Gibbs spent the next several hours pacing and sitting in the emergency waiting room while Tony was examined, taken for several tests and then ultimately surgery. The doctor had informed Gibbs only an hour ago of Tony's physical injuries – Three broken ribs, his knee was completely shattered (which was why he was in surgery), he also did develop pneumonia, then there were the several cuts and bruises that were covering Tony's body that would eventually heal.
The one thing that Gibbs was thankful to not have weighing on his shoulders was finding their suspects – something that Tony was able to tell him before Gibbs gave him the sedative. So that's where Sam and Callen were – tracking down Terry and Lexi to arrest them and take them back to the boat house interrogation room.
Gibbs was finally able to relax at least a little bit, so he managed to find a semi-comfortable position on the faux leather couch in the waiting room, falling asleep as soon as his head hit his rolled up jacket that he was using as a pillow.
Gibbs didn't know how long he'd been asleep when he felt a strong hand shaking his shoulder to wake him up, opening his eyes he looked up to see the surgeon standing over him. Gibbs sat up immediately "How is he?" Gibbs asked as he stood up to become eye-level with the surgeon.
"He's sleeping right now. Surgery was a success." The surgeon said as he and Gibbs started walking towards Tony's hospital room "He's going to need extensive rehab for his knee, and I'm expecting about a seventy-five percent chance of recovery, but he won't have full function of his knee again." The doctor said sympathetically, looking through the window at Tony.
Gibbs leaned against the frame of the window, staring in at Tony as he thought about and let the words that the surgeon said sink in, "So… He won't be able to run very well anymore?" Gibbs asked quietly, looking over at the surgeon.
The surgeon shook his head "No, unfortunately. I wouldn't recommend running for long distances." The surgeon informed him "Steven's regular doctor should be by shortly to discuss the other problems that your husband is experiencing." The surgeon added, squeezing Gibbs' shoulder reassuringly before heading back down the corridor.
Gibbs sighed as he quietly walked into Tony's hospital room, taking up the reclining chair next to Tony's hospital bed. Gibbs linked his fingers with Tony's, lying his forehead against the back of Tony's hand as he listened to the slightly labored breaths that Tony was taking. "So sorry Tony… Should have paid more attention…" Gibbs whispered sadly, letting his tears fall silently into the mattress below.
The doctor, Marshall Stein, came into the room half an hour later and smiled sadly "How are you holding up Mr. Walker?" Marshall asked as he pulled on a pair of gloves while looking directly at Gibbs.
"I'll be better once I know what's wrong with Steve…" Gibbs said honestly, looking up at Marshall with reddened eyes, both from exhaustion and the tears that he'd let freely fall since being with Tony for the past thirty minutes.
Marshall nodded understandingly "I can understand that. Steve has Bacterial Pneumonia, and we currently have him on high-dose antibiotics, supplemental oxygen and when he wakes up we'll begin breathing treatments to help loosen the fluids. The cut on his sternum needed approximately twenty stitches so that it will heal properly. All of the cuts on his face, arms and legs were all superficial and won't even be noticeable within a week, same for the more noticeable bruises on his body. The three ribs that are broken will heal within six weeks, and I'm sure that Doctor Lee has already explained to you the limitations about Steve's knee?" Marshall asked as he carefully inspected the sutures on Tony's knee.
Gibbs nodded as he watched Marshall continue his exam of Tony's sutures "Yeah, do you agree with Doctor Lee's assessment? That he'll only recover seventy-five percent mobility of his knee?" Gibbs asked curiously, his eyebrow arching upward slightly.
Marshall sighed as he nodded his head "Unfortunately I do agree with Dr. Lee's assessment, the damage to Steve's knee was extensive and he needed a total knee replacement. After rehab, he will be able to get around again, but his mobility will be limited." Marshall said as he snapped off the gloves and grabbed Tony's chart, writing down everything that needed to be written, "I'll be back in two hours to check on him." Marshall added as he headed for the door, sparing one last glance at the two men before leaving the room.
Gibbs sighed as he stood up and kissed Tony's forehead tenderly "I'm gonna get ya through this Tony… I promise." Gibbs whispered against Tony's forehead, letting a single stray teardrop ride down his cheek.
Tony opened his eyes slowly as he squeezed Gibbs' hand, "I'm sorry…" Tony whispered hoarsely, slowly pulling down the oxygen mask from his nose and mouth, unshed tears dancing in his eyes as he looked into the calming sea of blue eyes above him.
Gibbs shook his head, pressing a tender kiss to Tony's lips "I know, I know you are babe… I just… I need to know why… Why did you wait so long?" Gibbs asked in a non-accusatory tone, holding Tony's hand just a bit tighter.
Tony inhaled shakily "I was scared… I… The darkness… it was so much… I know we talked… about activating it… in a day… but… I didn't know… I didn't know it was… three days…" Tony said through gasped breaths, the tears that were dancing in his eyes now slowly tracking down the sides of his face.
Gibbs settled the oxygen mask back over Tony's nose and mouth "Shhh, stop. We'll talk about it later, you need to rest." Gibbs said lovingly as he kissed the side of Tony's head lightly "I'll be here, just go back to sleep Tony…" Gibbs said reassuringly as he sat back down on the stiff recliner chair and continuing to hold onto Tony's hand as the younger man fell back asleep rather quickly from the drugs still coursing through his body.
Over the next several hours, Gibbs went between watching Tony sleeping to sleeping himself, even with all the doctors and nurses coming in and checking on Tony, the two men managed to sleep through a greater portion of the day. Tony had woken up several times though, screaming or crying from night terrors that were constantly coming up to the surface.
Gibbs found that the only way Tony would sleep for more than an hour at a time, was that sleeping with Tony in the small hospital bed with his arms wrapped around Tony's body worked, affording the younger man longer lengths of sleep than just an hour. "I'm a burden already…" Tony whispered as the two men lay in the dark of the hospital room.
Gibbs shook his head and kissed Tony's temple lightly "You're not a burden. Told you I'd be here for ya, and I ain't turning back on those words any time soon." Gibbs said reassuringly, gently carding his fingers through Tony's hair.
Tony nodded as he laid his head against Gibbs' chest, sighing quietly "What about work? Don't you have to get back to DC?" Tony asked quietly, mindful that they were still under aliases for their case.
Gibbs smiled as he kissed the top of Tony's head "I'm not leaving you here. And the case is still ongoing… So, I'm here until that's wrapped up and then afterwards I'm here until it's safe to take you home." Gibbs said sincerely as he rubbed his hand up and down Tony's arm slowly.
Tony sniffled slightly "I'm defective… Why would you stay? I can't possibly go back to working at NCIS after I get out of here…" Tony said as he pulled away from Gibbs as best he could with the limited space and lack of mobility he had.
Gibbs sat up on the bed, looking down at Tony with a raised eyebrow "You're not defective Tony! How could you even think that?" Gibbs asked, shaking his head as he gripped Tony's jaw and turned the younger man to face him "I'm staying because I love you Tony, and who cares if you can go back to NCIS or not? NCIS isn't what made you who you are, and it's not why I fell in love with you, it doesn't matter to me what you do." Gibbs said honestly, staring into Tony's eyes with a whole new intensity that was equal measures passion and seriousness.
Tony shook his head as tears started tracking down his cheeks, Gibbs sighed as he pulled Tony back against his chest, holding onto the younger man's body as it shook with silent sobs "I really do love you Tony, has nothing to do with the case… Loved you for a long time, and I won't stop." Gibbs whispered reassuringly as he soothed up and down Tony's back and arm until he fell asleep in Gibbs' arms, residual tears still tracking down his cheeks.
Gibbs laid there long after Tony had fallen asleep, continually caressing Tony's side and shoulder while listening to his slightly labored breathing. Gibbs hated not being able to do anything for Tony, and hated that he couldn't go out and find the bastards who'd put Tony in this state of distress. All Gibbs felt like doing was hanging both Lexi and Terry up by their painful bits and doing to them what they'd done to Tony.
Over the course of the next few days, Tony had gone through several breathing treatments and was finally able to come off the supplemental oxygen and now the physical therapist – Dean Kessler - was standing in the room with some alien-looking contraption "This is a continuous passive motion machine. You'll have to use this to start with, until your pneumonia clears up. It'll help improve the strength in your knee and once you're able to get around without the wheezing, we'll start working with you on walking again, and putting pressure down on your knee." Kessler said as he positioned the CPM on the bed, then carefully helped Tony get his leg into the contraption.
Tony clenched his fists around the sheet as his leg was moved, his eyes locked onto Gibbs' face, thankful for the older man's presence as it distracted him from the pain that felt like white hot stakes being stabbed into his knee "How much is this going to hurt?" Tony asked through clenched teeth, glancing at the therapist briefly.
Kessler shook his head "You won't feel any pain for the first few days, we'll have you on a femoral block and then we'll slowly ween you off of that so that the pain will come gradually. You will have to get used to the pain because it could last anywhere from four to six months." Kessler explained as he hooked up the controls and set them beside Tony.
Tony nodded, swiping at his teary eyes angrily "Okay… Just get the damn thing started already." Tony said angrily, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared up at the ceiling – tears slowly sliding down the sides of his temples.
Gibbs chuckled as he came to stand next to Tony, while the therapist got the femoral block set up "You're gonna be alright Tony… I'm right here if you need me." Gibbs said reassuringly, wrapping his hand around Tony's hand firmly.
Kessler started the CPM, watching as Tony's leg started moving with the machinery at a slow rate "The control manages the speed and angle, which you can adjust at any time. Keep this going for two hours for now, and when you go to sleep keep it moving at a slower setting." Kessler instructed, looking between Tony and Gibbs, making sure at least one of them were paying attention to his instructions.
Gibbs nodded "Got it Doc, thanks. I'll make sure he does as requested." Gibbs said as he looked down at Tony and smiled slightly.
Tony rolled his eyes as he turned his head away from Gibbs, a scowl firmly set in place as he stared out of the window at the hospital buildings across the way. Kessler nodded as he headed out of the room, leaving the two men alone "Now what's wrong?" Gibbs asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his thumb across the back of Tony's hand lightly.
Tony shook his head "Nothing! Nothing is wrong! Just… Just get out!" Tony shouted as loudly as he could, his chest heaving and his breathing becoming erratic as even more tears rode down his cheeks, pulling his hand away from Gibbs' hand.
Gibbs sighed, "Alright. I'll just be out in the hall if you need me." Gibbs said quietly, patting Tony's shoulder before heading out of the room and leaning against the wall, letting out a breath of exasperation. Gibbs knew that caring for Tony in this capacity would have its challenges, but the sudden anger from Tony was completely unexpected and blindsided Gibbs completely.
"Colonel Walker, how is he doing?" a familiar female voice asked. Gibbs slowly looked up to see Hetty standing there and he let out a small smile.
"Doing as well as to be expected. He's a little angry right now and kicked me out of the room. How is the case coming along? Has the OSP found them yet?" Gibbs asked quietly, a hopeful hint in his tone.
Hetty sighed quietly "We've found Colonel Anderson. He went back to the quarry, about an hour after Steven was rescued, but Ms. Campbell was not with him and we're still looking for her, she's completely vanished, but we will find her." Hetty said confidently, setting her hand on Gibbs' forearm and squeezing lightly.
Gibbs nodded "For her sake she better hope you guys find her before I do…" Gibbs said angrily as he straightened up, turning to look at Tony who was still curled up around himself. Gibbs frowned slightly as he watched the slight shudder of Tony's body, knowing the younger man was still crying and wanting nothing more than to just be in there with him.
Hetty shook her head slightly "Be there with him, even if he says get out. He needs you more than he seems willing to admit. We will handle finding Ms. Campbell and we're keeping Colonel Anderson in a holding cell until we do find her." Hetty said as she turned and headed back towards the elevators.
Gibbs sighed as he walked back into the room, Tony glanced at him and moved over slightly in invitation. Gibbs smiled as he climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Tony's upper torso, holding the younger man to his chest as Tony clutched at his shirt and continued sobbing quietly into his shirt, large pools of tears sinking into Gibbs' shirt. Gibbs rubbed soothingly across Tony's back and shoulders, whispering soothing reassurances into Tony's ear until he settled down and fell asleep in Gibbs' arms, still clutching tightly to his shirt.