Disclaimer: NCIS is the sole property of the creators, studio, writers, producers, directors, etc. Lucky them….

I consider myself lucky to be able to take them out to play for a while. Some dialogue was pulled directly from the episode Broken Arrow to maintain continuity.

A/N: Senior is back... Tony has NO idea what to expect this time, but he knows being DiNozzo, Jr. isn't going to be any easier. Caught between two 'fathers' for the 2nd time Tony wanders will Senior be friend or foe.

***The intent was a one shot, but the episode was too RICH to over condense. It will be a 'short' multi-chapter fic that digs a little DEEPER….

***Thank you for the tremendous response to the story I've taken such joy in writing. Every review, alert, favorite is appreciated. Hope you enjoy this read and review, review, review!

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Tony was giving McGee his usual hard time only a lot meaner and too frequently for Gibbs patience. It didn't seem as though the visit with his father had done him any good. If anything he was more put out. Finding that Ziva had already gone home to change was another coal on the fire his temper was rapidly building toward. The young man was on the war path.

"Fine Probie! Just finish it yourself since I can't seem to get anything right."

"Tony I didn't say that, but you can't just bang things around. This equipment..."

"Blah, blah, blah computer stuff... Blah, blah, blah geek speak. Get over yourself McGee!"

"Go to hell DiNozzo!"

"HEY!" Gibbs yelled popping them both in the back of the head. He had been alerted to the uproar in the garage by some of the techs working down there who called Abby. Her call to Gibbs being only logical.

"Where the hell do the two of you think you are? This is a federal agency not some school yard where you can relive your best and worst junior high moments. McGee get this van operational in thirty. DiNozzo with me!"

"Boss, you don't even know what's going on. Why do I have to get hauled off with..."

"Tony, I don't care. I DO NOT CARE! Whatever is going on is stopping now. Am I clear?"

It looked as though Tony's mouth was poised to say something other than 'yes boss' and Gibbs was in no mood.

"Get upstairs and make sure every warrant is order before you leave." The closer they got to the elevator, out of earshot of Tim, Gibbs felt more free to chastise his 'son'.

"Anthony I want it to stop right now. Do not push me into doing something neither of us wants. You are not angry at McGee, or Ziva or me for that matter."

"Wanna bet," Tony knew how close to the edge he was dancing, but couldn't keep his mouth from autopilot sarcasm.

"Are you and Abby in some sort of contest today? Trust me this is one with only one winner, me. I'll be watching and listening to everything, with Vance, so don't screw around!"

As Tony backed into the elevator he saw the look in Gibbs' eyes. He snidely replied, "on it boss," as the doors closed between them. Then he started to kick himself. Of course he knew how right Gibbs was. His misdirected anger stemmed from an emotion he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with full on, but was even more certain he couldn't keep stamped down any longer. As much as his father made him crazy he did want some sort of relationship with the man. The problem was the same as it always was, DiNozzo, Sr. wouldn't acknowledge anything was wrong and therefore wanted nothing to do with 'fixing' things with his son. That was the real thing bugging him. He'd spent an hour with his father at the hotel and the man spent most of the time talking about himself or talking to other people. He had given his son the same amount of attention he always did, none. It was no wonder Tony had taken his need for attention, negative or worse, into adulthood. He had no frame of reference for what getting positive attention looked like. After nine years with Gibbs, as the best surrogate dad a green agent and overgrown child could get, he had a better reference point but could feel himself sliding out of control. That was what all the snapping at Tim had been about. Sure he could own it in the solitude of the elevator, but once those doors opened he knew facing the truth would be a lot harder.

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Sitting in the van was making him crazy. Why the hell McGee was so giddy was the other thing making him nuts. Knowing Gibbs was watching him while he watched his father woo Ziva made his jaw clench and unclench involuntarily. Not to mention the smell of peanut butter was triggering a homicidal sense memory. If McGee UM'd one more time...

"This is surreal. I feel like I'm in a James Bond movie directed by Fellini. On a stakeout watching my father and Ziva go undercover while you munch on a Nutter Butter."

As the image of his father's hand sliding down Ziva's back filled the screen Tony moaned out, "This is the beginning of the end of my career." It seemed that even when the man wasn't trying he was screwing up his son's life. Why the hell was everyone enjoying themselves, except Tony of course. Ticking off his mental list Tony decided the other thing bugging him was he knew that in a different time and place he'd be in his father's shoes probably enjoying it too.

"Hey Tony I think you just got a glimpse of your next stepmother."

"That's very funny McGee." Only it wasn't because the woman named Sophia that Senior was chatting up was exactly his type. When would this night...

Tony noticed the two men paying Ziva unsolicited and menacing attention. "Uh-oh, push in. What's this all about?"

"It doesn't look good." Tim answered. They were both on immediate high alert.