He could hear the sweet sound as he slowly walked down the hall way. He was surprised to find it was emanating from the door he was standing in front of. He knocked reluctantly, not wanting to interrupt the rhythm of the piano.
The sound stopped as he heard the footsteps coming towards the door.
"Boss?"
"Well you're not dreaming Tony, though I think I might be." He peered over to the piano in his sight.
"Yeah well, I dabble…"
"You do more than dabble DiNozzo."
He still hadn't let him in, as the confused look on his face remained.
"Boss you should be home, resting. McGee just called and said they released you, what are you…" He stopped himself as the stare in front of him, didn't allow for any more words, so he moved aside for Gibbs to enter.
They both stood silent for a few minutes, as Gibbs peered around the apartment and Tony shuffled his feet.
"Coffee?"
"You've done enough for me today DiNozzo."
Tony began to speak, but stopped and began to shuffle his feet again and now took to staring mindlessly at Gibbs.
"I'll do the staring here."
"Right…I um, it's just…I'm confused, what are you doing here boss, you really should be home."
Gibbs nodded. "I'll decide what I should or shouldn't be doing DiNozzo."
"Right again, so uh…what are you doing here?"
Gibbs now took to shuffling his feet and staring aimlessly. "So you play the piano eh?"
Tony sighed. "Come on boss, what's up?"
He shrugged. "Cant a friend just come over…and ya know…hang out?"
"Uh yeah, but we're not friends boss…you're my boss…and you don't hang out."
Gibbs was now standing over by the keyboard. "Well maybe I'd like to start."
Tony smiled. "Boss listen…if you're here cuz you think you have to thank me…you know you don't have to."
He was now seated at the keyboard, and attempting to play a few notes. "You sounded pretty good from the hall way DiNozzo, I take it you took lessons as a kid?"
"Actually, I taught myself." He listened as Gibbs began to put a few notes together to form a nice melody.
"Lessons?"
Gibbs smiled. "My mother taught me, and I used to practice with Kelly sometimes."
"Well you're a great teacher."
They both looked up at each other for a moment and shared a smile. Sooner or later they tossed melodies back and forth, with Tony adding some show tunes.
"I'm beat boss, you're more than welcome to crash here if you'd like." He said between a yawn and crawled up on the couch a few feet away. "Was fun hanging with ya." He yawned again and closed his eyes.
Gibbs laughed slightly. "Yeah, ditto, DiNozzo." A few minutes passed and Gibbs assumed Tony had fallen asleep, but he was wrong.
"By the way boss…you're welcome."
He smiled. "Go back to bed DiNozzo."
"On it boss." His eyes hadn't opened, but this time he knew his agent was fast asleep.
He started to slowly play a familiar tune of his own…and softly sang. "Hush little baby, don't say a word, papas gonna buy you a mocking bird…"
And Gibbs saw a small smile make its way on Tony's face as he slept.
"And if that mockingbird don't sing, papas gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turns brass…papas gonna buy you a looking glass…