Of Fathers & Sons Chapter 2

It is not flesh and blood, but heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Friedrich von Schiller

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Hearing fear in Gibbs voice caused Ducky to stand up.

Gibbs stood stoically but Ducky sensed Gibbs was in shock.

Ducky could hear the caller asking if he was still there.

He placed a hand on Gibbs shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.

Gibbs met his eyes and then nodded toward the bar exit as he responded to the caller "Yes Ester…I am still here…hang on a moment please…."

Ducky got the signal and followed Gibbs as he moved toward the hotel lobby.

Ducky looked back to see if they would be missed and was grateful to see everyone was still engaged and enjoying themselves. The two old friends slipped out undetected.

Finding a quiet corner with Ducky at his side Gibbs continued "Thank you for holding Ester…"

"I understand Leroy…and I am so sorry to be the person calling you with such sad news so late."

"How did Dad die?" he asked quietly hearing Ducky gasp to his right.

"The store never opened and that was so unlike Jackson…he was open every day but Sunday as you know…like clockwork….but"

Gibbs closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Ducky could tell he was trying to be patient with the caller.

"….when Eunice Matthews came in for a loaf of bread she commented that the store was closed….well we talked a bit about that and then figured we should check on your dad….."

Gibbs heaved out a breath not knowing he had been holding it in.

"…we looked in the window and not seeing your dad we called in the sheriff….when they finally got there they had to bust in the door…..they found your Daddy dead in the stock room…they think he may have had a heart attack. They took him to Wilson's Mortuary…..I told Sheriff Brewster and Tom Wilson I would call you."

"Thank you Ester….I will get to Stillwater as soon as I can."

"I'm sorry honey….your dad was such a wonderful man and Stillwater won't be the same without him…"

Ducky watched as Gibbs nodded a few times before he hung up.

The two of them stood quietly for a few minutes, Ducky patiently waiting for Gibbs to speak.

Gibbs finally turned to Ducky and said "I need to go Duck."

"I know" Ducky replied softly "I am so sorry, Jethro…..how did your father pass?"

"They suspect a heart attack….."

"I see…what can I do to help?"

Gibbs looked Ducky in the eyes and said "I need you to keep an eye on Tony…DO NOT tell anyone about my Dad….especially Tony."

Frowning, Ducky said "Very well Jethro….you will contact me if you need my help?"

Gibbs smiled at one of his oldest friends and said "I will Duck…and thanks."

Gibbs stood up straight and slipped his phone into his jacket pocket.

"I need to get in there and make up an excuse to leave…will you back me Duck?"

Ducky's eyes conveyed sorrow for his friend's loss but he smiled up at Gibbs and said:

"To quote your second in command…."On your six", Jethro!"

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Gibbs entered the bar and assessed the scene.

The younger people, including most of his team, were still enjoying themselves at the bar.

Tony was not with them.

Ducky followed Gibbs to the bar as he approached McGee.

"Hey boss!" McGee said happily as Abby turned and said "Boss man! Whasss up?"

Abby and McGee looked at each other and began to laugh. They had both had too much to drink and were feeling no pain. Gibbs was pleased to know that most of the team already had rooms reserved and were staying at the hotel for the night.

"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!" Abby cried out, wide eyed and smiling "Did you know Bishop cannot get drunk? She has had as many drinks as both of us…" she pointed between herself and McGee "…and nothing, nada!"

She then hiccupped and laughed saying "…'scuse me!"

Ducky smiled, directing Tim and Abby's attention away from Gibbs saying:

"Abigail…I think you and Timothy have had quite enough."

Ducky signaled the bartender and order the inebriated pair a coffee each.

Gibbs appreciated he had Ducky as a wing man. He turned to Bishop and asked:

"Where's Tony?"

"He's over there with his Dad…" Bishop replied, pointing over to the other side of the room.

She seemed sober but he took her aside and said:

"Thanks….are you staying here tonight?"

She shook her head and said "No…I just called a cab. I'll see you all tomorrow."

Gibbs nodded and scanned the larger group of DiNozzo Senior's friends and associates looking for Tony. He could hear senior talking loudly and the group of men surrounding him laughed heartily. Gibbs noticed the bride to be was not present as he approached the group. He noted there was not a woman among them.

As he got closer he finally recognized his SFA. Tony had his back to Gibbs and Gibbs could see he had his head down, staring at the floor. Gibbs could tell senior was drunk and was commanding an audience just like a king.

Gibbs blood began to boil as he entered the conversation hearing that the laughter was at Tony's expense.

"…Junior has never taken the plunge (laughter)…..oh he was close once…..but the girl ditched him at the alter (laughter)….what was her name Junior?"

Gibbs heart broke when he heard Tony whisper "Her name was Wendy…"

"Wendy! Right!"

Senior looked around at his friends relishing their undivided attention.

Gibbs moved along the perimeter of the group until he could see Tony from the front.

Tony held an empty martini glass in his hand and he had a defeated, beaten down look about him.

Gibbs stared at senior and watched as the man finished off his drink, his eyes never leaving his son.

There was a something in those green eyes that caught Gibbs completely off guard.

He was momentarily trapped, mesmerized by the sheer cruelty he was seeing as Senior said:

"Smart girl….she knew marrying a dumb cop would be a big mistake…"

Tony's head shot up as the glass shattered in his hand.

Senior threw his head back, laughed and said:

"How about another round, gentlemen?"

Gibbs pushed his way through the drunken men as they moved with senior back towards the bar, ignoring Tony as they passed.

Tony was shaking, copious amounts of blood dripping from his left palm.

He had crushed the glass with such force broken fragments of it were deeply imbedded in his hand.

Gibbs took Tony's hands gingerly in his own as he guided him towards the restroom.

"Boss?" Tony asked, confusion in his voice, as he allowed Gibbs to lead him.

"Yeah Tony…c'mon….we need to get this bleeding under control."

Gibbs held the restroom door open wide as he guided Tony inside. He looked back to see the missing women joining their men at the bar. They had come in from the lobby. Before Gibbs let the restroom door swing closed he caught sight of senior who raised a glass of liquor in his direction and smiled.

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"This was such a mistake….I should have never, ever thought the man could change…" Tony said as Gibbs bent forward holding his hand under warm water removing what glass fragments he could see.

"I told ya boss…we are like oil and water….we don't mix….we…we…OUCH!" He cried as Gibbs pulled out the final shard.

Gibbs stood up straight and as he threw the broken glass in the bin near the sink said:

"You're lucky you didn't wound your gun hand, DiNozzo."

Tony looked down at his hand which was still bleeding and sighed.

The anger and adrenaline was wearing off and his hand was beginning to throb.

"Why do you let him get away with the things he says?" Gibbs asked

Tony cringed asking "How much did you hear?"

"Got there just as the subject of Wendy came up."

"Hmmm…well that's a good thing…you missed the whole part about Ziva."

"Ziva?!"

"Yeah…Dad felt it was necessary to let his buddies know how I blew that relationship too…he said she high tailed it back to Israel because of me."

"What?! You know that is not true!"

"I know…"

"Did you defend yourself?"

"No….I learned a long time ago to just roll with it until…."

"Until?"

Tony held up his wounded hand and said "Until I can't."

Gibbs frowned saying "Yeah but hurting yourself is not the answer…you should just deck the asshole!"

Tony chuckled sadly "Yeah….I should have…years ago…clocking the old man now would be elder abuse."

"Well you should at least tell him off…quit allowing him to degrade you…you don't deserve that…the bastard is so lucky to have you as his son!"

Tony looked shocked at Gibbs passionate outburst but then he smiled warmly and said appreciatively:

"Thanks boss."

Gibbs pulled a handful of paper towels and handed them to Tony.

"Here…cover that wound and add pressure…I'm gonna call Ducky….you may need stiches."

Gibbs pulled out his phone to make the call to Ducky when the restroom door flew open and Senior entered in a rage. Gibbs watched in horror as Tony turned from the bathroom mirror panicked. Gibbs witnessed his six foot two SFA change from a strapping young man into a scared little boy as he scrambled away from his Father's fury.

"BLUE!? You picked BLUE! Linda HATES blue!"

Senior stepped towards Tony but Gibbs blocked his way. Senior tried to push past Gibbs but soon found himself up against the tile wall in a choke hold.

Gibbs leaned in and said coldly "What in the hell are you talking about?!"

"The linens…..it's the linens right?" Tony answered looking directly at his Father.

Senior glared at him as Tony laughed sarcastically "It is the fucking linens! JESUS DAD! I ASKED YOU ABOUT COLORS AND YOU SAID SURPRISE US! WELL SURPRISE!"

Tony began to feel light headed but the anger he felt flooding over him kept him standing.

"Anthony?" Linda asked softly from behind the restroom door before she opened it and stepped in.

She looked embarrassed as she took in the scene before her.

Gibbs released Senior who pulled away indignantly.

"Yes darling?" Senior asked as he approached her.

"Tony did a lovely job with the décor…the ballroom is stunning….I'm sorry I mentioned the blue…."

Senior sighed and hugged her tightly "I just want you to be happy dear."

Linda smiled at Tony over Senior's shoulder and mouthed "I'm so sorry".

She then took senior by the hand and guided him out of the room.

Gibbs looked at Tony in shock asking "What in the hell?!"

Tony grimaced, throwing bloody towels into the trash as he checked his hand. The cuts were deep but the bleeding had stopped for the moment. He moved his fingers to make sure everything was still working.

"My Dad is a total psycho when he gets plastered….sorry you had to witness that….I feel like I'm 8 years old when daddy dearest comes out to play."

Gibbs couldn't believe what he had just seen. As he dialed Ducky's phone he said:

"Tony…what your Dad did tonight is unforgivable!"

Tony shrugged and said "Not everyone is blessed with a Jack Gibbs for a Father."

Tony almost missed the hurt expression on Gibbs face until the sound of Ducky asking for "Jethro" for a second time made him look up.

Gibbs stared at Tony as he brought the phone to his ear and said quietly:

"I'm here Duck…can you come back to the bar's rear restroom for a minute?"

Tony looked at Gibbs trying to read his expression and for the first time in many years Gibbs was completely unreadable. Beginning to grow concerned Tony started to speak but was interrupted as Ducky walked through the door.

"Jethro…I thought that you were go…." He began to say until he noticed Tony.

"Tony's hurt duck….can you check him out?" Gibbs asked coolly

"Certainly….." Ducky responded seeing Tony's cut hand he added "My, Anthony, what has happened?"

"Only a flesh wound Duck." Tony said nervously still trying to figure out what was going on with Gibbs.

"I have my bag in the car…sit here and I will be back momentarily" Ducky said as he had Tony sit down on an ornate bench near the door.

"Will you accompany me, Jethro?"

"Sure Duck" Gibbs said as he followed Ducky to the door.

Before Gibbs left he looked down at Tony who looked up at him with great sadness.

Gibbs wished now he had never encouraged Tony to rekindle any kind of relationship with his Father.

The man was not deserving of a son as wonderful as Tony.

Gibbs smiled at Tony and cuffing him under the chin with affection said:

"You stay here until Ducky gets back."

"Okay…will you be back, too?"

"I will but there's something I need to do first."

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Gibbs followed Ducky towards the lobby. Looking around the bar as they walked, Gibbs saw the party had gotten much smaller. His team was gone and all that remained was Dinozzo Senior, Linda and a group of their friends. He could see Linda was plying her fiancé with as much black coffee as he could ingest.

Ducky turned back towards Gibbs and as if reading his mind filled him in:

"Eleanor's cab arrived and Jimmy and Breena left when she did. McGee helped Abigail up to her room. He and Tony have a room adjoining hers. Their room is next to ours. Taylor and her spouse have also retired for the evening."

Gibbs nodded as they made the rest of the way to Ducky's car in silence.

Bag in hand Ducky said "So what is the plan Jethro….have you told Tony you are leaving?"

"No...not yet."

"What will you tell him?"

"Not sure Duck…working on it…you tend to Tony and I'll join you both in a few minutes."

As the two friends re-entered the bar, Ducky headed towards the restroom and Gibbs bee lined it towards the bar.

He had senior in his sights.

The older man must have felt the intensity in which Gibbs was focusing on him. He suddenly looked to his left seeing Gibbs quickly approaching him. The older DiNozzo rose from his barstool and stepped towards Gibbs to meet him.

When the men were face to face Gibbs said with conviction "You need to apologize to your son."

Senior looked like he had sobered up a bit but the cruel eyes and twisted smile remained.

"You think so, do you?"

Gibbs eyes narrowed threateningly as he said:

"I know so, DiNozzo."

Senior tried to stare down Gibbs but failed miserably. He had sobered up enough to know he had caused an unnecessary scene but he was pissed Tony's boss thought it was his job to interfere.

"This is DiNozzo family business, Gibbs…butt out…"

Gibbs moved like a cobra grabbing Senior's left bicep and pulling him forward towards the restroom.

"Hey!" He began to protest but shut up as Gibbs whispered:

"Do not make me humiliate you in front of your quests….."

Just before the men reached the restroom door Gibbs spun Senior around and got right up into his personal space. They were almost nose to nose as Gibbs said:

"I do not care what you say or how you say it but you need to go in there and tell your son how sorry you are to have embarrassed him….that you appreciate all the hard work he has done on your behalf and that of his new stepmother. Make him feel it DiNozzo or you will be very sorry if you don't."

Anthony DiNozzo Senior flushed beet red. He tried to control his rage knowing Gibbs could break him in half if this got physical. He didn't think Gibbs would try but he had to admit to himself he was scared of the man in front of him.

Trying to save face he said "You know Gibbs…when I told you you've been more of a father to junior for the past several years it was due to your proximity to him. I know he respects you and values your opinion but do not forget he is MY son….MY blood…."

"Oh I know that DiNozzo…..but get this…I am well aware of my influence over Tony. Fate did not determine him to be my biological son but fate determined that he is my family…my kid…that is how I see him and I will not have what is mine hurt physically or mentally by someone who degrades and belittles him. One of Tony's greatest attributes is his loyalty but it has worked against him where you are concerned. After everything I have ever heard about you and everything I was witness to tonight I have to wonder why you still matter to him."

Senior smiled smugly and said "Because I am his Father."

Gibbs smirked at him but his eyes were blue steel.

"You are the sperm donor….you have no idea how to be a good Father."

"Now you wait just one minute Gibbs…"Senior began but Gibbs cut him off saying:

"Was your Father a cruel man? Did he make you feel less than….make you the butt of the joke around his friends? Sabotage your self-esteem and delight in your pain as you tripped over yourself to please him?"

"What?! NO…my Father was a wonderful, loving man!"

"Really? So did you consciously choose to be the polar opposite of the man who raised you?"

DiNozzo was shocked into silence. He looked from Gibbs over to the door and back at Gibbs.

"I love my son Gibbs….I have never meant to harm him….I just wanted him to amount to something…be someone…"

"WHAT!? My God you are a piece of work! You should count yourself blessed that you gave him YOUR name….the deeds of the son have elevated the Father….Your son is a better man then you could ever hope to be."

Gibbs pushed Senior towards the door saying:

"Time to prove you love him. Make Tony believe you are worth his time."