A/N: So here's the next Chapter. I hope you like it. And as always, any reviews are welcomed. Good or bad, they can only help me out… and in the long run, give you a better story to read! :)
Disclaimer: There once was a girl, who owned NCIS, that girl was me…. It was a Good Dream. I own nothing! xD
Tony had never realized how disturbingly cheerful and bright the Hospital was until he was there for a reason that just made him sick. It was the big things at first that he noticed. The walls were white; the pictures on it were always happy thinks, smiling suns, rainbows and Unicorns. But the longer he sat in the waiting room the more he noticed. Everyone was smiling. If they were in Scrubs, they had a big old smile plastered on their face.
Even the clothing they wore was happy and bright. The scrubs were soft baby blues and pinks. Some were even a sea foamy green, he even saw a few nurses with little pictures of teddy Bears and what not on them. It was ironic to him. He was sitting in the Emergency Waiting room, waiting to see if his partner would die or live, and there were people moving around so happy and cheery. He was mad, how could they go on like that? Living like everything in the World was great, like somehow someone had figured out how to bring the world Peace.
He groaned and lowered his head into his hands. McGee and Gibbs had gone off to check on the shooter, and get coffee. Abby was with Ducky and Palmer at the Office trying to get as much as they could on the guy, all they new so far was that his name had been George Wilcox and he was a thirty eight year old man from Virginia. Not a lot to go on. They didn't even know why he had been in the Starbucks with a gun.
None of it added up, he had a steady job as an electrician and had been due for a raise, yet he had thrown it all away, and possibly the life of another. It didn't make any sense, and it was annoying to Tony. He had faith in Abby though, if there was something to find out, any dirt to dig, Abby would be the one to find it. [Even if she needed a little help from McGeek.]
"DiNozzo." Came the gruff call from Gibbs as he walked back into the room, alone. He vaguely wondered where the Probie had gone, but any thought vanished from his mind when he saw the look on Gibbs face. He had a serious look, something bad had happened, he was scared. What if it was Ziva that was making him look like that? He held his breath as he waited for Gibbs to say something, anything really.
After a few moments Tony figured his boss must have been waiting a reply or something. So he gave him one. "Yeah Boss?" He asked the hint of s slight whimper in his voice. He cursed himself for letting it slip, but there wasn't really much he could do about it now. He looked expectantly waiting with pursed lips and a clenched stomach as he watched his boss open his mouth.
"Wilcox just died. We never got anything from him either Tony. We need you back at the office."
"But Boss."
"No buts DiNozzo. Get back to the office, the guy is dead, and we need answers." Came Gibbs's command. He was the type of person who demanded respect and if he didn't get it from you willingly he would get it through fear, he was really good with the whole fear factor thing anyway.
Tony however, planned on standing his ground. Did Gibbs really think that he was going to leave the hospital quietly? His partner was in there, a bullet hole in her body and he was telling him to get back to the office, he didn't think so.
"Boss, I'm not leaving till I get word on Ziva. I can't. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. It's a sign of weakness." Snapped Gibbs as he went on to try and get his agent back to the office. He quickly realized that he couldn't just pressure Tony into this. He was in a tough place right now, and what he needed right now was comfort. He sighed, scrubbing his aged face with his hand as he made his way to sit next to the younger agent.
"DiNozzo. You're smarter then this. You know if the tables were turned Ziva would be out there breaking arms and asking questions. You just have to get to the office so you know whose arm you will get her to break when she waked up." He said kindly. He knew it would be tough for Tony to figure he was no use to anyone here, and that Ziva would say the same thing. She was a good agent, she took orders, and this was time when Gibbs needed Tony to see he needed to do the same.
He was happy to hear a slightly chortle from Tony at his attempt at Comedy. Gibbs wasn't very vocal, but when he did talk, he managed to get so much out in so few words. It was talent many people admired, he was a true leader. This really showed when Tony mimicked Gibbs actions, and then stood up. He gave a huffy sigh and then turned to Gibbs.
The elder man gave a slight smile and walked over to the desk at the other end of the room to make sure they would be told about any change in Ziva's condition, and when she was out of surgery, then made quick plans for the body of Wilcox to be sent to Ducky. After that he walked to Tony, hand on his shoulder, just like they're earlier encounter that day and steered him towards the car park to the Charger, ready to get to work.
