<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Tony didn't protest being coddled -- he was feeling pretty crummy, but moreover... he hadn't been fussed over much in his life, and it felt... good.  He did indeed nap as ordered, though his dreams were chaotic -- he'd forgotten how strange they could get, when he was sick.<br/>
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The touch of her hand to his face was unexpected -- and he wonder which part surprised him more... that she would touch him, or that she would do so gently.  He managed a sitting position and lifted the spoon before he realized the full impact of what she'd said sunk in.  "This... this is your mom's recipe?"  Tony blinked.  And he didn't know how to tell her that nobody but Gibbs had ever cooked a family recipe for him -- if cowboy steaks counted as a family recipe.  Fearing she'd think he was being rude, he ate a spoonful, and his eyes widened.  "Wow."  He offered her a shy smile, and if held at gun point, he'd still say he was just being his usual Very Special Agent self when he said, "It would be fun to cook together."  He wanted to kick himself as soon as he said it -- because he didn't cook for people, and he didn't cook with people... but...<br/>
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* ~ *<br/>
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Gibbs knew she couldn't hear him -- knew she hadn't studied lip reading yet -- but for once, he needed to talk.  He waited until they were in the car, and her hand was safely in his, before he started speaking.  (If he'd remembered Tim's little microphone gadget and considered that Kate might turn it on, he might not have spoken.)  "I've done this job a long time, and... this one, this case -- it makes me understand these lyrics I used to hear... 'take this badge and gun off of me... I can't use them anymore.'  I couldn't keep Tim's sister safe any more than I could keep you safe, or Shannon and Kelly.  It just seems so... futile."  He kept his eyes on the road, though... and even if she couldn't hear him, saying the words helped, somehow.  "I'm so tired, Kitten."<br/>
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He pulled into her parking space and just sat there a moment, trying to find some balance.</span></span>