Chapter 8

"Dinozzo" was his usual reply.

A slight hesitation before a voice that he never wanted to hear again, "Tony, its John Davis", Tony looked straight past Gibbs "what do you want!" he demanded to know his voice laced with venom. "I…I wanted to apologise for earlier, you're a great detective, an even better Agent, when I saw you I couldn't believe you were back working this case……it's just with everything that happened….. The case seems to be a copy cat …" before his ex captain could finish his sentence Tony broke in "it wasn't your fault the hell it wasn't if you'd assigned more men then…"Tony broke off, he was pacing the kitchen clenching his fists. He sighed "NCIS will need every file you have in relation to this case, including evidence; Agent Todd will pick them up in the morning". The captain was silent before he spoke in a child like voice, almost pleading with him "Tony, look I'm really sorry about what happened, this time you'll have all the manpower you need, all the files and evidence are being gathered, they'll be ready by morning, if there's anything else let me know, Tony this has to be a copy cat the real numbers killer died in prison, I'm also including his file and death certificate, maybe it'll help….sorry Tony" with that the captain hung up, Tony was still pacing muttering.

Gibbs was to curious "what was that about?" Tony looked at him "all files and evidence relating to this case will be ready for collection tomorrow morning according to Captain Davis. Tony knew it was time to discuss the case, Gibbs knew it to as he gave Tony a knowing glance and a cup of coffee, leading them both to the living room. Tony sat on the sofa, Gibbs took one of the chairs.

Silence consumed them for what seemed like an eternity before Tony spoke "what I'm gonna tell you, I haven't spoken to anyone about outside Baltimore, not even the FBI know". Gibbs looked at Tony, he was staring at the floor, he put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and sat beside him "It's okay Tony, if we are gonna catch this guy, then I need to know, but only if you want to tell me" he used that gentle voice he normally reserved for children.

Silence again and Gibbs thought Tony wouldn't talk, but he should have not worried as Tony began talking in a whisper "I had been a detective for two years when a case landed on my desk, no one wanted it, hell I didn't want it!, but I was ordered to take it by captain Davis, his excuse, incase of major press coverage, at the time I was the go-between the poster boy of Baltimore PD. Captain Davis made it clear that I was on my own with this case, incase of bad press coverage, it would be the perfect way to move on as he said "two year warranty" was almost up.

Silence again between them, 'what had made him the poster boy' thought Gibbs as he watched his agent intently, absorbing everything that was being said. He got the feeling that being poster boy lead to some thing happing, good or bad he didn't really no, but it change Tony whatever it was. Tony stifled a yawn, Gibbs looked at the clock it was almost 1.30 in the morning. He knew the case files would be there by noon as the Wilsons flight got in at six am, Kate and McGee were going to get the files and talk with them. Gibbs knew that whatever information the Wilson gave would probably lead them nowhere, but question had to be asked, he hated dragging Tim out of his sick bed, but he had the feeling that he would need all hands on deck for this one.

"Tony you okay?" Tony looked at him, his eyes bleary as he stifled another yawn "yeah boss, just tired, not feeling to good….um can we call it a night?" Tony looked as if he had risen from the dead, Gibbs chuckled "yeah, if your sure, but we will talk tomorrow!" came Gibbs' curt reply. With that Tony got up and headed for the stairs "um boss, sorry for earlier in the kitchen". "What I tell you about apologising Dinozzo" Tony chuckled "right, thanks boss…'night boss". "Dinozzo your welcome, not get your ass in bed and get some sleep!"

Gibbs watched Tony carefully for any sigh of his light-headedness and was glad to see Tony get to the bedroom without incident, he gave himself sixty seconds before he checked on him, to his relief Tony had made it to the bed before passing out. Gibbs chuckled, 'those sleeping pills really work'. Now that Tony was in a drug induced sleep, he had time to think, sleep was gone for the night so he decided to work on the boat, but he couldn't concentrate and headed back to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Something was nagging him about earlier, Dinozzo never admitted to being hurt or sick that had to be forced out of him. He was thinking about calling Ducky when heard retching coming from the bathroom, it took him two seconds to remember that Dinozzo was staying with him, with this he sped up the stairs two at a time.

What he didn't expect to see was his senior field agent hunched over the toilet throwing up the remains of his dinner. Tony had finally managed to stop vomiting when he noticed Gibbs standing in the doorway "sorry boss" he mumbled before he slumped to the floor. Gibbs got a glass of water and told him to rinse his mouth out, he also noticed that Tony was shivering. "You done?" Tony looked at him nodding his head "um think so". Gibbs helped Tony up off the floor, "let's get you back to bed" as they headed back to the spare room, Tony ad begun to nod off, Gibbs got ton back to bed, as soon as Tony lay on the bed he curled up into a tight ball to keep warm, Gibbs placed his hand on his forehead and swore, he grabbed the blanket and put it over Tony to keep, he grabbed the phone and dialled Ducky"

"Mallard" came a sleepy voice, Gibbs sighed "sorry its late Duck" Ducky was wide awake now, "Jethro we get a case?". Gibbs sighed "no Duck, can you come over?" "My Jethro, you're not sick are you, you were fine when we left the office" Ducky was speaking that fast now Gibbs started to laugh "No Duck, I'm not sick, it's Dinozzo, he's staying with me tonight" Ducky was silent for a few seconds before he spoke again "case related?, I noticed the way he was reacting to the scene, and earlier in autopsy". Now it was Gibbs who seemed at a loss for words, "seems to be the case, but I've never seen anything like this before, whatever happened is affecting him, I'm trying to get to the bottom of it but it'll take time" "I'll be over as soon as I can, you'll find out, you always do" with that Ducky hung up, Gibbs headed back down stairs for more coffee, once he had his refill he went back to Tony's room and waited for Ducky.

Ten minutes later he heard a faint knocking at the door, he smiled to himself, everyone on the team knew he kept his door unlocked, but Ducky would be the one to knock. He got up and let Ducky in "how is he?" "He's asleep now, something about this case is haunting him and I need to know what!" Ducky looked at his friend "Jethro you'll find out, you're like a father to him, he will talk when he's ready, don't push him, and now as he's asleep, what are his symptoms?" Gibbs gapped at him, what he said was true, Tony is like a son to him. "Apart from the headache, he's no appetite; he's nauseated, vomiting, dizzy and feverish. He hasn't said anything about muscle pain".

"Sounds like flu, but I'll know more when I see him, has he taken anything?" "Only the painkillers earlier and a sleeping pill" Gibbs replied sheepishly. Ducky raised his eyebrow and chuckled "where is he?" Gibbs smiled at him "spare room, he looks worse than ever". Ducky was about to head up the stairs when a voice behind him made him jump, "Don't worry about waking me, couldn't sleep anyway, heya Ducky". They were surprised to see Tony standing at the foot of the stairs, Gibbs was eyeing him suspiciously, "Anthony how are you feeling?"

Tony knew better than to lie to them, "better now, juz tired, slightly nauseated, can't seem to get rid of this headache, dizziness comes and goes". Gibbs was stillwatching him when Ducky spoke "let's take a look at you, Jethro will you give us a moment" Gibbs looked at him "when you're ready, I'll be ready" he said as he headed for the kitchen and more coffee.

They headed back upstairs, "Anthony how are you really, Gibbs told me about earlier, loss of appetite, vomiting, obvious lack of sleepand nightmares by looks of things" Tony chuckled, he had to admit Ducky was good "no fooling you Duck, I don't know what happened, one minute I was dreaming the familiarity of this case, the next my dinner was making a reappearance. "What was your dream about?" Ducky asked as he took Tony's blood pressure. "I don't really remember, it's all fuzzy, one thing I'm sure of it was in Baltimore". Ducky continued his examination, after a few minutes he told Tony to take aspirin for headache and to rest. Then went in search of Jethro.

He didn't have to look hard; Gibbs was sitting on the sofa, "what's the verdict Duck?"

"Anthony will be fine in a few days, he's got a bad case of flu, now I know he won't stay in bed and rest, so make sure he takes aspirin, keeps hydrated and don't push him too hard, he needs rest more than anything, even if it is desk duty!" he said with an mischievous glint in his eye. "Gotya Ducky, did he say anything?" "Nothing useful to the case except that the nightmare was in Baltimore". With that Gibbs walked Ducky out, "night Ducky" "night Jethro".

"Joey….Joey", "yeah what Danny!" Danny smiled "it's time for number two, you get the jar and the note, and I'll get the body. Just make sure there is no evidence this time, it was a fluke they missed the footprint, thanks to the BPD, Pete really wants this guy to suffer". They set out to find the perfect location and the perfect victim.