Disclaimer: Not mine.

Summary: After being sent to serve as Agent Afloat, Tony decides to take his career in a different direction. Enter the NYPD Crime Lab.

Pairings: Tony/Mac, Danny/Don, mentioned past Tony/Gibbs.

Author's Note: This one takes place directly after the last chapter.

Previously Misguided
by: JnnLuvsU

Chapter 7: Awkward Dinners and Birthday Celebrations
Chapter Summary: Gibbs and Tony have dinner. The CSI team help Tony celebrate his birthday.

Gibbs stopped Tony with a hand on his arm as they headed back into the lab, "Can we get dinner tonight?" He asked, blue eyes piercing Tony's.

Tony stepped back, out of Gibbs' reach. He could think of very few things he'd rather do less than spend the evening in this man's company, but knew that if he didn't, Gibbs would hound him until they left. "Sure. The team? Or just me and you?"

Gibbs smiled, "Just us. Got some catching up to do." He clapped Tony on the shoulder, "Seven? Meet me at the hotel?"

Tony nodded, smiling politely, "Sure. See you then." He watched as Gibbs walked off.

Danny approached, having overheard, "Tony..."

Tony turned to him, eyes hard, "Don't Danny." He held up a hand. "Just...don't."

Danny held up his hands, "Don't let him upset you, Tony," he whispered. "Don't let him get to you."

Tony shook his head, "He doesn't have that power anymore, Dan," he returned.

Danny raised his eyebrows in disbelief, but didn't comment. "Okay, Tone. Just...be careful, alright?"

Tony couldn't help the small smile that graced his face, "I'll be fine, Dan. But thanks." He looked at his friend.

Danny caught Tony's green eyes, "Call me later. Tell me how it went."

"Going into big brother over-protective mode, I see," Tony teased.

Danny chuckled, "Someone's got to look out for you." He backed down the hallway, "Besides, I'm younger than you, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, rub it in," Tony yelled after him. Danny kept laughing as Tony disappeared into the locker room.

Tony met Gibbs at the hotel and followed the man to the restaurant next door. "How's everyone been?" Tony asked as they waited for drinks to arrive.

Gibbs shrugged, "Same as usual."

Tony nodded, "When did Ziva and Tim get back?" He'd known how much Ziva hated being sent home. Was happy for her that she'd gotten to come back.

Gibbs waited until after they'd placed their orders before turning back to Tony, "About four months after you left."

"Catch whoever Vance was after?" Tony sipped his beer.

Gibbs was silent for a few minutes, his eyes accessing Tony carefully, "What makes you think he was after someone?"

Tony rolled his eyes, "Brand new director? One day on the job and he splits up the team with the highest solve rate? Had to be a damn good reason."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows, but decided to be truthful, "Yes. We did. But it wasn't all cut and dried." He sighed deeply, "Turned out to be Lee."

Tony froze; his beer halfway to his lips, "Michelle?" he asked in disbelief.

Gibbs nodded, "They'd kidnapped her daughter. Held her hostage. Demanded secrets in return."

"Did you get Amanda back?" Tony asked, placing his beer back on the table.

"You knew Lee had a daughter?" Gibbs asked.

Tony shrugged, "She mentioned it once." He could see Gibbs' shock, "I get to know the people I work with Gibbs."

"Are you implying that I don't," Gibbs asked.

"You learn what you want to learn, Gibbs. The important things. But the little things? They escape you. Because they aren't going to pertain to anything having to do with the job. That's you." He took a deep breath, "So, did you get Amanda back?"

Gibbs nodded, "Amanda was unharmed."

Something in Gibbs voice wasn't right, "But Michelle isn't." It was a statement, not a question.

"She didn't survive," Gibbs confirmed. "Nor did she want to. She was being held hostage by the ringleader of the operation. So, I did what I had to. What she wanted me to."

"You shot her," Tony stated.

Again, Gibbs nodded, "She would have been tried as a traitor. No matter that there were extenuating circumstances. It was better that way. For her. Now her daughter can think of her as a hero instead of seeing her locked away in jail."

Tony nodded, "You did the right thing, Gibbs." He looked away. Another friend dead. He'd lost so many over the years at NCIS.

"Thank you, Tony," Gibbs whispered. "How have you been?" He couldn't keep his eyes off his former lover. Tony looked good.

Tony smiled a genuine smile, "I've been good, Gibbs. Great even."

Gibbs nodded, frowning slightly. He'd never seen Tony this relaxed. It was nice, but also distressing. Why did Tony leave? "That's great, Tony."

Tony nodded as their food arrived, "Never really thought that this would be something that I would enjoy, but I really like it."

"You like the city?" Gibbs asked.

Tony grinned, "I love it."

They made small talk over dinner and as their plates were cleared away, Gibbs asked the question that he'd been wanting to ask the entire dinner, "Why'd you quit, Tony?" he whispered.

Tony glared at him, all earlier easiness gone, "You really have to ask me that?" he asked in disbelief, "Really?"

Gibbs sighed, "I was going to fix it," He assured.

Tony nodded, "After I'd learned my lesson right? After I started hating the ship so much I would jump at the chance to come back and work for you?"

"What are you talking about?" Gibbs demanded.

"When you recommend someone for something, they put that in that person's file," Tony informed him. "And when you ask, they let you see it." He glared at Gibbs, "You sent me away. Not Vance. You."

Gibbs looked away, "It wasn't punishment," he whispered.

Tony shook his head, "If you wanted to end things, that's all you had to say." He leaned forward, "Instead, you sent me to a damn boat. What was that about? To string me along while you made up your mind?"

Gibbs looked abashed, "I needed time, you needed the experience, and Vance needed to give me a new team. You were being reassigned regardless."

"Reassigned," Tony repeated. "You sent me away. Because you couldn't deal."

"I'm sorry," Gibbs whispered. He looked back up at Tony, "And if I can deal now?"

Tony stared at the table top for a long time, "It's too late, Gibbs," he murmured, standing. He threw some twenties on the table, "I'll see you later."

Gibbs snagged his wrist, "Tony. Please. I...miss you."

Tony didn't look at him, "I have to go." He tugged his wrist from Gibbs' grip.

Gibbs held fast, his grip becoming painful, "Sit back down," he demanded, "we're still talking."

Tony couldn't hide the wince, knew his wrist would have bruises tomorrow. "No," he stated firmly, "We're finished. Let me go."

Gibbs sighed, but merely tightened his hold, "Will you at least consider coming back?"

Tony shook his head, "Nothing to go back to," he stated.

Gibbs glared at Tony's profile as the younger man had yet to look at him, "There's me. Your job," he growled.

Tony's eyes hardened as he looked down at Gibbs for the first time, "No. You left me. And you took away my job. I'm happy. Now, let me go." Tony's voice was low and dangerous.

Gibbs caught Tony's eye, "I want you to come back."

Tony wrenched his hand from Gibbs' grip. "I don't want to go back. This is my home. Stay away from me." He left the restaurant.

Mac found Tony running trace, "What are you still doing here?"

Tony sighed, "Don't really want to go home," he shrugged.

Mac's brow furrowed, "Why?"

Tony leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes, "He's out there. Waiting."

Mac was even more confused, "Gibbs?"

Tony nodded, "He wants to know where I live. He can't find out; whether McGee refused or Gibbs didn't ask, I don't know, but he's been unable to find out. So he's waiting. So he can follow me home."

Mac raised his eyebrows, "He's following you?"

Tony shrugged, "Gibbs always finds out what he wants to know. I'm not good enough to lose him, and I really don't want him to know, so here I am." He stretched, raising his arms over his head.

Mac's gaze was drawn to Tony's wrist, more specifically the bruising that circled his wrist as Tony's sweater uncovered it. He gripped Tony's elbow, looking at the bruising. "What happened?"

Tony pulled his arm away, pulling down his sleeve, "Nothing." He took a deep breath, "I'll be fine, Mac. Don't worry. It won't be the first time I've slept at the lab."

Mac wouldn't be deterred as he retook Tony's hand in his, examining the bruises. "These look like fingertips, Tone." He looked at Tony, "Who did this to you?" His voice demanded the truth.

Tony sighed, looking away, "I walked away. He...wasn't happy."

Mac's face darkened, "Gibbs did this to you?"

Tony looked back up at him, "Please don't make a big deal out of this, Mac. The case is closed. They're leaving."

Mac sighed, dropping Tony's arm, "Fine. Come on. You can crash at my place tonight."

Tony shook his head, "It's cool, Mac. Don't worry about it. Just go home. I'm sure you'd rather he not know where you live, either."

Mac grabbed Tony's arm, "Come on. Stella and the guys were going to get drinks. You look like you could use one. We'll meet them. I'm picking you up at the back entrance in five minutes."

Tony gave him a small smile, "Thanks, Mac."

Mac backed out of the room, "Will he be in the garage? Or out front?"

Tony shrugged, "I don't know if he knows which car is mine or not."

Mac nodded, "Five minutes. Back door," He reminded sternly.

Tony chuckled, "I'll be there. Going now." He stood, taking off his lab coat and grabbing his suit jacket. His phone rang just as Mac disappeared from the room. He answered it, "DiNozzo."

"Tone. It's Danny. Are you still at the lab?" Danny was speaking louder than normal.

Tony headed for the back entrance, "Leaving now. Just had to finish up some things. What's up?"

"Get your ass over here," Danny demanded. "Charlie's. Everyone's here. Hell, even Mac's coming."

Tony smiled, "On my way," he assured.

There was a long pause, "Damn, that was easy," Danny muttered. "Wait. Mac already convinced you, didn't he?"

Tony laughed, "Sorry, Danny."

Danny frowned, "I see how it is," he pretended to be affronted. "My best friend..."

Tony laughed again, "Unless Don's there," he teased.

"I'm gonna get you for that DiNozzo," Danny teased back, "You just wait."

"Ooh, I'm terrified," Tony deadpanned. "What you gonna do, talk me to death?"

Danny laughed, "That would be you," he returned. "Just get here."

Tony nodded, "On my way. See you in a bit." Danny echoed his bye and they hung up as Tony climbed into the passenger seat of Mac's car.

"Who was on the phone?" Mac asked as they pulled away.

"Danny," Tony replied, "telling me to get to the bar."

Mac grinned, "I'm amazed he waited this long." He looked at Tony, "How long do you think Gibbs will wait?"

Tony shrugged, "Don't know. Don't care."

"He asked you to come back yet?" Mac asked nonchalantly.

Tony nodded, "Last night."

Mac's hands tightened fractionally on the steering wheel, "That was fast," He muttered. "Must want you back pretty badly."

Tony shrugged again, "I'm not looking to go anywhere. I like it here. The city. The job." He smiled at Mac, "the people."

Mac pulled into the bar parking lot, "We like having you here," He whispered, squeezing Tony's shoulder.

Tony nodded, "Thanks, Mac."

They climbed out of the car and walked into the bar. Stella was waiting, "It's about time you got here," she muttered.

Mac grinned, "What's wrong?"

Stella rolled her eyes, "For investigators, they're just not very discreet."

Tony chuckled, "And what do you expect us to do about it?" The whole team knew it was only a matter of time before Danny and Don came to their senses. Well, everyone except Lindsay.

Stella sighed, "Someone needs to give that girl a clue."

Mac looked at the ceiling, "Not supposed to hear that. Not supposed to hear that."

Tony gave him a strange look, "I didn't think it would bother you," he commented.

Mac chuckled, "It doesn't. But if I can pretend I don't know about it, I can continue to let them work cases together."

Tony nodded, "It's not against the rules?" He was unable to keep the hope out of his voice.

Mac shrugged, headed for the bar, "Not really. No more working cases together once I have confirmation." He'd heard the hope in Tony's voice and wondered which member of the team the younger man was interested in.

Stella nodded, "And Mac and I can't start a relationship with an underling, but again, it's not against the rules to be in one." She led them to the table once the drinks they'd ordered arrived.

Tony tried to appear nonchalant, but wasn't sure he succeeded. "Really," He stated, glancing at Mac and catching the older man's eyes, "I did not know that."

"Know what?" Lindsay asked as Tony and Mac pulled up chairs and sat down.

"Nothing," Tony grinned, "So, what are we celebrating?" Because he knew this was more than merely celebrating the end of a case. Mac and Sid rarely went out; Stella only slightly more often.

Eight faces stared at him in shock. Tony smiled nervously, "What?"

Mac leaned over, "They found out that your birthday was last week," he whispered.

Tony's eyes widened, "Really, guys, this wasn't necessary," he muttered. He hadn't celebrated a birthday in years.

"Of course it was. We're making up. We didn't get to do this last year," Lindsay admonished him.

"Besides, it's a good excuse to go drinking," Danny added.

"And we got you gifts," Stella grinned. "From all of us." Don and Adam put two packages on the table.

Tony was in shock, "Oh, wow." He'd known that they did this for members of the team; they'd celebrated Hawkes' last month, but he'd never imagined they'd do it for him. "You really didn't have to do this."

"Just open 'em," Danny demanded.

Tony laughed, "Alright." He pulled the larger box to him, pulling off the paper to reveal a top of the line Blue Ray Player. He gasped; he'd wanted one forever, but they were so expensive. "Guys," he whispered.

"Just say thanks," Hawkes smiled, handing him the smaller box, "And to start your new Blue Ray collection..."

Tony opened it, "Casablanca. Thanks guys." He couldn't keep the grin off his face.

"You're welcome, Tone," Mac grinned at him.

"Now, we need more drinks for the birthday boy," Danny called.

Tony shook his head, "Just beer. You know I don't do hard liquor."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Tony heads for Vegas...