I stirred the stir fry as Kort rested on the small couch feet from me. I didn't know what to say, sure I had been to countless Sexual Harrassment meetings, and through sensitivity training over and over and over again, in fact I had been told exactly what to say in these situations. However this was Kort, someone I actually knew, how could I possibly say anything so patronizing and condescending like that when I'd be living with the man for weeks? Sighing I focused on cooking dinner for us both, keeping most of the oils out for Kort's sake, looking back I saw Kort facing away from me, shivering slightly. Finding the extra blankets I threw on over Kort, and laid a hand on the man's shoulder, struggling for the right words.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of." I said firmly, staring down at the bald man that was usually so emotionless and cold. His eyes were clenched shut, frowning I put a hand on the man's forehead, he was burning up. Pulling my hand away, wiping his sweat off of it I grabbed a clean dishtowel, I doused it in freezing cold water making sure it soaked up as much as possible before rinsing it out. Isat by Kort's side, listening to his ragged breathing, the nurse had said his breathing would be difficult but I still didn't like the sound of it. I was already uncomfortable as it was, comforting and caring for the CIA Agent who I didn't even like, trying to figure out why I was still around, I didn't need to make it any more unsettling by having the man die on me.

Gently running the cold, wet, dishcloth over his face I heard him sigh, I could only imagine what he was going through, though my imagination was probably closer to the truth then most having battled the plague and knowing just how miserable I was, how there were moments of complete despair and defeat. I thought I'd die, never feel normal again. Luckily for Kort this was just a real strong flu, but the nurse had warned me against Trent's temperature getting too high, reaching for the thermometer I opened Kort's mouth and stuck it in holding it in place until it beeped, pulling it out I cursed as I read 105.3. The man's blood had to be boiling inside him, I honestly never thought I'd feel sorry for this man but after all he's been through I didn't have achoice but to temporarily pity him, Kort had been having a streak of bad luck.

And now I had to get him cooled down or his temperature would keep climbing, running across the plane I looked into the bathroom, we had a shower but no tub, cringing, I knew exactly what I had to do. Groaning I returned to Trent who's body began to shake, his mouth now open and panting for breath moaning, kicking the covers off of himself. I began to silently strip Trent, talking to him quietly. "Trent I need to get your temperature down, which means I need to strip you and put in the shower, okay?" I had no idea if he heard me but he was offering no resistance to me undressing him, which wasn't a good sign either way, I had been expecting a snide remark at the very least but it's like he wasn't even there. I opened one of his eyes, it was glassy, and glossed over, cursing I finally managed to get him completely undressed, kicking off everything but my boxers I pulled him up, nearly jumping as I felt his hot, sweaty body press against mine, wrapping my arms around him automatically, I just stood there frozen for a second curiously enjoying the feel of Kort in my arms, feeling the strong, firm, muscular chest and abdomen against mine, the steady rise and fall of his chest, his hot breathe down my neck, I shivered in pleasure before shaking myself and pushing Kort slightly away.

No, I refused to even admit that I was lustful of Trent Kort, I walked with him down to the shower, dragging him in I turned the faucet on full blast cold, wrapping an arm around his waist, my other hand under Kort's right shoulder, holding him up as the cold water fell on him, steam actually rising off of Trent's burning hot body. Kort began to shiver violently and moan in pain, shrinking back into me, trying to get away from the cold water. I hated to put him through any more pain but it had to be done if he was to get better, pushing us forward I grabbed a wash cloth and ran it over his entire body, trying my best not to get hard or even turned on as I felt his smooth but firm skin underneath my hand, the man naked in the shower with me, and god was he beautiful. He had a well-shaped body, muscular, yet lean, perfectly angled and formed, not to mention quite a big endowment.

I led us out of the shower the moment Trent was no longer giving off steam in the cold shower, his skin wet and freezing beneath my gentle hands as I sat him on the toilet and began to dry him off, looking up at him his eyes seemed a bit less glossy and feverish, sighing in relief, hoping the food would bring Kort completely back, I managed to wrestle him into a clean pair of boxers and then on to the couch once more where I lined a few cooling pads for him to lie upon. As I turned back to our meal I heard his breathing even out in sleep, feeling relieved that he was finally getting some rest I turned off the stove, and took out the loaf of bread I had been baking, the nurse had warned me that the flu may or may not come with a stomach virus but either way to not skimp on his meals because his body needed as much energy as it could or it would shut down. Worried that I would be cleaning up puke later, grumbling in my mind about not getting paid enough to do this shit I set about plating the meal, and cutting the bread, buttering it and laying it on the table.

I didn't want to wake Trent up, but figured he could get back to sleeping after the meal. pouring him some hot tea for his throat, I shook his shoulder, feeling him jump awake I raised my arms to show him I wasn't going to hurt him. He glared up at me the best he could before looking at himself, "I'm nearly naked once again. What the hell did you do to me this time?"

I raised my eyebrows and innocently replied, "What? Don't you remember? We had wild sex in the bedroom my dear." Winking and trying to hide a grin as he gave me his best death glare I pointed to the table where dinner sat. I watched him struggle over to the table, as I began to eat, watching him pick at his food I rolled my eyes. "Eat Trent. Doctor's orders. Do not make me force feed you."

"I'll eat if I damn well feel like it DiNozzo." He seethed, I sighed. Obviously this animosity was going to last the entire time.

"Fine. See if I give a shit anymore." I snapped getting up and eating in the bedroom, smirking as I heard the clink of silverware. By the time I finished and returned to the main room Kort had cleared his plate and was curled into a ball on the couch, holding his stomach in pain. Putting my dish in the sink, I kneeled next to him and offered him some tums and aspirin, satisfied when he took them, I picked him up, watching him flush and look down as I carried him into the bedroom, turning on the airconditioning in the room I threw some blankets over the man and sat next to him on the bed. I could see him tense, I sighed.

"Trent we need to talk about this." I said softly, feeling horror fill me, my mind screaming what the hell are you doing? Not wanting to talk about it, not wanting to hear about it. I already could see the terrible, disgusting and disturbing image of Cobbs violating Trent. And it bothered me deeply, to my surprise I found my heart hurting for Trent.

"About what?" Kort growled defensively.

"What Cobbs did to you." I answered in a whisper, uncomfortable and embarrassed.

"There is nothing to talk about DiNozzo, you know exactly what happened, and by now everybody else does too I assume." He snapped bitterly.

"You assume wrong. I haven't told a soul. And I won't." I replied calmly, it was obvious how much he was hurting, even if he was trying to hide it, I knew Kort too well to be fooled by his usual vicious manner. I didn't have the heart to take anything he said personally, or to get angry at him. I could understand why he was pushing me away, it was safer. this way he could forget, make it so it never happened. It wouldn't hurt as much. But I knew in the long run this would do more damage then good.

"Good, than leave me alone." Kort hissed, I bit my lip wanting him to trust me and talk to me, but knowing that would take time, wondering how in the hell I fell into the nanny roll so fucking easily, I slowly and gently rested a hand on his arm that he shook off. I knew if I pried too much now he'd shut down completely.

Instead I just sat there quietly before getting up to leave, turning at the door I looked at him softly, "Trent, you have nothing to be ashamed of. What that bastard did to you was horrible and disgusting and completely his fault. You couldn't have stopped him, that I'm sure of. I know I wouldn't have been able to. I'm very sorry he hurt you like he did, I wish we had found you sooner. I apologize for that. Get some rest, I'll wake you when we land." with that I left him to his own devices, hoping I got through to him, at least a little bit.

It was a few hours later when I had to give him his medication that I returned to the bedroom, thankfully he was sleeping peacefully, something he hadn't done in a while, putting the glass of water on his bedside table I looked at him closely, noticing the bags under his eyes and the dry tear tracks. He had been crying. I felt something come loose in me, I had never imagined Kort could even produce tears, the thought of Kort crying was out there with aliens and psychics. It shook me to the core, I knew my perspective on Kort was changing but I didn't know it would change this much. He was just another man doing a job that needed to be done. Sitting down next to him once more I woke him up and handed him his pills and water silently. Kort sat up, stronger than he had been in the past few days, setting the glass of water aside I looked into his red, puffy eyes and whispered, "Everything will be okay eventually Trent."

"I'm sure it will be DiNozzo, now will you let me get dressed? We should be there soon." He said hoarsely, I got up and gave the man his privacy as the plane landed smoothly on the airstrip in Tel Aviv, looking out the window I sighed, already wanting to be back in the States in my apartment with air conditioning, helping Trent off the plane and into a taxi we made it to the hotel in record time, unpacking our bags, I turned to find Kort already passed out in his room, sighing I headed to the smaller room next to his, laying down I turned my new cell on, having ditched mine lest anyone from the CIA try to trace it and dialed Gibbs' number. By this time Gibbs would undoubtedly have put a BOLO out on me.

He picked up on the first ring, "Gibbs."

"Heya boss, how's it going?" I said as cheerfully as possible.

"DiNozzo! Where the hell are you? We've been looking all over for you." Gibbs yelled over the phone.

"Sorry boss, there was an emergency that needed to be taken care of. I won't be in for quite a while. I may need to put in for some personal time." I answered in a whisper, not wanting to wake the sick man only a few feet from me.

"What's going on DiNozzo, we can help." Gibbs demanded.

I snorted, "No you won't. You didn't help in the first place." you left him there to die. Angrily I added, "We are going to have a talk when I get back though. We have a lot to discuss. I can't tell you what's going on. It's not safe, for either of us." frankly I don't trust you right now boss, see what you've done, see what you've ruined.

"What are you talking about?" Gibbs said quietly, cursing as I heard McGee's fingers flying over the keyboard, he was tracing me, should have expected that.

"Gotta go boss, just called to tell you I am safe." If you even care anymore. After all you don't trust me enough to not trace my call.

I hung up as quickly as possible, sighing, I threw my phone at the wall, collapsing on the bed I buried my face into the pillows, feeling sick to my stomach. I felt like my whole world was coming undone. Kort was human and could cry, I was in Tel Aviv running from the CIA, and NCIS, taking care of my sick nemesis, no longer able to trust my boss, the man I had considered my mentor, and at times my father. He was really the only person I had trusted explicitly and implicitly, and now that was beginning to crumble, I had no idea what to do. I just wanted to go back before everything started to change. I wanted to leave Kort here to deal with this on his own, even though I knew I couldn't. If I flew back now everything would be normal but I would have Trent's blood on my hands and I'd never be able to forgive myself if that were to happen. I suddenly knew what Trent felt like, having his own agency hunting him.

It didn't seem fair, to either of us, I hoped that when all this was over Gibbs and I would be back to normal and I still had a place at NCIS. Right now I was as good as a fugitive. Now I had nowhere's to turn to if things went wrong. For once I was completely alone, with no one to back me up and stand up for me if something went wrong. It would be up to me to protect myself and get myself out of trouble. I'd have to be much more cautious and start thinking ahead. I sat down, wondering how long we would be safe in Tel Aviv before they came looking for us here. They'd eventually have to leave but where would they go? They could go to Russia, or Poland, India possibly, anywhere's but England, North America, and Australia, as long as they kept moving they'd be safe. But for how long?

I couldn't sleep that night. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get my body to relax. I was tense, my senses sharpened as I listened for someone breaking in, getting up every five minutes to check the parking lot, I locked and rechecked the locks on all windows and doors, pulling the shades down. I checked on Trent every ten minutes until I made myself lie in bed, but that did no good as my thoughts turned to home and my friends and teammates. I already missed them. Most likely because I knew we were no longer on the same side. Gibbs would have to understand. They weren't in on the CIA's hit out on Trent, but for some reason it didn't seem right to tell them and put them at risk. Best to give them deniability. I hated lying to Gibbs, or even lying by omission but I couldn't risk it. Right now though I could use one of his pep talks.

I needed a distraction, usually I would go for a run but I didn't feel good about leaving Trent alone in case he needed me for something, instead I sat down and tried to force myself to read a book before throwing it away and decided to journal what happened that day. In case I ever needed proof of what went down.

Date: 6/4/11

Found Trent Kort in abandoned building, left to die with a bad fever and a fractured skull. The Agency has a hit out on him, he's become a liability in their eyes. Flew to Tel Aviv with him. Lied to Gibbs, had to give him deniability, but my number one priority is to keep Trent safe. Checked into The Ambermont hotel at 15:00. Trent went right to sleep, still sick. Locked all doors and pulled all the shades, unable to sleep.

Tucking the journal under my pillow I stared at the clock that read 3 am, groaning I conceded defeat and turned off the light, kicking off my shoes, I began to drift off. It was only a few seconds later that I heard Kort cry out in his sleep, peering out I saw him twisting in his sheets, sweating and groaning. Fighting someone off in his sleep. I went back to bed, hoping the nightmare would soon be over for him, wishing to comfort him but remembering the man's wish for him to not be in the same bed as he was. I returned to my own bed, and put a pillow over my head, trying to block out the cries of pain, and the whimpering, the sound of Kort flopping around. I could hear him pleading in his sleep. His voice pained and desperate. "Just kill me, I know you want to, please just kill me Jonas. Don't keep doing this to me. We both know how it's going to end."

I froze, my heart constricting painfully, I sat up unable to bear it any longer, I tiptoed to his room and climbed into bed with him. Still feeling awkward at being this close to him, I pulled him into my arms like in the hospital, trying to give him some peace, I wish I had been there to put a bullet in Cobbs myself. Instead I lay there, with both arms wrapped tightly around Trent, his head resting on my shoulder, his face pressed into my neck, his body against mine. It felt good to have him in my arms, it comforted me as well, to know this man was safe and with me, I felt the tension leave my body as he cuddled up to me in his sleep, he'd be pissed when he woke up but for now we both enjoyed the closeness and comfort the other offered. I wish I could hold him for the rest of his life. If only I could accept the fact that I may have feelings for the man currently in my arms. He fit me so well, I couldn't imagine him with anyone else.

It only took one glance down, his beautiful face and body snuggled to me for protection, to know that I wouldn't be going back home until this man was well and safe, unhunted.

Nervously I pressed a small kiss to his head, once more falling to sleep in the same bed as him.

Neither of us knew we would wake up to find a gun pointed at us.

A/N Please Review and tell me if you like it and how I'm doing 3