AN – I was very concerned to receive a review complaining about the level of profanity in my stories. As the review was anonymous I cannot discuss it with them personally, but I am confused, as I only use words that feature in the show and I employ a T rating to indicate the use of 'minor coarse language' – if anyone else believes that I should actually be using a M rating please do let me know.
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The painful rasp of air through swollen nostrils brought Gibbs head up sharply. Beneath his still closed lids, Tony's eyes were moving rapidly, as his cracked, swollen, knuckles grasped fistfuls of the crisp cotton sheets, his back arched and a small cry of protest escaped his lips as the nightmare drove him to wakefulness and his eyes snapped open.Gibbs clearly read the flash of panic in his Agent's expression as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings, the tang of sweat and blood in the air and the physical discomfort of recent injury, before the mask slipped firmly into place and he could almost feel DiNozzo assessing what type of danger he might have found himself in this time.
"You redecorate, Boss?"
The words came out thick and slightly raspy, but for once Gibbs let his pride and satisfaction show on his face as DiNozzo's eyes slid in his direction. He wouldn't put it past him to know he was there by his scent or the pattern of his breathing. Even when he was hurting Tony was one of the best agents he had ever worked with. Perhaps especially when he was hurting.
"Its Fornell's place."
A faint frown creased DiNozzo's face, causing him to flinch as he belatedly remembered to be careful. Making an effort to smooth out his features he let his eyes rove around, taking in Ducky sleeping on the couch and Abby in her IPod imposed isolation in the corner.
"How much do you remember?" Gibbs asked neutrally.
Two bright spots of colour stained DiNozzo's cheeks as the events of the previous day came flooding back in glorious Technicolor. It was bad enough that he had acted up like a spoilt brat for being yelled at. He couldn't believe that he had flinched from Gibbs like a frightened child. He refused to look at the ex-marine as he answered in a quiet voice.
"I screwed up, Boss. I should have told you what I was doing before I did it and I shouldn't have over reacted like that."
"Overreacted when you got mad or when I hit you?"
"Both."
"Tony, listen to me. You didn't screw up. You closed the case and I acted like a jackass. I don't blame you for being pissed at me. And, as for the other thing, that wasn't your fault."
"I .." Tony swallowed hard, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the wall. "It wasn't you, Boss."
"No, I kinda figured that."
Tony looked back at the note of understanding in his Boss' voice, not entirely surprised to see the compassion in his eyes. The older man knew more about his relationship with his father than Tony had ever been comfortable telling anyone else. Sometimes he wondered what he would do if he ever actually met the man. He wished he could rub his eyes and scour away the images of the nightmare that still lurked in the shadows of his mind.
"You want to talk about it?" Gibbs offered.
"Not really," Tony knew the offer was sincere, but he was already feeling enough of an idiot for one day. He honestly didn't feel much like sharing just at the moment. "You going to tell me why we're hiding out at Fornell's place?"
"Not while you still look like hell."
"I'm just going keep asking."
"I know," Gibbs picked up his book and found his page again. "Get some rest, DiNozzo."
Tony hesitated. He was exhausted. He had been running on nothing but sodas and candy bars all day. Ducky would kill him if he knew. He would never have woken if it weren't for his nightmare. But he didn't relish a re-run anytime soon.
"What about you, Boss?"
"Go to sleep, Tony, Gibbs didn't take his eyes off the page. "I've got your six."
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The next morning Gibbs leant on the rail outside the cabin, watching as the winter sun rose over the horizon, as he sipped his coffee and contemplated the end of his NCIS career. Ducky had chased him out as soon as Tony had woken, having threatened dire consequences if Gibbs said anything to unsettle him before his patient had had the chance for a hot shower and a good breakfast.
He knew was doing the right thing, the only honourable thing, and neither Ducky's arguments nor Abby's tears had been able to dissuade him.
"I heard what you said, Jethro," Ducky had protested. "I simply fail to see how you think abandoning Anthony could possibly be in his best interests."
"You know what these IA investigations are like, Duck. I will not subject Tony to that."
Abby's distress had been harder for him to deal with; not least because in his heart of hearts he feared that she was right. Tony had the makings of a great Agent, but he had only just begun to trust Kate and although McGee showed promise he was still too green and unsure of himself to be the back up Tony needed.
"If you go all Lone Ranger on us, who's going to rescue Tony when he gets himself hurt or kidnapped?" Abby had protested.
"Tony can take care of himself."
"No, Tony can take care of Kate and McGee and Ducky and me and even you when he thinks you're not looking. But he needs you, Gibbs."
A soft sound and the scent of soap cut through the air. Putting his coffee down on the rail Gibbs caught the familiar sleeve of the black turtle neck jumper that DiNozzo kept in the carryall under his desk out of the corner of his eye. Letting his gaze travel up the to the young man's face he saw the firm set of Tony's jaw, the ice hard determination in his eyes vying with a cold fury.
"Abby told me everything."
"DiNozzo." Gibbs hesitated. Unlike most people he never assured that Anthony DiNozzo was an easy opponant. He knew he had to choose his words with care.
"I swear, Gibbs," Tony's eyes glittered dangerously. "If the next words out of your mouth are 'its for your own good .."
Gibbs looked steadily at the younger man, the dark bruising standing out starkly on his pale face, his jumper un-tucked over his light coloured pants and deliberately softened his tone.
"Tony, I can't ask you to do this."
"Not your decision, Boss."
"You know what IA can be like. Even where there's no mud, it still sticks."
Tony nodded. He knew that he would be walking into a minefield. There was no telling what humiliations IA would dig up. But there was no way he was going to let Gibbs walk over this.
"You know what, Boss. I don't give a damn."
He turned away only to be halted by a strong grip around his wrist as Gibbs held in him place, pulling him in so that they were eye to eye.
"Yeah, well, DiNozzo. I do."
Tony almost wilted under the intensity of that gaze. Gibbs might be stilting in his praise, but he had always had his six when he needed it. Every single time Gibbs went to the wire for him he felt humbled by the man's faith in him and his abilities.
Now it was his turn.
"Boss," He met his gaze without smiling. "Trust me."
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Abby looked up as Tony strode purposefully back into the cabin, with a rather pissed Leroy Jethro Gibbs trailing uncharacteristically in his wake.
"Ducky can you pull my medical records? I want every Hospitalization, trip to the ER and kerbside date with the EMTs since I graduated the Police Academy."
"As your personal physician, that shouldn't be too difficult to achieve," Ducky nodded. "I'll make a few calls."
"DiNozzo, what the are you doing?" Gibbs demanded.
"Abby, find out who's heading up the investigation for the IA." Tony ordered.
She shot him a grin as she threw off a sloppy salute. "On it, Boss."
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs snapped. "You better start talking in the next thirty seconds or .."
"Now Gibbs," Abby smiled wickedly at him. "You can't tell Tony what to do. You resigned, remember?"
Frustrated by being ignored by his senior field agent, Gibbs' hand reached out and slapped him firmly across the back of the head. "It's not official until I see the Director, until then I can still kick your ass."
"Oh, promises, Gibbs, promises." Abby purred.
"I meant, DiNozzo!" Gibbs protested.
"Boss," Tony was thoughtful, brushing off the non-reprimand with his usual practised ease. "Can you access my personnel file from Baltimore?"
"And why exactly would I want to do that, DiNozzo?"
"Because I asked nicely?"
"I can pull your transcripts for Rhode Island Military Academy if need be." Gibbs assured him.
"Uh oh." Abby worried.
"What?" Gibbs and Tony asked in unison.
"This is so, not good," Abby tapped a few more keys as she attempted to verify the information. "The IA investigator is Steven Brooker."
"Well, that explains a lot," Tony quipped hollowly. "Sorry, Boss."
"Wasn't your call, DiNozzo." Gibbs tone was brusque.
"Oh my," Ducky murmured sotto voice. "Wasn't that the young man whom Jethro passed over for Vivian's position?"
"Yeah, he had a stick up his ass," Abby pouted. "And he was mean to Tony."
"I do remember hearing something about that," Ducky nodded. "Jethro hadn't yet decided on his new senior field agent and Special Agent Brooker was rather keen to fill those shoes. But I don't recall any specific incidents."
"That's because he wasn't stupid enough to do it when Tony's friends were around, but you know Gibbs. He's like Santa. He knows when you've been naughty."
"He couldn't have been acting alone," Tony began to pace as he processed his thoughts. "Abs, any chance you can find out who made the orginal complaints?"
"Tony, you know that information is strictly confidential." Abby said primly.
"So?" Tony grinned.
"So, it will take a bit longer." Abby matched his expression.
"DiNozzo, you better not be thinking, what I think you're thinking Gibbs warned.
"C'mon, Boss. It's the prefect solution. IA won't have a leg to stand on."
"Tony," Gibbs scrubbed at his face. He wasn't sure if it was the most brilliant suggestion DiNozzo had ever made or the most boneheaded. "You are not going to act as my counsel for the defence."
