Tony woke up again screaming. His body was covered with cold sweat, but this time he remembered blood, a lot of blood, but that's it. He looked at the time, 1:20 am this night.
'' Crap, '' Tony swore.
The same dream, the same routine had been going on for past week. Every night he'd wake up screaming and covered with cold sweat and also rapid pulse with panting. He didn't have his safe and sweet dreams anymore. He did what every morning for the past week – shower, breakfast and work. He was there way too early. On his way in he saw Gibbs leaving, but he didn't notice is senior field agent. Tony walked in and started doing his work, and this time he actually managed to do something, except the past week, but he hadn't woken up so early on past nights either.
In the morning...
McGee walked in first and passed Tony's desk surprised, that he was actually working. Next was Kate. She looked still worried about him, but she asked no questions. And Gibbs would walk there in some random time and have a look at him, then assignments and they start working. No small talk, no food fights, no bringing lunch and chatting about it, no movie references, no jokes... just work.
A couple of hours later...
Gibbs walked to the bullpen. His team was working quietly.
'' Kate, McGee go see Ducky, ask confirmation about the killing wound, '' Gibbs ordered.
'' Yeah, boss, '' McGee said as he walked to elevator with Kate. She looked back to see Gibbs leaning on Tony's desk and starting a conversation.
'' Tony, you haven't been yourself for the past week. I tried not to worry, because it is none of my business, but now I am really worried. What's wrong Tony ? '' Gibbs said softly.
'' Nothing, '' Tony said.
'' It is something. You have red eyes, bags under eyes, you are not here in your mind and today is the first day you managed to do some work, '' Gibbs said.
'' It is nothing. I am fine. Don't you have some work to do ? '' Tony snapped.
'' You are not yourself. Go home, your work is done for today. Go home, sleep and be back refreshed tomorrow or tell me what the hell is going on, '' Gibbs aid.
'' See you tomorrow boss, '' Tony said and grabbed his things.
Gibbs just watched him walking away, taking stairs this time, which was unusual for him.
Tony drove home, watched a movie, had dinner and then went to bed. He swallowed 3 strong sleeping pulls and closed his eyes. After an hour he was awake again. Just like every night in the past week. This time he remembered blood and a gun shot. A single shot. Nothing else. It was 3:12 this morning. He had slept about 7 hours, which was way too much compared to the past week. There was something weird, but he still didn't know what it was. And he got ready and drove to work.
