Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.

Hey everyone … sorry it's been so long for an update. It has been a long week, to say the least. I'm struggling a bit to figure out how I want to end this but in the meantime, some more tortured characters for you. Enjoy!

Abby woke to the smell of toast. She sat up slowly, pushing her hair out of her eyes, and realized that she was the only one in the living room. The fire was reduced to red-hot embers and she could see a light on in the kitchen. Abby realized the storm must be over as she climbed out of bed and went into the kitchen.

Ducky was standing at the stove, clad in plaid apron, stirring a big pot and Tim was preparing two trays with plates of dry toast, orange juice, and bowls waiting for Ducky's concoction.

"Good morning, Abby." Ducky said with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah." Abby said, peering in the pot. "Ducky, what is that?"

"Porridge. Full of protein and fibre, yet very light on the stomach."

"How are Gibbs and Tony?"

"They are awake." Ziva came into the kitchen behind Abby. "And waiting for breakfast, though rather unenthusiastic at the prospect of food; Tony especially."

"I can't say I blame him," McGee said as two more slices of toast popped up from the toaster. "I wouldn't want to eat anything if I spent my night like he did."

"He has to eat sooner or later," Ducky said, picking the pot up with oven mitts. He carried it over to McGee, set it on a trivet, and began spooning it into the bowls.

"I will telephone Dr. Pitt as soon as possible. I image the roads are still washed out but I will see what I can do."

"Can I take up breakfast?" Abby asked.

"Sure." Tim said, handing her one tray and picking up the other. They went upstairs and stopped at the landing way.

"Which one do you want?" McGee whispered and Abby smiled.

"Gibbs."

Tim nodded and they split at Gibbs' doorway.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Abby exclaimed, entering the room.

"Hiya, Abbs."

"May I present," Abby made a big flourish as she set down the tray. "Your breakfast."

Gibbs studied the food in front of him and Abby's face fell.

"What's wrong?"

Gibbs looked up into Abby's puppy dog eyes.

"Nothing, Abbs. It looks great but I'm just not that hungry."

"You need to eat something, Gibbs. Otherwise your body will never get the strength it needs to fight the infection. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I end up hugging a ceramic bowl like DiNozzo."

Abby rolled her eyes.

"You must be at least a little hungry. Just start with some toast."

Gibbs sighed and picked up the piece of bread. He took a bite.

"And now a bite of porridge." Abby coaxed. Gibbs picked up the spoon and took a small bite. He continued the pattern – toast, porridge, toast, porridge, toast, orange juice, repeat. Soon Gibbs had finished almost everything on his tray.

"Yah, Gibbs!" Abby said in her chipper voice. "Now don't you feel better?"

Gibbs had to admit that he didn't feel as bad as he thought he would. In fact, the warm meal had made him want to get up and do something but he felt so grimy from being in bed that the only thing he wanted to do was shower. Plus, Gibbs realized, he was starting to itch.

"Is there anything I can do for the itching, Abbs?" he asked as Abby removed the breakfast tray. He was trying in vain not to scratch, remembering what had happened last time he had done so in her presence.

"Bathing in oatmeal is supposed to help."

"Besides that." Gibbs was firm. There was no way he was going to bathe in cereal.

"Some calamine lotion would do the trick."

Gibbs nodded and threw back his covers.

"What are you doing?" Abby asked.

"I'm going to take a shower, if that's alright with you." Gibbs saw the look on her face and held up his hand before she could say anything.

"I'm quite capable of doing this on my own, Abby."

Abby didn't say anything as she watched Gibbs gather his robe and shuffle off to the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Abby went into the spare bedroom.

"McGee, go stand outside the bathroom door."

"Why?"

"Gibbs is taking a shower. Just make sure that he doesn't fall or anything … but don't let him catch you."

"Don't you think you're over-reacting a little, Abbs?" McGee asked. Abby just narrowed her eyes at him.

"If he falls and breaks a hip, it'll be on your conscious."

McGee sighed and stood up from the desk chair.

"Fine."

Abby smiled.

"Very good, McGee."

After he left, Abby looked at Tony. He looked a little worse for wear, compared to Gibbs. His face was still very pale and he wasn't sitting up as straight. Besides that, his breakfast was virtually untouched.

"How're you feeling, Tony?"

Abby asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sick, Abbs. How do you think I'm feeling?"

DiNozzo's voice, though weak, held a harsh tone.

"Touchy."

Tony sighed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you … I'm just frustrated. I can't stand being stuck in bed, especially when I feel so horrible that I know there's nothing else I could be doing."

"You should try and eat something."

"I'll just puke it up again."

"Maybe not." Abby tried to sound encouraging but failed by a long shot. An idea came to her. She reached over and removed the tray, setting it on the floor. She picked up the spoon and bowl of porridge. Scooting a little closer to Tony, she got some food on the spoon and began making buzzing noises.

"Here comes the airplane."

Tony raised an eyebrow as he watched the spoon 'fly' overhead.

"We're coming in for a landing." Abby said, coming closer to Tony's mouth.

"Do you really think that's going to work?" Tony asked sceptically.

"Oh no, where's the runway?" Abby exclaimed in response. Tony rolled his eyes and opened his mouth, figuring the only way to prove to Abby he wasn't hungry was to eat it and then throw it up on her shoes. It meant a little pain for him but then she would at least stop pestering him to eat.

"And a perfect landing!" Abby said, depositing the food in Tony's mouth. Tony forced himself to swallow it and watched Abby get another spoonful.

"Chug-a-chug-a, chug-a-chug-a, choo-choo!" Abby now simulated a train looking for its tunnel. Again, Tony allowed the spoon to pass his lips. This happened several times, the spoon acting, among other things, as a bee looking for a flower, a baseball looking for a home run, a frog looking for a lily pad, and a boat looking for a dock. Finally, Tony put up his hand.

"That's enough, Abby. You've had your fun and I've had something to eat."

Abby put the spoon on the ground, satisfied by the amount Tony had eaten. However, she picked up the glass of orange juice.

"It's important to stay hydrated."

Tony knew she was right and accepted the glass. He downed it in a few gulps and handed her the cup back. Tony could feel that his plan was almost complete, his stomach churning with his breakfast.

McGee came back into the room, sitting at the desk a split second before the bathroom door clicked open. Tony felt his stomach rise in his throat and leaned over the side of his bed, vomiting into the trash can – he decided it was too cruel to use Abby's stocking feet as a target.

"Tony!" Abby exclaimed, bending over. From the doorway, Gibbs' voice rang out.

"That had better not have been on my carpet, DiNozzo."

Tony, still leaning over the trash can, responded,

"No worries, Boss. Got it all under control."

Sorry if that's a little fluffy tonight … I needed to write something and that's what came out. I have a plan for the next chapter, however, and it will be a little different. Review?