Thanks to all those who added this story to their favourites, or put alerts on. I even got 2 reviews! I am going to apologise in advance, I wouldn't know how to do a casefic, so if one is mentioned, it won't be in solved in detail.

I don't own NCIS

As always, any and all mistakes are mine.

Jess x

Chapter 2

The rhythmic sound of wood being abused shook through the basement. The rough red sandpaper gouging into what will be a boat, with the ferociousness that could only belong to one Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

"What do you want, DiNozzo?"

Tony jumped, and sheepishly crept out from the shadows at the top of the stairs.

"Sorry, Boss. But I brought coffee, and pizza. And before you ask, no it's not pepperoni, sausage and extra cheese, it's plain old cheese."

Putting his goods down on the work bench, Tony turned and sat on the floor next to his boss.

Waiting for Gibbs to get some pizza in his mouth, Tony fidgeted bad enough to get a 'Start Talking' glare.

"We have to talk. I know you just want company, you don't want any prying, so we are going to talk about me. Actually, Boss, I am going to talk and you are going to listen."

Gibbs tilted his head and slowed down his sanding to allow him to listen to what his team leader was saying.

Taking a deep breath, Tony steeled himself for what was to come, what he was about to do.

"Today… Today when you came into work, I wasn't expecting to see you there. Not one year since they have died, before I knew you even, not one year since then have you ever come into work on the anniversary of their funeral. The day they were killed yes, but not the day of their funeral."

Tony looked over at his boss, and seeing the pensieve expression, softened his voice but continued talking.

"And you know what, I am annoyed at myself that I don't know. I know how you have your coffee, I know your favourite pizza, I know your dinner schedule even though it's on a 2 week rotation. Hell, I even know what you do every day at 2:30am. Who else can say they know you go to the cemetery every morning and talk to your girls, whether we have a case or not. Gibbs, the two things I can honestly say that it bothers me that I don't know about you, are your change of plan for today, and how you get these damn boats out of the basement."

Silence reigned supreme. No noise came from anywhere. The sander had stopped, no feet kicked the concrete floor, and even the breathing was almost silent.

"DiNozzo…. Tony, I don't get why that bothers you. You know more about me than probably anyone else on the planet. Shouldn't that be enough for you?"

Angrily, the Italian stood up and kicked a stool out of the way. He paced up and down the basement, ignoring his boss, sitting there sipping his piping hot coffee, as much as he could and trying not to take his frustrations out on the boat in his way.

He calmly looked around and stopped pacing. He couldn't bear to see his bosses face when he heard this.

"You just don't get it, do you Gibbs? I have had your six for almost ten years, and it's only been the last 18 months or so, but you are an investigator. Supposedly the best at NCIS, and yet you can't see what's right in front of your face? You can't see I'm in love with you, dammit!"

Silence. That's all there was. Silence that was even worse than before. Now it was uncomfortable silence. The two men stared at each other for what felt like hours before Gibbs finally raised his head.

Glancing up at his bosses face, Tony gained an expression of shock. Why would Gibbs be angry? Confused I would understand, certainly, same with annoyed and even amused since we're talking about Gibbs here.

"You're gay! All this time and you are just telling me now? I guess I really should have been paying more attention, but that doesn't mean I want you in my house. Or my workplace for that matter. Since I can't get rid of you for this, damn policies, next time you stuff up don't expect me to cover your arse. Better get packing, I know it won't take long for you to screw up bad enough."

"Gibbs, Boss, what is your problem with this. I'm still the same Tony you knew yesterday, you now just know something else about me. I thought I was part of this family, and family sticks by each other. I know it's not with some one being gay because you certainly don't treat Abby like this. I think she would die if you did. You even walked in on her. So why Boss. Why?"

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Gibbs faced his best agent looking like he'd just been slapped in the face.

"ABBY! Abby is Abby. Nothing she ever does is normal. She sleeps in a coffin for Christ sake. You on the other hand DiNozzo, you are the cement that holds the field team together. You keep my emotions in check, you break Ziva out of her shell and you (normally) treat McGee like just another one of 'the guys'. But now you are telling me that you are gay. You kiss other men, have thought and dreamt about kissing me. That just changes everything. Where I grew up, gay girls were ok. They were looked at as being 'eccentric' but gay guys, you were shunned, you were beat up, you were the reason people failed school or were killed. I stand being around you if it means one of my team might get killed. I can't have you on my team or you will get killed. Whether it's on the job or by my hand is yet to seen. This was not the day to bring this up. When I come back down, you and that pizza better be gone."

After the longest speech he had ever made, Gibbs turned around and running up the stairs, he left a man behind. Tony walked in a subordinate and team leader. He was left behind a broken man.

MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA MLIA

A sharp thumping noise on her front door roused Forensic Scientist Abigail Scuito from her coffin. Hugging Bert, she made her way to the door mumbling to herself, "where's Tony when you need him, at least he has a gun. Who knows what weirdos are out there."

Opening looking through the peephole, Abby saw nothing. Gingerly she undid the lock, and eased the door opened. Suddenly the door swung inwards, whacked itself on her elbow, and left one Anthony DiNozzo Jr. lying motionless on the carpet in her doorway, the remains of a plain cheese pizza next to him.

Thanks guys, as always let me know how I can improve.

Jess x