Previously

'Would be good," Gibbs gruff reply was heard.

"I will see you th...."

"He hung up – as usual," the M.E. shook his head amused.

"Ducky?" Tony asked worried.

"Don't worry Anthony, your better half will be alright in no time," he assured the agent with a grin.

"Better half?" Tony asked, acting offended while McGee snickered next to him.


(Earlier – Gibbs' House)

When Gibbs returned home it was already late afternoon.

"Ziva?" Gibbs asked surprised, having come through the front door just in time to see his agent running around.

The Israeli gave him only a small wave in response.

"What are you doing out of bed?" He asked sternly as he came closer.

"Co'd," she muttered

"You already have four blankets," Gibbs frowned, checking her temperature with the back of his hand on her forehead.

Ziva gave him a pained smile, "They arr 'ot h'lpig."

"Let's see if an open fire can warm you up."

Leading her gently over to the kitchen table, Gibbs set some water up to boil before he took care of bringing another set of blankets from his room into the living room and lighting a fire in the chimney.

Gibbs then moved his living room furniture around, setting the couch close but not too close in front of the fireplace.

"Come here," he called out for Ziva, who unsteadily made her way over.

"I'll get you some tea now," promised the agent, after having made Ziva lay down on the couch and covering her slender form with the blankets.

As Gibbs came back into the living room a few minutes later, with the fresh cooked tea in hand, Ziva was already fast asleep.


(Outside of D.C.)

"Boss! Didn't know you where going to come."

"It's time to act."

"Great!"

"Agent DiNozzo will be released from hospital in two days. He will not be able to give you much of a fight."

"Boring," chirped one of the goons.

"Will he be alone?" The team leader asked, ignoring his sidekick.

"I'm not sure. There might be a woman with him."

"Agent David?"

"No, the resident forensic scientist."

"Should we take her out, too?"

"I don't care. Just don't leave any witness behind."

"Roger that."

"What about the other targets?" The goon wanted to know.

"Too dangerous at the moment. They are staying too close together. Taking them out would be a risk we can't take at the moment."

"They'll be on us once DiNozzo is dead."

"So? Don't make any mistakes."

"We never make mistakes," replied the team leader coolly.


(Hospital)

"Tony, would you please stop!"

"Leave me alone," grunted Tony, "Do your computer stuff."

"You're calling her nonstop since Ducky left. A sane person would give up after the answering machine goes off and NOT dial the number again and again and again," McGee growled.

"Well, I'm not sane!" Tony exclaimed, flipping his cellphone shut and throwing it at the end of his bed.

"I noticed," mumbled his friend, barely audible.

"Heard that."

"Good."

"I'm just worried, Tim," Tony sighed defeated.

"I know, but remember what Ducky said. She'll be fine. You know how the flu works; First you'll feel worse before it's start to get better again."

"Yeah," Tony nodded, "Sorry about annoying you with the phone," he admitted after a brief pause.

"No problem. Ducky brought us cards. You up for a game?"

"What about your computer stuff?"

"I guess it can wait till you are released."

"Alright," Tony went to sit at the end of McGee's bed so that they could play without either of them being uncomfortable.

TBC...