Of Fathers & Sons Chapter 4
"It is a wise Father who knows his child" ~William Shakespeare~
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It was close to 4am when Gibbs pulled his Dodge Challenger off interstate 80 into Bloomsburg PA.
After saying goodnight to Tony, Gibbs had joined Ducky in their room.
"So you are going to call him in the morning?" Ducky asked as Gibbs gathered his luggage and began to place a call for a cab.
"Yeah Duck…I'll call or text him. He should be busy most of the day….I'll explain everything come Sunday. I just want him to enjoy this wedding….he has spent too much time planning it and the news of my Father's death would just ruin it for him."
"I'll do my best to cover for you, Jethro…but I think you underestimate the importance of your presence where Anthony is concerned."
Gibbs did not have an answer to that. He had done his best for Tony but now he had to concentrate on honoring his own father.
The cab had delivered Gibbs at his home shortly after midnight.
Gibbs had been too pumped up to sleep so he repacked his bag and grabbed the keys to his Challenger.
It seemed appropriate he would return to Stillwater in the loving gift his Father had bestowed on him just a few short years ago.
Gibbs had driven fast but safely. He blanked out all thought as he barreled down the interstate to his destination. As he got closer to Stillwater he realized he wasn't ready to face the reality of his father's empty home.
He was only 20 minutes outside of Stillwater but he was exhausted. He had been up almost 24 hours and he knew he would not get any sleep in his Dad's house if he were to continue.
He pulled into the parking lot of the Bloomsburg Super 8 Motel and paid for a room for two days.
Gibbs text Tony a message: "Had to leave. Will explain Sunday. Have fun at wedding."
Gibbs stared at the words for several minutes feeling like he was betraying Tony's trust. He reasoned with himself it was for Tony's own good but Gibbs knew he would be pissed if the roles were reversed and Tony just took off. The difference between them was Gibbs would feel nothing if Tony's father died. Sure he would feel bad for Tony but he was indifferent to Senior. Gibbs knew that Tony was invested emotionally in Jackson.
Gibbs would deal with the fallout when and if it happened.
He hoped Tony would understand
Gibbs hit send and turned off his phone. He threw it on the nightstand and fell into bed.
He would get as much rest as he could and when he awoke, he would be ready to take on the day.
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It was the throbbing pain in his left hand that woke Tony Saturday morning.
He groaned as he turned to look at the digital clock near his bed….it was 8:30 am.
He could see that McGee's bed was empty and he heard the faint sound of the shower shutting off.
Tony sat up and rubbed his right hand over his face. He then looked at the bandaged hand.
The hand was swollen and the bandages were black with dried blood.
Tony would not fight taking pain pills today. He needed to see Ducky. He figured the good Doctor and Gibbs had probably been up for hours already. He picked up his phone and found he had a text message from Gibbs.
The time stamp was 4:27AM.
Before he could read the message, McGee exited the bathroom wrapped in a luxurious white terrycloth robe, a towel wrapped around his head like a headdress.
Tony chuckled saying "Good morning McCarmen Miranda."
McGee grinned pulling the towel off his head saying "Good morning, Tony."
He then noticed Tony's hand and said with concern "What the hell happened to your hand!?"
"Long story…let me order us up some room service and I'll fill you in."
Tony placed a call for coffee and orange juice.
He then gave McGee a rundown of the night's events.
"Wow….your Dad actually said all that and you forgave him?"
Tony frowned at him.
"I mean….what he said about Ziva….well…I figured you punch his lights out for that one!"
"I forgave him McGee….moving on from here…"
"Sorry Tony….I get it….I'd probably do the same thing if it was me and my Dad."
Room service knocked on the door and as McGee signed for the bill, Tony opened his text message.
"Had to leave. Will explain Sunday. Have fun at wedding."
Tony was still staring at his phone when McGee asked for the second time "Tony! What's wrong?!"
Tony looked up at him and said in a shocked and slightly hurt voice "Gibbs left."
"What do you mean Gibbs left?"
Tony threw McGee his phone so he could read the text.
"I wonder what happened." McGee asked tossing the phone back to Tony.
Tony's brows narrowed as he caught the phone with his good hand.
"You have your laptop Tim?"
"You know I don't go anywhere without it." McGee smiled
Tony grinned conspiratorially as he shook his phone back and forth saying "Ping this thing!"
As McGee pulled out his laptop and set it up, Tony poured them both a coffee.
"I won't be pinging your phone Tony but Gibbs…"
"Whatever Tim…blah, blah, blah…just work your magic!"
It took a few minutes but McGee soon had a hit.
"His phone is off but I was still able to trace his location. He is in Bloomsburg Pennsylvania."
"Pennsylvania?" Tony asked feeling an odd sensation in his gut.
Gibbs really only had two reasons to venture into Pennsylvania…a case or….
"How far is Bloomsburg from Stillwater?" Tony asked with growing concern.
McGee's fingers flew over the keyboard.
"14 miles"
A knock at the door caused both men to look up. Tony was close to the door so he went to open it.
"Good morning Junior, McGee…" Senior greeted them with a radiant smile.
"Hey Dad…"Tony said as he let his father enter the room.
McGee closed his laptop as the older DiNozzo walked in like he owned the place and sat down on the couch.
"So…we have a packed day today boys….continental breakfast buffet at 10am on the veranda….massages at noon….off to the chapel by 2 and back here to party by 5…."
Senior stopped speaking when he noticed Tony had his right fist near his mouth, chewing on his right thumbnail looking worried and like his thoughts were a thousand miles away.
"Junior!"
Tony's eyes snapped toward his Father.
"Yes…sorry Dad…you were saying….."
Senior looked pissed as he said "Get ready Junior….we have a busy day!"
"Right…sorry…" Tony said absentmindedly "Uh…I need to see Ducky about my hand…meet you down at the veranda by 10?"
Senior's frown changed back to that radiant smile.
"Alright…see you kids in a bit!"
McGee noted that Senior had not asked Tony how he was feeling or how his hand was doing.
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After his Father left, Tony swore McGee to secrecy regarding Gibbs location.
McGee agreed just before Abby knocked on their adjoining door and entered.
"Hope you guys are decent!" She laughed her hands over her eyes.
When they didn't respond she peeked through her fingers.
"Oh…" she sounded almost disappointed as she lowered her arms.
"Morning Abs" Tony said
"Good Morning Abby" said Tim
"Good morning! Have you guys seen Gibbs or Ducky?"
"Not yet" Tony replied "I am going over to their room to check in with Ducky."
"Oh my God Tony! What happened to your hand?!"
Tony nodded at McGee who said:
"Here Abby…have a cup of coffee with me while Tony sees Ducky. I'll tell you the whole story."
Tony had not bothered to change as he exited his room in the flannel pajama bottoms and simple white t-shirt he had put on the night before.
He knocked on Ducky's door and heard the Scotsman say "... be right there!"
Ducky opened the door wondering what he would be facing.
He found Tony leaning in the door frame, his face stoic, as he demanded:
"Why did Gibbs leave?"
Ducky was prepared. He thought of Gibbs rule #7-Be specific when you lie-as he said:
"Anthony….I do not why Jethro left. He said he had to go and he left around midnight. Did you speak with him?"
"He sent a text….."
Ducky was beginning to feel guilty about lying to Tony so he tried to change the subject.
"How is that hand, hmm?" he asked as he reached out to take Tony's left hand in his own.
"Tsk, tsk…..I need to change these bandages Anthony…come in!"
Tony knew Ducky was lying but he would not call him on it.
He appreciated that Ducky was loyal to Gibbs but he was determined he would find out what in the hell was going on.
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A knock at the door and a voice saying "Housekeeping" is what woke Gibbs on Saturday morning.
He looked at his watch…. it was a just after 10 am.
He went to the door and opened it a crack saying "Give me 15 minutes and I'll be out of your hair."
The housekeeper told him to take his time that she would be back in about an hour.
He showered, dressed and packed up his bag.
Although he paid for two days he knew he would not be back.
He stopped for a coffee at the 24 hour diner attached to the Motel.
He decided he should eat something so he sat at the counter and ordered bacon, eggs and toast.
He sipped his coffee and looked around as people came and went….business as usual…life goes on.
As his breakfast was set in front of him he checked the time….it was almost 11am.
He wondered what Tony was up too and if Ducky was having trouble keeping his secret.
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"So no one knows where Gibbs went or why?" Abby asked for the tenth time.
Tony rolled his eyes at her and said "Give it a rest will ya, Abs?"
She looked hurt as she got up from their table saying "Fine Tony….I'm going to go get some more fruit…you guys want anything else?"
Tony shook his head as Tim said "No thanks Abby".
"Thank you but no Abigail." Ducky replied
She left the three men behind as she made her way back to the opulent buffet. McGee watched as Senior approached her and gave her an affectionate hug. The two of them chatted animatedly as they decided what to select from the vast array of fruits and pastries.
McGee was upset with Abby. She had actually defended senior when McGee had told her everything he had said and done to Tony. She would not hear anyone speak ill of the older man rather taking his side over her friends. He wondered what it would take for her to finally see the light. He decided to just forget about it…if Tony could forgive his father he would let it go as well.
It was a beautiful day in DC but Tony didn't notice. He barely heard Ducky and Tim's small talk about how the hotel served such a wonderful breakfast and how decadent the rooms and facilities were.
Ducky grew concerned as he watched Tony space out so he said:
"You have not had much to eat Anthony."
"Huh Duck….?"
"You need to eat Tony." McGee said
"I'm good" he replied as Ducky merely sighed.
Tony stood suddenly and said "Excuse me…I'll be right back."
When Tony entered the hotel he pulled out his phone and called Gibbs.
The phone went to voice mail.
Tony hung up, chewing on his lip, deep in thought.
'What the hell is going on' he thought before he dialed Jackson Gibbs home number.
The answering machine came on and Tony laughed hearing Jackson's warm and friendly voice. Jackson was very long-winded, detailing what information the caller should leave and when to expect a return call.
Tony hung up when the machine beeped.
He knew Jackson would be at the general store. He hesitated calling there because if Gibbs had just gone to visit his Dad he would be pissed that Tony was tracking him down. It wasn't his business to question Gibbs actions but Tony couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"Junior!" His father's voice startled him.
He turned to find his Dad walking quickly towards him.
"Yeah Dad…." He started to say but Senior was suddenly in his face pushing Tony up against the wall.
"Get your head out of your ass Junior!" Senior hissed looking around to make sure they were alone.
"What!?" Tony said in shock
His father moved in close to him and whispered:
"I have been watching you and wondered why you are being so damn quiet. Then I just heard from Abby that Gibbs left, so my guess is that is why you seem so fucking preoccupied…."
"I'm not…."
"You are…..and I say good riddance to Gibbs…I didn't want that bastard at my wedding anyway. Isn't it enough you work with the man all week that his presence must carry over to family functions?"
Tony took immediate offense to that but refrained from responding in anger. He knew he was preoccupied and he needed to get through the day so he backed down.
"You're right Dad…sorry….I'll pull it together and be right in…I'm going to see the bar manager to settle last night's tab."
The change in Senior's demeanor was immediate. Tony had always wondered how the man flew from enraged to euphoric in seconds.
"Good boy" He said as he patted Tony's cheek.
As he walked back towards the veranda he laughed:
"You may be in for a bit of a surprise Junior…it wasn't nice to cut me and my guests off at midnight!"
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"Forty five hundred dollars!?" Tony cringed as Charlie the bar manager handed him the bill from the previous night.
"I'm sorry Tony….I actually broke down the last purchase to base cost….if I had charged you the full amount it would be well over six thousand dollars."
Tony shook his head feeling sick. He was surprised alright. He had hosted the bar and had told Charlie to let them order whatever they like. He had only directed him to cut them off at midnight. Tony had not anticipated his Father would order two cases of their most expensive champagne at 11:58.
Tony pulled out his credit card and sighed saying "Thanks Charlie….for taking some of the bite out of this."
"No problem Tony….I've seen the books….I know you are spending a fortune on this wedding. You must really love your Dad….some kids are just blessed with great parents I guess. It's just not something I have ever known."
As Tony signed the bill adding a nice tip for Charlie he thought:
'That makes two of us'
A/N-In response to "NCIS Fan" Guest comments….I love snakes and I apologize to snakes everywhere for tarnishing their image by comparing them to DiNozzo Senior. =)
