Over There

Chapter 9

Tony couldn’t get the feeling out of his mind that something was terribly wrong. The slight chill he had earlier never really left. He closed his eyes and ‘popped’ his neck in a move that Tim hated. Tony kept telling him that it felt soooo good when he did it, though, and shine his pearly whites in a smile that Tim couldn’t ignore. Tim’s usual answer, when they were alone, of course, was that he could make him feel really good, too. A fleeting smile crossed his lips. No matter how good the good thoughts were, they couldn’t take away the one bad feeling he had.  

A cup of coffee suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked up to see Gibbs staring at him with a concerned look on his face. “You okay, Tony?”

“Yeah,” Tony answered, but the lack of enthusiasm was evident. “Any word?”

“Nothing new in the past two hours. How you coming with that paperwork?”

“All done, boss.”

“I’d tell you to go home …”

“Not happenin’, Boss.”

“But I know that wouldn’t go over too well.” Gibbs gave Tony a half smile, rare in itself, and shook his head. He focused on the face Tony was making. “What’s bothering you besides the obvious?”

“Something’s going on, I can feel it. I need to be here, you know, in case there’s any word.”

The phone on Gibbs’s desk rang. Tony inhaled deeply, his eyes staring at his boss. Gibbs quickly answered the phone, listened for a moment then hung up. “Come on, DiNozzo. Vance wants us in MTAC now.”

Tim, Tim, Tim. The name kept running through his head. Maybe now he’d have an answer and the coldness in his body would go away.

****

Everything seemed to happen so fast.

Ziva rushed back into the hospital, a knife held firmly in her hand. Just as the door closed several MPs came around the corner of the hospital, guns drawn. The leader looked at his watch. “Alright, men, on three.”

“One …”

Ziva rushed to the recovery area and thru the doors.

“Two …”

A man she recognized as Lt. Jasper was standing over Tim, holding an IV line in his hand, the small rubber port isolated between his fingers. Lt. Lofton was on the floor trying to get up but having difficulty. Blood was running down her face from a large gash on her head.

A medic was trying to grab Jasper’s arm but having no luck stopping the bigger man. He was on a mission and nothing would stop him! With another shake of his arm, the medic was thrown to the floor near the injured nurse.

“Three …” MPs ran into the building from either side, guns drawn. The sight that greeted them was surprising.

As soon as Ziva saw Jasper by Tim’s bed she threw the knife. It landed in the Lieutenant’s arm. The sudden pain caused him to stagger back and drop the syringe onto the floor.

The startled medic regained his senses and immediately turned to help the nurse. By then several doctors rushed in. Quickly scanning the personnel, one doctor knelt by Lt. Lofton to assess her injury.

“I’m okay. Check Agent McGee,” Lt. Lofton managed to say above the din. The second doctor was already at Tim’s side. “He had a syringe. He was…going to…inject …” Her vision was getting blurry and she couldn’t think anymore.

Ziva stared at Tim who was trying to open his eyes at the noise.

An MP picked up a syringe of clear liquid that had rolled under Tim’s gurney. “I have the syringe, sir,” he said holding it up for all to see. “It looks full.”

A doctor was examining McGee who had finally opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Ziva standing next to him, his hand in hers.

“Ziva, what…hap …?”

“Shhh, everything’s going to be fine. I’ll be here with you. Now get some more sleep.”

“Sleep too much,” he said. He could tell his words sounded thick, his mouth too dry to speak clearly. “When can I go home? Tony …”

“Tony will wait.”

“I won’t. Miss him.” He wanted to say so much more but he could hardly keep his eyes open much less talk.

“I am sure he misses you, too, but he would want you home alive and well even if it takes a few more days. It is my job to see that you remain safe. I do not want Tony to have to blame me for anything else affecting your safety.” She wasn’t sure whether Tim had heard any or all of her words as he had slipped back into a welcomed, at least to her, slumber.

Once she was sure McGee was okay, Ziva’s attention was drawn to the activity in the room. Lt. Lofton was sitting in a wheelchair and a doctor was examining her head wound while CID officers were trying to question her. Lt. Jasper was being hauled away in handcuffs by two M.P.’s, ineffectually protesting his innocence in the whole thing and blaming Lt. Lofton.

She gave all this activity a quick glance, although everything was firmly in her mind. Her main concern right then was Tim’s condition. She had to make sure he hadn’t been harmed.

A medic was standing over the agent, apparently starting a new IV site while fresh IV fluids and tubing were hung. The doctor at his side smiled and gave Ziva a nod.

“We don’t think he got any of the medication that was in the syringe, but we’re starting fresh just to make sure. We drew some blood for a screen and we’ll let you know the results as soon as we have them. Thankfully, he seems to have slept through everything. He should be fine.”

Ziva thanked everyone and took hold of Tim’s hand once she was alone with him. “Did you hear that? The doctor says you are going to be fine.” Her voice was soft as she did not want to awaken him, but still loud enough that they could be processed by the sleepy agent.

***

It took almost an hour to set up communications between the army base and MTAC at NCIS Headquarters in DC. Ziva’s face appeared on the screen and she wasn’t surprised to see Director Vance, Gibbs and Tony staring back.

Before Vance could even greet Ziva, Tony piped up, his voice both worried and excited. “Ziva, how’s Tim?”

“DiNozzo!” Gibbs admonished even though he knew how worried his agent was.

Tony looked over at Gibbs then at the Director. “Sorry. I just…”

“Understood,” said Vance then addressed Ziva. “Agent David, what do you have for us?”

“First of all, you will be glad to know that McGee is going to be fine. There was a problem but it was handled quickly and efficiently and the person responsible has been detained. You were right, it was Lt. Jasper. You will have my full report when I…when we…return.”

“Glad to hear it, Agent David. Looking forward to your return.”

 “Thank you, Director.” She could see the look of relief on Tony’s face along with the smile and misty eyes. “Director, may I have a minute with Agent DiNozzo…alone?”

Vance glanced at Tony then caught Gibbs’ stare. He was sure it was the ‘don’t ask questions’ stare, which, of course, made him want to ask questions. But he didn’t. Instead, he nodded to no one in particular and turned to Gibbs with a scowl on his face. “A word in my office. Now.” He looked at the two techs sitting quietly at their computers. “Roy, Charlie, take a five-minute break.”

The technicians removed their headsets and left the room followed closely behind by the Director and Gibbs. “Five minutes, Agent DiNozzo, Agent David.”

“Got it, Director,” Tony called to their backs without looking in their direction.

Neither Tony nor Ziva spoke until they were sure they were alone.

“Ziva …”

“Tony …”

The names collided as each tried to speak at the same time.

“Sorry, Ziva,” Tony said. “I’m just…how is Tim, really?”

“He is fine, Tony. I promise. He misses you a lot.”

“You know…about us.”

“Yes, I know. I have not told anyone. That is for you and McGee to do. Just know that I have no problem with it. Love is what counts.”

“I will let you know when we are scheduled to arrive. Get some rest. You look a little like hanging the dog.”

Tony couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. “Hang-dog, Ziva. I look a little hang-dog, which I’m not surprised.”

“I know, Tony. We should be back in a few days.”

“Ziva, I …thank you for looking out for Tim. If he …” His voice caught in his throat. All the emotions he had held back suddenly seemed close to the surface.

“But he did not, Tony, and I only did what I was trained for and what a friend would have done.”

“No, you did more and I don’t know if I could ever repay you.”

“There is no need. Seeing the both of you happy is payment enough. I am glad I could be of help.”

Tony nodded his thanks as the secure MTAC door opened and the two techs returned to their duties.

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