The phone call set Gibbs on edge. Dominic DiNozzo liked revenge, and Gibbs had no doubts that the old bastard would try to seek vengeance against him and Tony or maybe just Tony. Either way, the slime ball was not going to get the chance to get to Tony again. He didn't want to wake the kid, but he didn't have a choice. He needed to get Tony somewhere safe. Ducky, one of his oldest friends, had offered up his home as a safe house of sorts. It had great security and Ducky adored Tony, so there should be no problems.
"Tony"
'M up."
"I'm glad, because we need to get to Ducky's."
Tony jumped up as if he had been shot. He wasn't expecting to hear that in the middle of the night.
"Why? What happened?"
"Tony please sit down."
Tony sat beside his mentor and tried to calm the racing thoughts in his head. When he looked at his surrogate father, he saw something he never thought possible. Gibbs was scared.
"Tony, I need you to know that no matter what happens I will never let anything happen to you."
"Gibbs?"
"Your father just escaped custody. Since Ducky's mother is a bit paranoid he has really wonderful security."
"And you want me to stay with him until you catch Dominic?"
"Yes."
"O.K."
"That's it? You're not going to argue with me?"
"No. You just want me safe."
Two hours later, Tony was sitting at Ducky's kitchen table drinking jasmine tea, listening to yet another of the old man's stories. He really didn't mind, though. Ducky had lived quite a life, Tony thought he might just learn something if he listened enough. Besides, Ducky's calm in the face of danger demeanor soothed his troubled soul.
"Ducky?"
"Hm?"
"Does Gibbs really want me?"
"Oh, my goodness! Yes! You've no idea how many times he's worried himself sick over you, dear boy. Now that he's finally admitted those feelings, and with your father's nonsense, it may very well get worse. You'll just have to get used to having someone hover. Jethro can be quite the papa bear when one of his cubs is threatened."
Tony thought about that for a long while, before retiring to bed. Somehow hearing Ducky talk about how much Gibbs cared for him made it actually sink into his thick head. Now he just had to find a way to convince himself that Gibbs wouldn't take that love and affection away if he fucked up.
Gibbs sat in the kitchen, in the dark and waited for Dominic to come through the front door. The SIG in his hand was one of many firearms he had hidden around the house. The two NCIS teams inside the house were some of the best. He didn't trust anyone else with Tony's wellbeing.
Dominic slipped into the house seemingly unnoticed. He spotted the stairs and made his way to them. He never saw the shadowed figure sitting in the darkened kitchen. He never felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as the two teams surrounded him.
"Have a seat."
Dominic startled at the hatred-filled voice, instantly knowing he'd been set up. The way he saw it, he had two choices. He could either give up or try to fight his way out. He did the smart thing, tossed his gun on the stairs, and raised his hands in the air. He would live to fight another day.
"You know, as much as I'd like to tear you limb from limb right now, there is something more important I have to do at the moment. My son is waiting to find out how all this went down. Oh, I almost forgot. To those guys in prison, child abuse is probably the worse crime anyone can commit, and they know exactly what you did to Tony, so have fun being someone's big bitch. I'll see you in hell you sonofabitch."
Gibbs drove to Ducky's house in record time. He had to see that Tony was safe for himself. Maybe he could tell the boy that he could breathe now. God knew he deserved the break.
Ducky saw the car headlights as Jethro turned into the drive. The phone call just moments ago had lightened his heart. His concern for the young man upstairs had finally waned, leaving him feeling giddy and tired at the same time. Now maybe Jethro could give the boy the attention he so desperately needed.
"Duck?"
"In the kitchen."
"How is he?"
"He still has questions and doubts, but nothing a lot of love and affection won't cure. I'm sure you can help with that. He's been sleeping for almost an hour. Don't wake him, Jethro. He needs the rest. Stay the night, or at least what's left of it."
"I think I will. I'm just going to check on him."
Sitting on the side of the bed, Jethro gazed at the kid sleeping in it. He was beautiful, and terribly hurt.
"We got him, Tony. He can't hurt you now."
"What happens now?"
"Did I wake you?"
"Yeah, but I don't mind. So answer my question."
"Well, now he goes to trial. You know how it works."
"What happens with us?"
"Well, you're going to tell me about this childhood that has you so messed up sometimes and I am going to do everything in my power to make you see just how much you mean to me. I want you to feel safe with me."
"I do."
Gibbs smiled and ran his fingers through Tony's hair. The gesture seemed to relax the kid more than anything else did.
"Go back to sleep. You and I are going to talk about all of this in the morning.