"Okay, I think I'm sick," Ziva admitted, wiping a hand across her nose. "Are you happy now?"

She couldn't exactly deny it when she had just sneezed five time in a row just now. It had sounded painful. Were sneezes even supposed to sound that painful? The noises she made couldn't be a good thing.

"Very," Tony said. "Well, almost. Does this mean that you're going to let me look after you now?"

"I do not need looking after," she said immediately. "I can look after myself just fine."

Tony just rolled her eyes at that declaration. Sure, she could. That's why Gibbs always sent him after Ziva when she was off sick. Because she could obviously look after herself. Yeah, that was it.

"No. I'm looking after you," he informed her.

"I do not need looking after!"

Oh, she definitely did. At least, she needed someone to prevent her from doing something stupid like going for a jog when she felt sick or not taking any medicine for the fever she evidently had. And he could do that.

"Tough luck, I'm looking after you."

"What are you doing, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, suddenly appearing, making Tony jump.

He noticed that Ziva didn't jump despite her cold and fever, which should have surely dulled her senses? Seriously, even when sick she was still a ninja. Unbelievable.

"Looking after Ziva, Boss," he answered quickly, completely ignoring the glare she was sending his way right now (yes, much to his own peril but this was more important right now). "Or trying to. She's sick."

Now it was Gibbs' turn to look Ziva up and down, a frown soon forming on his face.

"David."

"Gibbs," Ziva straightened up. "I am fine. Tony is being-"

"Completely right." Gibbs finished for her. "Get your ass home."

Now, normally Tony would laugh (well, hide his laugh) at the outraged look that Ziva gave their boss. But right now, he was more concerned about his sick partner.

"Gibbs! I am fine! And we need to wait for this man," she tried to argue with no luck.

It was times like this when Tony was infinitely glad that Gibbs was one of the most stubborn people on the planet. Even more stubborn than his partner.

"I'll deal with him. You, go home."

Which is how they both ended up in Tony's car, Ziva admittedly an incredibly reluctant passenger (she was only in it and not trying to drive herself home because of Gibbs' orders), heading to Ziva's apartment.

"Look," he said, trying to make conversation with his highly irritated partner. "A few days rest and you'll be good as new."

The outraged squawk that came from her was highly amusing and unusual.

"A few days? No. I will be going to work tomorrow. I just need to rest tonight and I will be fine."

Tony gave her a look. Yeah, that wasn't going to happen when she was sounding worse by the minute. There was no way that talking wasn't painful with that scratchy voice of hers.

"Gibbs said to stay home until you get better."

"Which I will tomorrow."

Tony opened his mouth to disagree with that but then closed it again and shook his head. There wasn't any point in arguing with her, she wasn't going to capitulate. Not until tomorrow anyway, that he was sure of.

"You do realise that you can't intimidate your body into feeling better, right?" He asked her instead with some amusement as she continued to glare at nothing in particular. "It's not a suspect."

Ziva made some unintellible grumbling noises that made it quite clear that she was not happy at the apparent betrayal by her body. Yes, how dare her immune system fail her and let her get a cold.

"We're home," Tony announced a few minutes later, pulling into a parking space at her apartment. "Well, you are."

A huff came from Ziva and she folded her arms.

"Go on," he urged. "You don't want to lift you up to your place, do you."

"You would not dare."

He raised an eyebrow. "I just managed to get you home. Do you really want to try me?"

"Only because Gibbs said," she grumbled but thankfully got out of the car and made her way to her building.

Tony followed her, much to her dismay.

"You do not have to mind me," she told him.

"Of course, I do. Gibbs' orders. Remember?"

Surprisingly, Ziva didn't argue and just sighed in acquiescence. It didn't take them long to get to her apartment and soon they were in the warm safety of it.

"Go sit down. Wrap yourself up in blankets," he urged, directing her to her sofa.

Oddly enough, she did as she was told. But that might have had something to do with how tired she suddenly looked. Like all of the fight had gone out of her. Which was definitely not a good sign but he would take it if it meant that she was actually going to rest up.

Well, she did the sitting down bit. Not so much the wrap herself up in blankets bit.

"Blankets, Ziva," he reminded her.

"Huh?" She asked, like she was coming out of a daze.

That wasn't a good sign. No matter. He had her six. And he knew where she kept her blankets, perks of coming over for movie nights.

And Ziva being Ziva, there was a large supply of very soft blankets. Perfect. He grabbed three of them a promptly dumped them on her.

"Now, what do you want to drink?" Tony asked, making his way to her kitchen.

"Nothing," she said stubbornly.

"Ha. Try again."

He got a huff in response.

"Look, it will make you feel better."

Hot drinks always made you feel better when you were feeling rough from a cold, didn't she know that?

Still no response from her. Oh, come on! There wasn't even any point in being this stubborn over this!

"Do you want tea or hot chocolate?" He asked, trying to force her to choose something.

Still no answer.

"I'm just going to make both in the same mug if you don't decide," he threatened.