Author's note: Thanks for the reviews. I'm sorry it's up a little later than planned. Hope you enjoy

Chapter 2

An hour after the ambulance had left the docks, McGee and Ziva were following its path. The scene had been secured, the bodies on their way to the morgue and the evidence on its way to Abby's lab.

"Tony looked bad," McGee said, breaking the silence in the car.

"He will be fine," Ziva replied, not wanting to think otherwise.

"You weren't there when he had the plague Ziva, you didn't see how bad it got. His lungs can't take that again."

"Then it is a good job that he does not have the plague again, yes?"

"They said any bad infection or pneumonia could kill him, he doesn't have to get the plague again."

"McGee, stop. There is no point in panicking until we know more. For all we know Tony is as right as pain, flirting with the nurses and we are worrying about nothing."

"You're right Ziva, it's just hard not to think the worst. And it's rain, not pain."

Ziva smiled slightly, glad that she had calmed her partner down. She only wished her own mind would stop panicking as her voice had suggested.

Fifteen minutes later they arrived at Bethesda, heading straight for the reception desk to ask about their teammates. Before making it to the desk Ziva spotted Ducky speaking to a doctor down the corridor, she turned and headed in that direction, pulling McGee along with her, anxious to hear what the doctor had to say.

"Ducky?" Ziva questioned, as she approached the two men. That one word speaking volumes.

"Ziva, Timothy, Brad was just giving me an update on Anthony's condition. He seems to be doing better, I will let Dr Pitt fill you in," Ducky replied, motioning for the doctor to continue.

"Hi, yes I was just telling Ducky that Tony seems to have come through his dip in the Potomac fairly unscathed."

"But he looked terrible on the docks, are you sure he's ok," McGee questioned, silently breathing a sigh of relief.

"The shock of the icy water, the effort it took not only holding his breath for a long period of time, but also giving mouth to mouth to two people, certainly explains the state he was in when he arrived here. We've warmed him up, had him on oxygen since he arrived and put in an IV to help him get his strength back. So to answer your question Tim, yes I'm sure he's ok. I'll take you to see him if you'd like?"

McGee and Ziva nodded, both glad that their friend was out of the woods and followed the doctor through a set of double doors and down a corridor. As they stood in the elevator waiting to reach the right floor Ziva asked about Gibbs and Maddy.

"They're both doing fine. We'd like to keep them in overnight for observation, just to be on the safe side. Gibbs was a little reluctant to the idea, so I suggested he stay in Tony's room, guessing that that is where he'd probably be anyway," Dr Pitt replied, stepping out of the elevator as it opened.

"You guessed right, Jethro is as stubborn as young Anthony. Keeping them together is a wise move, that way they can keep an eye on each other," Ducky said, laughing slightly at Brad's observations.

"Here we are," Dr Pitt said, opening the door to room 412. "How are my patients doing?"

"Ready to go Brad, what are the chances?" Tony asked, the small sentence causing him to start coughing.

"What do you think Tony." Brad replied, walking over to his patient. He unhooked the nasal canula, putting it under Tony's nose. "Who said you could remove this?"

"It was itching and I didn't need it."

"Of course you didn't!"

"DiNozzo, leave it alone," Gibbs barked, seeing his agent try to dislodge it once more.

"I am glad to see you're feeling better Tony, Gibbs," Ziva said, moving to stand in between the two beds.

"Never felt better ZeeVah."

Ziva raised her eyebrows, knowing that every word out of Tony's mouth was a lie. Even though he looked a lot better than he had when she had last seen him, he didn't look himself. He was pale, with dark circles under his eyes and even though he'd tried not to let it show, he was breathing differently, as if it was more of a struggle. If she hadn't spoken to the doctor, then she would have been a lot more worried than she was.

"Boss, Tony, I'm glad you're both ok. You had us a little worried back there," McGee spoke, joining Ziva between their two teammates.

"We're fine McGee, have you got a report for me?" Gibbs responded, brushing off the comment with a question.

McGee proceeded to fill Gibbs in on how they had left the scene, even though Gibbs probably knew more about what had happened than anyone did. Tony was pleased to hear that the two men he'd shot were dead and that his weapon had been recovered and was on its way back to NCIS. After getting a play by play from Tony about his recollection of events and Gibbs's input, McGee and Ziva decided that they should head back to the navy yard to finish up the paperwork.

"I believe I should be going too," Ducky said. "Those bodies won't autopsy themselves."

"Did you need a lift Ducky?" Ziva asked.

"No thank you my dear," Ducky replied, picking up his coat. "You two get some sleep and I'll be back later this evening."

"I'd rather be coming back with you Duck," Gibbs said, ready to leap from the bed at the Doctors say so.

"Yes I know you would, but then who would keep Anthony company. Do stay in that bed Jethro, you will be released in the morning, I'm sure you can survive one night in this place."

Gibbs just grunted in response, knowing that he wouldn't be able to change Ducky's mind.

"I'm counting on you to keep him here Anthony," Ducky said with a smile, turning to the second patient. The smile soon left his face as he looked at the man in the bed. "Tony, are you alright?"

Unbeknownst to the others in the room Tony had started to feel increasingly unwell, he was getting hotter by the second and he was finding it harder to take in a deep breath. Not wanting to draw attention to himself he had kept quiet, hoping that the feelings would pass. Unfortunately one look from Ducky and his plan had failed. He knew that he couldn't say he was fine and for once he realised that he shouldn't. While he didn't like to draw unwanted attention, he knew that he was in trouble, breathing was becoming harder and harder and there were black spots going across his vision. He opened his mouth to speak but found that no words came out. He hoped that his eyes would say what words could not, that he needed help.

"Someone get Dr Pitt," Ducky said, making his way towards Tony. He lowered the bed and turned the oxygen up to full. "It's ok Anthony, help is on the way."

"Duck?" Gibbs questioned, real concern showing on his face.

Before the doctor could answer there came a shrill alarm and Tony's eyes rolled into the back of his head.