CHAPTER 1- Just a Cold

Tony woke up to a feeling of fear. His chest felt like it was being crushed. After a minute the pressure began to fade and he was able to sit up. "Great, another cold, just what I need." Ever since catching the plaque off that darned envelope Tony just couldn't seem to catch a break when it came to illnesses. Even the simplest things always seemed to lay him down for days. But he couldn't afford an illness right now, Director Vance already thought he was just some lazy frat boy and Gibbs wasn't pleased with his latest attraction to the ROTA agent. Not that he felt that relationship was really going anywhere. Sure she was pretty and all, a good distraction even, but something was missing. Suddenly a shrill ring broke the silence of the room. It was time to get up and go to work. Shakily Tony rubbed a hand over his chest and took an experimental breath. A light cough spurted between his lips but nothing too big. Shrugging off the few remaining covers on the bed he got up. "Maybe it's nothing this time." If only the universe didn't seem to hate him.

An hour later the tell-tale ding of the elevator sounded the arrival of Tony to the office at NCIS. Gibbs' coffee cup was sitting on the edge of his table- nothing surprising there the Boss man was always the first one in. Surprisingly though Tim and Ziva didn't seem to be in yet. Probably a good thing, Tony decided, as he still wasn't convinced his body wasn't going to rat him out at any moment. Sitting down at his desk he logged into his email and popped a cough drop in his mouth. Laughter signaled the arrival of Ziva and McGee a few minutes later.

"Good Morning McLate and Zeeeva." Tony drawled out in his typical fashion.

"Tony" McGee nodded his reply. Ziva merely glared a classic Ninja look his way. Before he could comment on it Gibbs voice rang out loud and clear "Gear up- dead sailor at the docks."

Tony hated the docks in the morning. The wet breeze could bite through any layer of clothing it seemed and he had been chilled before even stepping into it. Today was not looking to be a good day. Tony grabbed the camera as they arrived on scene and started snapping shots. The body had been caught amongst some of the shipping lines. The sailor looked to be in uniform though it was a little hard to tell as not much of the clothing seemed to be identifiable. This body had been in the water awhile. Slowly Tony surveyed the rest of the scene- not much evidence at first glance. A well walked area so the footprints were unlikely to be of much help as hundreds of people passed by this way day after day not to mention the fact that it looked more like a washed up body as opposed to a fresh crime scene. Shrugging of the details Tony continued to snap shots from every angle – he'd worry about theories later. A sudden urge to cough took him by surprise causing him to nearly drop the camera. This was no small cough like earlier it was the kind that bends you over and knocks you out. It seemed like forever before he could straighten up and when he did he immediately felt the steel blue eyes of his boss upon him.

"You sick." Short and to the point nothing gets past Gibbs.

"Nah just breathed something in wrong" Tony answered quickly, a little too quickly but geez he couldn't do this now. If he just ignored it the cough would do away. He hated doctors. There was no way he was getting sick now. He just had to convince his body of it-mind over matter that's all he needed.

"Have Ducky check you out when we get back." Gibbs said in his typical no nonsense command

"Ahh Boss its nothing. No need to bother the Duck man. He's going to need all his time just to make heads or tails of this body."

"Wasn't a suggestion Dinozzo."

Of course it wasn't, when does Gibbs ever suggest anything? Tony tried to think of a way out of it but truth was he felt lousy and it was getting worse maybe if he admitted it early Ducky could give him something to take care of it and it wouldn't be so bad. One could hope anyway.

The car ride back seemed endless. The chills were there to stay it seemed and a headache had joined the tightness in his chest. At least the boss didn't seem to be trying to be Mario Andretti today- thank God for small miracles. Tony leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes praying for relief. Finally they arrived back at NCIS. Tony didn't move at first to be honest he wasn't sure he had the energy to.

"You coming Tony?" McGee asked with a hint of concern in his voice. Tony blinked his eyes open and looked at McGee noting the trace of fear in his colegeas eyes. McGee remembered the plague days all too well too. Nodding Tony forced himself out of his seat giving the movement causing some rough coughs to escape his lips. Any thoughts of pretense about his illness long forgotten. Slowly he made his way inside and down to the basement.

As the elevator opened Ducky immediately noticed Tony's entrance.

"Over here my boy let's take a look at you Gibbs mentioned at the scene you weren't feeling well and I must say your complexion looks dreadful. Why you even bothered coming in is beyond me."

"Didn't seem so bad at first duck…" Tony's weak defense trailed off as another coughing fit caught him off guard.

"Oh my, that doesn't sound good. Let's take a listen" Ducky said pulling out his stethoscope and patting on an autopsy table for Tony to sit on. As he listened to Tony's lungs a frown filled his face.

"I can't be sure without an x-ray my boy but I don't like the sound of your lungs. I can already hear fluid in both lungs. I think you should go in to Bethesda and that we should give Dr. Pitt a call."

"Come on Ducky surely it can't be that bad I mean I felt fine yesterday. It can't possibly have gotten bad this fast."

"Let's not take any chances…"

Before Ducky could finish his though another coughing fit took over Tony's sickened frame- this one causing a blue tinge to come to his lips.

"That's it young man you're going and there will be no arguments- Palmer bring me the oxygen tank over there and call for an ambulance."

Palmer who had previously been standing silently in the background responded instantly- and before Tony could protest further an oxygen mask had been slipped over his face. Tony didn't even realize Ducky had oxygen down here. Why would he? All his patients are dead. Little did he know Ducky had purchased one just for him after one of his first respiratory infections post-plague. Tony hated ambulances almost as much as he hated hospitals but truth be told the feeling of breathlessness was starting to make him feel frantic and images of an isolation ward and the feeling of being suffocated were circling through his mind.

"Try and relax my boy I'm sure we caught it in time- just focus on breathing slow and steady. We'll get you well in no time."

A ding rung through the room and suddenly the intense presence of the Boss Man filled the room.

"Could have just asked for a day off Tony no need for all these theatrics."

"Right boss I'll remember that for next time…" Tony choked out.

A light slap grazed the back of his head- nothing near its normal potency more like a pat really.

"Stop talking just breathe."

"Yes sir" Tony thought and gave a brief nod.

Suddenly a team of paramedics were beside him and medical equipment surrounding him- Dazedly Tony tried to follow their efforts. It was getting harder to focus. The world was fading out he tried to tell someone and then all at once there was nothing.