Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.
Hey everyone! As always, thanks for all the reads and reviews … they make my day! I have yet another chapter of torturing poor Gibbs and Tony for your reading enjoyment. I need to figure out soon how this'll end, but fear not, it won't be for at least a few more chapters! R&R!
"What is going on here?" Gibbs repeated. His ice blue eyes took in Abby curled up on the floor, bundled in blankets, and Tony with his blanket around his waist, leaning against the bathtub.
"Gibbs, are you sure you should be up yet?" Abby scrambled off the floor.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Abby asked, feeling Gibbs' cheek with the back of her hand. He pushed her hand away and stepped towards DiNozzo.
"Boss," Tony started but turned away suddenly to retch. Concern and a hint of compassion filled Gibbs' eyes and he knelt behind Tony and put a hand on his back. He could feel the muscles contracting as Tony dry heaved. When Tony straightened up, Gibbs stood and ran a facecloth under cool water, which he wrung it out and handed to Tony.
"Thanks, Boss." Tony accepted it and wiped his face, holding it for a prolonged moment on his forehead. The moisture felt amazing on his sticky skin.
Abby watched all of this is the doorway, speechless.
"Gibbs."
Gibbs turned to face Abby, his pale face amplified by the LCD light.
"You can take care of people."
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"No, it's just something I haven't seen before. Normally you're all," Abby lowered her voice and flexed her muscles. "Big, strong Gibbs but this is - "
"Abbs." Gibbs put up his hand and the girl stopped talking. "I get it."
Gibbs turned back to Tony.
"How long has this been going on?"
"The chicken pox or the close, intimate relationship with your toilet?"
"The latter."
"I don't know. Abbs, how long have we been here?"
Abby checked her wristwatch.
"About an hour."
Tony groaned and let his head fall back.
"Only an hour? I've thrown up at least three days worth of food."
Gibbs turned to Abby.
"Isn't there something you can give him?"
"Like what? Nothing stays down. He's throwing up every five minutes."
"Then I'll take him to a hospital."
Gibbs started to leave the bathroom with every intention of finding his keys but Abby stood in front of the doorway.
"Abby, move."
"No, Gibbs. I'm not letting you leave."
"And why not?" Gibbs' strong voice was tired, although it did not lack its normal exasperation.
"For three reasons." Abby said. "One, it's too dangerous to drive. The roads are washed out and we have no power. Two, Ducky is here and knows that Tony is being violently ill. He said himself that there was nothing we could do for now except wait it out."
"And what's number three, Abby, because all of those don't seem like enough for me to change my mind."
"The third one is that you are sick, Gibbs. You shouldn't be so concerned about Tony without being concerned about yourself, first."
"She's right, Boss." Tony spoke up from the floor.
"How many times do I have to say this? I. Am. Fine."
"No. You. Are. Not."
"Abby, stop being unreasonable."
"I'm not the one being unreasonable!" Abby raised her voice. "You shouldn't even be out of bed, Gibbs. You spent most of your day with a raging fever. Do you even remember what happened this afternoon? This evening?"
Gibbs wouldn't let himself answer the question. He was sure that if he mentioned talking with Shannon that Abby would shackle his wrists and ankles to the bed frame.
"What is going on?" Ducky's voice exclaimed from the hallway. McGee and Ziva stood behind him, another flashlight in McGee's hand.
"Duck, please tell Abby that I'm fine and I should be taking Tony to a hospital."
Gibbs motioned to Tony, who was, once again, leaning over the toilet.
"Jethro, I am keeping a close eye on Tony. You needn't worry about him."
"But Duck-"
"No buts, Jethro." Ducky turned to Ziva. "Come, Ziva, let us escort Jethro back to his bedroom."
McGee handed Ziva the flashlight and she led the way down the dark hallway, followed by a defeated Gibbs and determined Ducky. Ziva shone the light on Gibbs' bed.
"You should be asleep." Ducky said as Jethro sat on the edge of his bed. "How do you feel?"
"Uncomfortable." Gibbs absentmindedly scratched his chest.
"Ah, I see the itchiness is starting." Ducky said. "Do you ache at all?"
"Only because I've been lying in bed all day."
"Is your fever gone?"
"How should I know, Duck?"
Ducky rolled his eyes at the sarcastic remark. Sick or not, he still acted like Gibbs. Ducky merely handed him the thermometer.
"I'll be right back."
Ducky left Ziva counting down the time as he ventured back to the bathroom. After a brief conversation with Abby he announced he was going to find some anti-nausea medicine for Tony, in hopes to get him back to bed.
"Time." Ziva's announcement made Gibbs pull the thermometer from his mouth and hold it in the beam of the flashlight.
"What does it say?"
"101.3."
Gibbs put the thermometer on the bedside table and swung his legs onto the bed. Instinctually, Ziva moved closer and pulled the duvet up, in essence tucking him in. Gibbs raised his eyebrow at her.
"I am sorry."
Ziva stepped away, eyes on the floor, and Gibbs thought he could see a hint of red on her cheeks.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Ziva. I appreciate the gesture."
Ziva let her eyes flicker up.
"I know, but it is hard to see you like this, Gibbs. I respect you a great deal."
Gibbs chuckled.
"No matter how hard I try, I'm only human."
"I know." Ziva repeated. At that moment, Ducky came in with two bottles of pills. He opened one and handed Jethro two pink tablets.
"What are they?" Gibbs asked, eyeing them.
"Benadryl. It will help with the itching but it will also help you to sleep comfortably. Come on now, down they go."
Gibbs swallowed the pills dry and stretched out.
"Good-night, Jethro."
"'Night, Ducky."
Ducky motioned for Ziva to follow him out of the room. In the hallway, they parted ways, Ziva giving Ducky the flashlight before heading back downstairs. Ducky went back to the bathroom, where Tony was still on the floor and Abby and McGee were standing in the doorway.
"Alright, Anthony." Ducky said, squeezing between the agent and lab tech. "I have some anti-nausea medication. Let us hope it stays down long enough to take effect."
Ducky handed him three large pills, which Tony eyed suspiciously before popping them into his mouth. Leaning his head back, he swallowed them and waited for them to re-appear. However, Tony's body was physically exhausted and his stomach had nothing left to regurgitate. After ten minutes of anticipation, Ducky decided it was time Tony went back to bed.
"Abby, would you please find a waste basket for Anthony's bedroom? Timothy and I will help him back to his bed."
Abby nodded and retreated downstairs, scouring Gibbs' kitchen for garbage bags.
"Easy does it."
Ducky and McGee pulled Tony to his feet slowly. Tony's vision blurred in the small LCD light as he stood and he thought for a moment his stomach was going to revolt.
"Are you alright?" McGee asked and Tony nodded. He walked slowly back to the spare bedroom and sat on the bed gingerly.
"Can I have a few more pillows?" he asked. "I don't want to lie flat."
"Certainly." Ducky said. McGee left and returned with the pillows from the bathroom and propped them so that Tony was in a reclined position. Abby returned with garbage bags and a bottle of Gatorade while Ducky was taking Tony's temperature again.
Abby set the garbage can carefully next to the bed while Ducky prodded Tony, who was already fading into sleep, to sip some of the fluorescent liquid.
"I'll stay with him." Abby volunteered as soon as Ducky had let Tony's eyes slide closed. Ducky smiled.
"You have done more than enough, my dear. I daresay it is my turn to sit up for awhile."
"You've been up more than once tonight, Ducky. Please let me."
Ducky agreed and after giving McGee some specific instructions, he led Abby downstairs. Ziva had rebuilt the fire and the living room was nice and warm.
"With a little luck," Ducky said, sliding into his make-shift bed. "We will all sleep till morning."
What did you think? As always, reviews are much appreciated!
