Tony confidently navigated his way through the bowels of the USS Ronald Reagan on his way to sick bay. He sniffed his underarms as he walked and started to agree with McGee's suggestion that he probably should have showered first.
"Just need to check on the boss man first," he thought as he approached the door to sick bay. He stuck his head through the door to peep in and saw the empty bed. His heart plummeted to his boots as he immediately thought the worst. He burst though the door and looked frantically around the room for a Corpsman or a nurse. Then through the corner of his eye he saw the stooped figure sitting uncomfortably by Ziva's bed.
"Boss," he exhaled quietly with massive relief. Gibbs didn't hear him.
"Hey Boss," DiNozzo shouted cheering up immediately. Gibbs turned around slightly, wincing as he did so. "What are you doing out of bed?" Tony asked warily.
"Just checking on Ziva," Gibbs replied sounding tired. Tony approached her bed awkwardly.
"Are you feeling any better?" Tony asked feeling uncomfortable..
"A bit," Ziva replied almost kindly. "I'll be up and about in no time."
"I hope so," Tony replied regaining his confidence. "I'm not doing the paperwork for this one all on my own," he smiled glancing at Gibbs. Gibbs never even reacted, no glare, no comment. He looked exhausted, his eyes to the ground.
"Okay, Boss. Gotta get you back into bed," Tony insisted. "You can visit Ziva later," he said with concern.
"No, Tony, I'm fine," Gibbs insisted. "In fact, we could do with your help."
Tony looked at the shattered pair trying to size up what they were up to.
"Really? Help with what exactly," Tony asked curiously.
Gibbs proceeded to relay Ziva's claims about Hadar and their need to get to Israel. Tony listened intently and knew he would have no choice but to help out. When Gibbs sounded like he was giving you a choice, it was one he had already made for you. You don't say no.
"So the first thing I need you to do is get hold of Ducky and convince him that we need to be transferred to hospital in Tel Aviv. Make out like we're sicker than we are or something. He'll get Vance to authorise the airlift. We don't want Hadar to know we suspect him. Do you think you can do that much?" Gibbs asked sounding patronising.
"No problem, Boss. Consider it done," Tony replied. Just then a nurse entered the room and spotted Gibbs out of bed. She marched over, worried for her patient.
"Sir, you shouldn't be out of bed," she said chastising him. "Back to bed, on the double!"
Gibbs knew he was busted so tried to do as he was ordered and get to his feet. As he stood up he swayed visibly causing Tony to react. Taking hold of Gibbs' elbow he steadied him. It was a testament to how tired Gibbs was that he offered no resistance. He allowed his agent to guide him across the room to his bed and help the nurse settle him there. As Gibbs rested, Tony recalled the previous day's events. Tony was still chatting to him when he noticed how Gibbs' breathing had become deeper and slower. His eyes were closed. He was fast asleep. Tony watched him as he lay there and gave silent praise that he was going to be okay. He had never been as scared as he was that night on the beach with Gibbs struggling for air, close to dying in his arms. "Not something I ever want to repeat," he thought.
He decided that now would be a good time to make that call to Washington. He headed to the Comm room. There he asked the Comms Officer to connect him to NCIS Headquarters. It took a few minutes to get the call through but eventually he had Ducky on the line.
"Ah, Anthony! So good to hear from you. How are our patients?" Ducky asked in his usual upbeat humour.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Duck. I'm worried," Tony began.
"Really? I thought they were doing well," Ducky interrupted his concerns heightened.
"Well is a relative term Ducky. They're alive but I'm worried about Gibbs. I think he may have spinal damage or something," Tony lied.
"Good Lord," Ducky replied in disbelief. "What makes you think that?"
"He has numbness in his arms and legs. It comes and goes but as usual he's insisting that he's okay," Tony told him.
"On my, that doesn't sound good. I'm surprised the ships surgeon didn't mention any of this," Ducky commented.
"Em, well he's a very busy man. It'll probably be in his next report," Tony fibbed convincingly. "I think he needs to see a specialist."
"Yes, of course. How soon before he can fly home?" Ducky asked.
"Not sure," Tony replied, "but we're not that far from Israel. They have excellent medical facilities there Ziva tells me."
"Yes, indeed they do. I'll ask the Director to arrange his transfer as soon as they are fit to travel. Any injury to the spine is serious. The sooner he is seen, the better," Ducky explained.
"Thanks, Ducky. Get Ziva on that plane too if you can. She may need a plastic surgeon," Tony replied, feeling guilty for deceiving him but knowing that it had to be done. Leaving the Comm room he then decided that it was time he had that shower so returned to his quarters. McGee was shaving when he entered the cabin.
"You took your time," McGee said as he walked in.
"I told you I was going to check on the boss," DiNozzo replied looking a little puzzled at his colleague. "What's bothering you?"
"Nothing," McGee snapped defensively.
"Ooh, what's wong Timmy?" DiNozzo asked goading his friend in his usual childish manner.
"Never mind, Tony," he said refusing to rise to his taunts.
"You got lost, didn't you?" Tony laughed.
"No," McGee denied too strenuously.
"You so did!! Where did you end up?" Tony smirked.
"Engine room," McGee replied mortified.
Tony laughed out loud, much to Tim's annoyance.
"You were looking for sick bay and you ended up way down in the engine room? I told you you'd need a map," Tony sniggered.
"No! I wasn't looking for sick bay, I was looking for the mess hall," McGee admitted.
"Oh Probie, Probie, Probie. You wouldn't survive a week on this tub without me, you know that?" Tony sneered, slapping the hapless McGee on the shoulder. McGee shook his head in defeat. Much as he hated to admit, Tony was right. Navigating through a carrier was confusing to say the least. Tony began to undo his shoes before stripping off his t-shirt.
"So, how was Gibbs?" McGee asked, trying to deflect from the ribbing that Tony was giving him.
"Would you believe he was up sitting talking to Ziva when I got there?" Tony asked. "Only hours after surgery and he was checking up on her."
"Really? And how was she?" McGee shouted as the sound of the water started up from the shower.
"She seems good. She didn't look like she wanted to kill me today," Tony shouted from the shower. "But they do need to be airlifted to Tel Aviv."
"What?" McGee asked, thinking he had misheard what DiNozzo had said.
"They're being transferred to hospital in Tel Aviv," Tony hollered once more. McGee stuck his head into the shower room.
"I thought they were okay," he said getting worried again.
"They're fine. Gibbs asked me to arrange it. So I had to tell Ducky a little white lie or two so that he'd request their transfer on medical grounds."
"What's going on?" McGee asked not entirely up to speed.
"I'll tell you when I'm finished showering. Now get outta here!" Tony shouted. McGee quickly turned on his heels and left him to finish his shower in peace. Tony came out of the shower room towelling his hair and proceeded to fill McGee in on the plan. McGee listened intently as DiNozzo relayed Ziva's allegations and what they intended to do once they were in Tel Aviv. Needless to say, McGee had countless concerns about an unauthorised operation, the least of which was their total lack of backup on foreign soil. But he realised that if this was what Gibbs had decided he obviously thought that it would work. He only hoped that Gibbs was thinking clearly following his recent trauma. Whatever happened he and Tony would be there to back him up no mater what.
|TBC
