Chapter Four
Gibbs was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of Bailey coughing nearby. He looked over the side of his bed and found the little boy lying on the floor next to him.
"What are you doing down there Bailey?" he asked quietly.
"I miss you," Bailey whispered.
"Come here," Gibbs said motioning for him to stand. He lifted Bailey into the bed between him and Jenny then pulled the sheet and comforter around everybody. "Where are your socks Buddy? Your feet are freezing." Bailey shrugged his shoulders and planted his cold feet on Gibbs' leg, using Gibbs' flannel pajama pants to warm them.
"Try to go back to sleep," Gibbs whispered as he tucked his arm under Bailey's head. Bailey pulled Gibbs' arm across his chest and hugged it as he cuddled into Gibbs' warm body. Gibbs slowly ran his hand back and forth over Bailey's stomach. It wasn't long before his eyes closed and the little boy was asleep again.
As the night went on Bailey's cough continued to get worse preventing him from getting much sleep. Shortly after 2:00 Gibbs got up, pulled a t-shirt over his head and took Bailey downstairs with him. He sat Bailey in a chair at the kitchen table then filled the teapot with water and put it on the stove.
Bailey sat hunched over coughing so hard Gibbs was afraid he might throw up. He rested the back of his hand against the little boy's forehead and noticed he felt a little warm. While he was waiting for the water to boil he went into the downstairs bathroom and got the thermometer. He pulled Bailey's left arm out of his pajama top and situated the thermometer in his armpit, holding it in place until it beeped. He wasn't overly concerned when he saw a temp of 99.4 but made a mental note to check it again later.
When the teapot whistled Gibbs made Bailey a cup of tea with a spoonful of honey in it. He added an ice cube to cool it down then gave it to Bailey. While Bailey sat at the table and drank his tea Gibbs worked on building a fire in the fireplace. He moved his recliner next to the fireplace and when Bailey was finished Gibbs carried him into the living room, grabbed his fleece USMC blanket and situated Bailey on his lap. The two sat in the recliner next to the softly crackling fire, rocking back and forth. The tea seemed to have soothed Bailey's throat and eased his coughing enough he was able to go back to sleep propped up against Gibbs' chest.
Jenny started to wake early Tuesday morning when she got cold. She rolled over towards Gibbs' side of the bed searching for his warmth but found the bed empty. Curious about why he was up at 5:00 in the morning she got out of bed and went to find him. When she made it to the living room she found Bailey curled up in a tight ball on Gibbs' lap coughing forcefully while Gibbs rubbed his back.
"That doesn't sound good," she said as she moved over next to Gibbs.
"Will you bring me the thermometer?" Gibbs asked. "It's on the kitchen table."
Jenny retrieved the thermometer and handed it to Gibbs who had somehow managed to get Bailey uncurled and sitting up. "He's been coughing like this all night," Gibbs explained as he pulled Bailey's arm out of his shirt. He put the thermometer in the little boy's armpit and held it in place. "Reminds me of when DiNozzo had the plague."
"That bad, huh?" Jenny asked.
Gibbs nodded. "I was hoping he would be able to sleep better if he was propped up a little bit but I don't think it's helped very much."
"You should've got me up," Jenny said. "I could've helped."
"You looked so peaceful," Gibbs said, "I didn't want to disturb you." The thermometer beeped and Gibbs pulled it out and looked at it. "It's up to 101.9, it was at 99.4 when I took it around two this morning." He looked at Bailey who had collapsed back against his chest coughing then at Jenny who was standing over him. "I think I'm going to take him to see Ducky."
"Are you sure Jethro?" Jenny asked, the worry obvious in her voice. "There's a lot of snow out there, maybe we should just call an ambulance."
"Nah, we'll be ok," Gibbs assured her. "I'll take the truck, it has four wheel drive. Will you be ok here with Josie?"
Jenny nodded unconvincingly. "We'll be fine," she said still worried about Gibbs going out in the nasty weather. "Please be careful Jethro," she pleaded, "please."
Gibbs smiled as he stood and handed Bailey to her. "I will," he promised. He hurried up to his bedroom and changed into a pair of jeans and a clean t-shirt followed by a hoodie. He sat down on the edge of his bed and pulled on a pair of boots then grabbed an old baseball hat out of his closet.
Once he was dressed, Gibbs went back downstairs, put his Carhartt coat on, grabbed his keys and headed outside. He turned the truck on to warm up then moved one of the booster seats from the car to the truck. With the windows starting to defrost he grabbed his ice scraper and cleared the snow and ice off of the windows. After assessing the snow situation in the driveway he decided he didn't need to fire up the snow blower since he was taking the truck. With the truck warming up in the driveway Gibbs went back inside to get Bailey ready.
"I need you to do me a favor Jen," he said as he knelt in front of the recliner and started putting Bailey's shoes on his feet. "Will you call Tony, Ziva, Tim and Abby and tell them to take the day off? There's at least 18 inches of snow out there and it's still coming down. I don't want them out in this."
"Sure," Jenny said.
Gibbs could see she was still worried about him leaving so he sat down on the arm of the recliner and put his arm around her. "Hey," he said, "we'll be ok. I promise."
"I know," Jenny said. "I just worry. I can't help it."
Gibbs squeezed her shoulder then stood. "We'll be back as soon as we can," he told her. He pulled Bailey's hat over his head then lifted him off Jenny's lap and stood him on the floor between them. With Jenny's help he got the little boy's coat on and zipped. Knowing the wind would go right through Bailey's flannel pajama pants, Gibbs grabbed the fleece blanket they'd been covered up with all night and wrapped it around the little boy.
"We'll be back in a bit," he told Jenny as he lifted Bailey into his arms. "Keep the front door locked," he called over his shoulder before hurrying out to the warm truck with Bailey.
"Is Bailey going away?" Josie asked.
Jenny locked the front door behind Gibbs then turned to see Josie standing halfway up the stairs watching. "Bailey's sick Sweetheart," she explained as she walked towards the little girl, "he's going to see the doctor then he'll be right back." She picked Josie up and carried her down to the living room.
Josie cuddled into Jenny's lap, content to be surrounded by warm, loving arms. "Know what?" the little girl asked. "I like it here very much."
A smile found its way onto Jenny's face as she held the girl closer. "I'm so happy to hear that Honey," Jenny said. "I like having you here." She leaned over and kissed the top of Josie's head.
Just as Gibbs had predicted the previous day, the snow plows had been unable to keep up with the rapidly falling snow. A few of the main roads were clear but most of the streets were covered to the point of being impassible in anything less than a four wheel drive vehicle. Gibbs knew he'd made the right call when he'd chosen to take the truck instead of the sedan.
Between the snow storm and the early morning hour the roads were nearly empty and Gibbs made pretty good time getting to Ducky's house. On the way over Bailey rested his head against the side of the car seat between his coughing fits. The tips of his hair were wet with sweat while the rest of his body shivered in the cold. After parking in front of Ducky's house, Gibbs rewrapped the blanket around Bailey and hurried to the front door.
"Jethro, what are you doing here?" Ducky asked after answering the door. He stepped aside and ushered his guests into the house.
"That little cough Bailey had yesterday got really bad last night," Gibbs said as he settled Bailey in a chair in Ducky's front room and started unwrapping him. "I was hoping you could take a look."
"Of course!" Ducky said grabbing his medical bag. After Gibbs removed the blanket and Bailey's coat Ducky took his temperature, his pulse and listened to his lungs. "It sounds like a severe case of bronchitis Jethro," Ducky said, "but he really should go to the hospital for a chest x-ray. It could be pneumonia."
Gibbs nodded at Ducky. "What was his temp when you took it?"
"102," Ducky answered.
"It was 99.4 at two this morning and 101.9 when I took it about an hour ago," Gibbs said with a sigh. "I'll run him back over to Washington General and have them take a look." Gibbs pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped Bailey's mouth, cleaning away the mucus he'd coughed up. While he was helping Bailey put his coat on his cell phone started ringing. Ducky took over redressing Bailey while Gibbs answered the phone.
"Jethro, I just talked to Tim and Abby," Jenny said, "they lost power."
"Both of them?" Gibbs asked.
"Well they live pretty close to each other," Jenny said. "It must be that area of town. Right now they're both at Abby's place."
"What about Tony and Ziva?" Gibbs asked.
"They're fine," Jenny said. "Ziva is over at Tony's place, I guess they're going to have a movie marathon or something."
"Ok," Gibbs said thinking through a plan, "Ducky said Bailey needs a chest x-ray to make sure he doesn't have pneumonia so I'm going to run him over to the ER. Call either McGee or Abby back, tell them to stay put and I'll swing by and pick them up when we're done at the hospital. Have them pack an overnight bag, they can stay with us."
"I'll call them right now," Jenny said.
"Thanks Jen," Gibbs said, "I'll see you soon."
"Bye Jethro."
As soon as Gibbs hung up the phone with Jenny, Ducky started giving him instructions for Bailey. "Make sure to give him plenty of fluids," Ducky said. "Hot fluids are best. Also, he needs plenty of rest and if he gets any worse make sure you take him back to the hospital. A hot bath would be good for him too and if you have any questions don't hesitate to call me."
"Thanks Duck," Gibbs said after listening patiently. "I really appreciate it." He wrapped the blanket around Bailey and picked him up. Ducky held the front door open for Gibbs and watched him put Bailey in the truck and disappear down the street.
"How are you doing Buddy?" Gibbs asked Bailey as he headed for the hospital.
"I'm sleepy," Bailey said, his eyelids drooping nearly closed.
"I know Kiddo." Gibbs reached over and patted Bailey's head just as he started having another coughing attack.
Gibbs wasn't surprised to find the parking lot at Washington General Hospital nearly empty. He parked as close as he could to the Emergency Room entrance then hurried into the building with Bailey tucked against his chest. Dr. Reed was at the front desk when Gibbs checked in and remembered them from the previous day. He took them right back to an exam room.
"I don't remember him being this bad yesterday," Dr. Reed said as he felt the lymph nodes in Bailey's neck.
"He was coughing a little bit," Gibbs said, "but he got pretty bad overnight."
The doctor looked at Bailey lying exhausted on the exam table. "I have to take your shirt off of you Bailey but there aren't any girls around today. Ok?"
Bailey halfheartedly glanced around the room to be sure then weakly nodded at the doctor. Gibbs sat next to Bailey, running his fingers through the little boy's shaggy hair while the doctor did his examination. Dr. Reed clipped the pulse oximeter on Bailey's finger to measure the oxygen in his blood then took his temperature. He listened to Bailey's lungs in between coughing fits.
"I'm going to run him down and x-ray his chest to make sure we don't have the beginnings of pneumonia here," Dr. Reed said.
Bailey leaned forward in the bed coughing so hard his face turned red, then without warning he leaned over the side of the bed and threw up. When the ordeal was over he sat hunched over, exhausted and crying.
"It's just a lot of mucus," the doctor said checking out the puddle on the floor.
Gibbs wiped Bailey's mouth again before lifting him into his arms. "The doctor's going to take a picture of your tummy then we're going to go home, ok?"
"I don't want a picture of my tummy," Bailey whined weakly.
"It won't hurt," Gibbs promised. "It's just like the picture he took of your arm yesterday."
"No," Bailey whined as he hid his face in Gibbs' shirt.
Dr. Reed motioned for Gibbs to follow him so he carried Bailey down to the x-ray suite. Bailey was fine until Gibbs laid him on the cold x-ray table then he started screaming and reaching out for Gibbs to pick him up.
"I know Bailey," the doctor said. "Agent Gibbs is going to be right over there. You'll be able to see him the whole time through that window. Try to lay really still and we'll be done super fast."
The x-ray tech lined the marks up on Bailey's chest then moved behind the window with Gibbs and the doctor. After taking all the needed x-rays Gibbs rescued Bailey from the cold table and took him back to the exam room while Dr. Reed looked at the films.
"Papa Gibbs, I want to go home," Bailey moaned while Gibbs helped him put his shirt back on.
"I know Buddy," Gibbs said. "As soon as the doctor comes back and talks to us we'll go home." When Bailey was redressed Gibbs picked him up and sat down in one of the chairs in the room with him. Bailey collapsed into Gibbs, wrapping his arm around Gibbs' neck, determined not to be taken away from him again. By the time the doctor returned Bailey was alternating between coughing and dozing off.
"What we have is an advanced case of bronchitis," Dr. Reed said. "I'm going to give you a prescription that should bring his fever down and help with the coughing but if he gets worse you'll need to bring him back right away."
"Thank you Doctor," Gibbs said.
"He can take this with the pain meds I prescribed yesterday," the doctor said while he scribbled on his prescription pad. After signing his name he pulled it from the pad and handed it to Gibbs. "I hope you feel better Bailey."
"What do you say Kiddo?" Gibbs asked.
Bailey grumbled and held onto Gibbs tighter making both Gibbs and the doctor smile. The doctor gave Gibbs the same basic instructions Ducky had given him, a basin in case Bailey needed to throw up again and then sent them on their way.
After leaving the hospital Gibbs headed straight for Abby's apartment with Bailey dozing off in the truck next to him. When he got there he called Abby and told them to come out front. She and Tim squeezed into the cab with Gibbs and Bailey and they headed for the drugstore.
While they waited for Bailey's prescription to be filled Gibbs bought some more tea and a set of bath toys he happened to stumble on. Tim and Abby scoured the candy aisle and bought enough junk food to last everyone several days. After they had everything, everyone crammed back into the truck and Gibbs headed home.
As soon as Abby walked in the door Josie raced over to her and lifted her arms to be picked up. Abby lifted her up and kissed her cheek being careful not to poke the little girl with any of her jewelry. After greeting Abby, Josie reached towards Gibbs.
"Hey Baby Girl," Gibbs said. His arms were full with Bailey so he leaned over and kissed Josie. Satisfied with that Josie wrapped her arms around Abby and the group headed into the living room.
"What'd you find out?" Jenny asked taking Bailey from Gibbs so Gibbs could take his coat off.
"Bronchitis," Gibbs said. "Doc gave us some prescription strength cough syrup. I hope it works because he's exhausted." Gibbs draped his coat over a chair in the dining room then headed into the kitchen.
"You look plenty tired yourself Jethro," Jenny said following him into the kitchen. She sat Bailey down in a chair and took his coat, hat and shoes off.
"I haven't had any coffee yet today," Gibbs said glancing at his watch. He was surprised to find it was already pushing 11:00. He started digging through the kitchen drawers searching for something.
"Why don't you go lie down and take a nap," Jenny suggested. "Tim, Abby and I can entertain Josie and take care of Bailey." She watched him pull out several drawers and go through them. "What are you looking for?"
"A medicine cup," Gibbs answered, "and I don't need a nap."
Jenny pulled the bottle of cough syrup out and showed Gibbs the medicine cup on top of the lid. When he reached for it she held it just out of his reach. Gibbs moved his face dangerously close to hers making her heart rate increase. She looked deep into his eyes, determined not to back down despite her nerves.
"Fine," Gibbs said softly, finally giving in, "I'll go lie down, but you can't make me sleep." He slowly raised his head away from hers and she handed him the cough syrup, pleased that she'd won that time.
"Good," Jenny said taking a deep breath and trying to compose herself again.
Gibbs opened the cough syrup and measured out the correct amount then knelt in front Bailey. "Ok Little Man," he said, "drink this up for me then we'll go upstairs and lie down for a little while." He was pleased when Bailey emptied the medicine cup without a fight. "If you guys can watch Josie I'll just lay him down with me," Gibbs told Jenny.
"Right," Jenny said playfully, "since you're not going to sleep anyways."
Gibbs considered invading her personal space again but decided against it for the moment. After spending most of the night up with Bailey and not having any coffee he was starting to get tired. Their games would have to wait until later. Instead he just smiled at Jenny then lifted Bailey out of his chair and headed upstairs.
"Do you want to lie down with me?" Gibbs asked on their way up the stairs. Bailey nodded his head and cuddled into Gibbs' chest. Gibbs took the little boy into his bedroom and laid him down on the bed. He changed back into his flannel pants, stripped his top layers off and laid down next to Bailey. It wasn't long before he felt Bailey squirming around in the bed next to him. "What're you doing Buddy?"
"I take my shirt off," Bailey said, struggling with the cast on his arm, "just like you."
"You're going to get cold," Gibbs said with an amused smile.
"Nu-uh," Bailey said shaking his head.
Gibbs watched the little boy struggle then laughed to himself and helped Bailey get his shirt off. Satisfied that he got to be just like his hero, Bailey burrowed into Gibbs' side and rested his head on Gibbs' arm. Gibbs pulled the blankets around them and rubbed Bailey's back until he fell asleep.