As always with new stories - I like hearing what you all think before I continue on. I know this is a really short beginning, but I do (if it's liked) plan on adding more once I have a direction, I might even add a second chapter for everyone to nibble on and get a better feel for it... Still like to hear the feedback though!
And yes, this has a slightly AU-ish/OOC feel to it, because Tony is OPEN about showing his emotions in this, so... #Don'tHate. - Also, this is the ONLY story that you will (probably) see an appearance from #NiceZiva, I have made it abundantly clear that I dislike Ziva as a character, but I TRY my hardest to stick to the proper timelines of shows, and this was after the time when Ziva was entered in as a character, but before Bishop came along (sigh)...
He could remember the day that they said good-bye, so vividly, it was as if it were just yesterday to him. The words still echoing in his mind every night, and kept him going through the day, it was the only thing he could hold onto every day. The voice in his mind's eye was tangible, he could still see his smiling face…
~*~Flashback~*~
"I'll be home soon, Tony… It's only a six month deployment." Chris said softly, his hand cupping Tony's cheeks.
Tony nodded, smiling up at Chris, he leaned up on the balls of his feet to place a soft kiss against Chris' lips – He always loved how Chris was taller than him, and stronger… He also loved his Marine more than anything in the world – "I love you, hero." Tony said softly as he dropped back down onto the flats of his feet.
Chris smirked as he leaned down, kissing Tony again, his hands cupping the sides of his neck "I love you too, Casanova." Chris said as he brushed his thumb across Tony's cheek, his other hand slipping a piece of paper into the inside of Tony's hand.
Tony clutched onto the paper, then smiled up at Chris as he slid his own piece of paper into the inside pocket of Chris' BDU Jacket, "Stay safe, Marine." Tony told him.
Chris nodded as he kissed Tony's forehead, "You too, Fed." Chris said with a wink as he bent down and picked up his bag, slinging it over his shoulder just in time for the call-out for his platoon to get onto the waiting C-130.
Tony and Chris held hands for a few seconds longer, just staring into one anothers eyes and smiling, they both mouthed 'I Love You' as their hands fell to their sides, and Chris turned and took off to join the rest of his squad.
Tony stood there with the rest of the families, his arms wrapped around his chest as he watched the marines board the plane, then as the plane took off… He even stood there an hour afterwards, the night sky rising to push away the daylight.
~*~End Flashback~*~
Tony now sat at his desk at NCIS, typing up a report after closing yet another case, if anyone who knew, asked how long Chris had been gone, Tony had the exact answer – Five months, three weeks, two days, fourteen hours, twelve minutes and some seconds – He was anxious, his husband would be coming home soon.
But he wasn't going to put too much emphasis on it, whenever people did that, something bad seemed to always happen… But, then there were times that when even without putting too much thought onto the subject, terrible things still happened.
The casualty assistance officers stepped off the elevator, catching the attention of the first person to walk past "Excuse me, could you point us in the direction of Anthony DiNozzo?" the older gentlemen asked.
The agent nodded his head and pointed directly at Tony's desk, "That's him right there." The agent said. The CAO nodded, saying his thanks as he and his colleague walked with precise movements, then stood in front of Tony's desk at attention.
Tony registered the shadows first, his fist clenching as he thought it was Ziva and Tim hovering over his desk, "What do you-…" Tony stopped mid-sentence as he stared up at the two marine officers, his heart sinking to the basement of NCIS and his skin paling to the likeness of a sheet of paper as he slowly stumbled up to his feet.
"Anthony DiNozzo-Parker?" The older officer questioned softly. Tony nodded mutely, clenching his bottom lip between his teeth.
The younger officer stepped forward slightly and cleared his throat "On behalf of the Secretary of The Navy, I regret to inform you that your Husband, First Lieutenant Christopher Parker, died yesterday evening by an insurgent who the unit thought was in trouble, and was subsequently shot at point-blank range." The younger marine said, his tone sympathetic as he looked directly at Tony.
Tony shook his head "No… No… You… You have… you have to be mistaken…" Tony stammered out, tears quickly welling up in his eyes.
The two CAO's shared a quick glance, then proceeding with informing Tony of everything that needed to be done, but the words were like white-noise in Tony's ears, he just stared blankly, clutching his hand over his chest and his bottom lip trembling, the tears still dancing in his eyes.
Gibbs walked out of MTAC and stared down into the bullpen, seeing the two Marines standing in front of Tony's desk, and then saw Tony who had his back against the filing cabinet. Gibbs quickly descended the stairs and was at Tony's side in an instance.
"Gibbs…" Tony choked out, grabbing onto the older Man's arm in a vice grip as the tears silently slipped from his eyes.
"Right here, Tony." Gibbs said as he drew the younger man into his chest, holding onto him tightly as he looked at the two Marine officers, "Thank you." Gibbs said, sending them both a dismissive nod.
The two marines nodded, snapping off a quick salute and then about-faced, leaving as quietly as they had come just twenty minutes ago.
Tony clenched onto the back of Gibbs' suit jacket, his body shaking violently as he sobbed silently into the older man's chest.
Gibbs rubbed his hand up and down Tony's back in soothing motions, turning his head to see that Tim and Ziva were standing close by, stunned and shocked into silence "Tim… Go and get Ducky and Palmer…" Gibbs said quietly.
Tim nodded mutely, quickly taking off down to autopsy. "Come on… Let's sit you down Tony." Gibbs said as he gently guided Tony towards his desk chair.
Tony nodded and sat stiffly in his chair, staring at his knees, keeping his hands clasped tightly together, "Why…" Tony whispered hoarsely, looking up at Gibbs with tears in his eyes that continually rolled down his cheeks.
"I…I can't… answer why Tony… I can only answer how…" Gibbs said softly as he swiped the tears away from Tony's cheeks.
"Eight days… He… He was… supposed… to come home… in eight… eight days, Gibbs…" Tony sobbed out, his entire body trembling again. Gibbs hit his knees and grabbed onto Tony, hugging him tightly as the younger man began sobbing loudly into his shoulder.
Tim returned to the bullpen with Ducky, Palmer and Abby in tow, Gibbs looked up at them, then quietly whispered into Tony's ear. Tony nodded and stood up with Gibbs, moving to stand in the center of the bullpen.
Tony dug into the top of his shirt, withdrawing a silver chain with a gold band twisting around on it. Gibbs unlatched the necklace from the back of Tony's neck, and Tony let the ring drop into his open palm.
Tony slid the ring on, inhaling deeply as he stared at the wedding band, more tears beginning to form in his eyes as he sobbed out loudly and dropped to his knees, "Oh god… WHY!?" Tony screamed in anguish, curling in on himself and clutching around his stomach as he rocked back and forth.
Gibbs stooped down, hugging Tony to his chest again. Abby and Ziva also joined them on the floor, hugging protectively around Tony and trying to keep his body as still as possible.
Tim, Palmer and Ducky eventually joined the group-hug-huddle with Tony in the center of it all. Ten minutes had passed, and Tony had finally calmed down again "Our… anniversary… Gibbs… It's… It's in… eleven days… He… he left me… he… he promised me he would come home!" Tony shouted, the anger in his voice rising as his chest started heaving rapidly.
"Tony… Tony, listen to me." Gibbs said firmly, holding onto Tony's cheeks, forcing the tear-filled green eyes to look up into icy blue eyes, "Are you listening to me?" Gibbs asked sternly.
"Yes, boss." Tony whispered as he pried Gibbs' hands off his cheeks, sitting curled up against himself in the center of his family.
Gibbs inhaled deeply as he looked down at his Senior Field Agent and best friend, "We're going to get you home, then we're going to get you to rest some… Okay?" Gibbs asked softly.
Tony shook his head rapidly "No… no… can't go home… can't do it… Not now… not ever…" Tony said, still shaking his head as he flexed his fists rapidly.
"Okay… Then, Ducky and I will take you to my house… and everyone else will get you some things from your place…" Gibbs said softly as he grabbed Tony around the elbows and hauled the younger man up to his feet.
Tony nodded, slumping forward against Gibbs' chest "Why did he go? Why? Why… Why didn't he just… stay home! Why did I tell him to re-up! Why did I do this?!" Tony shouted half-heartedly, his fists bunching into Gibbs' jacket again.
Gibbs sighed as he looked over Tony's head at Ducky, nodding his head ever so slightly. Ducky returned the nod as he withdrew a syringe from his pocket, he pulled the cap off and swiftly put the needle into Tony's arm, injecting the sedative into Tony's bloodstream.
Tony yelped and yanked the needle from his arm, whirling around to face Ducky "Not… nice…" Tony murmured, the sedative taking immediate effect on Tony as he swayed on his feet, then fell backwards against Gibbs' chest "Sorry… boss…" Tony slurred as his eyes fell shut.
Gibbs sighed as he held onto Tony from underneath the younger man's arms, while Palmer grabbed Tony's chair and pushed it carefully underneath Tony. Gibbs nodded his thanks while carefully settling Tony down into the seat "Palmer, Abby, Tim, Ziva, you guys go to Tony's apartment… Pack at least a weeks' worth of clothing and his bathroom items… And, doing this, does not give you permission to snoop through his belongings. Is this understood?" Gibbs asked sternly as he withdrew his keys and handed Palmer the key to Tony's place.
The four nodded their understanding, then watched as Gibbs began wheeling Tony and the chair towards the elevators, while Ducky collected the two men's belongings and followed them quietly.
After Gibbs left, the four looked around the bullpen helplessly, noticing the eerie silence that had reigned over the room, and noticing all of the sympathetic, yet confused, looks that were being brought down onto the center of the MCRT's bullpen, the four shrugged off the feeling and collected their own stuff so they could meet at Tony's apartment.