Gibbs walked in to find Tony sitting on the edge of the bed his legs dangling over as he looked with thinly veiled disgust at the hospital breakfast. He surprised his agent by dropping a duffle bag onto the bed.
"What's that Boss?" Tony asked eyeing the bag and trying to be discreet about sliding the food away.
"Clothes DiNozzo. It's time for you to go home." Abby, who had Tony watch while Gibbs had been gone, smiled and jumped up.
"Really?" DiNozzo's eyes lit up with a smile.
"Really."
"Under a few conditions." Brad said entering the room with a stack of paper work.
"Anything to be out." Tony answered.
"You keep taking your meds."
"Done." DiNozzo said.
"You eat three healthy meals a day." He had up a finger when DiNozzo opened his mouth to agree. "Let me finish. The oxygen stays in your nose for two days then you can have it only when you sleeping. I get to come in once a day to check up." DiNozzo didn't look as glad about that part. "You Don't leave the apartment once you get there until I give you permission. The air outside is to cold to be repeatedly exposing you lungs to it." Tony reluctantly nodded. "And at least one of your teammates is with you twenty four seven for at least a week."
"I'm fine." DiNozzo said defensively. The force that he said it with caused a coughing fit. Abby and Gibbs both reached out a hand to support him on either side until he had once again regained his breath.
"Right." Brad said.
"We've got a schedule all worked out." Abby declared in a happy voice.
"I don't need anyone. I'm fine." Tony said his voice annoyed. The annoyance clashed with the weakness.
"Tony." Brad said in his best doctors voice.
"Yes."
"Either you have someone there or you stay in the hospital. You choose."
Tony looked decidedly unhappy.
"Fine." He agreed.
"Now get changed while I sign you out." Gibbs ordered.
He motioned for Abby and Brad to leave to give Tony privacy.
With one final glance to his young agent as he struggled to stand he quietly closed the door.
"How's he doing Doc?" Gibbs asked
"Better. Much better. He's stubborn and it helped him through this." Brad said. "But he needs someone to keep an eye on him. Especially at night. Someone need to check on his every two hours. Make sure he stays sleeping in a semi reclining position and his breathing is easy."
"We'll keep an eye on him."
"Good. He needs rest and someone needs to bully him into eating."
Gibbs nodded.
(-)
Tony was pale and tired by the time he was standing in front of the apartment door. Abby carried his duffel bag and his portable oxygen companion while Gibbs carried the bedside concentrator he would be using until someone could come and deliver an oxygen tank. Tony slowly reached into the pocket of the hoodie he wore and drew out his keys.
Gibbs had brought him a pair of warm NCIS sweats a black tee shirt and a thick warm Hoodie to change into but they had still noticed the shivers he went through in the cold air.
Unlocking the door he walked inside with Abby and Gibbs behind him. He made it to the couch before he fell to the cushions with a sigh.
"That shouldn't have been that tiring." He panted. Abby sat next to him gently sitting the companion on the floor.
"Don't talk Tony. Breath." He reclined into the cushions closing his eyes as he obeyed, taking deep breaths through his nose.
Gibbs had gone into the bed room and come back out with a couple pillows and a blanket.
He laid the pillows on the couch as Abby stood.
"Lay down DiNozzo." Gibbs ordered. Slowly Tony obeyed.
Gibbs covered him with the blanket and nodded.
"Alright Gibbs." Abby said. "I've got it from here. And Ziva will come to replace me at nine. Go to work."
Gibbs nodded reluctantly.
"If you…."
"Gibbs. I have both you and Brad on speed dial. I also know the number to 911." Abby smiled brightly at her joke and continued. "I know the rules and times for medications. Go."
Gibbs eyed the now sleeping DiNozzo and nodded before walking to the door.
Again he opened his mouth but Abby shushed him. He kissed her forehead once and left quietly closing the door.
Once she was alone she looked around at Tony's apartment and decided that it fit him. The furniture was all comfortable and the walls were lined with shelve upon shelve of Tony's impressive DVD collection. She looked at her watch. Tony needed he noon meds in an hour and her list said that he needed food in his stomach before he took them.
The kitchen was stalked with easily cooked foods for the most part. She knew that Tony probably didn't spend much time cooking. She found a package of spaghetti noodles and a can of sauce. She began to heat the sauce and cooked some hamburger to mix in while the noodles boiled. Tony woke up when came into the living room balancing two trays with spaghetti and milk.
"Sit up it's lunch time." She ordered. He obeyed and she handed him one of the trays. She set the other on the coffee table and went to stand in front of the DVD's.
"What do you want to watch?"
"I don't care Abbs." Tony said eyeing the food.
Abby grabbed a DVD at random and put in into the player while Tony managed the TV from the couch using the remote.
Abby sat on the comfortable armchair and tucked her legs under her pulling her tray of food onto her lap.
"Thanks." Tony said as the credits began playing. He picked up his fork and poked at it.
"Try it. I'm a really good cook." Abby said taking a bite herself.
Tony picked a small bite onto the fork and swallowed took a bite into his mouth.
"It's great Abbs." Tony said. He took a few more bites as they both watched the movie. He Didn't eat much and Abby noticed.
"If you don't eat more yourself." She said in a serious firm voice without taking her eyes from the movie. "I'll come over there and make you eat." Her voice was full of threat. Tony took another bite.
