THE DISTANCE BETWEEN-CHAPTER TWO
I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW
Ziva and Gibbs were alone in their work area when Tony came quickly out of the elevator, breathing heavy. A quick glance at Gibbs showed a glare aimed in his direction while Ziva was wearing a smirk. Dropping his gear behind his desk he started to explain when Gibbs nearly growled, "Where's McGee? Just because we finished the case doesn't mean you both get to slack today."
"Sorry boss, accident on the freeway took forever to get through. McGee's probably still stuck in traffic," Tony answered with a small smile grateful that he wasn't the last one to arrive.
"You both should have called, I'm going for coffee," Gibbs said on his way out of the bullpen, pausing long enough behind Tony to deliver the expected head-slap.
"Man, boss is still in a mood, glad I'm not McGeek," Tony said as he sat at his desk and booted up his computer.
"Gibbs does seem to be unusually upset at McGee, does he not?" Ziva answered with a frown.
"Yeah he does. I wonder if..." Tony started before the phone on his desk interrupted; "Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo," he answered. Seeing her partner's face lose all color, Ziva stood and walked to his desk, resting her hip on the corner and waited. Just as she was about to lose patience and grab the phone from his hand, he hung up looking shocked.
"What is it, Tony? You look white as a sheep," Ziva said.
"Sheet, Ziva, white as a sheet," Tony automatically answered. "That was Sarah, the accident on the freeway this morning," he paused and looked at Ziva.
"Yes, what about the accident... Where is McGee, Tony?" Ziva asked already knowing his answer but not wanting to believe.
"It was Tim," he whispered in response.
Ziva's eyes grew round before she suddenly jumped from his desk and ran to her own. Tony watched as she grabbed her badge and gun before glancing back to him. Seeing his own shock reflected in her eyes seem to jolt him into moving so he grabbed his gear as well before they both headed to the elevator. Tony was already on the phone calling Gibbs when the door opened to reveal him standing on the other side.
"Where the hell do you think you two are going?" Gibbs asked as he started out of the elevator. He barely took two steps before Tony and Ziva were pushing him back inside and pushing the button to take them downstairs. Before he could ask again, Ziva pulled out her phone to call Ducky and Tony turned to him, face pale and hands shaking.
"What happened?" Gibbs asked already dreading the answer. It had to be bad for his team to react this way. His team…..
"Where's McGee?" Gibbs spoke softly afraid to hear the answer.
"On his way to Bethesda…the accident on the freeway this morning, Boss it was bad," Tony answered voice soft as well. "Sarah called; an SUV ran the light, hit McGee's car on the driver's side. He was breathing on site but that's all she could tell me right now."
Both men grew quiet as they listened to Ziva finish her call to Ducky, asking him to call Abby and meet them at the hospital. "We should call Director Vance," she said.
Seeing the shocked look on Gibbs face and receiving no response from him, Ziva made the call herself.
They moved as one when the elevator doors opened, Ziva heading directly to the driver's seat without waiting for the directive. She would get them there the fastest.
Right now all that mattered was getting to McGee.