Director Jenny Sheppard stared out of the window of Tony's hospital room. The rest of the team had returned to NCIS to continue investigating what had happened to the young man and she had elected to stay with him. She wasn't sure how long she'd stood there gazing unseeingly at the sky but Tony hadn't stirred in the time she'd been there. As far as she was aware he hadn't said anything to the team about his captors, instead choosing to waste his energy reassuring them that he didn't hold any hard feelings. Now she couldn't wait for him to wake up, she had to know if La Grenouille had been involved, if she could finally put him away after what he'd done to her father. She was pulled from her musings by Tony groaning. Turning away from the window she moved to his side as his eyes fluttered open and he weakly pushed himself into a seated position.

"Hey," she smiled, sitting in the seat by the side of his bed.

"Where are the others?" he wondered.

"They went back to the office," she answered. "To catch the guys who took you."
"Tell them not to bother," he raised the head of the bed to sit more comfortably. "I don't intend to press charges."

"What?" she demanded. "Tony, if La Grenouille was involved he has to be punished."

"No," he shook his head. "It was Jeanne, she wasn't happy with me. Rene convinced her to let me go, maybe he isn't the bad guy you think he is."

"Tony you could have died," she stated.

"Doesn't matter," he shrugged. "Look Jen I accept that you have a grudge against him because of your father but he was nothing but curteous towards me."

"How dare you?" she exploded. "He's an arms dealer he has to be stopped."

He sighed knowing he wasn't getting through to her, "He did nothing wrong in this case, if anything he's the hero. Call the team and tell them to stop wasting time and resources."

"No," she refused.

"Look Jen," he took a breath. "You're my friend but if you can't accept my decision then I don't know if I want to speak with you."

"I won't let you do that," she stood. "They need to learn that their actions have consenquences."

"Give me a phone," he ordered. "I'll tell the team myself."

"Tony you have a head injury," she squeezed his shoulder gently. "You're not thinking straight, get some rest."

"Let me make my phone call first," he faked a yawn as he spoke. "Please?"

"Ssh Tony," she smiled. "Sleep."

He allowed his eyes to fall closed, he wasn't stupid he knew she wouldn't let him call the team so he opted for the next best thing. It was easy enough to pretend to drift off to sleep, he'd done so enough times before when in hospital. She lowered the head of the bed when it appeared as though he was asleep. Listening he heard her wandering back over to the window, after running her hand through his hair, and waited for her to leave or be replaced by one of the team. It wasn't long before he heard her heels clicking on the floor as she headed to the door, she paused - he assumed to look over his still figure - before leaving the room. He waited several seconds longer before opening his eyes, glancing around the room. Weakly levering himself so that he was resting against the pillows he used the call button to get a nurse. A part of him knew his actions seemed irrational but he had genuinely cared for Jeanne, understood that he'd hurt her, and felt she deserved to get some form of revenge; there was also a part of him that believed there was something wrong with her - something causing her to act the way she had - and he didn't want her to be punished for that.

A nurse entered the room and, not bothering to flirt with her - something he still did despite the fact he had changed in recent years - he asked her if she could bring him a phone. She looked hesitant but caved when he gave her his most charming smile. Exiting his room momentarily she quickly returned with the phone and told him how to get an outside line. Quietly thanking her with a small smile he dialed the number for Abby's lab - although he knew all of the numbers to get in contact with the others her number was the one he had thought about using most, there had been several instances in recent years when he'd considered calling her. She picked up after three rings the music in her lab blasting down the line.

"Hello," he just knew she was bouncing up and down, probably full of caffine.

"Abs, it's me," he smiled indulgently. "Can you turn the music down a bit?"

"Oh sure," the music faded. "What's up?"

"The director said you were trying to find out who took me?" he phrased it as a question.

"Yep," he could practically hear her grin. "D'you wanna know what we got?"

"No," he answered immediately. "I want you to tell the others to stop. I'll explain it if you want to stop by the hospital but I don't want you to continue investigating."
"You sure?" she was clearly hesitant.

"Abby I know who was behind it and I don't intend to press charges," he sighed. "I'll tell you guys everything you wanna know, I promise."

"Okay," she still didn't seem happy.

"Thanks Abs," he smiled even though she couldn't see it. "See you later?"

"You bet mister," she replied. "Bye."

"Bye," he heard the click as she hung up.

Placing the phone on the unit beside the bed he tried to get comfortable, to get some sleep before the team arrived. The nurse came in and took the phone away for him and by the time the dirctor returned he was sleeping peacefully, no evidence of his actions remaining. Smiling at his sleeping figure she returned to the window, contemplating his reluctance to allow the team to investigate his attack.

Gibbs was the first to enter Tony's room. He paused slightly on seeing that the younger man was still asleep but continued to slump in the seat by the side of the bed. The director turned in surprise at his entrance, her expression darkening when she saw the team following with Michael and Katie. Ducky placed both children on the bed. No one was expecting Tony to wrap an arm around each of them drawing them close and elicting squeals of delight. Chuckling quietly Tony smiled at the team, noticing the glare being sent his way by the director. Keeping his expression innocent he suggested she take the kids to get some chocolate. Despite him having aged since the last time he used the look on anyone who wasn't family, and the fact that she was the director of NCIS, she was unable to say no to him when he gave her his patented puppy dog eyes and agreed. As soon as they were gone ha sighed and slumped against his pillows.

"She didn't want me to call you," he admitted. "I know who was behind my attack."

"An arms dealer," Gibbs stated. "La Grenoiulle."

"No," he sighed. "His daughter Jeanne. She felt the need for revenge, I think there's something wrong with her. Rene, that's La Grenoiulle, helpped me out, let me go."

"So that's why you don't wanna press charges," Abby sumised.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Jen's got a grudge against him because of her father."

"So you came directly to us," Gibbs guessed. "If your sure, I'll give the order."

"Thanks boss...I mean Gibbs," they couldn't help but smile at his faux pas. "I'm sure."

"Alright," Gibbs agreed.

"So you said you'd find out when I could get out of here," Tony turned his puppy dog eyes on Gibbs.

The special agent chuckled quietly, "I'll go ask." He left before they could say anything else.

"I am going to see what is keeping the director," Ziva claimed, leaving.

"Tony," McGee spoke up. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was out of order. I realised a long time ago that you were smart, I just couldn't bring myself to accept it."

"No hard feelings Tim," Tony assured. "Besides I may have been exaggerating when I said I was smarter than you."

"But you are, sometimes," McGee claimed.

"Well yeah, I know more than you in some subjects," Tony grinned. "But at the same time, I still can't use my computer properly."

"And now, my dear boy, you have a desk job," Ducky teased.

"Aw damn," Tony joked. "Think Gibbs needs a new senior field agent?"

"I like you better as assistant director," Gibbs commented returning. "You can leave tomorrow, if you're a good boy."

"Yes sir," he mock saluted and winced. "Have the kids been behaving themselves?"

Smiling slightly he leant back against his pillows, listening as Abby told him about her conversation with Michael and how it was so cool that his son was interested in forensic science. He couldn't help but chuckle quietly as McGee chipped in that katie had seemed rather attached to Bert, the farting hippo, and sighed in contentment - life was good, even if his crazy ex-girlfriend had tried to kill him.

The director returned with Ziva and the children. She looked angry and Tony found his happiness fading. Sighing he gestured for the still overly ex-huberant kids to be lifted onto the bed, kissing both of their brows. The giggled in delight and curled up against him as he braced himself for the enslaut he was sure was about to come from the director. Angrily she told the others to leave. Ducky hesitated, taking the children with him, and followed the others but Gibbs refused to leave the room. Offering the older man a thankful smile Tony turned his attention to the director as she glared at him.

"You told them not to investigate?" she demanded.

"It's my choice," he sighed. "I don't endanger other people for my personal problems."

She took a startled breath, "That was uncalled for."

"Was it?" he demanded. "You tried to stop me make my own choices because of your past. You're my friend Jenny, but I'm sorry I can't agree with you over the way you handled La Grenoiulle."

"He's got a point, Jen," Gibbs spoke up.

"I'm going back to my office," she stormed from the room.

"Well that went well," Tony remarked dryly.

"Get some rest," Gibbs smiled. "I'll come and collect you tomorrow, I'll bring your kids."

"Thanks Gibbs," he yawned. "Tell them I love them would you."

"Sure boss," a smile played across Tony's lips at Gibbs' words.

Pausing to watch the younger man drift of to sleep Gibbs exited the room. The others were all waiting in the corridor, having seen the director's abrupt exit and being unwilling to interupt Tony and Gibbs. Smiling at them he scooped the two children up into his arms and suggested they leave Tony to get some rest. As one they left the hospital.

A/N - sorry this chapter isn't great and that it took so long to update, but I just went back to school and now have classes and coursework to keep up with. One more chapter to go, with more of the kids, I promise.