Tony slept. Gibbs stayed the night on his couch, just in case he needed something. But it had been a quiet night.

Tony walked gingerly out of the bedroom, early in the morning, and saw Gibbs.

He smiled to himself. It made him feel really good that Gibbs had been there, especially after the previous day's events.

His back was at a dull throbbing roar, and he knew he needed to take something for it…but the painkillers made him loopy.

He opted for some over the counter pain medicine instead, hoping it would do the trick. He was getting some shooting pains down his right arm…but they had warned him of that, and it was temporary, so he tried to ignore it.

He put coffee on in his kitchen, after noticing Gibbs stir and start to wake on the couch.

As he shuffled around the kitchen, he knew it was only a matter of time before he heard, "Shouldn't you be in bed, DiNozzo?"

He turned and looked at Gibbs, in his slept–in clothing, "I dunno, Boss, I think you look worse than me right now." He smiled at Gibbs' sour look.

"Your couch…is not the most comfortable to sleep on." He walked around Tony, getting a coffee cup for himself, and pouring his coffee.

"Well, we'll have to complain to the concierge later," Tony said, smiling, "since you have about an hour to go home and get cleaned up before you go to the Yard."

"You tryin' to get rid of me, Tony?" Gibbs asked, good-naturedly, as he sat at Tony's kitchen bar.

"No…" Tony said, eyes suddenly downcast, "but I'm surprised you were here at all…the way you left the hospital."

Gibbs winced. He had hoped Tony heard Maura's take on it yesterday. Maybe he had. And maybe he wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. But, he just wasn't prepared for the conversation, of where it might lead…he might get angry again, and that wouldn't be fair...it certainly wouldn't be Tony's fault.

Gibbs sighed, and sipped his coffee. "I…had to get back to the office."

Tony swallowed, nodding, "Well," he said after a moment, getting coffee for himself too, "it was nice of you to come stay here, to look out for me." He decided not to push. He had heard Maura, but wanted very much for Gibbs to talk to him and say the words himself. Since he knew what the truth was though, and Gibbs had come to stay the night on his couch, he didn't have the heart to force it.

They sat in silence for a while.

"That girl of yours…"

"Maura. Not sure I'd call her my girl or anything…"

"She's pretty interesting," Gibbs said, looking at Tony with one raised brow.

Tony laughed, "Yeah. I told you. Pretty different, right?"

"She's not what I expected."

"Well, what did you expect?'

Gibbs grinned. "Oh, maybe a crooked nose with a wart on it, big black hat…"

"Aaaggh," Tony groaned, rubbing his face, "you guys are never gonna' let me live this down."

"Nope. It's like McGee's Birthday, Christmas, and Computer Game Convention, all rolled into one."

"Oh God," Tony said, shaking his head but smiling. "I guess I gotta' eat it sooner or later."

After a moment, Gibbs looked more seriously at him, "She's really not all that bad…seems smart, kind…"

"Sexy as Hell."

Gibbs snorted, "That too."

Gibbs got up and put his empty cup in the sink.

"You've got two days to convalesce. I hope you do that."

Tony sighed deeply. "Two days is fine, Boss. I was thinking though…" he wasn't sure if he should mention it. "There was something I wanted to do anyway…" he got up and put his coffee cup in the sink next to the one Gibbs used.

"Anything to do with your Dad?" Gibbs asked it casually, leaning against the kitchen doorway.

Tony turned, resting his one hand on the sink, and looked at Gibbs. The green eyes had become a little darker.

"Yeah."

Gibbs waited him out for a minute.

Tony sighed again and looked down. "He liquefied the family home, and put some things in storage for me." He looked up at Gibbs, almost as if searching his eyes for something.

"The package you got yesterday?"

"Yeah. It 's a box with a key to the locker. And, a necklace…that belonged to my mom." Tony swallowed harshly, trying not to let Gibbs see how unnerving it was for him to talk about it.

Gibbs nodded. "You want me to take a day off and go with you?"

Tony's eyes widened at the offer. It spoke volumes. Gibbs never took a day off to do anything personal. He was surprised, and so pleased, but he wasn't sure what he would find. Or how he would feel, looking at his mother's things after all this time.

"Boss, I – thank you. But…I think I'll just go myself." He thought maybe he would ask Maura, who was nurturing when he needed it, and an absolute distraction when he needed it too. And she was not as close as Gibbs was to knowing the real him. He could still maintain some defenses around her that he knew Gibbs could easily see through.

"I understand," Gibbs said, sincerely.

"I'll be by the office tonight to get the box so I can take the ride tomorrow."

"You sure you don't wanna' take the two days you were given as sick time to get well? Maybe do it over the weekend, after that swelling has gone down some more?" Gibbs knew what Tony was probably going to do anyway, but he had to try.

"No. I'm fine. Really, Boss. I'll ice it too, today."

"Well, no need to come all the way in. You rest, and I'll send Abby or McGee over with it in the afternoon so you have it."

"Oh man, Abby is going to freak out when McGee tells her about Maura. Damned painkillers…"

Gibbs laughed again.

"Don't worry Tony, before you know it, Abs'll be over here having séances with her."

"Very funny, Boss, very funny."

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