Title: A Long Way Home (Chapter Four)
Author: LizzieInk
A/N: Here is a great Tony/McGee scene for you all to enjoy. I loved writing this. Poor McGee quite often gets overlooked in the show. This is my way of showing how much he matters to the team. I hope you like it! :)
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to the creators of NCIS.
Gibbs led Abby and McGee quietly along the corridor, finally coming to a halt in front of a door towards the end of the hall.
"McGee," Gibbs murmured. McGee looked at him and nodded in understanding. This must be Tony's room. McGee gave Abby's hand, which he was still holding tightly, one last squeeze before letting it go. Abby gave him a small encouraging smile, before continuing on down the hallway with Gibbs.
McGee placed one hand lightly on the door handle, before closing his eyes and taking a deep steadying breath. Opening his eyes again, McGee quietly turned the door handle and stepped cautiously into Tony's room. He hadn't been quite sure what to expect. Even though McGee had heard the doctor list Tony's various injuries, actually seeing his team-mate and friend lying injured before him made his chest ache.
McGee had known Tony for about 10 years, and over that time he had begun to think of him as a brother. Indeed it was hard not to. McGee spent more time with his work family than he did with his real one, and the bond they had all formed with each other was irreplaceable. Sure they made fun of each other, and got on each others nerves sometimes, but there was no beating Tony for the loyalty that he showed towards his friends. McGee smiled slightly at the thought, and then making himself breathe deeply, he took a few steps towards Tony's bed.
Dinozzo had been looking out the window and hadn't heard McGee come in. However, sensing that he was no longer alone, Tony carefully repositioned his head on his pillow, so that he could get a better view of Tim. Tony was careful not to move too suddenly as his shoulder was very painful, not to mention the fact that he had a small head wound on the left side of his head from were his head had collided with the side window of the car during the crash.
McGee was quick to notice the pain in Tony's eyes, and his eyebrows furrowed with concern.
"Hey Tony, how are you feeling?"
"I'm not going to lie McGoogle, I've definitely been better," replied Tony with a wry smile.
"I can call for a nurse if you need anything?" McGee offered.
"Got everything I need right here," said Dinozzo, slowly gesturing towards the button beside him.
"Painkillers Tony?" McGee said with a chuckle, "I still remember that time that you broke your nose. Do you remember how you kept begging the nurse for more pain meds? You were as high as a kite before we arrived back at headquarters." McGee reminisced with a smile. Looking over at Tony, the small smile quickly slid from his face.
"I'm fine Timmy," Tony whispered, "today's probably not the best day to get high on pain meds though."
"How do you figure that?" Asked McGee with a genuinely confused look on his face. "Tony you just got hit by a car."
"Gibbs told me that Ziva has some broken ribs and a broken arm," Tony replied quietly, "you know as well as I do that that's not enough to keep her here for long. She'll want to be where the fight is. Ziva has never been one to let others see her as weak… no matter what the circumstances."
"You might be right with most of that theory Tony, but you're wrong about one thing," said McGee.
"Oh yeah, and what would that be?" replied Tony, the disbelief clear in his voice.
"Ziva lets her walls down around you Tony," McGee said quietly, "she may not let anyone else see how much she's hurting, but out of everyone here, you are the one that she opens up to the most. She needs that… You both do," he amended.
Tony looked at McGee in surprise.
"What? You didn't think that we'd notice the way you and Ziva look at each other? Come on Tony, we are trained investigators. It may have taken the two of you a long time to admit to yourselves that you actually have 'something,' but we always saw it." McGee leant his head to one side, as if deep in thought. "I guess what I am trying to say is if anyone can talk to Ziva and make her see sense it'll be you Tony. Don't worry, I don't think she would go after Bodnar without you."
There was a moment of silence as Tony took this in. After a couple of minutes had past Dinozzo looked at his friend and said in all seriousness, "Thanks Tim." Tim nodded his head, and the two friends sat in silence for a moment before Tony asked him an important question that had been nagging at him, while effectively changing the subject at the same time.
"Do you know who crashed into us?"
McGee looked at his friend thoughtfully, as if trying to decide how much he should tell Tony while he was in his current injured state. In the end, McGee seemed to decide that Tony would be sure to find out soon enough anyway, so he just told the truth.
"We didn't get them Tony. When Gibbs and I arrived on scene, the other car was already empty. There was a lot of blood, but no body." Tony dropped his eyes to look at a speck on his hospital blanket, as McGee continued; "the diamonds you were transporting back to evidence lock-up had gone too. Our theory is that Bodnar sent someone to retrieve the diamonds for him before they got back to NCIS. We don't know if you were necessarily the targets or not Tony, they might have just been after the diamonds."
Tony nodded carefully while looking at McGee. "I guess they probably just saw hitting us as a bonus then." He said, while lost in his thoughts.
McGee didn't reply but his silence said it all. He had come to the same conclusion as Tony. Although Bodnar had been close to Ziva at one stage, he obviously had no qualms about harming her now. He had ordered the hit on her father, and Bodnar was now fleeing from multiple organizations, including NCIS, Homeland Security and the Mossad. His loyalties had obviously long since gone out of the window. Bodnar wouldn't have blinked an eye at the thought of harming Tony and Ziva in the attempt to retrieve his diamonds. After all, he needed the diamonds so that he could escape and go into hiding, effectively allowing himself to slip under the radar and become invisible to all the authorities that where chasing him.
McGee gave Tony a moment to process his thoughts before he spoke again. "I'm glad you're okay Tony. After seeing that crime scene today, I thought…" McGee shuddered visibly as he remembered the terrible thoughts that had clouded his mind.
Tony, noticing his friends pain, shook himself out of his thoughts and replied; "Thought what McGee? Come on, surely you've realized by now that something as mundane as a car crash couldn't kill me? I mean I survived the plague, and then I practically got blown up." Tony smiled reassuringly at McGee. "Of course I'm fine."
Tim laughed appreciatively, allowing himself to be reassured, and grinned back at his friend. "Yeah I know Tony. All the same I am glad you're okay."
"Thanks McGoo," replied Tony. Tim just smiled even further at this. He had learnt long a go to let the name calling thing slide. It was just one of the many odd ways that Tony showed he cared.
Tim coughed and stepped back, breaking the moment of 'brotherly' bonding.
"I guess I should go and visit Ziva before I have to head back to work," McGee said regretfully, "with the team being rather low on members right now, Gibbs, Abby and I have a lot of work to do."
McGee patted Tony on the arm affectionately before heading towards the door. He stopped for a moment and looked over his shoulder at Tony; "I guess I should warn you that Abby has been more than a little worried about you. She's visiting Ziva now, I'll let her know she can stop by and see you." McGee said this with a smile, before leaving Tony in peace for the time being.
"Man your battle stations" Tony murmured to himself, chuckling wearily as he began to mentally prepare himself for the crazy whirlwind of energy, that he knew to be Miss Abigail Sciuto.
A/N: I am so excited to share the next chapter with you. Feedback appreciated! ;)