Category: NCIS hurt/comfort pre-slash fic

Rating: NC-17 for some scenes

Characters: Everyone

Series: Yes

Spoilers: None intended but anything might get a mention

Summary: Tony changes his mind about leaving the hospital.

Archive: Just tell me where it’s going

Additional ‘stuff’: WARNING WARNING WARNING: Dark to match the mood I was in when I wrote it. I’ve read several fics on the subject of who the NCIS would choose as their ‘call in case of emergency’ person. This is mine (fic not person!). I made the hospital name up. And the Marine. The ‘Hold me…’ line is a challenge from a Yahoo Group.

Title: Strangers in the night – Part Four

‘He doesn’t want to leave Jethro.’

‘Yesterday he couldn’t wait to get outta here Ducky!’ Gibbs simply didn’t believe Tony had changed his mind overnight

‘Until we find the people who attacked him, he is right to be concerned Jethro.’ Ducky said gently.

‘Oh come on Ducky!’ Gibbs stormed down the corridor and pushed the door open. ‘Tony!’ It took him a moment to realize Tony wasn’t in the bed and he pushed the bathroom door open, only to have it stop halfway.

‘Ducky!’ He shouted over his shoulder at the ME who was almost outside the door when he heard the shout and hurried into the room. Squeezing uncomfortably between the doorframe and the edge of the door, Gibbs managed to get into the bathroom.

Tony’s chalk-white face, caused Gibbs’ heart to skip a beat. Curled on the floor, t-shirt and underwear dark with water or sweat, Gibbs couldn’t work out. But Tony was soaked and shivering. Sliding Tony across the tiled floor, Gibbs lifted him, pulling the t-shirt off, throwing it into the sink above them. ‘Ducky! Get me a towel. And a doctor. NOW!!’

Tony’s voice was soft, exhausted, topped off by the sound of his teeth chattering. ‘Hold me. Please, just hold me for a minute and then I'll...’

‘You’ll get back into bed Dinozzo.’ Gibbs finished for him, wrapping the towel Ducky handed him around Tony, rubbing his pale skin vigorously. Eventually, Tony’s exposed skin was as dry as it could be, and Gibbs pulled Tony close, holding him tightly. ‘Next time you want a hug, just ask.’

Tony’s sobs were mixed with his gulps for air and a retching sound and Gibbs frowned. ‘Hey…shhh…breathe!’

Hurried footsteps in the corridor outside brought a doctor and a nurse. They helped Gibbs to get Tony settled back into bed, an IV in his left arm, an extra blanket over him for additional warmth.

**************************

Gibbs watched Tony sleep from his seat beside the bed. He was moving restlessly, in the grip of some nightmare Gibbs could only guess at. Finally, sighing crossly, he lifted himself up and slid onto the bed, his hands gripping Tony’s shoulders firmly. ‘Hey…come on…wake up now…Tony! Dinozzo!!’

The doctor who walked in the door at that moment called across: ‘Careful!’

Gibbs ignored him and held on tightly, fighting Tony’s increasing struggles.

The doctor returned quickly, injected something into Tony’s IV line and watched as his patient slipped into unconsciousness. ‘Do you know what happened this morning?’

Gibbs shook his head. ‘No. Yesterday he couldn’t wait to leave. Today he wants to stay here. I don’t get it.’

‘Well, there is clearly some underlying problem. Until we can talk about it, Mr Dinozzo is going to be our guest a little while longer. I’m having him transferred.’

‘Where?’ Gibbs frowned.

‘Psych ward.’

‘No way!’ Gibbs said firmly, shaking his head to reinforce his point.

The doctor sighed. ‘Unless you’re next of kin, you have *no* input in my patient’s care.’

‘I am.’ Gibbs lied.

‘You’re what?’

‘Next of kin.’ Gibbs said as if the doctor should have understood his previous comment.

‘You a qualified doctor too?’

‘Nope. Why?’

‘In that case, *Sir*, we’re gonna go with my plan.’

‘I want a second opinion.’ Gibbs demanded.

‘Your protectiveness is unhelpful?’ The doctor offered.

Gibbs’ facial muscles twitched and he gripped the back of the bed tightly. ‘He’s not going *any* where.’

‘You have two choices. Either take him home or let me take care of him. Well?’ The doctor’s patience was wearing thin and his voice was sharper than he intended.

‘Just tell me where to sign.’

The doctor took a deep breath. ‘You’re making a big mistake. Don’t do this to your friend.’

Gibbs scowled. ‘He’s not crazy.’

The doctor smiled. ‘Maybe you are. If you think taking him home is going to be easy.’

Gibbs shrugged. ‘I believe I’m up to the challenge.’

The doctor had other patients to deal with. He shrugged equally determinedly. ‘I’ll get the paperwork ready.’

***********************************

‘Kate, please stay with Anthony.’ Ducky’s voice was soft, calm, his smile encouraging but Kate didn’t even consider arguing. She slid onto the bed, hand reaching for Tony’s limp fingers.

Ducky all but pushed Gibbs outside the door, slamming it behind them. ‘Are you quite mad?! You cannot take care of Tony!’

Gibbs was equally angry. ‘They wanna put him in a psych ward Duck!’

The ME sighed, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. ‘Perhaps it’s for the best Jethro.’

Jethro pushed him away roughly, not caring as Ducky’s back impacted hard against the opposite wall. Bristling, he pushed the door open hard.

Kate looked up as Gibbs came back into the room, the door knocking against the wall. ‘…and we’re going to take care of you Tony…me...Ducky…the boss.’

Gibbs walked to the bed, reached underneath, grabbed Tony’s bag and turned to the closet, packing the crumpled clothing into the black bag. ‘Kate…step out.’

Kate stayed where she was. ‘I’ve seen guys underwear before Gibbs.’

Gibbs barely paused. ‘I hope you haven’t seen Tony’s.’

Kate smiled, watching Gibbs as he packed the bag. ‘I have now.’

Continued in Part Five…

Home

Send me feedback on these fics

Return to the NCIS Fic Index