Burning Through (NCIS Sickfic)

Title: Burning Through
Genre: NCIS Sickfic / Drama / Hurt-Comfort
Rating: T (for language, medical content, and emotional themes)
Length: 6 Chapters (Approx. 18,000 words total)
Main Characters: Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Timothy McGee, Abby Sciuto
Summary:
When Tony DiNozzo brushes off a lingering cough and mounting exhaustion, his team assumes he's just being dramatic - until a sudden collapse forces them to face the truth: Tony is far sicker than anyone realized. Diagnosed with severe bacterial pneumonia after weeks of ignoring the signs, Tony is hospitalized with a high fever, fluid-filled lungs, and a body too weak to fight back.
As the team rallies around him, old habits and buried emotions come to light. Ziva refuses to leave his side, Gibbs begins to question how much pressure he's put on his second-in-command, and McGee and Abby uncover signs that Tony's collapse wasn't just physical - it was emotional, too.
In the face of a slow recovery, Tony must learn to let his walls down - not just to heal, but to finally accept that being strong doesn't mean being alone.

Themes:

Found family

Emotional repression and burnout

Illness and vulnerability

Loyalty, guilt, and healing

Team dynamics and unspoken bonds