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Tony's Nightmare: Chap.3

Gibbs stood in the doorway of the guest bedroom, staring at his slumbering charge. Tony's night had been anything but pleasant, yet here he was, sleeping the sleep of the dead. Gibbs hoped Tony slept so deeply because he felt safe here, not just because he was exhausted. In his sleep, Tony seemed so innocent and childlike. Gibbs, however, knew better. Anthony Dominic DiNozzo had lived one hell of a life, complete with losing his mother far too young and being beaten within inches of his life by his controlling, manipulative father. Tony had seen and experienced enough violence to last several life times at the hands of his father, yet he had never experienced love or affection. Now Gibbs finally understood why his young agent seemed so pure and childlike, he was. Most children know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their parents love and want them, Tony did not. He knew he got in the way, he knew he was not the son his father wanted, he knew he was a disappointment, but he had no clue what a wonderful person he was because no one had ever told him.

"Well, kid, that's about to change."

Tony woke to the scent of eggs and toast. Glancing around, the events of the previous night came back to him. He groaned and slammed the pillow back over his head. Gibbs was going to kill him. At the very least he would be extremely pissed off. Like fire Tony pissed. Especially since he'd had to haul Tony back to his place for the night. This was not good.

"Way to go, Dumbass, you've managed to let your boss see just how pathetic you are"

Tired of delaying the inevitable, Tony got up stretched, made the bed and jumped in the shower. At least he could face the firing squad clean and fully awake.

Gibbs heard the water cut off just as he plated up the bacon. He hoped Tony wouldn't stonewall him when he tried to talk to him, there was too much at stake for that. Placing the plates on the table, he grabbed another coffee mug and filled it with that vanilla crap Tony called coffee and sat it beside a plate. The kid would no doubt hate him for treating him like a child, but he simply could not stop himself. Someone needed to be there to take care of the stubborn kid, and he was as good as anyone.

"Wow! You even know what kind of coffee I drink. Now I think you're the mind reader."

"If I were a mind reader we wouldn't be in this situation right now. I would know what you were thinking before anything happened. Tony why didn't you tell me something was wrong? I knew you and your father didn't exactly see eye to eye, but I never thought he was this brutal!"

"The DiNozzo family does not air our dirty laundry to just anyone. I learned at a young age that saying something wouldn't do any good. My father always had ways of making things and people disappear. I didn't want something to happen to you."

Tony looked shocked by his confession, but Gibbs just smiled that soft paternal smile of his and refilled his coffee.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that."

Gibbs sat back in his chair and pinned Tony with the fatherly, we have to talk glare, but he didn't seem angry.

"There are some things I need to tell you. Things I should've said a long time ago. I just didn't know how. Now I really don't think I have a choice."

"I'm not fired?"

"What? Why would you be?"

"Last night wasn't exactly my shining moment."

"Last night I realized just how much I care about you. When that animal had you pinned up against the wall and hit you, I lost it. I saw red. I'm used to being in control, Tony. The only time I get that enraged is when someone threatens my family."

"But you didn't have family at my place last night?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to smack his Senior agent in the back of the head. While it proved very effective at bring Tony out of la-la land, he didn't think it would be welcomed so soon after last night.

"Tony, I know you're a fairly smart guy, you always try to hide that from people, but I know the truth, so how is it you can be so dense now?"

"I'm still not following, Boss."

"Tony, you're like a son to me."

Tony didn't hear anything else after that. His mind was spinning. No one had ever wanted him, but somehow, Gibbs did. He didn't understand. Why would anyone want him? He was a screw up, he wasn't someone Gibbs could be proud of, so why was his boss still talking and what the hell was he saying?

"You lost me."

"Where?"

"The first sentence."

Tony looked so lost and bewildered Gibbs almost hugged him, until he remembered Tony's no touching policy. The kid had issues, and Gibbs was determined to help him through every single one of them.

"I love you, kiddo."

Gibbs expected shock or even blank staring, but not the tears Tony wouldn't let fall. What the hell? Had no one ever told this kid they loved him?

"No one's ever said that before."

Before he knew what had happened, Gibbs had him in a strong, warm embrace. His no touching rule went out the window because he had never felt so safe and wanted before. The tears didn't want to stop, though.

"Tony it's ok. Just let it out. I'm not going anywhere. I've got you."

The mini breakdown lasted all of ten minutes. Gibbs had to change shirts, Tony's tears soaked his, but he didn't mind. At least the boy seemed somewhat more relaxed now. Sitting on the couch with Tony's sleeping form stretched out beside him felt good. Tony's head in his lap was amazing. No one had fallen asleep like that since Kelly. Not even Abby, yet here Tony was, curled up like a cat drowsing, feeling completely safe.

Tony's head moved and turned toward Gibbs. He whimpered and Gibbs immediately went into Dad mode.

"Shh. Tony, it's just a dream. You're safe."

With that Tony relaxed and fell into a deep slumber. Instead of dreaming of his father beating him, he dreamt of Gibbs solid form protecting him. Somewhere in the background a phone rang, but he didn't care. He was right where he wanted to be.