Gibbs was sanding in his basement when Tony slowly made his way down the stairs and settled himself on the bottom step.
"Feel any better?"
"A little," he spoke shyly, he was really tired. "Thanks for the loan." Tony pulled the NIS sweater he was wearing.
Tony's hair was still wet from the shower. Washing away the dried blood and sweat from being 'on the run' made it easier for him to relax and reconnect with himself. Unfortunately it also gave him time think about the last couple of days. He had been so confident before he'd left that this assignment wasn't going to end up like the Atlas case. Right now Tony really couldn't see much of a difference.
"You okay DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked quietly.
"Sure why wouldn't I be?"
Gibbs dropped the chisel he'd been holding and turned to glare at him. Tony managed to maintain eye contact for nearly a whole 30 seconds before guilt forced him to turn away.
"You did good."
"Really?" Tony winced at the desperation in his tone. "Forgive me boss, but I don't consider nearly getting my throat cut as a roaring success."
Tony couldn't describe the look Gibbs was giving him right now, and that said a lot because he thought he knew every one of Gibbs' glares.
Tony shook his head and cleared it of all thoughts, "same boat?"
"Same boat." Gibbs agreed, turning back to the work table and resuming what he was doing.
"You nearly finished? Or do you just keep building and unbuilding?"
"Unbuilding?"
"It's a word." Tony defended. "Could be a word." He muttered. "So what now?" He added some levity into his tone.
Gibbs looked at him over his glasses as he worked on a particularly fiddly bit. "Rest. You still look like crap."
"I think the correct term is 'shocky' boss."
"Indeed it is Anthony." Ducky's distinctive voice travelled from the top of the basement stairs.
"You brought me dinner Ducky?" Tony sniffed the air not believing it to be true.
"Against my better judgement." Ducky walked down the stairs, passed Tony and handed over the flat square box.
"You brought me pizza!" Tony ripped off the lid and took a slice.
"Easy Anthony, Jethro told me you've managed to keep everything down so far, doesn't mean you can swallow an entire slice." Ducky walked over to Gibbs and chuckled, "on your head if he throws that back up."
Gibbs smiled with knowing acceptance, "drink Duck?"
"Don't mind if I do, thank you Jethro."
Gibbs emptied the usual jar and gave it a quick clean with a rag before filling it and his own glass with a shot of bourbon.
Pizza eaten to the best of his abilities, which turned out to be a pathetic two slices, Tony remained on the stairs of the basement for as long as he was allowed. Ducky and Gibbs drank, but as soon as they noticed him and his eyelids sliding south he was ordered to lie down upstairs.
