When Everything Changed
May 1, 2011
2300 hours
The day had been rather boring. In fact, they had just wrapped up a case, so they had nothing to do except paperwork and write reports.
Tony hated desk duty. In fact he hated it so much, that he tried to do whatever he could to get out of it. Unfortunately, today no cases had come in, and he was stuck with piles and piles of paperwork.
Tony was just about to pack up and leave, in fact, when Abby came barreling out of the elevator, shouting incoherently. Gibbs stood quickly and grabbed Abby's shoulder's, stopping her in her tracks.
"Abbs," Gibbs prodded gently, "What happened?" Abby opened and closed her mouth several times, but couldn't manage words. "Abby, breath," Gibbs said slowly.
She did, and continued, "Gibbs," She gasped out, "He...President….shooting.."
"Abby." Gibbs warned sternly, cutting her off.
Abby nodded, but didn't trust her mouth enough to respond. Instead she grabbed the remote to the big screen, and turned on ZNN.
"…President Obama came on the air recently, requesting to speak to the public as regards to recent news. The September 11th mastermind, Osama bin Laden has been killed, how this took place we still don't….."
A gasp erupted around the room, drowning out the rest of the reporter's sentence. Everyone's eyes had been transfixed on the screen during the incredible news that the reporter had said only moments before. Tony couldn't move, couldn't talk, couldn't even breathe.
A moment passed before the entire bullpen erupted in applause, and shouts of excitement. The excitement that erupted from these agents, still at work at 2300 hours, was tremendous. Tony could feel movement all around him, but he still didn't move, his eyes still glued to the screen, not believing this incredible news.
Tony could feel his body shaking, could feel himself slowly falling apart at the seems. What he didnt realize, was that he wasnt alone standing by his desk staring at the screen. He didnt even notice the other person behind him, until he felt the comforting hand on his shoulder.
He gasped and jumped, but the hand didnt waver, it stayed on his shoulder, grounding him. Tony turned slighlty to see his boss' face, a small reasuring smile playing on his lips.
"Hey Tony, he's gone. Everything's gonna be okay now."
Tony shook his head, the sadness now showing in his eyes. "You dont really believe that, do you." He asked it more as a statement than a question.
Gibbs sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing a hand over his face. He took a deep breath to steady himself before he answered. "I believe that what happens, happpens, and we'll just have to deal with the fallout of that."
Tony nodded. "I dont think this is over yet. I mean, we cant really just think that after everything that happened with 9/11 that Al Queada is just gonna give up. Especially after we just killed their leader." Gibbs could see the fire flash in his eyes, the determination, and he couldn't help the overwhelming sense of pride at that.
"You think they're gonna retaliate." Again, the question was more of a statement, but Tony answered anyway.
"Yeah, I do." The simplicity in that statement was so strong, Gibbs had to swallow the lump that suddenly formed in his throat, and made it difficult to breathe. He knew that no matter what happens he can trust this man, whom he'd come to trust and care for more than anyone in the world, would be there and would always have his six.
Gibbs smiled a small, sad smile at his friend, his partner, his senior field agent. Tony smiled back, the small, soft smile, that was real and ment the world to Gibbs. At that moment, all was right in the world, and Gibbs didnt care about Al Queda and terrorists and Bin Ladin, and the possible retaliation they would get after this. All he cared about was right here, right now, with these people he had come to think of as family.
And hope that no matter what happened, they would still have each other.