Severed Connection- Chapter 2
Warning: brief mention of violence related to a case.
Chapter 2
Gibbs was in his basement sanding the same piece of wood for the last hour. His gut was churning as he thought about Tony. In the bullpen, his Senior Agent was unusually quiet. Often when Tony was injured, he made a point to garner as much sympathy as possible. He craved the attention. But today, he actually said very little. In fact, Gibbs had noticed Tony had been slightly different the last few months; he was more subdued. At first Gibbs felt that he was becoming more serious, perhaps an after effect of being team leader. But now, he wasn’t so sure.
Gibbs knew Tony was checked on scene by the EMT’s after his and Ziva‘s time in the crate, but perhaps he was more injured than first thought. Gibbs picked up his cell and to dial him, but paused when he realized it was nearly midnight. If Tony was sleeping, he needed the rest. He would talk to him in the morning.
*
In the morning, unfortunately, the team became immersed in a crime involving a serial rapist on the marine base. The sick bastard was specifically targeting wives whose husbands were deployed to Iraq. The team worked day in and day out over three weeks, working every lead possible. He attacked five women before they finally caught the perp. It turned out the rapist was a former Marine, dishonorably discharged for having an inappropriate relationship with his CO’s wife.
As horrific as the case was, Tony had honestly welcomed the distraction. If he had joked and teased his teammates less, they hardly noticed. The case was all consuming. He still conversed with them, but mostly relating to the case.
When the case wrapped, Abby had asked if he wanted to grab a bite to eat, but he politely declined. He was exhausted and felt a little under the weather. Ever since the cold storage crate he and Ziva were trapped in, he had developed a slight cough that he couldn’t shake. Luckily he coughed mostly at night, so no one at the office would bug him about it; although they probably wouldn’t care anyway, Tony thought.
Director Sheppard had given them the weekend off, so Tony’s plan was to stay in his apartment and lay on his couch.
*
When the group returned to work, he realized that there were Christmas decorations all over the Navy Yard. The case was so intense that he barely realized that it was the holiday season. Luckily because they had been so busy, he missed the deadline to sign up for secret Santa.
The next ten days went quickly, despite the fact that they worked cold cases for most of the time. As Christmas neared, Tony tried to block out the joyful chatter around the office. Tony dreaded the holiday season. It only served to highlight that he had no real family of his own. His father had sent him to boarding school at age twelve. Senior officially disinherited him after his last year of high school when Tony turned down several Ivy League universities to go to Ohio State. The hurt he felt over the abandonment was something Tony is never sure he can overcome.
Over the last few years, though, his father had attempted to contact him. First through his assistant; and then the last few times, his father had actually called his apartment. His messages sounded oddly sincere, that he would like to talk to him. But, Tony was still suspicious of his motives. Why after all these years? Tony couldn’t open himself up to more hurt. He just couldn’t. Look what happened here in DC? He thought he found people that genuinely liked him, maybe even cared deeply for him, but he had been dead wrong.
Tony sighed as he made his way down to Abby’s lab to deliver a file to her. Despite her love of hard metal rock, Abby was listening to Christmas music as she danced around the lab in her Goth version of a Mrs. Claus outfit.
“Tony!” Abby exclaimed. “Can you believe that we are actually off for Christmas?!”
Tony tried to match her enthusiasm. “Yeah. It’s great!” Tony forced the words around the lump in his throat.
“What are you doing this year?” Abby giggled.
“Oh, the usual, Abbs,” he answered hoping that she wouldn’t ask for details.
She was so oblivious to his despair and was so excited, she barely registered his response. “I can’t wait to get home to New Orleans! My parents are so stoked that I’m actually coming home this year. And my best friend is flying down too! Can you believe it?”
“That’s great, Abbs.” Tony said softly. “When are you leaving?”
She looked at her watch. “I’m on the 9 pm flight tonight. I’m all packed and I figured if Gibbs had any last minute things for me to analyze, I could get it done for the Bossman.”
Tony handed her the file folder. “He wanted me to give you these.”
“Cool, Tony-boy.” She smiled at her friend.
“Merry Christmas, Abby.” He forced himself to smile as she hugged him again. Abby did not notice that Tony stiffened slightly at the contact. “Have a good trip.” He quickly left the lab and as he ascended in the elevator, he was struck with a severe coughing fit that almost took him down to his knees. He grabbed the railing to try and steady himself when he had to catch his breath. He hit the stop button to give himself a chance to recover. It took him a few minutes and when he finally stepped from the elevator, he took a slow deep breath and went to find some hot tea. He suddenly felt very cold.
*
McGee powered down his computer as he stood and smiled. He couldn’t believe that they had the next five days off. “You ready, Ziva?” He asked his partner who was gathering her things.
“Yes, McGee. And thank you for driving me to the airport. I did not want to leave my car there over the holiday.”
“It’s no problem. I’m headed home to Virginia after I drop you off.” He sighed happily as he thought of home. “I can’t wait to eat my mom’s peach cobbler,” he said as he walked to Ziva’s desk.
“I too cannot wait to get home as well.” She grabbed her things. “Ready?” McGee nodded and the two made their way to the elevator.
*
Gibbs left the Director’s office and made his way to the bullpen. He opened his drawer and grabbed his gun, badge, and his keys. When he then looked around, he noticed how quiet the area was. He looked over to Tony’s desk and saw that it had been straightened up. He was hoping to catch him before he left. He had wanted to talk to Tony about a few things, but never seemed to catch the right time.
He looked at his watch. He wanted to hit the road so he could make it to Stillwater in good time. As much as Gibbs loved his work, he was looking forward to spending a quiet holiday with his dad. Since they had reconciled four years ago, he had spent every Christmas with his father either in Stillwater or his dad would come to D.C. Last year was difficult, after his coma, when old feelings rose to the surface again. Gibbs thought he had just had the funeral for his beloved wife and daughter. The issues that caused the estrangement with Jackson were again fresh in his mind. But, when his memories recovered, Jethro knew that he and Jack had forged a new relationship and they moved on. He smiled slightly as he made his way to his car. He would talk to Tony when he returned. He did not realize Tony’s bag was tucked away in the corner and that he had not left the building.
*
The few sips of piping hot tea had soothed the urge to cough at least momentarily. Tony made his way back to the bullpen. He figured he should at least wish his team a happy holiday before he left. When he arrived at his desk, he looked around and his stomach sank slightly. The bullpen was empty. They had already left. He grabbed his gear and looked around the area as his eyes watered. He walked slowly to the elevator, and as its doors closed, he whispered, “Merry Christmas” to no one.
TBC…
Continue to Chapter 3
Chapter 2
Gibbs was in his basement sanding the same piece of wood for the last hour. His gut was churning as he thought about Tony. In the bullpen, his Senior Agent was unusually quiet. Often when Tony was injured, he made a point to garner as much sympathy as possible. He craved the attention. But today, he actually said very little. In fact, Gibbs had noticed Tony had been slightly different the last few months; he was more subdued. At first Gibbs felt that he was becoming more serious, perhaps an after effect of being team leader. But now, he wasn’t so sure.
Gibbs knew Tony was checked on scene by the EMT’s after his and Ziva‘s time in the crate, but perhaps he was more injured than first thought. Gibbs picked up his cell and to dial him, but paused when he realized it was nearly midnight. If Tony was sleeping, he needed the rest. He would talk to him in the morning.
*
In the morning, unfortunately, the team became immersed in a crime involving a serial rapist on the marine base. The sick bastard was specifically targeting wives whose husbands were deployed to Iraq. The team worked day in and day out over three weeks, working every lead possible. He attacked five women before they finally caught the perp. It turned out the rapist was a former Marine, dishonorably discharged for having an inappropriate relationship with his CO’s wife.
As horrific as the case was, Tony had honestly welcomed the distraction. If he had joked and teased his teammates less, they hardly noticed. The case was all consuming. He still conversed with them, but mostly relating to the case.
When the case wrapped, Abby had asked if he wanted to grab a bite to eat, but he politely declined. He was exhausted and felt a little under the weather. Ever since the cold storage crate he and Ziva were trapped in, he had developed a slight cough that he couldn’t shake. Luckily he coughed mostly at night, so no one at the office would bug him about it; although they probably wouldn’t care anyway, Tony thought.
Director Sheppard had given them the weekend off, so Tony’s plan was to stay in his apartment and lay on his couch.
*
When the group returned to work, he realized that there were Christmas decorations all over the Navy Yard. The case was so intense that he barely realized that it was the holiday season. Luckily because they had been so busy, he missed the deadline to sign up for secret Santa.
The next ten days went quickly, despite the fact that they worked cold cases for most of the time. As Christmas neared, Tony tried to block out the joyful chatter around the office. Tony dreaded the holiday season. It only served to highlight that he had no real family of his own. His father had sent him to boarding school at age twelve. Senior officially disinherited him after his last year of high school when Tony turned down several Ivy League universities to go to Ohio State. The hurt he felt over the abandonment was something Tony is never sure he can overcome.
Over the last few years, though, his father had attempted to contact him. First through his assistant; and then the last few times, his father had actually called his apartment. His messages sounded oddly sincere, that he would like to talk to him. But, Tony was still suspicious of his motives. Why after all these years? Tony couldn’t open himself up to more hurt. He just couldn’t. Look what happened here in DC? He thought he found people that genuinely liked him, maybe even cared deeply for him, but he had been dead wrong.
Tony sighed as he made his way down to Abby’s lab to deliver a file to her. Despite her love of hard metal rock, Abby was listening to Christmas music as she danced around the lab in her Goth version of a Mrs. Claus outfit.
“Tony!” Abby exclaimed. “Can you believe that we are actually off for Christmas?!”
Tony tried to match her enthusiasm. “Yeah. It’s great!” Tony forced the words around the lump in his throat.
“What are you doing this year?” Abby giggled.
“Oh, the usual, Abbs,” he answered hoping that she wouldn’t ask for details.
She was so oblivious to his despair and was so excited, she barely registered his response. “I can’t wait to get home to New Orleans! My parents are so stoked that I’m actually coming home this year. And my best friend is flying down too! Can you believe it?”
“That’s great, Abbs.” Tony said softly. “When are you leaving?”
She looked at her watch. “I’m on the 9 pm flight tonight. I’m all packed and I figured if Gibbs had any last minute things for me to analyze, I could get it done for the Bossman.”
Tony handed her the file folder. “He wanted me to give you these.”
“Cool, Tony-boy.” She smiled at her friend.
“Merry Christmas, Abby.” He forced himself to smile as she hugged him again. Abby did not notice that Tony stiffened slightly at the contact. “Have a good trip.” He quickly left the lab and as he ascended in the elevator, he was struck with a severe coughing fit that almost took him down to his knees. He grabbed the railing to try and steady himself when he had to catch his breath. He hit the stop button to give himself a chance to recover. It took him a few minutes and when he finally stepped from the elevator, he took a slow deep breath and went to find some hot tea. He suddenly felt very cold.
*
McGee powered down his computer as he stood and smiled. He couldn’t believe that they had the next five days off. “You ready, Ziva?” He asked his partner who was gathering her things.
“Yes, McGee. And thank you for driving me to the airport. I did not want to leave my car there over the holiday.”
“It’s no problem. I’m headed home to Virginia after I drop you off.” He sighed happily as he thought of home. “I can’t wait to eat my mom’s peach cobbler,” he said as he walked to Ziva’s desk.
“I too cannot wait to get home as well.” She grabbed her things. “Ready?” McGee nodded and the two made their way to the elevator.
*
Gibbs left the Director’s office and made his way to the bullpen. He opened his drawer and grabbed his gun, badge, and his keys. When he then looked around, he noticed how quiet the area was. He looked over to Tony’s desk and saw that it had been straightened up. He was hoping to catch him before he left. He had wanted to talk to Tony about a few things, but never seemed to catch the right time.
He looked at his watch. He wanted to hit the road so he could make it to Stillwater in good time. As much as Gibbs loved his work, he was looking forward to spending a quiet holiday with his dad. Since they had reconciled four years ago, he had spent every Christmas with his father either in Stillwater or his dad would come to D.C. Last year was difficult, after his coma, when old feelings rose to the surface again. Gibbs thought he had just had the funeral for his beloved wife and daughter. The issues that caused the estrangement with Jackson were again fresh in his mind. But, when his memories recovered, Jethro knew that he and Jack had forged a new relationship and they moved on. He smiled slightly as he made his way to his car. He would talk to Tony when he returned. He did not realize Tony’s bag was tucked away in the corner and that he had not left the building.
*
The few sips of piping hot tea had soothed the urge to cough at least momentarily. Tony made his way back to the bullpen. He figured he should at least wish his team a happy holiday before he left. When he arrived at his desk, he looked around and his stomach sank slightly. The bullpen was empty. They had already left. He grabbed his gear and looked around the area as his eyes watered. He walked slowly to the elevator, and as its doors closed, he whispered, “Merry Christmas” to no one.
TBC…
Continue to Chapter 3