(------------------------------------Ducky-------------------------------------------)
Dr Mallard walked into the room his eyes looking over the young agent. Instead of walking over to the bed however he walked to the machines and carefully studied the readouts. He was a little worried about a couple of Anthony's vitals but it was to be expected with the condition.
After a minute more of intense focus of the machines Ducky finally settled into the chair.
"You, my boy, have been the cause of more than you fair share of hospital visits. We really must stop meeting like this." Ducky took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
"Next time you are ill you need to say something. If something like this happens again I'm afraid Gibbs will do something drastic. But he will mean well."
Ducky felt old at that moment. He had been to long in the business and lost to many people he had grown close to. He was not sure he could keep coming to work if they lost Anthony. Not after they had lost Kate not too long ago.
"Anthony, I have watched you fight a disease from the dark ages. This little bout of pneumonia looks like child's play after that. So I know that you are capable of beating this. And the team needs you."
The door quietly swooshed open and the doctor walked quietly into the room.
"I'm sorry Dr." he said coming to read the machines.
"Not at all Bradley. I was just assuring the young man that he did indeed have the ability and strength to fight this." he switched his focus to the man on the bed. "And you have the support to help you. The whole team is behind you. Anything you need we'll do." Ducky patted the young man's arm on the bed and came to stand next to the doctor.
"How is he doing?" Ducky asked quietly.
"As good as can be expected. His body isn't rejecting the respirator. It's doing its job and getting air to his lungs and the rest of his body."
"And behind closed doors you told Gibbs you are worried about the time his brain went without oxygen."
"How did you know?" Dr. Pitt looked up at the older Dr in surprise.
"I have known Gibbs a long time. I know when he has received news that shocked him through and through. I am also a Dr. I was a bit concerned myself."
"It is a possibility that Gibbs needed to be aware of." Dr Pitt said looking over at Tony.
Ducky nodded and gathered his coat he had set on the chair into his arms.
"You'll keep me updated?" Ducky asked.
"Of course Dr."
"Keep fighting Anthony. We'll see you later." Ducky again patted the young man's arm and walked out the door.
(---------------------------------Ziva----------------------------------)
Ziva was startled at the change in DiNozzo. In sleep he looked frail and small, not a DiNozzo she was comfortable with.
"In my training we did not often get this opportunity." she said after a minute slipping into the chair. "To give support to a comrade." she said looking at her hands. " I am not sure what to say."
'what Zee-va at a loss for words?' Ziva smiled at the thought of the annoying things Tony would be saying if he could see her visiting him.
"Your going to get better." she declared a hint of steel in her voice that left no room for arguments from the silent man on the bed.
"Because through all you stupid comments and dumb jokes you have always been there for the team. You always have been there and you always will be. If you died and left the team behind you 'd be letting the team down in the worst way. And you never would. Because you just can't. it's not who you are. I wasn't here for the plague so I didn't see what you went through but from what Abby told me it was bad. After that this is nothing. And I have seen times when you have been strong. Far stronger than you lead people to believe so you are going to get over this and you are going to come back and be Gibbs backup. Understood?" The steely note went up a couple octave and it was clear it was an order not a question.
Her part said she sat for a few minutes and watched her teammates chest rise and fall with each mechanical breath.
"And for the last time." Ziva said standing with another smile at her partner. "I am neither that Xena warrior nor am I a 'ninja chick'" she squeezed Tony's hand and walked out into the orderly bustle of the ICU.
A/N alright Ziva was probably the hardest of all four to write and I'm still not sure I got it right…. Thanks for reading. And I hope your still enjoying the story. Thanks again for the reviews and favorite they make me smile.
