AN: As always, thanks so much for your comments and support, it always manages to keep me going, even when the chapters are a little tougher like this one was (not as easy to write when Gibbs & Tony are separated since those are the two I have the easiest time writing). Hope you enjoy the latest installment :)

Special Thanks to: WCUGirl, Sparkiebunny, pandi19, LongLashes1, Gloworm41, sarahsrr, Diana teo, NickTonyK, vanishingp2000, Lizzy Loves Pancakes, Stroma, ncismom, carismum, combatcrazy, Space1Traveler, WhiteTree, Gaddkzmp, Jessykuh, BleakRemberance, Tiffany331, Kurama111, julie250, angeleyes46, newgal, Rena-Spatz, godsdaughter77, and Meilea2010

xxxxx

"Boss? Where are you, boss?" Tony murmured fretfully. He had been deliriously calling for Gibbs for the last half hour and Luke was starting to lose his composure. There was now no doubt in his mind that this guy was nuts and that Gibbs really was a teddy bear. No way would someone be that attached to their real boss. It just wasn't natural. He went into the kitchen and frantically started going through the bags that DiNozzo Sr. had brought back from the store earlier. "Damn him!" Not one drop of liquor could he find. He was going to go out of his mind if he had to listen to DiNozzo much longer without anything to drink.

"Why'd you leave me? Not feeling good, boss. Really hot." Thrashing about in the clutches of the fever, Tony threw off the blankets that were covering him.

God...where the hell is his father? Tony's voice was audible even in the kitchen. There was no getting away from it. Luke knew he just needed to keep thinking about the money. 'Just think like a doctor, Luke. You can do it.' He went into the cabinet and found a bowl which he filled with cold water and found a clean dishcloth as well. He returned to the bedroom with the items and began to bathe Tony's face, which was soaked with perspiration. "I don't know what he was thinking, taking you out of the hospital like that," he said softly.

"Boss? Boss is that you?"

"No, it's not your boss. He wanted me to tell you he went on a very special mission, but that he's going to be back as soon as he can and you can go on new adventures together." He couldn't believe he was talking like this. "I don't know why your dad didn't just buy you a new bear. It couldn't have been that hard to find one."

"Can't breathe," Tony said. It was becoming more difficult to draw air into his lungs. "Hel...help me, boss."

Mercifully, at that moment, Luke heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. He trotted out to the entranceway where he saw DiNozzo Sr. carrying the oxygen concentrator. "About time you got here," he said, taking the concentrator out of the other man's hands.

"What are you talking about?" DiNozzo Sr. asked. "I wasn't gone that long."

"Long enough," Luke retorted, as he headed back into the bedroom. "I still don't understand why you took him out of the hospital."

"I told you why," DiNozzo Sr. stated, following on Luke's heels.

"Yeah, you gave me some lame ass excuse about how people wouldn't understand him. They're medical personnel. They're trained to work with patients who have mental disabilities. If he was my son..."

He's not your son," DiNozzo Sr. snapped. "He's my son and I know what's best for him."

Luke just shook his head and continued to work on getting the oxygen concentrator set up. Some people just weren't meant to have children. He adjusted the settings and inserted the nasal cannula into Tony's nostrils. He knew this wouldn't be as effective as an oxygen mask, but it was the best he was able to do for him under the circumstances. He watched closely as Tony's breathing became less labored and he appeared to fall asleep. "I need some air. I'm taking a walk." His tone indicated that he was telling, not asking. "I won't be far. Just yell if he needs me." He paused as he reached the bedroom door and glanced back at DiNozzo Sr. "Another thing...if you don't get my cell phone back to me by the time this is all over, you're giving me the money for a new one. That thing wasn't cheap." He then headed out, leaving DiNozzo Sr. alone with his son.

xxxxx

Tim and Ziva re-entered he bullpen area together. They stopped short when they saw Gibbs dozing at his desk, the frozen picture from the hospital surveillance still up on the screen.

"He is exhausted," Ziva whispered, her eyes focused on Tony's image. "He should not be here. He should be home in bed."

"Yeah? You going to tell him that?" Tim whispered back. "You saw the video surveillance, how protective he was of Tony. There's no way he's going home to bed."

"If the two of you are done whispering about me, maybe you can tell me what you've got." Gibbs opened his eyes and glared at his two agents.

"Nothing of much usefulness, I'm afraid, boss," Tim admitted. "I got Luke O'Connell's cell number, but so far can't get a location on it. Same for Tony's dad's phone. Still nothing."

"I was unable to get anywhere either," Ziva stated.

Gibbs sighed and brushed his hand back through his hair in frustration. This wasn't good at all. They could be anywhere. "Okay...let's get this to the media. Both of you start making calls. I think it's our best chance of finding someone who may have spotted them." He didn't think Tony would be very happy about this being made public, but his life was more important than anything else. At this point, there really wasn't any choice. Time was running out and so were their options.

xxxxx

DiNozzo Sr. watched as Luke high-tailed it out of the room and he quietly took a seat by his son's bedside. He thought about how relaxed Gibbs was with Tony. He had never really taken care of his son before. When Tony's mother was still alive, she had always tended to the boy when he was sick. Then, after she died, the boy's care had been left to the household staff. Maybe if he had been more a part of things, he wouldn't be so ill at ease now. He knew Gibbs had constantly talked to Tony, comforted him...now that it was his turn, he really didn't even know what to say. He felt more than a little bit uncomfortable so he just say there, silently, watching the rise and fall of Tony's chest and listening to his uneven, raspy breathing. He was still sitting like that when Luke came back in about 20 minutes later.

"How's he doing? Any change?" Luke asked as he walked over to Tony's side.

"No...no change," DiNozzo Sr. replied.

Luke noticed the cloth he had been using to cool down Tony's face was draped over the side of the bowl of water. Hadn't this guy done anything at all to help his kid? He dipped the cloth back into the bowl, wrung out the excess water, then placed it over Tony's forehead. "You're going to be okay," he said as Tony murmured something unintelligible. Luke glanced over at DiNozzo Sr. who was expressionless and hadn't moved a muscle. He rolled his eyes, realizing that he was not going to be of any usefulness.

"So...why didn't you get him another bear?" he asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What?" DiNozzo Sr. asked, giving Luke a confused look. "What are you talking about?"

"You said he lost his bear when he was a kid and then Gibbs turned into his imaginary friend. "I was just wondering why you didn't just get him a new bear."

"Because he was too damn old to be carrying around a bear," DiNozzo Sr. snapped. He didn't want to talk about that. It brought back memories of another time he would rather not think about. Anthony had been eight years old and had started carrying around a stuffed dog. He had named it Willie or some such absurd name and it had been with the boy constantly. One day, he had dragged it along with him to the golf course. He had been beyond embarrassed watching his son lugging that straggly stuffed animal around with him, in front of all his friends and colleagues. He had been much too old for such nonsense. Very late that night, he had crept into Tony's room and had taken the dog out of the sleeping child's arms, making sure it had gone off with the garbage men early the following morning. Tony had been inconsolable and had received more than one beating because of it. Thinking back, DiNozzo Sr. realized he might not have handled the situation particularly well. It had been after his wife's death though and he had been doing a lot more drinking than thinking. He had never really thought about it before, but Anthony had become attached to the toy right after the death of his mother. It had likely provided some sort of security for the boy. Even so, he had still been too old to be carrying on like that over a stuffed dog. It was ridiculous. He had needed to develop a backbone and act like a man. Tears were not the DiNozzo way.

Luke couldn't read the expression on DiNozzo Sr.'s face and figured it was best to just let the subject drop. Deciding it was time he gave his patient a thorough examination, he went into the kitchen and retrieved the medical supplies DiNozzo Sr. had bought earlier. Although the man seemed clueless in many ways regarding his son, at least he was willing too pay whatever was necessary for his care.

"His blood pressure is pretty low," Luke stated as he removed the cuff from Tony's arm. He glanced over at DiNozzo Sr. who was just sitting there dispassionately. "Did you hear me?"

"I heard you."

"I think we should bring him back to the hospital." Luke put the tip of the aural thermometer into Tony's ear and seconds later it beeped, giving the reading of 104. "His temperature is 104," Luke stated, his concern mounting.

"No."

"NO?" Luke gave DiNozzo Sr. an incredulous look. "What do you mean no?"

"I mean no. You're a doctor. You'll take care of him. He'll be fine."

Luke shook his head. "No...no he won't be fine. He's getting worse."

DiNozzo Sr. abruptly got to his feet. He didn't want to think about this right now. "I'm going to make a sandwich. Do you want one too?"

"A sandwich?" Luke was dumbfounded. He was coming to the realization that something was seriously off with this guy. "Your son could die and you're making a sandwich? Are you kidding me?"

DiNozzo Sr. stared back at Luke, his anger starting to grow. "No I am not kidding you. You will keep your commentary to yourself or you can walk out of here right now."

Luke was starting to think that might not be such a bad idea, but they were in an isolated spot, miles from anyone else. Tony could easily be dead before help arrived. "I'll stay," he muttered, turning his attention back to Tony. DiNozzo Sr. grunted in satisfaction and headed off to the kitchen. Something about the sea air always gave him quite a hearty appetite.

xxxxx

Lydia Humphrey yawned as she took her eyes away from her computer screen and stretched. She glanced over at the television, which she rarely paid attention to. It was mainly used as a source of background noise while she worked. She was struck by the photo of the smiling man who appeared on the screen and couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. She directed her attention to the news anchor's voice and the story of how the man had been abducted and taken from a hospital with a life-threatening illness. Her eyes widened in shocked recognition as the next images flashed on the screen, the photos of two men. One of the pictures meant absolutely nothing to her, but the other one she recognized immediately as Mr. Donaldson, the gentleman she had rented the beachfront property to. Shakily, she reached for the phone and began to dial the number she saw on the screen.

xxxxx

"Gibbs...boss, where are you?" Tony whispered hoarsely. He had just been unbearably hot, but now he was shivering again. "Boss, help me." He could hear an unfamiliar voice talking to him in soothing tones, but he wanted Gibbs. He needed him. He couldn't understand why he had left him...

This was the thanks he got for taking him out of the hospital? All the trouble he had gone to...renting this beautiful home, paying through the nose for a doctor, and all he did was ask for Gibbs. "Can't you find some way to shut him the hell up?!" DiNozzo Sr. shouted. Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs...he was so sick of hearing his son calling for him. Insolent pup...he was always being disrespectful…after all he had done for him. How dare he act like this? He clenched his fists, trying to control his fast-building fury.

"No I can't shut him up. Can't you see how sick he is?" Luke's nerves were wearing thin. He realized he needed to get Tony away from his father fast. He just needed to figure out how to do it.

"Shut him up...shut him up...Do it, or I'll do it for you!"

"What?" Okay, this guy was clearly off his rocker. Luke suddenly had an unsettling thought. "Hey, is he really even your son?"

"What the hell are you talking about? How dare you even imply that he is not my son. No one will take him away from me. No one will ever take him. He is mine!"

Tony heard the sound of his father's angry voice and it only served to increase his distress, bringing back memories which he had tried to keep buried. "Keep him away from me. Boss, help me please...I need you..." Suddenly, he felt a sharp, stabbing pain into his chest and he gasped, trying desperately to draw a breath. "Boss..."

DiNozzo Sr, had finally reached the end of his rope. Consumed with rage, he threw Luke aside as easily as a rag doll and wrapped his hands around Tony's neck. "I am your father! Not Gibbs! I AM YOUR FATHER!"

"NCIS! Get the hell away from him!"

AN2: Yeah, I know. I totally sent Sr. to the dark side - just couldn't seem to help myself ;)