Part 5
Gibbs wasn't sure how much longer he could wait. Since his arrival in the surgical waiting area, he had thumbed through every outdated magazine, counted the tiles on the ceiling and on the floor at least three times, paced the perimeter of the room several times, and was now on his fourth cup of bad coffee. The team leader had run out of mindless things to do in an effort to keep himself busy; he despised the helpless feeling that was consuming him, but at the moment, there was nothing he could do to alleviate the sensation of uselessness he was being forced to endure.
He blew out a frustrated breath as he finished off the last sip of the lukewarm brew he had been choking down. What was taking so long? He wanted, no, he needed answers and the worry that was gnawing at him was becoming unbearable. Tossing his cup in the trash, he then raked his hands through his hair as he once again began to pace. "Aw, Tony; what's going on with you?" he muttered to himself.
His thoughts drifted back to the discovery he had made earlier; Tony had removed him as next of kin and he was hurt and confused by DiNozzo's actions. What was the younger man trying to prove? It was obvious that Tony was trying to distance himself from everyone, especially him; Gibbs knew that DiNozzo didn't want him or the team to be tainted by his conviction and in Tony's mind, that justified pushing them away. However, Gibbs had refused to be dismissed so easily. He had been determined to show Tony that he was going to stick by him no matter what; perhaps his sheer stubbornness and refusal to acknowledge his former senior agent's pleas to be left alone had forced Tony's hand.
Despite being lost in his private thoughts, Gibbs sensed someone enter the room. Turning around, he was greeted by the exhausted features of a man that he assumed to be one of the doctors who had operated on Tony. "I'm Dr. Neal," the physician tiredly greeted him.
"Gibbs," he replied as he shook the doctor's hand.
"Liz told me that you were here for Mr. DiNozzo," Neal stated. "She said that you were listed next of kin."
"Yeah," the Marine nodded. "How is he?" Gibbs purposefully directed the attention away from his legal status to Tony's condition. If he were honest with himself, he was almost afraid to hear what Dr. Neal had to say, but he was desperate for some answers.
"I wish I had better news," the doctor began. "Mr. DiNozzo was stabbed twice; each wound was purposeful and intended to inflict a lot of damage. One of the knife wounds nicked his lung causing it to collapse; he's on a respirator in order to let the lung heal. The other wound was in his lower abdomen which resulted in a great deal of internal bleeding which we managed to stop; unfortunately, he lost a lot of blood and we're having a hard time keeping him stabilized while we try and replace it."
Gibbs waited patiently for the physician to continue; his gut was telling him that Dr. Neal had barely scratched the surface. Unfortunately, his gut was right.
He listened intently as the doctor continued to run down the ever growing list of Tony's injuries. "His kidneys are severely bruised from the apparent beating that he received; he has several cracked ribs and his right wrist is fractured. The same shoulder has been dislocated and his knee has some obvious damage but we're going to have to wait until the swelling goes down before we can see what we're dealing with. He also has at the very least, a severe concussion; it's evident…that he took several blows to the head."
"Bastards," he mumbled under his breath. It had been a long time since Gibbs had felt so much rage coursing through his veins; not since the deaths of Shannon and Kelly and his subsequent pursuit of their murderer had he experienced such a feeling of deep hatred. He would make sure that those responsible for nearly killing Tony would be held accountable for what they had done; if necessary, he would be more than willing to administer his own brand of justice.
Taking a moment to collect himself, Gibbs blew out a long breath as he tamped down the anger that threatened to consume him. "Anything else?" he quietly asked with a forced calmness.
Dr. Neal nodded. "He's got numerous bruises all over his body but right now, that's the least of our worries; it'll be a few days before we can fully ascertain his condition."
Gibbs didn't want to ask the next question but he had to know. "Were there…any signs of sexual assault?" He couldn't believe that he had allowed those words to escape his lips; the thought of such a heinous act happening to DiNozzo was not something he wanted to think about.
"Not that we could tell on our initial examination," the physician replied. "Like I said, we've spent the last couple of hours trying to save his life. I could ask Dr. Coleman to take a closer look if you think it's necessary."
The team leader clenched his jaw. "He was jumped in a prison courtyard, Doc; what do you think?"
"I'll let you know," Neal promised.
The Marine nodded, temporarily satisfied with the physician's answers. "Can I see him?"
"Not right now. He's going to be moved to recovery and then to a secured floor; you'll have to get clearance to visit him."
"Clearance?"
"Yes, but since you're the next of kin, it shouldn't be a problem. Besides, the next couple of days, we're keeping him under heavy sedation; he won't even know anyone is there."
"That's where you're wrong, Doc." He kept his expression neutral despite the fact that his gut was churning. Gibbs found himself once again silently cursed the fact that Tony had him removed as next of kin. How did DiNozzo expect him to help if he was blocking him at every turn? The Marine truly didn't figure he would have a problem getting in to see Tony, especially once he had his face to face with the Warden; however, it would have simplified things if he was still listed as next of kin.
"Do you have any other questions?" Dr. Neal inquired.
"No. Not right now."
"You should be able to see him in the morning; when you get here, page either myself or Dr. Coleman and we will hopefully have a better idea on how he's doing."
Gibbs extended his hand. "Thanks, Doc."
"You're welcome."
As the doctor left, Gibbs sat down in the nearest chair and cradled his head in his hands. He desperately wanted to see Tony; he needed to make sure that the young man knew he wasn't alone. DiNozzo had done everything in his power to isolate himself from his friends, but whether he realized it or not, Tony needed those friends that he had been pushing away. "You better not give up, DiNozzo," he whispered to himself. "You do and I'll kick your a…"
The ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts. Pulling it out of his pocket, he glanced at the caller ID to discover that McGee was calling him. He had sent Tim and Ziva to bring in Chip for questioning and he sincerely hoped, for their sakes, that they had been successful in their endeavor. The team leader hit the answer button and barked, "You better have good news for me, McGee!"
"Uh, yeah, Boss," McGee stammered. "We brought Chip in for questioning; did you want us to…"
"Just sit on him until I get there."
"We have to have a reason to keep him, Boss."
"I have my reasons! Now, I'll be there in a few minutes! Until then, you just keep an eye on him and make sure that the cameras in the interrogation room are recording everything until I get there."
"Boss? Do you care to fill us in as to what's going on?"
"Later. Tell Abby to meet me in the observation room with what she's got."
"All right, but…"
Gibbs hung up and abruptly rose from his seat. He may not be able to see Tony right now, but when he did, he was going to be able to tell him that he was going to walk out of the hospital a free man. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Chip Sterling was the key to prove DiNozzo's innocence and he was going to get the truth out of the man, even if he had to resort to some rather forceful tactics.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCharles knew that they were behind that glass; they were watching him, his every movement was under intense scrutiny and he didn't like it. They had yet to tell him why he was here and despite his protests, McGee and Ziva had remained silent only telling him that Agent Gibbs would answer all his questions. Gibbs. He had never liked the man and it was beyond his comprehension why Abby and everyone else seemed to idolize the team leader; the man was rude, gruff, and demanding and if he were honest with himself, Gibbs made him nervous.
However, Charles knew that he couldn't let Gibbs intimidate him. He had to stand his ground; the former scientist was not going to break no matter how hard the Marine pressed him for answers to whatever questions he had. Charles had managed to fool everyone, including the mighty Gibbs, and he was not about to lose everything that he had worked so hard for.
He paced around the table once again and stopped in front of the two-way mirror. "I know you're there," Charles called out. "If you don't tell me why I'm here, I'm going to file a complaint with the Director."
Annoyed by the silence, he knocked on the glass but no one answered him. "I know you can here me! You can't hold me here without reason! I may be a scientist but I know my rights! I'm going to walk out that door if someone doesn't tell me what's going on!"
He was having an increasingly difficult time tamping down his anger; why were these people playing games with him? "Do you think I'm kidding? Do you think that I'm just talking to hear myself talk? You bunch of arrogant fools; you're no better that DiNozzo! I managed to…"
Charles stopped mid sentence and turned away from the window. He silently cursed at his carelessness; the waiting was starting to wear on his already frazzled nerves and Charles knew that if he didn't remain calm and focused, he would end up in a lot of trouble. Walking around to the opposite side of the table, he pulled out the chair and sat down. Sterling knew that he couldn't afford another slip up so he decided that he would simply wait for Gibbs to make the next move.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXGibbs' stride was purposeful and determined as he made his way down the corridor towards the observation room. His surly mood had not been helped by the fact that he had been unable to see Tony except as they had wheeled him from recovery to the elevator that would take him to the floor reserved for patients that were a security risk. The team leader had no idea how someone as gravely injured as DiNozzo would be considered a risk but he supposed that the hospital had its own rules to follow.
He had considered informing the hospital staff of some of his rules but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Gibbs realized that right now, the best he thing he could do for Tony was to find a way to clear his name and get him out of the hellhole that he had been condemned to. Gibbs knew that he had to focus on the job that he had to do; DiNozzo's life depended on it.
Opening the door to the observation room, he saw McGee, Ziva, and Abby waiting for him. Other than Abby, Gibbs was aware that Ziva and McGee were in the dark about the latest developments in Tony's case; he knew they deserved an explanation, especially since they had obeyed him without questioning his motives or sanity.
Gibbs took a file from Abby and began to glance through it, simultaneously slipping a vial she had given him in his pocket. "Have you told them anything?"
Abby shook her head. "No. I just got here; I wanted to double check everything before you talked to Chip. The sweat definitely belongs to Chip; I've also got a copy of the video that I showed you and I transcribed everything he said."
"That's good work, Abs." He tucked the file under his arm and then turned his attention back to Tim and Ziva. "Abby discovered some evidence that, if we're lucky, should prove Tony's innocence."
McGee and Ziva began simultaneously bombarding him with questions. He was aware of the fact that they although they hadn't always shared his obsession, both Tim and Ziva had been doing everything in their power to help find a way to prove Tony wasn't a cold blooded murderer. Gibbs held his hand up, demanding silence from the two team members before he continued. "It seems that Chip is responsible for this whole damn mess. We've found evidence that Sterling framed Tony and I think it should be enough to get Tony's conviction overturned," he reiterated.
"Have you told Tony?" Ziva asked. "Is that where you went when you told us to pick up Chip?"
"Not yet."
"Did he refused to see you?" Abby wanted to know.
"He's…" Images of Tony's bruised and battered body flooded his mind. "I went to the prison to tell him but he was being transported to the hospital. He was attacked in the courtyard…" Gibbs didn't trust himself to speak for a few seconds. Taking a moment to compose himself, he cleared his throat and finished providing the other members of his team with what details he knew. "Tony's in bad shape but the doctor's are doing what they can."
"So you've been at the hospital all this time?" Abby asked, a hint of irritation and sadness in her voice.
The team leader knew that Abby was close to Tony and probably felt like she needed to be at the hospital, but she had been right where he needed her to be; Abby was the only one who could prove Tony's innocence and Gibbs had needed her to remain focused on the task of saving Tony's life. "Pretty much," he replied.
"Why didn't you call us, Boss?" McGee inquired.
Gibbs didn't have an answer to Tim's question. He probably should have called someone, but between coming to terms with what had happened and reeling from the discovery that he was no longer listed as Tony's next of kin, the thought had honestly never crossed his mind. "I don't know, McGee," he finally said. "I guess because I knew that you all had a job to do." He recognized that he had provided them with a flimsy excuse but anything else would force to him to confront those emotions that he had purposefully buried.
"I'm going to question Sterling," he muttered. "Fill them in, Abs."
"Be careful, Gibbs," Abby insisted, her tone no longer laced with annoyance. "McGee said he was screaming at them earlier and that he almost started talking about Tony. He's…he's a total whack job."
The team leader smiled at Abby's descriptive metaphors that she had bestowed upon her former assistant. He gave her a peck on the cheek and said, "I will."
Leaving Abby to brief McGee and Ziva, Gibbs left the observation room to discover Director Jenny Shepard waiting for him. Despite their past relationship, Jenny was the last person that he wanted to see. Barely sparing her a glance, he turned to go into the interrogation room; he had better things to do that to listen to her 'I'm the Director' speech she was prone to give him any time she disapproved of what he was doing.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Jenny demanded to know. Her sharp tone would make some men cower but Gibbs wasn't one of those men.
"What's it look like?" Gibbs snapped as he turned to face her.
Jenny crossed her arms, her green eyes shooting daggers of fire at him. "Why was Charles Sterling brought in? Is he being charged with something?"
"Not yet."
"What do you mean not yet?" she pressed.
"Just what I said."
"You're going to have to do better than that. Why is Charles Sterling being interrogated?"
Gibbs took a step towards his former lover. She seemingly had no idea what was at stake but he was about to tell her; he wouldn't allow anyone, including the Director of NCIS, to stand between him and securing Tony's freedom. "He's being interrogated because there's new evidence that indicates that your wonder boy framed DiNozzo."
"Why are you still investigating this case? DiNozzo was tried and convicted; you have to let it go!"
Their faces were mere centimeters from each other as the Marine clenched his fist, resisting the urge to punch a hole in the wall. "Tony's innocent and I'm going to prove it!"
"Gibbs, I know you're desperate, but I think you're grasping at straws."
"I really don't care what you think," he shot back. "Now, you can either go in the observation room and watch or go back to your office and resume your practicing your skills at ass kissing on the hill, but I'm going in there and I'm not coming out until I have what I want."
Not wanting to hear anything else she had to say, Gibbs entered the interrogation room to find Chip still sitting in the chair, his hands folded on the table. He was still struggling against the rage coursing through him; Gibbs wanted nothing more than to throw Sterling up against the wall and beat him to a pulp until he got a confession, but unfortunately, he knew that particular course of action wouldn't hold up in court.
"Agent Gibbs," the scientist pleasantly greeted.
Without uttering a word, Gibbs pulled out the chair opposite of Chip and sat down as he opened the file he had carried in. His silence seemed to unnerve Sterling and that was exactly what he wanted to do. Gibbs knew that Chip was fully aware of the reason why he had been brought in and he wasn't buying the innocent act that the he seemed intent on portraying. He pulled some pictures out of the folder and placed them face down before he closed the file and pushed it to the side; leaning forward slightly, he met Chip's confused gaze. The man was quite the actor but Gibbs was about to expose the man behind the mask.
"Chip," he finally replied, knowing full well of the other man's aversion to the moniker.
"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't call me that," Chip said.
"I really don't care what you would appreciate, Chip."
Chip nervously cleared his throat. "I uh…do you want to tell me why I'm here, Agent Gibbs?"
"I've got some questions to ask you."
"About what?"
Gibbs reached in his pocket and pulled out the vial and set it down in front of Chip. "Do you know what that is?" he asked.
Chip picked up the small bottle and studied it. "It looks like a carpet fiber."
"Very good."
"Is it evidence for a case?"
The team leader had to admit that Chip had a lot of nerve to act so naïve. "You could say that," he sighed. "I'm surprised that you don't remember it, Chip. It's the carpet fiber from Tony's car."
"Tony DiNozzo?"
Gibbs clenched his jaw, biting back the sharp retort that wanted to fly out of his mouth. "Don't play dumb with me, Chip," he warned. "Abby discovered sweat on the fiber, so she ran a DNA test and I'll give you one guess as to who's DNA came back."
"I assume it was Tony's," Chip answered, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Of course Sterling would want to blame someone else; however, Gibbs wasn't about to let him off the hook because there wasn't a doubt in his mind that Chip was responsible for framing Tony. "It's not Tony's. It belongs to you."
"Me? I don't understand?"
"What's not to understand, Chip? You're DNA is on the carpet fiber. Care to explain how it got there?"
Gibbs had managed to render Chip speechless. The unmistakable look of guilt on his face was quickly replaced by a mask of disbelief; the team leader couldn't help but think that it wouldn't take much to push Sterling over the edge. Anger and frustration danced in Chip's eyes and the Marine could sense the young man was trying to contain his own wrath and was failing miserably. Chip was obviously searching for a plausible explanation as to why his sweat was on the carpet fiber, but Gibbs already knew the reason; the team leader just had to be patient and wait for Sterling to let down his guard.
Whew! Thank you all for your patience and I hope the post has been worth the wait. I'm so blessed to have such awesome readers and I sincerely appreciate every review and alert I get for the story. I usually try and answer reviews before I post but I've got to go to a meeting and I don't have time, so I figured you would rather have a chapter than a reply right now; but don't worry, I will answer them for "A Pound of Flesh" later tonight.