Author's Note:

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

Here's the next chapter… Enjoy!

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When Gibbs awoke, the sun was setting. He glanced around the room and found Abby curled up in the chair next to his bed. At the same moment he realized that everything was dead silent. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe.

It will pass.

It will… pass.

Damnit it better pass soon…

He knew that despite his best efforts, he was starting to panic. Heat and agitation spread across his body. He felt trapped under the blankets, the weight of which suffocated him.

Damnit, it will pass. Calm down, Jethro!

At this rate, I won't have to pretend with the team…

I really won't be able to hear anything.

Damnit, so hot!

He started pushing the blankets away, his breathing becoming shallow. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and kicked the blankets away. Instantly nausea raced up his throat and the side of his head radiated with pain as the room did a flip.

He must have made a sound, because Abby was standing close, leaning forward her arms reaching around him, her lips moving rapidly.

He held her for a second as the room righted itself and then pushed her away. Taking shuddering breaths he watched her, hating the fact that he was gripped in this sense of helpless panic. She stood against the bed, huge tears filling her eyes.

"Go." He barked knowing that he must sound harsh. But he couldn't stand having anyone witness his helplessness.

She didn't move prompting him to look up at her face.

"Abby…" he warned. But she just stood there. Then she lifted her hands and started to sign to him.

"You can't hear me?"

Her simple hand movements jolted him out of his rising ire. He stilled and she signed the same question again.

"You can't hear me? It's okay Gibbs. Just tell me, like this." She gestured with more hand signs.

He moved his eyes up to hers and despite the nausea, despite the pain, despite the heat, he … felt a soothing sense of relief.

A moment later he lifted his hand and took a deep breathe.

"I can't hear anything." he signed.

Abby nodded and signed back, "It's going to be okay. And we can sign to each other until you can hear again."

Gibbs looked at her face again and was so touched by how she bravely blinked her tears away.

"Okay…" Gibbs indicated for her to come closer. When she did, he signed, "Thank you…"

He watched her lips form an "Oh…" as he pulled her into his arms before kissing her forehead, his panic almost completely gone.

Moments later Abby pulled back and pointed to the blankets bunched up at his feet. "Are you feeling hot?" she signed.

"Yeah."

Abby placed her hand on his forehead and he indulged her, "Probably due to the fever you're still running."

"Probably…" he was not going to tell her he had almost gone off the deep end.

"And you're in pain?"

"A bit." Gibbs realized that with signing meant that his responses would have to be clear and direct. No mincing of words, so to speak.

"I'll get the nurse." Abby signed and made to stand up.

"No." Gibbs spoke the word. When Abby frowned at him he signed, "Not yet. I don't want her poking and prodding me again."

Abby smiled, reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. Then she signed back, "Are you okay?"

"I will be." Gibbs signed back. I damn well will be...

"I know it's frightening… not that I mean you are frightened. But I know that I would be if this was happening to me. But I'm so glad we can 'speak' this way. Just imagine how it will drive Tony crazy not knowing what we are 'talking' about." Abby smiled trying to make light of the moment.

Gibbs smirked thinking there may be a bright side to all this crap…

"I'm glad too, that you taught me to sign all those years ago." Gibbs replied. "And that you reminded me about it a few moments ago."

"Ahh, Gibbs."

"Abby, no matter what happens I want you to do something for me."

"Anything Gibbs." Abby said sitting forward staring at him.

"I want you to…" Without warning a piercing pain stabbed through his ears. "Argh!" Gibbs groaned clasping the sides of his head. Nausea returned with a vengeance now.

Abby reached forward and pressed the emergency button on the control next to the bed. Her lips moved rapidly but Gibbs couldn't hear anything. The pain felt like a derailed train screeching around inside his head. he felt hot and cold at the same time and the room was tilting again.

He felt Abby's hands on his shoulders and he let her push him back against the pillows. She drew the bed sheet up over him and signed, "It's going to be okay, Gibbs. The nurse will be here soon. Just take a few deep breathes. It's going to be okay." Tears rolled down her face, unstoppable now.

Gibbs watched her wishing this nightmare would end. He hated being the reason for her fear, for her tears.

He felt worse now as the pain continued to spike … and the world around him remained dead... silent.

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