Lasting Possibilities
Possible slash.
Summary: The team is treating Tony like crap, Gibbs included. Meanwhile, Tony is struggling with his feelings for a certain someone, feelings he hadn't allowed himself to acknowledge until very recently. And then his life changes completely, bringing someone into his life he never knew existed, but is just what he needs despite the circumstances. Maybe now he'll have the courage to stand up for himself and make his team, no longer his family, see him for who he really is.
Warnings: I own nothing you want to have for yourself. Slash, possibly. I can't decide if I want this to happen or not. Still, there will be slash at some point, even if it's just in passing. Don't like this? Plenty of good stuff for you to read elsewhere.
Enjoy.
.
.
.
.
. Of Families, New and Old, and New Again
The bullpen was filled with agents winding down from a long day of work. Team Gibbs, the "Golden Team" was finishing up their reports while Gibbs was down in autopsy. Once done, they placed their reports on Gibbs' desk and made their way home, as ordered. Ziva and Tim never even spared a glance at the SFA as they walked over to the elevator, making plans to meet up for dinner with the rest of the team.
Not including DiNozzo, of course.
Tony tried not to let their comments and plans affect him, he simply let their words wash over him and took a deep breath. As usual, it did no more to wash away the hurt their actions induced, but he had grown numb to their actions. Over the last few years, things had been getting steadily worse and the SFA of Team Gibbs didn't know how much more he could take.
He loved his team, he did. But there was only so much abuse one person could take before they burst. And lately it seemed he had lost his only allies against the constant verbal abuse of Ziva, Tim, and Gibbs. Abby didn't abuse him directly but made snide remarks and tended to look at him like it was his fault when things went wrong and someone got hurt.
No one really seemed to care much for him outside of work anymore.
The only one he could really say he had any sort of connection to was, oddly enough, Fornell and Leon.
Yeah. Bet you didn't see that one coming.
It was true though, the two who had been so quick to judge him and eagerly picked on him and exaggerated, were now his staunchest supporters. It had taken him by surprise when Leon had expressed his concern over how his team was treating him, but eventually, with the help of Jackie and the kids, Tony had accepted that he had a place in the Leon family. Including Tobias and Emily, Tony actually had a family he could count on, really count on, and he was happy.
The only thing that kept him from being completely happy was his team's attitude towards him.
At first he had made excuses for all of them, but it seemed that Gibbs' return from Mexico had been a turning point. Something had changed, shifted from how it used to be. And though it had taken Gibbs much, much longer, he had lost him too.
It was that loss and how Gibbs treated him now that had prompted a sudden realization. Really, it amazed him that it had taken him that long to figure out his feelings. But he supposed it just hadn't computed.
He had been with other men before since he had discovered his bisexuality in college. But he had never considered a relationship or fallen for another male. It was more of an appetite he sated now and again when it struck. But he wanted a family. He wanted a kid, or maybe more than one to settle down and have his own family.
But he already had a family. At one point, he had thought he had a family in Ziva, Tim, Abby, Ducky, Jimmy, and Gibbs.
But Leon, Jackie, Sarah, Micah, Tobias, and Emily had shown him what a family really was. They dug deep until they breached every one of your defenses just so they could beat some love into you.
Tony wasn't easily accepting of true praise or love, but he had learned that he was someone worthy of love, respect, and admiration. His mask of self confidence and sense of self worth had slowly become something real.
Not to the extremes he pretend, but real in the sense he didn't feel like such a failure all the time. He knew his own worth and he knew that he had people that loved and accepted him. Flaws and all.
But it still hurt to know that the rest of his team met up on regular occasions and did things without him. Without even asking him if he wanted to join them or considering his feelings.
It hurt.
"Agent DiNozzo?" Looking up, Tony caught sight of a woman he had never seen before and frowned in confusion.
"Yes?" The woman moved up to his side as he rose and offered him her hand.
"A pleasure Agent DiNozzo. My name is Margaret Seith and I am with Child Protective Services. May I have a moment of your time?"
Tony was now even more confused than ever. The team was currently working on cold cases and not one dealt with children in any way shape or form. "Please, Agent DiNozzo, this is important. I promise it will all make sense once we have spoken."
Tony nodded, "Right. Sorry, it's a pleasure to meet you. Follow me." He led the way to one of the conference rooms and out of sight, and hearing range, of his curious fellow agents. He gestured for Margaret to take a seat and he sat across from her on one of the smaller, more intimate, tables.
"This may sound far-fetched, and out there, but please listen patiently and without interruptions," Margaret said seriously, face set with a mixture of apprehension and anxiety.
Tony lent back in his chair as he observed the unassuming woman and nodded, "I'm listening."
Taking a deep breath, Margaret explained all the details of her current case.
.
.
.
Sometime later, Margaret Seith made her way out of NCIS with a light heart and good news in hand. She was somewhat regretful of the method of her delivery but it was necessary to get the process moving to protect one of her kids.
She was with CPS to help children and give them their best chance. It happened rarely, but Agent DiNozzo was a good man and he would take care of her kid. She just knew it.
Meanwhile, Tony headed up to the director's office and asked Cynthia if Director Leon was available. "Let me check for you Tony. Sir?Yes, Tony is out here to see you. Do you have a moment? Of course, sir. I'll send him right in."
Cynthia placed the phone in its cradle and smiled at the dazed Tony. Waving him in, she frowned worriedly as she took in his appearance. He looked haggard, almost as if having aged a few years since the last time she saw him that morning.
.
.
.
Leon looked at Tony as he walked in and closed the door behind him. He smiled up at him warmly, then frowned when he did not receive a response.
Thinking Tony was there in an official capacity, Leon reacted accordingly. "Agent Dinozzo, what can I do for you?"
There was a beat of silence before the silent Tony looked up and Leon sucked in a surprised breath. Tony's eyes were filled with a mixture of fear, hope, longing, self-loathing all wrapped up in a haze uncertainty. He had never seen Tony look so lost.
And it very well terrified him.
Tony straightened his back as he took in a deep, long breath. "I have a daughter."
..
.
.
..End Chap 1