Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.

Hello again, everyone! You truly amaze me, my loyal readers. So many reads and reviews … the story has blossomed into something great because of you! I had several different reviews about Dr. Ryan from the last chapter … don't fear, all those Dr. Ryan–dislikers, she will not be around much more. Just Gibbs and his team =) Enjoy!

Abby and McGee returned a few hours later. Outside, the rain was pelting against the windows and the wind was howling. Ziva and Ducky met the sopping pair in the front hall as they peeled off dripping coats. Ducky waited patiently until they were sitting in the living room, drinking a warm cup of tea to ease away the chill (Earl Grey, for the record), before asking Abby the results of the blood test.

"Positive. Completely, one-hundred percent, positive."

Ducky sighed.

"I was afraid that would be the case. I will call Dr. Pitt first thing in the morning. In the meantime, I will go check on our patients before heading home."

"Oh, me too!" Abby exclaimed, her outburst causing McGee to burn his tongue on the hot drink. "I want to see them."

Ducky led the way up the stairs and went first into Gibbs' room. Gibbs was still sleeping, partly out of medication, partly out of pure exhaustion, and partly because of another raging fever. Ducky frowned slightly as he felt Gibbs' forehead. It was still quite warm, despite the strength of the drugs at work in his system. Without waking Gibbs up, there was not much Ducky could do besides position a compress on his brow before he and Abby went to Tony's room.

Tony, too, was sleeping but his rest was not deep like Gibbs'. The moment the light from the hallway shone through the door, he was awake. He lifted his head, squinting to see who the intruder was.

"Hello, Anthony." Ducky's calm voice made Tony's head fall back onto the pillow.

"Hi, Duck."

"Hey, Tony."

"Hi, Abby."

"How are you feeling?"

Tony reached up and rubbed his eyes.

"I'll live."

Ducky smiled.

"I know you'll live, Anthony, but that is not what I asked."

"I can't get to sleep. I had finally dozed off when you opened the door."

"Sorry." Abby apologized.

Ducky's eyebrows knit together.

"What seems to be bothering you?"

"My head hurts, my back is sore – this soft mattress is not helping – and I'm starting to itch."

"Hmm." Ducky thought out loud. "I will be right back."

He left and returned a moment later with his medical bag, as well as a handful of different pill bottles.

"May I turn on the lamp?" Ducky asked and Tony nodded. In the pale light, Dr. Mallard inserted the thermometer in Tony's mouth and began studying labels, looking for the best one to soothe the various discomforts.

"Is this thing done yet?" Tony muttered around the device. Ducky looked at his watch and nodded.

"Miss Sciuto, would you be so kind?"

He went back to reading a label as Abby removed the device and studied it.

"Well?" Tony asked, studying her as she held it up to the light.

"103.8."

Tony groaned and pulled a pillow over his head.

"Can someone please just shoot me?" his smothered voice asked.

"I am sorry, Anthony." Ducky said stepping over to the bed. "These ought to help with the discomfort and should allow you to sleep."

Tony removed the pillow and sat, picking up the juice Ziva had brought him. He swallowed the pills and set the glass down again.

"What about the itch?"

"Well, there is bathing in oatmeal." Ducky said and Tony pulled up his nose. "But it is very late and you'll fall asleep soon. Our best bet for now is calamine lotion."

Ducky dug through his bag and unearthed a bottle, which he handed to Tony. Tony cautiously sniffed the open bottle and gagged. It smelt awful but Ducky didn't seem to notice.

"I am going to make an appointment with Dr. Pitt first thing." Ducky turned to Abby. "Take care of him tonight."

"Oh, don't worry. He's in very good hands." Abby turned and smiled sweetly at Tony, batting her eyelashes. Tony began to look uncomfortable. Ducky laughed and left the room.

"Do you need some help putting that on, Tony?" Abby asked sweetly.

"Uh, no thanks, Abbs."

"But Tony, what about your back?" Abby teased in a seductive tone of voice.

"It's not itchy."

Abby raised an eyebrow at him, her eyes shining. Of course, Tony's back began to burn as soon as the words had left his mouth and he bit the inside of his cheek so hard that it began to bleed. Finally, he gave in and reached behind his shoulder and scratched as hard as he could. When he lowered his arm, Abby was still watching him, one eyebrow arched high above the other.

"Fine." Tony grumbled. He handed her the bottle and took of his shirt.

"Oh my, Tony." Abby began.

"Abby, if you say one more word." Tony threatened and Abby just smiled sweetly and poured some lotion onto her hands.

After greasing Tony and turning off the light, Abby joined Ziva, Tim, and Ducky downstairs again.

"I thought you were going home." Abby said, leaning against the wall by the archway.

"I was planning to but Jethro is worrying me. I'd like to stay and check on him throughout the night."

"Ducky, you really do not have to. I can get up every hour and make sure he is okay."

"A doctor never abandons a patient."

"It's just as well." McGee said. "There's a series of heavy thunderstorms coming this way. Roads were already beginning to wash out when Abby and I came back from NCIS."

"That settles it then." Ziva said authoritatively. "It is late. Where are we all going to be sleeping?"

"You and Abby can have the pull-out bed." McGee said. "And Ducky can have the arm chair. I'll sleep on the floor."

"Not so fast, Timothy." Ducky said. "I happen to know Jethro has a camp cot in his basement."

"You can have it." McGee said. "Where is it?"

The men set off in search of the cot while Abby and Ziva pulled out the hide-a-bed and made it up with fresh sheets.

"I hope you don't mind that I sleep with lots of blankets." Abby said.

"Why is that?" Ziva asked.

"Well, at home, I sleep in a coffin so it's always nice and cozy. I like to replicate the effect when I'm sleeping in another bed."

Ziva just looked at Abby.

"You truly are one of a kind, Abby."

"Aw, thanks, Ziva."

Ziva smiled at the lab tech.

"I am going to wash up." Ziva picked up her overnight bag and ventured into the bathroom. Ducky and McGee returned bearing the cot and began setting it up on the other side of the living room. Ziva rejoined them and was sitting on the bed, braiding her long hair.

There was a sudden bolt of lightning outside the window and a tremendous clap of thunder right above them before the four found themselves in total darkness.

Oh, cliffy! What do you think is gonna happen? More to come soon …