Part 7

Lightening streaked the sky as Gibbs and Fornell rode on. "Jethro, "Fornell shouted above the storm. "We have to go back."

"No! He's alive, Tobias. I have to find him."

Tony was huddled into the small cave, the lightening was flashing overhead. The whole area round about the cave was lit up. He saw the two men on horseback. His Dad. He so wanted to shout out and move but he couldn't.

Gibbs looked up, Tony was there he knew it. He dismounted and threw his reins to Tobias. He made his way to the rocks. He bent down and came face to face with Tony. He pulled him out and hugged him. He was soaking wet and shivering.

"Take me home Dad please," Tony begged. Gibbs covered him up as best he could and carried him down to the horses. Tobias took off to get Ducky leaving Gibbs to go his house.

He was so glad when he saw the house ahead of him. He left his horse in the barn and carried Tony into the house. He built up the fire again and then turned all his attention to Tony. Gibbs managed to strip Tony out of his wet clothes. He took a towel and rubbed him down. No matter how hard he tried to warm him he couldn't stop shivering. He dressed him in his warmest nightshirt and pulled socks onto his frozen feet. He put a drink to his lips. Tony tried to gulp it down but Gibbs made him take small sips. He was ill enough without vomiting as well. "Let's get you to bed." Gibbs lifted him up and carried him through. He tucked him into the bed.

"Stay!" Tony begged trying to grab Gibbs' hand.

"Of course. I was just getting another blanket." Tony was so confused, sometimes he was a young boy and then he'd be grown up, which was real?

Gibbs heard the door open and shout for Ducky to come through. Ducky made his way to the bed. He put his hand on Tony's forehead. It was so hot. He listened to his chest. "He's very sick Jethro."

Tony felt himself lifted and a horrible liquid was poured down his throat. He tried to protest but couldn't get any words out for coughing. He felt his back being thumped and then more coughing. Was he dying? "S...o...rr...y!" he managed to say before lying back in the bed and shutting his eyes.

"You've nothing to be sorry for son," Gibbs said running his hand through Tony's hair.

"Trou..ble."

"Quiet, save your strength. You're no trouble Tony. You just have to do what the doctor says."

Tony couldn't understand what was happening. One minute he was in the desert the next he was frozen. He felt a hand touch his face and he leant into it. It was so comforting. He heard someone say," He's burning up."

"We've changed his antibiotics but if we can't get his fever down he's not going to make it."

"He has to Ducky," Gibbs said.

"Nurse, get ice packs and cover him with them." He turned to Gibbs," Take his clothes off and cover him with a sheet. We'll put the ice packs round him."

Tony fought Gibbs as he tried to undress him. "Tony I need to take your clothes off."

"No please, I didn't do anything wrong. Please don't. I don't like it." Gibbs stopped horrified at what Tony had just revealed. He knew Tony had been physically abused but now it sounded as if he had been abused in other ways too. "Tony, I have to do this, I am not going to hurt you. We're going to try and get your temperature down."

Gibbs almost wept as Tony screamed when the ice packs were placed around him. "Ducky?" Gibbs shouted.

"We have to do it Jethro."

Tony whimpered, tears flowing down his cheeks. "Daddy please, I'll be good."

"Right Jethro," Ducky said and they removed the packs. The sheet was removed and Gibbs wrapped a towel round him. He kissed his forehead and held him close.

Ducky came towards Tony," His temperature came down, we just have to hope it will stay down."

Gibbs fell asleep holding Tony in his arms both of them exhausted.

Ducky was constantly at their side checking Tony. He wasn't really a religious man but he'd prayed that night. He knew if Tony didn't make it neither would Jethro. He felt Tony's brow, it was cooler than before. He so hoped this was the turning point.

Tony woke up, he felt so comfortable. Someone was holding him. He opened his eyes slowly, Gibbs. He squirmed and tried to move away but Gibbs kept a tight grip on him. "Stay still, you'll pull your IV lines out. I've got you, go back to sleep." Tony couldn't stop his eyes closing again.

The next time he woke he was still in Gibbs' arms. "Feeling better?" a voice asked. Tony nodded. A cup was held to his lips. "Drink." The cool water felt so good down his throat.

"Good boy." He felt a hand running through his hair.

He heard the door open and Ducky walked in. He'd never seen the man look so dishevelled. He put a thermometer under his tongue and held his wrist. He pulled the thermometer out and looked at it. "Much better, "he said. "It looks as if you are over the worst."

"Thank God," Gibbs said. Tony felt his eyes close.

"He's to rest, no getting out of bed for at least three days. I'll pop in every day to see how he is. If you need anything make out a list and I'll get Tobias to bring it out." Tony looked up at Gibbs and smiled. Gibbs ruffled his hair and went through to the kitchen with Ducky.

"He's a very lucky boy," Ducky said. "He's still very weak. Look after him."

"I will." He handed a list to Ducky. "I'm just glad he's pulled through. There was a moment when I thought I'd lost him. Putting him in a bath of cold water and ice saved his life."

"It was all I could think of. I remembered when I was a boy in Scotland the local doctor did it to a friend who had a very high fever. I'm just glad it worked."

Gibbs grabbed his hand," Thank you."

Tony woke to the sun streaming through the window. Gibbs was asleep in the chair next to his bed. Tony almost giggled. Gibbs had bed hair. A small snort left his lips. "You haven't looked in the mirror yet," Gibbs said opening his eyes and stretching.

"Can I go home?" Tony asked.

This time Gibbs snorted. "You must be feeling better. The answer is no. The doctor is coming back this morning and it will be his decision when you can go home." Tony scowled. "And that look could get you into a lot of trouble."

"You said I wasn't in trouble," Tony said sounding more and more like a kid.

"Not for what happened before. But let me make one thing clear, you will not leave this hospital until the doctor says so, understand?" Tony nodded. "Want to hear you say it."

"I understand." The door opened and the doctor came in.

"I'm so glad you're awake this time. Can I examine you?"

"Sure." Tony leant forward and the doctor listened to his chest.

"Much better."

"When can I go home?"

"Mr. DiN.."

"Tony please."

"Tony, you still need to regain your strength. Maybe in a few days."

"A few days?" Tony complained.

"Tony you have been very ill."

"I'd never have noticed," Tony said sarcastically.

"That's enough," Gibbs growled. "Apologise."

"What? What happened to your rule, never apologise?"

"That's for work. This is about your bad manners." Tony went red. Gibbs was talking to him like he was a child. He looked up ready to make a comment but saw the look on Gibbs face.

"Sorry!" Tony said ungraciously. A glare from Gibbs made him say it again with more sincerity.

The door opened and Ducky came in. "Thank goodness, Ducky. Will you tell them I can go home."

"I'll tell them no such thing. The doctor is in charge of your case."

"But you're my doctor," Tony said.

"Tony, the doctor said a few days and you're just going to have to do as you're told, for once," Gibbs added seeing the mutinous look on Tony's face.

"I don't w..."

"What you want and what you need are two different things. And at this moment what you get might not be what you want," Gibbs warned. Tony knew what he meant. Gibbs had made the warning clear.

"Fine," he huffed, turning away from Gibbs. Gibbs smiled at Ducky. Tony had never been the best patient, things could get interesting.

Tony felt as if he had run a marathon. His legs and arms were so weak. He could barely lift them off the bed. He tried to swing them over the side. "And just where do you think you are going?" a voice said from the door.

"I need to go."

Gibbs picked up the chamber pot from under the bed and handed it to Tony. "Sorry Tony but you are not leaving this bed until Ducky says so." Tony's face went red. Tears trickled down his cheeks as he used the pot. It was so humiliating. Gibbs took it away and came back to help Tony get settled in bed. He took his chin and lifted his face," Look at me Tony." Big green eyes filled with unspilled tears looked back at him. "I know you're embarrassed but I'm your Dad, it's what Dad's do. They help their children when they're ill." More tears fell. Gibbs pulled Tony into his arms "Everything's going to be okay." He ran his fingers through Tony's hair.

"But he'll take me away. I'll never see you again."

Gibbs heaved a sigh of relief, this he could fix. He'd told Tony what had happened with his father but he'd obviously not taken it in. "Tony I signed the papers and so did your father. Don't you remember me telling you?" Tony shook his head. Everything was very muddled.

"He did?"

"Yes he did. The Judge signed them as well. It's legal, you're mine now."

"For ever?"

"Yes, for ever. No one can take you away from me now." He tightened his grip on Tony."

"Jethro he does need to breathe you know?" Ducky said.

Gibbs laughed letting go of Tony. Ducky listened to his chest and then said," The infection is clearing up, a few more days.."

"Days?" Tony said. "But if I'm ..."

"Tony," Gibbs admonished. "The doctor's word is law in this house."

"I thought yours was," Tony answered cheekily earning a light cuff to his head.

Ducky laughed. "Alright two days, then I'll come back. We can see then." Tony smiled and then yawned. "Rest."

Tony had managed to get to the edge of the bed. He pushed to stand. He couldn't believe how weak he was. He sat down again. He had been trying this each time Gibbs left the room, he had to strengthen his muscles. By the second day he could take a couple of steps. If only Gibbs would leave more often he was sure he would be able to do more. He had such mixed feelings about Gibbs, he loved when Gibbs got all paternal with him, as Abby called it, but then he was embarrassed that he wanted it. Gibbs had already told him that when he left hospital he would be staying with him, no arguments. He had to prove to everyone that he could look after himself, people got fed up of needy people. His father had taught him that. He just made it back under the covers when Gibbs re-entered the room. "You okay?" he asked concerned that Tony was very red in the face.

"Fine."

"You are not fine." He pressed the button for the nurse," He needs to see the doctor."

"I don't. I..." Gibbs glared.

The doctor came in and examined him. "I can't find anything wrong. "Have you been trying to do any exercise?"

"No," Tony answered a bit too quickly for Gibbs' liking. Well I'm not lying Tony thought, I'm not trying I'm doing.

"Just lie back," the doctor said. "Your body is not ready for any exertion."

"I know my own body," Tony protested.

"He'll do as he is told," Gibbs said. This time Tony glared at Gibbs.

About an hour later Gibbs announced he was going for coffee. "Want one?" he asked.

"Yes," Tony said smiling.

Gibbs left and Tony got up. He made it to the window. Then he heard the door open. He turned and went white, Gibbs was standing glaring at him. "I..."

Gibbs pointed to the bed, "In!" Shit he's mad Tony thought. As he passed Gibbs delivered a swat to his backside.

"Ow!" Tony protested his hand going back to protect his backside from any more swats.

"Remove your hand," Gibbs commanded. Tony did and two more swats hit their target. "Get into bed. You get out of it again and we'll be having a long talk over my knee when we get home." Tony went bright red.

"But... I'm an adult," Tony protested.

"Who's behaving like a two year old. Behave like one get treated like one. Now I'm going for coffee and you better be in that bed when I get back."

Tony moved onto his side as soon as Gibbs left. His backside stung. Head slaps he understood but this he didn't. When had their relationship changed so much?

Gibbs came back and handed Tony his coffee. Gibbs sat down and looked directly at Tony. "Let's get a few things straight. You stay in that bed until the doctor says otherwise. Then when you are allowed out of it and home you are coming to stay with me." Tony groaned. "And I can promise you, you will be doing as you're told or else."

"Yes," he looked up at Gibbs and added,"Gibbs."

Gibbs saw the confused look on Tony's face. He should have told Tony how he felt about him, well it wasn't too late."

TBC