NursePatient

Tony had woken up early and wasn't thinking too clearly. There was just one thing on his mind right now… The most important thing to a DiNozzo was appearances and his lack of it previously was something that he had to put right. Carefully and quietly he made his way out the front door. Gibbs had ordered him not to use HIS phone to call anyone but never said anything about the payphone a couple of blocks away. He'd make it there and back before Gibbs even realized he was missing.

The walk to the phone box had taken a lot longer than he had anticipated and he pressed the buttons to dial the number.

Kate Todd…

"Hey Kate." Tony slid down the glass to sit down. He tried to sound as cheery as he could.

Gibbs let you have your one phone call did he?

"Not exactly." Tony answered not bothering to attempt to hide the truth. "I just wanted to call to thank you –." He coughed a bit and shivered.

Are you ok Tony? You're outside aren't you?

"Traffic gave it away huh?" Tony laughed a little. "I wanted to thank you for the chicken soup you brought over."

You don't have to thank me Tony… I brought it over for Gibbs really.

Tony snorted and played with the telephone wire.

Are you ok Tony? You should be indoors.

"I'm sorry I wasn't awake to greet you or say bye." Tony rubbed his face, "I just had to say thank you."

There is no need… You better get back before Gibbs starts hunting you down.

"You're right Kate." Tony sighed, "How's work?" Just wanted to keep the conversation going but was only met with a loud click in response and a dial tone. He crawled to his feet and stumbled out of the telephone box.

Gibbs had looked everywhere and was about to get into his car and drive around looking everywhere for him just to make sure he was alright so he could kill Tony. As soon as he opened the front door, Tony almost fell onto Gibbs.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Gibbs virtually screamed into the Agent's ear.

"Out for a walk." Tony said in between coughs.

"Get your ass to bed and I will deal with you later." Gibbs said as he pointed up the stairs. "Don't even bother looking at me… You can get down, you can get right back up." Gibbs tapped him on the shoulder, "Oh and if I even catch you out of bed there'll be hell to pay. You got that DiNozzo?"

"Yes Boss." If he was a dog, he'd have his tail between his legs.

Tony's attitude had always troubled Gibbs. It seemed that he was more comfortable with being screamed at than the gentle approach and at times Tony seemed to have a total disregard for his physical wellbeing. For someone who kept themselves in very good physical condition he sure seemed to love putting his body through hell.

Tony felt a little warm when he woke and there was a lot of phlegm inside that he needed to cough up. He used his hand to stop saliva from spraying all over the room.

"You want the bucket?" Someone asked.

"Kate?" Tony replied, "What you doing here?"

"I'm on DiNozzo watch." Kate answered.

"DiNozzo watch?" Tony raised his eyebrow trying to figure out this DiNozzo Watch. "I guess Gibbs wants me out and that's why he's not here."

"Well Gibbs is as pissed as hell." Kate told him, "You've really pissed him off this time Tony."

Tony's heart sank as he sat up. "He has every right to be. He must be very disappointed to."

"Extremely disappointed in you." Kate said smiling which Tony didn't see. "Where are you going?"

"He obviously wants me gone before he gets back." Tony answered as he began packing his bag. "I'll catch the bus or something."

Tony put the bag over his shoulder and had to stand still and wait for the dizziness to subside before continuing down the stairs. "I'd be more comfortable at home anyway." He had almost made it out the front door when a familiar figure stood in front of him.

"And where do you think you're going Mister?" Abby used a hand to stop him from moving.

"Out of my way Abbs." Tony said without too much authority.

"About face Mister and march back into bed." Abby said, "Or Gibbs'll be mad at all of us and I don't want Gibbs mad at me because of you."

He was about to argue more but Abby stood firm with a finger pointed towards the staircase. Her eyes met his and it was clear that he was going to lose this stand off. Tony turned around and headed back upstairs.

"Nice day for a walk." Tony smiled.

"Wait!" Abby called out, "Your bag."

Tony could feel them tearing the bag from his shoulders before he could respond verbally. "Hey." He said.

"I'm going to fix you up something to eat." Abby said as she went into the kitchen. "Just thank God that Gibbs thought of backup for DiNozzo watch."

Tony shrugged his shoulders and made his way slowly up the stairs. Maybe with one he could fend her off but with two of them there that was not an option. "I'll be in the bedroom." Tony said.

"What on Earth did you say to him Kate?" Abby asked.

Kate started peeling the potatoes and carrots. "What makes you think I said anything to him?"

"Well you're up there, he wakes up and suddenly gets the urge to leave?" Abby asked, "What did you say?"

"I just told him that Gibbs was really pissed." Kate said. She hadn't told Tony anything he didn't already know. "Tony already knew that. I think he's afraid of Gibbs."

"Nah." Abby replied, "Tony hasn't been afraid of Gibbs for quite sometime."

Kate thought about it for a moment. Tony's behavior after she'd talked to him, if it wasn't fear then what was it? She continued to help Abby with the cooking.

Tony sat up in the bed after shaking off any help from the others. Funny thing was, if he was a hundred percent he'd probably welcome the attention from the ladies. But he was weak and terrible and therefore would be laughed at. Hmm he moaned loudly.

"What?" Kate asked.

"Smells delicious." He smirked. It was impossible for him to smell anything and let alone taste anything. They watched on as he dutifully began forcibly eating the food. "Aren't you going to eat anything?"

"We were going to have dinner downstairs." Kate answered.

"Just like family dinners when I was a kid." Tony sighed as he began to play with his food. "Nobody ate together."

"We can eat together." Abby said as they went down to grab their plates of food.

Occasionally he ate a forkful of food as he waited to be rejoined by the others. He tried to hide the fact that he was grateful when they showed up. Abby and Kate sat at the foot of the bed.

"Is this better Tony?" Abby asked.

"Much." He answered.

Kate adjusted her seating on the bed which made the whole mattress move. "This is going to sound awful Kate… But can you leave us alone for a couple?" Tony asked.

Kate stared at him until he saw the pleading look in his eyes. "I'll just go down and make sure everything's turned off."

"Are you alright?" Abby asked.

"Bucket." Tony managed to get out after handing his plate to Abby.

Without saying anything she handed him in the bucket and turned away as he expelled what he just ate into it. Abby removed the bucket and put it out of the way. "You don't like the food?" She asked.

Tony smiled as he took a large mouthful of water. "Is it true what Kate said?" He asked after making sure Kate wasn't about to come in.

"Totally." Abby said handing him the plate of food back.

"I've totally screwed up haven't I?" Tony asked almost in a childlike tone. "I've totally messed things up."

"Well Gibbs was totally pissed about this morning." Abby said.

"That's why he's not here now?" Tony asked.

"Gibbs had somewhere to go today." Abby said.

Tony closed his eyes for a bit. "I was always told to tough everything out you know. Told to get over it and all that, I've never had anyone take care of me when I was sick." Tony said quietly. "I don't know what to do."

"You want my advice?" Abby asked. Tony nodded affirmatively. "Let Gibbs look after you. Let him take care of you."

"It can't be that simple Abbs." Tony shook his head.

"It can be." Abby replied.

They eventually finished their dinner and Tony drifted off to sleep. He knew it was still early and he mulled over Abby's words as well as Kate's. There was a lot to think about for sure.

"He's asleep now." Abby said to Kate. "He looked pretty tired out."

"I think I said something wrong before." Kate replied as she sat down with coffee. "I was only joking… I told him that Gibbs was very disappointed."

Abby's eyes widened, "You told him what?!"

Kate just looked at her before repeating it, "I said Gibbs was disappointed… Only after he asked if he was. It was meant to be a joke."

"No wonder why he was in such a rush to get out of here." Abby said as she drunk her extra sugared cup of coffee. "He really tries to live up to Gibbs."

"Oh come on." Kate said, "Tony doesn't care what anyone thinks about him."

"Usually that's true but ever since he came to NCIS he's like been trying to measure up to Gibbs." Abby replied, "The only thing that Tony seems to fear is disappointing him."

Kate shook her head. No wonder why Tony acted the way he did. Heck, if he was so afraid of disappointing Gibbs then why was he so unprofessional all the time. She always thought she'd die before she'd ever truly understand Tony DiNozzo.

Tony heard the door open slightly. "You awake?" Gibbs voice spoke softly as to not wake him if he was sleeping.

"Boss?" Tony asked sitting up. "About this morning…"

"Don't worry about that DiNozzo." Gibbs replied, "How you feeling?"

There was so many ways of saying I'm fine. "I think I'm feeling a bit better." Tony didn't even convince himself.

"Yeah right… You look like shit." Gibbs had a way of getting straight to the point and not sugar coating anything.

There was something that Tony wanted to say but quickly withdrew any further comment. There was something about Gibbs' expression, it looked solemn and depressing.

"You ok?" Tony asked.

"Can I get you anything?" Gibbs ignored the question.

Let Gibbs take care of you. He heard Abby's voice resonate through his mind and wondered if this was truly a good time to start doing that since he definitely had something weighing him down. Plus there was a possibility that Gibbs was only being polite and really didn't care if he wanted anything. Tony thought also that it was a possibility that he'd pissed Gibbs off too much to dare asking for anything.

"The bucket needs cleaning and I'm almost out of water again." Tony said very, very tentatively. Was that right?

"Sure thing DiNozzo." Gibbs said.