NURSE/PATIENT
Gibbs was woken up from his peaceful slumber by what sounded like his washing machine going. At first he thought it may have been some remnants from an unremembered dream but that thought was quickly dismissed when he was wide awake with only one thought in his mind… DiNozzo!
"He wouldn't be." Gibbs mumbled.
Tony had thrown the sheets in the washing machine and sat up against the wall. He thought that if he could clean the sheets it would be alright. Surely, Gibbs would have such a fit otherwise. His elbows rested on his knees as he lowered his head and waited for the noisy machine to stop.
"What are you doing DiNozzo?!" Gibbs barked at him loud enough to make him jump.
"Laundry." Tony answered pointing to the washing machine.
"Why?" Gibbs asked which seemed like a perfectly good question. "Why are you doing my laundry?"
"I'm really sorry Boss." Tony said quickly entering a panic mode that was totally unfamiliar territory for Gibbs. "Really sorry. I woke up and I felt really bad. I coughed and I was sick. I couldn't, so I thought I'd clean it up."
At times Gibbs demanded his team give him all they got and they always did. But DiNozzo, DiNozzo was different… You ask him to give you all he got he'd do just that and then some. "You're sick DiNozzo." Gibbs replied, "I shouldn't have to keep reminding you about that… Come on." He offered to help Tony to his feet.
Tony flinched and used his hands to protect his face. "Don't hit me!" He cried out in a way that even startled Gibbs.
"DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"Boss?" Tony asked as he virtually climbed the wall to get to his feet. "It'll be done soon. Then I'll hang it out. I know it's dark out."
"You will do no such thing." Gibbs told him, "You look like you need something to eat."
The mere mention of food made him feel sick but Gibbs was right, he needed to eat something. "Ok." He resigned any thought of arguing.
"Kate brought around some chicken soup and meds from Ducky." Gibbs said.
Ahh chicken soup Tony thought to himself, the antidote to sickness. It was somewhat of a sarcastic thought as he entered the dining area and quickly slumped to the chair.
"Kate was here?" Tony asked.
"That's what I just said DiNozzo." Gibbs answered.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Tony asked, "She must think I'm a real snob. I should at least call her and thank her for bringing over the chicken soup."
Gibbs heated up a bowl of chicken soup and placed it on the table in front of Tony. "I already did DiNozzo… Now eat."
Tony studied the soup a bit before stirring it around with the spoon. "Still… I should call her."
"You are forbidden to use my phone to call anybody. You got that?" Gibbs laid down the law.
"Yes Boss… I will not use your phone to call anybody." Tony said.
Gibbs watched him eat several spoonfuls before putting the spoon down. It took awhile before Tony was sure the soup was going to stay down. "You feel better?" Gibbs asked.
"Just dandy Boss." Tony said trying to breathe through his mouth since his nose was clogged. "But I think I'll go and make the bed and have another sleep."
Gibbs sat back in his chair and eyed him down. "Damnit DiNozzo." He said shaking his head, "I'll make your bed and if you think about doing anything I'll end up tying you to the bed and don't think I won't."
"Yes Boss." Since all the air was being sucked in through the mouth only, his lips were drying out badly.
As soon as Tony was alone he raced to the kitchen to pour himself a long glass of water quickly followed by another until he had to spit it out since it had become apparent that he couldn't continually swallow with a blocked nose.
"Slower." He said to himself.
He continuously coughed over the sink just in case he was sick again. This continued until he felt he had coughed himself into oblivion and he could hardly think straight and his head was slightly spinning. A wave of nausea hit him suddenly and he had to sit down and tried to keep himself warm and comfortable.
"Bed's made up DiNozzo." Gibbs noted the paler complexion, "Talk to me."
There was a long pause before Tony responded, "I think I feel better." He said.
"Like hell." Gibbs said, "Let's get you to bed."
"I can –" Tony began to say.
Without saying a word, Gibbs allowed him to slowly make his way to the bedroom and put himself under the covers. He excused himself and quickly returned with a small jar in his hand.
"This will make you breathe easier." Gibbs told him as he unscrewed the top.
Tony raised an exhausted eyebrow. "You've got to be kidding." He sighed as Gibbs began unbuttoning his pajama top.
"Relax DiNozzo." Gibbs said as Tony felt the thick warm substance being rubbed against his chest. "That'll make you feel better through the night."
"Vicks Vapor Rub?" Tony asked as he immediately buttoned the top. "I'd like to know why you still have that hanging around." The laughing made him cough badly again.
"Oh, and there's a bucket down here just in case." Gibbs said as he stood up and went to leave.
"Boss?" Tony asked weakly.
"DiNozzo?" Boss responded.
"I'm sorry about your sheets Boss… I couldn't help it. I'll get you new ones." Tony said, "I'll replace them."
Gibbs felt like banging his head against the doorframe. "Do you think that I'm worried about a couple of sheets?"
"Don't you Boss? I possibly have wrecked some things… You should be pissed." Tony said as he closed his eyes and tiredness took over.
"What the hell happened to you?" Gibbs muttered as he half closed the door.
Daylight crept through the blinds and shone into Gibbs' eyes until he stood out of bed. His digital alarm clock had read 8 am which meant that he had slept longer than he had intended to. The second thought was to go in and check on his patient. There was anger and annoyance when he saw that Tony had made his bed and not lying in it. After searching all through the house including the basement there was no sign of Tony there. His patient slash senior agent was missing.
