Chapter 7

AN: I've gotta say it again, you guys are freakin' awesome. Thanks for your responses and alerts. I love what you all are telling me and I am taking some of the advice, suggestions I've been given. So, if you see something...it may not be coincidence.

I do need to address issues brought to my attention by a couple of reviewers. They involved my timeline of JAG notification and the fact that the FBI would not have even considered Tony with a murder charge looming over his head. I hope this addresses those concerns adequately.

I was jumping around, in my timeline in the first few chapters. But the reason Tony knew the decision JAG had made, probably before anyone else, is because he had a friend on the inside. And that friend could have easily also sent that information to the FBI to clear Tony for employment. And also, Tobias had given Tony time to think. That would have been enough time for things to go through the regular channels. So by then, the official word could have come down from JAG, meaning it would have all worked out and nothing would have been held over Tony's head, preventing his employment with the FBI.

Again, my beta is getting a much deserved respite here. She will be back, soon, for other stories. All mistakes are mine, and if you find any, please let me know. Thanks, again, so much, and enjoy. Jackie

Tony and Ducky took the back elevators to Autopsy.

"So, how are things around here?" Tony asked.

"Different. Jethro has been, well Jethro." Ducky replied. "Timothy is having a hard time filling your shoes. At first he thought he could do it, no problem. But he is finding how much he doesn't know about the job you did. He…I believe that Jethro is looking at other agents. I'm not sure."

"I'm surprised Gibbs didn't do something to speed up Ziva becoming an agent." Tony said.

They stopped just outside the lab. Abby was inside working and the music was blaring.

Tony shook his head. "I called her and Tim, actually. I told them that I wanted to tell her my side of the story. I…neither of them called me." Tony reached into his pocket he pulled out the piece of paper and handed it to Ducky. "Tim did leave me this for me to find today."

Ducky opened the paper, read it and handed it back. "Is it too late?"

"No." Tony replied.

"Good, Anthony." Ducky replied. "Tell them…tell them everything. Let them decide for themselves."

Tony studied Ducky for a moment. "Exactly how much do you know?"

"I am guessing everything. I…Jethro wanted to talk to someone." Ducky stated.

Ducky looked in at Abby. "She's…she's having her doubts, Anthony. Abigail thought that this whole thing was about Rivkin. Once you got cleared there, she thought you would come back. She had no idea that Vance gave you an ultimatum. She had no clue. And I don't know what Ziva told people. I really don't think Gibbs said much. But Ziva left out that part or she just said that you walked out. The way rumors flew around here…" Ducky shook his head. "…it's hard to know who said what. But after JAG said that you were cleared, Abby didn't know what to think. If that was what all this was about, then why hadn't Gibbs just waited until JAG had finished their investigation?" Ducky paused. "After that, she…she was too ashamed to call you. She had been, in her mind, just as bad as Gibbs and Ziva. She had doubted you, and she had hurt you. She never wanted to do that, Anthony. But she doubts Gibbs, now, and that scares her."

Tony heard what Ducky was saying. And he stood and stared in Abby's lab for just a second longer.

Abby felt eyes on her; she turned her head and got the surprise of her life. Part of her wanted to just run out of the lab and into Tony's arms. But she couldn't. She didn't deserve to be forgiven. She stared at Tony as the tears began to flow.

"Abby." Tony said as he entered the lab.

Abby couldn't look at him. She went over to the radio and turned down her music.

Tony went over to her, but she backed away again, tears streaming down her face.

"Abby, please just…."

Abby shook her head. "I'm sorry. I doubted you. I thought…I never believed that Gibbs would…that he…. I don't know. When you left, to me, that meant that you were guilty, only guilty people take off." Abby rambled. "I didn't know what Vance had done. I promise you, I didn't."

Tony wiped her tears. "It's okay."

"No, no it's not okay." Abby said, looking up at him. "I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"You believed Gibbs, you had no reason not to." Tony replied.

"He was wrong. He is wrong, about a lot of things." Abby stated. "He's…." She shook her head. "Ziva was bragging about how much Gibbs was on her side, that he didn't open his mouth to defend you." She looked Tony in the eyes. "Is that true?"

Tony nodded.

"That's just, it's wrong. This whole thing is just…hinky." Abby stated. "She…Gibbs choosing her over you, I thought I had heard wrong."

Tony shook his head. "Sadly, you didn't."

"What's going on with the two of them?" Abby asked.

"I wish I knew, my dear." Ducky replied. Gibbs had told him all about what happened in Vance's office. But he had not told anybody what had happened in his basement.

"I don't know." Tony admitted.

"Well, then we need to find out." Abby said. "Gibbs wouldn't be acting like this without a reason. And for his sake," Abby said, her spunk returning. "…it had better be a good one. Though, I can't think of one good enough for him to let you go."

Tony smiled and hugged Abby again.

"Thanks, Abby." Tony replied. "How about we just meet up after work, we'll go to Morelli's and talk and eat. They have the best Italian ever. I…would you come?" He asked Abby.

Abby nodded. "Who else?"

"Just us, Tim and Jimmy." Tony replied. "Do you think McGee will come?"

Abby and Ducky both nodded.

"I just think it would be better to talk this all out, in person." Tony stated.

They all agreed on the place. They picked a time. Tony called Tim and asked if he would be willing to meet and Ducky informed Jimmy.

TBC