Hello people!

#1: This will be a new fic in a series of fics. It's the fourth one and you have to know that there is a bottom line that goes through them all. So you are free to read this fanfic, and you can still understand the general things, though to be able to understand some little details and/or the Tony/Gibbs relationship as it is now, you should read the previous stories. You can read on my profile which ones they are.

#2: To all of the readers that are following me for a longer time now, HI! :D Welcome back! Yes, I know that there are other fics that need to be written and I can tell you that I will upload a new chapter for my story ''Too Deep'' soon! Thanks for hanging on to me! I really do appriacte it, I love you!

#3: Well then, I know it's nearly Christmas, but this isn't a Christmas fic. The last one before this is a Christmas fanfic, so yeah (reminder how long it's been for this universe!)
I've started so many 2-shots for this universe, but it's really difficult to choose in which order it's best to upload them. I chose this one... Hope you like it!

#4: Sorry for any typo's. I know, most of you already know, I am Dutch and I have Dyslectia, but still, for those don't! Well there! xD

Okay, Enough talk! Enjoy your reading!

He ran. As hard as he could, he ran. His throat hurt from it. His breaths coming in wheezes, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. If he did, they would catch him and that would be more awful than the searing pain in his chest. That full blown kick to it, clearly did something to one of his ribs.

How he had escaped in the first place was a wonder itself. Then again, he may be small, but he knew where to hit. He always knew that someday the movies he watched were good for something.

A turn to the left only brought him into another long hallway, with too many doors. One by one he tried them, his heart beating in his throat, not only because of the pain, but also because of the adrenaline that worked over time in his too small and too thin body.

One door. Two doors. Three doors. Argh! Four— A click and the door opened. How did that happen? It normally didn't do that. Without hesitating or over thinking, he stepped into the dorm. It just looked like his own. Two beds. One on each side. A double closet, a desk with a lamp. He silently closed the door and looked if the door had a lock. It did, so he turned it. He turned and leaned against the door. He closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath. This couldn't be happening. This had to be a nightmare.

This was so not how he wanted or how he was supposed to spend his winter break. How had he gotten in this situation? He knew staying here over the breaks would cause trouble.

The sound of running footsteps, made his eyes snap open. They came closer. So close. They were in the same hallway. But than they stopped. He heard the doors being rattled from the others side of the wall. And also the door he was leaning against. His instinct made him press his back harder against the door, even though the door was locked already. They couldn't get in. that wasn't possible.

The rattling stopped suddenly and he sighed silently in relieve. But he didn't hear footsteps walking away. He didn't hear anything. It was silent, and that was the scariest thing about this whole experience. Something caught his eyes and he looked down. The light from the hallway was shining into the room, from underneath door. His heart leaped in his throat again. Oh God, oh God! That couldn't be.

A shadow... A silhouette from the person came from under the door. Under his feet. The other person was still there, standing on the other side of the door.

His eyes widened with what he saw next. The shadow became bigger and bigger, until it was no longer on the ground, but right in front of him. And it was no longer a shadow. It was a person, a man, but he could only see the man's eyes. Eyes that were so cold, that it created a shiver go down his spine.

His instinct took over and he turned around to ran out of the room. But he panicked. The lock on the door was gone. Scratch that, the door was gone. He opened his mouth to scream, for someone, anyone, even though he knew they weren't there. But it didn't matter, because before any sound came out, a hand grabbed him from behind. Covering his mouth, and the other arm around his waist. Pulling at him. Dragging him further into the room.

He still tried to scream, but then everything went black.

…

Tony's eyes snapped open, gasped and he sat straight up. He was breathing fast as he looked around himself. Bed room. His bed room. Not the one in his... dream. Just a dream. Okay, okay! Nightmare. He calmed down a little. ''Shit'' He mumbled. ''Again?''

He had been having the same dre— nightmare for the past two weeks, a couple of nights a week. It was always the same, the hallways, the footfalls, the shadow from underneath the door. The eyes. Tony shuddered.

He ran a hand over his face and noticed it was wet. He was sweating. He was soaked in it. He was shivering slightly though, so it was definitely not because he was warm.

He jumped as his cellphone went off. He grabbed it and noticed he already had a missed call. ''Shit'' He thought. How could he miss the call? Had he been so deep asleep, that he didn't hear it? Sighing he picked it up. ''Hey boss'' His voice was hoarse. From sleep or from the familiar soar throat he didn't know.

''DiNozzo, I'll pick you up. We got a case'' Gibbs' voice was in a growl, but it hadn't his usual edge to it. Tony looked at his alarm, *3:47*. Was Gibbs awake still or again? He couldn't tell, but he didn't sound sleepy.

''Right. Case. C-can I shower first?'' Tony asked somewhat confused.

''I'm there in 20 minutes. Be ready to go''

''Su—'' Tony voice cracked and he didn't know why. He cleared his throat. ''Sure thing boss'' He expected to hear the familiar sound of Gibbs shutting his phone loudly, but he didn't. He waited a second. ''Boss?''

''You okay?'' Gibbs asked, the tone of unusual concern in his voice.

Tony eyes widened. What? Gibbs was worried about him? Why would he be? He just woke up, was there something he didn't know? He just had a dream... ''And one hell of a headache'' He thought to himself.

''DiNozzo''

''Fine, Boss. Just startled when you woke me up'' Tony replied. ''So see you in 18 minutes, boss''

There was a pause. ''Okay, DiNozzo. See you then'' Then there was finally that click.

Gibbs just hung up, politely. That didn't happen, ever. He wondered what had gotten Gibbs in such a state. Distracted with that question in mind, he stood up and went bathroom to get ready for the too early morning.

…

The headache didn't go away with the five minute shower, nor did the weird feeling that something was going to happen today, but the sweat did and Tony clothed himself in one of his expensive suits.

Gibbs hadn't told them where they were going and Tony assumed that Gibbs was going to tell them all at once, in the car. Gibbs didn't usually pick them up, so that either meant that the scene was nearby or it was out of their normal district. Tony didn't care much it resulted the same thing. Tony groaned at the thought. Great, his head was throbbing and he had to sit in a car with Gibbs driving, Ziva complaining about Gibbs driving, even though hers is even worse and McGee, either throwing up or talking about his Geek learning years to afraid to complain about Gibbs driving.

With a sigh he sat down outside his apartment building, on a low stone wall. His butt was freezing from the cold winter air, as it was January. But, he didn't want to risk, Gibbs telling Kate— Ziva or McGee to get him instead and them seeing his apartment. It would raise a lot of questions, he really didn't want to answer to them. His loft was his private thing. Even Abby didn't know which floor he lived on. He sighed again and rubbed his forehead. Damned headache.

Tony looked up at the sound of a car speeding his way and knew it was Gibbs before the car actually had rounded the corner and turned into his street.

Gibbs hit the breaks hard and the tires made the high pitched sound over the concrete. Tony winched as the sound ringed in his ears and decided to echo in them. He let out a low breath and walked towards the car. Doing so, the window rolled down and Gibbs' eyed him with suspicion.

''Rough night?'' Ziva asked, amused, seeing dark circles under Tony's eyes and his lack of enthusiasm, even if it was just 4:15 am. It happened more often lately and Tony had always some kind of inappropriate story to tell about his latest conquest coming with it. Which, truthfully was just that, a story. But the others didn't need to know that.

''Yeah'' Tony only said, avoiding Gibbs' eyes, from who he knew, didn't believe him. Not that it wasn't rough, but not the kind of rough, Ziva meant. He opened the backseat door and sat in, slamming the door shut, Gibbs drove off to get McGee.

He glanced into his rear view mirror a couple of times, seeing Tony plastered with his head and cheek against the window. He looked asleep, but Gibbs knew he wasn't. He did look relieved by the coldness of the window and Gibbs knew why that was. ''Headache'' Gibbs thought. He shook his head, reached between the front seats into the storage compartment and pulled out a box. He briefly looked down to see what he was doing, before looking back. He opened the box and with his fingers, he managed to push out two aspirins. He then reached into the storage compartment again and pulled out a bottle of water.

''DiNozzo'' He said calmly, looking into his rear view mirror as he held out the water and the two tablets.

Tony looked up and then down, looking at Gibbs' hand for a moment. Gibbs gestured with his hand, and Tony grabbed them. ''Thanks, boss''

Gibbs returned his hand back on the steering wheel and his eyes on the road. He was going to keep an eye on the man for today. Tony had to be focused and well enough working the case, otherwise he would have the painful task of sending Tony home. And that was something, he didn't want to do to Tony.

…

Even when he was behind the camera, the flashing of the light hurt his eyes. He didn't let it show though, just kept clicking. Ziva was talking to the neighbors who had woken up, either by the gun shots or by the commotion. Tony held his tongue, knowing that the Mossad Assassin wasn't skilled in interrogating and this was actually the first time that Gibbs let her do it on her own, stating that she had to learn it one way or another.

Gibbs was walking around their male victim, talking to Ducky and his stuttering Autopsy gremlin, while McGee was looking up their victim on his Geek device. It was like Tony was working on auto-pilot, not really paying attention, but when Ducky would hold out a hand with signs of struggle, Tony would make photo's of it.

Gibbs kept glancing at him, Tony knew the feeling of Gibbs eyes all to well. But he couldn't stop the involuntary cracking of his neck, while he shook his head, to get out the one thing that was unnerving him.

The laughter of his peers. And not the kind that he did all the time, the laughing of his peers having fun. It was laughing of kids or teens making fun. How Tony knew the difference he didn't know.

''DiNozzo'' Gibbs sighed, while Ducky raised an eyebrow, when the younger agent didn't respond. ''DiNozzo'' Gibbs tried again. But again no reaction. ''Tony!''

The camera disappeared from in front of his face and Tony blinked. ''Yes, boss?''

''I think you got enough photo's'' Gibbs said casually, yet Tony could see the thoughtful look in his eyes.

''Uh...'' Tony frowned. Looking down at the camera, he saw that he had been snapping the same photo for at least a minute, over and over again. ''Right, boss. Sorry, Si-boss'' He stammered.''Was he going to say Sir?''

Gibbs raised an mental eyebrow at the slip, but didn't let it appear in his expression.

However, Ducky did speak his concerns. ''Are you alright, Anthony?''

Both gray man frowned as Tony flinched out of nowhere. ''Yes, I'm fine. Rough night, S'all'' He mumbled, when he had recovered. When neither men looked away, Tony grew uncomfortable and he blurted, ''What?''

''You tell me'' Gibbs replied.

Tony sighed and rubbed his forehead. ''I woke up with a headache and I don't think I slept very well. It's nothing to worry about it will go away''

''I gave you the aspirin an hour ago, DiNozzo''

''I know. It just... comes sometimes. Like I said, it will go away. It always does'' Tony told them.

''Is something else bothering you, my boy?'' Ducky said already stepping closer and reaching out his hand to feel Tony's forehead. ''A cold, temperature, anything?''

This time, Tony rolled his eyes and stepped away. ''No, Duck. I am fine'' He said firmly. ''Look, I have to get back to work, you know, before the boss starts to comment on how my work isn't done'' Before the two older men could say anything, he turned and walked out of the living room where they had found their victim.

Ducky and Gibbs looked after him. ''He's not fine''

''I know''

''You do keep an eye on him, do you, Jethro?''

''Like a hawk, boss''

Ducky smirked and went back to their victim, as his assistant came back with the stretcher.

…

As the morning progressed, so did Tony's head ache... Only to get bigger and bigger. And while normally his memory of his nightmares would slowly slip away and be forgotten about during the morning, this time it clung onto the forefront of his mind. Being there in his thoughts every moment it could.

His eyes were on the screen of the computer, trying to read for anything odd in the phone records, since McGee was downstairs helping Abby. But they didn't take anything in.

Looking left and then right, trying to decide which way to go, as the footfalls became louder behind him.

''Ziva, Sit Rep!'' Gibbs demanded as he walked into the bullpen, cup of coffee in one hand, another one in his other.

Tony didn't even notice as Gibbs placed the other cup on his desk, nor did he notice, Ziva standing up with the clicker and starting to tell what she had found.

Ziva's voice sounded like it was in the background, somewhere far away...

''What about you, DiNozzo?'' Gibbs asked turning to him.

He tried many doors, before finally one opened and...

''DiNozzo!'' Gibbs snapped.

Ziva frowned as Tony still didn't answer. His eyes were glazed over, seemingly staring through the computer screen, instead of at it.

''Tony?'' She also said. But again no answer.

Panting, he stood with his back against the door, trying to listen to the sounds on the other side of the wall. A movement caught his eye... the shadow that come from underneath the door, grew bigger and suddenly there was someone standing right in front of—

''Tony!'' Gibbs said while looming over his SFA desk.

Tony yelped, as a shadow came over his desk and he pushed himself backwards with his chair. The harsh movement caused his chair to lose it's balance and Tony fell onto the floor with a loud crash.

''Ow!'' Tony groaned.

''What the hell, DiNozzo?'' Gibbs asked, but the tone had changed to slight concern for his agent.

Tony scrambled to stand up, nearly tripping over his chair again, as he did so. ''Sorry, Sir— Gibbs. I didn't hear you. I- It won't happen again. Do you need to know what I have, because I have enough. Really! Just give me a sec—''

''Are you alright, Tony?'' Ziva asked, cutting him off. Looking him over to see if he was hurt in some way.

''I'm fine'' Tony said on auto-pilot.

''Yeah, you said that this morning'' Gibbs slowly said. ''However, I don't believe you''

''What? Why not?''

''Because you're not acting like yourself''

''Not like myself?'' Tony frowned, confused. ''What do you mean? I don't act any different from normal''

''Is your headache gone?'' Gibbs raised an single eyebrow at him.

''Yes'' Tony said too quickly.

Gibbs nodded, knowing it was a lie. ''That's it. Go to Ducky. Let him check you over''

''Why?'' It came out a whine.

''Because I say so!'' Gibbs glared, giving him the look that told Tony not to disobey.

Still Tony protested. ''Gibbs, seriously! I am fine!''

''No. You. Are. Not! Now move your butt before I kick it down!'' Gibbs snapped harshly.

Tony flinched and automatically took a step back. Gibbs noticed and deflated, as his gut crunched at him. Did Tony have those circles under his eyes all morning?

''Yes, sir'' Tony said softly and walked towards the elevator.

After a couple of moments Gibbs was snapped into action and tried to go after him. ''Tony'' He began, but he was too late, as the doors already closed. He stared at the reflection of himself, trying to understand what just happened.

This particular fanfic has been in my documents for quite some time now, and as my muse likes to be spontanious it chose this one! This fic maybe will be a little longer then a 2-shot. I have a feeling, that will be the case.

What do you think of this chapter? What do you think is going on and will happen next? Tell me, I really would like to know your thoughts.

Update soon!

Leonie