All At Once
Gibbs sighed heavily as he watched his Junior Agent pace in front of him nervously. Even he had to admit that he understood how the younger man felt. Despite the large number of times they’d been left sitting in the waiting room because of DiNozzo, this time seemed different somehow. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the chair, attributing it to the fact that the man had been injured while carrying his child.
“McGee,” the silver-haired agent said after a moment. His eyes were still closed, though he could practically feel the younger man fidgeting. “Sit down.”
“Can’t, boss. Where’s the doctor? Why haven’t we heard anything yet?”
A humorless smile tugged on Gibbs’ mouth as he sat upright in the chair, eyeing the younger man. He had a feeling that this was a conversation they’d had before. “You pacin’ back and forth isn’t gonna make ‘em come out any faster, Tim. The only thing you’re succeeding in right now is pissin’ me off.”
McGee stopped, dropping into the nearest chair before he ran a hand over his face. “Why does he always do this, Gibbs?” He demanded, his voice trembling slightly.
“Do what? His job?”
“No! He’s always getting himself hurt! He doesn’t take other people into consideration!”
“McGee,” Gibbs sighed.
“I understand that he had a sick fascination with taking one for the team, Gibbs. I figured it out years ago. It never really made complete sense to me because… did he really think we didn’t care? I get that he claimed to have abandonment issues or commitment issues, or whatever other fucked up way he justified it, but now? Jesus Christ, what the hell am I supposed to tell Josh when he gets in over his head and doesn’t come home? He has a family now! He shouldn’t still be playing at this!” He slouched back against the chair, his chest aching as fought to get his emotions in check.
“You know how DiNozzo is, McGee. He doesn’t think, he just goes.”
“Oh, he thinks. After the fact. Usually in a hospital bed.” Leaning forward in his chair, he dropped his head into his hands before he spoke again. “Maybe it’s best that we don’t have any more kids,” he said and despite the fact that his voice was muffled, Gibbs could hear the sadness in his agent’s voice. “I just… It’s hard enough putting Josh through this every time Tony gets hurt. I don’t know that I can do that to another child.”
Before Gibbs could respond, a nurse came out of the swinging doors, holding a clipboard close to her chest. “You’re the family of Anthony DiNozzo?” She asked as she made her way over to him, her shoes thudding loudly against the tile floor.
McGee pushed himself to his feet, wiping his sweaty palms against his pants. “Is he okay?” He asked.
“The doctor’s with him now. It shouldn’t be much longer until he’s ready for visitors.” McGee gaped at her back as she turned and walked back behind the doors, leaving the two men with more questions than answers.
They didn’t have time to consider it, however, as their attention was quickly diverted to the exit doors as Abby burst through, followed closely by Ziva.
“Oh my God, Timmy! Is Tony okay?”
He looked at her curiously, his eyes watering slightly with worry. “I… We really don’t know anything yet. I…” His face turned down in a frown as he narrowed his eyes at her momentarily. “I expected you’d ask about the baby first.”
She flinched slightly at the cold tone in his voice, her face falling. “I… Why would you…? You think I wouldn’t be concerned about Tony?”
He released a sigh, his shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry, Abby. I didn’t mean that.”
She didn’t respond, her green eyes moist with tears as she brushed passed him, making her way to her lover’s outstretched arms. She knew she’d gone overboard during the last four months but for McGee to imply that she didn’t care about the wellbeing of her best friend hurt.
“He’s just worried, Abs,” Gibbs assured her quietly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, though he couldn’t help but glare at the younger man as he rubbed his girl’s back.
“How is Tony?” Ziva asked as sank down into a chair, preparing for a long wait.
“We don’t know yet,” McGee responded moodily, eyeing Abby regretfully. “I don’t know… they haven’t… Why the hell haven’t they told us anything?” He asked again, fisting his hands through his hair angrily.
“You must calm down,” the Israeli said quietly, reaching out to grab her partner’s hand. “You will be no good to Tony while you are like this. Have you made arrangements for Josh?” She asked, attempting to take his mind off of his injured lover for a moment. “I would be more than happy to go collect him from your mother’s home if necessary.”
“She’s keeping him for the night,” McGee sighed, sinking back down into the chair miserably. “I don’t know what’s going to happen… if he’ll be released or admitted but either way, it’s probably best that Josh stays with her. He doesn’t understand when Tony gets hurt.”
The nurse came out again a moment later, frowning when she saw that the group waiting for the Italian had doubled. “He’s ready for visitors, but unfortunately, he can only have one at time.”
McGee nodded. “Thank…” he started, letting the words stop when she turned and walked away, clearly irritated. “Um… Abs, you should probably go"“
“No… No, you go. We’ll see him soon enough,” she managed, looking up at him sadly.
He stood and walked toward the doors, pausing next to the Goth. “I’m sorry. Really.”
“I know, Timmy. It’s a lot to handle.”
He smiled sadly at her, grateful and undeserving of her forgiveness before he turned back toward the doors, heading for Tony’s bed. When he arrived, he pulled the curtain back and took a deep breath. He had to admit that he never got used to seeing his lover in a hospital, the machines beeping and buzzing, alerting everyone to his vitals.
“Tony?”
“Hey, Timmy…” Tony greeted, looking up at him with heavy eyes. “I really fucked up this time, huh?”
“Yeah, something like that,” McGee sighed, taking the older man’s hand in his as he sank down into the chair beside the bed. “How’re you feeling?”
“Hah,” he snorted, immediately regretting it as the nearly unbearable pain shot through his lower back. “Shitty. Heard anything from the doctor?”
“Nothing yet,” McGee said quietly, dropping his eyes to the white sheet, feeling the tears forming behind his eyes. “You’ve gotta stop doing this to me, T. You have any idea how fucking scary it was, watching that sonofabitch kick you? Or how much it killed me, not being able to get you up out of that dirty fucking alley?”
“Timmy…”
“I don’t want excuses, Tony,” he spat, his voice hoarse. “I don’t want excuses and I don’t wanna hear that you were just doing your fucking job. I just want a promise that you’re gonna stop being so God damned reckless!”
The anger in his voice had been expected, but even so, Tony couldn’t help but flinch. Leaning back against the pillows, he closed his eyes, squeezing his lover’s fingers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… It was a reaction. He ran, I chased. I didn’t think.”
“And that’s the problem! You never think!” He snatched his hand away from Tony’s before he pushed himself to his feet, pacing again. “I can’t… I can’t be the one to explain this shit to Josh anymore, T. Our job is dangerous enough as it is, I don’t know why the hell you have to go and make it worse by being so careless!”
The Italian fell silent as his lover continued to pace back and forth, his eyes wild as he ran his fingers through his hair. He wanted to be irritated with the younger man, to tell him that he was overreacting, but he couldn’t, not when he was right. He’d been stupid to ignore his instincts, knowing that he should have asked Gibbs to let him stay back instead of going on the call. It had been a horrible mistake and he only hoped that Abby’s baby wasn’t going to pay for it.
“I’m sorry,” he said again, his voice cracking slightly as he reached for McGee’s hand again. “Please… Please, I’m sorry.”
McGee stopped in his tracks, his chest tightening uncomfortably as he leaned over the bed, pressing a kiss to his lover’s forehead gently. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, Tony. I just… I don’t know how to make you understand that Josh and I need you. I’m so afraid that one of these days, your luck is gonna run out and you’re not gonna get back up.”
Tony said nothing as he reached up, wrapping his arms around McGee’s neck as he pulled him down, cringing at the pain in his back. Closing his eyes, he breathed in his partner’s comforting scent, ignoring the sudden wetness on his cheeks.
He pulled away after a moment, his back protesting his every move as he swiped discreetly at his face before he laid back against the pillows, groaning. Even the slightest movement hurt, though he wasn’t sure which was worse: the painful back spasms or the cramping in his stomach.
McGee held his hand as he sank back down into the chair, running his thumb over the back of his hand reassuringly.
“I think,” Tony said after a moment, swallowing hard as he focused on their hands, “I think I’m gonna talk to Gibbs. Tell him… Well, ask him if he can submit my paperwork for light duty now. I don’t… know that it’s such a good idea to wait any longer.”
“You sure you’re gonna be okay with that?”
“I don’t know that I really have a choice,” he muttered quietly. “Today was a serious wake up call. I’m not so sure I did the right thing by agreeing to do… this,” he said, moving his free hand to rest on his rounded belly, “for Abby, but the fact is, I did. I don’t… It’s not fair for me to take chances with that.” Releasing a shuddery breath, Tony closed his eyes again.
“Are you okay?” McGee asked quietly.
“No. You know, she’s never gonna forgive me for this.”
“Who?”
“Abby. If I’ve… if the baby isn’t…”
“Everything’s going to be fine, Tony,” McGee promised, reaching out as he brushed Tony’s hair off of his forehead. “The baby’s gonna be just fine.”
::::::
Releasing a quiet sigh, Abby snuggled closer to Gibbs’ side, trying in vain to push McGee’s words out of her mind.
“You alright?” Gibbs asked, shifting on the chair to wrap his arm around his girl, pulling her closer.
“Just worried,” she mumbled, closing her eyes as she allowed his embrace to comfort her. “You think Tony’s going to be okay?”
“He’ll be fine,” the older man said dismissively, though he couldn’t ignore the clenching in his gut that told him everything wasn’t as peachy as they all hoped it would be. He could feel her trembling slightly against his side before he pulled away, nudging her gently. “Y’know, it’s okay to ask about the baby too.”
“I didn’t want anyone to think"“
“Told ya already, he was just upset. Didn’t mean it.”
She didn’t respond at first, her gaze moving to her hands as she tugged at the rings on her fingers nervously. “You think the baby’s okay too?”
“I think we woulda heard by now if there was anything wrong.”
She smiled sadly him before she nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure she right,” she muttered.
“Agent… Gibbs?”
All three of the adults stood up and turned toward the nurse as she made her way over to them. “Agent DiNozzo is resting comfortably with his partner, but the doctor asked me to come and let you know that the babies are just fine. We’re going to go ahead and admit him overnight just as a precaution and after we get him moved upstairs, you should be allowed back to see him.”
“See?” Gibbs said, pulling his girl close as the nurse smiled warmly at them. “Told you everything would be okay.”
Abby shook her head, her body rigid despite Gibbs’ warm embrace. “Wait a minute… Did you say b… babies? As in more than one?” She asked, looking between Ziva, Gibbs and the nurse, irritated that she was apparently the only one who’d caught the slip.
The young blonde glanced down at the clipboard in her hand. “That’s right,” she confirmed. “Twin girls.” She hesitated slightly at the dumbfounded looks she received. “You… you didn’t know?”
Abby could feel the tears prickling behind her eyes as she glanced up at Gibbs, a bright smile on her face. “T… twins?”
The silver-haired agent said nothing as he pulled his girl close, crushing her against his chest. He could feel her tears staining his shirt as she cried, her shoulders shaking slightly. She pulled away after a moment, turning back to the nurse. “You’re… you’re sure it’s twins?”
The young blonde glanced down at clipboard again, reading over the doctor’s notes before she nodded. “Yes ma’am. Would you like to see the ultrasound picture?”
“Can I?” She asked, her eyes wide.
“I have one right here,” she smiled, removing the picture from her clipboard before she handed it over. “Baby A is on the left side, Baby B is on the right,” she explained.
Abby could feel a fresh round of tears forming as she glanced down at the grainy picture in her hand, her fingers brushing over photo gently.
“Does Tony know?” Ziva asked after a moment, cocking her eyebrow as she peered over Abby’s shoulder at the picture.
“The doctor was going in to speak with him as soon as he’s moved upstairs.” Offering the three a smile, she turned back for the doorway, pausing once more. “Someone will be down to get you when Agent DiNozzo is moved,” she said before she disappeared the doors.
Pulling Abby close to him again, Gibbs pressed a kiss to the top of her head, releasing a quiet sigh. “Love you.”
“I love you too,” she managed, laughing as she pulled away. “After everything we went through… I never thought we’d ever get so lucky.”
The silver-haired agent didn’t respond as he leaned down, capturing her lips with his.
::::::
Shifting slightly on the hospital bed, Tony couldn’t stifle his pained groan as the movement jarred his back. He wasn’t exactly sure what he’d done, and he found himself getting more and more agitated with each passing minute. The doctor had yet to be in to speak with him.
“You okay?” McGee asked, sitting forward in the chair, grasping his lover’s hand.
“I wish they’d come the hell on. I wanna get out here.”
“You want me to go see what’s taking so long?”
“Would you?”
“You bet,” he said with a nod as he stood, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Thank you,” the Italian mumbled, leaning back against the pillows.
Stepping into the hallway, McGee started for the nurse’s station when the doctor approached, a clipboard in hand.
“Are you with Agent DiNozzo?” She asked, a warm smile on her face.
“I am. Are you coming in to see him?”
She nodded, before she gestured back to the room. “I apologize for keeping you waiting,”
McGee didn’t respond as he stepped back into Tony’s room. He made his way over to the bed, resuming his seat as he reached for Tony’s hand again. “Found her,” he said with a slight grin.
“About time,” the older man mumbled, eyeing the ER doctor distastefully.
“I’m sorry for the wait,” she said again as she made her way over to the foot of the bed, reading over the notes on her clipboard again. “Everything appears to be okay. It looks like you’ve pulled a muscle in your back and there was already quite a bit of bruising from the kick you took, but it doesn’t look like there’s any lasting damage.”
Releasing a sigh of relief, McGee squeezed Tony’s fingers reassuringly, offering him a grin. “Does that mean he can go home now?”
“Well…” She released a quiet sigh before she glanced back up at the two agents. “I’ve made a couple of phone calls, trying to get in touch with your normal doctor. We were a little concerned about the cramping and while everything seems to be okay, we’re going to go ahead and admit you overnight just as a precautionary measure.”
Tony swallowed hard, his chest tightening uncomfortably. “Why… Why do I have to stay if everything is alright?”
“Because it’s come to my attention that there’s some information you’re unaware of.”
McGee looked at the older woman worriedly. “What kind of information? Is the baby okay?” He asked, taking his lover’s hand and squeezing it gently.
“Yes. You’re fine, and the pregnancy is progressing nicely, it’s just that…” She took a deep breath and smiled at them. “It’s twins. Twin girls.”
“Tw… twins?” Tony asked, his eyes wide. Before he could say anything else, he fell back against the pillows in a state of shock.
“Tony… Hey, it’s okay. Everything’s fine,” he reassured him before he turned back to the doctor. “They’re both fine? I… we were supposed to get an ultrasound next week. Guess we would have found out then, huh?”
She nodded. “Yes. We did an ultrasound when he was brought in, just to check and make sure that everything was okay.” Glancing down, she placed her hand on the Italian’s forehead when he opened his eyes. “Feeling okay?”
“I’m… I… You’re positive that it’s twins?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “Would you like to see the ultrasound picture?”
“No,” he responded, his voice strained as he shook his head. “No. I don’t wanna see it.”
“Tony…?”
“When can I go home?” He asked the doctor, pulling his hand from McGee’s grasp.
“Tomorrow. Like I said, we want to keep you overnight just as a precautionary measure,” she said, glancing between the two men before she pulled away from Tony, patting his shoulder reassuringly. “Someone should be in shortly to move you upstairs. After you’re settled there, the rest of your friends will be allowed back to visit.”
Tony didn’t respond. Closing his eyes again, he released a shuddery breath as the woman left the room, leaving him alone with his partner.
“Tony…? You okay?”
“No, Tim, I’m not okay,” the Italian spat, pulling away when the younger man reached for him again. “I should have never fucking agreed to do this! It was bad enough at the thought of just one baby, and now there’s fucking two?”
“T…”
“I don’t wanna hear it,” he growled, shifting on the bed again despite the excruciating pain in his back. “Just… go, okay? I don’t want any company right now.”
Swallowing hard, McGee nodded, backing away from the bed slowly as he looked down at his lover. For a moment, he debated lashing out, reminding the older man that he’d been against this whole thing from the very beginning, but he decided against it, knowing that it would only make the situation worse.
“Okay,” he said quietly as he turned for the door. “If you… need anything, just send someone out to get me. I’ll be in the waiting room.”
Tony grunted in response.
“I love you,” McGee said quietly before he stepped out of the room, ignoring the painful ache in his chest.
::::::
Two Hours Later…
“Tony?”
Forcing his eyes open at the quiet voice, Tony shifted on the hospital bed, gasping at the pain. He’d been trying to sleep since they’d brought him upstairs, though it seemed impossible as any little movement sent a wave of pain shooting through his back.
Abby hesitated by the doorway, frowning slightly as she watched Tony struggle to find a comfortable position. “I know Timmy said that you weren’t… really up to visitors, but I just… I wanted to know if maybe we could talk for a minute?”
He eyed her warily before he nodded. “Alright then,” he responded. “I’m guessing you know.”
“I know you aren’t happy about it,” she said as she stepped further into the room, making her way over to the bed slowly.
The older man didn’t respond. He wasn’t happy about it. In fact, he was downright pissed about it, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to say it out loud. At least not to her.
A faint smile tugged on her lips as she reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. “You don’t have to pretend everything’s peachy all the time, T. You know, I remember how hard this was for you with Josh and I don’t… blame you for not being ecstatic about the thought of going through it all over again, especially considering it’s not just one baby this time.”
“I don’t think I can do this, Abby,” he said after a moment, his voice cracking just slightly.
Toeing off her heavy-soled boots, Abby sank down on the edge of the bed closest to his feet before she climbed up the mattress, careful not to jar him. Turning onto her side so she was facing him, she wrapped an arm around his expanding waist, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Everything’s going to be okay, Tony,” she said quietly. “I know this is scary but it’s all going to be okay.” Closing her eyes for a moment, she released a quiet sigh. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Sometimes I think… well, sometimes I don’t know that I did the right thing by asking you to do this for me because I’ve seen how hard it’s been on you, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I could have said no.”
“No you couldn’t have. Not to me,” she teased, offering him a playful smile. “I wish I could tell you how much what you’re doing means to me… and to Gibbs.”
Releasing a quiet sigh, he leaned over slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “You don’t have to explain anything. I already know.”
Glancing up at him, she offered him a genuine smile before she reached up, threading her fingers through his hair. He sighed again, closing his eyes at the feeling of her fingers lightly massaging his scalp, allowing the soothing motion to lull him to sleep.
Chapter End Notes:
A/N: Sorry for the wait on this one! Hopefully I didn't keep y'all waiting too long! Thanks, as always, to my BFFL Kelley for all her help with this chapter! Those of you who took five seconds to review! They mean so much! The end of this chapter might be a little weird, but I'm blaming that on the fact that I wrote the majority of it while working the midnight shift, so please forgive me! Also, this will probably be the last chapter until after Christmas, but I might be persuaded to update sooner, depending on the reviews ;) Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy!