Season 3 Silver War
Ziva: You and I are the only ones who know the truth. And for that I am grateful.
Gibbs: I trust you Ziva, you know that…
--
Getting up to leave that evening was harder than Tony thought it would be. He'd been sitting there fixated on his cell phone the majority of the day, so what was so bad about a change of location? Particularly if that change in location meant alcohol…and not the eagle eye of one Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
"Pillow DiNozzo?"
He pulled his eyes off his cell phone for a moment. "Naw boss…I'm headed out in a few. Just putting the finishing touches on some paper work."
Gibbs looked across at his younger Agent. "And you McGee?"
"Same boss. Can never be too thorough right?"
Gibbs stood at their responses. "Both of you. Home. Now."
His voice was soft, but firm; which was never a good sign. Tony contemplated a protest while McGee gave little hesitation. He was packing up his things slowly and deliberately, but doing it none the less. Eventually Tony followed suit. The two of them sulked their way towards the elevator when one of them decided to turn back.
Only Gibbs anticipated the question.
"I don't know DiNozzo…wish I did."
Tony swallowed hard before joining his partner near the elevator and stepping in beside him.
"You ever heard that tone before Probie?"
Tim's face was clearly fallen; he had no reason to hide how he felt. "What tone?"
"Doubt." Tony stated simply.
"What were you gonna ask?"
The older agent locked eyes with him. "If he thought she'd come back."
Tim stared at the floor. "Do you?"
He glanced at his cell phone; which was still gripped in his left hand. "Would you?"
--
Gibbs was still standing near his desk well after his Agents had vacated the bull pen. His next destination was unclear…something that he rarely faced. Indecision. After all, it hadn't been that long since he'd made a choice that would change the course of his team's life… but his next destination in this very moment was a mystery. He knew his two Agents would be self sufficient, and rest assured that Abby was fast asleep on Ducky's couch…so what was next? Or more accurately…where?
Wherever it was. Something told him; the question he hadn't let Tony ask would be the only thing on his mind…
And little did he know, he wasn't the only one.
--
"Not cool Ducky…" Abby's voice was somewhere between asleep and awake as she lay comfortably on his couch.
The Doctor sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it Abigail…this may be something that is beyond Jethro's control…now we can talk more in the morning. Time for your eyes and mouth to get some rest…"
"But…if he can't get her to come back…then no one can."
Ducky almost smiled as he watched her eyes slide shut. "She can my dear." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before lifting the blanket over her shoulders. "Sweet dreams." Though something told him they'd be far from sweet…as would his own.
--
Tony and McGee parted ways in silence as they stepped off the elevator. Neither of them having any answers for what was ahead… all they knew was they had to come into work tomorrow morning. No matter how bad neither of the wanted to.
It was only when Tony reached his car that he realized something important. Something that was always important, but for some reason meant a whole lot more now…
"Hey Probie…wait up."
Tim glanced back at him and contemplated not answering at all. "Yes, Tony?"
"You know I'm here right?...Not like physically here, but here here." He cringed, he was never really good at this. "Look, I know things are gonna be different…and I know you're probably a little pissed at me right now…but I just needed you to know that I'm not going anywhere…"
Tim shook his head. "Not pissed at you Tony."
"You should be."
He tossed his bag inside and looked back at his partner. "She made a choice...who knows, maybe it's the right thing for her…being back home you know…with her family."
Tony didn't respond.
"Look…what happened. Neither you or I can change that. Guess all we can do now is move on." McGee finished, a bit surprised at his optimism.
"You practicing that speech for Abby?"
Tim almost smiled. "How'd I do?"
"Terribly good…you should be an actor or something." Tony managed a small smile before it quickly faded. "I know you probably want to get some sleep so I'll let you go, I just wanted you to know that…"
"You're here," Tim finished for him. "Same goes for me."
The silence right then spoke volumes.
"Now get outta here before we hug or something." Tony jested before stepping aside and allowing his partner the room he needed to drive away. He stood there aimlessly for a moment until his tail lights were out of sight. It was then his mind suggested a new destination and his feet began to take him there…
--
"Pillow boss?"
Gibbs glanced up to see his Senior Agent at the helm of the bull pen. "Thought I told you to…"
"Go home," Tony took a step towards the empty desk at right. "I got lost."
"You're gonna get more than that if you don't get outta here."
Tony examined him for a moment before contemplating his response. "Kate."
Gibbs squinted at him. "What?"
"Kate." He repeated simply.
"Make your point DiNozzo."
He did so with little hesitation. "You wouldn't let us out of your sight after Kate…I had to come up with a hundred excuses for my dates just in case you decided we were spending the night at our desks…you called me more times in those few months than the previous five years I'd worked for you…"
Gibbs stare encouraged him along.
"Why kick us out now?"
Gibbs took down the remnants of his coffee. "I don't have to explain myself to you."
"No you don't..." Tony agreed. "You never do."
"Something you want to say DiNozzo?"
He moved towards him just as Gibbs stood up. Tony contemplated letting it all out but could only manage a simple. "I'm sorry."
"Come again?"
"I'm sorry boss. If I don't pry…maybe Ziva's still here. It's my fault you had to make that decision…guess I don't blame you for kicking me outta here tonight."
"It ever occur to you I wanted you outta here…so you could do what you needed to do."
"Which is what boss?"
"That's for you and McGee to figure out…and you sure as hell aint gonna do it sitting here all night."
Tony stared at him. "Like you are."
"Yeah DiNozzo. Like I am."
"Guess I should've just gone home huh?" He awaited a head slap, only it never came.
"Ziva made a choice. And it wasn't us…not your fault."
Tony swallowed hard. "Jenny made a choice too boss."
Gibbs didn't respond except to return behind his desk. It wasn't long after that Tony made his way out of the bull pen…slowly but surely. His eyes catching the ever empty desk at his right.
Kate.
Ziva.
…
But all that mattered now was tomorrow…and little did any of them know just what havoc it would bring.