation.
"McGee! Your stuff is all over Tony's desk! This is ridiculous!" She said, Tim didn't have time to answer before she had swiped and arm clean across his work-space clearing a large gap of desk and sending the pens and papers that previously occupied the spot flying elsewhere. Abby dumped the flowers on the desk and hurried around it, setting Tony's box of possessions beside them and clumsily throwing the confetti over the top.
"Tim! Ziva! Zach! Don't just stand there! We have to get this sorted before they arrive! I knew that stop off this morning at the taxidermy protest was a bad idea, I've really got to manage my time better, I really should stick my time management pie chart..." Abby rambled while trying to neaten the desk, "Look at this place... Ah, it's such a mess!"
"Ya think, Abby?"
Abby shot a mile high into the air and whipped around, Gibbs stood staring at the chaos that was once his pristine desk. Tony stood beside him, grinning with disbelief at the mess. Nobody so much as breathed on Gibbs's desk without gaining some sort of physical abuse. Well, that was in Tony's experience anyway.
"You're here!" Abby cried, she raced around the desk and flung herself into Tony who held out his arms to catch her. He held her with one arm tucked around her shoulders staring on trying to take in the scene
"No! No! No!" Abby said, turning to Gibbs and Tony, speaking hurriedly and signing just as fast, "This was all supposed to be set up! Like a surprise! Um, alright, don't worry... We can still do this, right? Okay, quick Tony; turn around and shut your eyes. Quickly! Come on!"
She grabbed Tony's shoulders and spun him around to face the screen behind him then went about scraping up half the mess and tossing it into the box. She kicked a few of the fallen lollies into a pile on the ground and snatched up a hand full of confetti and a party hat. All the while Tony spoke with over enthused cheer to himself while still facing the other way.
"Hey guys, yeah, nice to see you all two! Bring it in; bring it in, hugs for all! Been in DiNozzo withdrawal, huh? Whoa, if I'd known you had it this bad I would've done something! Yeah, I know I saw you all only a few days ago but I really missed you all, team! It's so great to see all your bright, smiling faces! I'd much prefer to see you all here in the flesh then, say, stand staring at a wall!"
Ziva tapped Tony on the shoulder and broke off his rant; he turned around to have a hand full of confetti tossed into his face and a party hand thrust into his hand. The room was in a slightly improved state, but not by much. He smiled at the team as they stood in front of him. Ziva and McGee were smiling, Gibbs was clenching his jaw and still looking at his desk and Abby signed 'Surprise' to him with great enthusiasm.
"Well, well. Isn't this impressive!" He smiled, sticking on his party hat and brushing a feather off the shoulder of his designer suit.
Tony received a pat on the back from McGee and Ziva stood close, smiling with wide eyes. Zach hefted his box under his arm and went to leave the bullpen discreetly, but to the surprise of Ziva and Tim was stopped abruptly by Tony offered a smile and shook his hand. Brigs shook back cautiously, nodding worriedly and escaping to the elevator looking a little scared. Tony turned back to Ziva and McGee looking incredulous.
"You've been working with that since I left?"
"He's not usually that bad..." Ziva said uncertainly, McGee signed her message to him.
"Yeah, probably just intimidated by me, I get it all the time..."
McGee laughed and shared a knowing look with Ziva, Tony didn't miss it.
"What did you tell him, McGoopey?"
"Everything." McGee said at the same time as Ziva said "The truth."
"Huh?"
The team continued in friendly banter. Tony couldn't keep the smile off his face; everything was so familiar and normal, even if the conversation's speed was slightly slower then usual. Abby hovered around Tony's desk as he sat down behind it, McGee having cleared away his things and migrated back to his old desk. Tony admired the graffitied box that held his possessions before holding out his hand and looking expectantly at Ziva who looked confused for a brief second, she retreated back to her desk with a knowing smile, retrieving Tony's letter opener and placing it in the palm of his hand. He proceeded to cut open the box and set his things carefully in the right positions in his drawers.
Gibbs cleared his throat and got Abby's attention. He lifted a finger and flicked a party whistle off his keypad. She got the message and went in search of a dustpan and brush, returning with one and the janitor, who looked thou rally displeased.
McGee approached Tony's desk and placed a familiar object on the corner of Tony's table. It was the same TDD phone Abby had presented him with when he had first come home from hospital. He had attempted to get it set up but had given up on the chords and wires and settled with texting his messages instead. Tony acknowledged McGee and turned back to the pretty blond that was leaning on the wall dividers next to the desk, welcoming him back. McGee just stood there, Tony turned back to him with a eyebrow raised, McGee was too timid to interrupt the conversation.
"Well, isn't that lovely, McGee!" Tony said, patting it and shooting him a 'Can't you see I'm busy?' look, before turning back to the woman.
"Tony, I've set the TDD device up and programmed your computer so we can call you. Gibbs wants me to show you how to work it, um now."
The woman watched as McGee signed to Tony, she reached out and tapped Tony on the shoulder and waved her goodbye.
"Alright, well I'll see you later then, Lynda." Tony said with a charming smile. She smiled sweetly in return. Tim watched slightly jealous, Tony could be scarred and deaf but he still seemed to have better luck with woman then him. He was snapped out of his wishful thoughts by the glare Tony shot him.
"You've got my full and unwavering attention, McAnnoying... Great, big white phone thing. Got it."
McGee sighed and swallowed back his frustration. Yep, Tony was back. He bit back an argument and began to explain it to Tony
"I've wired the TDD phone to your computer so the messages come up on your computer screen instead of the screen on the phone, when it rings all you have to do is pick it up and your monitor will automatically switch to the software. But listen, Tony. I've taken apart the machine and rewired it so it works so people with normal phones can call you. They speak into their phone, it gets wired into the computer and the software listens to the message and produces it as text on the screen, you just speak normally back. It's a little slower than a normal phone but much more effective then texting."
Tony nodded slowly, a frown on his face. McGee sighed, and rounded the desk, pushing Tony aside and sitting in his place. He pulled out his own mobile phone and pressed speed dial four then tossed the phone at Tony, who caught it and glanced at the screen before turning his attention back to Tim. Tim then picked a small white box from beside the phone, about the size of a matchbox. He passed it to Tony who examined it in his hand, it was vibrating viciously. The phone on the desks screen was flashing too. McGee picked up the receiver and watched with Tony as a new window opened on the computer screen immediately. Tony held the mobile to his ear and spoke into it, watching the screen, his words popped up a couple of seconds later.
'Well isn't that spec-tab-ulous.' Was what Tony said, although it came up on the screen as 'Well isn't that spectacles.'
"Obviously it isn't going to get every word; you'll have to piece a lot of it together. Pretty much only Gibbs, Brigs, Ziva and I will be calling this number. It might have some trouble with Ziva's accent; Abby and I are working on that. Also, if you're constantly having issues with some words in particular, we can program the software to recognise the sound and get the words right."
'Timothy, you are the Wiz-Cat of the Wizards. And for that, I salute you.' Tony said into the phone before snapping it shut, the words came up on the screen.
"Keep that in your pocket so you actually know when it's ringing." McGee signed, gesturing to the small box.
"Well, duh." Tony said, already disinterested. He had discovered an ancient Mars bar tucked into the pages of one of his magazines.
"Oh-Oh-Yeah! Score one for DiNozzo!" He said ripping the paper, and chuckling to himself, he gave it a sniff. "Ergh..."
"How old is that?" Ziva asked, approaching the desk.
"Huh?" Tony said, looking back at his chocolate, "What's the colour you're supposed to look out for in the chocolate again? You don't eat if it's gone blue? So it's okay to eat it if it's a bit white? Right?" He mumbled, swallowing down half the chocolate and taking another bite. Ziva watched him, crinkling her nose.
"Whose bright idea was it to take you back?" Ziva smirked.
"What?"
Ziva sighed in frustration and lent forward closer to her partner, Tony cocked his head to the side.
"You. Are. Disgusting."
Tony swallowed down a lump of chocolate and lent a little closer to her.
"I. Beg. Your. Pardon?"
"What'd he do now?" Gibbs said, re-entering the bullpen. He snapped his phone shut and pocketed it, turning to his team and speaking in both ASL and aloud.
"We've got another dead one; you all know what to do. Right DiNozzo?"
"Yeah Boss. Sit here, do work, have fun. I got it."
"No fun." Gibbs said dead-pan. The rest of the team had snapped into action, pulling their backpacks over their shoulders and snapping their guns to their waists while Tony sat watching from the desk. He swallowed. Abby had since returned to her lab after giving hugs all round, even to the janitor who hadn't forgiven her for the mess she had admitted to creating. Gibbs tossed the keys to McGee and the three went to exit the bullpen, Gibbs slowed at Tony's desk. Tony looked up at his boss seriously.
"You alright?"
"Never better, Boss. You taking Brigs?"
Gibbs shook his head, pulling an expression that said 'You're seriously asking me that?', no, he wasn't. He handed a piece of paper over to Tony; it held a few words scribbled in Gibbs's handwriting. It was a name, an address and the victim's Marine number. Tony took the paper and nodded at his boss, this was his starting point.
Gibbs turned and caught up with Ziva and McGee, sliding through the elevator doors just before they shut. Tony sat still for a second staring at the empty desks around him. His team were gone and he was left to sit at the desk and wait for them, unaware of what they were doing. If something were to happen to any one of them he would not be there and would have to hear it from somebody else, second-hand. This was his job now, he was lucky to be there at all. He was thankful, thankful to be back with the team. From the moment after his accident he had been thankful that it had happened to him and not another one of the team. He knew if he had the choice, he would take that particular bullet again if it meant that it didn't happen to another of the team. In the beginning he had been angry, mad that he couldn't turn back time and angry that it had happened to him, but when he had realized that if he hadn't been the one to enter that room; it would have been somebody else on the team in his position now.
He had ruled out anger, but he couldn't put a stop to his frustration. He turned to his computer and threw himself into the work.
People stopped by and chatted to him, welcoming him back. He wasn't surprised by the amount of people that stood watching him from their desks or nervously nodded as they walked past. He could feel eyes on him as he worked. He figured people didn't know how to approach him or were not brave enough to try engaging in a conversation with him as they were unsure as how well it would turn out, afraid of it being uncomfortable. He shrugged it off and continued working.
He received a couple of calls from both Gibbs and McGee with new information for him on the case; he proudly operated his phone and boasted about it through the phone to McGee, who promptly hung up.
Tony scrolled through the information he had gathered in a few short hours of hard research. It was more then he would have usually collected in a week. He looked down at his notes, he had a short list of phone numbers which were other potential leads, he summed up the courage to use his TDD phone to speak to strangers for the first time.
Gibbs, Ziva and McGee returned two and a half hours after setting off, after sending the evidence down to Abby's lab Ziva and Tim settled in behind their desks to start on their research. Tony cleared his thought and flashed a smile.
"Good morning lady and gentlemen, my name is Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, you can call me Tony for short. Prepare to be amazed." Tony said as he strolled to the screen near Gibbs's desk, they all gathered around it. Tony flicked on the information he had gathered.
"And the winner is; Lance Corporal Ian Stilton, age 32. He was first noticed missing when he didn't arrive at a martial arts class he attended every week..." Tony continued to brief his team mates in on the information he had gathered in their absence. Impressing even McGee with the amount he had found out. Gibbs went to praise his Senior Agent when he paused, only to discover Tony had more, and was merely taking a breath.
"Good work, Tony. McGee- pull up the banking records on Cassy Stilton, the girlfriend. Ziva- Call into the Lance Corporal's unit and find out all you can."
The three settled back into their desks while Gibbs mounted the stairs to MTAC. Tony lent back in his chair and watched Ziva with a grin. She could feel his eyes on her and looked at him questioning.
"Impressed?"
"What? By you?" Ziva said with a smile. Tony frowned and looked at McGee who signed what Ziva had said, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, by me. Don't my amazing investigative skills thrill you?"
"Tony, you are just about as thrilling as a knob."
Tony squinted at her then at McGee, waiting for the translation. He watched confused at McGee's grin as he hurriedly explained something to Ziva, she replied looking confused and then embarrassed. McGee signed the message across with a smirk.
"She says you're as thrilling as a door-knob."
"Did she now, what where you two saying before?"
"I'll be murdered in my sleep if you ever found out."
Tony turned back to Ziva and gave her a knowing grin; he figured he could taunt her a little by making her believe he knew what she and McGee had been talking about. She smiled and shook her head, seeing through his bad acting.
"You don't know what I said, Tony. McGee wouldn't risk it."
"WHAT?" Tony said, looking frustrated.
"I said - ..." Ziva sighed, then shut her mouth, there was no point in repeating herself, and Tony wouldn't get it. She grabbed a sheet of A4 paper and a marker and wrote in large capital letters.
'SHUT UP AND WORK'. It read, she held it up to him.
"Ziva, hey now. No need to be rude, seeing as I'm deaf and all..." Tony said with fake puppy-dog eyes. "You know what would be really convenient? You learning sign language, that would be really helpful, seeing as I can't hear or understand you."
Ziva looked slightly hurt as Tony's words took on a harsher touch as his finished the sentence. He had meant it to be a joke but it hadn't turned out amusing since it really was a subject Tony was frustrated with, and a topic Ziva felt guilt over.
McGee called to Ziva, who pointed Tony's attention in Tim's direction. Tim started signing.
"You know Ziva is going to start learning- - " He stopped when Tony held up a hand to silence him.
"I already know you can sign, Timmy, but that isn't the topic of this conversation, now is it?" Tony said with a mischievous grin, "You can speak American Sign Language, and so can I, so... Read my sign!" Tony said, shouting the last part. He pushed off on the desk chair and into a fast spin, slamming his feet down on the carpet once he had done two full rotations; he waved his hands in front of his face before sticking up his middle finger.
"See McGenius, I can speak sign language too."
The day passed quickly and Tony worked hard. As soon as he arrived home in the evening he collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. The day had been surprisingly tougher than he had expected and that worried him. There had been a lot of fun and play in the bullpen today, but he had only just got back into the building and that had been cause for ongoing celebrations. The day had been challenging even with the light atmosphere and the team had been patient, he knew that patience would continue on tomorrow and the next day but it was only a matter of time before their patience with the slow communication would run out, and they got as frustrated as he was.
He had hardly caught a word of anything Ziva had said to him all day and had been constantly confused and left behind in conversation, requiring McGee to fill him in on what was happening whenever the team got excited over a potential lead and rushed ahead. Everyone had encouraged him at the end of the day, farewelling him with congratulations and encouragement; 'It was only going to get easier.' He knew somewhere that that was true, he had learnt that Ziva had picked up an ASL Dictionary and was planning on taking lessons. He was only going to get better at lip reading, understanding and following conversations, he just worried how much time it would take before things began to run smoothly, he hoped they would before the team grew frustrated with him, and before he became a burden.
None of this dampened his determination. He had worked far too hard to retreat back at the first sign that his battle may be bigger than he once thought, if anything it built on his determination and spirit. He had the support of his team; his friends and he had the willpower he knew he needed to see him through.
Comments, constructive criticism, compliments and insults.
I've got a feeling the next chapter may well be the last one. And I'm kinda sad.
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