Hey everyone, sorry about the underlining in the 1st chapter, it has been fixed. Now I just want to thank you all for the great reviews and thanks everyone who added my stories or me as an author to their favorites list. You guys are amazing! On with the story.
NCIS and all characters in this story are not mine. If I owned them, boy would I have a hell of a time with Tony!
Now as you all know, this series is seriously AU so please no flames about the time line.
Gibbs placed the cordless phone back onto the charger and resumed his Tony watching. The kid, in spite of everything he had been through, still seemed so innocent. Tony was much like a child in so many ways. And not the ways most people saw. Tony's innocence came from within. It came from a lifetime of being neglected and ignored by the very people who were supposed to care for him. Kate had seen the tip of the iceberg, but Tony had never let her close enough to see the real pain.
Gibbs remembered the first case he and Tony had worked after Kate joined them. Tony had been terrified of being replaced for months after. Nothing Gibbs said helped. Finally, the two of them seemed to settle into a sort of routine around each other. They tormented the hell out of each other, but at the end of the day, they really cared for one another. Hell that was evident in the way Kate reacted to Tony having the plague, in the way she stayed to offer him comfort even after she had been cleared. It was little wonder Tony was so distraught now. Kate was family and losing family hurt.
Gibbs rose from his perch to fix lunch. Tony hadn't been eating properly since losing Kate, maybe now with some of the tension off his chest he could relax more and actually listen to what his exhausted body was saying. Removing the chicken from the fridge, Gibbs set about making the enchiladas. One of Tony's secret favorites might encourage him to eat more. He also had a feeling that his guest might be able to do more than just that. He just hoped he didn't mess this up for Tony's sake. While he and his father still chatted some they were not close, but if anyone could bring Tony out of this depression, it was Jackson Gibbs. He and Tony actually had quite a bit in common. The two of them should hit it off just fine.
Tony rolled his head to the side, the scent of wood and coffee filled his nose. His head was pillowed on one of his dad's sweatshirts. Smiling, Tony followed the sounds of his dad in the kitchen. As he stood watching Gibbs, he realized just how much the man had done for him. And just how much he hadn't done in return. He wished there was some way to somehow pay him back, but nothing could ever come close to what Gibbs had done for him.
He was drawn out of his musings by his dad handing him a plate full of chicken enchiladas. The look in those piercing blue eyes told him all he needed to know. He sat down at the table and started eating.
"I guess you appetite returned."
"Yeah. I would tell you how long it's been since I ate, but you'd probably ground me for a year. So I'll just shut up now."
Gibbs chuckled at his son before taking a bit. Tony needed to see him happy and laughing, not sad and depressed. If Tony saw his dad moving on with his life maybe it would be easier for him to do so.
The rest of the day passed without incident, much to the relief of a very concerned dad. Gibbs made sure he was never far from Tony, whether they were working on the boat or watching a movie. It was important to let Tony know that not everyone was going to leave him when things got rough. Even dinner was a family affair, as Tony helped his dad make Halibut with Asian slaw. Dessert was a Lava cake Gibbs had been working on secretly. It somehow made Tony feel wanted and loved, as he never had in parents' mansion.
Gibbs loved that sated look on his son's face. It meant that for now things were alright. He just hoped Tony felt the same way when Jack arrived. He had yet to tell him. As he loaded the dishwasher, he contemplated telling him against not telling him until the ringing of the phone broke his concentration. It was probably just one of Tony's friends.
"Gibbs residence."
"Hi, you must be Tony!"
"Well we both seem to know who I am but I have yet to hear your name."
"Jackson Gibbs. And yes son Leroy does in fact have a father. Contrary to popular belief he was not raised by a pack of wolves."
Tony giggled at the thought, and then caught himself before he offended the man on the other end of the line.
"Speaking of Grumpy, is he busy?"
"He's loading the dishwasher but I can get him if you want."
"No. Just tell him that I should be there by at the latest noon tomorrow. Have a nice night Tony."
Tony was too stunned to respond. Jackson Gibbs was coming for a visit and his dad had said nothing. He would have to pack and then take off for his apartment later. He didn't want to be in the way when Jackson came down. He wanted his dad to have time with his father. Leaving for a few days seemed like the best idea.