Chapter Three: Thoughts
Tony laid in bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark. Sadly, he couldn't sleep, due to the fact that he couldn't turn his head off. He was remembering. Remembering things from three days ago. Things that happened. Because it was imprinted in his mind. Three days ago, his father showed up. Yes. His father. After sixteen years. He reappeared. And not for the better.
He hadn't called or told Tony he was coming. No. He was just there. For a day, or two, Tony couldn't recall at the moment. In Tony's apartment when he got home. At first, Tony wondered how. Then, that didn't matter. His father was there. He wanted to know why.
3 days ago
Tony shut the door as he put down his bag. He walked over to put his gun away as he quietly said, "Dad."
"Junior. It's good to see you," the older man said.
Tony just said, "Why are you here?"
"Because. I need a favor," he told his son.
"What?" Tony asked softly.
"I got married."
"Again."
"Again."
"So? What do you want from me?" Tony asked.
"I want you to meet her," he admitted.
"No," Tony said simply.
"Hear me out, Junior. She has a daughter, your step sister. I would like you to meet them," he requested.
"No," Tony repeated.
"Why are you being so thick headed? Just meet her."
"I don't want to. And you can't make me. You can leave through the door," Tony said, pointing at the door.
"Alright, what's your problem?" he asked.
"My problem? My problem is that you've dated and married over a hundred women probably since Mom died, and you want me to meet them. You want me to pretend like they are my mother, my family. You want to forget about her and you want to replace her. Well, I don't. I won't. And, well, I'm sure you think Mom would've hooked up with any man she saw if you had died in her place, so that's your explanation for whoring around isn't it? She wouldn't have. She loved you. Sad you can't say the same," Tony ranted. Too far.
His father grabbed Tony's right wrist with one hand and his right arm with the other, forcefully throwing him into the opposite wall. Tony absorbed the impact of the wall with his right shoulder. He was in trouble and he knew it. His father wasn't much to Tony, but he was bigger, stronger, scarier.
Tony remembered thinking, 'I'm so screwed,' before drifting into a fitful night's sleep.
0430.
Tony awoke in a cold sweat.
0500.
Tony awoke due to his tossing and turning.
0520.
Tony awoke close to screaming.
0545.
Tony awoke suddenly before he could watch his own painful demise in his nightmare which haunted him.
0600.
"Get up! Get out here," Gibbs called as he opened the door, shutting it directly after.
Tony, not thinking, shot out of bed, grabbed his gun, and ran out to where Gibbs was seated at a kitchen table, gun at the ready.
McGee and Kate walked out of their own rooms and down the hallway, freezing in their tracks when they caught sight of Tony.
Gibbs slowly looked up at Tony, calmly saying, "You gonna shoot me, DiNozzo?"
Tony shook his head, trying to get rid of his drowsiness and exhaustion. "You said to get up and out here," Tony said, trying to understand.
"Yes, DiNozzo. I told you to get up. I told you to get out here. For breakfast. Not for an attack or an assault. For breakfast," Gibbs explained.
"Oh," Tony realized and quickly lowered his weapon.
Suddenly, Gibbs' amused face was replaced with one of confusion and concern. "Tony," Gibbs ventured, "what happened to your arm?"
'Son...of...a...bitch,' Tony thought. He was wearing short sleeves.
