Chapter 8
The following morning Gibbs woke feeling very rested. He had only woken twice as Tony's coughing fits seemed to have lessened in quantity and severity. He got up and after having a shower, he headed down stairs to start on breakfast. He had just finished cooking and was loading the food onto plates when Tony arrived, still in his pyjamas.
"You must have smelt the food." Gibbs commented
"Yeah." Tony agreed "It smells good."
"Well then have a seat and eat up." Gibbs instructed.
Tony happily sat down and started eating. Tony cleared his plate and also had a few slices of toast.
"You must be feeling better" Gibbs said as he handed Tony his pills and a glass of water.
"Yeah, much better."
"Good, now drink all of the water or Ducky will be putting in another IV.
"I'm drinking loads." Tony whined
"Have you been going to the toilet much?"
"Boss." Tony whined awkwardly.
"Well have you."
"I uh, I went this morning and I went before I went to bed last night."
"Good, that's a good sign." Gibbs smiled as he started clearing up after the breakfast "What would you like to today."
"I'm ok with whatever you want to do boss." Tony replied.
"I normally just work on the boat." Gibbs replied "But you don't have to do that."
"I can watch you." Tony suggested.
"Or maybe you can help me." Gibbs suggested.
"I don't know how." Tony replied. "I'm not really good at that sort of thing."
"You don't have to be good at it, I'll teach you."
"I'm told I can be hard to teach." Tony replied hesitantly
"DiNozzo, I've thought you nearly everything you know."
"Ok boss but be warned, I'm told I'm very annoying."
"Well whoever told you that must not have been a patient person." Gibbs replied "Now go up and get dressed and I'll get things ready."
"Yes boss." Tony replied and quickly made his way upstairs.
Tony arrived down to the basement a few minutes later and Gibbs had everything ready. Gibbs patiently showed Tony how to work the tools. They worked happily together for a few hours and only stopped when Tony's stomach rumbled.
After they had some lunch, Gibbs made Tony take a nap.
Tony slept for nearly two hours and would possible have slept longer but Ducky came by to check on him.
"So am I ready to go back to work tomorrow." Tony asked when Ducky had finished with his exam.
"Now Anthony, don't be pushing yourself. You need time to recover." Ducky scolded.
"I'm fine Duck. I feel much better." Tony protested.
"Yes but even so, you are not fully recovered. Your lungs are still quite weak from your bought with Y Pestus and although you may feel better your lungs need a bit more time."
"Please Ducky I need to be doing something."
"What you need to be doing young man, is resting and getting better. You won't be going back to work until you are better."
"But Ducky." Tony whined.
"No Anthony you need to rest." Ducky said. "Now let's go down stairs. Jethro was telling me you were helping him with his boat."
"Yeah, don't know if I've done it right but he didn't seem annoyed with me." Tony replied as he started getting dressed.
"Why would he be annoyed with you?"
"Oh um, that's just what normally happens."
"Surely not with Jethro." Ducky gasped.
"Oh no, not with Gibbs." Tony assured "Just with ah other people."
"Well Jethro is not like your father Anthony." Ducky said "He cares about you. I know he has a hard time showing it sometimes, but he does care."
"I know Ducky." Tony smiled and the both went downstairs and headed for the kitchen where Gibbs was making coffee.
"Hey Tony." Gibbs greeted. "How is he doing Duck?"
"He is doing much better." Ducky replied "But I am afraid he's already asking to go back to work."
"And is he ready to go back to work." Gibbs asked
"Definitely not." Ducky replied "His lungs need more time to heal and he might be feeling better but the last thing he needs is a relapse. It's cold out and if he is running around a relapse is a possibility."
"Ok Duck, I was just asking." Gibbs said. "How about desk work."
"Although I would prefer him to stay off for another while, I will permit him to do some work under strict conditions." Ducky relented
"What conditions." Tony enquired eagerly.
"You will have to stay here with Gibbs for at least another week."
"I can do that." Tony said.
"You will have to continue taking your pills."
"Ok" Tony agreed.
"You will need to finish at five everyday and you will take a nap every day."
"Ducky, I can't take a nap at work." Tony protested.
"You can and you will, if you want to go back to work." Gibbs said.
"Boss." Tony whined.
"I don't want my best agent out of the field for too long." Gibbs said "If that means you have to rest during the day, then so be it."
"Ok boss." Tony agreed reluctantly. "Can I go back tomorrow then?"
"Yes Tony, you can come back tomorrow." Gibbs said.
"Cool." Tony grinned.
"I'd better get going." Ducky said "I will see you both tomorrow."
"Thanks Duck." Gibbs replied.
"Yeah thanks for everything Ducky." Tony added.
"Good evening gentlemen." Ducky said as he left.
"I'm going to start on dinner. You go watch TV or something." Gibbs ordered Tony.
"Ok boss." Tony agreed and went to the living room where he continued to read his book for the next hour and a half.
Gibbs cooked a roast dinner which they ate together.
"Do you want to work on the boat some more." Gibbs asked as they ate.
"Yeah sure if that ok with you." Tony replied. "I actually see now why you find it relaxing. I still prefer watching a movies or running but it's cool to build something with your own two hands. It makes you feel like you've accomplished something."
"Yeah." Gibbs agreed.
"I'd still love to know how you plan on getting it out."
"Maybe I'll show you when it's time." Gibbs replied as he started to clear up the dinner plates.
"I'd like that." Tony replied as he started helping with the dishes.
They made quick work of it and then they both went to the basement.
"You're good at this Tony." Gibbs commented as they both started working.
"Not really." Tony replied. "I'm not good at making things."
"Did you father tell you that." Gibbs asked with a quick glance at Tony.
"Yeah." Tony replied refusing to look up from what he was doing.
"He was wrong Tony." Gibbs assured. "Your father was a bastard. He abused you mentally and from the scars I've seen physically as well. He doesn't deserve a son like you."
"Thanks boss." Tony replied not denying what Gibbs had said.
"I know it's hard to forget what he told you but I want you to remember that you are a great agent and someone I am proud to have watching my back. You are not a screw up and you are not worthless."
"It's all I ever heard when I was growing up." Tony sighed. "It's hard to break free of that conditioning."
"I know Tony, I know." Gibbs replied and they lapsed into silence and worked on the boat for the next few hours. Gibbs sent Tony to bed at 9 o'clock while he continued working on the boat for another few hours, before he too went to bed.
A/N: Again thank you so much for all the reviews. There is only one more chapter to this story and I will be posting it tomorrow.
