Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.

WOW. I am in shock at the response to the last chapter. You guys blew me away, seriously. Thank you so much! Due to the overwhelming response, I am just itching to keep writing. Here's the next chapter for you, like I said! Enjoy it and more to come very soon =)

After stopping to pick up Earl Grey tea, Tony and Abby pulled into Gibbs' already full driveway. They went in and found Ducky, Ziva, and McGee eating dinner at the kitchen table.

"Good afternoon, Abby, Anthony."

"Hi Ducky." Tony dumped a shopping bag on the counter. "What's for dinner?"

There was a casserole dish sitting on the counter and Tony sniffed it. He pulled away, repulsed by the smell.

"It's actually quite good, Tony." McGee said.

"I'll pass, thanks."

Tony left the steaming dish and, turning the chair backwards, sat at the table while Abby served herself and then joined them.

"Where's Gibbs?" she asked, taking a big bite.

"He is sleeping."

"How's he feeling?"

"His fever finally broke." McGee said, reaching for his glass. "Temperature's not normal, but it's much better than it was."

"That's good."

"Yes," Ziva agreed. "We managed to get some juice into him and then he fell asleep again."

"How was work?" McGee asked, looking at Tony.

"Tony didn't do much work." Abby said. "He fell asleep."

Ziva turned to him with a look of disbelief. Tony glared at Abby.

"Thanks a lot, Abbs. I was hoping to keep that quiet."

"Just like you want to keep quiet the fact that you don't feel well?"

If Tony's previous glare had only wounded poor Abby, his second look would have killed her twice over. Ducky turned his attention to Tony.

"What seems to be the matter, Anthony?"

"Nothing, Duck. I'm just tired. I tried to tell Abby that it was just because we were up last night but she didn't seem to believe me."

"Because you slept all afternoon!" Abby exclaimed. "And your face was flushed."

Ducky studied the agent carefully.

"It still is." Ducky confirmed. "Come with me into the living room, Tony."

"Duck, I - "

"That wasn't a request, Anthony."

Abby, McGee, and Ziva exchanged looks as Tony sighed and followed Dr. Mallard into the living room.

"Sit." Ducky motioned to the couch and Tony sank onto it much like Gibbs had done that morning. Ducky pulled yet another thermometer from yet another bag and inserted it in Tony's mouth. While waiting for the mercury to settle, he felt Tony's lymph-nodes and shone a light in his eyes. Tony looked expectantly at Ducky as the device was removed from his mouth. Ducky held it up to the light and sighed.

"I am afraid, Tony, that you are running a fever."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

"I am a bit more concerned with your apparent case than with Jethro's on account of your medical history. I will have Abby run a diagnostic test but if it is a positive diagnosis, I would like you to see Dr. Pitt."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Yes." Ducky's voice was firm. "Chicken pox is not something to be taken lightly in adults and given the state of your lungs, it poses an extra complication."

"But I thought I couldn't catch the chicken pox. I've had them already."

Ducky sighed.

"Normally, once you've been infected, you develop an immunity but because of your lungs - "

"I have a higher susceptibility to diseases. I know."

Tony sighed.

"Abby, could you come in here, please?" Ducky called and Abby, followed by Ziva and Tim, came into the living room.

"Would you be willing to go back to NCIS and run a diagnostic test? I would like to take a blood sample from Anthony."

"Of course." Abby said.

"I'll drive you." McGee offered. "I have to check a few things on my computer."

"Excellent." Ducky said. While the other three cleaned up from dinner, Ducky got a vial of blood from Tony.

"Here you are, my dear." Ducky handed the vial to Abby as she and McGee were putting their coats on. She pocketed the sample and she and McGee left, shivering in the cold autumn evening breeze. Inside, Ziva turned to Tony.

"You should go to bed."

"Bed? This is Gibbs' house, Ziva. Not mine."

"Gibbs has a spare room. I am sure he would not mind if you used it."

"We tried that once, Ziva. It didn't end well."

Ziva turned to Ducky.

"Please tell him to go to bed."

"Anthony, Ziva is quite correct. I am positive if Jethro knew the situation, he would not mind you using the spare bed. And you need to be resting."

Grumbling, Tony gathered up his duffel bag and trudged upstairs. Halfway up, he turned around and looked at Ziva.

"What, not going to come and tuck me in?"

There was an air of sarcasm in his voice that Ziva didn't catch.

"I'll be up in a few minutes to help you get settled."

Tony continued to grumble as he climbed the stairs.

Many of you guessed right … Tony is coming down with the pox, too. Like I said above, more will be coming very soon but because it is Sunday night, Monday morning inevitably follows. Monday means another week of work and class, which cuts into my writing time. BUT. I am so excited about this I will do my absolute best to update soon (my goal is tomorrow). Reviews are always appreciated!

PS – I got the clue wrong in the last chapter (which I will go and fix right now) … it's supposed to be "a 5 letter Yiddish word for bedbug". Despite my mix-ups, many people got it right. The answer is vontz.