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Author's Note: You must be getting sick of these, but I promise this is short and I hope sweet! Thank you to everyone who commented or contacted me personally, I appreciate every word! From here on in I promise no more whining, story updates only, and without further ado…

Chapter Seven

The first thing Gibbs did when he got back to NCIS was hand over all the new information to Tony. "Find out everything we can about Eats4Streets, get traffic camera footage. Bishop, I want to know exactly how many deaths we're talking about; I want answers now!"

The second thing he did was head down to Autopsy. "Duck, he looks real sick, what's wrong with him?"

"I'm afraid we still have more questions than answers, what we do know is that Timothy is suffering from some kind of blood disorder. Given the results we are getting on our other tests it seems incredibly unlikely it's not linked to…Let me show you, Abby has the slides on her computer."

So Gibbs ended up in Abby's lab, trying to soothe her fears and ignore the knot starting to twist in his gut. He didn't pretend to understand everything Ducky was saying, not even when Abby or Jimmy tried to 'explain' what the slides showed. To him it was blobs and squiggles, but to them it was life and death, and they pinpointed it for him. Sergeant Mitchell's thrombosis was caused by a collection of blood clots, clots that should never have developed in the quantities they had. The giant of a man who had been Corporal Whately was brought down by a lack of antibodies in his blood, the microscopic cells that should have fought off the infection to which his body succumbed way too quickly. "You see Jethro, it's not that the antibodies were overwhelmed by a massive infection as can happen in a case of sepsis; Corporal Whately's body didn't produce any antibodies, he never stood a chance, if he hadn't cut his finger he would have caught a cold, or a stomach bug and his body wouldn't have been able to deal with it."

Gibbs stared at the screen, he didn't have a clue what was wrong. "Agent Gibbs, if you look here." Another picture appeared on the neighbouring monitor as Jimmy tapped on the keyboard. "This is what healthy blood cells look like, if you compare it with Corporal Whately's or the Sergeant's…"

Medical expert or not, Gibbs could see the slides had little in common.

"Do you see Gibbs?" Abby must have been reading his mind. "They both had blood disorders, but their symptoms developed too fast…somehow, and we still don't know how, someone changed the way their blood reacted, and it killed them…now Timmy…his platelet count, it could have been done the same way as…if he…"

"Now Abigail, we've talked about this. Timothy has advantages our poor departed souls did not. They were generally in poor physical condition, living in a frankly unhealthy environment with little or no care; Tim is young, has the best of care, and he has us. We will find out the cause and ensure he gets the treatment he requires for a full recovery." He reached for her hand. "You're helping already my dear, shall we take a short break for lunch and continue our search later?"

"Stop…I can't stop."

"You can and you will Abs, no one benefits is we miss something because we're too tired to see straight. Take a break you too Duck, that means Jimmy too."

"We're awaiting preliminary results on the blood from Deuce's autopsy and will take the opportunity to go outside for lunch."

"Okay, and call me…"

"The minute we get anything."

NCIS NCIS

Satisfied that they'd all take a proper break, Gibbs made his way back to the squad room, as he exited the elevator he bumped headlong into Director Vance.

"Gibbs, I was on my way to see you, Agent DiNozzo tells me the doctors still don't know what's wrong with Agent McGee, how's he doing?"

"He's frustrated, wants to be here helping."

"Of course he does, does anyone on your MCRT know how to relax?" Vance's brief smile disappeared. "DiNozzo looks worried, how serious is it?"

"I'm not sure…he looks exhausted…they have to do more tests, it's tough for him."

"For you too, I'm guessing Dr Mallard already told you, but McGee's in the best place."

"More than once, I know he's right but it's tough seeing him that way." Gibbs scraped his hand through his hair. "Leon, the case."

"You sure we have one?"

"As sure as I've ever been. Bad things are happening on the streets, these people are dying because of what someone has done to them. We don't know exactly how or why."

"Lots of questions Gibbs, when can I expect some answers?"

"We have new leads; Leon…"

"You need help?"

"Oh yeah, if we don't find the bastards behind this, more people could die."

"Use whatever and whoever you need Gibbs, Mayuira's team is going over cold cases, I'll have them transfer to your case."

"You're not going to fight me over manpower and resources?"

"Agent McGee is NCIS Gibbs, and if he's sick because he was doing his job, getting justice for vulnerable people…You do whatever you have to, I want the bastards who put one of my agents in the hospital!"

NCIS NCIS

"Boss, we have a name for Deuce. Mark Eltham; reported missing eighteen months ago. His sister's flying in from Duluth to identify the body, should be here first thing tomorrow."

"Good; do we have Mitchell's medical records?"

"They're with Ducky now, Whately's too."

Gibbs nodded in satisfaction. At last things were starting to move a little faster. "Bishop, Eats4Streets?"

"I haven't made much progress." She saw the look she'd already come to understand. "I will! Only it's not easy."

"You want easy, you should have stayed at the NSA. People have died, more could be dying right now. "Gibbs pushed the image of Tim out of his mind, he had to, or he'd never maintain his focus. "If this truck is delivering…heck, I don't know what, but if it's involved; I want the truck, and I want whoever's behind it."

"I'll get on it, but the deaths…you wanted a breakdown of the causes…"

"Hand that over to Mayuira's team. Dorneget can handle it, take him through your process then concentrate on the truck. Anything on its current location?"

"Looks like they're not on the streets today Boss." Tony clicked the remote and an image appeared on the plasma. "We got this from traffic camera footage the night Tim…when he went undercover. We have hours of recordings "

"The Director's authorised extra help, get the tapes to Mayuira, and tell her if she needs more help to get it. I want you liaising with Metro PD, see if you can talk with the homeless in the other areas where Bishop identified the recent deaths."

Tony looked at the clock, it was already 15.20. "Hey DiNozzo! You have somewhere you need to be?"

"Not right now, but…Tim, I was hoping to get to see him."

Gibbs momentary irritation evaporated. "Visiting's 19.00, if you're not done by 18.00 I'll take over; you can get back here so you can take Abby with you."

"I'm on it Boss!" He picked up the phone, the quicker he called Metro the quicker he could get started, and be finished in time to get to the hospital.

NCIS NCIS

Abby's arm was linked through his as they approached the hospital entrance and Tony wasn't surprised when she gripped tight. "Remember what Ducky said Abs, the haematology department is here."

"I know, but…it's kinda scary."

Tony didn't argue, how could he? Walking into a department bearing the name John P. Murtha Cancer Center would have been terrifying without the heads-up Ducky gave them earlier. He gave Abby's arm a reassuring squeeze. "Come on Abs, Tim's expecting us, don't want to keep him waiting."

"Right…you're right, he's been stuck here all day, we should hurry."

Exactly two minutes later they were sitting in the day room with Tim, both trying desperately not to show him how worried they were. With slightly trembling hands Abby took Tim's Kindle from her bag and handed it to him.

"Thanks for this Abs, at least I'll have something to read."

"Anything for you." She sat beside him. "You do know that don't you Tim? If there's anything…"

He took her hand and smiled. "Not right now Abs, if they could just find out what's wrong I could get out of here and get to work."

"Looks like you could use a good night's sleep Tim." Tony pulled up a chair, careful not to disturb the IV. How had this happened so fast? Yesterday morning Tim had been joking with him as they compared bruises, and now…he looked really sick.

"Maybe you could tell the nurses, seems like every time I close my eyes, someone's checking something."

"You want me to tell you what you already know?"

"It's for my own good; I do know Tony. I don't want to sound ungrateful, I'm lucky to be getting the help. Maybe if Sergeant Mitchell and Corporal Whately…any news on the case?"

Tony knew a deflection when he heard one, but if that was how Tim wanted to deal with his current situation, he'd work with it. "We're getting lots of cooperation from the people on the streets, they're frightened, two more people have been taken to hospital since you found Mitchell. Bishop identified three more areas where deaths among the homeless had increased, we went along to talk with them and guess what? The guy you met, Jonesy, he's been seen in every area, but everyone says he seemed to come out of nowhere, then one day he was gone."

"But…he seemed to know about everyone, if he wasn't a regular…was he studying them, looking for the most vulnerable?"

"We're not making assumptions, but you know Gibbs and coincidences, this guy appearing when he did…"

With Abby's help Tony gave Tim a full rundown of what they had so far. It seemed like no time at all when the nurse was asking all visitors to leave.

"I'll walk you to the elevator; it's about time I went back to my room."

"It' okay Timmy, you should rest."

"I could use a walk, it's why they put wheels on this thing." Tim levered himself out of the chair and took a moment to establish a firm balance, then he pulled the IV stand and led his friends into the corridor. "I'm just glad they let me put on my boxers, leastways my behind isn't on display."

"It's a very nice behind." Abby grinned and took his arm as they walked the few paces to the elevator. All too soon as far as she was concerned it was time to say goodnight. "Remember Tim, if there's anything you need. Oh! Your family, and Delilah, have you called?"

"I sent emails…told them we'd caught a tough case and I'd be out of contact for a few days."

Tony was open-mouthed, but only for a second. "You lied to Penny?"

"Not in person, she'd know I was keeping something back. They…Dad's not doing so good right now; they're all out in San Diego. All this, they don't have to know, I'll be home in a day or two and they'll be none the wiser."

"You sure? I mean Sarah's going to be pretty snarky when she finds out you didn't tell her you're sick."

"Sarah's always been Daddy's girl; she's where she needs to be right now, they all are. You're all looking out for me, what more do I need?"

Abby kissed his cheek. "Call one of us if you need anything, you hear?"

"You have enough on your plates finding out what happened to the homeless. Soon as I'm out of here I'll be able to do something useful and help out." Tim could see Nurse Colville glaring at him, so he figured it was time to go back to his room. "It was great to see you."

"We'll call in tomorrow, if you're still here."

"Thanks Tony, drive safe."

Abby gave him another quick kiss. "Sleep well Tim, 'night."

"No kiss from me, and I guess a manly hug won't work with that thing." Tony glanced at the portable IV and shook Tim's hand. "You do as they tell you McImpatient."

Tim's eyebrows went up, that was a stretch even for Tony, guess they were all tired. "I will, goodnight." He waved as they stepped into the elevator, standing forlornly as the doors closed, Tim sighed and trudged back to his room. As he pushed open the door he noticed a new bruise on the back of his right hand; where had that come from? He looked closely, it couldn't be…yet the evidence was there, the bruise had been made by the pressure of Tony's thumb when they'd shaken hands, but he hadn't pressed hard…Tim swallowed the lump that had materialised in his throat, time to face facts, he was in trouble.