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CHAPT 3

PRESENT

Tony awoke to hear faint crying sound. Tony looked over to Sierra tossing on the couch beside him. When she opened her eyes tears were running down her cheeks. "What's wrong with my baby girl?" Tony asked pulling Sierra into his lap.

"I had a bad dream." Sierra said.

Tony smiled and kissed her head. "How about me and you go get into Mommy and Daddy's bed. You can have mommy's side." Tony said. Sierra nodded. Tony nodded and scooped her up and carried her into his and Abby's bedroom. Tony placed Sierra on the bed and smiled down at her.

"Stay with me Daddy." Sierra said.

Tony smiled. "I'm just gonna turn the light off." Tony said flipping the switch at the door and going back to sit with his daughter. "I love you." Tony said kissing her forehead and watching her drift back into sleep.

"Daddy? Can we go see Mommy tomorrow?" Sierra asked.

Tony looked at her fearful. "We'll see." Tony said running his hand over her back.

"Can I tell you something Daddy?" Sierra asked.

Tony nodded. "Sure can princess." Tony said.

Sierra crawled into Tony's lap. "In my dream Mommy was dead but she told me to be a brave girl. And told me that you would need me to behave. She also told me not to give up hope." Sierra said.

Tony smiled. "Mommy was right. But baby mommy ain't gonna die." Tony said.

Sierra looked at him with her green eyes. "Daddy aunt Katie told me what happened to mommy." Sierra said in her 2 year old voice.

Tony shook his head. "Well don't worry Mommy is strong. She's been married to daddy for 3 years." Tony said.

Sierra giggled. "If we can't go see mommy can I at least go to see Aunt Katie and Gandpa Gibbs and Ducky." Sierra asked.

Tony smiled. 'We'll see. Get some sleep. Daddy will come back in a while." Tony said moving Sierra to the bed and covering her up. Tony walked back out to the living room and sat down on the couch. He thought about the time that Abby stayed with him for 3 days straight after working 2 shifts to find out what he and Kate had been inhaled with.

4 YEARS AGO

Tony had inhaled the Y Pestis. Kate hadn't but that didn't mean she wouldn't stay by him. When the doctor had come to take Tony's blood pressure and temperature the nurse came in with Kate behind her. "How is he doing?" Kate asked when Tony had a coughing fit. Kate winced.

"He's still suffering from the damage to his lungs." The doctor said.

Kate nodded. "K." Kate said letting the doctor finish his exam.

When he left Kate held onto Tony's hand. "You gotta fight this Tony. Don't make me you hurt you cause I have to hold a sobbing Abby." Kate said.

Tony looked at her. "Abby?" Tony asked.

Kate nodded. "You know your. Well I don't know what she is to you." Kate said.

Tony laid back after coughing and breathing shallowly. "Girlfriend." Tony said.

Kate looked at him. "That serious?" Kate asked.

Tony nodded. "Serious enough that I went to meet her parents last week." Tony said.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Really and what did the parents think?" Kate asked. Tony smiled over at her.

"Father thought I was too Italian. Mom loved me." Tony said.

Kate smiled. "Her father is smart." Kate said.

Tony looked at her hurt. "Kate that hurt. I do have a heart." Tony said.

Kate smirked. "You just don't use it often." Kate said. Tony nodded and started coughing violently. Kate came to his side and helped him sit up and rubbed his back.

"I want to go home." Tony said.

Kate smiled. "I know. But you'll be better soon." Kate said.

5 HOURS LATER

Gibbs had came in and told Kate to go home. Gibbs now sat with Tony and watched over him he was startled when Ducky ushered a silent Abby into the isolation room. "Abby?" Gibbs asked.

Abby held her hand up. "I needed to come see him." Abby said. Gibbs relented and walked with Ducky out to the observation room. Abby walked to Tony's bed and leaned over and kissed his forehead.

Tony stirred a little. "Abby?" Tony asked.

Abby smiled. "Yeah. Here you've been giving Kate a hard time." Abby said.

Tony smiled weakly. "Gotta keep her on her toes. I infected her." Tony said.

Abby ran her hand through his hair. "Kate told you that so you would think it and let her stay. She didn't want you to go through this alone." Abby said quietly.

Tony looked at her. "Well I'll have to thank her." Tony said. Abby nodded and was about say something when Tony started coughing Abby helped him up and he leaned into her and cough some more violent coughs. When he was done Abby helped him lay back down.

"I'm gonna go and let you rest for the night. I'll be back in the morning." Abby said.

Tony gripped her hand. "I love you." Tony said.

Abby smiled. "I love you too. Get some rest." Abby said kissing his head and walking out of the isolation into the observation.

She looked at Gibbs. "Is he even getting better?" Abby asked.

Gibbs sighed. "I hope so. I told him he would not die." Gibbs said.

Abby nodded and stared back to Tony. "He has to make it. I can't lose him." Abby said.

Gibbs pulled her into a hug. "We'll make sure he stays with us. Go home get some sleep. I'll call if anything changes." Gibbs said. Abby nodded and left.

3 DAY LATER

Tony was moved into a private room the next day and was told he would be kept for about 3 days. Tony was surprised the 3rd day when he woke to find Abby laid out on the uncomfortable couch. Tony smiled yeah this woman was bound to be in love with him. Tony coughed and Abby woke up and smiled at him. "How'd you sleep?" Abby asked.

Tony grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Fine. Probably better than you. You didn't have to stay." Tony said. Abby and Tony jumped a little when Gibbs voice came in.

"I tried telling her that but she insisted on staying." Gibbs said.

Tony smiled at Abby. "Shoulda listened to the boss." Tony said.

Gibbs smiled. 'For once Dinozzo is right." Gibbs said.

Abby smiled. "He was right about a lot of things." Abby said. Tony squeezed her hand and looked at it. Yeah he could honestly say he would put a ring on her finger in the near future.

PRESENT.

Tony was pulled from his thoughts when the phone rang. He scrambled to pick it up so it wouldn't wake Sierra. "Hello?" Tony asked.

"Mr. Dinozzo. Hi this is Jane from Bethesda. Your wife has woken up. A Mr. Gibbs told me to call you if she did." The woman said.

Tony jumped up. "Thank you. I'll be done there in 20 minutes." Tony said hanging up. Tony ran into his room and picked up a sleeping Sierra and put her into the car. He pulled his cell out and dialed Gibbs number.

"Gibbs." Came the bark.

"Hey Abby's awake. I'm heading to Bethesda can you meet me there I need someone to sit with Sierra so I can go in and see her." Tony said.

Gibbs nodded. "Sure can. Be there in 20." Gibbs said.

Tony hung up and whispered. "Hold on for us Abby. Just hold on for us." Tony said and drove.

TBC