Gibbs was proud of his agents in that moment. Whether they were right or wrong, they hadn't come to any conclusions that they weren't ready and willing to prove. He gave them an approving nod and they headed out.
"What shall I tell the director?" Ducky asked quietly.
"You let me handle it," he told him. "In the meantime, get my dad and Abby outta here. Make 'em eat somethin' and get some proper sleep. That goes for you too, Duck. How long have you been here? You look like you haven't slept at all either."
"Well, I did catch a little sleep very early on this morning," he told him. "Though it is quite difficult when one of your dearest friends lay in surgery with a grim diagnosis from a good neurologist and surgeon."
"Jethro?" Vance poked his head inside the door.
Ducky glanced to him, then back to Gibbs. "Well, I suppose I'll attend to those matters, then. I'll be back in a few hours. Hopefully we'll have some good news by then."
Gibbs nodded to Ducky before the older man left, and Vance came into the room to stand beside Gibbs' bed. "I was surprised to get a call from Dr. Mallard this morning," Vance told him. "I was more surprised by what he had to say. I'm glad the doctors were wrong, Jethro. Would've been a pain in the ass tryin' to find a replacement," he said with a small smile.
"DiNozzo could've replaced me, Leon," he said, cocking his head.
"Speakin' of," Vance began, "What's goin' on with him? I'm sure Ducky filled you in..."
"Adverse drug reaction," Gibbs told him. "He was given a prescription for sleep aids, and I'm doubting he used them before today. Ducky ordered him home to sleep after what happened with me. McGee went to check on him and found him unconscious and unresponsive."
"So what is it they're going to investigate?" Vance narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not sure," he fibbed. "But I'm guessing it has something to do with making sure there wasn't any foul play involved."
"They think someone might've switched out medications?"
"It's possible. Crazier things have happened; especially to DiNozzo."
"You don't think they're being a bit paranoid?"
"Might be," Gibbs replied. "But honestly, having everyone hanging over my bedside, worrying about me... well, I think this'll be a nice distraction. Keep their minds busy with something else."
"It's their vacation, Gibbs. I thought Ziva was flying out to California, for starters. Didn't expect many of them to be in town at all."
"They stayed for Tony," Gibbs' voice softened. "Didn't know Ziva and Tim were gonna be here, but clearly I underestimated them."
"I heard about Tony's father. I think it's admirable, what you were planning to do for him. I had the pleasure of speaking with your dad out in the hall for a bit. I'm just real sorry it backfired."
"Yeah," Gibbs sighed. "Me too."
"Guess I should plan on bringin' in a couple of agents to work with the remainder of your team until the two of you are up and around," Vance said. "Any preferences?"
"I think you should let them decide on that," Gibbs replied. "They need agents who will watch their six. I don't want them out in the field with anything less."
"Last thing we need is the rest of your team ending up here, too." Leon smirked. "Get some rest, Jethro. And call if you or DiNozzo need anything."
11 00 11 00 11
Gibbs waited until after his MRI was scheduled to try and sneak out of his room. He got about as far as he side of his bed before realizing that it would be fairly impossible. Aside from the obvious reasons of being hooked up to machinery, as soon as he'd scooted off of the bed, his head was spinning and he was quickly losing focus and equilibrium.
"Whoa there, Agent Gibbs!" Jimmy Palmer was suddenly at his side, holding him up from falling.
"Palmer?" Gibbs weakly replied, slightly confused. "What're you doin' here?"
"Dr. Mallard sent me," he told him. "He said he didn't wanna leave you here without anyone making sure you didn't try to take off. Looks like that was a good call," he said with a grin.
"Not tryin' to take off," he scowled as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Need to see DiNozzo."
"I highly doubt you're supposed to be out of bed, let alone roaming the halls," he replied.
Once Gibbs regained his balance and focus, he met Jimmy's eyes. Although the kid had sounded fairly confident in enforcing Ducky's wishes, his appearance suggested that he was worried and possibly a bit afraid. "Don't you have someplace better to be?" Gibbs asked. "It's Christmas."
"Well, I was at my mom's. But the festivities have been over for a while. It's mostly just a bunch of people sitting around talking over coffee. No biggie. I'm glad to be here. I'd only just heard about everything that's happened..."
"So you know DiNozzo is in this hospital, too?" Gibbs confirmed. Jimmy nodded nervously. "Have you seen him?" A moment passed before Jimmy nodded again. "Think you can take me to his room? Keep a look out while I check in on him, myself?"
Jimmy stood there with his mouth slightly ajar, frozen as to how to proceed.
"MRI is scheduled for thirty minutes from now," Gibbs argued. "I won't be able to stay in his room for long."
"Dr. Mallard would kill me."
"Ducky wanted you here to make sure I didn't take off... I'm not takin' off, Jimmy. Just goin' up the hall." He added a soft smile. That, in combination with the use of his first name, won him over.
Palmer sighed resignedly. "I'll get a wheelchair. Do not move...I'll be right back."
Tbc...