Chapter 7
Alone in her lab, Abby cheerfully bounced to the music blaring from her stereo, her pigtails swaying from side to side to the beat. While waiting for the Mass Spectrometer to finish analyzing some fibers found on Sgt. Nelson's clothing, she went over to her newly dubbed 'Wall of Tony' shrine and taped a new picture up that she had found earlier at the bottom of a drawer. It was from a couple of years ago and Ziva or McGee must had taken it at a crime scene as it looked as though he had been taken by surprise as it captured him bending over and looking behind.
After applying it to the wall she leaned in and gave the picture of Tony a kiss, even though she realized rather belatedly that she was mostly kissing a picture of his backside. Oh well, she loved that part of him too.
Over the music, Abby barely heard the ping from her 'baby' that let her know it was done analyzing the sample she had given it. She knew then that it was only a matter of moments before....
“What you got for me Abbs?” Right on time, she thought to herself. Gibbs was getting a little too predictable, but that's what she loved most about the man; he was a rock, never changing, always solid. He was in a word : Gibbs.
“What?..no 'good-afternoon Abbs'?...no 'how was your bowling tournament last night?' which, by the way, we won and I scored over a 200 for the first time....”
“Abby-” Gibbs stopped her and she smiled brightly as a Caf-Pow! was promptly thrust into her hands and she took a sip of her favorite beverage. “Good-Afternoon.”
“Afternoon to you too, Gibbs.” She beamed.
“Well?” He asked expectantly. “You got something for me?”
“Oh yeah....The bullet that killed Sgt. Nelson was definitely fired from this rifle.” She pointed to the black hunting rifle on the table. “It's been wiped clean. No prints that I could find on the outside...but they forgot a spot....” Abby slid back the bolt and pulled it out, showing it to Gibbs. “I found a fingerprint on the bolt, looks like they forgot to clean the inside of the rifle when they cleaned the outside.”
“So who does it belong to?” He asked
“Patience, patience, Gibbs....I just entered it into the database a couple of minutes ago, the search may take some time, but hopefully we'll get a hit soon.”
“What else?”
“Oh, yeah....let's see what Major Mass Spec has finished cooking for me, shall we?” She went to the machine, grabbed the readout and frowned.
“What is it?” Gibbs asked
“Ack!....It's just your ordinary synthetic, polyester carpet fibers you would find in just about every car in the US.” She stated, a little disappointed that the evidence didn't come up with anything more revealing than the marine had most likely been in contact with the inside of a car.
“Anything else?” Gibbs asked and Abby reanimated, practically skipping to her computer to show Gibbs the last piece of evidence she had found.
“Besides the carpet fibers, I found a ton of dog hairs on Sgt. Nelson's clothes- all different kinds of them, but interestingly enough, the majority of them come from a rather rare breed of dog; the Irish Wolf hound...Also the tallest breed of dog I might add....They practically come up to your chest they're so big....Speaking of big dogs, my uncle Joe had a Mastiff once, but....”
“Abby...” Gibbs interrupted before she could go on for too long.
“Right...sorry.” She grinned sheepishly. “Anyway, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a short list of people in the area that own one of those dogs.” she added.
“Good job, Abbs.” Gibbs rewarded her hard work with a smile and her chest filled with pride. All she needed was to see that smile and the rest of her day was made, but she demanded more and pointed to her cheek. Gibbs obliged and planted a small peck to the cheek then headed for the door.
“Wait, wait, Gibbs.” Abby called out and he turned around.
“You have something else, Abby?”
“Well no...I don't have anything else evidence wise, but did you get to see Tony yet today?”
“I just got back a little while ago, why?”
“How did he seem to you?” She asked wringing her hands together.
“Fine.”
“Really? 'Cause when I talked to him a little while ago, he seemed a little down and he only flirted with me once over the phone, so something is definitely wrong with him.”
“Yeah, Abbs. He fell from a third story balcony, that's what's wrong with him.”
“Well, duh, Gibbs, I know that... I mean other than that....he just seemed a little depressed...not like boo-hoo depressed or anything like that, but not himself, you know? Like he was distracted or something.”
“He just needs some time to get used to the idea of being laid up for a while. Don't worry, I'm bringing him some pizza later; he'll be fine, Abby.”
“Oh Gibbs, you can't solve everything that's wrong with Tony by giving him pizza.”
“No, but with DiNozzo, it's usually a good start.” Abby had to concede that point and she threw her hands up in defeat.
“It just seemed a little hinky that's all.” She kept it up, her fears for her friend not at all allayed by Gibbs's confidence that Tony was just fine. “Something in his voice just made me want to reach over the phone lines and give him a hug and squish him, you know?”
“Why don't you come with me later, then.”
“I will....I just wish I could go over there right now...He has to be so lonely...You know how needy Tony is for attention.”
“I'm sure he's getting plenty from the nurses.” Gibbs tried to reassure her.
Abby had to perk up a little at that thought and just imagining her Tony giving the hospital staff a run for their money had her smiling a bit and gave her the wherewithal to believe that he would be alright until she could see that evening after work.
With Tony still on her mind she was reminded of something else that has been bugging her all morning and she felt the need to breech the subject to Gibbs before it drove her any crazier.
“Oh...and another thing, Gibbs.” She started, narrowing her eyes. “ We need to talk about Agent Foster.”
“What about him?” Gibbs asked.
“I'm not sure I like him too much. He came down here with that rifle this morning and was acting like he was Mr. Perfect just because he found the damn thing. Then to top it all off, he was trying way too hard to impress me-which is just a big turn off in my book.”
“You don't have to like him, you just have to put up with him for a while. You probably just don't like him because he's not Tony.”
“I know, but still...he gives me a weird feeling inside....kinda like Chip did- and if you recall, he tried to frame Tony for murder.”
“Just because someone gives you a bad feeling doesn't mean that they have some sort of nefarious scheme going on.” Gibbs sighed as he spoke.
Abby bored her eyes into Gibbs', looking deep into their blue depths. She was possibly the only person besides Ducky, that dared to have a staring contest with him. However, she felt confident that even though he kept his feelings closely guarded, she could still read him like an open book.
“You're just saying that because you get the same feeling too, don't you?” She pointed out to him. “But you can't do anything about it because he hasn't done anything wrong, right?”
Gibbs just shook his head and didn't answer her question, heading for the door.
“Call me if you get a hit on that fingerprint, Abbs.” He called out as he disappeared around the corner.
“Thought so.” Abby muttered smugly to herself, knowing that she was spot on.
OOOOOOO
Ziva watched Gibbs stroll into the bullpen with a purpose and stop in front of his desk. She was on her feet immediately, heading in his direction and joined by McGee simultaneously so they could update him on what they had gathered so far on the Nelson case.
Foster remained at his seat, at the far end, his view obscured by the cubicle wall, making him oblivious to the fact that Gibbs had just walked in and was expecting to be given a situation report..
“You gonna join us someday, Foster?” Gibbs called out to the absent agent.
Foster's head peered around the cubicle and he jumped into action.
“Oh...Sorry, Agent Gibbs.” Foster took one look at the glare Gibbs sent his way and back-pedalled suddenly remembering the rule about apologizing. “I mean...coming.” He hurried over and joined the rest of them.
“What have we got?” Gibbs asked the team, but focused mainly on McGee, who was in possession of the remote for the plasma. Tim turned to the screen and called up several photos. The first being the driver's license picture of a blue-eyed and curly, blond-headed, Jennifer O'Conner.
“This is Jennifer O'Conner, girlfriend of our victim, Sgt. Nelson.” McGee pulled up a service photo of the dead marine. “Friends say the two have been dating off and on for the last year and have had a bit of a rocky relationship, but were currently still seeing each other. No one has seen or heard from Ms. O'Conner in the last two days, she didn't show up to the bar she works at last night. There's no answer on her cell, but we know she did contact Sgt. Nelson the night he was killed.”
“Police have been alerted to be on the look out for her, but we have nor heard anything yet.” Ziva jumped in. “However, she has an apartment near Quantico we could search.”
"Get a Warrant." Gibbs ordered Ziva and she nodded in agreement going back to the phone on her desk.
“What did you find on that weapon?” Gibbs turned to Foster who gestured to McGee for the plasma remote and brought up another driver's license picture, this one of a long-haired, middle-aged man.
“It was registered to a James Patrick Garvey from Remington, VA. However, he was killed six months ago in a motor vehicle accident. His property and all of his possessions were auctioned last month to pay debts from a failed business venture, but there is no record of the rifle being sold by the auction company. His only living relative lives in Michigan and hadn't had contact with Garvey in several years, so he either gave the rifle to someone he knew and it was never registered again or it was stolen and never reported. I tried speaking with some of his neighbors, but none of them claim to know anything about the rifle.”
“Of course not.” Gibbs groused then turned to Tim. “Abby found some dog hairs on the Sgt's clothes from some rare breed called an Irish Wolf hound, McGee-”
“On it boss, I 'll check all of the vet clinics in the area and find out who might own one of those.” McGee was already in motion going to his computer to begin his search while Gibbs called out to Ziva and Foster.
“Once you get that warrant, you two go to the girlfriend's apartment and call me if you find anything.”
“Yes, Gibbs.” Foster and Ziva replied in unison and seconds after Ziva had the warrant in her hands they moved to collect their things and headed for the elevator.
Ziva drove and the two of them made it to Jennifer O'Conner's apartment complex more or less intact. She may have hit a few curbs, sped a tad too much and Foster looked a little green around the gills from Ziva's rather aggressive driving, but he still smiled at her when they made it to their destination, albeit weakly.
“I bet you're never late for anything.” He joked.
“Of course not. In Mossad we are trained to be punctual. But, you did well; Tony threw-up the first he rode with me driving.”
“Well, that might still happen.” He grimaced, holding his stomach. Ziva just smiled as she led them into the building and to Jennifer O'Conner's door. She knocked and announced themselves, but received no answer. Feeling a wave of deja vu from the last time she had to enter an apartment looking for someone, she couldn't help but have those memories of Tony fighting, falling, and then laying broken on the ground come rushing back to her. As she picked the lock, she vowed to not let something like that happen again and she turned her senses onto full alert. Turning behind to Foster, she pulled out her Sig and whispered.
“Stay close to me, do not go off on your own until we have cleared the entire apartment, understood?”
“Got it.” He answered with a nod and took out his own gun.
Ziva turned the knob slowly and quietly before swiftly opening the door and scanning the room with her weapon gripped in her outstretched hands, ready for anything or anyone. She immediately noticed the blood soaked into the plush carpet and Foster made a little choked noise in his throat in surprise upon catching sight of it. But, Ziva wasn't going to let it faze her until she was certain that they were indeed alone in the place.
Foster was right behind her as they first cleared the living room then the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. Ziva even took care to check under the bed before she felt confident that the apartment was indeed empty and no one was going to surprise them this time around.
When she finally felt she could relax a bit, she went back into the living room with Foster and whipped out her phone to call Gibbs and let him know what they found and that they were going to need the truck. They had a lot of work to do.
OOOOOOOOOO
After recieving Ziva's call, Gibbs and McGee abandoned the task of tracking down Irish Wolf hound owners for the time being as it was getting them nowhere fast and drove the van down to Jennifer O'Conner's apartment to help process the scene, gather the evidence there and bring it back to headquarters for testing.
Judging by the amount of blood on the floor at the scene it was clear that someone had been murdered or at the very least seriously injured there. A blood test would be needed before they were sure it belonged to Sgt. Nelson or not, but without another body at the apartment, all signs were pointing to it being the spot where Sgt. Nelson had been killed before he was dumped into the ravine.
Upon their return to the Navy Yard, Gibbs charged Foster with delivering the evidence to Abby's lab while the others returned to the bullpen to continue the investigation from there.
Clutching the box of evidence that still needed testing, Foster walked into the lab, finding the goth scientist studying her computer screen intensely as fingerprints flashed by, searching for a match. Music was blasting from her speakers and she sucked continuously from a gigantic cup of what he could only make out as some sort of energy drink. Judging from the way she practically bounced around, she probably was not on her first one for the day.
“C'mon, baby....mama needs a match...c'mon...c'mon” She spoke to her computer, as though she could urge it to search faster.
Foster cleared his throat as he walked in and Abby spun around. He didn't miss the look of mistrust and barely contained resentment towards him as she looked at him. He felt it earlier when he delivered the rifle and the other evidence from the ravine to her that morning and he had tried his best to get her on his side then, but she wasn't easily swayed by his charms, something he wasn't completely used to when it came to women. He usually won people over quickly, but she was a different case.
“Oh, it's you.” She half-heartedly greeted him.
“I have some more evidence for you.”
“Just put it on the table.” He did as he was instructed and Abby came over to examine the contents without even so much as a glance in his direction.
“You can go now.” She dismissed him without even looking up.
“Have I done something to offend you, Ms. Scuito?” he asked.
“Nope.” Was all she answered.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Nope.” She continued to avoid any kind of eye contact. He sighed, then looking up and behind Abby, Foster caught sight of the computer screen and smiled.
“Looks like you found something.” He pointed out for her. She turned around and saw that the computer had indeed found a match.
“Oh! “ She started excitedly and practically skipped to the computer. “Good job, Baby!” She patted her computer affectionately as though it was a favorite pet. “Let's see who you found.”
Abby barely noticed Foster come up to her side and join her at the computer.
“Hmmm, interesting....” He remarked. Reading the information, he knew he was on to something big and he couldn't help but grin in anticipation as he knew he was going to be the one to solve the case and finally show Gibbs that he indeed was the right choice to placed permanently on the team. He worked quickly, even convincing the goth to help and not fifteen minutes later, Abby was on the phone with Gibbs.
OOOOOOOOOO
While busy reading the information on the case that had been gathered so far by his three agents, Gibbs' desk phone rang.
“Gibbs” He answered.
“It's me.” Abby announced.
“Got something?”
“Yep.” Was her only answer.
“You gonna share, or do I have to guess?”
“The fingerprint on the bolt came back to a Dean Anderson. He applied for a liquor license a couple of years ago for a bar he bought, but it tanked and went out of business about eighteen months ago and get this, that bar was located in Remington, VA and his business partner was none other than James Patrick Garvey, the original owner of the rifle that killed Sgt. Nelson. Anderson's last address is listed as being in Alexandria, but according to his landlord, he moved out suddenly a couple of days ago, left no forwarding address. And another thing....guess what he's been doing for the last year?”
“I'm not in the mood for games, why don't you just tell me, Abbs.”
“You're no fun, Gibbs.” Abby complained and he could almost hear her pouting over the phone.
“Abby...” Gibbs impatiently growled.
“Alright, alright. He's been working as a veterinary assistant at the Best Friends Animal Clinic, in Alexandria. We called over there and found out that they've had an Irish Wolf hound boarding there since last Tuesday, same color fur as the ones that I found on Nelson's clothing. Now, because of it's large size, Anderson has been the only one working with it since the dog is rather stubborn and he's the strongest assistant. However, he hasn't been to work in two days and they're pretty hoppin' mad that he hasn't been around to help. Anyway, we also found out from one of the receptionists that Anderson's been bragging about meeting his girlfriend that weekend and he has mentioned that her name was Jennifer. ”
“We, Abbs? Is Foster still down there?”
“Actually, it was Agent Foster who found the connection between Anderson and the vet clinic.”
“Oh? Changing your mind about him?”
“No, not even a little...If anything that hinky feeling's just stronger. He kinda took over when I got a hit on the fingerprint, which was really annoying in and of itself and sure, he's good and we found a break in the case, but he's just....I don't know....I just don't trust him yet and I can't put my finger on it...Anyway, I kicked him out of my lab, so he's on his way back up to you now.”
“Alright, Abbs...you did good.”
Gibbs hung up the phone just as Foster came out of the elevator, his face flush with eagerness and pride. He had to hand it to the kid, he had done pretty well for his first field case in finding the murder weapon and the connection between it and their now prime suspect. However, they still needed to find the guy and Jennifer O'Conner, who was still missing and possibly in danger.
“Boss...” McGee called out from his desk. “You should see this...”
Gibbs was up and looking over McGee's shoulder a moment later as the younger agent began to explain what he found. Both curious, Foster and Ziva joined them.
“Tax records show Jennifer O'Conner worked as a waitress at the bar in Remington owned by James Garvey until the business folded and she began working on-base at Quantico.”
“Same bar co-owned by Anderson, whose prints were on the bolt of the weapon used to kill Sgt. Nelson.” Gibbs added.
“Question is where he would go now.” Ziva mused.
“Well, He's still the owner of that bar, even though it's not in business.. Maybe he's hiding out there.” Foster suggested. “Perhaps he and Jennifer had been dating and he found out that she was seeing Sgt. Nelson on the side. He gets angry, kills Nelson, dumps the body and the gun, then takes off with her.”
“Or he's already killed her and has disappeared, but it's worth a trip out there to find out-Gear up everyone.” Gibbs ordered, already in motion for his desk and the others sprang into action as well, gathering their weapons and gear and following their leader to the elevator.
OOOOOOOOOO
“......So, we find the guy has barricaded himself in this old bar. He had gone completely off the deep end when he found out his girlfriend had been cheating on him with the Marine, so he lured Sgt. Nelson to the girlfriend's apartment by coercing her at gun point to call him and invite him over. Once the Marine came through the door, he killed him with his partner's old hunting rifle that had been kept in the bar for protection. Then he kidnapped her and was planning on keeping her locked up in the bar where he could keep her within his sights at all times. Of course, he held her hostage for about an hour before Gibbs talked him into releasing her ans after we caught him, Gibbs got him to confess everything. The girl is safe now and didn't get hurt, but you should have heard her cussing him out as we loaded him into the car...."
Tony half-listened as McGee recounted the events of that afternoon, sighing a bit as McGee kept talking.
“The ironic and funny thing is that Anderson tossed out the rifle thinking that it would pin the murder on his ex-partner, with whom he had a falling out over some debts they owed after their bar closed, but he hadn't talked to the guy in so long that he didn't know that his partner died in a car accident six months ago. So ultimately, he practically gave us the murder weapon with his fingerprint on the inside and ended up actually framing himself....” McGee chuckled.
Tony yawned.
“You done yet, Probie?” He asked.
“Well, you asked.....”
“I asked how your day was, a simple question that usually only requires a simple answer like 'fine', 'Okay' or 'craptacular' not a twenty minute monologue detailing ever single thing that happened over the course of the entire day. Next thing you know you're going to be telling me what you ate for breakfast and how many times you had to use the little scout's room.”
“Sorry, it was just an interesting case, that's all. Thought you would like to hear about what's going on at work.”
“Maybe I don't want to hear about work right now” Tony shot back testily.
“Sorry...I just...” McGee stammered. Seeing concern light up his teammate's face, Tony waved it off hastily.
“Just forget it.....” He didn't want any of McGee's pity. That would just be too awkward and uncomfortable, he'd rather things be normal between them where Tony picks on McGee and McGee can't bring himself to fight back with anything more than an eyeroll because he was raised to be too much of a caring person.
“So, how did the new probie do?” Tony had to ask, changing the subject, even if he really didn't want to know, it was better than hearing about cases when he couldn't participate in them. Secretly, he kinda hoped the guy had fallen on his face, but knowing his luck lately, he probably made Tony look like a bumbling schmuck by comparison.
“Foster? Well, he pissed off Gibbs at first this morning.” Tony had to grin a little bit at that; maybe his luck was turning. “But then he found the murder weapon, made the connection between it and Anderson, plus I found out he's pretty good with computers and he spoke Hebrew to Ziva....” Then again....
“He spoke Hebrew to Ziva?” Tony's mind was beginning to spin- some odd part of him hoped that Hebrew didn't have the same magic over women that speaking Italian did.
“Do you think she likes him?” He asked more than a little concerned about that and maybe just a little bit jealous...no, he couldn't be jealous. If he was, that would imply that he had feelings for Ziva that went beond the platonic level, which he most definitely did not. Okay...maybe their had been more than just a few dreams...but hell he was a guy and she was a beautiful woman... it was only natural, right?
“I don't know, but she doesn't seem too taken with him.” Tony was surprised by how relieved he was.
“What about Gibbs? Do you think he likes him?”
“I don't even know if Gibbs likes me.” Tim frowned. “You know how he is.”
“What about you?
“Well, um...he's okay....I guess.” McGee stammered.
“What are you saying McGee? You like him or not?”
McGee made a face that explained a lot to Tony and shrugged.
“You do....Don't you?” Tony accused him. “You like him better than me?” Tony asked him point blank. “It's okay, McGoo you can tell me the truth.”
“That's hardly fair, Tony. I've only known him for a day whereas, I've had about five years to come to dislike you.” McGee kidded. “But seriously, I don't like him any more than you... you just have...sides to your personality that are more....more...easy to get along with than others.”
“Gee, thanks a lot McBackstabber. You sure know how to brighten the spirits of the injured.”
“Uh, the name calling side of you would not be one of those sides of your personality I prefer.”
“Just don't tell me he's sitting at my desk or using my stuff, Probie”
“Don't worry, Tony. Gibbs wouldn't let him- I won't either.” McGee reassured him.
“ Better not. Some of those things can't be replaced.”
"You mean like your GSM magazines?"
"Oh...my magazines!Man I miss them."
"I'll bring them to you next time I stop by."
"Really? You'd do that for me, Probie?"
"Sure, what are friends for but to deliver dog-eared magazines filled with nearly naked women."
It was then that the delightful scent of hot pizza wafted into the room followed a moment later by a Gibbs and an Abby.
“Hey, McGee.” Gibbs snarled as he walked in. “Don't you have a report to write?”
To others, the entrance of Gibbs might seem somewhat daunting and maybe more than just a bit frightening, but to Tony it was the highlight of the day and he couldn't help but turn on that smile, even if his thoughts were on things that were out of his control, like the constant pain, T.A.D. Agents or even fathers...
“Uh, yeah, Boss...I was just stopping over real quick on my way to pick up take out for everyone.” McGee explained.
“I'd hurry if I were you, McGee.” Tony suggested. “You know how cranky Ziva gets when she's hungry and you don't want to be responsible for any knife attacks in the office before you get back.”
“Yeah, I better go...” McGee got up and tapped Tony on the shoulder with a half-smile. It was a little gesture, but one that spoke volumes of support to the laid up special agent. “See ya later, Tony.”
Tony just waved, but never really got a chance to actually say the words 'Good-bye' to McGee before Abby came bounding into the room and smothered Tony in a giant hug. Gibbs just sat the pizza onto the wheeled table, moving it up to within Tony's sight, but he couldn't quite reach it with Abby practically sitting on him.
“Oh, Tony...You okay?”
“Yeah, Abbs, I'm fine. Something wrong with you?”
“No...You just sounded so sad earlier...I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I'm good, Abby...But I won't be for long if you keep trying to squeeze the life out of me.”
Abby pulled back and looked into Tony's eyes. He knew she was the best at reading people, maybe even better at it than Gibbs. She would be able to tell he was lying, that there was a lot on his mind, but he just didn't feel much like talking about his feelings around anyone, much less when his boss was in the room.
She just gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he gave her a smile, she didn't press the issue any further, but it was comforting to know she was worried about him and that she cared and loved him like brother.
However, the truth was he hadn't been able to get thoughts of his father out of his head all day, no matter what movie he watched or video game he played to distract himself from them, his eyes always wandered to the card his father sent until he couldn't stand it any longer and threw it into the trash can. That made him feel marginally better for a while, but then McGee came to visit.
He would never admit that he actually enjoyed having his geeky teammate visit, but the guy was too much fun to pick on. However, as he told Tony the story about the case they solved that day, it just made his heart grow heavy as he hadn't been there for any of it. Then, when he came to find out that a great deal of the case was solved because of Agent Foster and that did little to help keep those feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness from creeping up and taking over.
Gibbs took a seat and they all ate pizza and chatted for a while about nothing important with Abby doing the majority of the talking. Tony was relieved to hear that Abby didn't like Agent Foster much and he wasn't surprised that Gibbs kept his opinion on the man to himself. After about an hour, there was only one slice of pizza left and Tony was getting sleepy after another round of painkillers were pumped into his system. Before Gibbs could say good-night, Tony was already asleep.
Abby didn't want to leave Tony when Gibbs decided he needed to go back to headquarters and finish his own report on the case that day , so she promised the former Marine before he left that she would be able to find a cab ride home. After he had gone, she attempted to just slide in next to Tony on the bed, but there wasn't enough room for her and he was too far into the clutches of Morpheus to make him scootch over, so she made do with just sitting in the chair next to his bed and watching him sleep while gently running her fingers through his spiky hair.
When she began to feel herself slipping into exhaustion herself and the effects of the three caf-pows! plus two Red Bulls she had that afternoon wore off, she knew it was time to leave and go home to her coffin. She gave Tony a quick peck on the cheek and promised to be back the next day to his sleeping form. He gave a little grunt in response, but went right on sleeping seconds later.
Abby stood up from the chair and stretched out her creaky joints and sore muscles that were cramped from sitting for too long in one position. It was then that she spotted the yellow card sticking out of the trash can. Curious as to why one of Tony's cards ended up in the waste basket, and thinking that it must have landed in there on accident, she bent down and reached for it. It had some hideous sunflowers on it and looked like any of the other generic get-well cards that Tony has received and she was simply going put it back with the other cards stacked up on the side table, but once again the curiosity that made her such a good forensic scientist got the better of her and she peeked inside of it.
“Oh, Tony.” She whispered, looking back at her friend as he slpet peacefully, understanding now why he had been so quiet and distracted earlier. He had hidden it well from Gibbs, but she knew when he wasn't being himself. She also knew that he must have thrown the card away, but she decided to keep it and placed it into her handbag.
She would have to show it to Gibbs and make him understand what Tony needed from him and make him see that the younger man required more than just physical rehabilitation...he had a lot of less obvious wounds that cried out for healing just as loudly. She just hoped that Gibbs would listen.
TBC.....
The T.A.D. by Angie
Chapter End Notes:
A/N: Here's an extra long chapter for you. I was going to break it up into two chapters, but thought it all needed be put out as one so I wouldn't be leaving any scenes with Tony out.