Gibbs found himself wanting to look anywhere but at Abby’s distraught face. She hadn’t taken her eyes off Tony since stepping into the room. It hurt to see her upset.
“I don’t like him being so still.” Abby’s breathing hitched and Gibbs knew she was close to sobbing. “It’s not natural.”
“Abigail, my dear, do not worry.” Ducky wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “As soon as the doctors feel his lung has sufficiently recovered from the trauma, they will cease administering the drugs keeping him in a coma. He will not be so still then.”
“Really?”
“I would not lie to you, Abigail.”
Abby’s hands flailed for a moment, mutely expressing all the agitation she clearly felt. “I know you wouldn’t lie Ducky, but"“
“I have spoken with his doctor.” Ducky neatly interrupted her before all her worry and fear could build up too much steam. “I have reviewed Anthony’s injuries and his care in great detail. I agree with Dr. Kline’s assessment. He will recover from this.”
Ducky’s blue eyes rested on Tony. His lips curled upward in a fond, paternal smile. “Oh he may not compete in one of those silly Ironman competitions he’s been threatening to enter, but he should be able to resume his normal activities.”
Abby sighed softly, leaning into the ME. “Thanks, Ducky.”
Gibbs clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to thank Ducky too. He didn’t want anyone to know he’d ever been worried. He told them Tony would be okay when they’d arrived at the hospital. He couldn’t look like he doubted his own assurances.
Gibbs looked away from Abby to check on Ziva. To anyone who didn’t know her, she seemed outwardly calm, unaffected. Gibbs knew better. Her eyes were overly bright, and her stance just a little too rigid.
Ziva’s gaze drifted from Tony to LaFiamma. Tony’s cousin stood near the other bed in the room where Lundy now resided. After Gibbs had talked to him, LaFiamma had arranged for Lundy and Tony to share a larger room. It had taken surprising little effort on his part, and Gibbs strongly suspected LaFiamma had simply been biding his time, looking for a good reason to put Tony and Lundy in a room together so he could keep an eye on both of them.
Gibbs wasn’t sure how LaFiamma convinced the staff to go along with him. It wasn’t exactly unusual for two patients to share a room, but it wasn’t standard procedure for those getting critical care to have roommates either. Right now Gibbs didn’t really care how LaFiamma had pulled if off; he was just relieved he had been able to do it. Given the fact that LaFiamma was habitually, almost compulsively armed, his presence meant that much more protection for Tony.
LaFiamma’s blue eyes coolly met Ziva’s brown. A glint of humor was readily apparent in his expression, reminiscent of the way Tony often looked when he was challenging people without being directly confrontational. LaFiamma wasn’t quite daring Ziva to comment on his presence, but he wasn’t far from it either.
She lifted her chin, glaring at him. LaFiamma just smiled. He knew precisely who and what she was, and it didn’t seem to bother him a bit that she’d been trained in how to kill a man a hundred ways with just a paperclip.
If it came down to a real fight, Gibbs wasn’t sure who he’d bet on. Ziva might have what Abby and Tony both characterized as ‘mad, bad, crazy ninja skills’, but LaFiamma was no slouch. There was no way to know exactly what sort of weaponry he had on his person or how free he’d feel to be able to use it. Somehow Gibbs couldn’t picture LaFiamma refraining from fighting dirty if he thought it necessary---and when it came to defending his family, Gibbs knew it would be no holds barred. What he didn’t know was if LaFiamma viewed Ziva as a threat or an ally.
Gibbs was quietly relieved when McGee cleared his throat, breaking the tension and drawing everyone’s attention to him. McGee stood just inside the doorway, almost as if he was afraid to enter further into the room. His expression was pensive and uncertain. It made him look as young as he did when Gibbs had first met him.
“You said a bust went bad.” McGee licked his lips nervously. “Exactly what happened, Boss?”
Gibbs nodded his approval of McGee’s getting them all to focus on something productive. They couldn’t do anything directly for Tony---at least not at the moment. Finding the bastards who did this to him was definitely a priority. Anything else could wait.
Gibbs gave them the basic run down of the bust and what he knew of the case so far. He kept his voice neutral, refusing to gloss over the details of how Tony had come to be injured, forcing himself to ignore Abby’s gasps, McGee’s flinch and the look of disapproval Ducky leveled at him for upsetting both of them. Ziva paled, but remained otherwise stoic throughout his recitation. They needed to know what happened, and Gibbs knew there was damn little he could do to soften the blow. It was always better to simply rip the band-aid off rather than go slow with it.
He handed off the file Dewing had given him to McGee. “Look that over.”
Gibbs wanted the younger agent review what they already had and see if there was anything Gibbs might have missed. He didn’t mention his suspicions about Shepard being involved. Gibbs wanted him to review things independently. It was possible he and LaFiamma were reading more into the situation than it warranted.
LaFiamma had agreed with Gibbs’ intent for have fresh eyes review the information without any influence from him. Lundy had even voiced a sleepy second, surprising Gibbs with how aware he sounded given how out if it he’d seem earlier. Dewing might well win her bet on how soon he’d be trying to get out of bed.
If McGee came arrived at the same theory, then what they suspected could genuine. But Gibbs didn’t want McGee overlooking anything by accepting his theory as gospel. He could pursue finding more concrete proof to back up what he suspected about Shepard on his own or with help from LaFiamma if necessary.
Actually, he knew he’d be getting help from LaFiamma. It wasn’t like him to sit on the sidelines. The man was too much like Tony for that.
His partner wasn’t much better. Before Lundy had fallen asleep again, shortly after being moved into the new room, he had suggested a few names for LaFiamma to contact. LaFiamma had nodded, evidently familiar with the people Lundy referred to. He assured Gibbs their contacts could do some discreet digging into how Kort had ended Houston. LaFiamma would likely be on the phone as soon as Gibbs and his team left.
“McGee, you’ll be working with Dewing or Mendez. I’m not sure which. You’ll need to find out what progress they’ve made since I got that,” he pointed to the file McGee held, “and see what more needs to be done.”
McGee nodded. By now he knew what he should be looking for, what questions to ask and where to find the answers. Gibbs had already given him some direction, rattling off a list of things he’d want McGee to look into when he’d given in and called him earlier, checking to see if their plane had landed yet and how soon they’d be arriving at the hospital.
“Abby, I need you to work with Annie Hartung.”
“I remember her.” Abby looked at him, her eyes still bright with unshed tears but her lower lip no longer trembled. “She worked with us before.”
“Yes, she did.” Gibbs nodded. Hartung was a good forensic scientist. Not quite in Abby’s league, but then there weren’t many who were. “I want you to help her identify what the explosives were made of, where they came from and how they ended up in Houston.”
“I can do that,” Abby’s head bobbed. Ordinarily, she might have protested working with someone else, preferring to run her own lab, but nothing about this situation was usual for them. Gibbs was pleased Abby seemed calmer having a direction and knowing she could help.
“What would you have me do, Jethro?” Ducky asked expectantly. “I could help out the local ME. Dr. Sixkiller, I believe his name was, if my memory serves. He might appreciate some assistance. So many bodies to handle at once is no picnic.”
“Dr. Mallard, there’s no real mystery over how anyone died, when or why.” LaFiamma interjected quietly, surprising Gibbs not only because of the polite tone, but also because he clearly remembering Ducky’s name and specialty. Gibbs wasn’t sure if the two of them had ever been introduced.
“We got more issue with identifying who they are and which players we’re still missing.”
LaFiamma gave Ducky an apologetic look. “Don’t know what other skills you bring to the party, Sir, but Sixkiller won’t need any help in the morgue.”
With a sudden moment of insight Gibbs realized he shouldn’t have been surprised by the polite tones or show of respect. Tony’s friendship with Ducky had never been damaged; Tony had probably spoken of him often, and likely very highly when he did. LaFiamma had only shown open hostility and suspicion when it came to the team members he thought had done Tony a disservice. Gibbs decided not to dwell on how many of the team that encompassed and how deserving they were of LaFiamma’s initial dislike and distrust.
Ducky smiled at LaFiamma. “Call me, Ducky, please. Everyone does.”
“Ducky it is then.” LaFiamma dipped his head, smiling in response. The warm, friendly expression made him seem like someone else entirely---someone harmless, approachable, easy to like and trust. It reminded Gibbs of Tony, and he mentally cursed, not needing the distraction.
“Duck, I’d like you to stay here with Tony.” Gibbs fought back the need to look at the injured younger man and to reach out and touch him. He needed to focus on the case and what he could do. It was all he could do for Tony right now.
“I want one of us here at all times.” He knew LaFiamma would look out for him. And to some extent Lundy"so much as his current condition allowed. But it wasn’t the same as having someone from his team there.
“Certainly, Jethro.”
He knew Ducky would understand he was being entrusted with a task Gibbs wouldn’t have given to just anyone. He wanted someone he trusted to know what was best for Tony when it came to medical stuff. LaFiamma and the uniformed cop still outside could handle any other threat.
“And me, Gibbs?” Ziva asked, arching an eyebrow. She was obviously wondering why he hadn’t assigned her to work with McGee.
“You’ll be with me.”
She nodded. “Doing what?”
Questioning him was something she’d only started to really do after Tony had left. It used to be the only one comfortable challenging him was Tony. It was the duty of a good second to question authority on occasion, to be the voice of reason when necessary, and the responsibility of a good investigator to constantly seek more information. Tony’s natural curiosity, independent nature, and good instincts had made him one of the best agents Gibbs had worked with. Gibbs didn’t know whether to be proud of Ziva or resent her for stepping in to fill aspects of what had been Tony’s place.
Gibbs smiled tightly, opting to ignore his ambiguous emotions and focus on answering her question. “We’re going to question Kort’s girlfriend.”
The smile Ziva responded with was almost feral. "It will be my pleasure."
“Good.” Gibbs nodded. “Let’s go.”
“In a moment, Jethro.” Ducky clucked his tongue. “I think the others might like a word with Anthony before leaving.”
Gibbs could almost hear Dewing’s earlier command to talk to Tony and let him know he was there echoing in his ear. He hadn’t been wrong in thinking Ducky would have agreed with her advice. He was equally sure Ducky would see them speaking to Tony as being therapeutic for the team. They’d come all this way to help him, to be there for him, they’d want him to know that.
Gibbs sighed silently, nodding his agreement. He could be a bastard, but he wasn’t so much of one he’d deny his team a chance to have a moment with Tony. It was, after all, why he’d had Dewing bring them here first.
Abby was already moving toward the bed, and Gibbs nearly bit his tongue to keep from admonishing her to be careful. Tony wasn’t up to Abby’s usual exuberant greeting. He was ashamed of himself for not having more faith in her when Abby gently took Tony’s hand, bending down to whisper something in his ear. She kissed his cheek, leaving a bit of her lipstick behind.
Abby smiled in evident satisfaction. “That will give the nurses something to talk about.”
Ziva was next. She eyed LaFiamma warily before actually moving closer to Tony. LaFiamma didn’t look inclined to stop her, but he watched her every movement just the same. Gibbs wondered if LaFiamma distrusted her because she’d been an assassin or he was suspicious of her because of something Tony had told him. It could just be that he was yanking her chain, knowing his presence made her uncomfortable. That would certainly fit the character of the man.
Ziva spoke to Tony in Hebrew. Gibbs knew that while he was in Mexico Tony had made an effort to learn some of Ziva’s native language. He didn’t know if Tony had mastered enough to understand her, but if he could actually hear her, there would be no mistaking it was Ziva speaking to him.
Gibbs expected her to touch him and was genuinely surprised when she didn’t. He realized he shouldn’t have been. She wasn’t as physical in her displays of affection as Abby. And in all the time Tony and Ziva worked together, they rarely touched casually. It was usually accidental or if the job required it. Gibbs wondered if was just Ziva’s reserved nature that maintained the distance, or if it was Rule 12 that made Tony ensure there was some physical as well as emotional space between them.
McGee seemed reluctant to approach Tony. He shot a helpless look at Gibbs and then Ducky. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say hello, Timothy,” Ducky told him gently, making it see perfectly natural to speak to someone unconscious. But then, Ducky talked to dead people, Gibbs mused, it was hardly unusual for him hold entire conversations with people who couldn’t talk back.
McGee nodded. He cleared his throat. His cheeks flushed, clearly aware everyone in the room was watching him and waiting for him to say something. Gibbs felt a surge of pride when McGee squared his shoulders and spoke to Tony, sounding far more confident than he appeared.
“Tony, it’s McGee. We’re here and Gibbs has us working on the case with your team. We’ll get the guys who did this. Once we get it wrapped up, I’m looking forward to kicking your ass in World of Warcraft III.”
LaFiamma chuckled, a warm and surprisingly lighthearted sound. “Ten bucks says he takes you down without breaking a sweat.”
McGee eyed him. “Do you play?”
LaFiamma grinned. “Who do you think showed him how?”
Gibbs blinked. He’d thought LaFiamma was more like Tony when it came to technology---reasonably proficient but not enamored of it the way McGee and Abby were. He shook his head. At some point these people would stop surprising him, he was sure of it.
“Can we go now?” Gibbs asked sarcastically.
Ziva, Abby and McGee immediately headed for the door. Gibbs thought he might have caught Ducky ‘tsking’ quietly and muttering something about the demise of common courtesy. LaFiamma just gave him a look that was equal parts a challenge to find some answers and an inducement to be careful. Gibbs had always thought the only one who could say so much with his eyes without ever speaking a word was Tony. Evidently it was a talent that ran in the family.
He tossed off a casual two finger salute. “I’ll call when I have something.”
“I’ll do the same.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
The team arrives, and Gibbs starts lining out what they are going to be doing.