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Breakdown -- Part Two
Tony gasped, trying desperately to catch his breath after being kicked the second time while being angry at himself for not being able to protect Abby. She was wrapped around him and sobbing, her hands signing words that he didn't understand.
He could only assume they were prayers of some sort, probably the same ones that were spilling quietly from her newly split lip.
"Abby..." he managed, his voice weak. "Abs, sweetheart," he reached his hand over and covered her fingers with it, stilling their rapid movements. "We... need to talk."
She looked up at him, her cheeks stained with a combination of the dark eyeliner she was wearing and the dark bruises that she had received from Victor.
"I need you... to listen to me, 'kay? I... have to get this out."
Abby nodded, tears spilling down her face as she listened to her lover's ragged voice. "Okay," she whispered.
He nodded, taking a deep breath. "I...you keep my apartment, 'kay? It's bigger than yours, and you..." he coughed, spitting some blood onto the floor. "You're gonna need... the space with the baby."
"Tony, don't talk like that," she sobbed, pressing her face into his chest. "Please don't talk like that."
He took another deep breath before continuing. "Shh... please. Let me tell you. It... it's important," he swallowed hard, running a hand through her hair gently.
"Let... let Ducky and McGee split my jazz records. And... give Ziva all the GSM's. I don't want you... to remember me like that."
She sobbed harder against his chest, her entire body trembling. "P... please. Please stop. You... you can't go. You aren't allowed. Gibbs has to give you permission, remember?"
He continued to comb her hair with his fingers, the movement calming him as he ignored her pleas. He knew that he needed to get his thoughts out, and he cursed himself for not having written them down sooner as the pain began to return to its full strength.
"Gibbs... give him my belt. The one... the one with the knife. It's saved me... on more than one occasion," he reached up and wiped a tear from her eye. "Don't cry, please. I... I want you to... sell the 'Stang. It... it's not a good car to have with baby. Put... put the money in an account... for our little girl," he rested his hand on Abby's belly. "S... so she'll be taken care of."
Another hoarse sob tore from her throat as she pulled away from him, ignoring his weak protests. "You don't... you can't do this to me," she cried, swiping at the tears angrily on her cheeks. "Wh... when did you become a quitter, huh?" She asked sinking against the wall and hugging her knees to her chest.
"Abby--"
"I don't want to hear it!" She spat. "You can't... how can you just give up? Wh... what am I supposed to tell her... about her daddy when she asks?"
"That he loved her... very much... and you too. I... l love you Abby."
"Don't do this to me," she sobbed. "Don't start saying your goodbyes. This isn't... you can't do this to me!"
He closed his eyes, a tear slipping out. "Don'... don't want to, baby. You actually think I wanna say goodbye? You think I wanna consider... never meeting my little girl?" He asked, reaching for her again.
He grabbed her hand and squeezed. "C'mon. You know that this... this is it, Abs. I... I need you to know how much I love you."
Abby dropped her chin to her chest in a futile attempt to stop her tears. She lifted her head a moment later, setting her jaw firmly.
"No. You listen to me, Anthony DiNozzo. You are going to see your daughter," she moved back over to him, placing his hand on her stomach. "Gibbs is gonna find us and you're gonna get the medical attention you need. So I don't... I don't wanna hear you talk about dying any more. Hear me?"
Tony's eyes closed again, wincing against the intense pain in his gut. He leaned down and pressed his lips to Abby's stomach gently, lingering for a moment when he felt her shudder under him. "I love you... my little angel," his voice dropped to almost nothing, nearly mouthing the words over Abby's skin as he cringed in pain. "Take care of your mommy for me."
Abby sobbed, running her hand through his soft brown hair as he mumbled against her belly. "Please," she begged, closing her eyes tightly to ward off the tears. Her entire body tensed as he rested his cheek over her belly button, closing his eyes again as his breathing suddenly deepened.
"Tony!" She nearly screamed, shaking him frantically. "Wa... wake up. Please, don't leave me here... don't leave me here alone."
-----
Making his way down the stairs, Ian couldn't help but glance at the basement door, frowning darkly.
He clenched his teeth and headed for the kitchen, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to figure out exactly when this whole plan had gone downhill. Victor had assured him that no one was going to get hurt but apparently, he was as crazy as Nate turned out to be.
He just hoped that Abby had been able to get a call in to that boss of hers.
Stopping in front of the refrigerator, he reached for a bottle of water, cursing when a carton of eggs slipped off the shelf, splattering on the floor.
"Sonofabitch!" He cursed, tossing the bottle onto the table before he stooped down, grabbing the smashed carton. Pushing himself to his feet, he made his way over to the trash can, pausing slightly as he spotted a wrinkled paper inside.
"What the fuck--?"
Snatching the letter out, he dropped the eggs into the bin before he made his way to the stairs, taking them two at a time.
He paused outside of Victor's room, listening carefully as his voice carried through the door.
"--little bitch. I'll teach her. He won't be around much longer and then she's all mine--"
Crumpling the paper up into a ball, Ian bolted down the stairs, his heart thumping wildly in his chest as he stopped in front of the heavy door.
He could hear Abby's heartbroken sobs as he made his way down the stairs and he just prayed that he wasn't too late.
Stepping into the dark room, he spotted her hunched over a very still Tony and it was all he could do to keep from vomiting at the sight.
Forcing himself forward, he crossed the room in three short strides and crouched down in front of them.
Grabbing her gently, he started to pull her away from Tony but released her immediately at the sound of her strangled scream.
"Shh!" He hissed, clapping his hand over her mouth. "We have to go," he whispered, his lips close to her ear. "We have to go now."
"N... not without Tony," she managed, her voice hoarse.
Glancing down at him, he noticed the slight rise and fall of his chest. Not dead, he realized, unconscious. Even so, Ian knew there was no way he'd be able to get them both out, not with the shape Tony was in.
"Listen to me," he tried to reason. "We have to get out of here."
"No!"
"He would... he would want you to go, Abby. You have to think of yourself and your baby. I can get you out of here, but if we don't go right now--"
"I would rather die with him than leave him here to die alone," she sobbed.
Releasing a frustrated sigh, Ian grabbed one of Tony's arms, grunting at the dead weight. "Fine. But you have to help me. I can't get him out of here alone."
The pair managed to get the unconscious man to his feet, though it wasn't an easy task.
"Going somewhere?"
Ian stopped at the sound of Victor's voice, his arm still wrapped firmly around Tony in an attempt to hold him upright.
Narrowing his eyes at him, Ian set his jaw angrily. "You have two seconds to get out of my way," he warned, his voice dangerously low.
"You gonna make me, little brother?" Victor sneered.
"You're fucking right I'm going to make you! You lied to me, Vic!"
"Oh Ian," Victor laughed. "Sometimes I forget just how young and dumb you are. It's not lying if you never state your intentions. I didn't lie to you. In fact, if anyone is a traitor, it's you. How could you betray me and Nate by trying to help them?" He spat, all traces of humor gone.
"Nate's dead, Vic! And you didn't even... I never wanted anyone to get hurt! I wanted to help Nate but it doesn't matter because he's dead! Just like mom and just like you'll be if you don't get out of my way!"
"Well isn't that just so noble of you. You know, its days like today that I really think you might be adopted."
Abby watched from Tony's side as the two men went back and forth, struggling under his weight. The tears were still streaming down her cheeks as she sent up a silent prayer for Gibbs to come rescue them.
"Besides," Victor said with a casual shrug. "You know how I feel about threats."
Ian's eyes widened in horror as he removed the small handgun from the waist band of his pants.
"You only have yourself to blame for this one, Ian," Victor growled as he pointed the weapon at Abby.
In one swift motion, Ian released Tony from his grasp and launched himself at Victor.
He heard Abby's low moan as she faltered under Tony's full weight just seconds before he slammed into Victor.
Abby hit the floor hard, Tony's dead weight proving to be too much for her. She could feel all the air being forced from her lungs as he collapsed ontop of her, still unmoving.
Using every bit of strength she had, she managed to roll him off of her body carefully before she pushed herself up, her eyes wide as she watched the brothers struggle.
"You... always were a fool, Ian!"
"Better a fool than--"
Ian heard the loud shot ring out a split second before he felt the blinding pain in his chest.
He fell to his knees, hitting the ground hard as he glanced up at Victor, tears blurring his already hazy vision.
"Vic..." he managed, coughing as he felt the blood spilling from his lips.
It was all Abby could do to keep from screaming as she watched the man who had become their protector fall forward, his entire body stilling as he hit the concrete.
"Oh my God," she cried, covering her mouth with her hands as Victor turned on her, his eyes blazing with anger.
"You," he spat. "This is your fault!"
Moving backwards in an attempt to put as much space between them as possible, she cried out again as her back hit the wall.
"First Nate, then my mother, and now Ian too! You've destroyed my family!" he yelled, crossing the room quickly and grabbing her roughly by the shoulders.
Abby was unable to stifle her hoarse sobs as he shook her violently, stars exploding in front of her eyes as he slammed her head back against the wall.
"Oh God," she moaned.
"Not even He can help you now."
Hoarse sobs tore at Abby's throat as his first blow caught her in the face. She could feel the blood pooling in her mouth as her teeth went through her bottom lip, the pain nearly sending her to her knees. Her fingers gripped Victor's arm, her green eyes unfocused.
"Please," she managed, the warm blood trailing down her chin.
Victor's face only hardened further. "I don't show mercy to those who aren't deserving of it," he spat, grabbing her wrist and twisting, using every bit of strength he possessed.
He could feel the bone snap under his fingers and the loud crack reached his ears, bringing a cruel smile to his face.
She screamed loudly, the sound echoing in the small room as she sank to her knees, cradling her broken wrist against her chest as she sobbed.
"Get up," he ordered, glaring down at her. "Get up, you weak little bitch! I'm not finished with you yet!" He snarled.
"P... please," she tried again. "P... please don't--"
His fist connected with her face again, silencing her, save for her tortured sobs. "I'm not telling you again," he growled as he grabbed her by her hair and pulled her to her feet. "Get. Up."
-----
The pain was excruciating.
Another scream escaped her as he forced her to her feet before he shoved her back against the wall. "Tell me you've had enough," he ordered. "Tell me you want me to end it." Gripping her face roughly with his hands, he forced her to look at him, his blue eyes burning into hers. "Tell me!"
Mustering up what little bit of strength she had left, she tried to pull out of his grasp, her breathing ragged. "Go... to hell."
"You first," he smirked, releasing her.
She slumped back against the wall and slid down to the floor, cradling her arm against her chest again as she sobbed quietly.
Kicking his foot out, Victor caught her hard in the thigh before he turned and stalked back across the room as she watched. Pausing beside Ian's dead body, she saw him stoop down and pick up the gun he had discarded there moments earlier, unable to stop the tears from coming when he turned back to face her, a sickening grin on his lips.
-----
Gibbs pulled up outside of the small house and parked the car haphazardly before climbing out of the car and popping the trunk. "McGee, Ziva, get your vests on. You two take the front door, I'll head around the back and go in through the back."
The two agents pulled on their bullet-proof vests and got their weapons out, heading toward the front door of the house. "In position, Boss." McGee whispered, speaking into the microphone connected to his watch.
"On my mark," Gibbs said, glancing into the rear door and immediately seeing the partially open basement door. "Go."
McGee opened the front door quietly, stepping inside after Ziva and clearing the first floor of the house before meeting Gibbs in the kitchen.
"The bottom floor is clear, Gibbs," Ziva said, nudging McGee toward the stairs. "Upstairs."
As they disappeared up the stairs, Gibbs made his way over to the basement door, pressing his ear against the crack and listening carefully. He could hear Abby's muffled sobs from the basement and it made him clench his teeth in anger. Slipping silently into the stairwell, he pulled out his weapon and peeked around the corner.
-----
Abby pushed herself up against the wall, sobbing as she cradled her arm against her chest, blood from her mouth staining her shirt.
"P...please..." she whimpered, watching as Victor approached her with his pistol drawn.
"NCIS! Drop your weapon!" Gibbs called as he stepped around the corner and saw Tony's prone body on the floor for the first time, the very sight nearly making his mouth go dry.
"Oh, good. I was wondering when you were going to show up. You're just in time for the finale."
Victor pulled Abby up to stand in front of him and pressed the barrel of his gun to her temple. She sobbed, her body shaking as he pulled her tighter against him.
Gibbs kept his gun trained on Victor as he made eye contact with Abby before signing to her as best he could with one hand.
How bad are you hurt?
I'm alright. Tony's been poisoned. Abby signed clumsily, barely getting it out before Victor hit her hand with the butt of his gun.
"You're going to get her killed, Agent Gibbs," Victor chuckled darkly, moving his finger to the trigger. "If you take another step, I swear to God I'll blow her brains out right now."
"You really think your reflexes are faster than mine?"
"You don't have a shot," the younger man scoffed. "I do," she cried out in pain when he pressed his gun harder against her temple.
His eyes flickered momentarily before he offered a casual shrug and leaned down, setting his Sig on the ground. "You know, you're right. I don't have a shot," straightening up, he discreetly signed for Abby to duck. "But she does."
Abby pulled away from Victor just seconds before the window exploded behind them. She could feel the spray of glass and warm blood as her attacker fell forward, his blue eyes wide and unseeing.
"Clear!" Gibbs called out as he moved forward, dropping to a knee beside Victor to clear the gun as Abby launched herself at Tony. She sobbed hoarsely as she sank to her knees beside him, her hand resting against his pale face.
Ziva and McGee stood and watched as she begged Tony to wake up, telling him over and over again that they were finally safe. Dropping her head to his chest, she sobbed, her entire body shaking. "W... where's the ambulance? He needs help!" Abby cried, raking her hand through Tony's hair. "P... please."
"McGee, get the EMT's in here." Gibbs barked as he leaned over and felt for Tony's weak pulse before he stood, pulling Abby up with him.
"No!" She choked out, kicking against him. "No, I can't... I can't leave him!"
"Abby," he said sternly, his arms tightening around her waist as she fought against him. "Look. The EMT's are here. They're gonna take care of Tony. He's gonna be alright."
She turned into his chest and sobbed weakly, gripping his shirt with her fingers. "Gibbs... Tony--"
"Shh..." he soothed, rubbing her back gently as the EMTs hurried into the room. "He'll be fine, Abby. You're both gonna be fine. It's all over now."
He would have been lying if he said he was surprised when she nearly collapsed a moment later, losing consciousness in his arms.
-----
The waiting room was empty, save for the two mentally exhausted agents. McGee sat hunched over in a chair, his head cradled in his hands as Ziva remained standing, her back resting against the wall.
"I do not like waiting rooms," Ziva announced, her voice carrying in the otherwise silent room. Pushing off from the wall, she crossed the room in three short strides and sank down into the chair beside her partner. "What do you suppose is taking so long?"
"I don't know," McGee sighed as he sat upright, running a hand over his tired face. "They didn't... look very good, did they?"
"They looked better than I expected," she responded darkly. "If I am being completely honest..." she hesitated slightly, "I did not think we would find either of them alive."
They fell silent again, the sound of footsteps in the hallway reaching their ears. Glancing over at McGee, Ziva pushed herself to her feet again.
"Ah," Ducky greeted wearily as he stepped into the waiting room, forcing a smile. "There you two are. I have been looking all over this hospital for you."
"How are they?" McGee asked, shoving his hands in his pockets nervously as he stood up. "Have you seen him? They're okay, right?"
He could see the slight hesitation in Ducky's eyes as he stepped closer to them, dropping a comforting hand onto his shoulder. "They are doing as well as can be expected."
"Well, what does that mean? Why do people always say that? I expect them to be fine!"
Frowning slightly, he turned away from McGee for a moment, addressing Ziva. "Abby is resting as comfortably as is possible now. She was treated for a broken wrist and unfortunately, the split lip and cut on her leg required a few stitches. The baby appears to be fine as well, though they are keeping her overnight to monitor her. Her doctor is confident that she will be released tomorrow afternoon with no incident."
Ziva frowned deeply, her brown eyes clouded with concern. "And Tony? How is he?"
"Tony... is not doing as well," Ducky responded quietly. "They've attempted to flush his system several times and they've got him on quite a few medications, but..." he trailed off. "Unfortunately, all that we can do is wait and see."
"I would like to see him," Ziva said quietly.
"I am not sure that they are allowing visitors just yet, but given the circumstances..." he trailed off thoughtfully. "Perhaps I may be able to arrange something."
"McGee," Ziva said softly once Ducky made his way back down the hallway. "You are planning on going back with me, yes?"
"I don't... I don't know."
"It is a simple choice. Either you want to see Tony or you do not."
"It's not that simple," he mumbled, dropping his eyes to the floor. "I don't want to see Tony that way. And I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want me to see him like that either."
"That is understandable," she conceded. "However..." she hesitated slightly, searching for the right words. "Do not throw this opportunity away. It may be hard to see him, but it may be the last chance you will get. You would regret that, I think."
McGee's mouth went dry as he tried to swallow the lump that formed in his throat. He knew Tony's condition had not been good when they'd found the two of them, but never once had he imagined he would have to say goodbye.
"Tony's not... he's going to be fine! He always... he can't--"
Ziva rested her hand gently on McGee's arm, her eyes searching his. "I am not sure what it was that they gave him and..." she frowned, trailing her fingers down his arm to grasp his hand. "There are a lot of factors, McGee. All that we can do is hope for the best. Come see Tony with me."
He nodded dumbly as he allowed her to pull him out of the waiting room.
Ducky met them in the hallway, a forced smile on his face. "You won't be able to stay long," he warned. "But you're allowed to go see him."
"Thank you, Ducky," Ziva said softly.
-----
McGee paced back and forth near the door to the room as Ziva said a final quiet prayer in Hebrew over Tony, leaning down to kiss his forehead.
"In a hurry to leave, McGee?" She asked, glancing over at him.
"I... I'm just not good with this kind of stuff," he admitted, wringing his hands.
Ziva walked over to him and placed a gentle hand on his arm, stilling his anxious movements. "It is okay, McGee, to be afraid for him. But he would be happy that you are here," she looked into his eyes and frowned slightly. "I will give you a moment while I wait in the hallway."
He watched as she left the small room, not wanting her to leave him alone with his dying partner. A sharp beeping noise startled him out of his own thoughts, and when he turned to face the source, he saw Tony convulsing on his bed.
"Help!" He shouted. "H... help! Something's wrong!"
He stepped to the corner of the room as Tony's doctors and nurses started filing in, rushing to his bedside to stabilize him.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to step outside."
McGee looked over the nurse's head at Tony, watching him convulse as the doctors held him down and injected him with more drugs. He nodded absently, allowing her to gently move him out of the room.
He sank into the chair just outside the room when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. "McGee, what the hell happened?"
"I... I think he's dying," he answered, looking up into the ice blue eyes that held obvious concern for Tony. He dropped his head into his hands and choked back a sob. "He's not gonna be alright, is he, Boss?"
Gibbs sighed and looked through the window into the small room. He watched as the doctors discussed the situation quietly, shaking their heads sadly as they looked down at Tony.
He had stopped convulsing, but his heart rate was still very weak. Gibbs could lip read only minimally, and he could only assume that they were trying to decide how to explain the situation to Abby, the determined girlfriend.
"Tony's tough. If he knows what's good for him, he'll pull through."
-----
Releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, Gibbs stopped pacing just outside of Abby's door. From where he stood, he could see her shifting restlessly on the bed, trying desperately to find a comfortable position.
Clenching his teeth at the sight of her bruised and battered body, Gibbs turned away, leaning against the wall as he tried to collect his thoughts.
It wasn't the first time in his career that he had given bad news to the family of another agent. This, though... this wasn't anything like what he had prepared himself for in the past. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, pushing himself off the wall and stepping into his surrogate daughter's hospital room.
Abby glanced up at the sound of his footsteps against the floor, her green eyes red from crying. "How is he?" She asked anxiously.
Gibbs didn't speak as he moved closer to the bed. Sinking down on the edge of the mattress, he reached for Abby's uninjured arm, clasping her hand in his.
"It's not looking very good right now," he said quietly, his voice softer than she'd heard it in years.
"I don't... what do you... he's supposed to be okay!"
Reaching forward, Gibbs cupped her face gently, swiping at the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Abby, please--"
"How bad?" She asked, her voice cracking.
"His kidneys are failing."
The news felt like a punch to the stomach and Abby was positive that had she been standing, her knees would have given out.
A hoarse sob tore from her throat as she shook her head. "No... you promised me that he'd be okay," she cried, pulling away from his touch. "You promised!"
"Abby."
"No! I need... I have to see him!" Pushing the thin blanket off her legs, she started tugging at the various wires attached to her body.
"Abby," Gibbs tried again, grabbing her uninjured wrist.
"No! I need to see him!"
"You can't, not right now. You need to calm down first. Do you think he would want you acting like this?"
He watched as she crumbled, her entire body shaking as she cried. Pulling her to him, he held her in his arms, rubbing her back gently.
"I need him," she cried. "I can't... I need him, Gibbs!"
Sighing softly, Gibbs pressed a kiss to the top of her head before he pulled away. "You take a minute, get yourself together. I'll get you to him."
Nodding, Abby swiped at the tears on her face as Gibbs stood, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.
Stepping out of the room, he took a quick glance back at her before heading toward the nurse's station.
"Ah, Jethro. Just the man I was looking for," Ducky called, approaching him from down the hallway.
"What's up, Duck?" He asked.
"How is Abigail doing?"
Gibbs sighed, leaning against the counter. "She's upset. I told her what happened."
"Oh, dear," he breathed, looking into the room, to see her wiping at her face as her tears fell.
"Yeah," Gibbs ran a hand over his tired face, taking a deep breath. "I told her I'd get her in to see him, but I don't know that they'll let her. I know they don't want her blood pressure getting too high."
"Well, it will only be worse in the long run if she doesn't get to see him, Jethro."
"Yeah. I know, Duck," he agreed, patting him on the shoulder.
Ducky smiled sadly at him. "I will talk to his doctor, and perhaps I can get something arranged for her. You should go back to her, I will return shortly."
Clapping Ducky on the shoulder once more, Gibbs turned back and headed into the room, frowning when he saw what she was doing.
She was standing beside the bed, her fingers gripping the railing as she pulled on the torn and filthy clothes they found her in. The wires had been disconnected and from the looks of her bloody hand, she'd pulled the IV out as well.
"I want to be discharged," she announced, feeling his eyes on her. "They aren't... they aren't going to let me go be with him and I'm not... I can't... he needs me, Gibbs."
"Abby--"
"Please don't try to talk me out of this," she pleaded, her eyes filling with tears again. "Please. I can't... if he's not... I need to be with him."
He took her by the shoulders gently and sat her back down on the edge of the bed before speaking. "Abby, I'm not gonna stop you. Lemme get your doctor, okay? Just sit here for a minute."
She nodded, a few tears slipping down her cheeks as she watched him leave the room to find her doctor.
"Dr. Harper," Gibbs said, seeing the blonde doctor standing at the nurse's station.
"Agent Gibbs," she replied, her initial smile fading slightly when she saw the torn look on his face. "Is there a problem?"
"I need Abby's discharge forms," he said simply, hoping she would give him an opportunity to explain.
She pulled out Abby's chart and looked over it quickly, shaking her head sadly. "I'm afraid I can't discharge her yet. Her injuries are mostly minor, but the baby is our main concern. She still stands a chance of miscarriage with her elevated blood pressure, not to mention the stress of what she's been through."
"She wants to sit with her boyfriend," he reasoned, glancing over his shoulder at Abby. "She's not planning on leaving the hospital. She just wants to be with him."
"I can't discharge her, Agent Gibbs, even if she is planning on remaining in the hospital. If something were to happen, I would be unable to help her."
"Then I need to get her in to see him. She's stressing out more because she isn't being allowed to sit with him."
"I'm sorry. Going in to see Agent DiNozzo could raise her blood pressure even more, causing her to lose the baby. I can't let her see him right now," Dr. Harper shrugged. "If you're concerned about her stress levels, I can give her some sedatives. That's the best I can offer right now."
Gibbs growled as she turned and walked away, leaving him standing at the nurse's station. The young brunette nurse that was sitting in front of him waited until the doctor was out of earshot then stood up, whispering to him. "I'll get you the forms you need. Dr. Harper's right, though. If she signs out AMA, we can't help her."
"Don't worry about that. She'll be fine once she sees him," Gibbs reassured, accepting the forms the nurse held out to him. "Thank you."
"No problem. I hope they're both okay."
"They're not right now. But they will be if I have anything to say about it," he said, offering the nurse a nod of thanks before turning back towards Abby's room, pausing when he saw Tony's doctor speaking to one of the nurses as he filled out his chart.
"He's stable, but still critical. We need to test his kidney function, he may need a transplant depending on how far gone they are. He's strong though, seems like he's holding on for something."
Gibbs smiled to himself, knowing exactly what Tony was holding on for. He turned back to Abby's room and headed inside, discharge papers in hand.
"How is he?" She asked, standing up carefully as he entered the room. "I saw his doctor out there. Tell me, please."
Gibbs hesitated, setting the paperwork down on the bed. "He's stable. They have to run some more tests on his kidneys, but the doctor said he's strong, holding on."
She choked back a sob, seeing the worry in Gibbs' eyes. "Can I... see him?"
He held up the discharge papers and gave her a stern look. "I got your papers, but you have to hold yourself together, Abby."
"I will, I promise. I just need to be with him."
"Abby... I will make you leave and you won't come back. You know I will. You need to stay calm for the baby."
She nodded, not trusting her voice. She allowed Gibbs to help her with her heavy boots before she scribbled her signature on the papers.
"Ready?"
She nodded again, slipping her hand into his.
She allowed him to lead her down the hallway, swallowing hard as they neared the room where Tony was being held.
She paused in the doorway, a quiet gasp escaping her as she saw him for the first time.
There were wires and tubes attached to every visible part of his body. A large tube had been inserted in his throat and for one horrifying moment, Abby wondered if that was the only thing keeping him alive.
"Gibbs... I can't... he's--"
"Go on," Gibbs urged quietly.
She allowed him to lead her into Tony's room, helping her to sit in the chair next to his bed.
"I'll give you a minute, huh?" He offered, leaning down and kissing her temple. He moved to turn away when Abby grabbed his hand.
"Gibbs, wait."
"What is it, Abs?"
"Could you..." She took a deep breath, looking up at him. "Could you stay with me?"
"I'll be back in a little bit. You need to talk to DiNozzo."
She watched nervously as Gibbs left the room, leaving her alone with Tony. A tear slid down her cheek as she focused on his hand, unable to look at the rest of his body.
"You... you have to be okay, Tony. I don't think... I can't do this alone. Please."
-----
Gibbs stood in the doorway watching as Abby sat next to Tony, praying silently. It had been a few hours since she had started holding her vigil, and apart from a few minutes when she got up to change into some clean clothes Ziva brought for her, she hadn't left the chair she was sitting in. He couldn't help but notice that she had pulled out her black and silver rosary, not something he hadn't seen her do since Kate's funeral years earlier.
He waited until she finished her prayer before he stepped into the room and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How's he doin'?"
She looked up at him sadly, sliding her rosary back into it's bag. "Same. The Sisters called McGee and said they would come by after Mass to pray with me," he watched as she took Tony's hand in hers and kissed it. "He's not gonna be okay, is he Gibbs?"
He heard her voice crack as he sat in the chair next to her, wrapping his arm around her comfortingly. He wanted nothing more than to tell her everything she wanted to hear, that Tony would be fine and everything would return to normal, but ultimately he decided it was best to just be honest with her.
"The doctors aren't sure, Abs."
She dropped her head onto the edge of the mattress and sobbed silently. After awhile she raised a shaky hand and placed it over Tony's chest, signing I love you.
"He has to come back, Gibbs. I... I can't do this alone."
She jerked her head up a moment later, gasping when she felt Tony's hand cover her own, gripping it tightly. His eyes were searching the small room wildly, searching for anything familiar as he reached up with his free hand and pulled on the tube that was currently down his throat, desperately wanting it removed.
"Oh, my God. Tony, calm down. I'm here, its Abby," she said, struggling to keep her voice steady as she pulled his hands away from the breathing tube.
She could hear Gibbs calling for the doctors while she tried to calm him down, finally giving in to the emotion she had been holding in as Gibbs pulled her back from the bed. Turning into his chest she sobbed, unable to watch as the doctors removed the tube from Tony's throat.
"Abby--"
She froze when she heard his voice, raw and weak from the breathing device they had put in when he arrived. Pulling away from Gibbs, she stumbled back to the bed, taking his hand in hers again as some of the nurses left the cramped room.
"I'm here, baby. I'm not going anywhere."
"I love you," he managed, his voice rough.
Abby wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled sadly. "I love you too, Tony. No more talking, okay? I'll be here when you wake up, I promise."
He nodded weakly, clasping her hand in his as tightly as he could. His eyes closed seconds later as his breathing deepened and he fell back to sleep.
-----
"Jethro?"
Glancing up at the sound of Ducky's voice, Gibbs turned, pressing his finger to lips as he warned him to keep his voice down.
Stepping into the room, he offered Gibbs a tired smile. "How are they doing?" He asked quietly.
"DiNozzo's been out for awhile now. Seems to be doing a little better, though."
"And Abby?"
"Just fell asleep about an hour ago."
"At least she's getting some rest. Something you might want to think about as well," he said pointedly.
Turning back to Tony's bed, Gibbs waved him off dismissively. "That's what coffee's for, Duck."
Ducky shook his head at him, turning his attention instead to the sleeping couple. "They're strong. You know, many doctors say that if you can make it through your worst trauma, that your other problems disappear. I had a friend once who..."
"Ducky," Gibbs sighed tiredly, taking sip of his coffee. "Not now, huh?"
"Sorry. I came to check on these two. Timothy and Ziva wanted a status report."
"Send 'em back. They've been allowed, haven't they?"
He nodded. "I do believe that Timothy is a little hesitant, though."
"I guess I would be too if I had been in the room when he crashed," Gibbs conceded, looking curiously at the nurse that walked into the room. "Can I help you?" He asked, watching as she approached the far side of Tony's bed.
"I'll be back shortly, Jethro," Ducky said, slipping from the room quietly as the nurse explained her presence.
"I just have to draw some blood," she smiled, preparing the skin on his arm. She leaned down and started to insert the needle into Tony's IV when he startled suddenly, his arm pulling away from her.
"No," he cried hoarsely, his throat still raw. "Don't hurt her!"
Abby sat up at the sound of his voice, jarred from her own dreamless sleep. "Tony? I'm here, baby. I'm okay, we're okay now."
"No, no! I won't let him hurt you!" He pulled his IV out of his arm in a vain attempt to sit up when Gibbs eased him back against the pillows.
"Tony, it's okay. You're safe now, okay?"
He struggled for a moment, not immediately recognizing the voice. Opening his eyes, he saw his doctor entering the room as Gibbs hovered over him and a sobbing Abby sat at his side. "Boss," he said breathlessly, relaxing slightly against his hands.
"I'm going to sedate him."
"No," Abby cried, gripping Tony's hand tightly. "Please don't."
Gibbs looked at the doctor pointedly. "You don't have to. He'll be fine, he was just disoriented."
"I need his IV back in. It's helping flush his system."
"He'll let you put it back, won't you, DiNozzo?"
Tony nodded, holding Abby's hand. "'M sorry."
Gibbs watched carefully as he made an effort to relax, despite the tight grip he had on Abby's hand.
"It's okay," she whispered softly, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "We're okay now."
Releasing a shuddery breath, Tony nodded and settled back against the pillows, wincing as the doctor inserted the needle back into his hand.
"S... sorry Boss."
Dropping a hand to his shoulder, Gibbs squeezed gently. "It's alright, Tony. Everything's gonna be alright," he watched as his eyes closed slowly, his grip on Abby's hand loosening as he slipped back to sleep. "That's right. Get some rest, Tony. You should get some too, Abs."
She nodded, looking down at Tony's sleeping form before she spoke quietly. "He trusts you with his life, you know."
He looked over at her curiously. "What makes you say that?"
"Not even I could calm him down. Hearing your voice is what did it. Knowing that you were here, that you have his back. It's why he's resting, why he'll get better."
"He's doin' it for you, Abs. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have made it out of that basement," he knew his words would be hard for the younger woman to hear, but she needed to.
"I know. But I can't have his back like you or McGee and Ziva can," she admitted sadly, hanging her head. "I can't even protect myself."
"You did just fine, Abby," Gibbs said, pulling her into a gentle hug. "I'm proud of you."
Tony groaned restlessly as he slept, mumbling quietly.
"Shh..." Abby soothed, running her hands through his hair. "It's okay, just relax."
Gibbs smiled as he did just that, falling back into a deep sleep as she massaged his scalp. She looked up at the older man and offered a weak smile before turning back to Tony. "Everything will be okay now."
-----
"You sure you'll be okay?" Gibbs asked, watching as Tony plopped himself down on the couch.
Abby nodded, forcing a smile. "We'll be fine. Thanks for bringing us home, Gibbs."
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. You call me if you need anything, he signed.
I will. Promise, she replied, watching him step into the elevator before closing the door. Leaning her back against the closed door, she watched Tony as he sat on the couch, flipping through the channels absently.
"You gonna stare at me all day?" He asked, hating the way he snapped at her.
She sighed, pushing away from the door and taking a seat on the other end of the couch. There was an awkward silence as they sat quietly, their eyes glued to the TV as Tony finally settled on a movie.
Despite having spent the previous two weeks together in the hospital, they hadn't spent very much of that time by themselves. There was almost always someone in the room visiting, save for when one or both of them were sleeping.
The constant accompaniment hadn't given them much of an opportunity to discuss what had happened, not that either of them would have said anything about it to begin with. But now that they were home and all of their time was going to be spent with each other, neither of them were sure how to bring it up. Or even if they should.
"You want me to fix you something to eat?" Abby offered hopefully, desperate for something - anything - to do to help take her mind off of the things they weren't saying.
"Not hungry," was the answer she received.
"How about something to drink? It's almost time for your medicine, I could get you some water. I don't think we have any groceries, but--"
"Abby!" Tony interrupted harshly, his eyes dark. "I don't want anything but to sit here and watch my movie," he forced himself to focus on the screen, even though he could feel the way Abby flinched at his tone.
"'M sorry," she said quietly, leaning back against the corner of the couch and staring absently at the TV, glancing at him every few seconds out of the corner of her eye.
He could feel her arm brush against him when she shifted her weight, her muffled apology making him frown. Reaching over, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her down against his chest, feeling some of the tension leaving his body when she relaxed against him.
"Love you," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
"Love you too," she repeated, closing her eyes and snuggling closer to him, taking comfort in his scent.
Settling back against the cushions, Tony ran his fingers through her hair as he attempted to focus on the movie they were watching. It was one of his favorites, but for some reason he found himself unable to concentrate on it.
The sound of someone knocking at the front door startled him, nearly making him jump off of the couch. He cursed at himself under his breath when Abby sat up, offering him a worried look.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he said, nodding toward the door. "Someone knocked at the door."
She stood up and walked toward the entrance to their apartment, sneaking glances at him over her shoulder. Pulling the door open, she smiled when she saw Ziva in the hallway with two large bags of groceries.
"Gibbs mentioned that you needed a few things, seeing as you have not been home," she said, walking over to the kitchen counter when Abby stepped aside, allowing her entry. "Hello, Tony," she frowned when he didn't reply and turned to Abby. "Is he okay?"
Abby glanced into the living room, closing her eyes briefly when she saw the way Tony's hand trembled when he reached for the remote. "I don't... I really don't know," she said quietly. "He's not... I mean, we haven't had a chance to talk about it."
Ziva nodded in understanding as she reached into one of the bags, withdrawing a six-pack of caffeine free soda. "Ducky's orders," she explained, making her way over to the refrigerator. "Too much caffeine is not good for the baby."
"I know," Abby replied absently, still watching Tony carefully.
Hesitating briefly, Ziva rested the drinks on the counter before turning and resting her hand on Abby's shoulder gently. "Abby--"
"Hmm?"
"I can tell what you are thinking. I do not suggest trying to push him into talking."
"He needs to talk to someone. You should have seen the way he jumped when you knocked on the door. Sometimes, I think he forgets that we're not in that basement anymore."
"He will talk when he is ready. You cannot force something like this, no matter how much you may want to."
Blinking back a fresh set of tears, Abby nodded and forced a smile. "You're right. He'll talk when he's ready."
Ziva offered her a sympathetic smile. "It is much easier said than done, I know. But especially given how stubborn Tony is, it is better to wait for him to come to you."
"I'm sorry, Ziva. I'm just--"
"Having a good chat?" Tony asked angrily as he stepped into the kitchen, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hello, Tony," Ziva greeted, eying him carefully.
"We don't need people checking up on us."
"Tony," Abby scolded quietly. "She just stopped by to drop off some groceries."
He turned on Abby, narrowing his eyes at her. "You always talk about people when they can hear you?" He spat.
"We... I wasn't--"
"I could hear you Abby! Don't try to bullshit me," he growled, taking a step closer to her, his jaw twitching angrily. "You got something to say, you say it to me!"
Ziva watched as Abby shrank away from him, her green eyes filling with tears before she intervened. Stepping forward, she gripped Tony's arm lightly, flinching at the strangled cry that escaped him as he turned on her, his eyes wide.
"Tony..." she said, keeping her voice light. "It is my fault. I asked her how you were doing. I am sorry. I did not mean to upset you."
"I'm not upset. I'm fine!"
"Okay..." she conceded with a nod. "Regardless, I am sorry."
Tony yanked his arm away from her and sent his frightened lover another glare before he stalked out of the kitchen.
Flinching at the sound of the bedroom door slamming, Abby released a quiet sob. "H... he's so angry," she cried.
Ziva crossed the small kitchen and wrapped Abby in an awkward hug, patting her back reassuringly. "That is not uncommon in a situation such as this one. He has not had a chance to come to terms with what happened."
"That's why I want him to talk to someone."
"Perhaps it would be best if you took a few days away from each other."
"What? No. I... I can't leave him," she protested, pulling away from Ziva and swiping at the tears on her cheeks.
Ziva frowned darkly and stepped away from her. "Very well. I know you think that I do not understand what you are going through, Abby, but I do. I wish I did not--"
"Ziva, I'm sorry! I didn't..."
"You do not owe me an explanation. Just... please remember that I am here when you are ready."
Ziva offered her a small smile as she turned and headed for the door, only to stop dead in her tracks at the sound of shattering glass. Both women turned toward the bathroom, pausing only momentarily before rushing toward the door to check on the troubled man inside.
"Tony!" Abby called, banging loudly on the door. "Tony, the door now!"
She could hear him moving around inside, the sound of his harsh breathing startling her.
"Tony," Ziva tried, keeping her voice calm despite the feeling of her heart thumping wildly in her chest. "I will kick this door down if I have to," she warned.
"Sonofabitch!"
The sound of his curse set off a fresh set of tears as Abby banged harder on the door. "Baby please!"
"Move," Ziva ordered, nudging her friend aside as she removed the lock pick kit from her back pocket.
Her fingers moved quickly and in seconds, she heard the telltale click of the lock. Twisting the knob, she shoved the door open, her eyes widening as she took in the shattered remains of the mirror that had once hung over the sink.
"Tony--"
"Get out."
His voice was soft, but she could hear the anger in his tone. She stood stubbornly in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest as Abby peeked over her shoulder worriedly.
"You have hurt yourself," Ziva observed, eying the droplets of blood on the floor, staining the white tile.
A hoarse cry tore from Abby's throat as she attempted to push past her. "Move," she cried, ignoring the way Tony's jaw clenched angrily, his hazel eyes dark with anger.
"Abby, stay back!" Ziva snapped, her eyes never leaving his face. In the five years she had known Tony, she had never seen him this out of control of his anger. She knew he had a temper, but for the most part, he had hidden it from her and especially from Abby.
It wasn't unexpected, given what the couple had gone through during their forty-eight hour ordeal nearly three weeks earlier, especially given the fact that he hadn't had time to properly cope with what had happened. But it was unsettling, and she wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to walk out of the apartment and leave Abby alone with him.
Releasing a sigh as she slipped passed her, Ziva leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest as she watched Abby hurry to Tony's side.
Reaching for his hand, Abby ignored the painful ache in her chest when he pulled away from her, a low growl escaping him.
"Please," she pleaded quietly, her voice cracking slightly. "Please let me see. You've cut yourself, T."
"I'm. Fine."
"I know you are," she agreed quickly. "But it'll make me feel better if I can just--"
"Get out!"
A quiet sob escaped Abby as she backed away from him. "Tony, please," she cried.
He turned away from her, ignoring the part of his brain that screamed at him to pull her into his arms. He hated that she was hurting, and the fact that he was the reason didn't help the situation any. Unfortunately, the only way he knew to ease his anger was to take it out on whoever was available. He didn't want that person to be her.
"Tony," Abby tried again and the very sound nearly broke his heart.
"Just go," he managed, his back to her as he cradled his injured hand against his chest. "Leave me alone."
"I can't."
He could feel the anger welling up in his chest again and it was all he could do to keep from lashing out at her. "Abby--"
"Please stop trying to push me away," she pleaded, her voice small.
He turned on her, a growl of frustration escaping him. "Then quit pushing me!" He roared, pushing past her.
She cried out as she stumbled backwards, her back hitting the sink. She watched as he stalked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Abby..." Ziva said quietly, hating the heartbroken sobs that were escaping her. "Please come with me. Just for tonight."
"I can't leave him," she cried. "I can't. He needs me."
"What he needs is some time alone."
"You don't... I can't!"
She nodded grimly. "Very well then. But please... call me if you need me. Even if it just to talk."
Abby nodded, not trusting her voice as she knelt down to start cleaning up the broken glass.
Ziva stood in the doorway watching her for a moment before she turned and left the bathroom. She paused in the hallway, glancing at the closed bedroom door before she pulled her cell phone from her pocket.
"Hello Gibbs," she greeted as she stepped out of the apartment, pulling the front door closed behind her. "I am sorry to bother you, but I think that perhaps we have a problem."
-----
Gibbs pulled up outside of Tony's apartment and parked the car, sighing as he looked up at the darkened window. He had told himself he wasn't going to get involved but then Ziva had called to tell him what was happening, and here he was.
He had noticed in the hospital how they were pulling apart from each other, avoiding contact especially when they were left alone, but in hopes that they would be able to work it out on their own, he stayed out of it.
Unfortunately, the problem was too big to ignore now.
His initial reaction to Ziva's phone call had been to brush her off until she told him just how bad the situation had gotten. Tony was angry and violent, and while everyone knew that he'd never intentionally lay a finger on Abby, Gibbs knew that he wasn't in control of himself.
The best thing to do was to separate them until he could control himself.
Releasing a sigh, he climbed out of the car and made his way into the building. Taking the elevator up to Tony's floor, he walked down the long hallway to the apartment, using his spare key to open the door.
The front room was dark except for the glow that came from the overhead light that was on in the kitchen. "Abby?" He called, flipping on the living room light.
Receiving no answer from her, he made his way down the hallway, finding her curled up next to the bedroom door, sobbing quietly.
"Abby."
She looked up at him, her eyes red from crying. "He... he won't even answer me. He cut himself in the bathroom and I just wanna make sure he's okay."
Crossing the space between them, he pulled her to her feet carefully, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Go into the living room. I'll talk to him."
"But Gibbs--"
He silenced her with a stare, fighting the small smile that threatened when she dropped her eyes and set her mouth in a pout.
"Okay," she sighed. He waited until she'd settled herself on the couch before he turned back to the door.
"Tony," he waited for a moment before knocking. "Open the door, DiNozzo."
"I can't... not with Abby there."
Gibbs was shocked by the shakiness of his voice as he spoke quietly through the door. "She's in the living room. Open up."
He waited another minute before he heard the sound of the lock sliding out of place. Turning the knob, he stepped into the dark room, closing the door and locking it behind him.
Making his way back to the unmade bed, Tony sank down on the mattress, dropping his head to his hands. "I can't be around her right now, Boss."
"I know," he said quietly as he stepped further into the room, turning the lamp on beside the bed so that he could get a better look at the bandage Tony had placed on his cut hand.
"I didn't... I don't want to hurt her but I can't... I can't think clearly. I just--"
"I know, Tony."
"But I don't think she does, Gibbs!" He exploded, pushing himself to his feet before he began pacing.
"DiNozzo."
"I couldn't keep her safe. I'm supposed to protect her and all I did was sit there, watching him hurt her! She shouldn't... I'm not... I didn't protect her!"
"That what this is all about?"
"I didn't... I don't know!"
"None of what happened was your fault, Tony," Gibbs said, placing a hand on his shoulder, stopping his nervous pacing. "None of it. And Abby doesn't blame you."
"You don't know that. Look at what happened to her. I... I was lying there when I could've been helping her!"
"You were poisoned, Tony. You couldn't have stopped him. He would have killed you just like he killed his brother."
"Maybe she would be better off if things had worked out that way."
The sound of Gibbs' hand connecting with the back of Tony's head echoed throughout the room.
Eyes wide, he turned back to Gibbs, rubbing the back of his head. "What--"
"You ever let me hear you say something like that again and you'll get more than a headslap. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal."
Nodding in response, Gibbs crossed his arms over his chest, looking him over carefully.
"I'm gonna take her with me tonight. I think you need some time to deal with this however it is you usually deal with shit and I don't think you can do that with her hoverin'."
"I don't--"
"No arguments, Tony."
The younger man nodded, sinking back down on the mattress.
Gibbs studied him for a moment before he turned to the door, unsure of what else to do or say to assure him that nothing that happened in the basement had been his fault.
"Boss?"
He paused at the door, turning back to Tony. "Yeah?"
"Tell... tell Abby I love her. I just... I can't--"
Releasing another sigh, Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, I know Tony. You need anything, you let us know."
He nodded, lowering his gaze to the floor once more as Gibbs stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
-----
Tony sat up straight in the bed, drenched in a cold sweat. His heart was beating rapidly, his breathing heavy and ragged, the sounds and smells of the basement invading his senses. He had been having the same nightmare almost every night since they had been rescued, always waking to the sound of a single gunshot.
Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he ran a shaky hand over his face and sighed. He glanced over his shoulder to Abby's side of the bed, hoping that he hadn't woken her when he suddenly remembered that she wasn't even in the apartment.
He stood up and walked into the kitchen, taking a pill from each of the seven bottles on the counter and gulping them down. Turning to face the refrigerator, he reread the short note that Abby had left for him on the door, held up by a bat magnet. It didn't say anything of importance, just reminding him that she was there if he decided that he wanted to talk and that she loved him and would see him the next day.
Picking up the phone that sat next to the couch, he dialed Abby's cell phone, he decided to take her up on her offer, hoping that he wasn't waking her.
She answered the phone after only one ring, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tony?"
"Hey baby. I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No," she answered, sniffling a little. "I've, um... been up all night."
Tony frowned. "You should sleep, hon. You need all the rest you can get for the baby."
"I... I know. It's just..." she stopped, pulling the phone away from her ear. He could hear Gibbs in the room, talking to her. They spoke for a minute or so before he heard the rustling of blankets as Abby handed her cell phone to the older man.
"Tony."
"Yeah, Boss. I'm here," he answered.
Gibbs stayed silent for a moment, seemingly gathering his thoughts. "You're aware it's 0200, right?"
"I am. I'm sorry, I... I just needed to talk to her."
"You should both be sleeping," he said firmly. Tony could only imagine the 'Gibbs stare' that Abby was receiving, and the thought of her cheeks blushing as she scooted under the blankets was enough for him to crack a small smile.
"On it, Boss," he frowned slightly, knowing that Gibbs wasn't gonna let Abby back on the phone.
"Tony," Gibbs said, recognizing the defeat in his voice. "I'll bring her by for a bit as soon as she gets some rest and a good breakfast, okay?"
"Thanks, Gibbs."
He hung up the phone without another word, leaving Tony listening to a dial tone. He replaced the phone on the cradle and sighed again, pushing himself off the couch and heading back into the bedroom. He stretched out on the bed, staring up at the ceiling for a few minutes until he drifted off, his sleeping pills finally taking over and allowing him a dreamless sleep.
-----
"We're not gonna stay long, Abs," Gibbs said as they stepped off the elevator on the fourth floor.
"Gibbs, I'm sure he's fine now. Besides, he needs me."
He took out his key and unlocked the door, allowing her to step into the apartment before closing the door behind them. "What he needs is some time to sort things out. He's havin' a hard time with all this."
Abby ignored him, instead heading directly to the bedroom she knew her lover was still cooped up in. "Tony? Baby? It's me."
"It's open."
Turning the doorknob, she pushed the door open to find the curtains open and their bed made as Tony stepped out of their closet.
"Hey sweetie," he smiled, pulling her close to him and kissing her gently, running a hand over the small rise on her belly. "Did you sleep okay?"
"Better after you called. I... I was scared for you, Tony."
He frowned, pulling her into another hug. "I know Abs."
Gibbs stood silently in the doorway, observing the exchange between them. He noticed the sharp contrast from the room he had seen the night before - dark, with an unmade bed and clothes littering the floor.
He watched as Tony held her close to him, whispering what Gibbs was sure were reassurances that what happened the previous day would never happen again. He was apologizing to her, and that alone was enough to put a slight smile on his face. Stepping away from the bedroom, he went to wait for them in the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water.
"Gibbs?"
He turned at the sound of Abby's voice behind him, setting his water down on the counter. "What's up, Abs?"
She smiled. "I'm gonna stay here. Tony called Ducky earlier, he's gonna come over and talk to us for awhile."
"That's good," he said, drinking the remainder of his water and placing the glass in the sink. "I'll take off then. Call me after you talk to Ducky, huh?"
"Sure thing, Gibbs," she smiled, turning around and heading back to the bedroom.
He headed out the door, leaving the couple alone in their apartment. He knew that everything would be better now that Tony had come to his senses, and that they would be that much stronger after they spoke to Ducky later that day.
-----
Abby stepped into the bedroom and smiled at Tony as he relaxed against the pillows on their bed. "Gibbs said to call him later, after Ducky comes by."
"Alright," Tony said, patting the empty spot next to him on the bed. "C'mere."
She crawled onto the bed and snuggled up next to him, smiling when he rested his hand over her stomach lightly.
"So," he started, slipping his fingers under her shirt and rubbing her belly in slow circles. "You really think it's a girl?"
"I do," she grinned, tilting her head back to kiss him. "I'm not trying to say anything about your masculinity, if that's what you're worried about."
Tony chuckled. "It's not."
They were silent for a second before he spoke up again, his voice quieter than before. "I really am sorry, Abby. I... I don't know what got into me."
She pulled herself closer to him, resting her ear over his heart. "I do. I saw it in your eyes when we were there... then again last night. I... I'm just glad you're here now. Don't let him ruin us."
He lifted her head off his chest and cupped her cheeks in his hands. "I won't, Abby. I promise," he assured her, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He wrapped his arms around her as they relaxed against the pillows, enjoying being near each other. She nuzzled her face against his chest, feeling his breathing deepen as he fell asleep with his hand resting on the small of her back.
She smiled to herself, glad that he was allowing himself to rest. The only thing she could hope for was that talking to Ducky would help him move past whatever was eating at him.
-----
"Tony?"
"Yeah baby?"
"Wanna do me a huge favor?"
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to hide his smile as he watched her try to find a comfortable position. "Depends on what it is," he teased, cocking his eyebrow at her.
Abby narrowed her eyes at him playfully, nudging his knee with hers. "Don't be mean."
"I'm not!" He laughed, leaning over to kiss the top of her head. "Whatcha need?"
"Well..." she hesitated slightly, biting her lower lip. "I'm kinda hungry."
"Oh you are, huh?"
"Uh huh."
"Guess I can't let my girls starve then," he grinned, reaching for the remote to pause the movie they were watching. "What are you hungry for?"
"Promise you won't laugh?"
"No promises," he teased.
Abby hadn't experienced many cravings at the beginning of her pregnancy, but as she neared her due date the foods she was wanting to eat were getting weirder and weirder. Tony found that it was hard to stop himself from teasing her about it but - fortunately for him - she took it in stride and even managed to joke about it with him.
"I want some pickles."
"Pickles? Seriously? That's such a cliche, Abs. I expected something a little more original."
"I can't help what she wants!"
"Sure, blame it on the little one," he smirked as he pushed himself to his feet.
She watched as he made his way into the kitchen before she called out to him again. "Baby?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you grab the peanut butter too?"
He shuddered as he made his way over to the cabinet to pull out the half eaten jar of peanut butter. "Pickles and peanut butter," he mumbled. "And they say my eating habits are strange."
He headed back into the living room with her snack in hand and he couldn't help but laugh when she practically snatched the jars from his hand.
"Easy now," he teased, sinking down beside her as she opened the jars.
She grinned at him before she leaned over and pecked his lips. "Thanks baby."
He smiled. "Not a problem. Anything for my girls."
"You should try one!" She said, dipping a pickle into the peanut butter and holding it out to him.
"Nah, baby, really that's okay. I'm good."
"Okay..." She shrugged. "You're missing out."
"I'm sure I am," he chuckled, reaching for the remote to start the movie back up. Settling back against the pillows, he dropped his arm around her shoulder, grinning when he felt her snuggle against his side.
It wasn't long before Abby pulled away, depositing the empty peanut butter jar on the coffee table and sighing loudly as she settled back against him.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah," she sighed again, resting her hand against her round belly.
"You sure?"
"I'd be better if I had some ice cream."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Tony! I can't help that I'm still hungry!" She frowned and immediately he knew he'd screwed up.
"You're right. I'm sorry," he said, leaning over to peck her lips before pausing the movie once more. "What kind of ice cream do you want?"
"Don't worry about it," she pouted. "I'll get it myself."
"No, no. Come on, I was only teasing. What kind?"
"Do we have any strawberry left?"
"Not sure, but I'll go check."
Pushing himself up off the couch again, he made his second trip into the kitchen, praying there was ice cream left. Sighing in relief when he spotted the container of strawberry ice cream, he grabbed it along with a spoon before heading back into the living room.
"Here you go."
"Mmm. You," she grinned, tugging him down for a kiss. "Are the best."
"You're not too bad yourself. Now, you need anything else before I turn my movie back on?"
"Nope," she replied happily. "I think I'm good now."
He eyed her suspiciously before he settled back onto the couch again. Restarting the movie, he grinned as she offered him a bite.
"Oof," Abby groaned, pulling away from him to rub her side where the baby kicked.
"I felt that one over here," Tony said, pulling her shirt up over her large belly and kissing it gently. "Still thinking its a girl? She's got quite a leg on her."
"Are you doubting me, DiNozzo?"
"Of course not," he answered dutifully as he sat upright, resting his hand against her stomach. He grinned when he felt their baby kick again. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
"Hah. Try being on this end of it."
"That bad?"
"Sometimes. I just think she didn't want to share her ice cream with you."
He narrowed his eyes at her playfully before he pressed another kiss to her lips. "Not nice."
"I can't help that she's already taking after you."
Tony chuckled. "Well, I hope she looks like her mommy, because then we'd have the prettiest little girl in the world." He grinned, pulling her close to him.
"You tryin' to butter me up, DiNozzo?"
"Maybe--"
Abby yawned and rested her head against his shoulder. "Maybe if you're a good boy mommy will give you a treat in the morning before she goes shopping with auntie Ziva."
"You're a tease."
"Maybe," she giggled, closing her eyes and relaxing against him. "But you love it."
He smirked, pressing a kiss to her head. "C'mon, baby. Let's get you to bed. You know how your back gets when you sleep on the couch."
She nodded, allowing him to help her into the bedroom, his hand rubbing the small of her back gently. She pulled back the sheets and climbed in, smiling when he slipped under the blankets next to her.
She leaned up and pulled off the OSU T-shirt she was wearing before pulling the blankets up over her shoulders and pressing her body against his.
"Thought you said in the morning," he chided, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck.
"I did. But I like feeling you next to me. And it seems to calm the baby down. I've told you this before."
"Yeah, but usually we're naked anyway."
She rolled her eyes playfully, resting her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her bare back. "Love you."
"Love you too. Get some sleep, baby."
-----
It was all Abby could do to keep from collapsing on the couch as she entered the apartment after a long afternoon of shopping.
"Where should I put the bags?" Ziva asked, kicking the front door closed behind her.
"Oh... um... just leave them by the door," Abby instructed, dropping her purse onto the couch. "Thanks again for going with me today, Ziva. I could have taken Tony, but clothes shopping isn't really his thing unless it's designer suits."
"It was no problem. I had a very enjoyable afternoon," she smiled. "Speaking of Tony... where is he?"
"Good question. Tony?" Abby called, resting her hands against her lower back as she made her way down the hallway.
She leaned against the door frame for the spare bedroom and smiled. Tony was in the far corner of the room, dipping his roller brush in the green paint they had picked out for the nursery. His headphones were in his ears and he was bouncing on his feet, singing to the music under his breath as he painted the wall in long, smooth strokes.
Walking up behind him, she reached up and pulled one of the small buds out of his ear, making him jump as he turned around. "Jesus, Abby! You scared me!"
"Sorry," she said, leaning up to kiss him quickly. "Looks good in here."
Reaching up, he yanked the other bud from his ear, forcing a smile as he tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. "I didn't expect you back so soon."
"I know. My back is killing me though. I told Ziva if I had to go in one more store, I was gonna collapse," reaching down, she grabbed his paint splattered hand, tugging him from the room. "Come see what we bought."
He allowed himself to be pulled down the hallway to the living room. "Hey Ziva," he greeted, his hand resting against Abby's back. "You girls have a good time?"
"We had a bang."
"Blast," he corrected automatically, sinking down on the couch with a groan. "You buy me anything?" He asked, giving Abby a grin.
"Maybe," she smirked. "But that's for later."
"Oh re-he-heally? You're not gonna show me now?"
"Nope."
"Well that's not very nice. You guys hungry? I was actually getting ready to take a break and order a pizza."
"I don't know about Ziva, but I'm starving."
"And I'm not surprised," Tony teased, laughing when Abby punched his shoulder.
"Jerk."
"Sorry baby," he grinned before turning to Ziva. "How 'bout it? Hungry?"
"Oh no, thank you. I should actually be going."
"You sure?"
"Positive, but thank you," Ziva said, watching as the couple sat close to each other.
"Thanks for taking me today, Ziva. I had a lot of fun."
"You are welcome, Abby," she said, offering her a warm smile. "I will see you soon, yes?"
"Yep."
"See you at work, Tony."
He waved as she let herself out of the apartment before turning his attention back to Abby. "So... show me what you bought me."
He couldn't help but grin at the slight blush that covered her cheeks. "It's actually something for me that I picked up for you."
"Oh yeah?" He asked, growling playfully. "Well, go put it on and model it for me."
"Gonna be kind of hard to do," she mumbled, grabbing the only pink bag from the pile. Sinking down on the couch beside him, she withdrew a lacy red nightgown, holding it up to show him.
"Uh... that's a little small, isn't it?" He asked, eyeing the fabric.
"That's the point."
"It is?"
"Uh huh. This is my motivation for getting back in shape after I have her," she grinned, resting her hand against her stomach.
"Oh please. You'll be able to fit in that as soon as she's out of there. You're all baby," he grinned, leaning over to kiss her lips.
"Mm," she moaned quietly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Know what I just realized?"
"What's that?" He mumbled against her.
"You didn't get your special treat this morning."
"No, I certainly didn't."
"Forgive me?"
"Well that all depends," he grinned, nuzzling her nose with his.
"On?"
"Whether or not I can have it now."
"Thought you'd never ask."
-----
Abby stepped off the elevator in the bullpen and smiled brightly when she saw that the team was busy working on cold cases.
"Hello!" She called, holding up two large bags of Chinese food. "Break for lunch?"
"Of course!" Tony said, jumping up and ushering Abby to his chair. He paused as he started opening the bag, looking over at Gibbs. "I mean... lunchtime, Boss?"
Gibbs shook his head, waving his hand when Abby looked over at him with her puppy dog eyes. "Yeah, yeah, lunchtime."
Everyone rolled their chairs over to Tony's desk as he pulled out the food, handing the containers around. "Dig in, everyone," he grinned, leaning down and kissing Abby. "Thank you, baby."
"Not a problem. I wanted to get out of the house anyway. I miss being at work everyday."
"Well, take advantage, Abs. You won't wanna leave once the little one comes," McGee pointed out, taking a bite of his shrimp chow mein.
"Yeah, you're probably..." she stopped, feeling her abdomen tighten. She had been having mild contractions all morning but had written them off, knowing that she was still a month away from her due date.
"Abby?" Tony asked, setting his food down and resting his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay? What's the matter?"
"She just kicked my rib, I'm fine. Promise," she lied, not wanting him to stress out over Braxton-Hicks contractions. "I do have to use the little girls room though," she smiled, standing up and waddling to the bathroom.
He sat back down on the corner of his desk, not sure whether or not he really believed her. "I'm gonna go check on her."
"Tony, perhaps I should? I do not think she will take well to being spied on," Ziva offered, putting her food aside and heading for the bathroom.
"She's right, DiNozzo," Gibbs added. "She won't be happy if you pop in there."
-----
Ziva entered the bathroom and frowned when she saw Abby clutching the edge of the counter, rubbing her stomach.
"You are not okay, Abby. What is the matter?"
"My doctor said that they're normal, but she didn't say they'd hurt so much," she chuckled, straightening for a moment after the contraction ended.
"How long have you been having them?" Ziva asked, helping her friend over to the small couch in the corner of the bathroom.
"Since Tony left this morning," she said, closing her eyes as her abdomen cramped again.
"I am going to get Tony."
"No!" Abby protested, gripping her arm as she looked up at her pleadingly. "Please. All he's gonna do is worry himself sick and it's really not that big of a deal!"
Pulling out of her grasp, Ziva shook her head. "If it was not that big of a deal then you would not be hiding it from him. Stay here, I will have him come to you."
"In case you haven't noticed, this is the ladies room."
"And? In case you have not noticed, things such as gender labels do not deter me."
Turning back to the door, she hurried out of the bathroom before Abby could convince her otherwise.
-----
"Tony?"
Glancing up at the sound of Ziva's voice, Tony stood, dropping his partially eaten container to the desk. "She okay?"
"I am not sure. She insists that she is, but she is as stubborn as you are when it comes to such things."
"Where is she?"
"In the bathroom. I told her that I would bring you to her."
He followed after her, tossing a concerned look back to Gibbs and McGee. "Wait here," Ziva instructed, her hand resting on his upper arm. "I will clear the restroom so you may have a moment with her."
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside, narrowing her eyes at the two young women from downstairs currently hovering over her very pregnant friend. "Get out," she ordered.
"Ziva..." Abby scolded lightly, offering an apologetic smile as the two women backed away, frowning darkly.
"Agent DiNozzo needs the room," Ziva explained curtly as the two women brushed passed her, clearly irritated at being ordered around.
"Someone should inform Agent DiNozzo that there's a men's room right next door," the brunette muttered as she shoved the door open.
Ziva rolled her eyes before she leaned out the door, signaling for Tony to come in.
"Abby?" He called as he slipped into the otherwise empty bathroom, his face set in a frown.
"Over here," she managed as her stomach tightened again, a quiet gasp escaping her.
He rushed over to her side, dropping to his knees in front of of her. His frown darkened when she reached for his hand, gripping it in hers until the pain passed. "What the hell was that?"
"It was nothing. I'm... I'm fine."
"Baby..." Reaching up, he cupped her face gently in his hand. "That didn't look like 'nothing' to me."
"My doctor said it was normal."
"And it might be, but I'd feel a lot better if you'd let me get Ducky to check you out."
"Tony!"
"Please. I'm not going to be able to concentrate on anything today otherwise. You know that."
Narrowing her eyes at Ziva, she nodded. "Yeah, I know," she said bitterly, groaning when Tony pulled her to her feet.
"It'll be real quick, okay? Purely for my sanity."
She allowed him to lead her to the elevators, sparking curiosity from both Gibbs and McGee as they passed the bullpen.
"Everything okay, Abs?" Gibbs asked, meeting them at the elevator. They all stepped on a moment later, and Tony pressed the button for Autopsy as the doors slid closed.
"I'm... fine," she gasped, gripping Tony's hand as she struggled to stay upright. "My overprotective boyfriend is making me see Ducky."
"You're in pain, Abby. If we need to go to the hospital, I need to know!"
"Contractions?" Gibbs questioned, watching as the young woman relaxed again as the pain passed. "How long?"
"She said since Tony left the house this morning," Ziva spoke up, receiving a glare from the pregnant scientist. "I am not going to lie to them, Abby," she turned back to Gibbs. "This is her fourth one since she went to the bathroom."
The elevator opened outside of Autopsy and everyone filed out, heading into the large cooled room.
"Ah!" Ducky said, smiling at his co-workers. "To what do I owe this..." he stopped, seeing Tony helping Abby into the room, following Gibbs. "Abigail--"
"Don't call me Abigail, Ducky, please," she groaned, letting Tony help her onto one of the autopsy tables.
"My apologies, Abby. What's the problem?" He asked, looking her over quickly as he stood up from his desk.
"She's havin' contractions, Duck," Gibbs explained.
Ducky chuckled. "That is perfectly normal, Jethro. Surely you know that. You're not due until next month if I remember correctly, yes?"
"Exactly," she said, looking at Tony. "He was worried. I tried to tell him it was norm... aah!"
She cried out suddenly, gripping Tony's hand as she bore down against the table.
"Oh, my," Ducky said, walking back over to his desk. He picked up the phone and called the hospital quickly, letting them know that she was coming.
"What's going on?" Tony asked, concerned. McGee and Ziva both pointed toward Abby's legs, seeing the water that suddenly spilled onto the floor. He gasped, looking to Ducky worriedly as he made his way back over to her.
"Ducky... I'm not going to the hospital," Abby sighed, exasperated, not noticing the liquid on the floor.
Turning back to her, he looked down at the ground quickly before meeting her eyes. "I'm afraid you are, my dear. Your water just broke."
"No... no, no, no. I can't. It's too early."
"Everything will be fine, Abs," Gibbs reassured her, sending McGee to get the sedan.
Ducky patted her on the shoulder. "He is right. You're far enough along that the baby will be perfectly healthy."
"Come on, baby," Tony said, helping her off the table. He stopped, sensing her insecurity and stepped in front of her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I'm here, okay? I won't let anything happen."
-----
"You Sonofabitch! We are never having sex again!" Abby screamed, gripping his hand tightly as she tried her hardest to not bear down against the hospital bed.
Tony simply leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, allowing her to squeeze his hand as he massaged her lower back. She had been in what the doctor was calling 'active labor' for over 13 hours, and he was hoping that they were finally getting close.
After they left the Navy Yard and got her to the hospital, things had progressed rapidly for awhile, leading the nurses to fear that the doctor wouldn't make it in time for the birth. Eventually though, sometime after hour 3 or 4, everything came to a screeching halt. She had stopped dilating, which all the nurses kept telling him was completely normal.
Her current contraction ended and she slumped against the bed for a moment, releasing his hand just long enough for him to shake it out. "It's okay, baby... I'm here."
"Don't 'baby' me, mister! You're not off the hook!"
Gibbs poked his head into the large birthing room and smiled at the sight of Abby relaxing on the bed. "How's it goin', Abs?" He asked softly.
Tony sighed in relief, about to ask Gibbs if he had any pointers for helping her out when she suddenly grabbed his hand tightly, crushing his fingers as another contraction started.
Gibbs merely chuckled as he watched Tony nearly fall to his knees. "Abs... Abby," he said, slipping his hand into hers and reaching for the cup of ice chips. "Here."
She relaxed at the end of the contraction and smiled, releasing Tony's hand and taking the ice chips gratefully. Gibbs jerked his head toward the door, motioning for him to take a break and smirking to himself when he bolted from the room.
"C'mere, sit up," Gibbs said, coaxing her into a sitting position with her legs hanging off the side of the bed. "This might help."
"It's never gonna be over," she whined, resting her head against Gibbs' chest as he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back.
"It will, soon. Then you'll have your little girl and everything will be back to normal."
"They've been saying 'soon' for the last 5 hours, Gibbs," she sighed, eating another ice chip. "And I think I may have broken Tony's fingers. At least one anyway."
-----
Tony stumbled into the waiting room, his eyes wide as he spotted McGee, Ziva and Ducky sitting against the far wall. All three looked up expectantly at the sound of his footsteps against the hard floor.
"Well? How is she?" McGee asked anxiously.
"It's like the freakin' Exorcist in there!" Tony managed, unconsciously cradling his hand against his chest. "I don't... wow."
"It cannot be that bad," Ziva snickered, patting the empty seat beside her in offering.
"Yeah, you get back to me on that one when you decide to give birth, Zee-vah. I'm not even the one doing anything and it's still painful!"
He sank down into the hard chair with a groan, dropping his head back against the wall. "I'm pretty sure that if she was able to actually get up, she'd murder me."
"Surely you are exaggerating."
"You think?" Tony snorted. "Tell her, Duck. Women get crazy when they're having babies."
"With good reason. Especially given the fact that she's been in labor for 13 hours," he laughed. "And what on Earth have you done to your hand?"
"Huh?"
Reaching over, Ducky grabbed his hand, pulling it away from his chest. He cocked his eyebrow when Tony hissed in pain and attempted to pull away. "Well, that finger's going to need to be splinted."
"I'm fine," Tony muttered, cringing again as Ducky examined his hand carefully. "Ducky!"
"Your finger is sprained," he announced. "Courtesy of Abby, I would presume."
"I told you she was a crazy woman right now. Didn't realize she was that strong."
"You would be amazed. Years ago, I knew a young man who actually sustained a rather nasty injury to his private--"
"Wow. Okay, change of subject, huh?" McGee interrupted, seeing the way Tony's face paled.
"What? Oh, yes. Of course. I'll go see if I can locate some supplies and we'll get that finger patched right up."
-----
Abby's doctor entered the room right in the middle of another powerful contraction to find her head buried in Gibbs' chest as she sobbed in pain.
"Shhh... it's okay, Abby. You're doin' great, honey," he soothed, whispering in her ear. "We're all so proud of you."
"Abby, let's lay back against the pillows, okay?" The brunette doctor asked, pulling on a pair of gloves. "We'll see if we're gonna have a baby tonight."
Gibbs helped her move back against the pillows as her doctor checked her out.
"Everything looks good, fully dilated. Let me get some nurses in here, then we can start pushing, okay?"
Abby nodded, looking up at Gibbs as he stood next to her. "Tony?" She questioned, noticing for the first time that he had left the room.
"Want me to get him?"
She nodded again, taking deep breaths as she waited for the doctor to return. "Please."
Leaning down, he kissed her forehead and turned, heading for the waiting room. "DiNozzo!" He barked, watching as the younger man jumped up to his feet.
"She okay?" He asked, his eyes wide.
"She's doing great. Doctor just came in to check her. It's time."
Tony looked nervously between Gibbs and the birthing room where Abby was waiting for him. "I... she doesn't want me, Boss. She's--"
Gibbs reached up and smacked him on the back of the head before narrowing his eyes and pointing at the room. "She asked for you. Now, go. You know what to do."
He nodded and walked toward the room, his finger aching as he wiped his hands on his pants. Taking a deep breath, he walked into the room and offered her a smile. "Hey baby."
"Tony..." She groaned, reaching out for him.
"It's okay, sweetheart. You're doin' great."
Her doctor re-entered the room and smiled at them. "Okay, ready Abby? On your next contraction, I want you to push."
Abby nodded, feeling the familiar tensing of her abdominal muscles as the contraction started. It didn't take very long, and after only 3 pushes, their baby was crowning.
"Come on, Abs, you're doin' great. One more big push then it's all over," Tony coached, kissing her quickly.
She nearly shrieked as another contraction came over her, pushing with everything she had. Her eyes opened at the sound of the crying infant, the sound bringing her to tears as well.
"You did it, baby. Look," Tony said, helping her to sit up a little straighter so she could see the baby at the end of her hospital bed.
The doctor looked up at them and smiled. "It's a boy. Congratulations!"
They looked at each other curiously for a moment before they both started laughing.
"You were wrong," Tony teased, leaning down to kiss her on the lips. "Good thing we didn't buy all kinds of pink stuff!"
Abby smirked, pulling him down for another kiss. "I didn't really care either way, T. You know that. Besides, I don't know what you would've done with two girls in the house. You can barely handle me."
"Hey..." he frowned for a moment, feigning sadness before smiling again. "I do have to say I agree though. A boy is definitely more my speed."
The nurse walked to the other side of the bed and placed their son in Abby's arms. "Look at him, Tony. He's got your eyes."
"How can you tell?" He asked, sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. "His eyes are closed."
"Because," she said, not taking her eyes off their son. "That's how you look when you're sleeping too. Go get everyone! I want them to meet him."
Leaning over, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before he pulled away. "I'll be right back," he promised before he climbed off the bed. He paused at the doorway, glancing back at Abby and his son, his grin widening before he stepped out of the room, intent of finding the rest of his team.
They were - as promised - still sitting in the waiting room, eagerly awaiting any news on the baby they were all anxious to meet.
Ziva looked up first, his footsteps against the floor once again alerting her to his presence. "Is she here?"
McGee and Ducky turned at the sound of her question, their eyes asking the same. Gibbs, however, stood in the corner, a knowing smirk playing on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"It's a boy!" He blurted out, laughing when McGee and Ziva jumped to their feet, Ziva crushing him in a hug while McGee slapped him on the back.
"When do we get to see him? And what have you named him? How is Abby? She is fine, yes? Is she disappointed?"
"We haven't really discussed the name yet. Abby's doing great, super tired, but she's good. And no, she's not disappointed. He's absolutely perfect. She wants you guys to come back and meet him now."
Not needing to be told twice, Ziva pulled away from him and hurried out of the waiting room, her excitement enough to make Tony laugh again.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to splint that finger up, Anthony. Abby will be preoccupied with visitors for the moment. I can't imagine I'll be able to steal you away once they are finished."
"I'm fine Duck. Really."
"Yes, yes. You always say that, so forgive me if I don't believe you. Come along now, it'll only take a moment."
He allowed himself to be led over to a chair, his leg bouncing anxiously as Ducky splinted his finger quickly. "There you are," he announced once he was finished. "All done."
"Thanks. You coming back?" He asked, glancing between Ducky and Gibbs.
"Right behind you, DiNozzo," Gibbs assured him, offering him a rare smile before he hurried out of the waiting room, anxious to get back to his family.
-----
The room was dark as Abby slept, though the light from the hallway washing over her peaceful face.
This was the most content she'd looked in months, Tony realized, and he knew that the little boy cradled in his arms was the reason why.
"I haven't seen your mommy this happy in a long time," he said to the infant, grinning as he slept on. "She's glad you're finally here... we both are."
"Even if you're not a girl," Abby mumbled teasingly, a slight smile tugging on the corners of her mouth as she opened her eyes slowly.
"Did I wake you?" Tony asked, standing up and placing the baby in her arms once she sat up against the pillows.
"No," she said, kissing her son's forehead. Looking up at Tony, she smiled brightly. "You should go home and get some rest. You can come back in the morning."
"Absolutely not! I'm not leaving you two here alone," he grinned, sitting on the edge of the bed and wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he kissed her hair.
"He's amazing, isn't he?" Abby gushed, leaning against him. "Looks just like you."
"I don't think so. He has your nose and lips."
"Well I do. We should name him Anthony Dominic DiNozzo III."
Tony laughed out loud. "Hell no. The DiNozzo's are not having another Anthony Dominic. Anything but that baby, please."
"Never thought you'd be so adamant about not naming your first born after yourself." Abby teased. "Did you mean it when you said you liked William?"
She felt him tense almost immediately, thinking of their time spent in that basement all those months earlier. She nudged him gently with her elbow, leaning up to kiss him and smiling when he relaxed.
"Yeah, I did. William is perfect."
"William Anthony DiNozzo."
"Abby--"
"What?" She looked at him innocently. "You said you didn't want an Anthony Dominic. He's not."
Tony sighed and ducked down to kiss her softly. "Alright. But I have a question for you then."
"Anything," she replied, looking back down at their sleeping son.
He fidgeted nervously on the bed as he pulled a small black box out of his pocket.
"I... I never thought I'd be doing this--"
Abby chuckled, looking over at her lover, the grin falling from her face when she saw him twitching nervously. "Everything okay?"
"I... everything's perfect. Better than perfect. I love you, and I never thought I could be as happy as I am at this moment, here with you and our son. Abby..." he lifted the small box up and opened it, revealing a beautiful diamond ring. "Marry me?"
Abby elbowed him in the side, her eyes wide in surprise. "Tony!" She cried, tears welling up behind her eyes. "Yes! Of course!"
He smiled brightly at her, leaning down and kissing her deeply. "I love you so much, Abby," he said, slipping the ring onto her finger before wiping her tears away. "So much."
"I love you too, Tony."