***flashback***
“Boss? Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Leroy Jethro Gibbs stopped mid-stride and whirled around to face his senior agent. He felt a small amount of pride as the younger agent firmly stood his ground, despite the team leader’s agitated demeanor. Gibbs’ foul mood was due to their current case and DiNozzo had been on the receiving end of his anger and frustration more than once this past week. Tony had taken the former Marine’s often harsh remarks with his usual good natured, carefree style; but now the agent seemed on edge, almost nervous, which was out of character for DiNozzo.
“What is it, DiNozzo?” Gibbs snapped, knowing that the gruffness in his voice only exacerbated his annoyance at the sudden delay.
“We should probably have this conversation in private,” Tony suggested.
“Can it wait? I’m on my way to MTAC to update Major Carpenter.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t think this can wait any longer.”
Motioning for DiNozzo to follow him, the two men headed for the elevator. As the doors to the elevator closed Gibbs hit the emergency stop switch, bringing the lift to an abrupt halt. “You’ve got two minutes, DiNozzo.”
“Good thing I’m a fast talker,” Tony quipped.
“One minute and fifty-five seconds.”
Tony nodded. “Right.”
The team leader glared at DiNozzo as the younger man took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. It was obvious to Gibbs that Tony was reluctant to say what was on his mind; which under the circumstances was very unusual. He should have listened to the warning signals going off in the back of his own mind, but instead, his impatience with his senior field agent grew to an almost intolerable level.
“DiNozzo!” he barked. “I’m waiting.”
“Boss,” Tony began. “There’s no other way to say this, so I’m just going to spit it out.”
“I wish you would.”
DiNozzo’s eyes narrowed into angry slits as he clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure. Gibbs was taken back the rage emitting from the man who he could count on to follow him through the gates of hell.
“We’re worried about you,” Tony stated with a forced calmness.
“We?”
“Ziva, McGee, Abby, all of us,” DiNozzo continued to explain. “We’re concerned that you’re taking this case too personally. It’s starting to feel like Ari all over again.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, DiNozzo, a girl’s life is at stake.”
“I know that Boss, and I know that you feel some kind of kinship with Major Carpenter, especially with him being a Marine and the circumstances of the kidnapping. I’m sure that this case is making you think a lot about your wife and daughter and I know that you want to save Sarah Carpenter, but we’re not going to be able to help her if we’re running ourselves ragged chasing down dead leads.”
“It’s your job to run down leads, Special Agent DiNozzo!”
“I know my job, Special Agent Gibbs,” Tony shot back.
“Then do it!”
“It’s kind of hard when Captain Ahab keeps stonewalling us!”
Gibbs visibly bristled. When he had been pursuing Ari, Tony had confronted him and made the suggestion that he read “Moby Dick”. In DiNozzo’s own unique way, he had been warning the team leader about becoming too driven and too focused in his hunt for the terrorist. He had been obsessed, but Tony and the others had followed him without question. Now, he was being challenged again, but this time DiNozzo and the others were not going to let him off so easy.
Sarah Carpenter had witnessed a murder and was now being held captive to prevent her from testifying. She had missed the hearing, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial, but she had yet to be returned to her father. Once the identity of her kidnappers was made known, Gibbs knew that Sarah was running out of time. Alan Harris and Joel Aggleston were two men that the team leader had helped put away when he had been partnered with Mike Franks; they had been released on parole and would work for the highest bidder.
Once they had discovered Gibbs was the one leading the search, they had taken great pleasure in taunting him and remaining one step ahead of him. Sarah Carpenter was now being held because Harris and Aggleston were trying to get even with him. He was not about to let that innocent girl be used as a pawn so these two lowlifes could exact their revenge. Surely Tony and the others understood that!
The ex-Marine took a step closer to the agent. “Stonewalling you?” he asked.
“That’s what I said. Every time we think we get a lead, you conveniently forget to tell us that you’ve already checked it out. It’s getting old, Boss. We want to help you, but you can’t shut us out. Last time you did that, I had to jump into a freezing cold river and rescue you. What if I’m not there the next time?”
Before Gibbs could reply, his cell phone rang. “Gibbs,” he answered. “When? Where? I’m on my way.”
“Got a hit on the bolo,” the team leader quickly explained. He hit the emergency stop button to release the elevator car and then punched the button that would take them to the garage. “You’re with me; notify McGee and Ziva on the way,” he instructed.
He didn’t miss Tony’s sigh of resignation. “On it, Boss.”
His gut was literally screaming at him but he chose to ignore it. Something was wrong, but he didn’t have the time to sort out his feelings. Gibbs was close to saving Sarah from her tormentors and he wouldn’t let anyone stand in his way. He vowed that when this nightmare was over, he would make it up to his team; however, fate was not going to be that kind to Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
***end flashback***
“I should have listened to you,” the team leader whispered. “I should have taken the time to hear what you had to say. Instead, I ran off half cocked, and just like Ishmael, you followed me without question. I was wrong and I’m sorry.”
Hannah, Tony’s nurse came in and checked the young man’s dressings. Gibbs watched as a satisfied expression danced across her lovely features. “He’s doing as well as can be expected,” she informed him. “He’s definitely a fighter.”
Gibbs nodded. “Yes, he is.”
“Can I get you anything, Agent Gibbs?” she offered. “I just made a fresh pot of coffee and I can order you something from the cafeteria.”
“Just some coffee.”
“It’s going to be a long couple of days,” Hannah pointed out. “You need to keep your strength up; he’s going to need you when he wakes up.”
“I doubt that. I’ll probably be the last person he’ll want to see.”
“You don’t seem like the kind of man who normally wallows in self pity.”
Gibbs had to smile at Hannah’s forwardness. “Not usually,” he answered. “But this time, I’m just facing reality.”
“A reality that hasn’t become a certainty. Don’t give up hope.”
“Hope is all I’ve got right now.”
“Sometimes that’s all we need.” Hannah smiled and turned to leave. “I’ll be back with your coffee in just a few minutes. In the meantime, try and get some rest.”
“Thank you,” Gibbs quietly replied.
Hope. What kind of hope did Tony have of ever walking again? Everyone seemed to take great pains in reminding the team leader that DiNozzo was strong and that he would be fine. He wondered if they honestly believed that or if they were just trying to make him feel better about shooting his senior agent; Gibbs felt that it was probably the latter.
“I wish I could trade places with you,” he mumbled. “I would in a heartbeat; I hope you know that.” Gibbs didn’t know if Tony could actually hear him, but that didn’t stop him from speaking his mind. He realized that a lifetime of apologies wouldn’t make up for what he had done. How could Tony forgive him?
“Jethro?”
Gibbs looked up to see Director Jenny Shepherd standing in the doorway. He should have known that she would be here sooner or later, of course, he would have preferred later. The last thing that he wanted to do was to relive this disastrous day once again, but he would apparently have no choice in the matter.
“Director,” he tiredly greeted.
“What happened?” she softly inquired.
“Haven’t you heard?”
“I just got back from my trip to learn that Agent DiNozzo had been shot. I haven’t received any official reports from you or from your team. So, do you want to tell me what happened?” Jenny pressed.
The team leader sighed. How many times was he going to have to retell the story? He figured that this wouldn’t be the last time, especially after Jenny discovered the truth. “I can’t do this right now,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because I need to stay with Tony,” he attempted to reason.
“I’m sure that Ducky would be glad to come and sit with Tony for a few minutes,” she countered. “Jethro, you know this can’t wait. A shooting of a federal agent requires immediate…”
“Don’t start spouting off regulations to me!”
“I don’t want to do that, Jethro, but I will if I have to. I want to know how Tony got shot and I want the truth.”
Gibbs glared at his former lover. “Do you think I’d be anything less than honest with you?”
“I didn’t say that. I know how you feel about Tony,” she attempted to reason. “You see him as the son you never had and those feelings can bring out certain parental instincts.”
“Such as?’
“The instinct to protect your child.”
“You think I’m covering up for Tony?”
“It almost seems that way.”
“Tony didn’t do anything wrong,” he growled. Why would Jenny automatically assume that it was DiNozzo’s fault? “I’m the one who put him here.”
Jenny’s eyes narrowed, her expression confused. “What?”
“I’m the one who put Tony in here,” Gibbs repeated. “You’ll get my report when I get back to the office.”
“I don’t think so. I think you better tell me what happened and start from the beginning.”
Frustrated at the Director’s persistence, he reluctantly agreed to meet her in the cafeteria. “Give me ten minutes,” he requested. “I need to find Duck and see if he can sit with Tony. I don’t want him to be alone.”
Jenny nodded. “Ten minutes,” she conceded. “I’ll be waiting.”
Gibbs watched the Director leave, her movements both graceful and determined. She demanded his respect, but yet craved his attention. Jenny had drawn the lines between them years ago and he had not been willing to cross over them, although he had a feeling, that she had been tempted to do so once or twice.
She would use anybody to get what she wanted; unfortunately, that was a lesson that he and Tony had learned the hard way. DiNozzo was still reeling from his breakup with Jeanne, even though he took great effort to make sure that no one knew how deeply his heart had been scarred. Gibbs believed that Tony had actually found someone he could love and who had loved him unconditionally in return, until Jenny’s personal vendetta fractured their relationship beyond repair.
His thoughts were interrupted by Hannah as she returned with his cup of coffee. “Is everything all right, Agent Gibbs?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he answered, taking a sip of the steaming liquid. “I’m going down to the cafeteria for a few minutes; do you think that you could find Dr. Mallard and ask him to come and sit with Tony?”
“Of course. He’s just in the doctor’s lounge with Dr. Pitt. I’m glad you’re taking my suggestion and getting something to eat.”
“Uh…yeah. Thanks.”
Within a minute, both Ducky and Dr. Brad Pitt entered Tony’s room. “Thanks for coming, Duck.”
“Of course, Jethro,” Ducky replied. “We were coming to see young Anthony anyway. Dr. Pitt wants to check his lungs and make sure that everything is all right.”
He rose from his seat, coffee in hand. “I’ll be in the cafeteria talking to Director Shepherd. Call me if anything happens.”
“I will,” the ME promised.
Nodding his thanks to the two men, Gibbs made his way towards the cafeteria. He had hoped to delay this confrontation, at least for a couple of days; but now he had to face not only losing Tony, but losing his career as well. There would no doubt be an IA investigation and his team would be removed from the case, but that was the least of his worries. His man concern was whether his senior field agent, his son, would be able to pick up the pieces of his life and put them back together again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“Well, my boy,” Ducky said. “You seem to be resting quite peacefully.”
The ME took the recently vacated chair as Brad listened to Tony’s lungs. “So, how do they sound?” he asked Dr. Pitt.
“Surprisingly good,” Brad admitted. “As of right now, his lungs are clear. I’m going to go take a look at his x-rays, but I didn’t hear anything that would cause me to worry right now. Of course, this is Tony we’re talking about; I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on him until he’s up and moving around some.”
“That’s what I like to hear. A note of optimism.”
“Hey, he’s beaten the odds before,” Brad reminded him. “Who’s to say he can’t do it again?”
“We’ll just keep thinking those positive thoughts,” Ducky insisted.
“Sounds good to me. Listen Ducky, I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back tomorrow to check on him.”
“I shall see you tomorrow then.”
“Good night, Ducky.”
“Good night.” He waved goodbye and then turned his attention back to Tony. “It’s just you and me now. You are doing fine and before you know it, you’ll be flirting with every pretty nurse in the hospital. I remember when I was in Scotland, I…”
The ME sighed. “I’m sure you’re not interested in hearing one of my anecdotes,” he mused. “But then again, we’re not going anywhere for a while.”
Ducky began to regale him with a story from his colorful past when Dr. Winesett entered. “I thought you had gone home,” the Scotsman said.
“I’m on my way. I just wanted to go over Tony’s tests again and make sure that I didn’t miss anything.”
“And did you?” the elderly physician inquired.
Dr. Winesett shook his head. “Unfortunately not. Truthfully, I’m not sure how much difference there’s going to be in Tony’s ability to feel or move when the swelling goes down. The damage that had been done is severe. I’m concerned about some of the fragments eventually shifting and causing more problems, but right now, I’m hesitant to try and remove them. If he has a good night, I’m probably going to start letting him wake up tomorrow evening, so someone should be here with him.”
“I assure you that Tony won’t be alone. I can guarantee that Agent Gibbs will be by his side.”
“That’s good,” Winesett claimed. “Just make sure that Gibbs leaves his guilt outside the door. Tony doesn’t need it.”
Ducky sighed. “That my friend, will be easier said than done.”
Chapter End Notes:
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