Apologies for the delay in chapters folks! Work seems to have managed to swallow me up. As always, thank you to my reviewers, particularly those that have stuck with me, as well as the lurkers!

Hours

Tony had given up trying to count the hours. It was useless, he figured. All he knew was that his arms ached, his head pounded and that, regardless of the time, his job was far from finished.

It was obviously late; the television had switched to trying to sell him a variety of useless gadgets and gizmos, and even outside had fallen silent. He lay spread out on the bed in a pair of jogging pants and a loose tee, hair tousled and dark circles under his eyes beginning to appear. Yet, despite his headache and the knowledge that work was probably only several hours away, Tony couldn't sleep. He was awake, with reason, and that reason had him far too worried to even contemplating closing his eyes.

On his chest lay his son, dressed in only a tiny pair of briefs, eyebrows furrowed, sweat glistening on his forehead, sleeping fitfully. Ziva had taken him to the doctor the day before, and she'd been told to dose him child's Tylenol and watch him. Just over twenty-four hours later, he was lying in an ER ward, with a severe chest infection, a drip in his tiny arm and a breathing tube at his nose; it was terrifying just how quickly it had turned.

" Y'know, kiddo, I thought we were going to at least make it to two without having to take you to the ER. Just three weeks off...Your mother and I had a bet, you know. I owe her..."

He flinched slightly, sighing as he remember just what he'd bet with his lovely wife, and that, at 38 weeks pregnant, it would probably be wise to argue that bet if she remembered. If. If was good. He jumped slightly as the small boy wriggled, moaning softly before coughing.

" D-Daddy?"

The word tugged at his heart; he'd said it so weakly, so un-Tony like. Tony shifted him gently, brushing the matted hair off of his face.

" Right here, son."

The little boy sniffled again, before bursting into weak sobs, clinging at his father's shirt, one hand attempting to tug the IV from his arm..

" No like it, Daddy... no like..."

Tony gently pried his hand off of the line, taking it in his, and soothed him.

" I know, little man, I know. But it's got to stay. It's to make you feel better. C'mon, you're being such a brave boy..."

He leant down and kissed his son's forehead, watching as he calmed. He coughed again, a horrific, painful sound that Tony would have given anything to never hear coming from his child again, a sound that dragged him straight back to the blue lights and glass walls from his own time in hospital, and the sick fear that it gave him. Of course, his son was nowhere near that bad, but his imagination liked to egg him on to worry; Tony would be next, like that, under those lights, bloodied and blue. He instinctively tightened his hold on the little boy, pushing the thoughts out of his mind. This was different. This was just a little cold. This was-

" Mr DiNozzo?"

Tony blinked, brought back into the present by the nurse's voice.

" Sorry, I just need to take Tony's temperature and blood pressure..."

" No, no, it's fine..." He glanced quickly at the name badge, " Leanne."

He lifted his son of his chest to sit him at the edge of the bed, with instant effect. Tony wailed miserably, somewhat lucid, sobbing hopelessly for his father as Leanne went about her checks, despite Tony assuring him that he was still there, gnawing at his own lip. Once she pulled away, he was back in his father's arms, before she could even say 'finished', Tony murmuring to him, rubbing soft circles in his back. She waited until the boy stopped sobbing, nuzzling into his father and returning to snuffles and shallow breaths.

" His temperature's actually fallen by a quarter degree, Mr DiNozzo. The antibiotics have obviously kicked in. He's not clear yet, but it's a positive sign. We'll check again in half an hour."

Tony felt himself release a breath he didn't know he'd even been holding, nodding softly.

" Thank-you..."

She left with a soft smile, closing the door behind her, leaving Tony once more in the dim room. He ran a hand through his son's sweat-soaked hair, laying back with a sigh.

" Looks like it's just you and me, kiddo..."

The hours seemed to drag on.