A/N: A brief word before I jump into the next chapter. School is about to start, and I have no idea if I can finish this fan fiction in time. If I don't complete it before school starts again, just bear with me. I probably won't be able to update as quickly. But if I do, and if you guys encourage me with enough reviews, everyone can have virtual cookies and celebrate at the speediness of this story's completion. Hope you all have a happy time reading and writing fan fiction throughout 2011 and later on in the future. And good luck to the new members out there.

Chapter 19- Weakened

Abby wasn't so sure that it was a good idea to come into work today. Her head pounded something fierce. She had to stop several times to try and clear her head. The room seemed to spin before her eyes if she stood up too quickly. She wearily examined the evidence before her. Some dust, which was great. Easy to scan through. Clothing fibers, splattered with blood. She'd have to find out if it were the victim's blood or not. She picked up the sample of blood, wondering why it was so hot in here. Abby shakily walked over to a chair and sat down. Instantly the dizziness stopped. She sighed in relief, and stood up more carefully this time. No spinning this time. Abby went back to work, more slowly this time. Eventually, Gibbs came in.

"What do you got, Abs?" was his standard greeting.

"Not much," she said, frowning. "I'm doing the best I can here, Gibbs. It's not easy doing this without McGee for the first time in, well, ever," She babbled on a little, hoping her excuse was working. Truthfully, she did need McGee here. But she could also work perfectly fine on her own. Gibbs leaned in suspiciously. She froze. There was no music. He'd know something was up.

"You seem pale, Abs. Are you feeling well?" She nodded vigorously, but not with as much energy as her usual self. "Are you sure?" Another nod.

"I'm scanning the blood sample right now, don't you worry," she called out cheerfully. "The results should be in shortly," He looked at her one more time, reading her expression, and then left the lab. As soon as he was gone, she collapsed into the chair and put her head in her hands. It was burning hot in here now. Why didn't someone turn off the heat for crying out loud? Abby stumbled to the thermostat to check the temperature. It was sixty-two degrees in here. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Why did she feel so hot, then? The room spun about her, and she started to feel a little queasy. Abby leaned against the wall and tried to breathe normally. Abby tried standing up straight again She swayed back and forth dangerously. She struggled to maintain her balance. The door slid open, and she went to go sit down. Kate strode into the lab, looking all business.

"Hey, Abby," she said. "You got anything yet? It's been half an hour already and Gibbs is getting impatient,"

"Already?" she exclaimed, leaping to her feet too quickly. She swayed slightly, and Kate caught her before she could faint onto the floor.

"Are you well?" she asked worriedly.

"Yes, I'm fine," Abby insisted, pushing Kate off her. "I just need some water," She went to her mini fridge and pulled out a water bottle. She immediately opened it and took a few sips. It helped a little, but she still felt incredibly hot.

"Jeez, it's freezing in here," Kate complained, going to the thermostat. "I'm turning it up a little because I'm about to get hypothermia in here,"

"Don't!" Abby said, a little too loudly. Kate turned to look at her. "I mean…couldn't you just get a jacket?" she pleaded. "I like it cold in here,"

"Fine, but you're acting weird today," she muttered, leaving the lab. Abby gulped some more water to calm her nerves as Ziva came in a few minutes later. Didn't they have things to do other than bother her?

"Abs, Gibbs wants that evidence," Ziva reminded her, leaning against the wall.

"I know!" she shouted. "Give me a break, for crying out loud!" The computer beeped, revealing the results of the blood sample. She stormed over to look at the screen. "There!" She pointed at the name of the victim. "Are you happy now?" she fumed, crossing her arms.

"Are you all right? Your face looks flushed," Ziva said, looking concerned.

"I am fine," she insisted. "Everyone's been asking me that today! Just leave me alone!" She stepped toward Abby, not listening. "I'd rather if you didn't…" The dizziness came back, causing her to sink toward the floor. She could Ziva calling for her, but it sounded far away. Everything tilted, and then it all went black.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in Ducky's lab on the autopsy lab. The dead body was removed and put away somewhere. She weakly sat up and saw Ziva standing there with her arms crossed.

"I knew something was up," she said. "Now we just have to wait for Ducky to return with a thermometer…oh here he is,"

"Hello, Abigail. I'll just take your temperature to make sure everything's normal with you," he said in a friendly voice. He stuck the thermometer in her mouth.

"I'm fine," she said in a muffled voice. "Don't worry about me," A few minutes later, Ducky removed the thermometer and frowned at it with worry.

"103 degrees…" he murmured. "That is awfully high. Someone should take you home. I'd offer, but I have something planned with Gibbs tonight after this case is taken care of,"

"Kate and I could watch her, and Tony can take over for Abby," Ziva offered, knowing Kate already had a lot to do even without taking over Abby's job.

"Better tell Gibbs, I bet he expects Kate to substitute for Abby," he whispered. She nodded, and took off. Ducky looked back over at Abby, who was starting to turn an unpleasant green shade.

"Mr. Palmer, I think we'll need a bucket in just a moment," he called. A second later, Palmer came out holding a bucket and thrust it at Ducky, who then held it under Abby's chin.

"Just take it," he pleaded. "I don't work well around vomit," He dashed into the other room just as Abby was violently sick into the bucket.

"I didn't think you were the squeamish type, Mr. Palmer," he shouted after his assistant. Ducky worriedly watched Abby, who was starting to fall asleep. She looked completely out of it. Ziva came back, followed by Gibbs. He walked over to the autopsy table and examined Abby.

"Yes, both you and Kate can watch her," he said quietly, brushing back Abby's hair. Some of it stayed plastered to her sweaty forehead. "She doesn't look so good…" Abby opened her eyes.

"C-Can you take me h-home?" she stuttered, shivering with cold now. "I-I'm freezing, Z-Ziva," She sat up and shuddered. The woman nodded and helped her up. Abby swayed a little upon standing, so she had to lean on Ziva for support. They went into the elevator together and managed to find Kate at her desk some minutes later.

"Kate, we're on Abby watch," she called. Tony and McGee stared.

"Abby's sick?" Tony asked in alarm.

"I don't like the color she's turning…" McGee said, his voice laced with worry. Kate hopped to her feet and helped Abby back toward the elevator. Abby hung back, going limp in her arms.

"What is it?" Kate asked. She twisted away from her and ran to throw up into a nearby trashcan. Abby wiped her mouth and coughed weakly.

"Let's just go," she muttered. She stumbled into the wall in an attempt to get to the elevator. Ziva steered her in the right direction, feeling sorry for the poor gothic scientist. She fell asleep in the elevator, so Kate had to carry her out to the car.

"Can you get the door?" she grunted. "She's really heavy," Ziva opened the door and got in the driver's seat. Kate climbed in the back and laid Abby down on the seat next to her.

"Unngh…" Abby mumbled, pushing Kate away slightly. The ride to Abby's apartment was uneventful. They chose her place because it was the closest. Kate and Ziva both lived almost twenty minutes away, and Ziva doubted that would be convenient in case her illness got serious. Finally they made it to Abby's apartment and managed to carry her to the couch without any incidents. Kate settled into an armchair for a nap. It was going to be a long night.