CINDERELLA Revisited
A/N This is all made up about the law, medical treatment, the judicial system, everything. I did not do research for this one time due to lack of time. Suspend your disbelief for the semblance of truth concerning the implausibility of these written words and enjoy the story.
TIVA fans, sorry, no.
Beta: Mike91848 thank you
Disclaimer: nothing's changed from before
Chapter Nineteen
The cleanup involved NCIS, the FBI and local law enforcement with the Department of the Navy, the State Department, the Judicial system and even the President expecting updates.
"We need to speak to Alycia Razo."
"ALYCIA! What's this all about officer, I'm her husband?"
A woman with a small baby came to the door. "What's going on, John? Officer?"
"Alycia Razo?"
"Yes, what...?"
"Please hand the baby to your husband."
"But, why, what...?"
"You are under arrest for the crime of assault, second degree kidnapping and depraved indifference. You have the right to remain silent. Anything..."
Gladys Termini was found in the local clinic where she worked as a nursing assistant.
"Gladys Termini?" Gladys looked up at the two men in suits as she was sitting at the triage desk taking the vitals of an elderly man.
"I'm Gladys but you're going to have to take a number and have a seat. There are several patients ahead of you."
"Gladys Termini. FBI. Please turn this patient over to another health official, stand up and turn around with your hands behind your back. You are under arrest for assault and battery, second degree kidnapping, and the crime of depraved indifference."
"What! No! You have the wrong person!" Gladys jumped up and tried to run but the two agents were ready for her panicky move and had her restrained and cuffed. She screamed, cried and begged as they dragged her out in tears.
Mike Jackson sat in the interrogation room at NCIS after being picked up by McGee and Ziva at his veterinary assistant's job at the Animal's Come First Veterinary Clinic.
"You thought nothing out of the ordinary of a man being shackled to a bed in an abandoned building?" McGee couldn't believe this guy.
"Look, I thought it was just part of some treatment the guy had signed on for. I took the cuff off when I left. He was free to leave at any time after that."
"Did it even occur to you that perhaps he might have needed some help 'leaving at any time' as you put it?" Ziva wanted to kick his ass but she was cultivating self- control.
"Hey, that wasn't my job. I didn't even get paid for my last night there. Three hundred dollars they owed me..."
"I didn't know he wasn't there voluntarily, your honor. You have to believe me."
"The handcuffs didn't give it away, Mrs Razo?" The prosecutorquestioned sarcastically.
And so it went.
'Dr Galvin', whose medical license had been revoked seven years ago, had been practicing what he called medicine under the name Henry Shue who had been a real doctor but had passed away five years ago.
Galvin alias Shue had made a deal with the DA's office and confessed everything implicating Angela DiNozzo and Edna Emerson in their plot to kidnap Tony and forcing medical experiments on him against his will. For that, Galvin would get a life sentence with the possibility of parole. Unable to post bail until he was officially sentenced he started his incarceration immediately.
Dr Emerson let her greed overshadow her common sense and altruism. She showed up at the abandoned building that night with a loaded hypodermic needle of heroin in her pocket. Causing death by heroin overdose and then having her brother pick the body up and dump it would steer authorities away from her.
The man in the diner and seen taking pictures of DiNozzo by Dorneget was Dr Emerson's brother, Gary French. With the aid of a powerful knock out drug used mainly in the surgical arena and provided to them in hypodermic form by Dr Emerson, he and one of his cohorts were able to blend in as joggers, approach Tony from behind and inject him quickly in the neck.
Tony was dumped into the van following them and whisked away quickly. For the crime of kidnapping, the three men got thirty years each instead of life because the victim was not a child. Their lives were ruined all for the measly five hundred dollars they each received as their pay.
Ncisncisncis
Tony's long-standing primary physician grimaced as he read the report regarding the drugs those criminal's had been drugging him with. Unbelievingly, Dr Pitt read tissue growth factors, peptides, and a foreign something that had them stumped as to its purpose.
These drugs weren't new or even updated to the medical community and they would grow tissue alright, breast tissue. It was a breast tissue growth compound, somewhat experimental, used as an alternative non-invasive replacement for breast transplants. It would grow tissue, maybe, but certainly not the new kidney Shue was purporting it could do. This was the craziest piece of crap...
"Dr Pitt?"
He turned to see Dr Mallard standing in the hospital corridor behind him. The concerned doctor had questions. "Any change in Anthony's condition, doctor?"
Sighing, Dr Pitt shook his head. "He's still with a high fever, a little delirious thinking he's still chained to a bed and we did have to use light restraints to keep him in the bed. He had been talking incoherently and was confused but he seems to be coming out of it.
"He has one enlarged kidney, the other one seems fine. I'm hearing rales in his chest and he's coughing. The good thing is, I think it's bronchitis and not pneumonia which will be easier to treat.
"Dr Bayne will be here later this morning to give us a complete analysis of the drugs he was given and their possible side effects and we'll treat them as they arise. It's just going to be a waiting game, Dr Mallard, until the drugs are purged from his system.
"Could this Shue guy contribute any information regarding what the hell he thought he was doing?"
They had walked to the family room while Dr Pitt was giving Ducky an update. Ducky placed his coat, hat, scarf and gloves on a chair and pulled out a few pieces of paper from his jacket pocket.
"I have tried to remain in control of my temper when speaking about or thinking of both he and Dr Emerson but it has really taxed me to restrain myself from cussing in the vernacular of a street thug, Dr Pitt. Therefore, I must warn you ahead of time that my language may become quite vulgar and uninhibited."
"Understood Dr Mallard." Brad humored the good doctor. He knew he was very fond of Tony.
"Very well. And please call me Ducky. It seems that Shue stole some obscure and preliminary research from a lab of disreputable reputation, which has been closed down since 1996, mind you. He convinced Dr Emerson to provide funds and her lab to produce the drug claiming it as legitimate and guaranteeing her a fortune once it was made public. The greedy bastards!
"He doesn't know anything about the drug or the effects or after effects the drug might produce. And neither did Emerson, it appears."
Ducky's lips were pursed and his fingers clutched and shook the loose papers in the air that contained the information he had just imparted to Dr Pitt.
"Those two so-called doctors and Angela DiNozzo working together out of greed, and surely insanity must have been involved, have the gall to call themselves human beings. I can hardly express in words how appalled I am. If I could get my hands on any of them..."
The Medical Examiner was righteously angry considering the oath, sacred to the medical profession, that these two doctors had so callously broken. Dr Pitt was cognizant of the elder man's recent heart attack and wary of his excitability. He encouraged him to take a seat as he attempted to calm him down with soothing words.
"Dr Mallard? Please don't excite yourself any further. Everyone who should be locked up is locked up and due justice will be served..." He paused when he heard a commotion and a yell for a doctor and realized it was coming from Tony's room. Both men hastily left the family room to respond to the call for help.
Ncisncisncis
Tony turned over and moaned, stretched his legs out and then drew them back up and clutched his stomach. Sweat beaded on his forehead but he felt cold and clammy.
"DiNozzo, you awake?"
"Boss? Where am I?"
"You're in the hospital, Tony, Bethesda. You've been here two days. You in pain?"
Tony turned over and lowered his legs glad to find he was wearing a legitimate pair of pajamas. Gibbs was leaning forward in his chair preparing to get up and call the nurse.
"No, I'm okay. Just a twinge. They got me on something, Boss? For the pain, I mean?"
"Just something mild, DiNozzo. Your blood tests are showing the...chemical, whatever the hell they were giving you is mostly cleared from your body."
"Yeah? What else is wrong with me, then? Why do I still feel so weak? And hot? It's pretty hot in here, Boss."
Tony saw the pitcher and glass on the bedside table and laboriously reached over to get a drink with a shaky hand but then he got a glimpse of the IV pole and bag, and the line snaking down and over the rail ending with a needle embedded in the crook of his arm.
No, this couldn't be right. Gibbs said he was in Bethesda, a real hospital. This couldn't be right.
Panicking, he yanked at the needle managing to pull it free and the hardware holding it in place unmindful of the blood now seeping from the site. He had gotten free once, he could do it again but everything was strange, disorienting. The riot of hues and colors in front of his eyes instead of the black dots he was use to was blinding and confusing him.
He got his feet over the bed, the rail mysteriously absent and aimed his body towards the closed door when he was suddenly plowed back down to the bed from both sides.
"Where do you think you're going?" The hateful voice of Anthony DiNozzo, Sr, sneered at him. "You'll stay here until the procedure is complete. You're just like your filthy mother. The minute things get a little difficult, you turn tail and run, you worthless coward. Hold onto him Anton while I replace this needle."
Senior picked the needle up off the filthy floor and jabbed it savagely back into his arm then taped it roughly in place. Anton on the other side of him continued to press down on his stomach with his knee to keep him from moving.
"Father? Why don't they just take the kidneys like mother says? Anton whined selfishly. Every time he had to come to this dump with his father, all his plans for the day had to be changed, canceled or rearranged.
"Why do we have to keep coming back here? I'm missing my wrestling practice and Sims is having his birthday party this weekend. He thinks Auntie Annie is going to give him the convertible that he wanted." Anton's pouting and sniveling as he climbed off the prone figure of the young boy on the bed was getting on even his father's indulgent last nerve.
"Anton, I've told you before. Only one kidney will be taken at a time just in case the one fails and Gregor needs another one in a few years. I'll get you home in time for the party, son, don't worry. Have I ever lied to you?"
After securely restraining Tony's wrists to the rails, Senior had one last warning to give the uncooperative spawn of the boy's mother. Grabbing him by his shirt front, he pulled Tony up so their faces were inches apart and shook him violently.
"I don't want to get another phone call from Dr Shue or Dr Emerson at eight o'clock in the morning that you are giving them any more trouble. Do you understand? Our breakfast was interrupted and Anton here's schedule of activities disrupted because of complaints of you screaming and yelling and fighting with the staff. You will keep your mouth shut. Do I make myself clear?"
The trembling, ill-appearing youth closed his eyes so as not to see the specter above him. "Yes, father. I'm sorry father...but it hurts. I can't help it sometimes but I'll try not to yell, I'm sorry."
"You'll do more than just try. The staff has my permission to gag you, or better yet, cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs. You'd better do as I say..."
"No father, no, I'm sorry, no no noooooooo!"
Ncisncisncis
"That's it, wake up, DiNozzo. Come on Tony, breathe, you're okay." That was Gibbs voice.
"Anthony, it is I, Ducky, wake up, my boy. You are just having a bad dream."
"Okay, Tony, just calm down. It's me, Brad. I'm removing the restraints now, no need to go ballistic. There you go. You awake yet, buckeye?"
He woke up hearing voices, friendly voices, people he knew. Not people whose hate for him was second nature to them. Breathing, eating and hating him, the three major necessities of life.
He sat up abruptly and rubbed his face and his scratchy day old beard and said the first things that came to his mind after that nightmare. "Holy goddammit to hell! Those bastard sons of bitches, low life scum! "Fuck! I'll kill them!"
The adrenalin burst of energy didn't last long and he collapsed back onto his pillows.
"Whoa. And hello to you too. Welcome back. How do you feel?" Dr Pitt didn't wait for an answer but had his stethoscope pressed up against his chest, then his back. He took his pulse and looked into his eyes.
"You've still got a fever but your chest doesn't sound too bad. Let me check your wrists and back and then we can talk a little about what's going on. Just turn over a minute. Good, bed sores are clearing up nicely. Maybe we can get you on your feet in a few days. You'll be on antibiotic therapy for a few more days and continue to apply the ointment to your wrists. That stuff's pretty good for minimizing scarring."
Dr Pitt had rambled on during his examination to give Tony some time to recover from the nightmare from hell he had just woken from. Now that his patient was more settled and calmed, he prepared for the questions he was sure to come.
"Any questions, Tony?"
"Yeah, when can I have a pizza?"
"Soon. But I meant any health questions?"
Tony shrugged with disinterest, not really looking at any of them. Dr Pitt glanced at Ducky with a quick frown before turning back to Tony.
"Okay, I'll tell you since you asked so nicely. You're right kidney is slightly enlarged with a small tumor like appendage. It is a lot smaller than it was when you were brought in so we believe the tissue is sloughing off, for a better word, and the kidney will return to normal size on its own without surgical intervention.
"We've got some things figured out regarding the after effects of the drug but probably not all. That's why we need you to tell us how you're feeling mentally and physically."
"Tony?" Gibbs had returned to the chair and let the two doctors do their thing. Now, though, he broke his silence to question the usually motor mouth man, not liking his quietness.
"Look, I'm just trying to wrap my head around everything, mental-wise, that is. If that's even a word. But physically, I just feel drained. Like I had just run a three day marathon with too little water."
When he had nothing else to say, he leaned back in the bed and closed his eyes. "I'm tired." He heard Gibbs sit back in the chair and the two doctors leave having a quiet conversation. And he actually did fall asleep. He'd fall asleep on and off like that for days and still suffered from paranoia based nightmares, then insomnia, depression, and memory loss.
Ncisncisncis
Dr Pitt conferred with Ducky. "I'm not happy to admit, Ducky, I'm a little baffled. Is the depression drug related or a horrific family history that is coming back to haunt him? Or both? He won't talk about his nightmares to anyone here and I understand Dr Cranston won't be back in the country until next month. He's not communicating with anyone and he's not begging to be released. His appetite is nil and he's moody and sad. I hesitate to prescribe anti-depression meds for obvious reasons. Any suggestions?"
Tony's sleep was regularly interrupted by nightmares similar to the one he had had when he first woke up in the hospital. Of being held down by his father and Anton, his father and Angela the bitch, Anton and his mother or sometimes even Dr Emerson and Dr Shue.
Tied down, in pain, pleading for mercy, and finally sorry, I'm sorry, sorry. Dammit, what did he have to be sorry about, much less dream about it night after night?
Finally, there came a day when he felt rested after waking up from a mostly dreamless sleep. He found McTribble leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and a Star Trek, the original series paperback book open on his chest.
"Hey, McCoy, wake up."
"I'm not asleep, Tony." McGee sat up and folded down the page in his book before closing it. He looked over at Tony who was grey-complected with ashy circles under his eyes, pinched cheeks and dry lips. He wasn't looking anywhere near his usual fitness, but at least he had gotten some rest without being startled awake fifty times during the night. And he wasn't doing that repetitive digging into any part of his exposed skin that had necessitated swathing his hands in soft restraints to keep that from happening.
"And for your information, if I were anyone on that show, it would be McSpock...I mean Spock." And he gave Tony a dirty look, who just smirked back at him.
Tim got up and poured a tumbler of water handing it to Tony before continuing. "The really smart guy, I like that. Very intelligent science officer that the ship could not run without. He was a genius way beyond anyone on that ship, there was just no one to compare him to..."
"Now look here, McBraggart." Tim grinned at getting a familiar rise out of Tony's too solemn face, their baiting banter was familiar and somewhat of a comfort.
"How are you feeling?" McGee resumed his seat.
"Awake and confused."
Bulldog DiNozzo wasn't ready to give up on his gnawing toy, though. "Now, getting back to names for you, I was thinking more on the lines of McData, the not-human but very smart android who was lacking in so many things, poor mechanical man. Ah well. Anyway, what are you doing here in the middle of the day?"
"It's Saturday, Tony. We're off rotation for the weekend. You need anything?"
"Yeah, some information. I finally figured out I really want to know what the hell happened so start talking."
"Okay...from where should I start?"
Tony gave him an exasperated look while adjusting his bed to a sitting position. "Start at the beginning, McM.I.T. I remember going for a run and being locked up and just...tell me what happened. Fill in the sketchy parts."
McGee filled him in starting from Margret showing up at the bullpen looking for him when he had not returned from his run. His incarceration for more than a week by the two charlatan doctor's, his attempted escape, the death of Dr Emerson.
"So that really happened, then? I remember finding scissors, stabbing someone and Dr Emerson was on the floor begging for help, and when I next saw her, she was dead."
"You've been cleared of all wrongdoing in her death, Tony. Oh, and we found an IV with what Ducky said was a lethal dose of heroin in her pocket and we figured she was there to fix her problem by killing you."
"Yeah? Well, that's good. Wouldn't want to go to jail or feel guilty the rest of my life after killing a woman and then having to prove that she was trying to kill me first. And Anton?"
"Locked up in a psych ward doped to the gills. He had a psychotic break or what in her day Penny would have called a nervous breakdown." Tony nodded at the news, nothing surprising there.
"I hope he can get some real help there. I don't think the guy's ever had anyone take note of the diseased mind under the genius and intellectual acuity, much less try and help him. Certainly not his mother or father. When he was a child, I remember he was always hyper, half the time he didn't sleep and he ate to excess."
Tony took a sip of his water, fiddled with his light blanket, and stared out the uninteresting window view of the hospital annex next door as though it was the latest action movie and Tim picked up that he was a little uncomfortable.
"What's up, Tony?"
A derisive laugh at McGee was Tony's attempt to portray there was nothing wrong, but he soon gave up trying to fool Tim who just stared at him with raised eyebrow, and because he really wanted some answers.
"Yeah, okay, you asked. There is something I'm a little concerned about. You say that Margret has been here all along, even took a leave from work and yet, I haven't heard from her and she hasn't been by to see me, not even a note. Is she okay? Did she say anything before she went back to work? About me, that is?"
Now Tim looked uncomfortable. Tony was never awkward or unsure about women and now he seemed almost timid.
"Tony, you'd better talk to Margret about..."
"I knew it! I just knew it!" Tony pounded his fists on his knees and threw himself back on his pillows in frustration and lost hopes. The partially filled tumbler of water slid to the floor with a clunk and splash.
"She found out about the kind of person my blood relatives think I am and the ongoing vendetta they have against me and she couldn't get away fast enough, right? Shit, I don't blame her, I don't blame her one bit. I'd run away from me too. She's..."
"Tony stop. That's not it at all. Here, talk to her." Tim had dialed Margret's number on the bedside phone while Tony was ranting and handed it to him and then quickly left the room.
Okay, he could do this. "Hel..."
At the first sound of his voice, Margret cried out happily. "Tony, oh god, I am so happy to hear from you. I wanted to call and I didn't necessarily believe Ziva but when you wouldn't accept my phone calls, I thought, well, that she was right, you made it plain you wanted to hold off but...I should have known..." and he could hear her sobbing quietly in the background.
"Margret don't cry. Not accepting your phone calls? What are you talking about? I would never...tell me what happened."
Ncisncisncis
Day's ago before they found Tony, Margret was in the bullpen. Her friends had heard her boyfriend was missing and took up a collection to provide dinner buffet, Chinese food and drinks for twenty five people; whoever was working or staff who just wanted to stop by.
Ziva had looked around the break room where Margret had set up the food and made sure everyone was distracted with getting a hot meal. She cautiously followed Margret from the break-room and into the ladies room where she found her washing her hands and splashing a little water on her peaches and creamy face. Ziva quietly threw the lock as she faced her unaware nemesis.
Margret looked over at her as she patted her face dry with a rough paper towel. "Oh hi, Ziva. You're not hungry either? You should eat something. At least that's what I keep telling myself but I just have no appetite right now."
"Will you be staying at the office here again tonight?" Ziva asked as she leaned against one of the sinks in a relaxed position although having to look up at the tall woman was annoying.
"No. I thought I'd go home...well to Tony's place, that's where I'm staying while I'm here, and try and get some rest." Margret looked startled for a moment as though something had just occurred to her.
"Why, is there a problem with me being here at the office?"
Not beating around the bush, Ziva spoke what was her problem with the woman, and though no one else seemed to be bothered by her, Ziva stretched the truth to fit her goals.
"You are a distraction, Margret. People are trying their best to find Tony and you being here, causing Tim and Gibbs', and other's to divide their attention between that and taking care of you is, well it is just not right and very selfish of you, and since no one else will speak up because they do not want to hurt your feelings..."
"You decided to bite the bullet and do the dirty deed yourself, right, Ziva?" Margret had turned back to the mirror to apply a light lipstick and then dug in her bag for hand lotion and a comb.
'Dirty deed and bite the bullet'? Margret even talked like Tony sometimes; more things to irritate Ziva and wish the woman gone.
But Margret wasn't finished. "Don't take this the wrong way, Ziva, but I believe you are lying. Gibbs, for one, would have no problem telling me to stay away and making himself perfectly clear why. And lovely Tim would just take me aside and gently spill the beans that I was an unwanted guest here. So why don't you just tell me the real reason why you don't want me around." Margret had run the comb through her hair and placed it, the lipstick and the lotion back in her purse and now turned to face the other woman.
Hiding her surprise at Margret's candidness, and her seemingly lack of fear at Ziva's aggressiveness and hostility couched in concerned advice, Ziva pushed ahead.
"Very well. I was trying to spare your feelings. Tony and I have delayed acting on our feelings for each other. That was mostly my fault but we have had such a tumultuous history together that I needed time to recover.
"For one thing, he murdered a very good friend of mine out of jealousy that has taken me some time to forgive. But when he rescued me from Somalia, I knew his love for me was strong, even stronger than before, and I realized I also loved him.
"We have tried having relationships with others but they have inevitably failed. We were meant to be together. There was also the issue of Gibbs' Rule 12. But even that would not stop us if we were both ready, which I think we are. I'd hate for anything or anyone to stand in our way."
Ziva studied Margret's face. Was she buying this? Obviously not.
"Um, I think not, Ziva. I'll tell you what, though. When Tony is found, we can all sit down and talk about this and let Tony tell me to my face that he wishes to call off our relationship. Until then, I think we should be concentrating on finding him first, don't you?"
Margret dismissed her and the whole subject by picking up her bag, unlocking the door and walking out, leaving an astounded and angry Ziva to face the fact that Margret was not the soft and easy to intimidate woman she thought she was. She had also put Ziva in her place with graciousness and good manners, reminding Ziva that this was not the time to be fighting over the man.
Ziva on the other hand kicked the door twice in her furious reaction to being bested by Margret, a woman who deemed she could take Ziva's place in the arms and emotions of the man that Ziva coveted and who she felt belonged to her.
Even Ziva's subtle threat about anyone standing in their way had not phased the woman. Instead, it had her standing up taller and throwing her shoulders back as an acknowledgment and acceptance of the threat and her ability to deal with it, before walking out the door.
And Ziva's talk did not deter Margret from being there the next day when Vance gave the order to go to the mansion and find Tony. Margret and Vance had met up with Jackie for a late dinner and were together when word came through that Tony had been found alive.
But then, Margret had started to doubt. When she had shown up at the hospital and was told that she was not on the visitors list but she saw Ziva in the room, leaning over wiping sweat from Tony's forehead and Tony clutching her wrist, she was devastated.
Still not ready to believe she and Tony's relationship had just been a sham while Tony waited for Ziva to make up her mind, she had called the hospital only for the operator to say she could not be put through.
After that, she went back to work, too humiliated and upset to even speak to Gibbs or Tim, and others who had left messages. Dr Mallard had called and left a message on her cell that he needed to talk to her but she never called him back, either.
Ncisncisncis
"I thought she was lying, that sneaky Israeli bitch. Just because she's Mossad and an assassin, she thinks she can scare me away with threats and intimidation from the man I...well, you know." Margret was upset but had stopped crying. Now she was just mad, and out for revenge.
"I'm not a violent person, Anthony DiNozzo, you know that. But I'm warning you, if that slut comes near me again with her haughty, 'Tony and I were meant to be together, crap', I will kick her little scrawny ass. I'll have to get Bubba and Max, you remember those bouncer's at the gym, to hold her down first but she'll be begging for mercy by the time I'm done with her. And another thing, where does she get off..."
Tony was chuckling as he hung up the phone with Margret when Tim conveniently came back into the room with a sack full of sandwiches and bottles of sparkling water. Tony snatched the corned beef on rye and dug in.
"Feeling better? Got your appetite back, I see." Tim was doing that smirking thing he did so well.
"Never mind that, you gonna eat the other half of your sandwich?" McGee handed over the foil wrapped food then snatched his hand back before his finger's got bitten into.
They ate in companionable silence, Tony eating both bags of chips and both brownies before McGee had finished with his lone half a sandwich.
"Well, well, my dear boy." Said Ducky as he and Gibbs entered the room, genuinely happy to see Tony's appetite had finally resurfaced.
"Hi, Ducky, Boss. What'd you bring?"
Gibbs' eyed the detritus from the meal Tony had just inhaled and put his pizza box out of reach on the table by the door. "A snack for later, DiNozzo. Give your stomach a reason to want more later, let it settle down some. Ziva's bringing over some soup too so you won't starve to death."
Gibbs noted Tony's frown and McGee studying his water bottle intently.
"I shall inform Dr Pitt of the good news and get any updates on your condition, Anthony." He turned to leave when Tony spoke out, "Find out when I can blow this joint, will you Ducky?"
Ducky just chuckled at the colloquium as he left the room.
"Something going on?"
"No, Boss." But that wasn't cutting it with Gibbs so DiNozzo sighed heavily and admitted there was a problem.
"I need to figure some things out, Gibbs, so I'd rather not have any more visitors tonight. Plus, I'm kinda tired. Could you thank Ziva and tell her not to bother with the food."
Gibbs eyed him warily but kept his thoughts to himself. He had met McGee coming out of the hospital on his way to the deli. When McGee said DiNozzo was on the phone with Margret, he was relieved that the two of them were finally talking.
His gut had been telling him that it was awfully convenient that Ziva was at the hospital ministering to Tony and not Margret, who he knew Tony would have much preferred. Gibbs was sure that Ziva had somehow warned Margret off, and he was a little surprised and disappointed that Margret had backed away so easily.
It appeared that DiNozzo had now gotten to the bottom of things, and trusting that his senior field agent would handle whatever was going on with Ziva, he walked outside the room to call her.
Gibbs had no doubt that Ziva wasn't going to like the, don't show up at the hospital tonight order, but he didn't care. DiNozzo had gotten that zip back in his voice and sparkle in his eyes because of Margret, and Ziva's sly, underhanded machinations, whatever they may have been, had earned her due retribution.
When Gibbs left, Tony turned to McGee. "Okay, McSilent treatment. Spill!"
McGee started gathering up the trash and empty water bottles and hoped that he would finally get an answer as to what had happened to Margret. He really liked her and she and Tony were good together.
"Margret called me this afternoon. She wanted to know if the ban on your visitors had been lifted. I told her I didn't know anything about a ban and I would talk to you about it when I saw you, but you jumped the gun before I could question you. That's all I know, Tony.
"I had tried to get in touch with her, so had Ducky and Gibbs' but she wasn't answering her phone calls. She was really worried about you when you were missing but was trying to be supportive, bringing food and just being there. But then when you were found, nothing."
Tim's thinking face with the glassy eyed stare appeared. "I got the impression that Ziva might have said something to her. Has Ziva done something, Tony?"
"Other then opening her big Ninja lying two-faced mouth?" Tony was about to berate their teammate to McGeebut pulled himself back from saying anything further. After all, they still had to work together and protect each other, and there was no place in their business for people to start taking sides.
"Don't worry about it, Tim." Tim accepted that as his polite cue to butt out, which he was more than happy to do.
Gibbs and Ducky returned together just then. "Good news, Anthony..."
Tim interrupted before Ducky could get started. "Excuse me, Ducky, but I for one need some sleep. Goodnight, Tony, boss. See you tomorrow."
Ncisncisncis
Ziva David sat on her sofa contemplating her future plans, and the dramatic events of the successful rescue of one Anthony DiNozzo, Jr where he was found to have held on long enough to save himself from Dr Emerson only to be confronted by the crazy brother with a knife to his carotid artery.
She would have ended the standoff within seconds of her arrival because she had gotten in an excellent position to put a bullet in the man's head. Thus guaranteeing Tony's survival and all the other agents in that room as well.
But barely conscience, Tony had pleaded with Gibbs and McGee not to shoot the mad man and it puzzled her that though he knew she would be there, he had failed to include her in that desperate plea, as though he didn't trust her to follow his wishes. Somehow, she knew the answer to that was important.
Suddenly aware of the time, Ziva finished writing up the list of ingredients she would have to buy at the market this evening for Tony's meatball soup, and she needed to stop at the Italian restaurant for take-out spumoni for his desert.
His appetite was non-existent and Ducky had said that at this point, the team could bring anything he wanted, anything he would eat, just to keep his calories up; especially now since he had such an adverse reaction to even spotting an IV.
He was giving the doctor's some cause for alarm as he was not jumping back the way he normally would. After the rescue, Steve had had to leave right away. Tony's so called parent had not made an appearance which left Gibbs, McGee and herself to stand watch until he was out of the woods. Everyone was wondering but hadn't said out loud, at least not to her, where was Margret? So Ziva's secretive, knowing smirk was well hidden by her noncommittal tone, and her face gave nothing away.
It had been easy enough to suggest to Ducky so that it was more his idea than not to limit the visitors to just the team at the beginning. Ducky wrote up the list of approved visitors and it had just been a matter of whitening Margret's name out, then making a copy of the list and handing it in to the nurse's station and her rival was barred from seeing Tony.
Dorneget, the Palmer's, even Abby had not made it on that list. When he was better, Tony would probably be very angry at her but all was fare in love and war and she knew of several ways to make it up to him.
She remembered standing behind the partially closed curtain of Tony's room and watching the confused expression on the female goliath's stupid face. How Tony could be attracted to this giant when his preferences had always been the petite, tough women with minds of their own, was beyond her.
And in her opinion, she didn't think he really was. A giraffe doesn't change his stripes, or camel, or whatever animal had stripes. It was just going to be up to her to show him that.
Ziva completed her list and headed to the supermarket. McGee was at the hospital with Tony and she needed to get the soup started. Her phone rang just as she was reaching for canned chopped tomatoes and she hastily dumped them into the cart. It was Gibbs.
"Ziva, don't bother with the food tonight. DiNozzo just ate part of a cow and there's a whole Pizza he can consume if he gets hungry later. Good news is he's getting antsy to get out of the hospital so the doctor says maybe by midweek."
"That is good news, Gibbs. Very well. I shall forego dinner and come by now. Perhaps we can watch a movie or play a card game if he is up to it."
"No visitors tonight, Ziva, he's pretty tired."
"He certainly does not mean me, Gibbs. And I won't stay long, I am tired myself."
"Not tonight, Ziva. He was pretty clear about that. See ya Monday."
Gibbs had hung up before she could argue further. What had happened? Why had he warned her off? Should she defy Gibbs highhanded orders, as though he could tell her who she could and could not visit?
Infuriated, she left the half full cart and exited the store. She would go to the hospital in spite of Gibbs, and if he was still there, she would confront him about interfering into something that was none of his business. Halfway there, she calmed down enough to realize that there was no sense in confronting Gibbs' until Tony was at her side. She made a u-turn and then cursed the contemptible, worthless, despicable drivers who dared honk and give her the finger for cutting them off and running a red light, and went home.
Ncisncisncis
The persistent urinary tract and kidney infections from hell causing my low grade fever finally succumbed to the drugs that were stronger than the microorganisms trying to win the war. I had to stay in the hospital until the end of the week and I was released on Friday, a very happy man especially since I was pronounced well enough to be cleared for desk duty on Monday.
Gibbs picked me up and drove me home to a refrigerator full of food, and thank goodness because I had gotten my appetite back, and my tenant's happy salutations. Margret was working and would be back on Sunday evening. Gibbs' said he'd stop by later with Ducky. I had seen McGee that morning and Breena, Jimmy, and Ned stopped by and shared dinner. I listened to twenty or so 'get well' voice mail messages and answered a few.
During all this time, I was anticipating the inevitable visit from Ziva. She'd wait until I was alone to spring her visit. I had had a few days to think about what I was going to say to her. What she had done and said to Margret was beyond unconscionable given Ziva's history of violence and loss of self-control.
And she had made a foolish mistake. I was like Gibbs' in one sense. You don't mess with family. I didn't understand what game Ziva was playing or her motives, and I guarantee you she wasn't going to get what she expected. Still, it had to stop.
After I talked to Margret on Saturday, she had hastily flown in on Sunday and spent the rest of the week at the hospital by my side. Unsurprisingly, Ziva had been a no-show during that time and it was a relief not to have to see her or confront her then, because I would have torn into whatever was left of her after Margret had gotten through with her.
Sure enough around nine, the doorbell rang. She'd have her picks out pretty quick if I chose not to answer so I opened the door and there she stood in all her glory. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth is what Cookie would have said as she gave the woman the evil eye.
Ziva looked confident and unperturbed as though she hadn't tried to put a monkey wrench in my relationship plus try to scare the woman I was, okay, in love with, to death.
"Tony." Was her easy greeting as she stepped into the house and headed to the living room. "We need to talk." She sat down and relaxed on the sofa comfortable and guilt free. She reminded me of that first day in the bullpen when I found her sitting at Kate's desk, in Kate's chair as though she already owned it.
"Yes we do, Ziva." I sat on the sofa, within touching distance but not touching.
"Of course, Tony, but no offer of a drink first? A beer would be nice."
"This is not a social call Ziva, hence no offer of beer or hospitality. You showed up here without my invitation or welcome but I'm glad you did as the outcome of your visit will determine our future working relationship."
I turned to face her fully so she could see the expression on my face. Her eyes widened in surprise as though just realizing that this was not a game with me. She straightened up in her seat and her posture was no longer relaxed. She even looked somewhat disturbed at this serious and unexpected turn of events, and I could tell when she thought backtracking might be the prudent thing to do.
"Tony, I would like to explain something. Your American expression, 'all is fare in love and war', I took literally knowing that you would understand why I did what I did. I am fighting for something that I know is right for both you and me. You would do the same thing."
"Yes, I would do the same thing, fight for you that is, if that's what I really wanted, but I don't, Ziva."
"But you have not even given us a chance, Tony. I have told you I am ready to try for a relationship between the two of us. I do not understand what the problem is. This friend of yours, this Margret..."
She was really serious, not just being pigheaded or obtuse.
I held up my hand to stop her from saying anything else. "This isn't about Margret, Ziva. So if you truly don't understand what the problem is, then let me spell it out for you once and for all."
I continued to stare into her eyes so she could see into mine, to keep her attention and let her know that this was real.
"Here's my ultimatum. You will have to transfer off the team, probably out of DC, since you are the one with the problem. I refuse to be harassed and interfered with by you in my personal life any longer. I have given you enough warning. Gibbs has asked several times what the problem is between you and me.
"Your continued unwanted pursuit of me is consistent with the definition of sexual harassment. The last thing I want to do is to go to Gibbs' or human resources to complain but when you make threats to any friend of mine, I will not hesitate to do so. If that means getting you kicked off the team or your ass fired, so be it."
I waited for her response not knowing what to expect. Her eyes had darkened and for a moment, I could see the ruthless assassin she had been trained to be by her just as ruthless father, Eli David. The viciousness she was capable of and the vengeance she could well deliver were right at the surface. Then, those fleeting glimpses I had just seen were gone or banked down, and sanity reappeared.
"You are serious, Tony." It wasn't a question. "You would have me off the team for this?"
"In a nutshell, Ziva. You crossed the line."
"A nutshell? What does that mean?"
"Meaning, I wouldn't think twice about seeing the back of you if this goes on."
"And you, Tony. You did not cross the line when you killed Michael?" Her voice was soft, reasonable but I knew that wasn't the case. She was just hiding her true feelings and she would have fooled someone else. But I remember being on the ground with a gun in my side and her pit bull growls in my ear threatening to shoot my life away over the death of Rivkin.
"I did not cross the line when I killed Michael. I put a pair of scissors in a woman's gut because it was her or me. I shot Michael Rivkin because it was him or me.It's as basic and simple as that, Ziva. Quit romanticizing it and trying to make it into some tragic love affair that can only be fixed if we are together. That's bullshit and you know it.
"As far as breaking up the team? Yeah, I'd regret having to break up the team but that would be your fault, not mine. I will not work with you under these conditions as long as you refuse to change your attitude. So, what's it going to be, Ziva?"
"Excuse me." She got up and hastily made her way to the bathroom. After several minutes, I was sorely tempted to go break down the door and drag her out, or in her case, step aside as she voluntarily came out.
But no need as I heard the door open and she came back and sat down.
"I am sorry, Tony." And she really appeared contrite for Ziva.
"I truly thought we were playing a game. We have an expression in Hebrew, 'I chased him until he caught me' and I was under the impression that that is what we were doing based on our past history.
"My behavior has not been the best and I am ashamed of my actions. It will not happen again, Tony. My sincerest apology to Margret and to you as well."
I stared at her in relief wondering if it could really be that simple. But her desire to remain on the team and in good standing with Gibbs more than outweighed any small feelings she might have had for me.
Simple? Too pat and dry? Not really. Being on this team meant more to both of us than was probably healthy and we would do nothing to jeopardize that.
"Please let us still be friends after this, Tony. I trust no one more than I trust you to cover my six. I hope you still feel the same way about me." She smiled tentatively and held out her hand.
"Of course, agent Ninja David." I said smiling back and taking her hand only to pull her close for a quick hug. We both allowed the subject to be dropped knowing the stakes; never to be brought up again as far as I was concerned. She and I both knew that for this to work and for us to keep the team together, her obsession with me was over.
Ncisncisncis
A/N Hey there, thanks for reading and being so kind in your reviews.
Ncisncisncis