A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed, alerted, or favorited. Here is the next chapter, enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters


Tony was going crazy. While many said that he had the attention span of a child, he could keep his attention on things for a long time. Currently his attention was focused on one special agent Timothy McGee, a.k.a. probie. McGee looked like he was barely standing upright, well at least when he first got off the elevator. Afterwards he seemed to have masked whatever pain he was feeling. This frustrated Tony to no end.

Unaware of his partner's scrutiny, McGee let out a ragged breath. While it had not been his best idea to come to work after all that had happened, he would have to suck it up. He was doing this for two reasons. First off it was one of the rules and secondly if he didn't suck it up Gibbs would notice, defeating the purpose of not telling Gibbs. Putting on his most normal face McGee turned back to his computer screen and tried to work. Tried being the key word because in reality he could barely concentrate on breathing let alone on whatever he was supposed to be doing. He supposed that this is what he got for having an attitude but to be honest he could care less.

After a few hours Tony was hungry and decided to get some lunch and with Gibbs and Ziva gone, he decided to invite McGee. "Come on McGeek leave your exciting paperwork and let's go get some lunch."

"It's okay Tony I'm not really that hungry, I think I'll just finish up here while you go get lunch." McGee was indeed hungry, but he didn't think he could walk to wherever they were going and keep up his façade in front of Tony.

"Oh come on, it's not like you have that much to do, I mean you're probably ahead in paperwork."

"I'm not hung…" A loud rumble coming from his stomach cut him off. Sheepishly he looked at Tony who smirked.

"Sure you're not hungry. Come on I'll pay" Tony said as he pulled McGee up not catching the winces of pain on McGee's face.

Walking to the local deli was a torture. While normally the two block walk would be nothing to McGee, today it seemed never ending. Thankfully they weren't on a time limit and were able to take their time, although at this point McGee wasn't sure if he preferred to go fast and get it over with or go slow. For his part Tony kept up a steady stream of chatter all the way to the deli.

Once at the deli however Tony couldn't help but notice that McGee looked tired and uncomfortable.

"Are you ok McGee?" Concern lacing his question.

"Yeah I think I caught some type of cold." McGee coughed trying to get his point across. Unfortunately this action caused his ribs to jar against each other. He winced in pain.

"McGee are you okay?" Tony asked.

McGee nodded. "Yeah I think that it might be getting worse."

"Are you sure you're okay, maybe you should get Ducky to check it out"

"No!" Seeing Tony's surprised face he quickly tried to explain. "I mean it's probably just a tiny cold." Tony nodded and they continued eating. Tony felt a tiny niggle in his gut telling him that something was wrong with McGee.

That night McGee went home and sat on his sofa. He had managed to finish the day without anyone knowing that anything was wrong. He was actually somewhat surprised that none had called him out on it. He had been expecting someone to pop out and tell him that it was over. That he had been found out.

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on the viewpoint, none had found out and his cover with Tony had stayed intact. He wasn't sure if he would've been able to lie to Tony if he had kept at it longer.

Now though his ribs and the rest of his body protested the lack of medical treatment he had received.

Taking a shower he put on a tee and some boxers. Just as he was about to go to sleep he heard his phone ring. Without thinking he answered.

"Hello?" Tim answered sleepily.

"Hello agent McGee I see that you are in bed right now" A very familiar voice answered. Sitting up straight in bed McGee thought on that particular sentence.

"What do you want?" He growled.

Dave laughed. "What agent did you really think that it was over?" he asked.

"No" Tim answered. In reality though, he had been hoping that it was over and just a onetime thing. Kind of like getting mugged.

"Well that is good I wouldn't want you to think that I had forgotten you" Dave continued.

McGee rolled his eyes. "And here I thought that you had left me for someone else." He drawled. "I guess they let you down. Probably couldn't stand you either."

"Watch it agent" Dave's voice had turned cold. "I just might reconsider our deal"

McGee stilled at his words. For some reason he couldn't control his tongue when he spoke with this guy. He pondered over this strange predicament before Dave spoke again.

"Well what do you think?" he asked harshly.

"What do you want?" McGee repeated his earlier question.

Dave smiled. He had the agent wrapped around his finger. He was doing just fine, even if he did have an annoying attitude. Just threaten him with breaking the deal they had made and he would stop completely.

"I see that you followed the instructions I gave you"

"So that's it?" McGee asked incredulously. "You called me in the dead of night to congratulate me? You know you could have sent a card." He couldn't help it he started laughing.

Dave waited until McGee had stopped laughing. "No, I called to tell you about your first task"

McGee rolled his eyes. "Of course, generic movie villain 101, bother people at night so that they can't get a decent amount of sleep."

Dave seemed to not mind the comment and went on to tell him about his first task.

The next morning McGee rolled in bed. Feeling his ribs grate against each other he decided it wasn't his best course of action and slowly sat up trying to catch his breath.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

McGee groaned. Who in the world was calling him at seven in the morning? How in the world had it gotten that late?

Ring! Ring!

"I'm coming, stop the racket." McGee grumbled. Reaching the phone he yanked it and answered angrily.

"What do you want?" He was going to be late to work. Gibbs wasn't going to be happy about that.

"Whoa something wrong?" Tony asked. He did not expect McGee's reaction to him calling.

McGee rubbed his hand over his face. "Oh hi Tony, nothing is wrong"

"Are you sure McGee?" Tony asked concerned.

McGee nodded then he remembered that Tony couldn't see him. "Yeah Tony sorry about that I wasn't expecting you to call." After a forethought he added. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"Nope, Gibbs told us to sleep in remember."

Oh yeah. McGee remembered alright Gibbs had told them to get some rest and sleep in. Still that didn't explain Tony's call. "So why's you call?"

"Oh I just wanted to see if you were home?" Tony answered.

McGee narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why?"

Tony laughed. "Well I'll be there in about ten see you McWakey"

"Wait Tony what…click…." He out the phone down. Tony was going to get here in ten minutes. McGee looked at the clock. Darn.

Ten minutes later McGee had just finished getting dressed when he heard a knock on the door.

"Open up McGee!" Tony voice rang through the door. McGee finished putting on his socks and opened the door.

"Hey Tony" McGee answered sleepily a yawn heard in his voice.

Tony walked inside carrying a large bag. "Hello McGee rise and shine." He called out in a cheery voice.

"What do you want Tony" McGee asked resignedly.

"Oh McSmiley I want nothing more than to share with you these delectable goods I have." Tony pulled out two smaller bags out of the larger bags and gave one to McGee.

"You brought me breakfast?" McGee asked incredulously.

Tony stared. "Well unless they gave me lunch, yes it is breakfast." He looked at McGee worriedly. "Why did you eat already?"

McGee shook his head. "No, I-I just…nevermind" He unwrapped his breakfast burrito and took a bite. Tony looked on wondering what that was all about.

After a few minutes of munching McGee spoke up again. "Umm do you want some coffee, I have some if you want."

Tony nodded. "Thanks probie."

McGee got up and felt his ribs protest. He was so concentrated on making sure his ribs were okay that he missed the table right in front of him. Hitting the edge of the table he felt the pain on his side bloom. Gasping he leaned against the wall and tried to catch his breath.

Tony quickly got up. "Are you okay McGee? What happened?"

McGee simply held up a hand signaling him to give him a minute. Once he felt more stable he held his side and got back into an upright position. Looking up he noticed Tony was staring at him intently, his eyes demanding an answer. Tony crossed the room in three steps and lifted up his shirt. McGee pulled down his shirt but it was too late. Tony had seen the dark bruise running across his ribs.

"Tony," McGee quickly tried to explain.

"What happened?" Tony growled cutting off McGee. He wanted to know what happened and he wanted to know now.

McGee avoided his gaze. "I fell down the stairs."

"Fell down the stairs" Tony looked at him incredulously. Did probie really think he accepted that excuse?

McGee decided to try again. "Well I…"

Tony cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You know what McGee never mind" Grabbing ahold of his arm he pulled a silent McGee towards the door. It wasn't until he reached the door that McGee got back to his senses.

"Where are you going?" He asked trying to shrug off Tony's hold on his arm.

"We McGee are going to take you to a doctor." Tony answered keeping his hold on McGee even stronger.

"I don't need a doctor," McGee tried to reason with him even as Tony closed the door.

"Nope you are going to the doctor whether you want to or not" Tony answered. "It's non-negotiable."


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