Warnings: Spoilers for NCIS:NOLA "Carrier".

A/N: This isn't really a tag to any Season 12 episode, but to NCIS:NOLA. I have been watching it faithfully every Tuesday and I really love the team, especially Sebastian. He cracks me up every week. I wanted more Tony in the episode that MW guest starred in but I understand filming time and having to jump on a plane to get to New Orleans prevented that. Anyways... here is an episode tag to "Carrier". Also I'm placing this chronologically just after Tony and Leah's wedding. I'm having a lot of fun writing these tags! Enjoy!

"The Plague Whisperer"

Tony shoved the last of his packing into the bag and zipped it up. He was happy to be getting of Louisiana, away from anything that might get him sick again… although the doctor's were right… his body had built up a stronger resistance… he just didn't want to chance it too much. Also… he didn't want to give it to Leah.

It broke his heart to picture her that sick, struggling to breathe and wondering if she was going to make it. He wouldn't wish that kind of sickness on anyone, not even someone he hated… or well… maybe he would wish it on someone that he hated… but certainly not Leah. It would ruin him if he brought the plague home to her, if she ended up under those blue lights, fighting to be that fifteen percent.

He'd vowed nine years ago that he was going to do his best to protect himself from getting that sick again and now that included his wife.

"So, it's really true, you had the bubonic plague?" La Salle said in that southern drawl.

"Actually it was pneumonic but… really when you're dying from it, it really doesn't matter," Tony said standing and slinging his bag over his shoulder.

La Salle grinned. "You must be one stubborn bastard, DiNozzo, to have beat the plague."

Tony returned the smile. "My wife says that all the time." He held his hand out to the friendly agent and shook it. "It was nice working with you, La Salle. Make sure Pride behaves." He slid his sunglasses down over the bridge of his nose and stepped out into the heat, getting into a cab. In a few short hours he'd be at Andrews' and he could go home… away from the plague and the rats and all the other bad things he associated with that nasty disease.

Leah was cooking when he arrived, tired, smelling like a pressurized cabin, but she smiled at him regardless. "I'm not going to get sick if I kiss you, am I?" she asked, grinning.

Tony dropped his bag and gathered her into his arms, kissing her fiercely. "I missed you," he whispered when they broke a part. "So much that it hurt. It wasn't very nice of them to send me on assignment after returning from our honeymoon."

"You were only gone two days," Leah pointed out.

"It was the longest two days of my life," Tony confessed. "I wanted to be with you, away from any chance of getting sick again. Vance likes to send me on these things just because I've built up some kind of defense."

Leah nodded. "You would have. Your body fought it and won. Doesn't mean you won't get it again… just it's more likely that someone who hasn't had the plague gets it before you do."

Tony looked at her seriously. "Which is why I was terrified that I'd bring something back to you. I had them test me. I'm negative for the virus."

"I thought you said you were wearing a HAZMAT suit the whole time you were in the contaminated area?"

"Yeah… I did."

"And you were still worried you'd get me sick?"

He sighed and hugged her. Tony couldn't imagine his life without her and he definitely did not want to be the reason that he lost her. "I just needed the reassurance that you were going to be safe."

She snuggled closer to him, happy to have him home and in one piece. Leah had been anxious about him going to New Orleans on Vance's request to help Special Agent Pride, but she hadn't argued with him. It was his job. And she now that they were married he was taking even more precautions to keep himself and her safe. His fingers slipped effortlessly through her hair and she sighed, happily.

Tony chuckled, softly, in her ear. "I brought you something."

"You did?"

He pulled away and went to his bag. First he handed her a bag of beignets. "From Pride… he felt bad that he was taking me away from you so soon after our marriage. And… I saved the best for last," he told her, pulling out a tiny Voodoo doll that looked just like his wife. "Look," he said with a teasing grin, "Now Little Tony can have a Little Leah to keep him company."

"Oh…Little Tony is going to be so happy."

"Figured he might."

Leah took the doll from his hands and went to put it on the shelf next to Little Tony. He'd been intrigued when she had laughed the first time she saw it and put it proudly on display. Of course…she was a professor of archeology…artifacts like Voodoo dolls fascinated her. She turned and smiled at him. "Are you hungry my plague whisperer?"

Tony feigned a look of seriousness. "I just spent all afternoon on a military flight… yes, my darling, I'm hungry. What are you making me tonight?"

"Nothing fancy… just spaghetti and meatballs."

"I don't need fancy, sweetheart."

"Obviously because you married me."

"Leah… you can be glamorous and fancy."

She looked down at her old, worn jeans and faded sweatshirt, and laughed. "Oh yeah… so glamorous."

He reached for her again, pulling her towards him and kissed her. He felt her melt underneath his embrace. "I love how you can be both glamorous and casual and still manage to look beautiful whatever you wear."

"And they said the romance would die after we were married."

"Never, darling. I love you too much for it to die."

"Tony," she whispered, "Now that we're married can you do me a favor?"

"Yes, darling," he answered, "What is it?"

Leah sighed and pressed her lips to his tightly before answering, "Please do not go off and play the plague whisperer ever again. It's just too risky."

Tony chuckled. "I promise, darling. That was my last time."