Chapter 4

A/N: I am terribly sorry for the hiatus. Real life has been extremely busy. Workloads are crazy and I just don't have the time to write. Thanks to those who PM me asking about me being away. Anyway, I'm in the process of transferring to a new job. Therefore, I've got a couple of days off to start writing again. Here's a short chapter I managed to write earlier today. Enjoy!

Driving at a slower rate, Gibbs cannot stop himself from stealing a few glances at Tony to make sure that he's still breathing. His second in command has been extra quite that it's making his gut going into overdrive. A quite DiNozzo is not a normal DiNozzo. The guy who can practically talk non stop is just sitting there silently with his head resting against the window. 'This can't be good…' Gibbs thought to himself. Something is definitely off with Tony.

Tony noticed the sideway glances that Gibbs kept giving him for the past ten minutes. He knows he's being extra silent that it's making Gibbs suspicious. But he just don't have the energy to hide his exhaustion. And not to mention the pain in his chest that felt like a pregnant elephant is sitting on top of it.

He can feel the temperature of his body slowly rising and the headache that's starting to build up gradually. And his joints are feeling like he's a hundred years old already. He rested his head on the window to ease the headache and cool off his body.

The silent was then interrupted by a deep cough from Tony. His chest felt like it's on fire as the coughing fit continues for a couple of minutes. Gibbs was starting to worry as he can see the struggle that Tony is facing everytime he tried to take a breath.

Instantly his memory was taken back to a few years ago in the blue room. God, please not again… His worst fear was becoming a living nightmare as he saw the bloodied tissue when Tong wiped his mouth the moment he stopped coughing.

"That's it. I'm taking you to the hospital!" He said as he made a turn towards Bethesda and stepped on the gas. At the same time, he already got Ducky on the line.

"Hey, Duck. I'm taking Tony to Bethesda. He just coughed some blood for God's sake."

"Oh dear, Lord. I should have insisted for him to go directly in the first place. I will see you there, Jethro. I'm sorry for not pushing that stubborn lad earlier."

"Not your fault, Duck. I"ll see you later." He flipped the phone after the short conversation. He realized Tony was looking disapprovingly at him.

"Oh, come on, Boss. Why all the fuss? It's not that I'm dying here." Although he himself was a bit shocked upon seeing the blood on the tissue, Tony was still feeling that this matter can be solved with just some antibiotic and a good rest. Even though it's been almost nine years, but the haunted blue room and the needles still managed to make him cringe.

"People who are not sick don't spit blood, DiNozzo." Gibbs looked directly into Tony's eyes. "Please, just for once, think about your health, Tony."

"Okay, maybe I am dying. You are saying please and talking to me like I'm about to die." Tony still managed to flash a grin while his hand unconsciously circled his chest trying to loose the tightness.

Gibbs almost headslapped him into a coma if not because they have arrived at the hospital. How can this idiot make a joke about his life is beyond of Gibbs knowledge. He just hope that whatever it is, Tony's luck is not going to let him down today.

...to be continued.