Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.

Hello =) This is an encouraging sign … Chapter 2 a day after posting Chapter 1. I'm actually really excited about this story now … lots of ideas brewing, lots of good moments. Stay tuned and I hope you enjoy Chapter 2!

The coolness of Dr. Mallard's lab was a stark contrast to the warm spring sunshine. Gibbs shivered as he sat on one of Ducky's autopsy tables, his suit jacket thrown carelessly beside him. He was being poked and prodded and this all reminded him how thankful he was to never get sick. Well, hardly ever.

"Open please." Ducky held up a thermometer.

"You just did this half an hour ago, Duck."

"Doctor's orders." Ducky's voice was firm and Gibbs begrudgingly closed his mouth around the cold device. After taking Gibb's blood pressure and pulse, fe removed the device and sighed.

"What?"

"Your temperature is rising. You ought to be at home in bed, Jethro."

"Well then let me go."

"Not quite." Ducky held up a hand to stop Gibbs from standing.

"I'd like to take a blood sample and have Abby run a diagnostic test just to confirm the diagnosis. And then you may go home."

Ducky didn't mention that someone from his team would have to be with him, provided they had already been infected. Gibbs, he knew all too well, would not react kindly to this arrangement.

Ducky collected the blood sample and put a label on the vial.

"Shall we?"

Gibbs grabbed his coat and put it on on the way to the elevator.

"Hello Abby."

Abby spun around from her computer, lowering her rock music with a click of a key.

"Ducky, what brings you here? Where's Jimmy? Hi, Gibbs."

"Hi, Abbs."

"Mr. Palmer is downstairs with the Navy Captain. Abby, I need you to run a test on this sample."

Ducky handed her the vial.

"Sure. What am I testing for?"

"The varicella zoster virus."

Abby raised her eyebrows.

"Chicken pox?"

"Yes."

"Who's the lucky donor?" Abby asked as she pulled on gloves before opening the vial, smearing some blood on a slide, and inserting the slide into a complicated looking machine.

"That would be me." Gibbs said less than enthusiastically. Abby looked up from her machine.

"Aw, Gibbs, are you sure?"

When Gibbs didn't respond, Ducky did.

"I am almost positive. However, I wanted to do a blood test to be sure. How long will it take?"

"A couple of hours. What other symptoms does he have?"

Abby and Ducky dived into a conversation about Gibbs's symptoms, acting as though he wasn't even there. Finally, Gibbs pointed this out.

"I'm right here, you know."

"Ah yes." Ducky seemed to realize this fact was true. "I want you to go home, Jethro, and get some rest. Be sure to drink lots of - "

"Fluids, I know, Duck. I've done this before."

"You've gotten sick before, Gibbs?" Abby sounded in awe at the idea that their fearless leader had ever been down with the flu.

"Not me." Gibbs called walking away from then towards the elevator. "DiNozzo, remember?"

The elevator enveloped Gibbs and Ducky and Abby exchanged a worried glance.

"Miss Sciuto, I do believe that we need to have a chat with Agents David, McGee, and DiNozzo."

Abby smiled, knowing exactly what Ducky was implying. Ducky held out his elbow and Abby took it, letting him lead her to the elevator.

The bullpen seemed oddly quiet without Gibbs barking order or demanding answers. Tony, Tim, and Ziva sat quietly at their desks, Tony not even making jokes. Abby and Ducky entered and they all looked up.

"How's Gibbs?" Tony asked.

"I've sent him home to get some rest until we know a positive diagnosis from a blood test. However, I'm curious to know who has been exposed to the chicken pox before."

"I had then when I was six." McGee said immediately.

"I also had them as a young child." Ziva answered. Ducky nodded and looked at Tony.

"Been there, done that. There was an outbreak in my boarding school." Tony shuddered at the memory. "I do not envy Gibbs."

"And what about you, Miss Sciuto?"

"I had them and I'm with Tony. Poor Gibbs must feel horrible."

"I'm sure he does." Ducky agreed. "Now, more importantly, if my diagnosis is correct, we will have to arrange a schedule to stay with Jethro."

"He is a grown man. Surely he does not need us watching to make sure he does not scratch." Ziva said.

"Ah, but Miss David, chicken pox in adults are not the same as chicken pox in children."

"Why not?" Tony asked.

"The disease attacks adults much harder than children. Mainly, he'll be prone to high fevers and delirium. The rash hasn't appeared yet but when it does, it will be quite severe, I imagine."

"What are the other symptoms of chicken pox?" Tim asked.

"An upset stomach is not unheard of and Gibbs did tell me he couldn't keep food down. It will be important that we make sure he drinks and tries to eat regularly. Overall, Jethro will just have a general malaise for a few days. We must do our best to make him comfortable and make sure he rests."

"Why don't we just try to slam a revolving door while we're at it?" Tony said.

"Tony." Abby said in a scolding tone. "This is Gibbs we're talking about. He's been there for every one of us when something was wrong. It's the least we could do."

"I'm not saying we shouldn't. I'm just saying it will be hard to convince him to stay in bed."

"We'll have to find a way." Ducky said.

"And you can go first, Tony." Abby said with a smile.

"Why me? He listens to you more than he does me."

"Fine. When the test results come back, we'll both go."

"Fine … does Gibbs know about his new house-mates?"

"No, he does not. And I don't expect he will be enthusiastic about the company."

"He's sick. You can take him, Tony." Abby said, a sparkle in her eye.

Tony raised an eyebrow.

"I don't care if he has the plague. I'm still scared of what he could do to me … but I'd appreciate if you didn't tell him that."

Suggestions for "moments" are welcome (and credit given where due, of course)! Review?