Fox's Den

The Cascade Effect

 

AN: And another chapter of Cascade Effect starts

 

Chapter Six

 

Tony realized he was in trouble when the letter he opened spewed a fine white powder. It wasn’t until later that he realized just how much trouble he was in. He was glad it was him that had opened the letter though.

Tony had acted like it was of no worry to him and that the only thing he was concerned about was his clothing. When they arrived at Bethesda Tony had tried to keep Kate’s mind from worrying about what the powder was by annoying her.

 

Kelly was at home when her cell phone went off at the same time as the house phone.

 

“Yeah, Gibbs.” She answered, the same way her dad always did.

 

“Kelly, it’s Angel. Did you hear?”

 

“Hear what?”

 

“Someone sent a letter to NCIS filled with a Bio-attack. The letter was opened in your dad’s office. Mom works at Bethesda.”

 

“Oh, god. Angel I’ll call you later. I have to check on my dad and Tony.” She said, hanging up and dialing her dad’s work extension, then his cell phone, then finally calling dispatch. They were able to tell her that he was in Autopsy because it was negative pressure. She had them patch her through to the phone in Autopsy.

 

“Autopsy.” Palmer answered the phone.

 

~ “Can I speak with Agent Gibbs, please? It’s Kelly.”

 

“Hold on one moment.” He placed his hand over the receiver “Agent Gibbs, Kelly is on the phone for you.” He said, managing not to stutter too badly. Gibbs walked over and grabbed the phone from him.

 

“Kelly, how’d you know where I was?” he asked.

 

~ “Dispatch. Angel’s mom works at Bethesda. Angel said someone sent you a Bio-virus. Are you okay? Is Tony?” she asked, concern and worry in her voice.

 

“I’m fine. Tony opened the letter. Him and Kate are on their way to Bethesda now. We don’t know who sent it or why.”

 

~ “Is he going to be okay?”

 

“We don’t know yet. We’re not even sure what the powder is.”

 

~ “Is there anything I can do, dad?”

 

“Yeah, go to Bethesda, keep them informed on our current findings and keep us informed on their condition. Tell them I sent you. If they give you any trouble make sure and tell them you’re listed as one of Tony’s Medical Proxy’s. Got it?”

 

~ “Yeah. I’ll keep you updated every hour. Stay safe, keep me in the loop.” She hung up just like her dad.

Shaking his head he went back to the plasma and continued to try and figure out this damn case while he was stuck in Autopsy.

 

~Bethesda Naval Hospital~

 

Kelly walked into the front doors and up to the information desk. Clearing her throat to get the girl behind the desk to notice her.

 

“Can I help you?” the girl asked.

 

“Yeah, I need to speak to whoever’s in charge of the isolation Unit.”

 

“I’m sorry ma’am. Dr. Pitt is unable to speak with anyone at the moment.”

 

“Dr. Pitt huh? Well you page Dr. Pitt or his assisting Nurse now and tell them that their NCIS contact is here. I’ll wait.” She told the snobby bitch behind the counter. She watched as the woman picked up the phone and called. She turned around once the snob had placed the phone back in its cradle, waiting to see either a doctor or a nurse.

 

Five minutes later a security guard showed up and tried to escort her out of the building. She told the security guard to shove it and that if Dr. Pitt or his assisting Nurse didn’t show up within the next ten minutes she would be calling SecNav and he would not be pleased at the treatment she was receiving. She made a point to let it be known that the person that called the security guard would find themselves receiving a pink slip soon. It was a ruse but it worked rather well because five minutes later a young man around Tony’s age showed up, lab coat and all.

 

“I’m Dr. Pitt. Are you the NCIS contact?” he asked of Kelly.

 

“Yes, doctor. My name’s Kelly Gibbs.” She answered, taking the doctor’s hand in a friendly handshake. He began leading her away and towards the isolation chamber.

 

“I just spoke with Dr. Mallard, he said that the powder was Y-pestis. We’re still waiting for the test results for their bloodwork to come in. Until then you will not be able to enter the Iso-chamber.”

 

“I understand. How is Tony doing?”

 

“He’s beginning to run a fever. It’s a very slight change in temperature which means it could just be because of the UV Lights.” Brad told her as they walked towards the Isolation Unit.

 

Nodding she followed the doctor into the area of the isolation unit.

 

“When will I be able to go in?”

 

“Not until we know if anyone is infected and we can have you sign a no-liability paper. Not my rules.” He said quickly, seeing the glare on her face.

 

“I see. Those blood tests had better come back soon, otherwise I will go in without your permission.” Kelly said, hanging back out of sight and watching Tony. He was once again toying with Kate, which caused her to make several rather caustic remarks. It made Kelly see red for a moment.

 

“The moment their results come in and they are cleared Tony will be coming with me. Understood Dr. Pitt?”

 

“Of course. Will Kate also be joining you?”

 

“No. She can find her own way home. I don’t appreciate her treatment of Tony.” She said, watching Tony’s antics. She knew it was driving Kate nuts.

 

~NCIS~

 

Gibbs was going nuts in Autopsy. He had to get out of there and into the lab where he would feel more useful. He’d had Palmer go requisition replacements for their phones and weapons right after he’d spoken with Kelly. After he’d gotten frustrated with being stuck in Autopsy he grabbed the iso-suit along with McGee and headed for Abby’s lab. Tony was in danger and he had to find this bitch or bastard and make them pay. He hoped that Tony wasn’t infected but it was possible since he had most likely breathed some of the powder upon opening the letter. The fact that McGee couldn’t access the case file from Autopsy only reinforced his decision to leave Autopsy.

 

He’d had to force Abby to irradiate the envelope and it’s contents. Once he’d spoken with Ducky and had him get ahold of Cassie to help he felt a bit better. She would remember the case better than he would.

 

~Bethesda Naval Hospital~

 

Kelly watched Tony and Kate’s interactions. She knew he’d be worried. Kate had agreed, until she’d made the crack that Tony didn’t even have half a brain. Tony was much smarter than he portrayed himself. She’d seen his apartment and even the most studious bookworm would be jealous. He had a whole room dedicated to nothing but Books on many different topics. She’d actually borrowed some to write a few term papers for several of her classes.

 

Brad, who had insisted they be informal, had left twenty minutes ago. She watched as he headed straight for Emma and turned the microphones off.

 

“All the blood cultures came back negative, except for Agent DiNozzo’s. He’s infected with Y-pestis.” Brad said, glancing at Kelly as he did. Kelly’s lips tightened to an Angry tight-lipped grimace. She nodded and pulled out her phone.

 

“Gonna call Ducky. I want Agent Todd removed from that unit ASAP. Her barbs will not help him now.”

 

“I’ll try.” Brad said as he handed Kelly the most recent stats for Tony.

 

She walked out and over to a quiet corner and dialed the number for Ducky.

 

~ “Dr. Mallard. Who is this?”

 

“Ducky, it’s Kelly. All the cultures came back negative, except Tony’s. He’s beginning to run a fever and the virus is attacking his lungs. Tell dad that I’m going into the unit to be with Tony. If he gets pissed tell him I’d rather me in there than Kate. Okay?”

 

~ “I’ll let him know right away. Keep us informed.”

 

“Will do Ducky.” She said before hanging up and heading right back into the unit.

 

She walked in just as Tony mentioned knowing Brad because of a football game in College. Of course he would be the one to run into an old football rival in such a circumstance. She watched, and listened, as Kate lied to Tony which pissed her off. She’d told Dr. Pitt to get her out of the damn iso-chamber. She watched as Tony’s breathing became a little more labored after a coughing fit. When Brad had come out she confronted the man about Kate still being in the room with Tony.

 

“She refused to leave. I tried to make her but she refused to listen to reason. She apparently wants Tony to feel like he’s not alone in this.”

 

“He won’t be. I’ll be there with him and I have no intentions of leaving until he is moved from the isolation Unit and into a proper room. Even then I would be there with him every chance I get. He’s important to me and my dad. I won’t let him die of a disease from the dark ages.” She said, her hands flying rapidly around as she spoke. She’d noticed Tony did the same thing sometimes too.

 

“I know that but she doesn’t and she still will not leave, even knowing that she could be infected.” Brad told her.

 

“I don’t care about the risks to me, my dad can be pissed all he wants but I am going in there right now.” She said, grabbing a mask and heading to the airlock that would admit her into the Iso-Unit.

 

Tony and Kate looked up as the doors swished opened and admitted her. Kate had a defiant glare on her face and Tony smiled before coughing once again. Kelly rushed to aid Tony, leaning him forward when his coughing fit didn’t subside like before. He was rapidly getting worse, the blood that slipped from the corner of his mouth proved that.

 

Once his coughing had subsided she helped him lean back and sat on the edge of his bed.

 

“Hey Tony. How ya feeling?”

 

“Like crap.” He told her, trying to gain a smile from her.

 

“I bet you are. Don’t worry Tony, dad will find out who did this and make them pay.”

 

“I know.”

 

Kelly watched as they began to ready Tony to have chest x-rays done. She held his hand as he tried to make a joke about his sitation. She was forced to let his hand go as she stepped behind the protective shielding for his x-ray.

 

Once they had been developed she watched as Brad and Ducky looked over it, she knew it was bad since his lips were slightly blue. He began to cough and wasn’t able to stop. Brad and Emma came in and forced Kate out and tried to force her out, her glare quelled them and she grabbed Tony’s hand as tears began to silently spill from her eyes.

 

She looked up as the doors opened and Brad stopped her dad. She was glad to hear that the bug was dead and she moved to the opposite side as her dad told Tony he didn’t have permission to die. Her dad’s comment about getting the number for his replacement cell phone changed because women kept calling for Spanky had Tony cracking a small smile. She did too because it was an inside joke that the three of them shared.

 

She looked at her dad and her look said that she was staying with him. He nodded and stood up, patting Tony’s hand as he did so. She glared at Kate when she tried to stay as well. Kate scurried out of the room again and Kelly laid down in the bed right next to Tony’s as the lights were slowly shut off and everything else was shut down. It would be rough going for a while but between her and her dad Kelly knew they’d be able to get Tony through it mostly intact.

 

TBC…

 

AN: Second slight twist. Just a small deviance from cannon. As always reviews are greatly appreciated and flames and flamers will be dealt with accordingly (aka used as target practice or dragon food ~_^)