After Gibbs laughed about Tony and his dad he grew still looking at Tony before pulling him close. He wanted to feel Tony close to him and know he was really there and hold him for as long as possible. Tony didn't mind Gibbs holding him close as he missed Gibbs just as much since they hadn't seen each other in nearly 3 months.
"I could just throw you down right now and ..." Gibbs growls,
"Don't tempt me Tony." Tony pulls him closer but they just hug and relax standing there forgetting where they were. Gibbs' stomach finally settled and he didn't feel like something was trying to kick it's way out and Tony felt safe again. "I'm glad you're home."
"Me too," They step apart only when they hear someone clear their throat.
"Hi Jackson ..."
"Hi yourself. Tobias and Emily went to the diner and Emily would like the two of you to join them. I told her I would invite you but first Stan would like to talk to you Jethro." Gibbs smiles at Tony.
"Go on, I want to talk to him. Bring me back the usual." When Tony was gone both Stan and Jackson stare at Gibbs. "What?"
"You seem different with him. Seem different then when you came here."
"That's Tony, the one we thought blew up. Speaking of which what in the hell happened Burley? Why didn't you say something or warn me?"
"I tried calling you but your phone was off. I called your desk and Agent McGee answered and said you took a leave. Abby said you came to your hometown so I figured you needed time. All I knew was Tony was hassled on the ship and the DNA didn't match. It could be a million things from they didn't match it correctly, to maybe the DNA we got from his father wasn't correct. Then I heard a rumor about a suspicious man matching Tony's description so I went to check it out. I didn't know what was going on but he tried to tell them he was the missing man and he was told the guy was dead. NCIS said they would arrest him and let you deal with him."
"So how did you …?"
"I showed his picture to homeless shelters. I found the one where he went to eat but they didn't let him stay there when they learn he had a partner back home he wanted to get to. He was trying to earn money to make his way back by doing odd jobs but I got him some clean clothes and the first flight here we could get." Gibbs nods,
"We'll probably head back tomorrow but uh … did he really call my dad Mr. Fornell?" Stan laughs,
"Did you really not tell him you and Fornell were brothers?"
"Well it never came up, they don't get along so ..." Stan chuckles,
"I have to go report in but tell Tony I'll be in touch. He has my email if he needs anything."
"Thanks Stan but can you not say anything about Tony just yet. I don't want the others to learn through the gossip line."
"No problem I'll just say I haven't found out any information on him." When he leaves Gibbs picks up the broom to keep busy.
"Aren't you going to go join Tony? He seemed eager to see you today."
"Yeah … I just need to clear my head first. I don't want him to think I'm mad or upset about him or him being back. He could always read my mind."
"Why did you and Tobias tell me he was your senior field agent? I mean he was introduced as your boyfriend and you two seemed very much into each other. I'm not that old or prejudice Jethro."
"I know dad and technically he was my senior field agent. People assume we're more like good friends, father and son but .. it feels like a dream. It feels like I'm going to wake up and find out he's not really here."
"He loves you Jethro, he … he's a good guy."
"I thought he wasn't here long."
"He wasn't but when they saw the car his eyes lit up but he didn't want to just pop out like that. Go have lunch with them and then show him around. I'm sure he has more questions then you do right now." Gibbs nods and heads towards the diner.
"Hey Jethro, we were starting to get worried." Fornell nods,
"He's trying to get more secrets out of Emily here."
"Yeah but she's not telling any of them." Emily shrugs and they chuckle.
"I was just talking to dad … he likes you." Tony was surprised.
"He does?"
"Yeah he does." Tony smiles to himself but Gibbs and Fornell can tell that made him happy. "I wanted to ask you when do you want to go back? Burley had to leave but he won't say anything until you go back and can tell the others."
"I'm not sure, I want to see Uncle Leon and the kids … how's he doing?"
"Not too good, neither are they. We can head home tomorrow and be there by dinner to join them and see the others on Friday. I've got to get back before McGee and Langer burn down NCIS."
"Why, what happened?"
"Langer wants to be senior field agent and resents that McGee's my senior field agent. Vance was going to put him for cyber crimes but I doubt that will last long."
"Who's running things now?"
"McGee, he can handle it."
"Yeah he can." Fornell and Emily head back to the store. "Can we head back today? I would love to get to know your dad more but now I want to see the others. If we leave soon we'll get to see Jared and Kayla before they go to sleep."
"Sure, let's go talk to dad." Jackson understood.
"Don't be a stranger and make sure you treat Jethro right. He's a good man."
"I know and I treat him the same way he treats me."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing." Tony laughs,
"It's a good thing." The drive back to DC was mostly made in silence with Tony and Gibbs holding hands but Tony wanted to see the others. Gibbs called Vance when they got to town.
"Hey Jethro, I hope the others didn't call you."
"No, do they have a reason to call me?"
"Well they needed the extra man power and called Langer to assist but I have a feeling that it's not going very smoothly. He said he would follow orders but McGee has him doing the probie work." Gibbs laughs and Vance got worried. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's a long story but are Jackie and the kids home? I need to swing by your house for a minute."
"Yeah, they got out early today so they're home. Do I need to be there?"
"No, I'll tell you later or I'm sure they will."
"What's going on? You sound strange." Gibbs hands Tony the phone.
"Hi Uncle Leon,"
"Tony!"
"Yeah it's me. We were going to swing by the house to see the kids if that's okay."
"Of course it is. Where are you guys? I want to see you too."
"Close to the house but I'm not going to NCIS until later."
"I'll make an excuse to go home early. Don't you dare leave before I get home."
"Okay Uncle Leon." They hang up and Tony relaxes a bit.
"Are you ready to see your family? Jackie and the kids took it almost as bad as Leon did."
"She accepted me as her family … I thought I'd be cast out and I was there through a lot. I was in their wedding, when the kids were born ..."
"I saw the pictures, they were happy to have you in the family." Gibbs knocks on the door and Jackie answers the door.
"Jethro, what's wrong? Is Leon okay?"
"He's fine and he's going to come home as soon as he can. Where are the kids?"
"In the kitchen having a snack. What happened? I thought you left town." Tony goes inside.
"He did but he couldn't hide from me." Jackie's eyes grow big and she's speechless before hugging him. "I wanted to come see you guys especially the kids before I saw anyone else."
"They miss you a lot and will be thrilled to see you. Come in they're trying to decide on a snack." Kayla and Jared were fighting over some cookies.
"Mom, will you tell him that I need these for energy for dance class. All he does is sit in front of the computer he doesn't need the extra sugar." They didn't notice Tony come in. He quickly takes the box from Kayla.
"That's not nice, what did I tell you about sharing?"
"Tony!" Kayla and Jared hug him tight and Kayla starts crying while Jared can't speak.
"I missed you two munchkins." Gibbs smiles to see the kids hanging on Tony like that. Tony was grinning and soon they hear Vance get home.
"Jackie?"
"We're in the kitchen Leon." Vance came and Tony could see relief in his eyes.
"I was hoping I didn't hear things." The kids hung onto him while Tony and Vance hug. "It's good to see you but ..."
"Long story short I was goofing off and missed getting back on the ship but I'm okay and tried to get in touch but it didn't work out." Vance nods as Gibbs was curious. Kayla rolls her eyes.
"Tony says long story short when he means he'll tell the truth later. He thinks we're still babies." Gibbs chuckles,
"I'm sure you are to your mom and dad." While Jackie made dinner Tony and Jared played basketball in the backyard with Kayla talked to them.
"What in the hell happened Gibbs?"
"He was jumped for being gay and he did try to get in touch but no one believed him. They said they would arrest him for lying about being a federal agent and let me loose on them."
"Did they see him or …?"
"I don't know and I don't think he does either. He said he would've done it just to be seen so maybe not but Burley got him to Stillwater where he met my father."
"How did that go?"
"He called him Mr. Fornell." Vance chuckles looking at Tony. "This is unreal … I thought I was hearing things. Did you tell the others?"
"No, he wants to go in tomorrow to see them at once." Gibbs watches him and Vance smiles.
"How did you … I mean you went to see your dad right?"
"Yeah, he knew my hometown and dragged Burley there. Emily introduced him to dad as my boyfriend and Tony called him Mr. Fornell." Vance shakes his head finally relaxing.
"I never thought I'd say this but I think McGee will gladly give up senior field agent status back. Next in line unfortunately is Langer since Ziva's not a federal agent with NCIS and he won't let him take over."
"So he'll get his job back?"
"I'm assuming what he told me is the PG version of what happened?"
"Yeah pretty much, he was jumped by the men for being gay and he doesn't seem to know what happened but they didn't believe that it was him. I don't know who he talked to but they should've informed us someone was claiming to be him. We would've known if we saw him, fingerprints, DNA … the bodies didn't match his DNA." Vance nods,
"I heard that but we have Anthony's DNA to compare it to and there were rumors he wasn't Tony's biological father so when you got back I was going to ask for something else to use." After dinner Tony and Gibbs head to his house and Abby's car is in the driveway. Tony wasn't ready to see anyone but he knew he couldn't go inside without seeing her either. Suddenly needing one of her hugs Tony and Gibbs made their way to the house hoping Abby was alone.
