Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.
Another week done. Same old mantra … time got the better of me, sorry for the delays, and thanks a million to my faithful readers. To celebrate Friday, I present a new chapter entitled "Dreams". I really enjoyed writing this just because I got to write a few 'mini-stories' within a bigger one. I hope you enjoy!
What had started to look promising quickly turned to a bleak forecast for Tony. His day had been good, considering he had spent the previous night vomiting. After Abby left him with Bert, Tony drifted off to sleep, tired out by his escapade down to the basement.
Tony had a very strange dream. In it, everyone was married – Jimmy to Breena, Tim and Abby, and he and Ziva were expecting their first child. Even Gibbs had been married and divorced a fifth time. Tony seemed to drift through time.
They were at a graveside, a beautifully carved casket sitting by the hole in the earth. Everyone was in black, NCIS badges on the outside of their jackets. Tony looked around, trying to figure out who the deceased was. The minister was speaking but his voice was far off in the distance and Tony could only catch bits of what he was saying.
"A better place … with his mother … Dr. Mallard was a loving …"
Tony's eyes widened as he took in the casket again. Knowing it contained his beloved friend made it more than just a box.
Suddenly, Tony was in a hospital room. There was an immense pain in his hand and Tony looked down to see Ziva squeezing it as hard as she possible could. Tony looked at her, shocked by the scene, and saw a monitor on her other side. The line on it was constantly climbing and when it began to fall, he felt Ziva's grip loosen and she took a deep breath. The nurse blotted Ziva's forehead with a damp towel.
"You're doing wonderful, Mrs. DiNozzo. Don't you agree, Daddy?"
Shocked at being called 'Daddy', Tony looked down at his wife. She was looking at him, hoping for some praise and encouragement to help her along with this hard task.
"Yeah, you're doing great, Ziva."
Ziva sighed with relief at his answer and Tony felt her body stiffen again.
Tony was no longer in the hospital room. Instead, he was standing outside a door, about to go in.
"What's wrong?" Ziva asked from behind him. He turned and saw her holding a baby carrier but he had the strange sensation that more time had passed than just a couple of days.
"Nothing." Tony answered, opening the door. A three little girls and two little boys gathered around his legs the moment he stepped foot in the front hall.
"Daddy!" One of the little girls squealed, squeezing his knees together tightly. The two little boys were toddlers, unable to talk, but they smiled broadly at him, a bit of drool running down their chins. The other girls stayed back but were smiling with excitement. McGee and Abby entered the hall, smiling broadly. Tony's eyes bulged at Abby's swollen belly. Abby laughed and patted her stomach.
"I know, it's not a pretty sight, is it? We can't wait till this little one arrives."
Tim leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"We think you look beautiful, don't we, girls?"
The other two little girls smiled broadly and nodded. Tony sighed a sigh of relief; he did not have five older children … only three of them were his. By this time, Ziva had entered the hall and had set the baby carrier on the floor, unbuttoning her coat. Tony began to feel dizzy as people around him crowded the newest addition, moving into the living room. Gibbs was there, smiling proudly at his family. Tony sat in a daze on the sofa away from everyone and Gibbs sat next to him.
"So how does it feel, a father of four?"
Tony shook his head.
"I can't do this Gibbs. I never wanted this … I never wanted this."
"I never wanted this."
"Tony, wake up!"
Something shook Tony's shoulder.
"I never wanted all these kids." Tony muttered, tossing and turning, trying to run but caught in the sheets.
"Don't make me slap you." Gibbs' voice rang in his ear and Tony woke with a start. He opened his eyes and was never so excited to see the flowered curtains on the window. He looked at Gibbs, who was leaning over him with concern.
"You alright, DiNozzo?"
"I was dreaming, Boss. Everything was different … Ziva and I were married, we had kids – a lot of them – and so did Tim and Abby. Abby was huge, and Ducky was dead, you got married again, and – "
Gibbs held up his hand, cutting him off.
"It was just a dream, Tony."
"That's good." Tony said, breathing heavily. He felt horrible; his body was sticky with sweat and his muscles were aching. He didn't dare move for fear of upsetting his stomach.
"Here." Gibbs held up a glass of water and slid his hand behind Tony's head, helping him take a drink.
"Thanks."
Gibbs looked on Tony with concern. Of course he had seen his agent sick before – it was becoming routine after that darn SWAK – but each time it was hard to watch him suffer.
"You should go back to bed, Boss. If Abby catches you, you'll never hear the end of it."
Gibbs nodded.
"You call if you need anything."
Tony swallowed, fighting to keep his lunch down.
"Got it, Boss."
Gibbs left and Tony waited as long as he could before getting up and going to the bathroom. As much as he hated vomiting, he had to admit he felt better after he did so although he didn't feel he could safely leave the bathroom.
Tony lost track of how long he sat there, miserable and sick, but eventually there was a knock on the door.
"Tony, it is Ziva. May I come in?"
Tony rubbed his eyes.
"Yes."
Ziva opened the door and upon seeing him on the floor, knelt down with a cool washcloth and began wiping his face. Tony couldn't help but remember his dream and think of what an amazing mother Ziva would be one day.
"You are burning out."
Tony swallowed.
"Burning up, Ziva."
"No. Well, yes, you are running another fever, but you are getting worn out. I am going to find Ducky. I believe he picked up some medicine for you to help you rest."
"Medicine sounds amazing." Tony muttered as Ziva left the bathroom. As if no time had passed, Ziva and Ducky were back in the bathroom, Ducky filling a syringe with a clear liquid while Tony threw up again.
"Alright, Anthony. This will stop the nausea and will put you into a deep sleep for several hours. When you wake up, you should feel much better."
Tony nodded and didn't mutter a word as Ducky administered the needle.
"Let's get you back to bed. The medicine works almost instantly."
Tony stood up slowly, already feeling groggy, and allowed Ziva to lead him back to his room. He fell onto the bed and Ziva tucked him in, running her fingers through his hair as he began to doze off.
After checking on Tony, who was already knocked out, Ducky went into Gibbs' room. Gibbs was staring at the ceiling, hands on his chest, much like he had when he was first diagnosed and sent home.
"How are you feeling, Jethro?" Ducky asked his friend. Gibbs sighed.
"Just sick enough that I can't be doing anything, Duck."
Ducky chuckled.
"I am sure a good night's sleep will help tremendously. As will a good, hearty meal."
"I'm not very hungry."
"Then why not just go to sleep? I will make sure there is something here to eat in case you wake up in the middle of the night."
"That's the problem. I can't sleep."
"Since when have you not been able to sleep? Marine are trained to sleep wherever they can – even standing up. I remember this old friend of mine in the British Navy who once had to find a way to sleep in a crevice between two walls of rock. He recalls not being able to touch them for fear of avalanche, you see, and he couldn't lie down. He had been injured and he knew if he lay down, he would not get up again. So he stood in the very middle of this little cave and fell asleep. It's quite remarkable, isn't it, to think that our bodies can withstand such an action without falling over?"
Ducky waited for a response from Gibbs and when he didn't get one, he looked down. He smiled when he saw Gibbs fast asleep, his breathing deep and even.
"Sweet dreams, Jethro."
So, what do you think?
A couple of house-keeping things … again, I'm sorry not to respond to each review personally but I'm just too worn out right now. Also, I really need to figure out how to end this soon, just for the heads-up. I hope you enjoyed the chapter =)