Chapter 1

Usually he would stay up until 3am to write, annoying his neighbors- accidentally, that is- but tonight was just not that night. McGee felt horrible, no scratch that, he felt like shit. It had been a long week, especially today. The case they'd been working on just wouldn't end. One dead body after another. It was until there had been 20+ body count, that the team had caught the killer. The only joy in that day, for Tim, that he could go home. All day he'd been coughing and his throat was sore as hell. Gibbs offered to send him home early, but he refused, wanting to catch the son of a bitch that was killing business woman for no apparent reason. As soon as McGee got home, he stripped to boxers, since he was sweating and felt like he was in an oven. Getting into his nice cold bed, he instantly fell into a fevered and restless sleep.

He woke up to the sound of a sharp knocking sound. McGee groaned, disturbing his scratchy throat. After hacking up a lung, he turned his bleary eyes to the clock on his nightstand. 3:30.

"What the hell?" he whispered. Who could be at his door at this time in the morning. Surly they didn't have a call-out? He tried to ignore it, hoping that the knocking was on a neighbor's door instead of his. He closed his eyes and began to fall back asleep. His eyes opened ten seconds later when the knocking didn't cease. Nope, he knew it was too good to be true. McGee grabbed his blanket and wrapped it around himself, as he got up shakily and stumbled to the door blindly. Only then when he opened the door did his eyes widen in surprise.

"Sarah?" he rasped. She was looking the other way until she heard her name.

"Hey, Tim! I was wondering if I...oh my god are you alright?" she asked, worried.

"I-I'm fine, Sarah, just tired."

"Well you should get some rest then," she stated, sliding past him into his apartment.

That's what I was trying to do.

McGee coughed loudly, wrapping himself tighter in the warm blanket when he began to shiver. Sarah dropped her stuff on the table and turned to him.

"Can I crash here for tonight, Tim? Some creep losers hit on me and I didn't want them to know that I lived in the nearby dorm."

"Well, you're already here so...I'm not gonna kick you out," said McGee smiling slightly. Sarah smiled and punched him lightly. The smile disappeared quickly when she felt how warm he was.

"God, Tim, are you sure you're alright? You're burning up. You really need to get back to bed."

"It's fine, Sarah," McGee coughed. "You look beat, take my bed and get some rest. I'll sleep on the couch."

"You should take the bed, you look like crap," Sarah said.

"Thanks," McGee said sarcastically. "But, no, you sleep in the bedroom and I'll go on the couch. That's an order."

"You gonna arrest me if I don't?" smiled Sarah.

With one menacing glare from Tim, Sarah put up her hands in surrender and gave in.

"Okay, okay, but let me help you settle in on the couch. You look like you're about to pass out."

"Whatever," McGee said rolling his eyes, as he let himself be led by Sarah to the couch. He laid down closed his eyes. He felt a blanket being brought over his shoulders.

"Night, Tim," he heard Sarah whisper as she kissed his sweaty forehead.

"G'nite, S'rah," McGee slurred. With that he fell into a deep, but troubled sleep.

Sarah smiled sadly as she stroked her brother's hair then went into his room. Getting undressed, she turned off the lights and got into bed. Her brother was really sick. She didn't know what it could be, though, but it looked serious. In the morning- well it was already morning- but in the later morning, she would go get some medicine for him and try and keep him from going to work. After she made her plans, her eyes closed and she fell asleep.