Abby felt as if she were trapped in a never-ending cycle: she'd fidget at her desk for a while, roll her chair around the lab to check all the machines' progress, then back to her desk for more fidgeting. Five minutes ago, a compassionate coworker had brought her one of her favorite jumbo drinks: it joined two more that others had dropped off earlier that day. As she drained the first cup and expertly pitched it in the trash, she thought of Tony and wondered how he was doing. This caused her to do another rolling chair lap of the machines.

Sometimes this was the part of the job she hated most. The wait, the agonizing wait. The answer was right there; her fingers fairly itched to just reach out and pluck it from the machine in front of her. She picked up another drink instead, and leaned back in her chair. She made herself take a deep breath and let it out, then another in a vain attempt to relax her worried psyche. After an eternity of mere minutes, timers signaled the completion of tests. Now it seemed that her fingers couldn't move fast enough. She scanned the test results on her terminal even as she ordered copies to be printed for distribution. Never taking her eyes from the screen, she snatched up her desk phone and hit Ducky's speed dial button.

Yes, Abby? Do you have something for me? Ducky answered after barely a full ring.

Yeah, Ducky. They've both been poisoned with benzene hexachloride. It was detected on both Gibbs' and Kate's clothes, trace on Tony's. Blood tests confirm the same. Gibbs has the highest level of toxins, Kate only moderate. Tony has trace amounts. Abby gave this recitation in very matter-of-fact tones. There was absolutely no trace of the lighthearted girl Ducky was used to hearing.

Very well, Abby. Thank you. Blood tests have been ordered here as well. Can you fax over your results so I can compare toxicity levels? I want to make sure that they're falling. There's not much else I can do. Ducky sighed at the news Abby had given him. This particular poison would either kill you or it wouldn't. It just depended on how much you'd had.

Abby seethed at the doctor's seeming indifference. That's it? You're just going to sit there and watch them suffer? How could Ducky not do anything? This was Gibbs and Kate. We're more than just coworkers, Abby thought, we're friends!

Hearing the fear behind her outburst, Ducky decided to let a little of the clinical mask slip, to let her hear his own pain and frustration. Abby, listen to me. This poison, this pesticide he used, it has no antidote. It causes liver and kidney damage,and it can cause nerve damage. Things that maybe the body can heal, or maybe it can't. The best I can do are to treat the symptoms, to ease their pain. Truthfully, if you have anyone to thank for their survival it's young Anthony. Getting them stripped and washed as quickly as he did may prove to be the most critical step in saving their lives. Now I'm going back to monitor their conditions. You, my dear girl, are going to get some food and then pull out that futon and take a nap. I know you won't leave the office, but I insist you take care of yourself. Jethro would remind you we still have a criminal to put away, and he will need his whole team for that.

Tears rolled silently down Abby's cheeks; she made no effort to stop them. Thanks, Duck. I needed to hear that. All of that. She paused closing her eyes briefly before continuing, I know you'll take the best care of them. I'll call Tony and give him the update, then I promise I'll get something to eat and get some sleep. Bye, Ducky.

Ducky walked into the room they had set up for Gibbs and Kate. He had requested the large single room to make things easier on both the staff and himself, as it eliminated running back and forth between separate rooms until the patients were more stable. Additionally, odds were that if one were to have a medical emergency, so would the other. The coroner sighed again and took a glance on each side of the heavy curtain dividing the two beds. Jethro had wound himself up in some sort of human pretzel. He didn't like the look of that, he hoped it didn't mean serious internal pain. Caitlin was lying on her back, arms still akimbo, furious and miserable at the same time. Ducky wasn't quite sure how she managed the expression, but there was no doubt about the emotion. Since Jethro looked to be more asleep than awake, Ducky decided to talk to Caitlin first. He approached her bed quietly and reached for her hand. Her eyes snapped to him, a spark of hope lighting in their depths.

Caitlin, my dear. How are you doing?

Well, I think I've finally stopped trying to retch up my empty stomach, so I guess that's progress, she smiled wryly. But my skin is itchy and crackly like I have a second degree sunburn, and the pounding in my head sounds like a maniacal snare drum player in a tornado. Kate found herself squeezing Ducky's hand maybe a little harder than she should, but she realized she hadn't heard anything -- good or bad -- and she was starting to get a little nervous. So, give it to me straight, Doctor. Am I going to live or die? She tried for a grin to go with the attempt at levity, but it was shaky at best.

Ducky smiled back at her, though. I would say the patient's prognosis is good. Truthfully, Caitlin, I can't promise you anything, but you look good and sound good right now, so that's a healthy sign. He continued the discussion with her for a few minutes, asking her about possible areas of pain, weakness or shakiness. Kate answered him the best she could, and Ducky felt reasonably certain that Kate would make a full recovery.

Okay, my dear, I've a prescription, then, for your skin. Unfortunately, I understand you got the worst of that, since your exposure was to liquid. But the salve will make you feel much better and should clear up the whole rash in less than a week's time. And we'll try and get you some pain relievers for that headache. Now that I know what I'm dealing with, I can start making it just a little bit better. Ducky smiled at her and then turned to go face the bear in his den.

Gibbs had heard noises coming from the other half of the room. With effort, he straightened himself around so he could listen more carefully. After a couple of minutes of concentration, he'd determined that someone was speaking, and that his head hurt worse, if that were possible. He started to curl back around and get comfortable, but just as he settled, the curtain moved. Gibbs lifted his head slightly and barely opened his eyes. Any light was an additional piercing pain he just could not tolerate. His movement, however slight, was enough to alert the visitor that he was awake, though.

Jethro, my friend, I have some news. Do you feel up to talking to me now? Ducky kept his voice hushed, reasonably certain that his friend's headache had not subsided.

Gibbs considered the doctor's question for a moment. Truthfully he'd rather be unconscious, it hurt less that way. But he wanted to know what Ducky knew, so even though the conversation would be horribly painful, better to do it now and know what was coming. Even if it was the worst. Sure, Duck, he ground out hoarsely. But my throat's a little raw from all that puking. And you'll need to keep it pretty quiet, there's a herd of elephants stampeding in a circle in my head.

Ducky dropped his voice to the level of a stage whisper, loud enough to be heard, but hopefully not with any resonance to cause pain. It seems you and Caitlin were both poisoned with benzene hexachloride, a pesticide. You've had the worst of it since yours was in powder form. You inhaled quite a bit, I imagine. I'll know exactly how bad it is as soon as I receive both Abby's and the hospital's blood test results. Then I can see how much you had at maximum concentration and how quickly you are outprocessing the toxin. As for the rest, I can give you a salve for any skin areas that are painful and analgesics for your headache. Ducky smiled wryly, What you don't know, my friend, is when we get your pain under control, your scalp is going to be the next thing you complain about.

Gibbs thought for a minute and remembered trying to get the dust out of his short hair. That's what I get for keeping it high and tight,' he thought. He almost smiled before fixing his old friend with a piercing blue gaze. Right. Now what aren't you telling me?

The older man sighed deeply. Okay, that was the good news,' he thought. Now for the bad.' Jethro, there is no antidote for this kind of a poison. We treat it symptomatically. So that's what I'm doing. He raised a hand to forestall the question he knew was coming. As for anything else, I don't know yet, I have to run some blood tests. This pesticide affects liver and kidneys primarily. Central nervous system sometimes. So, now I have some questions to ask you, and then some tests to order for you and Caitlin.

The two men talked for a few minutes, Ducky requesting various details about the younger man's current health complaints. Suddenly Gibbs interrupted, remembering something the doctor had mentioned earlier. Duck, I didn't inhale all that much dust!

What? All right, Jethro. Tell me everything you remember. In his excitement, Ducky allowed his voice to rise. Gibbs winced in response. Sorry, dear boy.

He gritted his teeth and willed the pain to subside, if only temporarily. I was in the attic, junk all over the place. I remember thinking it was odd; the piles of crap looked random but as I walked through them, they seemed to lead to a door. Instead of a knob or lock, it just had a small knot-hole. I pulled it open a few inches, then let it go -- sure enough, it closed by itself. Probably counterbalanced to close automatically, and maybe trap someone in there. Gibbs mused. He was silent for a moment, thinking about what had happened, what might have happened. I put my crime scene kit in the doorway to keep it blocked open. There was so much dust. Every time I moved, I kicked up a cloud. Couldn't see much, and I didn't like the idea of getting all that crap in my nose and mouth. So I got protective glasses and a mask from the crime scene kit. They kept the worst of it off my face and out of my nose and mouth. And I left my gloves on until I exited the house. I remember seeing Tony and getting ready to take them off, and then thinking I'd get the dust out of my hair first. After that it gets kind of hazy for a while. Exhausted from reciting his lengthy report, Gibbs could do little more than mutter, Any of that help?

Yes, it might. Knowing you limited your exposure, makes me more optimistic about your chances. I still need to see your test results, mind, but that mask may have saved your life, Jethro. Every bit of that poison you kept out of your mouth makes a world of difference. And the less you inhaled, even better. Rest, my friend. I'll have the pain relievers and the salve to you as soon as I possibly can. In the meantime, let your body do what it needs to, to expel any remaining poison and heal what it can. That means sleep. I'll be back to check on you later. Ducky gave his friend's hand a brief squeeze, a familiarity the former marine would never have permitted if he weren't twisted up on a hospital bed.