Severed Connection- Chapter 6
Chapter 6
AN: Thank you for all your thoughtful feedback.
*
Tony fell into a fitful sleep. After some time, Jenny peaked back into the room and gestured for Jethro to exit. “The doctor wants to talk to us again.” She said in a tense voice. Gibbs nodded and followed her back to the waiting room.
Ducky stood with Drs. Pitt and Reynolds. The female physician spoke first. “We have the results of Tony’s scan.” She paused. “It is more serious than appeared on his chest xray. Agent Dinozzo has an empyema, which is a collection of pus in the lungs. He started with pneumonia and it has progressed to this.”
Jenny swallowed heavily. “Is it fatal?”
Dr. Pitt answered. “I am going to be frank, it is very serious. When empyema complicates pneumonia, the risk of permanent lung damage and death goes up.”
Ducky spoke. “And because he has residual scarring from Y. Pestis…”
Gibbs shook his head. “What are we going to do about it?” He asked in a serious tone; he did not want to hear about the possibility that Tony could die, he wanted solutions.
“I have already consulted a surgeon, a Dr. Anson. After discussing the case with him, he believes the best option is to take him to the operating room and drain the fluid. After that, they will place chest tubes to allow for drainage for the rest of the fluids.” Pitt turned to Ducky. “Ducky, as his doctor and medical proxy, Dr. Anson will need your consent to do this. Tony is in no shape to understand what is going on right now.”
Ducky’s face was serious. “Yes, of course. A thoracotomy is the next appropriate step.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Where do I sign?” He said with conviction. He ignored the looks from Gibbs and Shepard for the moment. He knew they wanted more information, but they did not understand that time was of the essence. If they were taking Tony to surgery in the evening, the results from the CT must have been extensive. He would fill them in later.
Dr. Pitt nodded his head. “Dr. Anson is currently examining Tony and then he will talk to you prior to taking him to the OR.”
“Can we see Tony before the operation?” Jenny asked.
Brad replied. “Anesthesiology will need to so their assessment and then more than likely they will move him quickly to the operating suites. When he is in recovery and moves to the ICU, then you will be able to see him.”
“ICU?” Gibbs asked as his heart beat wildly.
Dr. Reynolds responded. “Agent Gibbs, with the amount of infection in his lungs, it is highly likely that we will need to continue mechanical ventilation post operatively for Agent Dinozzo.”
“Mechanical meaning…breathing machine?” Jenny interjected in a worried tone.
“Yes, he will have a breathing tube placed for the operation. If they are able to extubate prior to moving him into recovery, then they will. Regardless of the scenario, the safest place for Agent Dinozzo post op will be the ICU.” She nodded and excused herself to consult with the surgeon.
*
Ducky and Jethro were in the surgery waiting room two hours later waiting for a word on Tony’s condition. Jenny had to leave for an emergency call with Sec Nav. She had promised she would try to keep the team off rotation for at least the next few days.
After finishing his third cup of coffee, Gibbs looked up to see McGee, Ziva, and Abby rushing in.
“Oh my gosh, Gibbs!” Abby said with watery eyes as she hugged the Lead Agent. “What happened to Tony? He seemed fine before we all left.”
“He has a lung infection, Abs.” Gibbs responded in a quiet tone.
Ziva chimed in as she noticed the worn expressions on Ducky and Gibbs’ face. “It is serious, yes?”
“Unfortunately it is, Ziva.” Ducky responded.
“Is he going to be okay?” Tim asked.
Gibbs sighed and answered honestly. “They don’t know.”
“Why didn’t he call us?” Abby asked. “I could just hit him for that!” She said as she looked at the group. No one answered for a time.
Tim spoke up eventually, regret lacing his words. “Did you guys know that Tony spends all his holidays here alone? He didn’t call us because he told Charlie we didn’t care. He had told him about the dinner party he wasn’t invited to.”
Abby gasped. “Alone? He always says he is doing the usual.” Her eyes watered. “We never asked him.” She said as she was trying not to sob. She turned to Ziva. “I thought he was busy for your party, Ziva. That’s why I thought Tony wasn’t there.” Her eyes narrowed. “Right?”
Ziva at least looked ashamed and her voice shook slightly when she spoke. “No, I did not invite him.”
“Why not?” Abby face reddened.
“I…I just wanted a quiet, more adult evening. I thought he would spend the time cracking jokes and all those things!”
Abby’s heart sank. “The way we teased him about not being there and how good the food was!” Tears rolled down her face.
Gibbs stared for a moment at the Mossad officer. On the one hand he wanted to throttle her, but he knew the dinner party was just the tip of the iceberg. He would deal with her later. He looked at his agents and his forensic specialist. “Jenny did not give me any details, but this goes way beyond a dinner party. It has to do with how I left and what happened while I was gone. And when Tony is able to, I hope he will be able to talk about it with me. I’ve played my role, as have us all. The reason he did not call ANY of us is because we let him down.” Gibbs stood up and walked down the hall. He needed fresh air.
*
After his spending time in the recovery room post surgery, Tony was moved to the ICU. Dr. Anson updated Ducky and Gibbs. The team leader had sent the others home after it appeared the surgery would take some time. Jenny was still taking care of NCIS business, so Ducky informed the ICU staff that Gibbs could be added to the very limited visitor list.
Gibbs was now at Tony’s bedside. He was heavily sedated and had been unable to be weaned off the ventilator after the surgery. Dr. Anson and Brad both thought it was for the best to give Tony’s lungs a chance to rest.
Gibbs sat by his agent’s bed and grasped his still hand. The only sound in the room was the beeping of the heart monitor and the hiss of the breathing machine. His chest rose and fell according to the machine. His once beautifully tanned face was as pale as the stark white sheets of his hospital bed. He looked impossibly young and vulnerable as he lay there depending on the machines to keep him alive.
Gibbs’ eyes watered as he spoke. “Please, Tony…I…I need you.” He whispered. “You have to get better…I need to tell you so many things…” He leaned forward and pressed Tony’s hand against his forehead. He stayed in that position until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Jethro.” Ducky said. “We must go now.”
“Why?”
“Since we are not technically family we have to respect visiting hour policies; they allowed us to disregard them thus far, despite the late hour.”
“But, we’re his family, Duck.”
The ME smiled sadly. “Regardless, my friend, we shall obey hospital policy.” He said in a gentle tone, but with some finality. He watched as Jethro stood and kissed the top of Tony’s head. He whispered something to the younger agent and then walked out of the room. Ducky nodded at the nurse and followed the Lead Agent.
TBC…
Continue to Chapter 7
AN: Thank you for all your thoughtful feedback.
*
Tony fell into a fitful sleep. After some time, Jenny peaked back into the room and gestured for Jethro to exit. “The doctor wants to talk to us again.” She said in a tense voice. Gibbs nodded and followed her back to the waiting room.
Ducky stood with Drs. Pitt and Reynolds. The female physician spoke first. “We have the results of Tony’s scan.” She paused. “It is more serious than appeared on his chest xray. Agent Dinozzo has an empyema, which is a collection of pus in the lungs. He started with pneumonia and it has progressed to this.”
Jenny swallowed heavily. “Is it fatal?”
Dr. Pitt answered. “I am going to be frank, it is very serious. When empyema complicates pneumonia, the risk of permanent lung damage and death goes up.”
Ducky spoke. “And because he has residual scarring from Y. Pestis…”
Gibbs shook his head. “What are we going to do about it?” He asked in a serious tone; he did not want to hear about the possibility that Tony could die, he wanted solutions.
“I have already consulted a surgeon, a Dr. Anson. After discussing the case with him, he believes the best option is to take him to the operating room and drain the fluid. After that, they will place chest tubes to allow for drainage for the rest of the fluids.” Pitt turned to Ducky. “Ducky, as his doctor and medical proxy, Dr. Anson will need your consent to do this. Tony is in no shape to understand what is going on right now.”
Ducky’s face was serious. “Yes, of course. A thoracotomy is the next appropriate step.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Where do I sign?” He said with conviction. He ignored the looks from Gibbs and Shepard for the moment. He knew they wanted more information, but they did not understand that time was of the essence. If they were taking Tony to surgery in the evening, the results from the CT must have been extensive. He would fill them in later.
Dr. Pitt nodded his head. “Dr. Anson is currently examining Tony and then he will talk to you prior to taking him to the OR.”
“Can we see Tony before the operation?” Jenny asked.
Brad replied. “Anesthesiology will need to so their assessment and then more than likely they will move him quickly to the operating suites. When he is in recovery and moves to the ICU, then you will be able to see him.”
“ICU?” Gibbs asked as his heart beat wildly.
Dr. Reynolds responded. “Agent Gibbs, with the amount of infection in his lungs, it is highly likely that we will need to continue mechanical ventilation post operatively for Agent Dinozzo.”
“Mechanical meaning…breathing machine?” Jenny interjected in a worried tone.
“Yes, he will have a breathing tube placed for the operation. If they are able to extubate prior to moving him into recovery, then they will. Regardless of the scenario, the safest place for Agent Dinozzo post op will be the ICU.” She nodded and excused herself to consult with the surgeon.
*
Ducky and Jethro were in the surgery waiting room two hours later waiting for a word on Tony’s condition. Jenny had to leave for an emergency call with Sec Nav. She had promised she would try to keep the team off rotation for at least the next few days.
After finishing his third cup of coffee, Gibbs looked up to see McGee, Ziva, and Abby rushing in.
“Oh my gosh, Gibbs!” Abby said with watery eyes as she hugged the Lead Agent. “What happened to Tony? He seemed fine before we all left.”
“He has a lung infection, Abs.” Gibbs responded in a quiet tone.
Ziva chimed in as she noticed the worn expressions on Ducky and Gibbs’ face. “It is serious, yes?”
“Unfortunately it is, Ziva.” Ducky responded.
“Is he going to be okay?” Tim asked.
Gibbs sighed and answered honestly. “They don’t know.”
“Why didn’t he call us?” Abby asked. “I could just hit him for that!” She said as she looked at the group. No one answered for a time.
Tim spoke up eventually, regret lacing his words. “Did you guys know that Tony spends all his holidays here alone? He didn’t call us because he told Charlie we didn’t care. He had told him about the dinner party he wasn’t invited to.”
Abby gasped. “Alone? He always says he is doing the usual.” Her eyes watered. “We never asked him.” She said as she was trying not to sob. She turned to Ziva. “I thought he was busy for your party, Ziva. That’s why I thought Tony wasn’t there.” Her eyes narrowed. “Right?”
Ziva at least looked ashamed and her voice shook slightly when she spoke. “No, I did not invite him.”
“Why not?” Abby face reddened.
“I…I just wanted a quiet, more adult evening. I thought he would spend the time cracking jokes and all those things!”
Abby’s heart sank. “The way we teased him about not being there and how good the food was!” Tears rolled down her face.
Gibbs stared for a moment at the Mossad officer. On the one hand he wanted to throttle her, but he knew the dinner party was just the tip of the iceberg. He would deal with her later. He looked at his agents and his forensic specialist. “Jenny did not give me any details, but this goes way beyond a dinner party. It has to do with how I left and what happened while I was gone. And when Tony is able to, I hope he will be able to talk about it with me. I’ve played my role, as have us all. The reason he did not call ANY of us is because we let him down.” Gibbs stood up and walked down the hall. He needed fresh air.
*
After his spending time in the recovery room post surgery, Tony was moved to the ICU. Dr. Anson updated Ducky and Gibbs. The team leader had sent the others home after it appeared the surgery would take some time. Jenny was still taking care of NCIS business, so Ducky informed the ICU staff that Gibbs could be added to the very limited visitor list.
Gibbs was now at Tony’s bedside. He was heavily sedated and had been unable to be weaned off the ventilator after the surgery. Dr. Anson and Brad both thought it was for the best to give Tony’s lungs a chance to rest.
Gibbs sat by his agent’s bed and grasped his still hand. The only sound in the room was the beeping of the heart monitor and the hiss of the breathing machine. His chest rose and fell according to the machine. His once beautifully tanned face was as pale as the stark white sheets of his hospital bed. He looked impossibly young and vulnerable as he lay there depending on the machines to keep him alive.
Gibbs’ eyes watered as he spoke. “Please, Tony…I…I need you.” He whispered. “You have to get better…I need to tell you so many things…” He leaned forward and pressed Tony’s hand against his forehead. He stayed in that position until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Jethro.” Ducky said. “We must go now.”
“Why?”
“Since we are not technically family we have to respect visiting hour policies; they allowed us to disregard them thus far, despite the late hour.”
“But, we’re his family, Duck.”
The ME smiled sadly. “Regardless, my friend, we shall obey hospital policy.” He said in a gentle tone, but with some finality. He watched as Jethro stood and kissed the top of Tony’s head. He whispered something to the younger agent and then walked out of the room. Ducky nodded at the nurse and followed the Lead Agent.
TBC…
Continue to Chapter 7