Hi everyone, I finally decided to continue this story. One of the reviews I received inspired another chapter. I have to send a great big thanks out to Kejfe for betaing this story. I really appreciate her skills.
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Gibbs glanced away from his boat and up at Tony as his senior field agent came down the stairs. Three weeks had passed since Gibbs had told Tony it was okay to call him dad. He'd explained to Tony that when he called Tony his son he meant it. Gibbs didn't generally say things he did not mean. Since that conversation Tony had periodically taken to calling Gibbs "Dad". The majority of the time Tony still called Gibbs Boss. At work he always called Gibbs Boss, at Gibbs' house or when Tony and Gibbs were alone his salutation varied. However, when Tony was feeling particularly secure or jovial he would call Gibbs Dad.
Abby was the only person Tony had told about the conversation he'd had with Gibbs. She was also the only one who knew that he sporadically called Gibbs Dad. Recently, she had even taught Tony to use sign language to say Dad, knowing Gibbs would enjoy that as much as Tony did. Gibbs really enjoyed the name, although he had not said anything to Tony about the pleasure it gave him to be called Dad again.
It troubled Gibbs however, that Tony only used the title when he was feeling secure. In fact, he had assumed it would be more likely for Tony to call him Dad when he was feeling insecure. For instance, when he'd got on Tony's case last week about playing video games during work, Tony had avoided being alone with Gibbs for three days and had not called him Dad for five. Gibbs had finally taken his senior field agent out to coffee and again initiated the connection by asking for something from the barista for his son. That had broke Tony out of his funk and again tonight called him Dad.
"Hi, Dad" Tony said as he came down the stairs to the basement. "The pizza man is on his way. he'll be here in 20." He explained.
Gibbs did a nod of acknowledgment and tossed the sander he was using to Tony. While Tony began sanding, Gibbs grabbed another tool and walk around the end of the boat. Fifteen minutes later when the doorbell rang, Tony stood to go upstairs.
"I got it." Gibbs said as he grabbed his wallet and beat Tony to the stairs. Tony turned back to his sanding feeling content. However, when his boss failed to return five minutes later he headed up the stairs. As he round the corner he asked loudly "Where's the pizza Dad?" and then frozen in his tracks. Not only was the pizza and pizza man absent but McGee stood in the living room speaking quietly to Gibbs. They both turned to Tony as he walked in. Embarrassed and shocked at being caught calling Gibbs Dad, Tony turned a little pale. Never one to be taken aback, Tony quickly put on a straight face.
"Probie, what are you doing here?" He asked
Gibbs answered for McGee. "Just solving a problem, DiNozzo. I'll call you when the pizza gets here." his boss replied. The statement however was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.
As Gibbs headed for the door and paid for the pizza, Tony questioned McGee with a raise of his eyebrows. Though facial expressions, McGee responded. However, Tony was unsure of that the facial expression meant. Before they could communicate anymore Gibbs returned with the pizza and sent Tony to the basement with the pizza box and an order to stay out of ear shot.
While Tony sat in the basement his mind started working overtime. Would McGee say anything about him calling Gibbs Dad? Would McGee tell anyone else? He suddenly shuddered at the thought that Ziva might find out. He imagined Ziva and McGee teasing him about the situation. He worried Ziva would see it as a sign of weakness. She might wonder what kind of a wimp he was getting so attached to his Boss. McGee might even tell Ducky, and Ducky would respond with some psychological crap about Tony filling an unmet childhood need with an unhealthy attachment to his boss.
As he pondered the situation and considered the possibilities of what could happen, what was going to happen became a much scarier concept. The mind does strange things when it is left alone to wait. The lies of his childhood played in his mind as a broken record. And the lies bent the truth of the situation until his insecurities became the truth in his mind.
Suddenly he realized the pizza he was eating was cold. He looked at the clock and saw that it had been over an hour since Gibbs had gone upstairs. He wondered what could be so important. What was wrong with McGee, or what problem was McGee having? And why couldn't he be a part of the conversation? Why did McGee have to talk alone with Gibbs? Gibbs was supposed to be having dinner with him. They were supposed to have a fun evening, just the two of them, and McGee had ruined it. Now, McGee knew he sometimes called Gibbs Dad, and McGee had stolen Gibbs away at the same time.
He slammed the pizza down on the bench beside him and started up stairs. He calmed his outward appearance and put on his undercover face. He announced himself before walking in the living room. "Boss, I'm going to head home. I've got some laundry to do before tomorrow, or I am going to be pretty ripe at work." He explained without stopping as he walked for the front door. He didn't even glance at the distraught look on McGee's face.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs ordered. Tony's false jovial attitude had not fooled him. "I've got a spare set of your clothes here."
"That's okay boss. I'll see you and McProblem later." he commented sarcastically.
"Downstairs DiNozzo. We'll be finished soon." He ordered.
Tony sighed before he turned and headed back downstairs. He wanted out of the house, but not enough to disobey one of Gibbs' orders.
When he was in the basement and out of hearing range he let out a curse and than grabbed a bottle of liquor off the shelf. What ever Gibbs had wanted him to stay here for was not going to be good. He might as well be liquored up. It might dull the pain of the conversation he knew Gibbs going to have with him.
