A/N: Okie dokie, I'm back with a new chapter. See the first one for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review. :D


Chapter 10: Welcome Home

Two Weeks Later
Washington, D.C.

Abby held Tony's arm at the elbow, helping him out of the car. "Abby, this is really unnecessary," he complained for what had to be the hundredth time since he was discharged from the hospital in New York.

"I'm escorting you back to your place, tucking you in, and making sure you rest," she said. "Those are my instructions."

"Were your instructions also to drive us all the way back from New York?"

"Yes."

He leveled a light gaze at her.

"Okay, so maybe we didn't have to drive," she conceded. "But, it's only a couple hours down the 95, and I figured you'd be up for a drive."

"I do like driving," he said. "But, I took a road trip already."

She narrowed her gaze. "Yeah, without me."

"I'm sorry. Next time, I'll make sure you're with me."

She shrugged. "Whatever."

He looked at her worriedly for a moment before they reached the broken elevator, and both of them realized they had a new dilemma on their hands.

"How are we supposed to get you up into bed?" she asked, staring at the out-of-order sign.

"They have stairs around the corner," he replied, gesturing in their general direction.

"But, you need to limit your physical activity."

Tony held up his hand. "Once I get in there, I promise to do the stairs no more than twice a day."

Abby groaned. "Tony…"

"Abs, come on. I'll be fine taking the stairs. It's one flight, not 50."

She frowned. "But they don't want you to do stairs."

"The doctor said it'd be okay."

"I'm gonna get Gibbs to tell your landlord to fix the elevator."

Tony sighed heavily. "I'm not going to win this, am I?" he asked.

"Nope," she replied, somewhat proudly.

"You gonna get McGee over here to carry me upstairs?"

She sighed. "No. I guess you can try it. But, not too fast or too hard."

"That's what she said," he chuckled.

She rolled her eyes, guiding him toward the stairs.


"Fifteen minutes," Tony grumbled as he fished for his keys.

"You need to take it easy," Abby replied defensively.

"Fifteen minutes."

"Stop complaining."

"Fifteen minutes!"

"It'll take me fifteen seconds more of you complaining before I throw you down the stairs."

"You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet?"

Tony eyed her cautiously, reading her gaze. "Okay, maybe you would," he reasoned after a moment.

"Now, get inside," she said as he opened the door.

"Yes ma'am."

"Don't make me Gibbs-slap you."

The two of them walked through the door, with Tony realizing that it was neater than when he had left. "Did you clean up for me?" he asked.

"No," Abby replied.

He grunted softly, plopping down on his couch. "How come you've been so hostile today?"

"I'm gonna go get your bags," she averted.

"Abs…" he started.

"And then, I'll let Gibbs know we got back okay. And after that, I'll order us something for lunch. Probably about the time it gets here, Gibbs will have sent Ducky over."

"Abby…"

"I'll be right back," she said, walking out the door and leaving Tony confused and speechless.


Ducky made his way into the apartment, finding Tony lounging on the couch. "Welcome home, my dear fellow," he greeted, smiling.

"Hey, Ducky," Tony replied softly, shallowly echoing the smile from the older gentleman.

"Something wrong?"

Tony shook his head. "Not with me."

Ducky was momentarily confused until Abby emerged from the bathroom. The doctor simply nodded, pulling out his stethoscope. "And how are you feeling?" he asked.

"I feel fine," Tony replied.

"You're not fine," Abby contested from the kitchen. "It took you fifteen minutes to get up the stairs."

Ducky arched his eyebrows.

"Because you made me stop every two steps," Tony countered, glancing over his shoulder at Abby.

"Because you're not supposed to strain yourself."

"I've done enough physical therapy for them to trust me at home. I'm breathing fine. I'm going to be fine."

"'Going to be fine' isn't the same as 'fine.'"

He rolled his eyes. "I feel fine, Mom."

"See what I have to put up with?" Abby said, looking at Ducky.

Ducky chuckled. "I'm glad you both are home and alright," the older man said.

"Good to be home," Tony added. "I hate hospitals."

"We know," Abby and Ducky said at the same time.

Tony pouted, folding his arms across his chest.

"Sit up and pull your shirt over your head," Ducky instructed as he pulled a thermometer out of his bag.


Ducky walked into the squad room a little while later, carrying his bag and drawing the attention of the gathered team. "He's doing rather well," he answered before anyone asked. "His lungs sound normal, no signs of infection. He is perfectly capable of being on his own."

"He put you up to that answer?" Craig asked mischievously, winking.

Ducky smiled. "No. I was just explaining that to Abigail."

"Is she still there?" McGee asked, concerned.

"I left Anthony to try to get her to go home," Ducky replied. "I wasn't quite up to the challenge."

McGee smirked softly.

"If anyone should need me, I'll be downstairs," the M.E. said. "I have someone waiting for me."

"Thanks, Duck," Gibbs said as Ducky walked away.


"Got anythin' for me, Duck?" Gibbs asked as he made his way into autopsy a few hours later.

"Our guest here expired four days ago," Ducky said. "Though, it was not from a lack of trying on someone's part. Shot, stabbed, poisoned… what finally did him in, though, was anaphylactic shock."

Gibbs arched his eyebrows.

"It appears our Marine has a severe allergy to peanuts."

"Can you tell how he came into contact with it?" Gibbs asked.

"The knife had to be coated in peanut oil," Ducky replied. "There are traces of it around the stab wound. The gunshot came after the stab wound, but the poisoning came much earlier. Not heavily, enough to accumulate in the blood and eventually lead to death."

"Someone got impatient."

"Either that, or more than one person was out to harm our Marine."

"Thanks, Duck." Gibbs turned and made his way toward the doors.

"Jethro, there's something else you should know," Ducky said, halting Gibbs.

Gibbs turned around.

"When I was over Anthony's earlier, I sensed there was some tension between him and Abigail."

"Tension?" Gibbs asked.

"Beyond the part where he did not want her there and taking care of him, he was worried about her. I'm concerned."

Gibbs nodded. "Let me worry about them," he said as he left the room.

Ducky turned to the Marine on the table. "I always do, and simply hope for the best."