Confusion
Tony was sprawled across his bed, arms crossed behind his head and staring blankly at the ceiling, when his dad appeared in the doorway. He looked up, surprised to see him. He hadn't heard him moving around downstairs, and was a bit shocked that his father realized he was home. Meeting his son's glance, Jethro Gibbs crooked his finger and motioned towards the downstairs, then ordered firmly, "With me-"
"Yes, sir..." he responded instantly, then sighed and sat up, shaking his head at his father's communication methods.
Those two words, "with me", had been utilized as a command from the time Tony was in toddlerhood. He got to his feet, stretched and smiled ruefully. His response had not changed in all of his twenty six years. He had been trained to follow automatically and immediately, and knew better than to loiter once his dad had beckoned him.
Jogging down the stairs, he tried to guess his father's purpose, but couldn't.
Gibbs was not in the kitchen or living room, so Tony started down the basement steps next, squinting to see through the shadows. The dim light showed his dad wasn't there, either. He climbed back up, not sure where else to look, then decided to try the laundry room, which led to the back door. Finding the laundry room empty, he peeped out the door's portal and saw his dad tending the grill in the dark of the evening, illuminated only by the summery moon.
He closed the door behind him and approached his father. "Dad?"
Gibbs nodded, but didn't answer and Tony went to stand beside him. Steaks were sizzling over the charcoal and his mouth started to water. He loved it when his dad barbecued.
"That smells good. Do you need my help? You want me to get the silverware or plates?"
Jethro shook his head in the negative, and Tony looked up quickly to see if all was well. His father glanced at him and smiled, and Tony threw his arm around his dad's waist and gave him a quick hug. Jethro responded by kissing the top of Tony's head.
"Go sit down, Son," he ordered, tussling Tony's hair.
Tony made his way to the glider swing and settled on it, stretching out his long legs and rocking softly. He surveyed the backyard, and the corners of his mouth twitched. He had so many memories locked into this piece of land. Hours had been spent here playing basketball, or climbing trees, or perfecting his soccer and football games, not to dismiss the pre school years he spent mastering first a tricycle, then a bike, out here. Closing his eyes he leaned his head back against the swing's cushions and lost himself in his thoughts, listening to the nighttime sounds around him.
Gibbs turned and regarded his child, and noting Tony's rocking movement his thoughts travelled to the rocker in Tony's room. It had been years since the boy had actually been rocked in that chair, by either his dad or his abuela, but nevertheless, Tony refused to have it taken out of the bedroom. He said it was his, and adamantly maintained it wasn't going to be moved anywhere. Gibbs had finally dropped the subject, realizing that it was a symbol of security and love for the boy.
Tony opened his eyes lazily and saw his dad regarding him. He smiled in reply, and Jethro turned his attention back to the grill. Tony tried to think- he was unsure of what his dad wanted. "With me" translated into only two or three explanations in the house of Gibbs. One "with me" had always indicated that Tony was in a world of trouble, and the other generally meant that his dad meant to teach him something or show him something.
Tony shook his head. Could his dad be mad about something he had done? He honestly couldn't think of anything he had done lately, or anything that would have reached his father's ears and kick started his dad into discipline mode.
His thoughts drifted back to a scene when he was probably seven or so. They were visiting the Mallards, and Tony was chasing Tyson, one of the corgis, around inside the house, against Victoria Mallard's specific instructions. Rounding a corner too fast, Tony slammed into a side table, upset a decorative bowl, and watched in horror as it careened to the floor. Jethro, Ducky, and Victoria all got there at the same time, fearing the worst when they heard the crash. Luckily, the bowl had survived the fall, but Gibbs looked down at his son, crooked his finger, and demanded, "With me." Tears started before his dad even got them to the destination- Tony's bedroom at the Mallard house. Other than to remind Tony that he had been told to stop running, and then a minute later to order Tony to move his hands from trying to protect his bottom, Jethro didn't say anymore. He sat down in one of the bedroom's chairs, pulled Tony firmly over his lap and spanked his uncovered (and unprotected) rear end.
That was the last time he ran indoors while visiting the Mallards. It was a painful lesson, but to be fair, even then he knew he deserved that dose of discipline.