Severed Connection- Chapter 8
Chapter 8
AN: Thanks for the continued feedback!
*
While Tony recovered, the team continued to work. The atmosphere was somber as Tony’s absence was palpable. Their caseload was not heavy; Jenny saw that the MCRT had a lighter load of late. The others perhaps underestimated the stabilizing force that Tony had on the dynamic of the group. And not having had contact with him was the biggest hardship they faced. They knew it paled in comparison to what Tony was dealing with.
Abby was down in autopsy sipping on tea with Ducky before heading out for the night. The normally hyper Forensic Scientist was quiet and subdued.
“I wish I could just talk to him, Ducky. Apologize.” She said as her voice cracked. “We didn’t mean to hurt him. I didn’t know about the party and him not being invited. I swear!”
Ducky sighed as he patted her arm. “Abigail, the depth of his hurt goes beyond that of a dinner party. That I am sure of.”
“Did he tell you anything else?” She said in a slightly desperate tone.
The ME shook his head. “No. I am not privy to his feelings on that matter.”
She looked at him with puppy eyes. “Could you see if he will see us? Me? Please, Ducky…” She trailed off.
“I will try, Abby.” Ducky responded.
*
Tony felt stronger with each passing day. His chest tubes had been removed and he was beginning to pester Brad about going home. Dr. Pitt sat in Tony’s room one early afternoon.
“So Doc, what’s the verdict?” Tony attempted a smile. “When can I get the hell out of here?"
Brad chuckled as he shook his head. “The good news is that you are almost ready to be discharged from the hospital.”
Tony’s eyes narrowed. “And the bad…”
“Not bad, Tony. You still need oxygen when you sleep.”
“But you said I was ready to go home.”
“We have to come up with a game plan for your discharge. There are a few options.”
Tony was not sure where Brad was going with this. “Okay…” He said slowly.
“There is a recovery, step down hospital where you can go for a week or two so we can wean you off the oxygen.”
“Like…a nursing home?!” Tony sat up straighter. “No way!!” He said in an exasperating tone that triggered a slight coughing fit. Luckily, Brad was at his side, pounding on his back to help him through the spell. Tony sat for a few minutes gasping. As he recovered, he wiped his spit from his mouth as he looked at his friend and doctor. “Thanks.” He said in a raspy voice, suddenly feeling exhausted.
"It's no problem, Tony. And it's not a nursing home. It's a rehab facility that caters to people post stroke to sports injuries to pulmonary rehab like you would do. The rooms are more spacious, there are less interruptions, and they do everything they can to reintegrate you back to your activities of daily living if possible.
"Can't I just go to my apartment? Aren't there like home nurses or something?"
"While you don't need the level of care that we give here Tony, your insurance company will not pay for the amount of care you would need by yourself at home." He paused. "Now, if you had a caregiver to stay with you part of the time, we might be able to figure something out. Why not stay with one of your team? Ducky, perhaps?"
"Ducky has his mother to take care of." He answered quietly.
Brad hesitated but then continued. "What about Gibbs?"
Tony became very serious. "No." He said in a tense tone.
"Tony, I haven't said anything because I was waiting for you to get better. But as your friend, what is going on with you and Gibbs; you and your team? You stayed with Gibbs after the Plague."
Tony shook his head as he developed a pained expression upon his face. "Nothing. It's just not possible. Okay?" His voice caught slightly and Brad could see he was getting upset. "I just want to go home. Not to another hospital or to any of my friends." He added the last word with a hint a sarcasm that Brad chose to ignore for the time being.
"I'm not sure what to tell you, man. Home healthcare is extremely expensive and if there are other viable options, insurance companies will not cover it.” Brad felt for his friend. He sighed as he stood. "Just think about it, Tony. Okay?"
Tony nodded and turned away to lie on his side as Brad walked from the room. He felt miserable. Not only from his condition, but a fresh sense of loneliness and despair suddenly enveloped him. His eyelids fluttered as he drifted into a restless sleep.
*
When Tony awoke, darkness had settled upon the room. He couldn't believe he had slept for so long. The nurses must have pitied him, because they had not woken him for their customary vitals check. Happy for small favors, Tony gingerly scooted up in bed. As he sat thinking, his mind felt clear for the first time in weeks. He reached slowly over to the nightstand by his hospital bed. He opened the drawer and grabbed his cell phone. He scrolled down to a number and gazed at it for some time. He took a deep breath and pressed call. The number rang twice and Tony was about to lose his courage.
"Hello?" The voice said on the other line. "Hello?"
Tony had to force himself to speak around the lump in his throat as his hand shook. "F-Father?"
TBC...
Continue to Chapter 9
AN: Thanks for the continued feedback!
*
While Tony recovered, the team continued to work. The atmosphere was somber as Tony’s absence was palpable. Their caseload was not heavy; Jenny saw that the MCRT had a lighter load of late. The others perhaps underestimated the stabilizing force that Tony had on the dynamic of the group. And not having had contact with him was the biggest hardship they faced. They knew it paled in comparison to what Tony was dealing with.
Abby was down in autopsy sipping on tea with Ducky before heading out for the night. The normally hyper Forensic Scientist was quiet and subdued.
“I wish I could just talk to him, Ducky. Apologize.” She said as her voice cracked. “We didn’t mean to hurt him. I didn’t know about the party and him not being invited. I swear!”
Ducky sighed as he patted her arm. “Abigail, the depth of his hurt goes beyond that of a dinner party. That I am sure of.”
“Did he tell you anything else?” She said in a slightly desperate tone.
The ME shook his head. “No. I am not privy to his feelings on that matter.”
She looked at him with puppy eyes. “Could you see if he will see us? Me? Please, Ducky…” She trailed off.
“I will try, Abby.” Ducky responded.
*
Tony felt stronger with each passing day. His chest tubes had been removed and he was beginning to pester Brad about going home. Dr. Pitt sat in Tony’s room one early afternoon.
“So Doc, what’s the verdict?” Tony attempted a smile. “When can I get the hell out of here?"
Brad chuckled as he shook his head. “The good news is that you are almost ready to be discharged from the hospital.”
Tony’s eyes narrowed. “And the bad…”
“Not bad, Tony. You still need oxygen when you sleep.”
“But you said I was ready to go home.”
“We have to come up with a game plan for your discharge. There are a few options.”
Tony was not sure where Brad was going with this. “Okay…” He said slowly.
“There is a recovery, step down hospital where you can go for a week or two so we can wean you off the oxygen.”
“Like…a nursing home?!” Tony sat up straighter. “No way!!” He said in an exasperating tone that triggered a slight coughing fit. Luckily, Brad was at his side, pounding on his back to help him through the spell. Tony sat for a few minutes gasping. As he recovered, he wiped his spit from his mouth as he looked at his friend and doctor. “Thanks.” He said in a raspy voice, suddenly feeling exhausted.
"It's no problem, Tony. And it's not a nursing home. It's a rehab facility that caters to people post stroke to sports injuries to pulmonary rehab like you would do. The rooms are more spacious, there are less interruptions, and they do everything they can to reintegrate you back to your activities of daily living if possible.
"Can't I just go to my apartment? Aren't there like home nurses or something?"
"While you don't need the level of care that we give here Tony, your insurance company will not pay for the amount of care you would need by yourself at home." He paused. "Now, if you had a caregiver to stay with you part of the time, we might be able to figure something out. Why not stay with one of your team? Ducky, perhaps?"
"Ducky has his mother to take care of." He answered quietly.
Brad hesitated but then continued. "What about Gibbs?"
Tony became very serious. "No." He said in a tense tone.
"Tony, I haven't said anything because I was waiting for you to get better. But as your friend, what is going on with you and Gibbs; you and your team? You stayed with Gibbs after the Plague."
Tony shook his head as he developed a pained expression upon his face. "Nothing. It's just not possible. Okay?" His voice caught slightly and Brad could see he was getting upset. "I just want to go home. Not to another hospital or to any of my friends." He added the last word with a hint a sarcasm that Brad chose to ignore for the time being.
"I'm not sure what to tell you, man. Home healthcare is extremely expensive and if there are other viable options, insurance companies will not cover it.” Brad felt for his friend. He sighed as he stood. "Just think about it, Tony. Okay?"
Tony nodded and turned away to lie on his side as Brad walked from the room. He felt miserable. Not only from his condition, but a fresh sense of loneliness and despair suddenly enveloped him. His eyelids fluttered as he drifted into a restless sleep.
*
When Tony awoke, darkness had settled upon the room. He couldn't believe he had slept for so long. The nurses must have pitied him, because they had not woken him for their customary vitals check. Happy for small favors, Tony gingerly scooted up in bed. As he sat thinking, his mind felt clear for the first time in weeks. He reached slowly over to the nightstand by his hospital bed. He opened the drawer and grabbed his cell phone. He scrolled down to a number and gazed at it for some time. He took a deep breath and pressed call. The number rang twice and Tony was about to lose his courage.
"Hello?" The voice said on the other line. "Hello?"
Tony had to force himself to speak around the lump in his throat as his hand shook. "F-Father?"
TBC...
Continue to Chapter 9