The Man Behind the Masks Ch 4/5
Title: The Man Behind the Masks
Fandom: NCIS
Season: Season 4 AU
Raiting: T (to be safe)
Pairing: Tony DiNozzo/Jeanne Benoit
Summary: What if Tony had told Jeanne the truth long before the events of Bury Your Dead? Here's my take on what might have happened. AU. Tag to season 4's Friends and Lovers.
Disclaimer: I own no part of NCIS. I just love Michael Weatherly and by extension Tony DiNozzo.
"Shit," McGee muttered as soon as he saw a dripping wet Tony kneeling on the edge of the dock, between Gibbs and Maddie who were simply lying there. Before the car even stopped, Ziva was out of it and running towards them. As soon as he stopped though, Tim pulled out his cell and hit speed dial 9 while popping the trunk and moving towards it.
"Details," the voice on the other end of the phone ordered.
"None yet. We're at Pier 5, 550 Marine Ave SW in DC. I just arrived. He's kneeling on the doc dripping wet and visibly wheezing. Gibbs and a civilian are on the ground beside him. Fair guess those two went into the water and Tony went in after them."
"Inhaler, oxygen, then get him dry and warm. Medevac will be there in ten," was all the voice said before the connection was cut. McGee put his phone back in his pocket and grabbed the red "Tony bag" from the trunk. He started to rush over the same time he heard Ziva yell "All clear." As soon as he heard those words, he sprinted straight for Tony, completely ignoring the other two on the doc. He pulled the rescue inhaler from the bag and tried to hand it to the other man. Tony merely shook his head. It was November and he'd been in the river several times. His hands were cold and cramping and he couldn't close them around the device.
"Okay then," Tim said softly, "I'll do this for you alright? Can you open your mouth?" As soon as the other agent did, Tim gently placed the inhaler on his lips. "You know the deal Tony. Take as deep a breath as you can and hold it for ten seconds. On three alright? One, two…" Tim pushed down on the inhaler on three, just like he said. Tony was able to take a deep breath but could only hold it for two seconds before a coughing fit overtook him. McGee grabbed onto his wet friend as he slumped forward from the exertion.
"McGee, call an ambulance and Ducky," Ziva ordered.
"Do it yourself. I'm busy," he said back. He didn't even notice that it was the first time he stood up to the woman; he was too focused on keeping his partner breathing. Ziva huffed and pulled out her cellphone.
A minute later, the coughing had subsided and Tony leaned back a bit. "Let's give this one more try then I'm going to get you warmed up alright?" The two men repeated the same process as before and this time Tony was able to hold his breath for five seconds before the coughing came. Once he was done, McGee put the bag over one shoulder and levered the man up off the dock. He wrapped Tony's arm around his shoulder and struggled to support him into the warehouse. The man was easily 220 pounds of pure muscle.
It took a good four minutes for the two to make it into the warehouse and find a spot enclosed enough to protect Tony from the wind as he changed. They found a stool on which the older man sat while McGee opened the red bag and pulled out two towels. He slowly began peeling the layers of clothing off the other agent, starting with his tie. Once that, along with his jacket, shirt and undershirt had been removed, McGee carefully dried him off with the towel, replacing the wet clothes with a dry, Ohio State hooded sweatshirt from the bag. Next he pulled off the man's shoes and socks, before having him stand so he could remove his wet pants and boxers as well. This was not a common occurrence for them and both were embarrassed by it. McGee averted his eyes the entire time and fortunately, Tony's hands had woken up enough at that point to be able to dry off that area himself. Once he was dry, McGee, eyes still averted, helped him into a dry pair of boxers and his Ohio State sweatpants. He placed a dry towel over the stool so that Tony's pants wouldn't get wet and sat the man back down. He took a portable electric blanket and wrapped it around the man, turning it on medium in an effort to help him heat up slowly enough not to shock his system. He also pulled the hood up onto his head. He grabbed a pair of thick tube socks and a pair of sneakers and put them on his friend as well before grabbing the oxygen mask to complete the ensemble. "Alright, here we go. Just breathe buddy. The chopper will be here for you soon." Tony spoke no words, but the gratitude in his eyes said it all.
TMBTM TMBTM
That one action - diving into the river in November to save his boss and a civilian, cost him a week in the hospital and two weeks of recovery after that. He was able to go back to work the third week, but he was still on his medication and hiding his cough from his coworkers. Fortunately the pneumonia hadn't resurfaced that time, but he did get a bad chest cold. He also got into one hell of a fight with Brad.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Brad finally asked on the day he was releasing Tony from the hospital. "Do you want to die? Is that it?"
"What the hell was I supposed to do?" Tony shouted back. "They were being shot at. They went into the river. I didn't know if either one was hit. All I knew was that I needed to get them out. What would you have had me do? Let them drown?"
"I'd have you think about yourself first for once in your life! This is not a game Tony. Your lungs can't handle something like this. You are so damn lucky the pneumonia didn't come back this time because if it did, I don't know if you'd be able to survive it. You barely survived it the first time. You're also lucky the medevac was here already and I was able to take it out to you. And you're lucky Tim was there because he probably saved you from getting pneumonia."
"I know! I get it okay? But this is my job Brad. I risk my life every single day. I've been doing it since I was twenty three years old; as soon as I recovered from the damage some jock did to my leg, ruining my pro sports career in the process. "
Brad recoiled in shock at the words and Tony blanched when he realized what he said. "Shit, Brad, you know I didn't mean it. I don't blame you for that. It's just…this is all I've wanted to do. I wouldn't even know what to do if I couldn't be a cop anymore."
"I know that," the doctor said softly. "Tony, we've become really good friends these past few years. I don't…I couldn't handle it if you got so sick that there was nothing I could do. I'm not saying you can't be a cop anymore, but you need to be somewhere warmer. These winters are doing your lungs no favors. Please think about it."
Once Brad left the room, Tony heard the door open again. He was lying on his side facing the window. "Please tell me you're not here to fight with me too," he said softly. A few moments later, Jeanne stood in front of him.
"I don't want to fight," she said as she sat next to him on the bed, taking his hand in hers. "I don't want to lose you either. You can't keep going like this Tony. We're engaged. You promised you'd always be there for me. Especially after everything with my father… I can't lose you too."
"I can't leave my job. I can't leave my team."
"Aside from Tim and Jimmy, is there anyone on your team you truly still trust? I know that you don't trust Ziva. You haven't since she showed up. You're still hurt over both Abby's and Dr. Mallard's actions when your boss left and we both know how you feel about him. Tony, you gave up a golden, dream promotion that anyone else would have jumped on immediately because you knew something was still wrong with him. You didn't trust him to take care of the other team members. But baby, he's been back for a year now. Something has got to give. Whatever happened to Gibbs broke him. He doesn't see you as his equal, his partner anymore. And from what you've told me, he hasn't since Kate joined your team. You don't pit the junior against their superior and expect that superior to get any kind of respect. With what happened this past week, we know that Gibbs doesn't respect you. So why are you fighting so hard to stay with him when he treats you like shit, like you're an idiot? We both know your investigative skills surpass him. You are the one who's been getting offers from multiple agencies and police departments, not him. You need to stop hiding your abilities and let your true self shine. If you let things stay the same, you're going to be miserable. And next time you may not be so lucky. Next time he may just get you killed. I won't let you go Tony. I love you and I won't lose you, not to him."
That was why, the same day he came back to work, he made a stop during his lunch break to pop into HR and talk to Mary, his favorite HR rep and ask her if she could find out about any openings in a warmer climate…discreetly. They'd been friends for a few years now and she promised to compile all the information for him within a few days. Once he had it, he'd enact part two of his plan. Part two consisting of a call to Tobias Fornell while he submitted the transfer request. Jeanne was right. It was time for something to give. He just never thought it'd be him.
Fandom: NCIS
Season: Season 4 AU
Raiting: T (to be safe)
Pairing: Tony DiNozzo/Jeanne Benoit
Summary: What if Tony had told Jeanne the truth long before the events of Bury Your Dead? Here's my take on what might have happened. AU. Tag to season 4's Friends and Lovers.
Disclaimer: I own no part of NCIS. I just love Michael Weatherly and by extension Tony DiNozzo.
"Shit," McGee muttered as soon as he saw a dripping wet Tony kneeling on the edge of the dock, between Gibbs and Maddie who were simply lying there. Before the car even stopped, Ziva was out of it and running towards them. As soon as he stopped though, Tim pulled out his cell and hit speed dial 9 while popping the trunk and moving towards it.
"Details," the voice on the other end of the phone ordered.
"None yet. We're at Pier 5, 550 Marine Ave SW in DC. I just arrived. He's kneeling on the doc dripping wet and visibly wheezing. Gibbs and a civilian are on the ground beside him. Fair guess those two went into the water and Tony went in after them."
"Inhaler, oxygen, then get him dry and warm. Medevac will be there in ten," was all the voice said before the connection was cut. McGee put his phone back in his pocket and grabbed the red "Tony bag" from the trunk. He started to rush over the same time he heard Ziva yell "All clear." As soon as he heard those words, he sprinted straight for Tony, completely ignoring the other two on the doc. He pulled the rescue inhaler from the bag and tried to hand it to the other man. Tony merely shook his head. It was November and he'd been in the river several times. His hands were cold and cramping and he couldn't close them around the device.
"Okay then," Tim said softly, "I'll do this for you alright? Can you open your mouth?" As soon as the other agent did, Tim gently placed the inhaler on his lips. "You know the deal Tony. Take as deep a breath as you can and hold it for ten seconds. On three alright? One, two…" Tim pushed down on the inhaler on three, just like he said. Tony was able to take a deep breath but could only hold it for two seconds before a coughing fit overtook him. McGee grabbed onto his wet friend as he slumped forward from the exertion.
"McGee, call an ambulance and Ducky," Ziva ordered.
"Do it yourself. I'm busy," he said back. He didn't even notice that it was the first time he stood up to the woman; he was too focused on keeping his partner breathing. Ziva huffed and pulled out her cellphone.
A minute later, the coughing had subsided and Tony leaned back a bit. "Let's give this one more try then I'm going to get you warmed up alright?" The two men repeated the same process as before and this time Tony was able to hold his breath for five seconds before the coughing came. Once he was done, McGee put the bag over one shoulder and levered the man up off the dock. He wrapped Tony's arm around his shoulder and struggled to support him into the warehouse. The man was easily 220 pounds of pure muscle.
It took a good four minutes for the two to make it into the warehouse and find a spot enclosed enough to protect Tony from the wind as he changed. They found a stool on which the older man sat while McGee opened the red bag and pulled out two towels. He slowly began peeling the layers of clothing off the other agent, starting with his tie. Once that, along with his jacket, shirt and undershirt had been removed, McGee carefully dried him off with the towel, replacing the wet clothes with a dry, Ohio State hooded sweatshirt from the bag. Next he pulled off the man's shoes and socks, before having him stand so he could remove his wet pants and boxers as well. This was not a common occurrence for them and both were embarrassed by it. McGee averted his eyes the entire time and fortunately, Tony's hands had woken up enough at that point to be able to dry off that area himself. Once he was dry, McGee, eyes still averted, helped him into a dry pair of boxers and his Ohio State sweatpants. He placed a dry towel over the stool so that Tony's pants wouldn't get wet and sat the man back down. He took a portable electric blanket and wrapped it around the man, turning it on medium in an effort to help him heat up slowly enough not to shock his system. He also pulled the hood up onto his head. He grabbed a pair of thick tube socks and a pair of sneakers and put them on his friend as well before grabbing the oxygen mask to complete the ensemble. "Alright, here we go. Just breathe buddy. The chopper will be here for you soon." Tony spoke no words, but the gratitude in his eyes said it all.
TMBTM TMBTM
That one action - diving into the river in November to save his boss and a civilian, cost him a week in the hospital and two weeks of recovery after that. He was able to go back to work the third week, but he was still on his medication and hiding his cough from his coworkers. Fortunately the pneumonia hadn't resurfaced that time, but he did get a bad chest cold. He also got into one hell of a fight with Brad.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Brad finally asked on the day he was releasing Tony from the hospital. "Do you want to die? Is that it?"
"What the hell was I supposed to do?" Tony shouted back. "They were being shot at. They went into the river. I didn't know if either one was hit. All I knew was that I needed to get them out. What would you have had me do? Let them drown?"
"I'd have you think about yourself first for once in your life! This is not a game Tony. Your lungs can't handle something like this. You are so damn lucky the pneumonia didn't come back this time because if it did, I don't know if you'd be able to survive it. You barely survived it the first time. You're also lucky the medevac was here already and I was able to take it out to you. And you're lucky Tim was there because he probably saved you from getting pneumonia."
"I know! I get it okay? But this is my job Brad. I risk my life every single day. I've been doing it since I was twenty three years old; as soon as I recovered from the damage some jock did to my leg, ruining my pro sports career in the process. "
Brad recoiled in shock at the words and Tony blanched when he realized what he said. "Shit, Brad, you know I didn't mean it. I don't blame you for that. It's just…this is all I've wanted to do. I wouldn't even know what to do if I couldn't be a cop anymore."
"I know that," the doctor said softly. "Tony, we've become really good friends these past few years. I don't…I couldn't handle it if you got so sick that there was nothing I could do. I'm not saying you can't be a cop anymore, but you need to be somewhere warmer. These winters are doing your lungs no favors. Please think about it."
Once Brad left the room, Tony heard the door open again. He was lying on his side facing the window. "Please tell me you're not here to fight with me too," he said softly. A few moments later, Jeanne stood in front of him.
"I don't want to fight," she said as she sat next to him on the bed, taking his hand in hers. "I don't want to lose you either. You can't keep going like this Tony. We're engaged. You promised you'd always be there for me. Especially after everything with my father… I can't lose you too."
"I can't leave my job. I can't leave my team."
"Aside from Tim and Jimmy, is there anyone on your team you truly still trust? I know that you don't trust Ziva. You haven't since she showed up. You're still hurt over both Abby's and Dr. Mallard's actions when your boss left and we both know how you feel about him. Tony, you gave up a golden, dream promotion that anyone else would have jumped on immediately because you knew something was still wrong with him. You didn't trust him to take care of the other team members. But baby, he's been back for a year now. Something has got to give. Whatever happened to Gibbs broke him. He doesn't see you as his equal, his partner anymore. And from what you've told me, he hasn't since Kate joined your team. You don't pit the junior against their superior and expect that superior to get any kind of respect. With what happened this past week, we know that Gibbs doesn't respect you. So why are you fighting so hard to stay with him when he treats you like shit, like you're an idiot? We both know your investigative skills surpass him. You are the one who's been getting offers from multiple agencies and police departments, not him. You need to stop hiding your abilities and let your true self shine. If you let things stay the same, you're going to be miserable. And next time you may not be so lucky. Next time he may just get you killed. I won't let you go Tony. I love you and I won't lose you, not to him."
That was why, the same day he came back to work, he made a stop during his lunch break to pop into HR and talk to Mary, his favorite HR rep and ask her if she could find out about any openings in a warmer climate…discreetly. They'd been friends for a few years now and she promised to compile all the information for him within a few days. Once he had it, he'd enact part two of his plan. Part two consisting of a call to Tobias Fornell while he submitted the transfer request. Jeanne was right. It was time for something to give. He just never thought it'd be him.