"You OK, Tony?"
Tony jerked upright, blinking. "Yeah, I- I'm fine." He swallowed the urge to yawn. "Why?" He felt like McGee had caught him in the process of falling to sleep, and if it had been Gibbs he would be in big trouble. By the looks of it Tim had brought back lunch, and Tony couldn't even remember him leaving.
"You look like crap."
"Well gee, thanks, McCheery," he snapped. "Little ray of sunshine today aren't you?"
"Tony."
He looked up, surprised by the tone of Tim's voice. Not defensive or annoyed... concerned.
"It's Monday, we had the whole weekend off. Your eyes are bloodshot and you've been zoned out all morning."
He forced his eyes to open as wide as they'd go, hoping that would somehow make him feel less like someone had slipped him a roofie. It just made his head ache worse, and he rubbed at his temples.
"I'm fine, I am-" this yawn wouldn't be swallowed, and he was gulping in air as if he'd been starved of oxygen all night.
Tim leaned over the desk and studied him. "Seriously, Tony, I'm worried about you. You haven't made a sleazy comment all morning." The feeble attempt at humour didn't hide the fact that his partner seemed genuinely worried.
"OK. OK." He closed his eyes for a second, trying to sort out his thoughts. "I'm OK, I just... I didn't sleep so good. Maybe I have the flu or somethin'." He shrugged, trying to appear unruffled. He did feel like crap, but he would be OK, he always was, he'd had hangovers worse... "I'll be fine."
McGee cocked an eyebrow, then shook his head with a little half smile. "Eat your lunch," he scolded. "And whatever you do, don't fall asleep - Gibbs is on the warpath."
"I won't." Tim didn't look convinced, but that was actually sort of comforting. Especially since the smell of his favourite BBQ joint's most delicious offering was making him want to throw up. It was always good to be reminded: no matter what, Tim always had his back.
He poked at the paper bag, wondering if it was actually possible to vomit when you hadn't eaten a thing in well over twelve hours. He felt suspiciously like today might be the day he found out.