Part 4

Episode 17—Conspiracy Theory

Gibbs stood behind the two of them, giggling at their latest creation. Tony's head was superimposed on a beefed-up shirtless body standing with another male giving the impression of homosexuality. . Abby and Kate had no idea Gibbs was there and they jumped when he spoke.

"Delete it!" Gibbs ordered.

Abby grinned. "It's just…."

"Delete it! Now!" Gibbs said with more force.

"Tony…." Kate started.

"Tony saw you in a picture in a wet t-shirt contest, Kate. And yeah, you were embarrassed…." Gibbs started.

Kate stared. She had no idea Gibbs knew.

Gibbs continued. "…you were embarrassed so, in exchange, you are going to get Tony beaten up or worse."

"It was…." Kate stated.

"I don't care what it was, Kate. We are surrounded by macho military men in the Navy Yard. And it's quite possible that not just a few of them might be homophobic." Gibbs hissed. "Delete it!"

Abby looked at Kate, then she deleted it.

THE END

Episode 18-Chimera

Gibbs and Tim found a moment or two alone, away from the others.

"So, you know what it's like to think you're dying?" Gibbs asked.

Tim stopped walking and looked at him.

"…simple yes or no question, McGee."

Tim shook his head.

"But it's okay to tease Tony about some very real fears he has about his health." Gibbs replied. "It's okay to make him feel like he's being an idiot about this when even the simplest respiratory condition could turn into pneumonia for him."

"I didn't mean…." Tim started.

"You didn't think, Tim." Gibbs stated. "Yeah, he might be going a little overboard on this. But he's scared, and he has every right to be."

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

"You weren't here when Tony when through this, so I'm giving you leeway on that." Gibbs told Ziva.

"I just do not see…." Ziva started.

Gibbs smiled. "You and Tony are a lot alike."

Ziva scoffed.

"It's true. You like to be in control. Most people do." Gibbs replied. "Imagine going from being a completely 100% healthy person to being someone who is so weak that he couldn't even hold his head up, in the matter of hours. Imagine that total, complete loss of control over your health, your life, everything."

Ziva nodded. She was trying to imagine it. And she didn't like it.

"That is the sheer panic Tony feels whenever he thinks he could get sick. That because he's been…compromised, that he will go right back there again, back to that place, that situation." Gibbs stated. "And he might go a little overboard with it. But he knows what it was like better than any of us. And it was agony for those of us on the outside looking in, Ziva." Gibbs paused. "Just…just think about what I've said."

THE END

Episode 19—Faking It

"You feel like explaining why my agent has a bump on his head." Gibbs asked.

"He's clumsy." Mike offered half-heartedly.

"He lied for you. I'm not sure why." Gibbs stated. "…said there had to have been two or three guys. Guess he was ashamed he got knocked out by an old fool."

"He's a good kid, a good agent." Mike replied.

"Then why did I find him lying unconscious on my steps?" Gibbs asked.

Mike opened his mouth to speak.

"He was there to protect you." Gibbs replied. "You should have let him do his job."

"He's fine…." Mike started. He looked at Gibbs. "What…?"

"Anthony DiNozzo is my agent, Mike. I don't like seeing him hurt. And I don't appreciate the fact you felt you had to injure him." Gibbs replied.

Mike stood that for just a moment, kinda pissed, kinda proud that his former probie stood up to him. He smiled.

"I am sorry, Probie. Tony is a good agent." Mike replied. "And I like him, I do. But he needs to tone down the smartass, just a little."

THE END

Episode 20—Murder 2.0

Hi, Everybody. This one is going to be slightly different. You'll see what I mean. Enjoy.

Tony could not believe what he was hearing. He turned and entered Autopsy before Gibbs and Ducky even knew he was there. He couldn't stand it any longer. Gibbs and Ducky had stopped talking.

"So, let me get this straight!" Tony said. His speaking made them look up as he walked into Autopsy. "I allowed myself to be man bait. I got drugged and thrown into a nasty, nasty underground prison. I saved a man, a Marine, from certain death, twice. I get him out of that nasty place. Then I stood between him and a homicidal bitch with a gun…ready to shoot him. And you say I'm narcissistic?"

Tony didn't give either of them a chance to speak.

"But you're not taking any of that into account, are you?" Tony said, fuming. "This is based on one incident…one isolated question. That one I asked you when we came back to the office."

Gibbs didn't speak.

"I get that from the two upstairs. They seem to take a very special joy in finding and exploiting my flaws. But you two…?" Tony just shook his head. He was so angry and hurt that he couldn't even form words. "It's very lucky for you, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, that personalities aren't based on single characteristics. Because we both know how you would look."

Tony stormed out of the room. He yanked the stairwell door open hard enough that it slammed against the wall and practically ran upstairs. He hurried through the lobby and out of the building.

Gibbs sighed and looked at Ducky. "I screwed up." Gibbs admitted.

"We screwed up, Jethro."

Gibbs started to leave.

"…leave Anthony alone for now." Ducky said. "Give him some space."

Gibbs looked at the door one more time. He wanted to go find Tony. But he knew that Ducky was right.

"We've betrayed him." Ducky replied. "He's not going to get over it easily."

THE END