Chapter Text
Slip of Words
When Tony DiNozzo walked into work that morning, he noticed that McGee had a letter in his hands. That part wasn’t very unusual since they did tend to get mail at the Navy Yard. But it was what was written on the letter.
"NCIS Special Agent," he read aloud.
Tony didn't hesitate to grab the letter from his Probie's hands. He flipped it around and saw the SWAK. There was a big kiss there, like someone pressed their lips to it with dark red lipstick.
"What was that for?"
Gibbs hadn’t arrived yet or he was with Ducky in Autopsy or in Abby’s Lab.
"You don't find it strange that it isn't addressed to anyone? Just that it says Special Agent. Besides, as Senior Agent, I get to open it."
"Sure, you didn't make that up, Tony?" Kate raised an eyebrow.
“Well… Kate, guess you’ll never know,” he grinned at her. That was when he noticed something was dropping into his hand. It looked like a sometime of powder. And it was from the envelope. It must have ripped when he grabbed it from McGee.
He sneezed and he knew that probably wasn’t a good thing to do.
“Aren’t I supposed to be the one with the cold,” she grinned.
Tony wasn’t in the joking mood and then he saw Gibbs by the elevator.
“Boss,” Tony called out.
Gibbs had an unreadable expression on his face. Perhaps even a look of concern.
Tony gently placed the letter on his desk, his hand was coated in the white powder.
“Initiate Bio-Attack Procedures,” he said while he grabbed a water at his desk.
Gibbs eyes narrowed as he called out to the entire Bullpen, evacuating their floor.
Kate looked alarmed before she called the emergency on her phone.
Tony was still pouring the water all over him, getting the powder off his hand and practically drenching himself. He would still need a shower.
He followed after McGee and Kate to the showers. All of them would have to burn their clothes. That just had to be his lucky day… The tie he wore to work had been a gift from Harry when he was visiting the UK. He knew that he would be pissed when he found out. He knew he wouldn’t be pissed because of the gift but he did tend to get worried when something happened.
Harry was in the same field that he was, a Special Agent. But he knew Tony’s luck with things. And being married to him made him a bit more cautious and protective.
Scratch that… a lot more protective.
So, he listened hard to the list McGee was giving him as he washed his chest.
Anthrax was part of the list that he named. As was, Smallpox, Bubonic Plague, Foot Powder, Face Powder, and Talcum Powder. It wasn’t enough to calm his mind until Kate spoke up.
“Don’t forget, anything that comes from the mail is supposed to be irradiated.”
“It would kill the DNA,” McGee agreed.
Tony nodded, even though nobody could see him as he washed the soap off his body.
Everyone was met up with Ducky in Autopsy after the showers. It was negative pressure, that way nobody else could get affected by what was in that letter.
“DiNozzo, what happened?” Gibbs wanted to know.
Tony was sitting on one of tables, “Probie said there was a letter addressed to ‘NCIS Special Agent.’
“So, you decided your curiosity got the better of you?” Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
“Actually, no, boss. The letter ripped when I grabbed it from McGee. I would have preferred to have it examined before anyone just opened a random letter,” Tony crossed his arms.
Gibbs nodded, “good job, DiNozzo.”
Tony gave a slight nod, his eyes at the door. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone showed up. But he knew it was only a matter of time before Gibbs would get impatient.
He wasn’t surprised when he listened as Ducky lectured his boss. Even if he hadn’t been the one that got that powder on his hands, he wouldn’t have been able to leave. But he was the unlucky one that would get sent to Bethesda.
“Who opened the envelope?” someone in an orange suit with a mask on, asked.
“Ripped actually,” Tony answered for him.
“Did you inhale any of the powder?”
“I happened to sneeze after the fact,” Tony admitted. He knew that it was obvious that he would need to go to the hospital. Even if he hadn’t sneezed.
It just happened to be bad luck when Kate was ordered to go as well.
“Bet you wish you didn’t have a cold now,” he grinned.
“Don’t even start, DiNozzo,” she grumbled.
“I technically haven’t even begun to start…”
Ducky was still standing guard over the doors that led out of Autopsy. Though he would later go down to Abby’s lab and see if he could be any help.
From there, Abby had already sent a sample of the white powder to Atlanta. She was currently unfolding the parchment where fancy script was written. And there it was written on what powder it was.
Y Pestis. Also known as Pneumonic Plague, all sealed in an envelope.
There was silence echoing around not only Abby’s Lab but Autopsy as well.
“Dammit Tony…” Gibbs muttered.
“Is he going to be okay?” McGee asked.
“If he’s not, he’s going to be answering to me,” Gibbs muttered under his breath. “What else does the letter say, Abbs?”
Both agents listened as Abby read, the letter stated that an antidote would only be given to the genetically altered plague once they would give up the results to a certain case. The letter had even given them the case number.
McGee was already at Ducky’s computer trying to pull up the file. But with no success.
Gibbs hissed with frustration when they couldn’t even find a HazMat suit. Even he knew better to break protocol until his blood tests came back.
“What about the agent that Tony mentioned?” McGee asked. “He could help out. You know… till we know our blood test results.”
The video with Abby’s lab was still going as he stormed off offscreen.
McGee looked at the screen in worry.
“It’s Gibbs,” was the bark.
McGee looked towards Gibbs and noticed him using the phone by Ducky’s desk. He wondered if he was calling the person he was talking about.
The room was silent for a long moment.
“Possible Bio-Attack. He’s at Bethesda.”
McGee couldn’t see the firm scowl that was on Gibbs’ face.
“What do you think!?” was the retort before the phone was slammed down.
“Boss?” McGee was hesitant.
“Abbs, an agent will be going to your lab to help. Give him that case number so that he can pull it up.”
“Gibbs, was that—?”
He nodded, “he’ll be coming from Norfolk.”
That was going to be another hour to wait…
When the lab door opened, he was slammed by someone.
“Harry!”
“Hey, Abby,” Harry said, a little out of breath. “Gibbs told me I was to look up a case.”
She nodded before looking at another screen.
Harry turned to see what she was looking at, that was when he saw Gibbs and another agent.
“Harry,” Gibbs greeted.
“What’s going on Jethro? And don’t try to skirt the edges this time, you can’t hang up the phone this time,” Harry demanded.
“Anthony is at Bethesda,” a voice said behind them.
Harry turned, “Dr. Mallard, I already knew that part. Jethro was at least some forthcoming about that information.”
“He has opened a letter with Y Pestis,” Ducky said.
If Harry had been holding anything, he would have dropped it. His knees almost buckled. his eyes glanced back to Gibbs, that was why…
Normally Gibbs would be at the front and center of things, especially when it involved his husband.
“I’m sorry, Harry…” Abby murmured.
Harry took in a deep breath before schooling his face, “Okay… what else?”
A paper was handed to him.
“R-0377?” Harry questioned.
“Tim couldn’t access the file from Autopsy,” Abby said.
“And given that they can’t leave yet… So, you need me to?” Harry asked.
Abby nodded.
Harry glanced up at the monitor, Gibbs still looked irritated.
“Okay… where is your computer?” Harry asked.
Abby guided him past one of her sliding glass doors.
Harry sat down and input his username and password before it gave him access. He was already trying to pull up the file.
Gibbs was giving Abby orders from the live video to pull up the surveillance of the Bullpen, before anyone got into the office that morning. Just in case maybe someone planted something there before any agents were in the office.
Harry was already muttering under his breath, of course the agent that looked into the case was dead. He remembered how worked up Tony had gotten when Pacci had been murdered. He didn’t hesitate to make a call.
“It was a rape case,” Harry spoke out loud, walking back into the main room of the lab. “Looks like the victim refused to have a rape kit done. Case went cold when all the suspects were cleared by DNA. The police are sending over what they had on the case.”
“If she refused a rape kit, how did they get the DNA?” Ducky asked.
“Most likely found on the bed or in the hotel room,” Harry answered. “So, if Agent Pacci was murdered, was there any agents that may have worked on the case with him?”
The question was aimed at Gibbs, he had been there the longest that he knew of.
“Cassie Yates,” Gibbs replied.
“Was she his Probie?”
Gibbs nodded through the monitor.
“Isn’t she on a case for drugs?” Abby asked.
“Give her a call, maybe she got finished with the case,” Harry suggested. He didn’t know the agent very well so he doubted he would be the best person to call.
Ducky nodded before stepping out of the lab for a moment. Then shortly after returning, informing them that Cassie would be there within the hour.
Abby was currently looking at the surveillance, Harry was standing by her shoulder.
He shook his head as he observed his husband stopping by around midnight and staying three hours, “wanting a bite to eat, my ass…”
Abby’s lips twitched but the surveillance video didn’t tell them anything. So, that meant it wasn’t planted. The suspect had to be whoever sent it.
“What about the lipstick?” Harry asked. “Or perhaps anything found in the envelope?”
“There was a moisture strip found in the envelope,” Abby told him.
Harry hissed under his breath, “keeping that damn thing alive…” He didn’t say a word when Gibbs was going on a rant from Autopsy. He agreed with every word, they knew this was Pneumonic Plague. He would have run straight to the hospital if it wasn’t the fact that he was trying to solve the case who was trying to kill his husband. Plus, the fact that he knew he would be useless at the hospital. Here, it felt like he was actually doing something.
He watched as Abby put something on the plasma screen. There were two versions of the image. It reminded him of one of those filing nails. Though the top part was green, and the bottom part was yellow. Yet the image on the left had blue tips on each end.
“Does the blue indicate where it can’t be fought off with antibiotics?” Harry asked.
“Correct,” Abby commented.
Harry looked up at the screen, “you have something on your mind,” it was a statement.
“This wasn’t an amateur,” Gibbs replied.
“We have someone that is probably a Molecular Biologist,” Abby stated. “And going by what Harry said, I’m doing an analysis on the lipstick.”
“Maybe it can tell us on how it survived going through Postal,” Harry brought up.
Abby was studying her screen until even she was surprised.
“Seventy-two, point thirty-three percent!?” Harry’s eyes went wide.
“Of pure Iron,” Abby finished for him. “Got to admit, she’s a smart bitch…”
“Yeah… a dead one,” Harry growled.
That was when Agent Cassie Yates showed up. She glanced at the return address and Harry knew she had an idea who was behind this.
Harry turned when he heard the sliding door to Abby’s lab open. It was Ducky.
“Did you find anything?” Harry asked, it had an edge of pleading.
The look of sympathy that was directed at him killed him on the inside. Abby had to catch him when he fell.
“Harry!” she shouted, preventing him from hitting his head.
“Tony…” Harry had to take in a sharp intake of air.
Cassie looked confused.
“Anthony is the only one that has been tested positive for Y Pestis,” Ducky confirmed.
“Ducky, we’re coming down!”
The doctor nodded before leaning down towards Harry.
Harry was shaking his head while muttering no over and over again. It couldn’t be true… it just couldn’t…
It was several minutes later before the glass door opened again and Gibbs walked in, followed by McGee.
“Abbs…”
Abby quickly exchanged spots with Gibbs.
McGee and Cassie seemed the only ones confused. It was obvious the older man knew Harry… they still couldn’t figure out how. Though McGee’s guess would have been closer to Cassie’s, who had never met him before.
“Come on, Harry. You got this, no difference than what you were doing before,” Gibbs coached.
“That was before I knew he was infected by the damn thing!” Harry cried, tears falling down his face.
“Hey… you know for a fact on how strong Tony is. He can beat this, but you need to believe in him too,” Gibbs’ voice went softer.
Harry hiccupped as he slowly nodded. It was hard to do when you knew that this could definitely kill his husband. The chance of survival wasn’t that great.
“Get to the hospital and see him, you helped me get this case started. Now let me finish it,” Gibbs ordered.
Harry took a shaky breath before nodding again, his legs felt weak as he tried to stand. He didn’t fall again. He didn’t even say goodbye before leaving the lab in a hurry.
Gibbs looked at Ducky, “there’s more.”
Ducky nodded, “Dr. Brad Pitt said that his temperature is elevating. It’s attacking his system. But once he starts spitting blood. He’ll only have a few hours.”
“Glad you didn’t tell Harry that, Duck, he would be distraught,” Gibbs sighed.
“Boss… who exactly is Harry? How did Tony know him? Why the big reaction?” McGee asked.
“Timothy, the big reaction is because he is married to him,” Ducky said gently.
They almost thought he was going to fall down next as his jaw dropped.
Harry was honestly surprised he didn’t get pulled over as he raced to Bethesda. The last thought on his mind would be going the speed limit. But he tried to remain calm when he approached the desk. He flashed his badge before asking for his husband.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he did work for NCIS and the fact he was married to Tony, he doubted they would have let him back there.
It looked like a giant metal glass box to him. It was obvious that Tony hadn’t seen him yet, he was arguing with someone. He could only catch the words, opened it.
Though he blinked in confusion when the other agent said she was infected as well. That couldn’t be right. Didn’t Dr. Mallard only say that Tony had been infected. The words were kind of blurring in his mind. But he knew that he didn’t like her from the way she spoke. She was obviously tried to rile Tony up. Though he had to smile when Tony commented about getting her cold. He had the fucking plague and now he was concerned about was getting her cold. Harry shook his head.
It was a few hours later that his worry began to spike when Tony began to cough.
“Dammit Tony,” Harry muttered.
Harry couldn’t see it, but blood had been smeared onto his lower lip. He eventually had to look away when he could tell Tony was breathing hard. It was later that he received a phone call.
Harry looked at his phone, it said Gibbs…
“DiNozzo,” he answered, it was out of habit.
There was silence on the other end.
“Sorry, Jethro, bit of a habit,” Harry muttered into his phone. He listened to Gibbs on the other line for a few minutes before snapping his phone shut.
“Best news I’ve had all day…” He muttered to himself.
That was when he realized that both doctors were trying to help his husband sit up. That was when he realized that Dr. Mallard was standing beside him. He didn’t realize he had been there. He didn’t even know when he had gotten there.
The other agent was standing next to him again, he wasn’t liking that one bit. What pissed him off even more was the following words from her.
I’m strong than you, Tony…
"She fucking dares!?" Harry snapped.
"Dear Caitlin, is just being supportive," Ducky tried to calm him.
That is when Harry realized who exactly that was.
"NO!" Harry glared at the doctor. "That isn't being supportive at all! That was deliberate! You don't fucking tell someone who is trying to fight for their life that you are stronger than them! And then argue with them at blank point, to get them to argue back!"
He then spotted the doctor that supposed to be helping his husband. He had briefly come out, for what… he didn’t know.
“You get her the fuck out of there now! If she is the reason he dies, you don’t want to see what happens next!”
Harry turned on his heel, refusing to show the tears that started to fall down his cheeks.
He went inside an empty room because he knew that if he went back in there and Agent Todd was there, he would want to shoot her. He probably would too.
He would have never told someone that. His husband was dying and that's all she could say...
A hand was placed on his shoulder.
Harry spun and placed a hand where his weapon was.
"Harry, it’s just me..."
Harry turned away from him, "what do you want, Gibbs?" He didn’t even bother to call him Jethro.
"Are you okay?"
That made Harry look at him, "never thought I would ever hear that from you."
"Tony may be my agent but he's your husband."
Harry made a hiccupping sound, "how do you think I am?! Are you fucking joking!"
"Harry, he isn't dead..." Gibbs stressed.
"But he's going to! He is coughing up blood! It doesn’t matter if that damn bug died after thirty-two hours! And Agent Todd had the nerve to tell him on his deathbed that she's stronger than him!"
"She what!?" Gibbs yelled, his anger igniting. Before he turned on his heel, he placed a phone in Harry’s hand.
He was confused for a moment before he realized what it was and who it belonged to.
“Okay… as long as I get to see you rip her a new one,” Harry said, brushing away his tears.
Gibbs didn’t comment as he walked back into the room with the glass case.
Harry saw her outside the glass cage, crying into Ducky’s arms. He approached her.
“You ever say that you are stronger than him again, I will shoot you,” Harry hissed.
“You can’t just threaten a federal agent,” she snapped.
“Yes, I can, because I am one. And you don’t fucking tell that to someone that is literally trying to breath and goad them into arguing!”
The woman looked like she had been slapped.
“You don’t have the fucking plague!” Harry pointed towards Tony. “He does! So, if you know what is good for you, keep your fucking mouth shut!”
She was stunned silent before she noticed Gibbs.
“Gibbs…”
“What you did was inexcusable, Agent Todd,” he growled.
Harry didn’t hear what else Gibbs said as he was now talking to the doctor for a moment, explaining about the suicidal chain for the bug. Thankful when he let him by. Who happened to be the same doctor that he yelled at earlier.
“Tony…” Harry whispered.
He saw blurry green eyes blink up at him.
“Harry…”
Harry grabbed his hand, “you’re going to make it. We’re going to make it through this, okay?”
Tony made a slow nod.
“Whatever Agent Todd said to you… nothing about its true…”
Tony gave another nod to him, holding tight to Harry’s hand.
Harry looked to the side, noticing that Gibbs was standing by him.
“I think he’ll be okay…” Harry whispered.
“Boss…” Tony whispered.
“Save your breath for healing, Tony,” Harry murmured.
“She’s been sent back to the office,” Gibbs replied.
Harry nodded, “if I see her again, it’ll be too soon.”
“She’ll be sent for more sensitivity training courses back at FLETC,” Gibbs replied.
Harry frowned, “better learn something, then.”
“You staying here?” Gibbs asked.
Harry nodded, “I’m not going to leave him alone. I hate that I had to for the case when he probably needed me here…”
“He isn’t going to hold that against you, Harry.”
Harry sighed, “I know he won’t, but it doesn’t change the facts. Probably going to be a few weeks to a month before he can get back to normal. He’s going to hate it…”
Gibbs chuckled, “yes, he will. And I wish you luck with that.”
Harry glowered at him.
Harry was used to Tony talking, expected it when he married him. But he wasn’t expecting his husband to try to talk his head off. And he wondered why it was such a bad idea to not shoot him and get it over with.
“Talking too much?” Tony looked guilty.
Harry glared at him, “what was your first clue?”
“You really think Kate was wrong?” He asked.
Harry looked at him bewildered, “so that is what the bitch’s name is.”
Tony rolled his eyes, “so?”
“Yes, I do think she was wrong. Where does she get off on that she can tell you that she is stronger than you? When you were the one trying to fight for your life!?”
“She said that I got her infected too…”
“Well… she fucking lied to you. The only one that was infected was you. But because she suddenly felt guilty and then decided to rile you up!” Harry snarled. “She’s lucky that I didn’t shoot her ass for it. Didn’t you start to wonder why you were suddenly more out of breath?”
Tony didn’t answer and it showed he was thinking hard on what he said.
“Tony… you are the strongest and most resilient man I have ever known. You went through something that nobody alive has and you lived. Far as I’m concerned, that bitch will never come even close to you,” Harry’s tone was firm.
He leaned forward to kiss him, though it couldn’t last very long. He already felt out of breath.
“You could use your little Voodoo powers to heal me,” Tony grinned at him.
Harry snorting, "I don't have Voodoo powers. I am just able to scan it for curses. Wouldn't have worked anyways."
"Ugh, what use are you then,” he teased before coughing harshly
The teasing glint faded from Harry's eyes.
"I could think of several reasons, several that you named as well. Keep sitting up for me. Cough it out."
"You would think there would be something that could be done. But I doubt anyone ever thought about the plague," Harry grumbled darkly.
"Better me than McGoo," Tony coughed.
"Let’s agree to disagree," Harry muttered.
He didn’t mind Agent McGee, but he would never have wanted Tony to go through that. But that was how his husband was. But he was more experienced than the probationary agent. He probably would have teased the younger agent if he had been in a better state of mind. He got why Tony did it, he was a bit gullible. But like his husband, he knew that he would learn.
“You know that you still have a few more weeks until you can go back,” Harry grinned at him.
He laughed at the look of horror on his husband's face.