Tag to Requiem.

"Come on boss…Come on."


The pleading in his voice cut the silence on the pier that day.

And would every day thereafter in his dreams.

He looked up at the sky in a reverent sort of thanks before eventually making eye contact with Gibbs.

He was alive.

The relief was almost more than he could bear right then.

In a flood of seconds, his mind produced snap shots of their time together.

He knew deep in the crevices of who he was that he had never trusted or cared for another person as much as he did that man.

The man he stepped over to save another.

Gibbs sat up slowly and Tony slid over to his side. His breaths still short and labored. "You k boss?"

He only nodded.

It wasn't until they were in the ambulance together that Tony's breathing returned to normal. His head was hanging low as they drove in silence. He lifted it up on occasion but only to make sure his boss was still alright.

McGee brought dry clothes for him.

Ziva offered her words of praise.

And Abby?

If Tony thought it was hard to breathe after an underwater rescue, try being embraced after saving Gibbs.

And so, the night came and went. Gibbs was released.

All was well with the world.

Tony DiNozzo arrived back at his apartment and began his usual routine of winding down when he found himself halted.

Without much thought he found himself at the doorstep of Gibbs home, letting himself in and finding Abby sleeping comfortably on the living room couch. He heard shuffling down in the basement and made his way there hesitantly.

"No need to tip toe DiNozzo…Abs sleeps like a rock."

"Wish I could say the same."

Gibbs already had an extra glass of bourbon poured and gestured towards it.

"Expecting company boss?"

He shrugged. "Hoped for some."

Tony took a sip at the invitation. "Feeling alright?" He caught a glare in return. "Right…"

"Trouble sleeping?

"Funny thing," Tony started to pace. "My boss died today."

Gibbs set his glass down. "DiNozzo…"

"I know, I know…you're not dead. You're right here…drinking bourbon in your basement. Never skipping a beat. But you still died boss…and I don't know what to do with that."

"Part of life."

"And then there's that." He pointed. "The three word phrases that say everything and nothing all at the same time."

Gibbs threw his hands out at his sides. "What do you want me to say?"

"Anything but nothing."

He took a step towards him as he noticed tears resting in his eyes. He was a bit daunted by the task of comforting the young man who had just saved his life. "I'm not dead."

Tony shook his head. "You were…"

"I'm not."

Tony took another sip of the bourbon. "Then why can't I shake it."

"It'll take time."

He almost laughed. "Time? You have any idea how much time it took for me to sleep after Kate got…" He stopped himself short and finished the bourbon in his hand. "You know, this stuff really seems to be doing the trick." He handed the jar back to him. "Feeling better already."

Gibbs reached for his arm to stop his ascent up the steps. "DiNozzo…" He watched as he stared down at him. "At ease son."

And with only brief hesitation, Tony turned towards his boss for an embrace. It was short. Succinct.

But enough.

"Thank you."

Tony nodded towards him. "You would have done the same."

"Had you been lying on a pier not breathing… it'd take a hell of a lot more than bourbon to get me to sleep." Gibbs managed a small smile.

Tony reciprocated. "How'd you get Abby to sleep?"

"Simple…" Gibbs started up the stairs beside him. "We hugged."

"This almost dying thing turning you into a hugger boss?" Tony instantly rubbed the back of his head as they reached the top of the stairs. "Of course it isn't."