A/N : Thank you guys for the follows, favs and reviews. I appreciate every single one of them. Sorry for the slow update. The outline is there but I'm having some trouble to write them as how I imagined them in my head.

All the medical stuff are courtesy of google and personal experience.

All mistakes are mine. *I don't have a beta and English is not my first language so please forgive me for the mistakes.

Chapter 6

Day 1

The first thing that he realized was the pain on the side of his body. He opened his eyes and tried to remember what had happened earlier and why he was having an oxygen mask on his face. He was having blurry images of him in the water and coughing up his lungs. As much as the mask is providing him with such a blissful supply of oxygen inside his lungs, it's kind of making him uncomfortable having it strapped to his face. He moved his hand towards the mask in an attempt to remove it for the moment.

"You try to pull that thing off and I'll have the nurse to restrain your hand to the bed." The gruff voice startled his movement and his hand instantly fell to his side. Tony looked up to his left to see that Gibbs was seating in the chair next to him.

"Hey, Boss." He tried to speak but dryness of his throat is making him sounding like he was choking on gravels.

"Here, take a sip of this." Gibbs helped to remove the oxygen mask a little bit and pushed a straw at Tony's mouth. "Slowly."

Tony took slow sips of the offered drinks and was feeling a little bit better. Gibbs put the mask back on and the oxygen felt heavenly on Tony's breathing system.

"What happened, Boss? And why do I have this tube coming out of my side?" He asked Gibbs upon realizing the source of his pain. He can see that the tube was attached to his left side and there're fluids flowing down through the tube from his side towards a container down under his bed.

"You were diagnosed with pleural effusion. Excessive fluid in your lungs. I had to consent them to put a chest tube to remove the fluid. It'll only be there for three days the most." Gibbs reply was as expected of a marine. Straight to the point without any side tracks.

"That's the reason why I'm having trouble to breathe?" Gibbs nodded.

"And also the fact that you forgot to mention that you're already not feeling well due to running in the rain!" Tony blushed knowing that he was busted with the rain incident. He did try to tell them but there's always something that came up making him not being able to set the story straight.

"Wanted to. But you're not in right mood." He said in between breath.

"My fault. I let my emotion cloud my judgement." Gibbs partly blame himself for being the second B on that day. If only he insisted about Tony's health problem that day, he wouldn't allow Tony to go out on the field and Tony wouldn't jumped into the river trying to save the evidence. Although knowing Tony, he'll probably have to restrain him at his desk to keep him from going to the field.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Whispered Tony behind the mask.

"What were you saying, DiNozzo?" Gibbs heard him faintly but he wanted Tony to say it out loud. He realized it's becoming a bad habit of him. And it's always his SFA that ended up on the wrong end of his bad judgement. Probably what he really need is for someone to say it right in his face. Making him see that he cannot let his emotion play the major role in his decision making.

"Nothing, Boss. Tired." He closed his eyes briefly. He was feeling tired just from talking and that's why he chose to use short words instead of saying the full sentences. He knew the boss would understand what he's saying or what he's trying to say.

"Try to sleep then." Putting his hand on Tony's hand, he assured Tony that he'll always be there by his sides.

…

After an hour of restless sleep, Tony woke up again to the sound of whispers around his bed. He opened his eyes to see that he's surrounded by his little NCIS family. Abby was standing close to him with her eyes red from what he can assumed as heavy crying. Why would Abby cried, he wondered. It's not like he's dying, right? McGee was at the end of the bed trying and failing miserably at looking calm and collected. He can see the tiny beads of sweat on his head and the slight shake on McGee's hands. Normal people would miss the signs and assumed that McGee is fine but Tony is not normal ordinary people. He's a trained federal agent and he can see right trough McGee.

Meanwhile, Ducky was at his other side looking at his vitals, checking on the fluid output and doing the basic medical stuff.

Not seeing Gibbs in sight, he figured the boss must be away for his hourly dose of coffee. Upon seeing his eyes opened, Ducky was the first to speak. "I forced Gibbs to go back home and get a little rest while we are here." Knowing that how close the two of them are, Ducky feels the need to reassure Tony about Gibbs whereabout at the moment.

"Hey guys." He smiled his megawatt smile. "Ducky, may I? I'm feeling okay at the moment." He asked Ducky while pointing at the mask on his face. The shortness of breath wasn't as bad as earlier.

"Alright my boy. But put it on as soon as you feel the difficulties to breathe." Ducky gave his permission as he can see that Tony is eager to greet the rest of the team.

"And limit your words, Anthony. Speak only when you're needed to. And only short replies. Save your breath." Tony nodded agreeing to the terms as long as he can speak with his teammates without the stupid mask muffling his every words.

"Hey, Tony boy. You're feeling okay?" Abby was the first one to speak. She was holding Bert in her hands. She knew how Tony always felt alone everytime he's in the hospital. That is why she decided to leave Bert with Tony for the night so that Tony will have something to make him feel more 'at home'.

Tony nodded slightly and patted the right side of his bed and adjusted his body towards his left.

"You sure?" Abby asked again knowing very well the meaning behind Tony's gesture. He nodded again while giving Abby a reassuring smile.

Abby then slowly climbed next to Tony and slowly lie her head in Tony's arm. Tony tighten his grip on Abby's shoulder and kissed the top of her head. An embrace with Abby always makes him calm.

"So, what did I missed for the past day?" He asked McGee. Knowing Tony, McGee understood that it was a distraction from his pain. So he proceed to telling Tony about what had happened in the Navy Yard for the past day.

"Oh, I forgot to mention. Jimmy said hi. He can't make it today as he got to sit for a test. The ladies from HR are also saying hi. And also Jack the security guard. Agent Charlie from Manny's team, Harold the janitor, well basically almost everyone in the yard who knew about you are saying hi." McGee smiled remembering again how everyone is showing their concern towards Tony's wellbeing.

"Such a famous lad we have here, aren't we?" Ducky chimed in and he got a small laugh from Tony.

"That's just how I was born, Ducky. To be the charming, famous lad." He was laughing again when he suddenly felt that he cannot fully inhale his breath.

"The mask, my boy." Ducky gestured him to put on the mask again to assist his breathing. Tony made a face before he put the mask back in place and sucked in the much needed air.

The team were lingering around talking to each other with Tony chiming in once in a while. The group was disturbed by the sound of the door opening. Standing at the door was Nurse Linda, the nurse on duty at the hour.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you guys. But the visiting hour is over and we need the patient to have his rest." She said and waited for the guys to say their goodbyes to Tony.

"Take care, Tony. I'll let Bert to accompany you for tonight, ok?" Abby kissed Tony's forehead before she got of the bed.

"I will check again with you doctor and hopefully everything will be ok." Ducky told him and patted his hand.

"See you again, Tony. Get well soon and stop flirting with the nurse, ok?" McGee's words got a raised eyebrow and small smile from Tony.

After saying their goodbyes for the day, Tony was left alone in the room. Right after the team stepped out the door, his energy deflates along with the team's departure. Breathing in deeply, he tried to keep a positive mind and pray that he'll be out of the hospital as soon as possible.

…

Later that night, Gibbs was entering the room to see that Tony was trying to get some sleep. Upon hearing the door, Tony's eyes opened slowly and his eyes fell on Gibbs.

"Hey, Boss. What are you doing here at this hour?" He asked Gibbs seeing the clock on the wall pointing at ten at night.

"Flirting with the redhead nurse." Gibbs answered sarcastically. "What do you think, DiNozzo? Of cause I'm here to accompany you." He tapped Tony's head lightly. His SFA can be a pain in the ass sometimes when it comes to his own self-worth.

"But why?" Gibbs rolled his eyes at the simple question. God, please help him to put a bullet in Senior's head for making his agent felt as though he is not worth it.

"Because… I wanted to, Tony. Because… despite all the headslaps and shoutings, I care for you." Gibbs told Tony while ruffling his hair. Tony smiled at the words and closed his eyes knowing that Gibbs will be there to help him through all this.

...to be continued…