Well, time for another story. I wasn't planning to post it so soon, but I'm home nursing recently operated hand and quite bored. As you may remember, this is not my first hand surgery; in fact it is the 7th, the 5th to my right hand. However, all the other times, the operated areas were on the palm side of my hand/wrist. Which meant that once the pain subsided, I could use my hand pretty well and could do most thing as long as I didn't stress the wound or the recovering tendons. This time is different, because I had surgery to the base of my thumb, which, as result, is swollen and stiff and cannot be bent, essentially making impossible for me to do most things without help. Hence my boredom. Oh well, sorry for the rant. I just wanted to say that in these days I've discovered how right the English saying "stick out as a sore thumb" is! *grins*

I hope you'll enjoy this story as much as I did when I wrote it.

Bosavian Fever

by

Gunnery Sergeant

Usual disclaimer – do I have to? Ok, they aren't mine, mostly.

A/N: This is quite AU. The creatures mentioned in this story are, of course, completely fictional, but their location and their name are based on a true fact. Back in 2009, it was announced that a group of zoologists had discovered several new animals (included fanged frogs and giant rats) after descending in the crater of Mount Bosavi, an inactive volcano in Papua New Guinea. I just twisted this information a bit…well, a lot…*grins*

Thanks to Finlaure for the beta reading!

-x-

Anthony DiNozzo was in a very good mood as he trotted down the stairs toward Autopsy. He just needed to collect Ducky's final report about Lt. Stevens' death and then the case would be wrapped up and ready to be submitted to Vance. Once done, Tony would be able to leave, go home and start a blessed not-on-call weekend.

Grinning to himself as he planned how he would spend his time, Tony was about to open the Autopsy doors when, peering in the rectangle of glass, saw something that made him stop on his tracks.

His boss, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was sitting bare-chested on one of the metal slabs while Ducky poked and prodded him, taking notes as he went on with his examination.

The Senior Agent in him frowned with concern. What was going on with the Boss? They all had their yearly physical only two months ago, and he knew the older man had been fine back then. So why was Ducky checking Gibbs now? Tony squeezed his brain trying to recall if in the last days he had noticed something that might indicate his boss wasn't feeling well. The only thing he could think of was that Gibbs had seemed a bit shorter tempered than usual, but that could also be due to the fact the case they had been investigating had been quite frustrating.

The man in him, instead, pushed his worry aside and avidly devoured the expanse of Gibbs' bare skin he was seldom able to glimpse, even in the gym.

Tony had known since he was a teenager that he was attracted to both women and men, so he hadn't been surprised by the interest he had felt the first time he had met his boss. What had truly surprised him was that his crush for Gibbs, instead of disappearing as all his other infatuations for other men did, had never gone away. It had instead become stronger, with a longing that went beyond the physical.

Tony genuinely liked Gibbs—all of him, not just his icy blue eyes, handsome features and that lean, strong body he was currently ogling. He liked the older man's challenging personality, his intensity, his determination, his dedication to the job and devotion to the team.

Of course he was aware that this liking would never lead to anything. Gibbs was as hetero as they came, with a thing for redheads. Tony had no intention of ruining their friendship or their working relationship by making a pass at him.

"So Duck, I'm right aren't I? It's starting early…"

Gibbs voice was barely audible due to the closed doors, yet still clear enough to snap Tony out of his reverie.

Ducky stepped straight in front of the still sitting Gibbs, stuck his hands in the pockets of his white garb and nodded.

"Yes, Jethro, this time it's starting early. Your temperature and testosterone levels have been slowly but steadily increasing in the past three days and your body is showing the first sign of the change."

Tony frowned. The change? What did it mean? What was starting early?

"How much time do you think I have?" Gibbs asked, as he slid off the slab and started dressing.

Ducky shook his head. "I don't know, my friend. As you're well aware, there are no statistics about this. All I know about this condition and its chemistry is based on what I know of you…However, given the degree of the daily increase I have observed so far, I can estimate you should have about a month before it strikes."

"One month," Gibbs echoed as he put on his blue polo shirt.

"Yes. It should allow you the time to arrange a trip to Papua New Guinea without raising too much curiosity."

Too late, Ducky, Tony thought. I'm already wildly curious. What's Gibbs going to do in Papua New Guinea?

"Oh, it's plenty of time indeed. All I need to do is alert my father I'm coming. He'll take care of the rest," Gibbs said with a grimace, as he slipped on his jacket.

"Good." Ducky walked closer to the other man and patted his arm, "I'm sorry Jethro that there is nothing I can do to prevent this. I know how you hate it."

"It's not your fault, Duck. Hell, it's nobody fault. I am what I am, and I've accepted it long ago," Gibbs squeezed Ducky's shoulder and started walking toward the exit.

By the time he reached the doors, Tony had already disappeared inside a nearby supply closet, certain as he had been his boss wouldn't have been happy if he knew he had been listening to a private conversation.

Looking from the slightly opened door, Tony watched Gibbs step into the corridor and stop there for a few seconds, head tilted up and nostrils flaring as if he was sniffing the air. Then he shook his head and walked into the elevator.

Tony waited until the metallic doors slid shut, then sprinted out of his hiding place and ran up the stairs to Abby's lab. He wanted to be found there if Gibbs came looking for him. Besides, he needed her reports too.

He had to get his focus back on his job; there would be plenty of time during the weekend to mull about what he had heard and try to understand what it meant.

-x-

Ten days later Tony was still completely clueless about the meaning of the conversation he had overheard in Autopsy.

Gibbs was fine on the job, being his usual abrasive, demanding self and he seemed in perfect health. Just two days before they had all chased a suspect, a nineteen-year-old Marine, on a training course and the Boss had been the one who had caught him. He had looked remarkably fresh after a run that had left Tony, McGee and even Ziva breathless and exhausted.

However Tony knew that whatever this condition was, it was serious and real. He had been already informed Gibbs would take a twenty days long vacation starting one week from today.

The news had left the team so surprised that, had not Tony been privy of that conversation, he would have never believed his boss was going to stay away from the job for so long. Gibbs usually had to be forced to take his vacation, and he never stayed away for more than a week. As it was, he had feigned ignorance and played along as McGee and Ziva and had made wild speculations about what Gibbs was really going to do during his time away from the office.

Now, five days after having been given the news, Tony wondered if he could try to pry some information from the older man.

They were alone in the car, travelling toward the Appalachians to talk with the only witness of a cold case that might have ties with their current investigation. The guy was a former Marine who lived in a cabin the middle of nowhere, with no phone, internet or any other mean of communication.

The journey was going to last longer than predicted because it had started snowing, and the slippery condition of the roads was forcing Gibbs to drive slower than his usual pace.

"So Boss," Tony began, finally making up his mind. "What are you gonna do during your vacation? Will you head south of the border? I bet Mike would be happy to see you. You can save him for a while from that harpy of his Iraqi in-law woman…"

Gibbs snorted, amused. "I'm sure he would, but I'm not going to Mexico. I'm headed to Papua New Guinea."

"Papua New Guinea?" Tony exclaimed, feigning surprise. Well, truth to tell, his surprise was almost genuine; he hadn't expected Gibbs to tell him where he was headed. "Cool! But why there? For the sun? The beaches? The babes...?" Tony waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Gibbs glared at him at him for a moment before answering, "I've relatives there."

Tony nodded. That was new to him, but it was possible. Gibbs was an only child, but perhaps his father or mother had siblings that had moved Down Under.

"Is Jackson coming with you?" he asked, remembering what Gibbs had said to Ducky, about needing to contact his father.

The older man threw him a puzzled look. "No. Why do you ask?"

Cringing inside, Tony looked for a plausible explanation. "Uh…well, I thought he might want to visit the in-laws too. I mean, are they his relatives too?"

"No, just mine."

"I see," Tony murmured, as he mulled over the answer. Perhaps they were relatives of Gibbs' late wife, Shannon. But that wouldn't explain what he had said to Ducky about his father, unless the older man was lying to him. But why should he?

Silence fell again in the car as their journey continued. The weather was worsening and Tony thought it was best if Gibbs concentrated only on driving.

It was already dark when they reached First Sergeant Hutton's cabin and all Tony could see in the light cast by the car's head-light was snow. It was everywhere, surrounding them and the lonely building.

They climbed out of the car in the chilly evening air and walked to the cabin, which was completely enveloped by darkness. Gibbs knocked on the massive wooden door as he called, "First Sergeant Hutton! Open the door, we're NCIS agents." No one answered.

Tony stomped his feet on the ground trying to warm them as Gibbs knocked again. "Maybe he's not home," he said, "although I don't know where he would want to go with such weather. The closest town is miles away and by the look of it, it has been snowing for a long time here."

Gibbs just grunted and tried the knob. The door opened with a loud creak.

"Is this a Marine thing?" Tony muttered. "Not locking doors," he elaborated when Gibbs looked at him interrogatively.

The older man's look became a glare as they entered the cabin and switched on the light. The place had only one floor, mostly occupied by a large room that served as living room, kitchen and studio. There were also a bedroom, the bathroom and a large storage room. The furniture was solid and simple, but the place looked quite homely.

It was also completely empty, and there was nothing left around that could give them a clue as to where Hutton was.

"What we do now, Boss?" Tony asked as Gibbs stood by the window, looking outside.

"We wait here," his boss answered, turning to face him. "Storm is worsening; it's too risky to drive and look for a motel. We'll settle here in the living room and wait for the light and Hutton."

"Okay," Tony nodded. "I'll go to collect our bags from the car."

"And I'll start a fire here in the fireplace," Gibbs added.

Without further talk they quickly get settled for the night.

Gibbs set the fire then went to the bedroom and returned with blankets and pillows while Tony prepared them something to eat. Hutton's kitchen was stocked with cans of soup, beans and meat and there were crackers too. Not gourmet food, but good enough to fill their empty stomachs.

They settled in the living room – Tony on the couch and Gibbs on an armchair with a low stool supporting his legs – and ate their dinner making some light conversation.

Soon afterward, mostly due to the silence surrounding them and the hypnotic dance of the flames in the fireplace, it became increasingly difficult for Tony to keep his eyes open, until the moment he stopped struggling to stay awake and fell asleep.

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So, what do you think? Let me know and remember reviews make my day and make update faster!