A/N: I know I started this story a while ago and then didn't work on it, but some stuff happened and I kinda stopped writing for a while. Anyways, I apologize. I'm writing again now and I'm even doing a writing course to improve, so I'm not planning on stopping again any time soon. If anyone still wants to follow this story, I hope you like it. This is more of an in between chapter, just more of an assessment of Tony's injuries and Gibbs' feelings in the whole matter.


Chapter 2

Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs tore through the hospital like a hurricane, in search of the man who he thought of as a son. Right now, Gibbs wanted nothing more than to hunt down the son of a bitch who did this to Tony, but he knew he had to let the others handle it for now – Tony needed him.

Several minutes after entering the hospital, Gibbs happened upon Ducky, who immediately sprung to his feet to try and calm Gibbs down.

"Now Jethro, you need to stay calm. Anthony will need you and you mustn't go in there guns blazing or you might frighten the poor lad," Ducky said, placing a hand on Gibbs' arm, trying to offer him some form of comfort.

"How is he?" Gibbs asked after taking a few deep breaths to calm himself. Ducky was right – his rage would not be of any help to Tony at this moment. He needed to be collected when he went in to see his boy.

"It's not pretty, Gibbs. He has severe lacerations over his entire body surface. Basically every patch of skin is bruised. He has severe burn marks on his back, abdomen and legs. There was a small stab wound on his lower abdomen – they were able to stitch it up without the need of surgery. He was drugged, but we don't know the type of drug used yet. He's severely dehydrated and has lost too much weight in the short amount of time he was gone. There are also signs that someone repeatedly tried to strangle him with a cord of some sort. And his right wrist is fractured – he might need surgery for that injury. As for the lacerations, well, some of them are very deep and might require plastic surgery to minimize the scarring. And that's only his physical state, I can't begin to think of how his mental state might be, especially if it was his father that did this."

Gibbs' knees wobbled as he heard Ducky describe the horrendous state Tony was in. He sank down in one of the plastic chairs and placed his head in his hands. He couldn't believe this was happening. Tony was such a good kid – loyal, protective, funny and kind – he couldn't believe anyone would want to hurt him like this, especially the kid's own father. But he knew it had to be true. Tony wouldn't lie about something like that. And he knew Tony didn't have much of a relationship with his father. And the things he'd heard Tony say about his childhood had already made Gibbs dislike the man before any of this even happened.

"I need to see him." Gibbs stood up, a fierce glint in his eyes as he faced Ducky. No one would hurt Tony again, not on his watch.

"Off course, just as I suspected you would. I've already cleared it with the hospital staff. I'll show you which room he's in." Off course Ducky had planned ahead and used his influence to make it possible for Gibbs to visit with Tony whenever he wanted. Ducky was a good friend like that.

Ducky brought Gibbs to Tony's room but didn't enter with him, knowing his marine friend needed some time alone with his surrogate son. Even if Tony didn't know or believe it, that's what he was to Gibbs. That's what he had been since the moment he and Gibbs met. Ducky could still remember thinking how remarkable it was that Gibbs had bonded with Tony so quickly when he usually never bonded with anyone.

Gibbs had to bite back a vicious snarl when he saw Tony lying in the hospital bed. His boy looked so fragile – so broken – it was painful to look at.

Tony's face was an entire bruised mess; his eyes were black and blue and swollen shut. Every inch of his face seemed to be swollen. Gibbs couldn't see much of Tony's other injuries underneath the blankets he was lying under, but he knew some of it. He'd seen Tony at the office and he'd seen some of his injuries then, though most of it had been covered underneath the blood.

He pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. After a brief moment of hesitation he gently took Tony's left hand in his own. He'd be there for his boy no matter what. And he would catch that bastard who'd dared to lay a hand upon him and he'd make him pay dearly for what he did.

"I got your six, Tony," Gibbs whispered to the motionless figure on the bed. He wouldn't leave him alone and unprotected anytime soon. Even if Gibbs had to go to the office, he'd make sure Ziva or McGee were here, watching his six.