Tony DiNozzo lay on his back looking at the ceiling of the NCIS gym. A stain on the roof had caught his attention. He was trying to decide whether it looked more like Australia or Ohio. As he continued to look he wondered if it actually looked more Arizona but, as he didn't have happy memories of that state, he decided he would prefer it to be Ohio. At least it wasn't Hawaii which, despite its Magnum links, was definitely not his favourite place. It was strange, he thought, that there was a stain on the roof, perhaps the rain had got through but the maintenance team were usually pretty hot on repairs. Perhaps he should let the Director know. Who was the Director? The stain wobbled before his eyes and he closed his eyes to try and focus better.

"Tony!" came McGee's voice, "don't close your eyes!"

Tony pondered this request. The Senior Field Agent in him approved the note of authority in Tim's voice. He had come a long way since his Probie days when he had been as green as … green as what? Peas? Lettuce? Broccoli? None of those sounded right. Although Cubby Broccoli had made some great movies, some of the best Bond movies although Tony was also fond of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. So was Tim as green as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? If he'd had the energy, Tony might have shaken his head to try and work out how his thought processes had linked McGee to a flying car. He didn't think Tim would like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; he would want something a bit more high-tech.

"Tony!" said McGee again, "keep your eyes open!"

No, thought Tony, McGee was definitely no longer as green as whatever the right green vegetable was and Tony was quite proud of the way Tim was willing to stand up for himself. He wasn't quite so sure, however, that he approved of this tendency to try and micromanage Tony's life. Jeez, he was even trying to control Tony's eye movement! He'd just earned himself a new nickname: McMicroManager although it felt a bit of a mouthful. Not that that ever stopped Tony. He was prepared to put in the legwork and be polysyllabic if needed. Tony paused for a moment to think that Ducky would be proud of him for knowing a polysyllabic word like polysyllabic. He mentally shook himself, somehow that sounded a bit repetitive.

"Tony! Stay awake!"

There was, thought Tony, a thin line between authority and panic and he rather thought that McGee had just crossed that line. Perhaps the Probie hadn't made as much progress as he'd thought but, he reasoned, he might be coming to a false conclusion. After all, Tony didn't know what Tim was worried about; perhaps there was some crisis that he had never encountered before that was sending McGee into a spin. No, thought Tony magnanimously, he would cut the youngster some slack until he had gathered more intel. In the meantime, Tony thought he would re-evaluate the stain on the roof. Except that he couldn't see it anymore because McGee's head was in the way. Tony tried to think of a tactful way of getting Tim to move but was distracted by another voice.

"DiNozzo! Tony!"

That was Gibbs. Tony was puzzled. Gibbs, of course, didn't sound panicked. Hope you're paying attention McStudent, he thought, and there was the undeniable Gibbs air of authority. But, Tony was puzzled because Gibbs called him Tony. Gibbs only called him Tony if he was pleased with him. Tony felt a warm glow wash over him followed by a feeling of discontent. What had he done that made Gibbs pleased with him? He wanted to know so he could do it again. Tony's thought processes engaged lethargically and he remembered that Gibbs sometimes called him Tony when something had gone wrong. Had something gone wrong? Tony felt at a loss for not knowing the correct response. Should he smile because Gibbs was pleased with him or look serious because there was something wrong? His mouth twitched as he tried to reach a compromise.

"Look, his face has gone all misshapen," said McGee, "is he having a stroke?"

Tony tried to frown at Tim. He was trying his best. It wasn't his fault if the Probie wasn't skilled in reading the DiNozzo nuances. It was another area for retraining. He sighed, the work of a Senior Field Agent was never done.

"Tony, lie still," said Gibbs, gently patting his face, "stay with us."

This was all too complicated, thought Tony. He was pretty sure he had been lying still. And he would never leave his team. Although, to be fair, he supposed they didn't know that he had turned down chances to leave them. But today, he decided, showed that his work was not yet done; his co-workers still had a lot to learn. He tried to look steadfast but wasn't sure what that looked like.

"It's happening again," said McGee in something approaching a wail, "his face is all weird."

"I wish I'd had green beans instead of a Brownie," said Ellie.

Tony had been getting the impression that he might not be quite in tune with his co-workers and, for a moment or two, Bishop's statement seemed to confirm that something had become unplugged in his brain. For the first time, it began to occur to him that there might be something strange about lying on the gym floor in the middle of the working day. Worry niggled at edge of his mind but then he heard bewilderment in the voices of Gibbs and McGee.

"What you talking about Bishop?" asked Gibbs.

"Did you get hit too, Ellie?" asked McGee.

Too?, thought Tony. Had someone been hit?

Bishop giggled nervously, "It's just that I don't like green beans," she said.

Tony closed his eyes momentarily. Gibbs and McGee didn't notice as their attention was on Bishop.

"And?" asked Tim.

"And I'm now going to associate Brownies with Tony looking … well, you know. And I'd rather associate that with green beans which I hate and never eat than with Brownies which I love."

"Sorry to inconvenience you, Bishop," said Gibbs, "I'll be sure to bring green beans down with us next time."

Bishop was saved from having to reply by the sound of medical help arriving.

"Make a hole," said Palmer briskly, "let Dr Mallard through. Make room, please."

"Oh my," said Ducky standing over Tony and blocking the view of the stain on the ceiling, "what do we have here?" As he waited for a reply, he turned to Jimmy, "Mr Palmer, why don't you make an initial assessment of the situation?"

"Me, Doctor?" asked Palmer.

"Yes, you, Mr Palmer. You are more than qualified and I will be with you every step of the way."

"But, but," stammered Jimmy.

"I will not allow you to make any mistake, Mr Palmer, I assure you. I will be watching you with the eye of an eagle. I sometimes wish I had gone into working at a medical school. I would have enjoyed imparting my knowledge to others. It would have been like passing on the baton of diagnosis and treatment and would have been most rewarding."

"But, but," repeated Jimmy.

"Do not worry, Mr Palmer," said Ducky reassuringly, "I will observe you minutely. There will be nothing which you do which I will not thoroughly assess and monitor. I will not allow you to make even the slightest of errors."

Gibbs intervened as he saw Palmer's increasing despair at the thought of being so closely watched,

"Duck. Time's wasting here. Why don't you and Palmer postpone this discussion and just find out what's wrong with DiNozzo?"

Ducky stood upright. Tony smiled when the stain on the ceiling swung into view once more.

"Quite right, Jethro, the patient is the important thing. Mr Palmer, we will discuss your timidity in dealing with live patients at another time. But, let me tell you, that it is not at all uncommon in young …"

"Duck," said Gibbs more or less patiently, and pointing to the floor, "DiNozzo?"

"Of course," said Ducky, "perhaps you could tell me what happened?"

"We were doing PT," said Gibbs, "McGee and DiNozzo were going one on one …"

"And?" asked Ducky.

"And I knocked him out," said McGee.

"Pardon?" said Ducky.

"McGee knocked DiNozzo out," confirmed Gibbs.

"Tim knocked Tony out?" asked Jimmy in surprise.

"Yes," said McGee a little resentfully.

"Sweetest uppercut I've seen in ages," said Gibbs reflectively, "perfectly timed and executed."

"Tony went straight down," said Bishop, "it was amazing."

"Bravo, Timothy!" said Ducky "Bravo!"

"Course," said Gibbs, "it helped that DiNozzo was distracted."

"By what?" asked Ducky.

Gibbs looked at Ellie pointedly, "I got a bit excited," she admitted sheepishly, "I managed to land a punch on Gibbs and I might have …"

"Shrieked like a little girl," said Gibbs with a half-smile, "Tony looked round to see what was happening and didn't see Tim's fist coming for him."

"Hey, you said it was a good punch," said McGee.

"It was," confirmed Gibbs, "but it was lucky too."

Tony was getting bored with the conversation going on over his head so he tried to get some attention. Unfortunately, his attempted speech came out as a mumble.

"Oh, God," said McGee, forgetting his pride in having felled Tony, "he can't speak. He's got brain damage!"

"Let's not jump to any conclusions," said Ducky, "Anthony, can you watch my finger, please?"

Tony dutifully tried to follow Ducky's finger but was distracted by still trying to work out which state the stain looked most like.

"Where does it hurt?" asked Ducky.

Tony thought for a moment. Until that moment he had been unaware of any pain but, as soon as Ducky asked the question, he realised that his jaw hurt. A lot. He mumbled again and raised a sluggish hand to his face.

"Oh, God, oh God," moaned Tim, "he has got brain damage. What have I done?"

"I don't think we are dealing with anything as sinister as that," said Ducky.

"You don't?" said McGee hopefully.

"He is, understandably, rather dazed and confused but I don't think that is the reason for the less than clear speech."

"You don't?" asked Gibbs.

"No, I think the meeting of Anthony's jaw and Timothy's fist has led the former to be rather swollen."

Gibbs unpicked this, "do you think his jaw's broken?"

Rather to Tony's displeasure, Ducky manipulated the jaw, "I don't believe there is a fracture. I will do an X-ray to be sure but I think there is just swelling." He turned to his patient, "I'm afraid, my boy, that talking will be painful for a couple of days."

Tony decided to ignore the fleeting looks of pleasure which appeared on his teammates' faces and concentrated instead on being hoisted to his feet.

NCISNCIS

A couple of hours later, the team assembled in Autopsy to hear Ducky's findings. Tony was sitting placidly at Ducky's desk, nursing an ice-pack to his face.

"Good news," said Ducky, "there is no fracture."

The team smiled.

"And, as I conjectured before, Anthony will find talking rather difficult for some time."

The smiles didn't fade.

"However," said Ducky. The team came to attention. "However, I have had to give Anthony some painkillers."

The smiles faltered a little.

"But," said Ducky in a cheerful voice, "As you can see they have made him docile rather than manic as has happened in the past.

The smiles strengthened again.

"However," said Ducky. He waited for a moment or two until he was sure he had their full attention, "however. Anthony should not be on his own tonight. I do not think he has a concussion but in his … er … present condition it would not be responsible to leave him unattended."

The team sighed.

"I would volunteer," said Ducky. The smiles grew a little. "But," he continued, "tonight is my Bridge night so I am otherwise engaged."

"It was you who hit him," said Ellie to McGee.

"By accident," said Tim, "and it was kinda your fault?"

"How?" asked Ellie.

"If you hadn't shrieked Tony wouldn't have looked away."

"I'll do it," said Gibbs unexpectedly.

"You will?" asked McGee, "but it's not your turn, Boss. You did it last time."

"McGee," said Gibbs, "you can do it the next two times."

"OK," said Tim cautiously, "but why?"

"Look at him," said Gibbs, "can't talk, can't stay awake. It'll be the easiest DiNozzo watching ever."

"But," said Tim, realising he'd missed an opportunity.

"Too late," said Gibbs, "it's probably even a rule. Is it OK to take DiNozzo now, Duck?"

"Assuredly, Jethro. Here is some medication and general instructions for his care. Call me if you experience any problems."

"Will do," said Gibbs, "come on, DiNozzo."

Tony looked up from an intent contemplation of his fingers but didn't stand. He managed a goofy, friendly smile and gave a little wave. Gibbs sighed and walked over to his Senior Field Agent. He put a hand under his elbow and drew Tony to his feet,

"Come on, Tony," he said kindly, "let's go home. I'll make you something you can eat through a straw."

Tony gave a cautious smile to show his delight at this unorthodox treat and followed Gibbs out of Autopsy.

Bishop went back to the squad room and Ducky went to deliver the news about Tony to the Director. Tim hesitated for a moment and then went up to Jimmy,

"Uh, Palmer, could I have a word?"

AN: I'd intended for this to be just one chapter but, as usual, I was long-winded and I thought it might be fun have another chapter and see Gibbs taking care of drugged-up Tony and to find out what Tim wants to speak to Jimmy about.