Finally! TheLAST chapter! Thank you for all those amazing reviews, they are the reason i keep writing (seriously) And thanks you to my equally amazing beta reader Rinne who made sure my fic actually made sense! See you all soon when i post the first chapter of my new fic Insanity which i hope is even better than this one!
Tony knew exactly where he was as he was pulled out of his unconscious state by the constant beeping of the heart monitor and the smell that was unique to hospitals. He kept his eyes shut, hoping to savour the last remnants of sleep before he had to wake up and face whatever mess he had gotten himself into this time.
"I know you're awake, DiNozzo," said a familiar voice from his left. Tony moaned, beginning to feel the pain from his leg. He opened one eye and then opened the other.
"Water," he coughed. His tongue felt like sandpaper. Only a second later, a hand was placed under his head to lift him up. A glass was placed at his lips and he sipped greedily at the cool water. Once his mouth had been sufficiently moistened, the glass was taken away and the hand placed his head back down onto the pillow and slid away.
"Thanks."
"Don't expect me to wait on you hand and foot, DiNozzo, that was a one time thing."
Tony nodded slightly. "Understood." Tony paused to swallow before speaking. "What happened?"
"You mean, you don't remember?" Gibbs asked.
Tony closed his eyes and shook his head. "Fuzzy memories. There was a blackout right?"
"You were trapped in an elevator with Michael Harker."
Tony's eyed widened as the memories of the night before came flooding back. "He shot me."
"Damn right, he shot you. He hit an artery, you've had about four bags of blood pumped into you since last night."
"No wonder I feel so-"
"Crappy?"
Tony sighed. "Yeah." Even though he'd had a blood transfusion, he still felt light headed and the light in the room had begun hurting his eyes. He frowned. "Where is he?"
"Who?" Gibbs asked.
"Harker, he had a heart attack right?" Gibbs nodded. He stepped up to the bed and looked Tony in the eye. "He didn't make it, did he?" Tony knew from the look Gibbs gave him.
"They managed to resuscitate him, but he died in surgery." Tony's eyes fell. "Don't feel anything for him, Tony, he was a scumbag and a murderer," Gibbs ordered. Tony chuckled lightly. "What's so funny?"
"He was a pain in the ass," Tony answered. "Can you believe he was claustrophobic?" Tony's smile faded. "He could have killed me."
"Why didn't he?"
"I don't know," Tony answered honestly. "He was standing over me, holding my gun and he had the chance. Those few seconds, before the heart attack, where he just stood over me…" Tony had no words to describe how that moment felt.
"Gareth Peterson's brother cut the power," Gibbs changed the subject. "He was trying to get to Harker, wanted him dead."
"Guess he got his wish."
"And now he's going to jail for it."
"Is everyone else okay?"
"Abby made fifty dollars off Ducky in a game of poker, Palmer learned something new about god knows what, and Ziva and McGee made new friends. Ziva handcuffed hers."
Tony laughed.
"As usual you came out worse, DiNozzo; only you could get into trouble when stuck inside an elevator."
"That's not fair, Gibbs, he was stuck with a murderer, after all." A second voice appeared. From the doorway Abby emerged, dragging a handful of multi-coloured balloons.
"Balloons, Abs?" Tony questioned. Abby set the weighted helium balloons on Tony's bedside table and explained.
"Well, I was going to get you flowers but then I remembered the last time I got you flowers and how you had an allergic reaction, and then I was going to get you fruit cos that's what you give people in hospital but then I thought 'is Tony really going to want fruit? He'd rather have pizza', but I realised the nurses probably wouldn't let me past with a pizza so I got balloons instead I hope they are okay cos-"
"Abby?" Tony interrupted before Abby ran out of breath.
"Yeah?"
"The balloons are great." Abby let off a relieved sigh.
"Quite," another voice joined in. Tony looked up and instantly smiled when he saw Ducky followed by Ziva and McGee.
"Hey guys," Tony greeted.
"How are you feeling, Anthony?" Ducky asked, placing a hand on Tony's forehead to check his temperature. "No fever as of yet, that's a good sign, at least you haven't developed an infection."
"Yet," Tony added.
"Quite," Ducky repeated. "Which means plenty of rest for you my dear boy."
"Don't worry Ducky, I don't think I'll be up and around for a while yet."
"You better be," Gibbs warned. "I'm not going to spend all my time breaking in another new agent."
"What an inconvenience," Tony replied sarcastically, knowing the only thing sparing him from a smack to the head was the guilt Gibbs felt for not finding Tony sooner. "I'll tell you what," Tony began, "I'll put the effort into getting back to work on top form if someone fixes the damn security measures in the building." Tony gave McGee a look. "No more locked doors or inert elevators please," he said with an over the top mocking grin.
McGee smiled patiently. "I'll see what I can do."
"Was I the only one who had fun?" Abby asked the group.
"Yes," Ziva answered for everyone. Abby gave Ziva a good natured glare which instantly turned into a mischievous grin. Tony shifted slightly in his bed and yawned loudly.
"I think young Anthony is tired, Jethro, maybe it's time for us to go," Ducky spoke.
"Okay, everyone out," Gibbs ordered the group. Ziva, McGee and Ducky all said their goodbyes with promises to visit him tomorrow. "DiNozzo."
"Yeah, Boss?"
"Next time..."
"There won't be a next time, Boss."
"Oh yeah?" Gibbs asked, intrigued as to how Tony was going to avoid any future incidents. "Why not?"
Tony grinned. "I'll take the stairs."
Gibbs chuckled. "When you're back at work we're going to have a long talk about how Harker managed to get hold of your gun." Tony groaned. "And your recklessness." Gibbs began walking towards the door when Tony stopped him.
"Boss?" Gibbs turned around. "Thanks for getting me out of there."
Gibbs nodded. "You're welcome," he replied, before stepping out of the room completely and walking down the hospital corridor and out of sight.
"Hey!" Abby spoke softly.
"Yeah?"
"Don't scare me like that again."
"Okay."
Abby eyed her friend. "You really tired?"
Tony nodded. "Oh yeah." His heavy eyes become almost impossible to keep open.
Abby leaned over the bed and whispered into Tony's ear. "Tony?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you really like the balloons?" Tony closed his eyes completely and gave Abby a mysterious smile. "It doesn't matter if you don't cos I got a little something extra for you." Abby pulled something out of her pocket and placed it in Tony's hand. "Couldn't give it to you with Gibbs around."
Tony opened his eyes and grinned at the chocolate bar in his hand. "Thanks, Abs." He smiled appreciatively.
"You're welcome, bro," she replied. She ruffled his hair and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Abby tucked Tony into his bed covers before walking to the door. "Goodnight, Tony."
"Goodnight, Abs." Abby reached for the light switch but Tony stopped her. "Abs?"
Abby's pigtails flipped in the air as Abby turned to face Tony. "Yeah, Tony?
"Can you leave the light on?"
The End
P.S, Did ya really think i would kill off Tony?