Oh, my! I wrote another one... Tony-angst, that is. Sorry. This is what my twisted mind comes up with late at night. Can't fight it. Just have to write it. Enjoy and be kind - rewind uhm, review.


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Anthony DiNozzo is hurting. He is sad and he is hurting, and he knows who is to blame.

"Why?" he asks. He cannot lift his eyes, and keep them firmly fixed on his feet. His voice is tight and hoarse, and the word is painful to speak. He bites his lip as he waits. This is something he rarely does. Only in front of her.

He gets no reply.

Shifting his weight slightly, he repeats his question. "Why?"

The tears sting his eyes, and he turns away. He isn't going to give her the satisfaction.

He has made it this far in life without her support, and he is not going to ask for it now. He just wants - needs - some answers.

She clearly isn't going to comply with his wants, so he changes tactics. His voice grows dark as the accusations pour out of his mouth.

"Why were you never there when I needed you?" He can hear the self pity leak through and he is disgusted by it, but there's nothing he can do about it at this point. He is uncovered and bare.

Still, there is no answer to be heard.

The air is chilly around them and the wind tears at his clothes. He shivers slightly. He is cold to the bones. To the soul.

"Why didn't you ever stand up to him, mom?" He clenches his jaws as his head is filled with pictures from a time almost forgotten. Back when he was a happy child. Shooting hoops in the backyard. Eating actual family dinners. Laughing, for cryin' out loud...

A nice time. A time before. He views his life in terms of before and after. After wasn't so good. Not good at all.

He sighs and his pained expression is changed back into the one he always wears.

His tone is harsh as he suppresses the hurt.

"You don't care a bit." And with that, he leaves.

The tombstone stays silent as always.


The phrase 'you don't care a bit' was the spark to this fic. It's the last sentence of the song 'Hide and Seek' by Imogen Heap. They played it at the end of an OC-ep ages ago and it echoes through my head from time to time.