Six days later Tony was waiting in his hospital room ready to be discharged.

"Six days?" he said to Ducky who was waiting with him.

"Six days," confirmed the doctor.

"Six days. How did that happen?"

"You have spent a lot of that time asleep, my dear boy," said Ducky.

"I remember talking to the Director about Stan going to the Coolidge," said Tony.

"I believe that was soon after you were moved out of isolation."

"And I spoke to Stan … about something," remembered Tony. "But after that it's pretty much a blank until yesterday."

"I fear that, after your burst of activity – which was ill-advised, if I may say so – you suffered something of a relapse. Your temperature went up and the fever returned. As I said, you spent a lot of time asleep," said Ducky.

Tony thought about querying why, if he had been asleep so much, he was still tired but decided that he really wanted to leave the hospital and such an enquiry might be counterproductive.

"You may still experience feelings of tiredness," said Ducky unconsciously answering Tony's unspoken question. "But that is entirely normal. You still need rest and to complete the course of antibiotics. And to drink lots of fluids. Your cough may take many days to clear completely."

"Thanks, Ducky," said Tony glumly.

"I am only telling you these things for your own good," said Ducky with a hint of reproof.

"Oh. I know that, Ducky. And I am grateful, really, I am. It's just that …"

"You want to leave here," supplied Ducky.

"Yeah," said Tony.

"Didn't think you'd be awake," came another voice as Gibbs arrived.

"What?" asked Tony.

"You've been out for the count when I've seen you this week," said Gibbs.

Tony tried to digest this. "You've seen me this week?" he asked.

"Brad wanted to see me every day," said Gibbs. "Make sure I hadn't been infected after all. I looked in most times after I'd seen him."

Tony nodded. That made sense.

"Ready to go?" asked Gibbs.

"Am I ever!" replied Tony.

"OK then. Let's go," said Gibbs.

"What? What do you mean, let's go?"

"I'm your transport," said Gibbs. "Unless you want to drive yourself."

"That would be most inadvisable," put in Ducky.

"I can take a cab," protested Tony.

"No need," said Gibbs.

"You don't need …" Tony trailed off as Gibbs picked up his bag with a determined expression on his face.

"And before you get to the hospital entrance," announced Ducky, "You will travel in the wheelchair that awaits you outside."

Tony opened his mouth to argue but then remembered how walking to the bathroom had exhausted him that morning. He didn't think he'd make a hundred paces under his own steam and certainly not if he had to expend energy in arguing with his stubborn co-workers.

"OK," he said, trying to give in with a good grace.

"That's the spirit," said Ducky jovially as he gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Drive carefully, Jethro."

"Definitely," said Brad as he appeared at the door. "That's a medical marvel you've got there. Cases of pneumonic plague are rare, you know. We don't often get a case to study. I'm going to write a paper and submit it to the American Medical Association. You're going to be famous, Tony."

"That is fascinating," said Ducky. "I would be interested to see a draft of the paper. I may even be able to assist you in some small way as I will be able to get access to Anthony's previous medical history so that you can judge the scale of any impairment. I am sure it is very rare to have access to such a wealth of comparative data."

Gibbs sensed Tony's displeasure at this conversation so decided to intervene. "The medical marvel looks as if he's about to fall asleep," he announced. "Have you two finished?"

"Of course," said Ducky penitently. "We should not delay you any longer. Now, Anthony, have you got your medication? And the instructions as to its use? I trust you have my phone numbers? Remember that you can contact me anytime, day or night."

"And if you can't reach Dr Mallard you can call me with any concerns," said Brad.

"That is most kind of you, Dr Pitt," said Ducky. "It is unusual for a hospital based doctor to be ready to follow up with personal care in that way …"

"Duck!" said Gibbs. "Can we go?" The Gibbs glare was enough, temporarily at least, to silence the two doctors and they nodded their consent.

"Thanks, Agent Gibbs," said Tony as Gibbs wheeled him out. "I thought they'd never stop. That I'd be there for another six days."

Gibbs grinned and, as he pushed the chair along, they could both hear the buzz of the resumed conversation.

"Friends for life," commented Tony.

"Reckon Ducky's friends for life with most people," observed Gibbs.

Gibbs settled Tony in front seat of his car after Tony rejected the suggestion that he might want to lie down on the back seat.

"You know where my hotel is?" asked Tony.

"Sure," said Gibbs as he pulled sedately out into the traffic. Tony drank in all that he could see: it might only be DC traffic and a cloudy sky but it was exhilarating to see something other than hospital walls. The excitement didn't last long and he soon dozed off.

"We're here," said Gibbs a few minutes later as he stopped the car.

"Wow," said Tony drowsily. "Must stop doing that." He looked out of the window. "Uh. Agent Gibbs. This isn't my hotel."

"Nope."

"In fact it's not a hotel at all."

"Hope not," said Gibbs matter-of-factly.

"It's your house."

"Yep."

"Why am I here?"

"Your hotel was full," said Gibbs.

"What?"

"They needed your room," explained Gibbs.

"Why? They were being paid for it," said Tony.

"Convention in town," said Gibbs. "They figured they'd make more money out of your room with someone who was in town as a visitor."

"There are other hotels," suggested Tony.

"Lots of conventions in town," said Gibbs. "No room at any of the inns."

Tony felt another wave of fatigue wash over him but he felt the need to continue to resist. "But …" he began.

"You telling me you'd rather go to a hotel than stay with me?" asked Gibbs.

Tony wasn't entirely sure of the answer to that but didn't think he had the energy to argue. "There are laws against kidnapping," he griped. "Would have thought a federal agent would know that."

Gibbs laughed and got out of the car. He walked around to the passenger door but Tony managed to frustrate his helpfulness by getting out by himself. He didn't manage to get to his bag first, however, and Gibbs seized it from the back seat.

"Want something to eat?" asked Gibbs. He walked into the kitchen having deliberately not helped Tony lower himself down to the couch although he had made sure that he was OK. "Abby sent some gumbo. And Ducky sent some Scotch broth. Or …" Gibbs looked back into the living room and saw that Tony had already fallen asleep. "Guess that's a no," he murmured.

NCISNCIS

Tony awoke thirty minutes later to the smell of chicken and spices. For a moment or two he wondered where he was and why he was covered with a crocheted afghan. When he remembered, he groaned.

"You OK?" asked Gibbs.

"I'm fine," said Tony a little groggily. "You know, apart from being a medical marvel and recovering from being kidnapped." Gibbs shrugged. "I'm not ungrateful, Agent Gibbs, but it's …"

"What?"

"Embarrassing," said Tony.

"Why is it embarrassing?" asked Gibbs.

"You having to look after me," said Tony. "I can take care of myself."

Gibbs gazed at Tony and wondered, with a father who would be too busy to come visit a sick son and a mother who had died when he was a child, whether Tony knew what it was like to have someone to look after him.

"I won't fuss over you," said Gibbs. "And I don't think you'll be any bother. Seems to me you'll be asleep most of the time anyway."

"Did Ducky make you do this?" asked Tony.

"No one makes me do anything," said Gibbs.

"So it was your idea?" asked Tony sceptically.

"Look," said Gibbs. "Do you really want to go to a hotel? Ordering room service every time you want a hot lemon drink or a heat pack? Noisy guests next door?"

"No, I guess not," admitted Tony. "You sure about this?"

Gibbs simply stared as an answer.

"I'll be out of your hair as soon as I can," promised Tony.

"Take as long as you need," said Gibbs. "Your room's ready upstairs. We got your gear from the hotel. It's all unpacked."

"Thank you," said Tony hoping that it was his weariness that was to blame for the unexpected emotion he felt at being welcomed into Gibbs' house. "If you're …"

"Yes, I'm sure," said Gibbs briskly, already tiring of the discussion.

"Thank you," said Tony again. "Did you say something about gumbo?"

NCISNCIS

Gibbs had spoken the truth when he said he wouldn't fuss over Tony but he somehow contrived always to be around when it was time for Tony to take his medicine. And it seemed that he always wanted a drink when Tony was beginning to think he was thirsty. Whenever Tony began to flag, Gibbs retreated to his basement leaving Tony free to fall asleep without feeling that he was being an unsociable guest although Tony realised that an ideal guest, in Gibbs' opinion, was someone who needed to sleep a lot rather than engage in conversation. All in all, the first day passed better than Tony could have expected and he acknowledged to himself that it was more restful to be in someone's house than in a hotel. Even if that house did belong to Gibbs.

"Want a beer?" asked Gibbs as they sat in his living room after dinner.

"Am I allowed?" asked Tony in surprise.

"Figure you're an adult," said Gibbs with a shrug. "You can decide."

Tony was grateful for being allowed some control. The days in hospital, followed by the 'kidnapping' had not allowed him much opportunity for decisions. "Thanks," he said. "That would be great." He was about to add something about asking Gibbs not to let him have more than one but somehow he didn't think Gibbs would offer a second one.

"So," said Gibbs casually after he had taken a long gulp of his own beer. "Why are you in a hotel anyway?"

Tony's beer went down the wrong way and Gibbs had to slap him on the back until he recovered.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked when he could speak again. "I mean," he continued. "You don't usually ask me questions like that. You know, personal ones."

"Don't have to answer," said Gibbs.

Tony considered for a moment but decided there was no reason not to tell Gibbs.

"I had an apartment. Rented. It was nice. But I was going to move into another one. Buying, for the first time. But it fell through."

"Happens," observed Gibbs.

"I had a lot of different assignments in the last few weeks," continued Tony. "Overseas and in other parts of the country. Made it difficult to go apartment hunting."

"Hmm," said Gibbs.

"I haven't seen your interrogation technique yet, Agent Gibbs. It's a good one. Getting information by not asking any questions."

"Is it working?" asked Gibbs.

"I was supposed to be moving into the new place with my girlfriend …"

"Thought you said you didn't have one?" said Gibbs.

"When did I say that?" asked Tony.

"When you were in the hospital. I asked if there was anyone you wanted to be called."

"What else did I say?" said Tony in sudden alarm.

"That I shouldn't call your Dad because he'd be too busy to come."

"Oh."

"And that there wasn't a significant other to call."

"I don't remember," said Tony.

"What does your Dad do?" asked Gibbs.

Tony laughed drily. "Good question. He's a businessman."

"Own his own company?"

"No. He does business deals. Networks. Got to hand it to Senior, he always has a plan. Always has someone with inside knowledge."

"I see," said Gibbs.

"Do you? 'Cos I don't. But it's always been the same. He can work a room better than anyone I've ever seen. He's got charm."

"Does it run in the family?" asked Gibbs.

Tony's face went unexpectedly grim. "Certainly hope not. I don't really think of Senior as a role model."

Gibbs decided not to probe anymore. "So, why didn't you move in with your girlfriend?"

"We broke up," said Tony.

"Ah," said Gibbs.

"She decided that she didn't want to be with a cop. She'd got fed up with the mad working hours. And I tended to get out of town assignments. I could understand why she didn't' like it. That's one of the reasons I accepted the MCRT job."

"You thought that would be shorter hours?" asked Gibbs in surprise.

"No," said Tony. "No, I know it's not going to be 9-5 but it will be mostly in DC. I thought that would be better."

"But she didn't agree?"

"Apparently not. Didn't even give it a try. She split up with me."

"May be just as well," said Gibbs.

"The day before we were due to get married," said Tony.

"Ouch," said Gibbs thinking that the word was inadequate.

"Yeah," said Tony. "Neither of us could afford the mortgage on our own so the apartment fell through. I'd already given notice on my place so hotels were my only option.

Gibbs nodded but didn't say anything. It seemed that was the right thing to do as Tony continued,

"That day when Stan decided to be a hero. You know, the day you found me shooting hoops …"

Gibbs nodded again remembering the day when he had disturbed Tony and found him looking uncharacteristically solemn.

Tony swallowed before saying, "That was Wendy's birthday. It brought back memories. Mostly happy ones … until they weren't. You know. You must do, seems you've had a few exes yourself."

"Yeah. I know about memories," agreed Gibbs.

They stayed silent for a few more moments before Tony remembered something.

"The Director said you were taking some time off. Did I remember that right?"

"Yeah," said Gibbs. "HR were on my back."

"Always your first concern," said Tony managing to keep a straight face.

Gibbs managed a half smile in response. "I know when to give in. Sometimes. Besides, with you out of action for a while. I didn't reckon much to staying in the office. Liaising or networking." He suppressed a shudder.

"Yeah. I haven't known you long, Agent Gibbs but I already know that you are as unlike my father as a person can be. He'd love the prospect of weeks of downtime to schmooze."

"Seemed the right time," said Gibbs vaguely.

"I don't remember much about the last few days," said Tony. "But I thought the Director said something about you going apartment hunting. You thinking of moving?"

"No," said Gibbs. "I won't leave this place."

"Then why?" asked Tony.

"Thought I could help you look," said Gibbs. "You said you had a place in mind."

"You mean it?" asked Tony.

"Never say anything I don't mean," said Gibbs.

"No. I guess that's true," said Tony, not sure if that was a wholly good thing.

"You gonna argue about it?" asked Gibbs.

Tony felt that politeness required that he protest a little at Gibbs giving up his hard-earned vacation but then he remembered Gibbs' earlier words,

"Nope. Figure you're an adult. You can make your own decision," he said.

"That was the right answer," said Gibbs. "Be a day or two before we start. Reckon you'll need to be able to stay awake for more than an hour at a time before you're ready."

"I'll be fine," said Tony.

Gibbs nodded enigmatically but said nothing. A few minutes later he made his way back down to the basement leaving Tony to battle his drooping eyelids. It was just as Tony was succumbing to sleep that he remembered the rest of what the Director had said. That Gibbs was going apartment hunting for a friend.

When Gibbs came back to check on Tony he wasn't surprised to find his guest sound asleep but he did wonder what had put the smile on his face.

AN: yes, I know it's a cliché having Gibbs bring Tony home … but it seemed to fit.