Fasten
Time dragged, and conversations began and were subsequently abandoned as the loved ones retreated into their own musings. When Ducky finally appeared in the waiting area, everyone jumped up and surrounded him eagerly.
He ran a hand through his hair, and then began his discourse in his professional medical voice, turning as he spoke to include all of the listeners. "Maria is beyond critical, I'm afraid. At this point, the prospect that she will pull through is slim to none. Almost every internal organ has been damaged, and, as you know, her skull fractured. She is not responding to stimuli at this time, which means…." He stopped speaking for a second until he got himself under control. "That means that we should understand there is a real chance that there is no longer any brain activity."
Tia's gushing wails filled the room, and the others cringed at the primal reaction, which they understood all too well.
After an eternity, Lorenzo stood and consulted Dr. Mallard softly, "We may visit, yes?"
Ducky nodded, "Limited- only limited visits and visitors right now. After that, the visits can be assessed again."
Maria felt herself float out of her body, her spiritual self separating with her physical persona and the sensation reminded her of the gauzy softness of cotton candy as it spun. She gracefully glided her way to the top of the room through soft, shimmery air. She scanned the ceiling's perimeter and saw a tunnel lit by a bright white light appear. Maria started towards it without reservation.
Tia and her family made the first trip, and everyone looked at Tony in confusion when he hung back and insisted that they go ahead of him. Because of his fragility they exchanged worried glances but didn't argue as they went ahead, leaving Ducky, Jethro, and Tony in the waiting area. Their return signaled that the others could take their place at the bedside. All of them planned to go home and return in the morning, having been told by the nurses that Maria needed a complete rest overnight with no one in accompaniment.
The other three made their way in softly and silently. Dr. Mallard headed straight to the foot of the patient's bed, where he picked up the medical chart and began analyzing the medical notes and interpreting and processing the technical jargon. Tony and Gibbs immediately moved to the bed, overwhelmed by the sight and sound of the tubes and machines and noises that stressed how badly Maria was hurt.
Tony rubbed his abuela's cheek softly and spoke soothingly as he kissed her gently. "Don't worry, Abuela mia, I am here now. Yo estoy aqui ahora. Su bebe esta con usted. Your baby is with you."
Maria paused abruptly, and glanced down below. Why did her Bambino sound and look upset?
Gibbs stepped back towards the windows, his mind and senses trying to process the scene as he prayed. His frustration paralyzed him. He worked as an investigator, an agent, a Marine, a man who saw the problem, attacked it, and subsequently righted the wrong. He was helpless here. Maria hardly ever even got sick, and yet here she lay fighting death before his eyes. For over twenty years she had worked beside him to bring up his son, and he thanked God for her every single day. Now he begged God to not take her from his child.
He glanced appraisingly at his son, who was leaning down over her and murmuring softly. Gibbs feared what Maria's death would do to Tony. Right now his heart could not handle his son's devastated look. Gibbs took a deep breath and went over to stand beside him, gently placing one arm over his shoulder.
Tony did not acknowledge him at all, but continued to speak softly to Maria, kissing the fingers of her hand as he did.
Ducky interrupted, announcing as he placed the chart back on the footboard, "We must depart now, gentlemen. She needs to rest, to give her body healing time. We can most definitely return in the morning."
He and Jethro moved thoughtfully towards the door, but Tony stayed frozen at Maria's side.
Gibbs spoke, "Son, come on now. We have used up the visiting time for this evening. We will return first thing tomorrow to be with her."
Tony turned towards him and shook his head, then attempted a small smile. "No, Dad, no, I'm not going to leave here."
Maria glanced back at the light. The beam had intensified, and she desperately wanted to follow the illumination to its origin. Something held her in the room, though, making her hover in indecision.
"It is not a debate," Jethro responded soothingly but firmly, motioning towards the door. "You can return tomorrow, Tony. You heard Ducky. We will be back here then."
Ducky looked compassionately at the young man and intervened, "Anthony, come outside in the corridor and speak with us, how about it?"
Tony met his gaze, but did not move and did not respond.
"Tony, come here to me." Gibbs spoke in a low voice, deceptively low, but one that expected immediate compliance from his son.
Ducky frowned at his friend, but then waved Tony over to where he stood.
Tony walked uneasily to the two and stood attentively, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans.
"You can return in the morning, Anthony," Ducky reiterated, patting Tony on the back. "I know you will chomp at the bit to return."
Gibbs reached up and brushed back his son's bangs, then grinned and tousled his hair. "You need rest as well before you go back in to Maria. Tomorrow you'll have more energy and will have come to grips with the situation, to absorb what has happened."
He started to walk away then, confident that his son would fall in step with him.
Instead, Tony sucked in a breath and contradicted softly, "No, no sir."
Jethro stopped and regarded him with surprise. "No sir what?" his dad tried to clarify.
"I will not leave this hospital. You and Ducky go, Dad- that's fine. We will see you tomorrow, but I am staying right here with my abuela. I am not leaving."
Gibbs massaged the bridge of his nose and contradicted tiredly, "No, you are going to the house right now, which is what I have already told you to do."