(yeah thank you for the reviews. This is now my most commented on story )

A hand on his shoulder interrupted Gibbs's quiet pleas. When he looked up he saw the compassionate face of his old friend. Ducky asked, "How is he Jethro, Abigail told me about the Meningitis?"

Jethro raked both hands through his hair, "He isn't doing well Duck, I didn't know about the Meningitis when I noticed him having trouble breathing and starting to cough. The doctors are in there now checking him out. Duck when is this nightmare going to end? At this point I am torn between sitting in the corner and crying and going out and shooting every one of the members of that stupid group."

Ducky sat down and put his arm around his old friend, "I understand Jethro, I am sure Abigail would help you so you wouldn't leave any evidence."

Gibbs couldn't help himself he chuckled at the thought that he knew was probably true.

The two men sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Dr. Pitt came into the waiting room and sat down with them. The first thing said between the men was Gibbs asking how Tony was.

Brad sat down beside Gibbs, "I wont lie to you Gibbs he is hurting right now. Thanks to Abby's analysis we know exactly what bug this is so we can hit it with the proper antibiotics and we can hit it hard. Tony is all ready weak from his injuries from the explosion not to mention his lungs from the plague. It is a positive that we caught this so soon but it is going to be a long couple of days and it is going to be a fight for Tony. He isn't on a respirator yet but if his breathing gets much worse we may have to put him on one. He needs to drink a lot of fluids and I want him to have what is probably the best medicine for him. I want him to be able to talk to you Gibbs. I can't begin to explain the connection you two share but it is an amazing thing to witness. If you tell him to fight and live I don't doubt that is exactly what he will do."

Gibbs smiled, "We have had each others six's for a decade we are partners that is a special connection."

Dr. Brad got up and started to leave, "Yeah it is a special connection but I have seen a lot of partners and I think that you are closer to a father to him than a partner. Anyways he is awake and ready for you to come back in there when you are ready."

Gibbs got up and smiled, "I am ready and thanks Doc for saving my son."

Brad smiled and nodded his head and left. Gibbs and Ducky made their way to Tony's room. Pleasantly surprised to finally see a MP standing guard at the door blocking their entrance.

The MP matter of factley said, "This patient is under strict guard if you are not on the list you cannot enter, name?"

Gibbs took a calming breath, "Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs and this is Dr. Donald Mallard."

The MP suddenly got very nervous, "Oh of course you are sir I am so sorry please go on in."

Gibbs smiled before he went in, "Don't apologize that is exactly how I want you to treat everyone who comes into this room. Good Job."

The MP opened the door for him and said, "Thank you Sir."

Gibbs came in the door and then noticed Abby trying to lift Tony up to help him catch his breath through a coughing fit. Gibbs ran over to his bed and gently moved Abby out of the way and gently held him up. He put his face next to Tony's and said, "Breath with me Tony, it is going to be okay just concentrate on matching your breathes to mine."

After a few tense moments Tony settled and Gibbs gently laid him back onto the bed. Abby looked on in fear and Ducky looked on with affection at the bond between these two men.

Tony let one smaller cough out, "This really bites, the docs said that this is Meningitis and it was a special gift from Marshalls group."

Gibbs shook his head in agreement, "I am afraid they are right, you now have an MP standing guard over you and I don't plan on leaving your side anytime too soon."

Abby came over to the bed and gently rubbed his shoulder, "I have to get back and go through those videos and try and figure out who did this to you. They didn't know what they were doing when they decided to hurt one of team Gibbs. We will find out who is responsible and then they are going down Tony."

Tony laughed at the intensity of his sweet friend, "If anyone can find them you can Abbs. Thanks for working so hard on this."

Abby placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and smiled at him and whispered in his ear, "Anything for my favorite big brother."

Abby left leaving Ducky and Gibbs in the room. Tony looked at Gibbs with a very serious look on his face, "Gibbs, tell me something and I want you to be honest, do I have another black lip print on my forehead."

Gibbs was steeling himself to be asked his chances of survival and when he was asked about lip prints he let out a laugh, "Yes, yes you do let me get that off for you."

Gibbs was gently wiping the lip marks off of his forehead when Tony grabbed his arm, "Boss, I know this disease could be a deal breaker for me if it doesn't kill me it may very well keep me from being your SFA. They warned me that I might have to be sedated and go back on a respirator. If I die promise me that you will find the bastards that killed me and you wont spend too much time in your basement with a bourbon bottle when I am gone, I am not worth it boss."

Gibbs had to fight back the tears that wanted to fall at the words of his SFA but he pushed them down and gently cupped Tony's face, "You will survive this and I will get the guys that did this to you and you will not suffer any lasting effects from this and God forbid you died part of me would die too because you are worth it Tony. As much as you are worth fighting for you are worth grieving for if need be, but it won't be needed. I always wanted a son to love and train up God didn't see fit to give me one the normal way so he gave me one in you. To me you are worth it do you understand me, you are one of the best parts of my life."

Tony smiled, "Got it boss"

Ducky eventually left and the Tony fell asleep. Thankfully the afternoon passed with only a few coughing fits. Gibbs sat in the chair gently holding on to Tony's hand. Gibbs stared out of the window at the beautiful colors of the setting sun set. He was lost in his thoughts until McGee stuck his head in the door.

Gibbs looked up and McGee whispered, "Boss can you steep outside for just a minute?" Gibbs whispered to Tony that he would be right back and met Tony in the waiting room across the hall.

McGee handed Gibbs a coffee and a bag of food, "Hey Boss I just wanted to give you an update on the investigation. We have identified two sets of prints off of the note that was left on Tony and one of the prints belonged to a chemistry PHD student who did his internship last term at the hospital. He was still on the payroll of the hospital so his badge still worked. Abby is still pouring through the videos trying to place him at the hospital but we are pretty sure we have our guys. The Director has asked Agent Fornell and his team to come in and help us form a task force to take the entire group down. We are going to meet at 0700 in the morning. Our plan is to gather enough evidence to bring all the members of this group up on charges. The two we are thinking hurt Tony will be brought up on attempted murder of a federal agent and the others will at the very least be brought up on conspiracy charges."

Gibbs squeezed McGee's shoulders, "Sounds like you have everything under control. I am glad the Director is bringing Tobias into this, he will be a huge help in bringing these creeps down and he will watch your and Ziva's six for Tony and I. I am proud of you Tim."

McGee was stunned silent by Gibbs words for a minute then he gathered himself and smiled at Gibbs, "Thanks Boss, I will let you know tomorrow at lunch how everything is going."

Gibbs stood up with his gift of Coffee and dinner and began to head back into Tony's room. Gibbs told McGee, "Go home get some sleep Tim sounds like tomorrow is going to be a big day."

Tim smiled, "Yes sir, tell Tony hi for me when he wakes up."

Gibbs smiled, "Will do Tim." And then he disappeared back into Tony's room to continue his silent vigil next to his senior agent and son.