NCIS Fic- The Alpha and Omega 4/?
Rating- nc- 17
Pairing - Gibbs/DiNozzo
Warning - My take on 'Dead Air'
Summary :You're supposed to be a team, respect one another and always have each other's six. What if two team members disregard that protocol? One life hangs in the balance due to their arrogance and selfishness. A cover up and lies is all that they speak in their defense as their actions come to light. Tag to 'Dead Air'- what could have happened by the simple action of turning a switch.
Gibbs did feel a bit more human after the food and coffee. Ducky’s chatter kept his mind from drifting off into the dark place he didn’t want to go. Tony…he saw the man; hell he was still covered in his blood. How was he going to be all right? He trusted Ducky’s opinion and he had seen Tony fight back from incredible odds, but when does a body give up, when is it unable to muster the desire to go on?
He looked at Ducky and took a deep breath. “How is Tony going to feel when he realizes that his ‘friends’, his team, people he trusted didn’t have his back? That they tuned him out and in fact, left him alone?”
Ducky nodded. “That is something that has been weighing on my mind Jethro. Young Anthony will be quite distraught over this and I daresay will try to place a great deal of blame on himself.” Holding his hand up to stop the rant that he knew was about to start, “He is blameless Jethro and you, Abby and I and all of his friends must endeavor to make him understand that before it eats at him and possible sets his recovery time back.”
“It will be quite helpful when the time comes, to tell him what facts Leon and J.A.G. have been able to ascertain and how they plan to set justice in motion. I have no doubt that Abigail is doing everything by the book so whatever she discovers beside the highly incriminating tapes will be irrefutable proof of their actions.”
“Though personally I would desire a more archaic form of justice as I am sure you do, this is in fact the more prudent way to go. “ Ducky looked at Jethro over his glasses. “I know that you have eyes on your sniper rifle and I fully understand that desire. But Anthony would never want you to put yourself in that position for him. He needs you by his side to be his rock as his world and what he believed in crumbles around him.”
“We all shall need to rely on one another, this action affects us all. NCIS will not go unscathed as this becomes known. Leon is doing the right thing by having the consequences the two shall face being made public. That will go a long way in helping NCIS to heal as it becomes common knowledge that one of their own was left without back up.”
Gibbs nodded. “I agree. This doesn’t just affect the few of us. It’s like shifting sands in the desert where one grain starts a chain reaction. Just hope we can keep from being buried.”
“I won’t lie to you Jethro; this will be a very difficult task. But we are not alone and will find ourselves I am sure, with a great many more allies than we could have known. Strength in the face of adversity is something you know a great deal about. You will be far stronger than you can possibly believe because you have something worth fighting for.”
“Together you and Anthony will come out the other end, changed, but stronger because of what you’ve endured. Now let’s go see how he is doing and see about getting you some scrubs to change into. We must call Abigail and give her an update as well.”
Gibbs pulled out his phone and dialed.
“Abs, its Gibbs.”
“He is in critical condition, but Ducky feels certain that he can get through this like he does everything else.”
“Lost a lot of blood, lots of injuries that I can’t begin to list. Pitt has him on a ventilator to help his lungs not work as hard. It’s bad Abs, I won’t lie to you.”
“I know, it’s Tony, he always fights the odds.”
“I would appreciate that. I was gonna ask if you would bring my kit.”
“Don’t think he’s gonna be awake for a while, pretty drugged up and out of it. They plan on keeping him in a heavily medicated coma for several days so that his body has a chance to recover.”
“Yep, they know him too well. I’m pretty sure both Ducky and Pitt suggested it.”
“Yes, I’m sitting down and Ducky is right here.” Gibbs was silent and his eyes narrowed dangerously as Ducky watched. Ducky leaned nearer, concerned.
“That’s solid proof alright Abs.” Gibbs finally spoke, his voice hard and cold with a deadly edge.
“I know Abs, it sucks. If there was a way I could go back and change what happened, I would. Hell we all would, we certainly didn’t see this coming.”
“We’ll get him through it. Whatever it takes. Those two will be going down, my way, or Vance’s.”
“I promise not to go run off and take care of them. I won’t leave Tony.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“You did a great job Abs.”
Shutting his phone Gibbs struggled to keep control of his rage while processing the news he just received. Taking deep breaths, clenching, and unclenching his fists he barely managed to rein it in. Ducky patiently waited knowing the man would speak when he had a semblance of control.
Taking a deep breath Gibbs spoke, his voice filled with the rage that was coursing through his veins. “Abby found that the coms had been tampered with.” He paused, Ducky silently waited for him to continue.
“The wires had been cut in the two that were assigned to McGee and Ziva, Tony’s was perfect. She found shavings around the nicked wires and ran them through one of her contraptions.” After several tense moments, he continued. His words came through a jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder he didn’t do damage.
“She asked for their knives as evidence and found trace on McGee’s. There was a perfect match in the plastic compound shit.” Gibbs looked into Ducky’s eyes and found the older man’s mirrored his emotions. The disappointment was obvious but was clearly overshadowed by rage.
Both men were silent as they allowed the new information to sink in.
“This seals their fate Jethro. Regardless whether or not Ziva’s knives had trace, the mere fact that she gave her com to McGee shows intent to cover up. There is nothing that can save them now, even if they were to come clean with the IA investigation.”
Gibbs growled quietly aware of his surroundings. “But it doesn’t seem like enough. What sort of prison term will they get? What about how this is going to make Tony feel? What if he can’t go back into the field? They broke his trust Ducky, what will that do to the man? They may just get a prison sentence of a few years.”
“You’re right Jethro; the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. But if you doled out your brand of justice, and I understand the desire to so, trust me, then where will Tony be? You could find yourself behind bars and he would be far worse off.” Ducky sighed.
“Prison will not be easy for either of them. Ziva may think that she will be able to handle it with her Mossad training, but living there without freedom and being made to conform to their rules is not going to sit well with her. This is not her strong suit, and as for Timothy, well he is ill equipped for what he will encounter in prison. I assure you that somehow it will come out that they were federal agents, and we all know how that will be received.”
Gibbs stared off as he digested what Ducky said. “I know you’re right. But I’m pissed as hell.”
“Rightly so Jethro, use that to help Anthony. He’s going to need everything you have and more. Open up to him Jethro, let him see as well as feel how this is affecting you. This will not be a time for you to hide, he will need full honesty and if want to have him in your life as a great deal more than a friend now is the time to show it.” Ducky stood and motioned for them to head to Anthony’s room.
“Let us head back and see how the young man is fairing. I think you have had enough truths for one day. You can sit by the lad and talk to him. He will hear you through all the drugs Jethro. You and he have been in tune with one another since the day you met in Baltimore.”
The two men walked silently down the hallway to the elevator. Upon exiting the elevator, they noticed a flurry of activity in and out of one room. They both heard a call for 300 joules and then to clear.
Excruciating seconds passed as they waited both fearing what neither wanted to say, but when Dr. Pitt walked out of the room, their worst fears were confirmed. Tony. Pitt, seeing the men quickly made his way to them.
“We were able to restart his heart. I won’t lie, it’s not good, but we shouldn’t be too surprised either. His body suffered a great deal. He’s fighting and not giving up, so nether should we.” He turned to look at Gibbs. “You need to keep talking to him and keep him here. You are just about the only one who can.”
Turning to Ducky, “His body is strained and tired. It didn’t take a great deal to bring him back which is a good sign. We knew this was going to be an uphill battle in the beginning. Once we get past this hurdle, it should be a great deal easier. Not easy, mind you, he has a long road of healing ahead of him, but we will all definitely be able to breathe easier.”
Looking back at Gibbs, “I have the recliner chair by the bed and have told them you are allowed to stay 24/7 and he is allowed, as long as they are quiet visitors. I assume that Abby, Jimmy, Ziva, and McGee will be here shortly?”
“Not McGee or Ziva.” Gibbs growled.
Ducky decided to explain the situation to Brad away from Jethro. “Jethro go see Anthony and talk to him. Be sure to tell him I will be there shortly as will Abigail.” Giving the man a gentle push, he turned to Brad. “Why don’t you and I go converse about his medical needs.” As he steered the doctor away, he began to fill him in.
Gibbs walked into Tony’s room, taken aback at the pale and still man lying in the bed. Finding himself beside the bed with no conscious memory of how he got there, he gently brushed the hair off the younger man’s forehead.
“You really need to stop this. I need you here…that’s not the whole truth actually.” He grabbed the younger man’s hand and began to run his thumb over it. “I need you period, in so many ways. Ways I never even allowed myself to dream about. Somehow you have managed to become the one constant in my life.”
“You’re the first one I think of when good things happen or when I need to talk. You make me smile and laugh. Never really thought that I would ever do that again.” Gibbs sighed as he continued. “I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to tell you how I felt for so many reasons.” He chuckled.
“Rule 12 is one of them, but not the prominent one. Never figured you would want an old battered marine for one. I know that I can be difficult, hell I am sure if you look up bastard in the dictionary, my picture is there. But right now none of the reasons are important.”
“What is important is the fact that I don’t want you not to know, I need to tell you. I hope that when you wake up I can say the words with you looking at me with those green eyes of yours. But for now, I will say them over and over to you while you’re sleeping. And God help me, I will pray. Haven’t done that in a very long time but if it helps, I will pray to every deity in existence that you come back to me.”
Taking a deep breath, he spoke the words that he had felt for so long. The words that he feared but meant with every fiber of his being and the words that had the power to break him, “I love you Tony.”
Pairing - Gibbs/DiNozzo
Warning - My take on 'Dead Air'
Summary :You're supposed to be a team, respect one another and always have each other's six. What if two team members disregard that protocol? One life hangs in the balance due to their arrogance and selfishness. A cover up and lies is all that they speak in their defense as their actions come to light. Tag to 'Dead Air'- what could have happened by the simple action of turning a switch.
Gibbs did feel a bit more human after the food and coffee. Ducky’s chatter kept his mind from drifting off into the dark place he didn’t want to go. Tony…he saw the man; hell he was still covered in his blood. How was he going to be all right? He trusted Ducky’s opinion and he had seen Tony fight back from incredible odds, but when does a body give up, when is it unable to muster the desire to go on?
He looked at Ducky and took a deep breath. “How is Tony going to feel when he realizes that his ‘friends’, his team, people he trusted didn’t have his back? That they tuned him out and in fact, left him alone?”
Ducky nodded. “That is something that has been weighing on my mind Jethro. Young Anthony will be quite distraught over this and I daresay will try to place a great deal of blame on himself.” Holding his hand up to stop the rant that he knew was about to start, “He is blameless Jethro and you, Abby and I and all of his friends must endeavor to make him understand that before it eats at him and possible sets his recovery time back.”
“It will be quite helpful when the time comes, to tell him what facts Leon and J.A.G. have been able to ascertain and how they plan to set justice in motion. I have no doubt that Abigail is doing everything by the book so whatever she discovers beside the highly incriminating tapes will be irrefutable proof of their actions.”
“Though personally I would desire a more archaic form of justice as I am sure you do, this is in fact the more prudent way to go. “ Ducky looked at Jethro over his glasses. “I know that you have eyes on your sniper rifle and I fully understand that desire. But Anthony would never want you to put yourself in that position for him. He needs you by his side to be his rock as his world and what he believed in crumbles around him.”
“We all shall need to rely on one another, this action affects us all. NCIS will not go unscathed as this becomes known. Leon is doing the right thing by having the consequences the two shall face being made public. That will go a long way in helping NCIS to heal as it becomes common knowledge that one of their own was left without back up.”
Gibbs nodded. “I agree. This doesn’t just affect the few of us. It’s like shifting sands in the desert where one grain starts a chain reaction. Just hope we can keep from being buried.”
“I won’t lie to you Jethro; this will be a very difficult task. But we are not alone and will find ourselves I am sure, with a great many more allies than we could have known. Strength in the face of adversity is something you know a great deal about. You will be far stronger than you can possibly believe because you have something worth fighting for.”
“Together you and Anthony will come out the other end, changed, but stronger because of what you’ve endured. Now let’s go see how he is doing and see about getting you some scrubs to change into. We must call Abigail and give her an update as well.”
Gibbs pulled out his phone and dialed.
“Abs, its Gibbs.”
“He is in critical condition, but Ducky feels certain that he can get through this like he does everything else.”
“Lost a lot of blood, lots of injuries that I can’t begin to list. Pitt has him on a ventilator to help his lungs not work as hard. It’s bad Abs, I won’t lie to you.”
“I know, it’s Tony, he always fights the odds.”
“I would appreciate that. I was gonna ask if you would bring my kit.”
“Don’t think he’s gonna be awake for a while, pretty drugged up and out of it. They plan on keeping him in a heavily medicated coma for several days so that his body has a chance to recover.”
“Yep, they know him too well. I’m pretty sure both Ducky and Pitt suggested it.”
“Yes, I’m sitting down and Ducky is right here.” Gibbs was silent and his eyes narrowed dangerously as Ducky watched. Ducky leaned nearer, concerned.
“That’s solid proof alright Abs.” Gibbs finally spoke, his voice hard and cold with a deadly edge.
“I know Abs, it sucks. If there was a way I could go back and change what happened, I would. Hell we all would, we certainly didn’t see this coming.”
“We’ll get him through it. Whatever it takes. Those two will be going down, my way, or Vance’s.”
“I promise not to go run off and take care of them. I won’t leave Tony.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“You did a great job Abs.”
Shutting his phone Gibbs struggled to keep control of his rage while processing the news he just received. Taking deep breaths, clenching, and unclenching his fists he barely managed to rein it in. Ducky patiently waited knowing the man would speak when he had a semblance of control.
Taking a deep breath Gibbs spoke, his voice filled with the rage that was coursing through his veins. “Abby found that the coms had been tampered with.” He paused, Ducky silently waited for him to continue.
“The wires had been cut in the two that were assigned to McGee and Ziva, Tony’s was perfect. She found shavings around the nicked wires and ran them through one of her contraptions.” After several tense moments, he continued. His words came through a jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder he didn’t do damage.
“She asked for their knives as evidence and found trace on McGee’s. There was a perfect match in the plastic compound shit.” Gibbs looked into Ducky’s eyes and found the older man’s mirrored his emotions. The disappointment was obvious but was clearly overshadowed by rage.
Both men were silent as they allowed the new information to sink in.
“This seals their fate Jethro. Regardless whether or not Ziva’s knives had trace, the mere fact that she gave her com to McGee shows intent to cover up. There is nothing that can save them now, even if they were to come clean with the IA investigation.”
Gibbs growled quietly aware of his surroundings. “But it doesn’t seem like enough. What sort of prison term will they get? What about how this is going to make Tony feel? What if he can’t go back into the field? They broke his trust Ducky, what will that do to the man? They may just get a prison sentence of a few years.”
“You’re right Jethro; the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. But if you doled out your brand of justice, and I understand the desire to so, trust me, then where will Tony be? You could find yourself behind bars and he would be far worse off.” Ducky sighed.
“Prison will not be easy for either of them. Ziva may think that she will be able to handle it with her Mossad training, but living there without freedom and being made to conform to their rules is not going to sit well with her. This is not her strong suit, and as for Timothy, well he is ill equipped for what he will encounter in prison. I assure you that somehow it will come out that they were federal agents, and we all know how that will be received.”
Gibbs stared off as he digested what Ducky said. “I know you’re right. But I’m pissed as hell.”
“Rightly so Jethro, use that to help Anthony. He’s going to need everything you have and more. Open up to him Jethro, let him see as well as feel how this is affecting you. This will not be a time for you to hide, he will need full honesty and if want to have him in your life as a great deal more than a friend now is the time to show it.” Ducky stood and motioned for them to head to Anthony’s room.
“Let us head back and see how the young man is fairing. I think you have had enough truths for one day. You can sit by the lad and talk to him. He will hear you through all the drugs Jethro. You and he have been in tune with one another since the day you met in Baltimore.”
The two men walked silently down the hallway to the elevator. Upon exiting the elevator, they noticed a flurry of activity in and out of one room. They both heard a call for 300 joules and then to clear.
Excruciating seconds passed as they waited both fearing what neither wanted to say, but when Dr. Pitt walked out of the room, their worst fears were confirmed. Tony. Pitt, seeing the men quickly made his way to them.
“We were able to restart his heart. I won’t lie, it’s not good, but we shouldn’t be too surprised either. His body suffered a great deal. He’s fighting and not giving up, so nether should we.” He turned to look at Gibbs. “You need to keep talking to him and keep him here. You are just about the only one who can.”
Turning to Ducky, “His body is strained and tired. It didn’t take a great deal to bring him back which is a good sign. We knew this was going to be an uphill battle in the beginning. Once we get past this hurdle, it should be a great deal easier. Not easy, mind you, he has a long road of healing ahead of him, but we will all definitely be able to breathe easier.”
Looking back at Gibbs, “I have the recliner chair by the bed and have told them you are allowed to stay 24/7 and he is allowed, as long as they are quiet visitors. I assume that Abby, Jimmy, Ziva, and McGee will be here shortly?”
“Not McGee or Ziva.” Gibbs growled.
Ducky decided to explain the situation to Brad away from Jethro. “Jethro go see Anthony and talk to him. Be sure to tell him I will be there shortly as will Abigail.” Giving the man a gentle push, he turned to Brad. “Why don’t you and I go converse about his medical needs.” As he steered the doctor away, he began to fill him in.
Gibbs walked into Tony’s room, taken aback at the pale and still man lying in the bed. Finding himself beside the bed with no conscious memory of how he got there, he gently brushed the hair off the younger man’s forehead.
“You really need to stop this. I need you here…that’s not the whole truth actually.” He grabbed the younger man’s hand and began to run his thumb over it. “I need you period, in so many ways. Ways I never even allowed myself to dream about. Somehow you have managed to become the one constant in my life.”
“You’re the first one I think of when good things happen or when I need to talk. You make me smile and laugh. Never really thought that I would ever do that again.” Gibbs sighed as he continued. “I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to tell you how I felt for so many reasons.” He chuckled.
“Rule 12 is one of them, but not the prominent one. Never figured you would want an old battered marine for one. I know that I can be difficult, hell I am sure if you look up bastard in the dictionary, my picture is there. But right now none of the reasons are important.”
“What is important is the fact that I don’t want you not to know, I need to tell you. I hope that when you wake up I can say the words with you looking at me with those green eyes of yours. But for now, I will say them over and over to you while you’re sleeping. And God help me, I will pray. Haven’t done that in a very long time but if it helps, I will pray to every deity in existence that you come back to me.”
Taking a deep breath, he spoke the words that he had felt for so long. The words that he feared but meant with every fiber of his being and the words that had the power to break him, “I love you Tony.”