Gibbs/Allison Series

Choosing Between Old & New # 5

By: MChakotayParis (R. Mason)

Chapter 24

Gibbs' good fortune of only having one sick little one lasted only one more day. The next day Ali felt good enough that she wanted to help take care of Tobias but Gibbs would only let her help fix his meals and never let her in their bedroom. It wasn't that Gibbs or Tobias had anything to hide Gibbs just didn't want Ali to get to close to Tobias while he was sick so he just let her help with his food and keeping track of when it was time to take his medicine. It was during one of the times she was helping Gibbs fix lunch for Tobias that she asked again.

"Daddy can I take Papa his tray this time?"

"I'm afraid not sweetheart, I've already told you that Papa is sick with a high fever and we don't want you to get sick to so you'll have to stay away from him until his fever breaks okay?" said Gibbs as he looked at Ali who was sitting across from him at the kitchen counter.

Since it was only he and Ali, Gibbs had started letting her eat lunch in the kitchen then change her and put her down for her nap then he would tackle Tobias. Since Ali was feeling better she'd been playing in the living room or watching television with him for most of the day and he'd just moved her play mattress into the living room in front of the fire so she could take her nap there. That way he could watch her and also listen for Tobias if he needed him.

"Ohhhh...okay, but remember to tell him that I love him and I hope he feels better soon" said Ali with a look of disappointment on her face.

Gibbs' heart melted and he quickly got up and pulled Ali into his arms gently kissing her head "He knows baby girl, and he loves you to but he doesn't want you to get sick either"

"I know, but I don't like it when one of us is hurt or sick Daddy" said Ali softly

"Neither do I sweetheart, now eat your lunch then I'll change you for your nap and maybe after you get up if he's feeling better I'll let you see Papa from the doorway. Okay?" said Gibbs with a smile, he knew he'd given in and compromised on what he and Tobias had decided regarding Ali seeing him but he just couldn't stay her looking so miserable, and after all she was feeling better now so if she kept her distance he didn't see how it could hurt.

"Yeah! Oh thank you Daddy...thank you" cried Ali as she gave him a fierce hug and then went back to eating her lunch.

After she was finished Gibbs changed Ali and put her down in the living room, dimming the light enough to where she could fall asleep but he could still see without tripping over something. After getting Ali settled Gibbs turned on her sleep music, then returned to the kitchen to take Tobias his lunch tray.

Tobias was once again tangled up in the sheets so after straightening them he tried to wake his lover. It took several tries but Gibbs finally got Tobias awake and sitting up against the headboard long enough to eat some broth, then take two of his pills. After that Gibbs helped him lay back down and gently covered him with the sheets and blanket then kissing his forehead left to check on Ali.

As usual Ali was awake by three forty-five and after changing her diaper and giving her a snack Gibbs quietly lead Ali towards the master bedroom but stopped her just inside the doorway.

"You stay here princess while I wake Papa okay?" whispered Gibbs as he looked at his partner in the bed.

For once Tobias was sleeping peacefully and he hoped it was a good sign that he was getting better, as Gibbs approached the bed he saw Tobias reach out a grab Gibbs' pillow pulling it to his chest for comfort. Looking at him lying there he wondered if it was such a good idea to wake him up if he was sleeping so peacefully but he had promised Ali so with a sigh he leaned down and gently stroked Tobias hair until the he opened his eyes.

"Hey sleepyhead, there's someone here who is anxious to see you" whispered Gibbs as he leaned over and kissed his forehead then stood up so Tobias could see Ali.

At first Gibbs wasn't sure Tobias recognized her but a few minutes later he heard him say in a scratchy voice "Jethro, we agreed that Ali wouldn't see me while I was sick"

"I know Tobias, but she misses you and she's not actually in the room. She's in the doorway see" replied Gibbs sheepishly. He'd know Tobias would be upset with him but he just couldn't stand to see Ali upset or unhappy and she really did miss him.

"Your an old softy" whispered Tobias, then smiled as he looked at their daughter. She really did look better than she had last time he'd seen her and Gibbs was right she wasn't actually inside the room.

"Hi Papa, I love you!" called Ali from the doorway

"Love you too little one" said Tobias as loudly as he could

"How are you feeling, any better?"

"Afraid not little one, so I don't want you to come into the room to see me okay?"

"Alright Papa, I hope you get better soon and I love you!" said Ali as she waved and blew him a kiss

"Love you too sweetheart" answered Tobias then sighed and closed his eyes.

Gibbs was instantly at his side checking him over then ushered Ali out and back into the living room

"You stay here for a little while angel while I check on Papa okay?" said Gibbs as he sat her back down on her play mattress

"Okay Daddy, is Papa alright?" asked Ali with concern in her voice

"That's what I'm going to find out princess, I'll be right back okay?"

"Okay Daddy" said Ali then laid down on her mattress and started playing with some of her toys

Gibbs returned to the master bedroom to find Tobias asleep still clutching his pillow but a little restless and talking in his sleep. Quickly going to the bathroom Gibbs retrieved the thermometer and advanced on Tobias finally getting him to turn over and hold the thermometer in his mouth. At the small beep Gibbs removed the thermometer to find that Tobias' fever had spiked to one hundred three so he gently forced two more pills down his throat then helped his sit up enough to drink some water. After that Gibbs settled him back down on the mattress and stroked his hair until he feel asleep.

The next morning when Gibbs went to wake Ali she to had developed a fever, so he now had two sick people on his hands. He kept Ali in bed in her room and by the second day of her fever had to reached over one hundred and two. Gibbs knew that when Ali's fever reached that high she could quickly become dehydrated so he kept a bottle of Gator Aide by her bed at all times.

By this time he too had started to feel bad not knowing wither it was him getting sick or just taking care of both Ali and Tobias but after settling both Ali and Tobias in bed he took some medicine just encase. By the next morning he had his answer, he'd caught whatever Ali and Tobias had because when he woke he had a scratchy throat, body aches and a fever. As he stumbled out of bed and tried to make it to make it across the living room to check on Ali, but his world suddenly tilted, with him going to his knees then going black as he slumped on the floor in the middle of the living room.

Ali didn't necessarily hear Gibbs fall to the ground but more felt him in trouble than anything else. Since her adventure with Tobias in the Hungarian forrest she'd been able to almost feel when Tobias or Gibbs were in trouble or hurt. She couldn't explain it and had even talked to Auggie about it but she didn't have a clue either as to why she'd become so sensitive to their well-being. Auggie had suggested that Ali tell Gibbs and Tobias about it but she'd refused saying that they'd think she was just being silly but now she almost instinctively knew that Gibbs was in trouble and needed her help. So with great effort and moving very slowly Ali got out of bed and went to find Gibbs.

Ali made it to the doorway of her bedroom when she saw him laying almost in the middle of the living room floor, he'd made it too just behind the couch before he'd passed out. As quickly as she could Ali made her way to the living room and knelt down beside Gibbs on the floor.

"Daddy...daddy can you hear me. Daddy please wake up...please daddy!" cried Ali as she carefully moved her hands over him checking to see if he was alright.

He felt extremely hot, but was shaking slightly from laying on the floor. Looking around Ali spotted a blanket laying on the back of the couch and reached up, pulling it down and quickly covering Gibbs. Ali knew that she had to get help so she carefully stood and after a few minutes made her way towards the master bedroom to try and find Gibbs or Tobias' cell phone.

The beach house wasn't equipped with a land line phone so Gibbs and Tobias always made sure they had their cell phones with them when they were down there. Ali's work phone had been turned off and left at work so she had to use one of theirs, as she made her way into the master bedroom she saw that Tobias was once again restless in his sleep and had the sheets tangled around his waist and legs.

After making her way to the bed and straightening the sheets she tried to shake Tobias awake calling loudly "Papa...Papa wake up! I need you Papa please...please wake up"

It took several more minutes of shaking and calling him before Tobias opened his eyes and looked glassy eyed at his daughter. Ali could tell that he was just barely awake and she had to get him to answer her fast before he went back to sleep.

"Papa...where is your cell phone. Papa...papa! Where is your cell phone!" yelled Ali almost in his ear.

It took Tobias as few minutes to register what she was asking before he slowly moved his hand towards the night stand at the side of his bed. He held it there for a few minutes pointing at the small drawer and then his hand dropped and Ali was sure he was asleep again. With a smile and a kiss Ali tucked Tobias' arm back under the covers then opened the drawer rummaging through it until she found his cell phone. She just hoped that it was charged but she somehow knew that even though they were all sick both men would make sure their cell phones were charged. Sure enough when Ali turned it one it was fully charged and after playing around with it for a minute or two Ali found Tobias' contact list and searched for Peter's General Store.

As Ali made her way back to Gibbs she dialed the number and soon heard the happy voice of Rachael Peters on the other end. "Peter's General Store, how may I help you today?"

"Grandma..." said Ali in a very small, very weak voice as she curled up beside Gibbs on the floor.

It took Rachael a few minutes to recognize the voice but when she did she knew instinctively that something was wrong, Ali, Tobias or Jethro were hurt and it was probably both of the men if Ali was calling.

"Ali baby girl what's wrong?" asked Rachael quickly as she started waving to Todd to get his attention, after a few minutes he came over to Rachael and they both listened as Rachael held the phone were they both could hear.

"Grandma, Papa and I are sick and I found Daddy on the floor" answered Ali in a weak little voice

"Ali sweetie where is Tobias, is he in bed?" asked Rachael as Todd moved away, going to call Doctor Forrester on the office phone.

"Yes, and I can't lift Daddy to get him up off the floor"

"No darling, just leave Jethro there and go back to bed yourself. Grandpa Todd is calling Doctor Forrester now"

"No Grandma I can't...I can't leave Daddy. He's so cold on the floor" cried Ali as she tried to move closer to Gibbs

"Alright sweetie, alright. You just stay right there with your Daddy, do you have a blanket or quilt you can put over the two of you?" asked Rachael

"My play comforter is still on the floor from yesterday"

"Then go and get it and put it over the two of you sweetie if you can" said Rachael

A few minutes later Ali dropped the phone and crawled over to the comforter, dragging in back and covering up both her and Gibbs

"Ali..Ali sweetheart, are you there?" called Rachael over the phone and a few minutes later Ali picked it up and replied

"I'm here Grandma, and I have the comforter" said Ali weakly

"Good girl, now I want you to listen to me" said Rachael and after getting no response from Ali called louder "Ali... Allison Gibbs-Fornell!"

"I'm here Grandma" answered Ali in a very weak sleepy voice

"Now Doctor Forrester and I will be there at the beach house in about an hours so I want you to stay where you are and talk to Grandpa Todd until we get there okay?"

"Alright Grandma...and Grandma?"

"Yes baby girl?"

"I love you" said Ali very softly

"Damn, keep her talking Todd. I've got to go pick up Doctor Forrester and head on out there, she sounds really bad" said Rachael as she handed the phone off to Todd Peters' then made a beeline for her purse and the front door.

"Ali...Ali baby it's Grandpa Todd" called Todd loudly over the phone then tried to keep up a constant stream of talking until Doctor Forrester and Rachael arrived.

It was just a little over an hour before Rachael and Doctor Steven Forrester made it to Ali's beach house, they entered to find Ali and Jethro Gibbs laying under Ali's play comforter on the floor. As they both ran to the pair on the floor they found Gibbs was unresponsive with Ali just a little bit better. They could both hear Todd's voice coming from the phone in Ali's hand but even that wasn't getting a response from Ali. Rachael took the phone and said quietly

"We're here Todd, I'll call you back when we know more" said Rachael then hung up the phone and helped Doctor Forrester examine Ali. She was soaking wet and she while she too was burning up with fever she was shivering beneath the comforter.

"It looks like the flu Rachael, why don't you see if you can get her cleaned up and back in bed while I examine Jethro then Tobias" said Steven Forrester as he hung his stethoscope around his neck.

"Will do Doctor, come on baby girl. Grandma is going to get you fixed up and all nice and warm" said Rachael to the limp form of her adopted granddaughter as she pulled her up then threw her arm around her shoulder almost carrying her back to her bedroom.

Ali had obviously been asleep when she somehow woke up and found Gibbs on the floor and it was before Gibbs had been able to get to her and change her so she was in a very wet, stinky diaper so Rachael decided to give her a bath. After making their way back to Ali's bedroom, Rachael left her sitting in one of the large chairs in her room while she prepared the bathroom.

Five minutes later Rachael once again carrying/dragged Ali into her bathroom, quickly undressing her then helping her get into the tub. As the hot water warmed her up Ali became a little more responsive until she finally looked at Rachael and said "Grandma?"

"Yes baby girl, it's Grandma. You called us that everyone was sick don't you remember?" said Rachael with a smile

"No I don't" said Ali with a small shake of her head

"We'll it's ok sweetheart, we're here now and everything is going to be alright. Are you feeling warmer now?"

"Yes"

"Good, now let's get you cleaned up then tucked up in bed" said Rachael as she started washing Ali

"But Papa and Daddy, there..." asked Ali

"Jethro and Tobias will be fine sweetheart, Doctor Forrester is checking them now and he said he'd be back to check on you as soon as you were cleaned up" answered Rachael as she continued to wash Ali, after a few minutes she was done and started helping Ali to stand.

"Grandma, what's wrong with us?"

"It's the flu sweetheart, you probably got it from the carnival. There's been an almost epidemic of it ever since the first weekend they came to town" said Rachael as she wrapped a towel around Ali and started drying her off.

"I'm sorry Grandma, I didn't mean to make Papa sick"

"You didn't sweetheart, the carnival owners probably weren't properly cleaning each of the rides between guests like they should have or not cleaning them at all after they shut down each night. It's not your fault little one, you have to believe that, I'm sure Jethro and Tobias don't blame you" said Rachael then sat Ali down on the toilet to finish drying her off.

"Okay, Grandma..." asked Ali weakly

"Yes baby girl?" said Rachael as she looked up at Ali, she had a distinctive green look to her face.

"I'm gonna be sick" answered Ali then grabbed her stomach and leaned over just in time to vomit in the trash can.

"Oh sweetheart, it's alright Grandma's here" cooed Rachael in a soothing voice as she rubbed Ali's back until the dry heaves stopped.

When she'd finished Rachael helped her rinse her mouth and helped her back into her room where she quickly diapered, then dressed her in one of her sleep tops. Rachael was just tucking her under the covers when Doctor Forrester entered her room.

"We'll you were right Rachael, it's the flu. With these three that makes twenty-five cases in two months. I'm going to have to report this to the county health services" said Doctor Forrester

"As well you should Steven, Ali said that Tobias got sick the day after they came home from the carnival and her just a few days after that" said Rachael

"Well reporting them is about all we can do for now but that still leaves us with a mess of people to take care of. Did I hear Ali getting sick a few minutes ago?" asked Steven

"Yes, looks like she threw up mostly Gator Aide and maybe a few Raman noodles. If I know Jethro and Tobias they've been giving her bottles of Gator Aide to keep her hydrated" said Rachael with a smile as she looked in Ali's refrigerator and saw several bottles there.

"Good, keep it up and I'm going to give her some pills for the nausea too since she's the only one throwing up. Jethro woke up briefly and he said that neither he nor Tobias as vomited, just body aches, fever, congestion and a sore throat. I'm prescribing Tamiflu for all three of them along with Aleve for the body aches and pains plus something for Ali's nausea. Do you think Todd will pick them up if I call them in. I don't really think we should leave these three alone" said Steven

"I'm sure he will, I said I'd call him after we checked them out" replied Rachael

"Good get him to stock up some more Gator Aide for Ali and whatever Jethro and Tobias will drink as well"

"Will do Steven, and thank you for coming out on such short notice"

"No problem Rachael, you know I always make house calls in an emergency and it had been a while since I'd seen Ali. I'd heard she, Jethro and Tobias were in town and I was dying to see her again, although I would have preferred it another way" said Steven with a grin. Ali was a very special girl and usually a joy to be around.

"Well don't worry, she's down here for a two month vacation and even with them all being sick she'll still have some time in town after she's well" said Rachael

"Great then I'll look forward to seeing her again when she's well. Now I'd better get going so I can call those prescriptions in, tell Todd to give me about forty-five minutes or so and they should be in the pharmacy" said Steven as he packed up his bag then walked with Rachael to the front door. "Give me a call if any of them start getting worse" then with a wave got into his car and drove off.

Rachael watched him leave then returned to the house and went into the master bedroom to check on Jethro and Tobias. Both men were asleep in the bed curled up together Jethro's arms around Tobias' waist.

"Sleep tight my angels, Rachael's here to take care of you all" said Rachael then leaned over and gently kissed both men on the forehead then left, after a quick check of Ali which found her also asleep Rachael sat down on the couch and called Todd. He was expecting her call so answered it on the second ring

"Well, what did Steven say?" asked Todd anxiously

"They've all got the flu, I think Ali's is a little worse than Jethro and Tobias but Steven's going to call in some prescriptions for them all so they should be alright. I'm going to need you to go and pick them up along with some other things that they will need" said Rachael with a sigh

"Do think you can take care of them alone Rachael?" asked Todd, he'd heard she sigh and could tell by her voice that she was tired but he wasn't sure if it was from taking care of them or worrying

"I'll be fine Todd, once a nurse always a nurse. Besides you need to stay there and run the store or go pick up things if they need them" said Rachael with a smile, she could tell that Todd was worried about her but she was sure she could do this

"Alright, but if you need a break just let me know and I'll get someone to cover the store for me"

"Thanks honey, now Todd said to give him about forty-five minutes to call in the prescriptions before you went to pick them up so that should just about give you enough time to pick up some more Gator Aide and things for Ali before you need to pick up their prescriptions"

"Sounds good, so what does Ali need besides more Gator Aide, diapers, Raman Noodles or broth?" asked Todd

"That's about it, we know our girl well don't we" laughed Rachael

"That we do love, that we do. I'll be there in about an hour or so, so I'll see you then" said Todd as he hung up

Rachael looked at the phone then smiled as she pushed the end button. It was true that she and Todd knew Ali's likes and dislikes well but were still sometimes puzzled by the woman herself, but she had such a sweet soul about her that you just couldn't help but like her and then learn to love her. Ali eluded all that was joyful and good in the world, even though she was a child in an adult body.

After a few minutes Rachael took a deep breath and then got up getting ready to clean the house from top to bottom to kill any and all possible flu germs. After clean up the living room and putting Ali's play comforter in the wash Rachael started in on the kitchen then tackled both bathroom's. She checked the spare bedroom and after finding clean sheets and a comforter made this room up for her to sleep in. Just as she was taking the clothes out of the washer and putting them in the dryer Todd knocked on the door and she went to let him him.

He had in his hands several plastic bags of food along with two more boxes sitting on the porch full of Ali's Gator Aide, Sprite, 7-UP, Ginger Ale and even some clear juices that he'd found at Walmart.

"Think you've got enough?" laughed Rachael as she took the bags from him so he could carry the boxes in

"I wasn't sure what Tobias and Jethro would drink so I got some of every clear soda I could find, then I remembered how much the kids loved your homemade chicken stew went they were sick so I thought you could make them some" said Todd as he took the boxes into the kitchen

"That was sweet of you dear, thank you. Now you'd better go before you get sick as well, I'll call you with updates daily and if I need something" said Rachael as she put down the bags on the kitchen counter and went into her husbands arms

"Take care now Rachael, I don't need you getting sick as well with this" whispered Todd

"I won't sweetheart, do worry. You and I have both had our flu shots and I've clean everything in this house from top to bottom except their bedrooms and I'll do that after they're well. Now get before I change my mind and keep you as my nurses assistant so you can help me with the guys"

"No thank you, I'm out of here. Those two are enough of a handful when their healthy, I'm sure their worse when they get sick. Call me if you need me, love you" said Todd with a laugh then gave his wife a quick kiss and left

"Coward!" called Rachael teasingly at her husbands back but she had a feeling he was right.

Jethro Gibbs and Tobias Fornell were men enough to be reckoned with when they were healthy and she had a sneaking suspicion that they might be worse while they were sick. So with a smile she started putting up the groceries and then started making her homemade chicken stew