Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviews, favourites and followers.
Here's the next chapter. Enjoy…
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Gibbs awoke with a start.
He was sitting on the ground next to the mattress. The fire was burning low and would be out it he didn't do something about it. He suspected it was the iciness in the cabin that had woken him. Or maybe it was Dinozzo's moaning.
Damnit.
I shouldn't have been sleeping in the first place.
He ran a hand over his face and looked at Tony. He was restless, tossing his head from side to side and murmuring and moaning incoherently. Gibbs placed his hand on Tony's forehead and knew what he would find.
We have to get this fever under control.
He stood up quickly and attended to the fire, building it up so that the cabin was lit up again. Then he looked around the cabin and found Tony's disgarded shirt. He tore it into strips and soaked them in water. He kneeled next to Tony and placed the wet clothes on his forehead and neck. Tony groaned and tried to pull away. But Gibbs held the clothes in place.
"Come on Tony." Gibbs said. "You need to wake up."
Tony just moaned and shuddered.
Gibbs lifted Tony's top. Although the wound was no longer bleeding it didn't look good.
Shit!
It's probably infected.
Gibbs could feel the heat radiating off Tony's body. He removed the blanket and hoped that despite the fire, the cool air in the cabin would help to break his fever.
DiNozzo, you need to wake up.
Gibbs moved across the cabin and filled two glasses with water. He realized that he hadn't had anything to drink in hours and he was still wearing his wet clothes. His lower limbs were freezing and his old knee injury was acting up.
Never mind me.
Sitting on the mattress, he lifted Tony's head and held the glass to his lips. He poured a little water into Tony's mouth, Ducky's words echoing in his mind, the body dehydrates very quickly when one is running a high fever.
"Come on DiNozzo." Gibbs said.
Tony swallowed a bit of the water, but most of it spilled down his chin.
Gibbs put the glass aside and tapped Tony's cheek.
"DiNozzo, Wake up. That's an order." Gibbs said. But Tony didn't.
Shit!
Gibbs looked at his watch. It was 4:00am. McGee and Ziva would only get into the office at 7:00am. They would wait and wonder why he and DiNozzo were not in yet. They would banter and speculate before one of them would suggest that they call.
They would try Tony's number first. When they got no answer, they would try his. When they didn't get an answer, they would start to worry and by then Abby and Ducky would be in the bull pen. Maybe Vance too.
At about 8:00am they would likely try to track their cell phones. When they couldn't find them, because Gibbs' phone was dead and Tony's was lost in the river, they would really become concerned. Then Abby would hopefully remember the tracker and use it to find them.
Depending on how quickly they respond, they should get a location by 9:00am. They would then need to mobilize and start a rescue mission. By 12noon they should be on their way to us.
What if they aren't?
Will Tony get through another few hours with this growing infection, raging fever and no meds?
I can't risk moving him.
Nor will I leave him to go and find help.
Help will have to find us.
Turning back to Tony, Gibbs removed the clothes, soaked them again and placed them on Tony's forehead and neck.
"I'm not used to you being so quiet, DiNozzo." Gibbs said.
"You're always talking about something." Gibbs ran his hand over Tony's head unconsciously. It was always easier to let his real feeling simmered below the surface. A head slap here and there was the only sign he ever gave Tony of just how much he cared.
"Movies, women, McGee's geekiness, Ziva's combat skills, Abby's charities, Ducky's many stories and Jimmy's dry autopsy humour. You always have something to say." Gibbs placed his fingers against Tony's neck and was relieved to find a steady pulse.
"Surely you have something to say about this situation." Gibbs demanded really frustrated.
"Maybe it reminds you of a scene from the Twilight Zone?" Gibbs sighed. "Ah hell DiNozzo, wake up will you?"
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… Surely you have something to say about this situation …
Tony heard the words float to him.
… Maybe it reminds you of a scene from the Twilight Zone?...
He was so cold. He was in pain. It was so dark.
… Ah hell DiNozzo …
But that voice was an anchor.
… Wake up will you?...
"Boss?" Tony murmured aloud, his eyes suddenly open, his breath sharp.
"Tony?" Gibbs tapped his cheek.
"I can always count on you…" Tony murmured making eye contact with Gibbs
"That you can." Gibbs replied as he ran his hand over Tony's head. "You gonna stay awake now?"
"Why, Boss… you miss my company?" Tony asked despite the pain and fever.
"Something like that." Gibbs replied, holding the glass to Tony's lips. "Drink."
"Wish you had something stronger." Tony groaned as moving his head jarred his aching body.
"Me too." Gibbs said. "Drink up."
Tony took a few sips and shivered as some of it rolled down his face.
"They will find us… right, Boss?" Tony asked his face flush from the fever and clearly strained from pain. "Because… I don't think … "
"They'll find us. You just focus on staying awake."
I'll try Boss…
But damn it hurts like hell…
Tony took a shallow breath.
What if I don't make it through this?
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Abby woke suddenly, a sense of unease surrounding her.
I need to speak to Gibbs… no to Tony...
"Wait. Why do I need to speak to Tony now?" She looked at the wall clock in her room. It was 4:30am.
I need to speak to Tony.
"Okay. Okay. I know better than to question these things. If the universe wants me to call Tony, I will call Tony." That said she reached for her phone and dialled his number.
She got his voice mail.
"Tony?" she wondered a sense of irrational fear gripping her.
Something's not right.
No, calm down Abby!
Tony's probably fast asleep and his phone is probably switched off.
But Tony never switches his phone off.
"I'm going over there." Abby decided and jumped out of bed.
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Author's Note:
Let me know your thoughts…
