WARNING: Contains references to spanking.
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine. I just borrow them.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm sorry I haven't written in a few days, but things have been really crazy around here this week. I know I say that all the time, but it's the best way I can describe what's been going on.
Let me start by saying that I'm fine – I know how you worry. Last week, Tony opened a letter in the squadroom that had this powder in it. And since he has this really weird way of opening letters, he blew the powder all over the place. Naturally, everything stopped. No one knew for sure what it was, but we can't be too careful, so we had to shower and burn our clothes (I'm sorry, Mom, but I was wearing the slacks you bought me last time I was home!). Then, because Tony was the one who opened the letter and because I had a cold (oh, I'm feeling a lot better – thanks for the voicemail, Dad) he and I had to go to the hospital for tests and observation. Trust me, I was not happy about that. You know how I feel about hospitals. And Tony. I swear, being around him is like being around both of the boys at the same time – and their clones. He's insane!
Anyway, we went to the hospital and had to go into isolation. (Oh, our doctor's name was Brad Pitt. Seriously! And he was cute!!) They ran a bunch of tests and found out that the powder in the letter was the Plague. Can you believe that? No one's had the Plague since the Dark Ages! I was fine, but Tony was infected.
I've never been so scared in my life. I was happy that I was ok, but Tony got really sick. Dr. Pitt let me stay with him for a while, but it was so hard. He started coughing up blood and his fever was so high! But the whole time, he was still being Tony – quoting movie references, teasing me, just being his normal annoying self.
You would have been proud of me, Mom. I held it together. Until Ducky got there. I haven't cried like that since Gram died. But I was so scared that Tony was going to die. He's such a pain, but he really has become like another brother to me. I hope you get to meet him someday – Gibbs, Ducky, McGee and Abby too – but I think you and the boys will really like Tony. Especially the boys. On second thought… Anyway, Gibbs showed up at the hospital too and said that the spores in the letter had been modified to die after 32 hours and that Tony was going to be fine.
He was finally released from the hospital on Tuesday, but he won't be back to work for a few weeks. Ducky said that the plague gave him severe pneumonia and that he'll have scars on his lungs when he heals. I can't even imagine how much pain he was in, but since he's Tony, he just played it off.
So all of that is to say that we're all fine. It was just a really bad scare! I hesitated even telling you any of this because I know how much you worry about me. I hope you can forgive me for not calling earlier, but I decided to wait until I knew everything was ok before I even told you. I can just imagine Dad hopping on a plane and dragging me back to Indiana. Don't get any ideas, Dad – I love this job and I love the people I work with!
Speaking of the people I work with, Abby, Ducky and McGee say hi. Gibbs is still on his quest to find that terrorist. Just between us, he's making everyone crazy. He's been almost unbearable to work with lately. I really hope we get this guy soon – Gibbs is hard to work with on his best days! I just wish I knew why this whole thing bothers him so much. I know it's frustrating that he keeps getting away, but I just get the feeling there's something else going on that Gibbs isn't telling us (not that that surprises me at all).
Well, I have to get going. With Tony not here, my workload has really increased and we're still flooded with cases. I love you both and miss you so much. I'm trying to schedule some time off so I can come home soon. Tell the boys I say hi.
Love,
Kate