Thanks to BMS for letting me know that Notifications ARE working on the FFN app, if you'd like to get them there.
Chapter Eighteen
Dust in the Wind
Gibbs' body typically worked like a clock. He always woke at six AM – even when he'd tied one on the night before and awoke beneath his boat. This morning however, was different. After the marathon search and all the tension that went along with it, he was still sound asleep when the nurse came in to check Tony's vitals.
After surgery, Tony spent some time in recovery before they'd moved him to a private room. Since the hospital staff realized Gibbs wasn't going anywhere, they'd brought in an armchair that pulled out to a cot. Gibbs spent the rest of the night there.
"How's he doing?" he asked, sitting up and stretching.
A still unconscious DiNozzo wore an oxygen mask to help him breathe. It was clear how deathly pale he was, despite the fact most of his body was shrouded in vivid bruising. His left hand rested on his chest, wrapped securely, his fingers bruised and swollen. The amount of damage was infuriating, and Gibbs intended to make someone paid for it.
"He's holding his own, but his condition is still listed as serious. His prior lung damage necessitates caution. I'm going to take him off the mask and put in a nasal cannula to see how he responds. If you notice his breathing becoming more labored, just hit the call button," the nurse said.
Gibbs watched her complete her morning tasks. He'd hoped to talk to DiNozzo first thing, but obviously that wasn't possible. He'd have to confer with the FBI and figure out where to go next. Fornell would be chomping at the bit to get all the details about how he'd found DiNozzo.
Gibbs hated inertia, but he still wanted to talk to Tony before anyone else did. Although his teammates thought DiNozzo constantly tried to steal the credit for whatever they were working on – which was true – they never seemed to realize he also took the heat. If anything happened at the club around the time DiNozzo was taken, Gibbs wanted to know about it before Ziva or McGee could express their concern over losing sight of him. He knew DiNozzo would cover for them… or at least for McGee. He didn't have time for ass-covering and wanted the un-redacted version.
"All right, the cannula is working, and he's resting comfortably. We're at the front desk if you need anything. Can I have them send up a breakfast tray?" the nurse asked kindly.
Gibbs shook his head. "No, but could you tell me where I can get a decent cup of coffee?"
The nurse grinned. "Not a fan of that hospital brew, eh? Can't say I blame you. If you go down to the lobby level, there's a great little coffee shop behind the main desk."
Gibbs smiled tightly. "Much obliged."
Once she'd left, he stood up and straightened his clothing, folding the cot back inside the bottom of the chair. He then leaned over his comatose agent.
"Won't be long, DiNozzo. Don't wake up until I'm back," he said, shaking his head as he left in search of coffee.
By the time he returned however, there'd been no change. Gibbs made his calls to Fornell and Ducky, who told him it was perfectly normal for Tony to still be unconsciousness.
"He's been through a great deal, Jethro. No amount of raging will awaken him any sooner than his body is ready. Let him be."
Gibbs never did waiting well – not without a target in sight anyway. He'd just finished his coffee and was considering going to get another cup when Fornell unexpectedly appeared in the doorway.
"Knock, knock," he said, pushing it open wide and taking a seat in the other chair.
He held two full cups of Starbucks coffee, and he handed one to Gibbs.
"How did you know where we were?" he asked, irritated that the FBI agent was there, but not that he'd brought more coffee.
He purposefully didn't mention which hospital they were in when he made his calls last night, because he didn't want any of them showing up until he'd had the chance to talk to DiNozzo.
Fornell's eyebrows rose, staring back at him with his typical amused expression.
"I realize your arrival in the technology age has been hostile, but computers do make it much easier to locate someone. I'm sure your tech guru and the Israeli both know exactly where you are."
"My agents," Gibbs said, biting out the words.
"Yeah, them. I've got them compiling a list of any other vacant buildings in the vicinity that haven't been searched," Fornell said.
Gibbs nodded. "Good idea."
"It was Tina's. She thought since the bodies DiNozzo located were found in one, and Bergmann and the woman we located yesterday were in another, Sullivan or maybe our perps are hiding out in one somewhere within the city," Fornell said.
"No sign of Sullivan?" Gibbs asked.
"Actually, some of the lab results are back, and we found DNA traces of both Sullivan and DiNozzo in that same building. Cleary DiNozzo escaped, but we need to know if he saw Sullivan or has any idea what happened to him," Fornell said.
"You think the other two were killed after DiNozzo escaped?" Gibbs asked.
"I'd take those odds," Fornell said grimly. "Looks like he slid down an old laundry chute to get away," Fornell said.
Gibbs snorted. "Did you get an ID on the other victim?"
Fornell shook his head. "Nada. She's not military, government employee, LEO, or ever been arrested. We haven't found any missing person reports that match her description, either."
"Someone knows she's missing. Check if anyone left NSWC recently," Gibbs said.
"McGee's on that," Fornell replied. "I thought the Naval connection might get answers more quickly."
Gibbs nodded. "Any trace of the perps?"
"No. They must've had some sort of back-up plan in place. We've got a BOLO on their cars, and their pictures are being circulated through all the precincts in the city, and all points of travel. The club is also under surveillance."
"Good. I'll ask DiNozzo about Sullivan. Not sure how reliable his memory will be, though," Gibbs said, already frustrated with waiting. DiNozzo was the only source for the answers they needed, but with a head injury, would he be lucid enough to answer?
Fornell nodded. "Keep me posted," he said, taking his coffee and leaving Gibbs to the relative silence of the various machines monitoring DiNozzo.
Earlier, one of the nurses gave him a newspaper, and he was flipping through the pages when he heard DiNozzo mutter groggily, "Boss?"
Gibbs looked up. DiNozzo's eyes were shut, so he wasn't certain how he'd known Gibbs was there. He sounded weak and disoriented. Patience had never been Gibbs' strong suit, and he had to clamp his jaw shut to keep from demanding answers. He gripped the arm of his chair, taut with impatience.
"Here, DiNozzo," he said.
"Kay," Tony answered, eyes still closed.
A few more minutes passed in silence, and Gibbs thought he'd fallen back asleep until he heard the weak voice again.
"Boss?"
"Yeah, DiNozzo."
"Where's here?"
Gibbs snorted. "Hospital. What d'you remember?"
One of Tony's eyes slowly fluttered open, dazedly looking around the small room. The other was still swollen shut. When his unwrapped hand reached for the nasal cannula, Gibbs gently grasped his wrist, stopping the movement.
"Leave that alone," he admonished.
Tony's hand dropped heavily back onto the bed as his bleary eye studied Gibbs' face. He seemed to be searching for something, but Gibbs didn't know what. Eventually, his forehead furrowed, and he winced, as if trying to remember was hurting him.
"Easy. I don't want to be stuck here any longer than I have to be," he said, but without any bite.
"Club," Tony replied, his voice scratchy and rough.
Gibbs nodded, making a Herculean effort to be patient. "Yeah, it started at the club."
Tony's eye suddenly widened, panicked, his breathing hitched, and the heart monitor began wailing in warning. He clutched at his chest, gasping for air.
"Relax and breathe," Gibbs said, concern overriding his impatience.
He placed DiNozzo's bruised hand on his own chest, attempting to get him to match Gibbs steady breathing like they did post-plague.
"Are they dead?" DiNozzo gasped, looking stricken.
"Is who dead?" Gibbs asked distractedly, more concerned with his harsh breathing.
Before DiNozzo could reply, several nurses hurried in, checking his monitors, and forcing him to lie back. One of them inserted a syringe into his IV while the other adjusted his nasal cannula.
"Just relax, you're all right," the nurse who'd been there earlier said, resting her hand on Tony's shoulder. "Slow, even breathing. I know it hurts."
The other nurse frowned at Gibbs. "If you're going to upset him, I'll have to ask you to leave."
"No!" Tony yelped, although his voice was only a shadow of its usual strength. "He stays. Not… upset."
The nurses didn't look convinced, but they left them alone again. Gibbs knew whatever they'd put in the IV would take effect shortly, and DiNozzo never handled pain medication well.
"Are they dead?" Tony repeated hopelessly.
"Who?" Gibbs asked, trying his best not to pounce, but the urgency of getting some information was crucial.
He wasn't sure if Tony was talking about the two bodies they'd found or Agent Sullivan. Gibbs would tell him whatever he needed to know, but even he could see DiNozzo wasn't ready for all of it.
"Probie… Ziva," he said, closing his eyes tightly.
That pulled Gibbs up short. "What? They're fine. Why do you ask?" he questioned, dumbfounded.
Tony's good eye opened, puzzled, and surprised, his breathing still labored. It was clear he was having trouble remembering, and his responses were slow. Gibbs suspected it was the medication.
Tony frowned again, trying to force the memory.
"I tried… stall. Thought they'd… realize… gone too long," he said, his eyelids struggling to stay open.
Gibbs clenched his fists angrily, but tried to keep his fury hidden. DiNozzo was worried about the junior agents. He wouldn't take it well when he realized what truly happened. Damn it. Like most cops, DiNozzo would see the failure to have their partner's back – his back – as the highest level of betrayal.
And he wasn't wrong.
Still, Gibbs didn't want to upset him until he was stronger – until he absolutely had to do it.
"Your rescued sailor eventually told us about the tunnel," he said, trying to curb his temper so DiNozzo wouldn't think it was directed at him. This wasn't in any way his fault.
DiNozzo nodded sleepily. Gibbs thought he'd dropped off again before his good eye again flew open wide, panicked. He grabbed Gibbs sleeve in his fist, clutching it.
"They knew! Knew I… was cop. Snitch," he gasped.
"Who?" Gibbs demanded, alarmed.
"Dunno. They weren't… sure if true. Check… Lola," Tony said, his eyes drifting shut against his will.
"Stay with me, DiNozzo. What about Lola? The waitress?" Gibbs asked urgently.
"Maybe. Knows… something," he said groggily before finally losing the battle to stay awake.
/* /* /* /*
Ziva sat at one of the empty desks in the FBI's Philadelphia field office, jabbing at her laptop keys irritably. Paper work! She was doing paper work. Not only did she have to fill out tiresome reports on the useless search they conducted yesterday, but she was also being tasked with locating other abandoned buildings around the city.
She was trained for action, not this tedious drivel. It was absurd that she, a member of the Mossad, was wasted on this nonsense. Then, to top it all off, Agent Kehoe kept returning her reports, insisting she do them over properly. There should be a secretary assigned to this, not a field agent.
The whole situation was a kakepize. She had been out in the frigid temperature for hours searching for that missing buffoon. She was certain they would never locate him, but she had to play her part. The longer it went on, the angrier she became. She kept herself warm by imagining the torture that childish oaf was enduring. She only wished she could be the one inflicting it.
Then, Gibbs sent her to work with that insufferable FBI woman and took McGee – insecure, scared-of-his-own-shadow McGee – with him, rather than her. It was ridiculous.
How was she ever going to make Gibbs realize what a valuable asset she was to him if he wasn't there to see her? It was infuriating. Although… perhaps Gibbs wanted someone from their own team with each search party to ensure it was done properly. Of course, he would have charged her with what he saw as an important job, and he would supervise McGee. Yes, that made more sense.
She was simply feeling pressured. Her father expected her to pass on classified intel, and she was unable to supply anything while she was stuck here. At first, this case appeared to be a valuable, high-level security risk, but it turned into petty internal nonsense. A mere grievance from a disgraced sailor. There were no international ties, and it was a waste of her time. Time she did not have with her father's dwindling patience.
Then, that damn fool DiNozzo somehow managed to escape, ruining her plans yet again. All her efforts for nothing. The bar owner had him. How could he possibly have let him get away?
When she slyly informed those at the bar that DiNozzo was a cop, it had gone as smoothly as she intended due to her superior training in subterfuge. No one suspected a thing. She distracted gullible McGee at the bar, so he never noticed when she moved to stand next to the amplifiers. She realized DiNozzo had been gone too long, so she knew something was afoot. It was her chance to finally be rid of him. Since she could not hear the FBI over the amplifiers, she managed to delay them and allow whatever was happening to continue.
They believed her fully when she said she did not realize the amplifiers would interfere with the radio. The fools. She could deactivate a bomb, and they thought her head was full of air when it came to electronics? Idiots.
After hours of searching, Kehoe finally informed them that DiNozzo had been found, but she had no other information. Ziva was forced to wait at the hotel, pacing, until McGee finally returned. She questioned him thoroughly, but he did not know anything useful, only that DiNozzo was injured, and some woman came to his aid.
Of course it was a woman.
Gibbs did not want them to come to the hospital but instead to continue the search for the perps. She was concerned that by being separated, she had not been able to influence Gibbs' impression of what happened at the club. Since learning about his lost family, she knew just which buttons to press with him to gain his sympathies. He felt responsible for her because she had to kill her own family for him. He did not know it had been an order, a despicable one, but an order nonetheless. On another level, she knew it was an order Gibbs would never have asked of her.
He was very different from her father, and she was confused by the respect she'd come to feel for him. She still wanted to prove her worth and value to her own father, and she thought Gibbs could help her do that. Although this case was of no use to her, it could show Gibbs what an excellent duo they could be working side by side. They could outshine everyone both at NCIS and at Mossad. She and Gibbs understood one another as the others did not.
Her impatience was making her sloppy, however. When she used one of the FBI computers to see if she could gain access to their internal files, it locked her out. There must be a security system in place, so she knew she could not risk attempting it again. Her father would be disappointed that she had not gleaned any classified intel while inside the FBI, but she was too exposed here in the open. The cleaning crew would erase any evidence of her previous attempt.
Now, however, she was forced to use her own laptop to send an email to her contacts, asking them for information on DiNozzo's condition. Using her own computer was risky when discussing DiNozzo, but she had little choice. She could clear it all once they returned to NCIS, and no one suspected her involvement, anyway.
When McGee came over to her workstation, she was pleased with the distraction. He looked anxious. Of course, he always looked anxious, but this seemed to be an extreme form of anxiousness.
"How are you, McGee?" she asked, putting on a pleasant face. "Did NSWC share anything significant?"
He shrugged. "They gave me a few names of those who have left recently, but they all checked out, and none have reported any missing persons. How can a woman just disappear, and no one is looking for her?"
"Well, we do not know that – just that they have not reported her missing. We know that Warren and Barrows are aware when the Delaware will get underway. Perhaps this woman's kin is the person who is feeding them information in order to keep her alive. Or they had been," Ziva said indifferently.
Hostages were frequently victims in power struggles. McGee's sheltered life made him unaware of the atrocities of war. She grew up in a much harsher environment, so she was more suited to understand these things.
"Maybe," McGee said, frowning. "Have you heard anything from Gibbs? I don't know why he won't let us see Tony for ourselves. I mean, just to see that he's all right."
"Do not be ridiculous. I am sure he is fine, and this is more a punishment for him than for us," she said.
McGee's large forehead burrowed in confusion. "Punish him? Why?"
Ziva rolled her eyes. "Gibbs is humiliated by that attention-seeking clown. He had the whole FBI out looking for him, and he was fooling around with some woman – again. It has to be embarrassing for Gibbs. DiNozzo needs attention like we need air. Gibbs is denying him that attention."
McGee looked very skeptical. "I don't know, Ziva. Gibbs was really pissed we just assumed that before and didn't follow him to the men's room. It makes me wonder if this is a test."
"A test for what?" she asked.
"He wants us to follow orders, so he told us to stay away. I think he's waiting to see what we do," McGee said, his eyes round and wide in his baby face.
He could be so naïve, but it suited her. He was easier to manipulate that way. Even if it was some sort of test, and she did not believe it was, she could work it to her advantage.
"We are following orders. This is our chance to show him what real, capable agents look like and how much better we can do without all the buffoonery. Tony is just a cop, after all. We are more highly skilled than he could ever hope to be. I have the superior training, and you have the superior education. I am going to take advantage while that clown is away," she said haughtily. "You should do the same."
McGee remained skeptical. "I still think there's more going on than he's telling us."
"Enough!" she said crossly. She was tired of this conversation. "I will not talk anymore about it. Gibbs and I think alike. He will approve of this dynamic. You will see."
McGee looked both doubtful and uncomfortable. He was excellent with technology and a good resource, but he was not an equal to her or Gibbs. He could be taught and molded, unlike DiNozzo. She was going to need to find another way to rid herself of him. He was impossible. He couldn't even die right.
/* /* /* /*
Later that afternoon, Tina sat at her desk staring at McGee's program of missing person reports issued over the past three weeks. She hoped she might find a name for the woman lying in Autopsy. It bothered her that she was still a Jane Doe. She hoped that once Agent DiNozzo regained consciousness, he'd know something about her – and especially – where Sully might be.
They'd found traces of Sully's blood in that room where the bodies were found, but there was no guarantee he was still alive. She couldn't come up with a solid theory on why they would've taken him, except that if DiNozzo didn't tell them who he worked for, they might think Sully knew something.
Agent Sacks went to check one of the buildings McGee located this morning. It wasn't far from the area where the other two were. The two NCIS agents remained in the office. Agent McGee was looking through hospital surveillance cameras just to see if any of their suspects turned up. Since DiNozzo was hurt, one of them might've also needed medical attention. Officer David was still seeking additional vacant buildings.
Covertly, Tina kept glancing outside her office while pretending to be engrossed in her computer. She suspected Officer David was up to something, because she kept hunching over her laptop as if burying treasure. She had been a nightmare to work with since SSA Gibbs left her with Tina's team. Although she did assist in the search, her attitude was poor, and she was difficult. Before they'd heard Agent DiNozzo was found, some of the FBI agents on her team requested to not be paired with the Israeli again. She clearly didn't work well with others.
Of course, Tina saw first-hand how difficult Agent Gibbs was, so that might just be how things were done at NCIS. For all she knew, maybe Agent McGee was the exception. Still, she'd only worked with Agent DiNozzo for a day before he went undercover, and although she'd found his frenetic ball of energy approach a bit exhausting, he was neither difficult or unfriendly.
Gibbs and David were both.
There was also something about the liaison's reaction when DiNozzo was found alive that was just… off. Tina couldn't quite identify the fleeting emotion that flashed across her face before she'd schooled it and celebrated with the rest. It almost looked as if it was panic, but that didn't make any sense.
She watched Ziva and McGee huddled together, and she heard DiNozzo's name. It was natural they'd be concerned, so she brushed off the reaction last night. They'd all been exhausted and snapping at one another. Stress, the cold, and fatigue affected them all differently.
She knew DiNozzo had undergone surgery for a punctured lung and was still unconscious. While she sympathized with his ordeal, she was as anxious for him to awaken as Fornell. She felt they were spinning their wheels now that they didn't have anyone on the inside, and no idea where any of the suspects had gone.
She'd placed alerts on all the suspects' phones and credit cards, but the phones never left the club, and as of yet, there hadn't been any notifications that their credit cards were used. It was like they'd vanished into dust.
A commotion by the front of the office drew her attention. Gibbs and Fornell stormed in, snow dusting their hair.
"Gibbs!" Ziva said, standing up and appearing pleased. "It is good you are here. We have been awaiting your instruction on our next plan of attack."
"How's Tony?" McGee asked at the same time.
"You need me to tell you to do your job, David?" Gibbs asked shortly, causing Ziva to falter at the rebuke.
Gibbs never broke stride and barged right into Tina's office. Fornell followed him and shut the door on Ziva and McGee's stunned faces.
"What was that all about?" Tina asked.
Gibbs ignored her, too.
"DiNozzo's awake," he said, without adding anything else.
"And…" Fornell prompted, rolling his eyes.
"Said there was a Snitch," Gibbs replied, clutching the arm rests on his chair so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"A Snitch?" Tina asked, surprised. "Who knew? He doesn't even live in Philadelphia."
"Did about seven years ago," Gibbs said.
"Yeah, but it's highly unlikely anyone is going to remember a random cop from that long ago. DiNozzo would've just been a kid then," Fornell said.
"He mentioned Lola," Gibbs said.
"Lola? The waitress at the Vault?" Fornell asked.
"Her name is Lola Garcia," Tina said, writing down Lola's address and handing it to Fornell. "Did he say anything about Sully?"
Gibbs shook his head. "Nurses gave him something to calm him down. Knocked him out."
"Calm him down? What did you do?" Fornell asked, raising his eyebrow.
"He thought Ziva and McGee were dead." Gibbs said, nearly vibrating with anger.
"Dead? Why would he think that?" Tina asked.
"Because they didn't investigate. Said he tried to slow his assailants down," Gibbs said, growling.
Fornell and Tina looked at each other uncomfortably. That would be an ugly conversation once DiNozzo knew the truth. Partnerships had been destroyed over less.
"I'll have Sacks check out Lola's apartment," Fornell said, breaking the awkward moment.
"Get Ziva to go with him. McGee can do his computer thingy," Gibbs said.
"Thingy?" Fornell asked, smirking. "Do you mean an online search? Yeah, that could be helpful."
Fornell left the office to distribute the tasks, closing the door behind him, still smirking.
"Did your search turn up anything?" Gibbs asked, reminding Tina that they hadn't even done a debriefing.
"No, nothing. We searched all the buildings in that area, but they were empty other than a few vagrants," she said.
Gibbs nodded. "DiNozzo was with a few, too," Gibbs replied.
"Officer David has been anxious for your return," Tina said as Fornell opened the door and rejoined them.
"I'd say," Fornell said, catching Tina's comment. "She kept calling McGee after you disappeared. McGee tried to hide it, but… let's just say covert isn't his middle name."
Gibbs jaw tightened, although he said nothing. He briefly described what took place after he left them.
"You really found him with a hooker?" Fornell asked, thoroughly amused.
Gibbs jaw twitched into a half-smile. "He always says he does his best work at night."
Fornell threw his head back and laughed, relieving the tension they were all still feeling. "Well, I suppose it's better than an ex-girlfriend. At least the hooker helped."
A loud commotion and a lot of screeching in the main area disrupted them. They all reached for their weapons, and Gibbs pulled the office door open.
In the center of the FBI bullpen stood Abby Scuito, wearing skull earrings, black gauchos, and a long leather coat, wringing her hands and shouting at McGee.
They all re-holstered their weapons, and Gibbs shouted, "Abby!"
She turned, eyes widening dramatically as she flung herself across the room and into his arms.
"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs! Tell me he's going to be okay. You have to tell me. You haven't told me. I need to know he's okay. I've been so worried," she said without taking a breath in between.
Gibbs led her to a chair and sat her down, holding onto her shoulders so she wouldn't bounce up again.
"How did you get here, Abs?" he asked, exasperated.
"I drove. You didn't think I was going to stay behind when Tony was hurt and might need me, did you? Did you? How is he? I almost went to the hospital first, but I need you to prepare me if it's bad. Is it bad, Gibbs? Tell me straight. I can take it," she said, slamming her eyes shut and pulling her entire body into a tense ball.
"Abby–"
"No! I can't take it. I lied," she said frantically, grabbing him again.
"He's going to be fine," Gibbs bellowed, his patience at its end.
Abby opened her eyes, her body sagging as if someone had just let out all the air.
"Oh, well then, that's good. Right? Who's with him now?" she asked, brightening. "When can I see him?"
"He's still unconscious. they'll call as soon as he's awake," Gibbs said.
Her face fell. "He's all alone?" she asked, horrified.
"Ah, Gibbs," McGee said, still sitting at the desk where he'd been all day. "We've got a problem."
"What now, McGee?" Gibbs asked.
McGee turned the computer to face them. On screen were a bunch of blurry, grainy images of what looked like hospital emergency rooms. McGee highlighted one of the faces in each frame.
"It's Lola Garcia, Boss. I have timestamps of her visiting several hospitals in the immediate vicinity where Tony was found."
Note: Kakepize is a Hebrew word similar to Clusterfuck.
We're about halfway through. Feedback is always appreciated.
