"That doesn't sound very good." Brad said as he walked in two cups of coffee in his hand. He set them both down and went to stand on the opposite side of Tony and together He and Gibbs supported him through an intense coughing fit.

Once he was done he sagged in their hands spent.

"Keep him in the position until he catches his breath." Brad ordered Gibbs. Once Tony was breathing normally they carefully lowered him onto the pillows.

"I'm going to have a nurse bring more pillows to get him sitting up a little more." Brad said with a worried glance at Tony. "Was he like this all night?"

Gibbs looked at his now sleeping agent. "Only a couple times." He answered.

"Let me catch up with the night doctor and see what she observed." Brad said picking back up the coffee's. He handed one to Gibbs.

"As soon as I'm updated I'll let you know."

Gibbs nodded, once again sitting in the chair and resuming his watch.

He waited in silence for another twenty minutes until Brad came in.

"The vent dried out his throat a little. The coughing starts there and once it starts the lungs flutter. We need to keep a really close eye and make sure he takes a few drinks to wet it down every half hour or so. When he wakes up I want him to try getting some broth in him. I'll have someone bring some up."

Gibbs nodded and settled back. Now that he knew the problem he could relax a bit.

"Tony can move out of ICU later today then more of the team will be able to see him. He will most likely be allowed to leave Monday morning." Brad looked over the sleeping agent. "Bit let's not tell him that shall we?"

Gibbs smiled and nodded a mischievous glint in his eye.

"I don't want him to be alone at his house for a couple days after that." Brad said as he looked over the charts he had carried in. "I hope you and your team will be able to work that out." After Gibbs nodded he continued.

"He's going to have to be on oxygen for a couple days. And he won't be able to sleep lying down flat for a while. Just pile pillows under him and check on him through the night every two hours. Once he gets to the apartment I also don't want him to leave for a while. I don't even want to think of the havoc the cold air outside will play on his lungs. I will stop in once a day to check on his progress."

Gibbs nodded, understanding the precautions.

"He might be cleared for limited desk duty in two weeks, depending on his health. But if he is I want you to keep a close eye on him. Any signs of stress and I want him sent home and forced to rest." Brad said.

Brad made a note and checked a few of the vitals.

"His O2 is a little lower than I want it but there isn't any fever and his lungs are sounding clear." Brad said relief heavy in his voice.

Brad walked out again carrying the growing stack of Tony's file.

(---------------------------------------------)

The two nurses looked at the handsome doctor as he came out of his patients room. He was a mystery. He had marched in not to long after the patient saying he had a complicated history and Pitt, the doctor was his specialist. He had stayed in the hospital until recently leaving only after his patient was well on the path to mending.

"How is he Doctor?" they asked in quiet voices.

"Improving." He answered with a slight smile at the two of them.

One nurse nudged the other with a look of impatience. She shook her head and received a harder nudge.

With an annoyed look she sighed.

"What's the story Doc?"

"Story?"

"Ya behind the patient? I heard it was something he was born with and you've been his doctor for forever."

"Nothing like that." Brad said not sure whether to be offended. "I'm the same age he is. He doesn't look younger does he?"

"No but you now how it is rumors are flying."

"Remember anything I tell you is medical information I am giving to you only because as a part of his care team you need the information to take care of him." His voice was stern.

"Of course doctor." the nurses both nodded as one spoke.

"A couple years ago I was Tony's doctor at Bethesda when he was infected with a genetically altered strain of Y-Pestis."

One of the nurses looked confused while the other paled.

"What?"

"Remember that paper I wrote a couple days ago?" the pale nurse asked.

"Ya for history. The effect of the black death on the world at the time of the plague. It was cal….."

"He had the plague? And survived?" The pale nurse asked thinking back to the effect she had researched.

"Barely." Brad answered in a quiet voice.

Both nurses looked through the clear glass to the pale man that slept on the bed with respect in their eyes.

"But that is strictly medical information."

Both nurses nodded seriously. They would not mention it to anyone to force the strong agent to relive his ordeal. "So." the nurse said her ovice going into medical mode. "The lung collapse and prior weakening was due to the bout with the plague?"

"Yes. His lungs are a worry. Because of his job we need to work to build lung strength and help him along with medication."

The nurses nodded.

"I can show him some of the breathing exercises I know from the asthma patients." One nurse volunteered.

"Thanks." Brad said. "We're moving him out of ICU today. For now can the two of you help him sit up. I want a couple more pillows under him. He shouldn't be anywhere close to flat."

"Yes doctor." both nurse stood and walked away to find more pillows. Brad sat behind the desk and watched as the two of them returned a couple pillows in tow. The carefully and respectfully helped Tony sit so they could place more pillows behind him. Once done they lowered him back and assured of his comfort before nodding at Gibbs and leaving quietly.