Author's Note:

Thank you for all the reviewers, favorites and followers of this story…

I am loving writing this story…..

Here's the next chapter… Enjoy!

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Gibbs hated this. He did not get sick… usually. Worse still was the fact that he couldn't understand what exactly was going on. He took a deep breath, noting the pressure of Tony's hand on his.

He was the one who took care of the team not the other way around. But today it was the other way around. Tony was taking care of him and it felt … alright. Hell it felt better then alright.

Not wanting to analyse these feelings further, Gibbs focused on lying still as the ambulance made its way to the hospital.

It was then that he realized that he could not hear the sirens. He blinked and looked up at Tony and the EMT. Their lips were moving but he couldn't hear anything.

Damnit, what's wrong with me!

Arriving at the ER, it was pure agony as he was moved from the ambulance into the hospital. The rapid movement of lights overhead and people all around was extremely uncomfortable. The nausea returned with a vengeance and so did his hearing. And hell it caused his head to expand in pulsing waves of pain. He pulled his hands upto the sides of his head, trying to block out the myriad of sounds around him.

"Boss, you're going to be okay. Just hand in there." Tony said, close to his head as he squeezed Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs couldn't respond. He heard Tony being asked to wait outside and Tony stated loudly, "Boss, I'm right outside if you need me. Now don't give these nurses too much trouble, okay."

Then the door closed and the noise around him seemed to subside in volume too.

Lowering his hands he heard the EMT say, "Agent Gibbs, we're going to move you the bed now."

Gibbs felt himself being lifted up.

Hell!

A hollow shiver whirled in his stomach and as he felt the bed at his back again, bile raced up to his throat. He turned to his side and by some miracle found a hand holding a steel bowl to his mouth. When he was done vomiting, the nurse removed the steel bowl, while another helped him out of his jacket before helping him roll back onto his back.

He heard the two EMT giving the nurses a rundown of his symptoms.

"… suffering from acute head pain, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Head injury as a result of collapsing."

"Also complained about his knee. It was grazed in the fall, but I suspect the extensive pain could be due to a previous injury."

"He was found exposed to the elements for anything from 15 to 50 minutes."

"Temp's 102.2, BP's 153 over 95. Movement triggers acute BP elevation, pain and vomiting."

"We started a saline IV to get fluids up but no meds."

"Thanks boys. We'll take it from here." A nurse said. Next Gibbs felt a hand tapping his cheek gently.

"Agent Gibbs, we're going to take good care of you." She continued. "How long have you been feeling ill with all these symptoms."

"Few… days."

"Did you take any medication during this time?"

"Aspirin…"

"Anything else?"

"No…"

"You have a high fever, Agent Gibbs. Have you had fever earlier in the week?"

"No..."

The door to the room opened again and the nurse said, "Dr Smith, this is Agent Gibbs." And she shared all the data the EMT's and Gibbs had shared with her.

Gibbs was shivering now as he lay on the bed. His head was so sore and his ear was starting to feel blocked again. The doctor started speaking to him and Gibbs growled, "Can't hear you."

Gibbs watched a quick exchange of words between the doctor and nurse. Then the nurse handed over an instrument to the doctor and the doctor moved to Gibbs' side. Gibbs felt the doctor's cold fingers on his earlobe.

"Argh…." Gibbs groaned as the doctor pressed the instrument into his ear and the pain and pressure in his ear and head built to breaking point.

Damnit!

Am I losing my hearing!