Chapter 9
Gibbs gave Tony a couple of hours and then went to his bedroom door and knocked.
"Yes?" Tony said from the other side of the door.
"Can I come in?" Gibbs asked.
"Yeah."
Gibbs opened the door and walked in the room. He laid on the bed beside Tony, who was laying down reading.
"You don't have to knock you know," Tony said.
"I wasn't sure."
"Jet, we made love last night. We told each other we're in love. I think you can come into my bedroom whenever you like."
"Okay. Look, I don't wanna piss you off, but McGee wants to talk to you."
"God, do I have to?"
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but he's gonna be here during the day. Do you really wanna hide in your room the entire time?"
Tony got up and paced around the room while Gibbs watched him. He turned to face Gibbs. "I'm not hiding. I just can't be bothered to talk to him."
"Give him a chance, Tony, he feels bad."
"SO, YOU'RE ON HIS SIDE?" Tony shouted.
"No, I'm not."
"IT SURE SOUNDS THAT WAY, GIBBS!"
"Gibbs?"
"GOD, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ALL TEAMING UP AGAINST ME AGAIN!"
"Baby-"
"DON'T BABY ME, JET!" Tony interrupted.
Okay, look, I just said I'd come and see if you were awake. It's up to you if you want to talk to him, but getting it over with could be good."
"FINE!" Tony turned and opened the door and stomped into the kitchen. Gibbs followed him.
"WHAT, DO YOU WANT MCGEE?" Tony shouted.
McGee looked frightened. He looked at Tony and then at Gibbs.
"NO, DON'T LOOK AT HIM, LOOK AT ME! WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"ABOUT?"
"The past few months."
"WHAT IS THERE TO TALK ABOUT? YOU AND ZIVA DECIDED TO SIDE WITH GIBBS, EVEN THOUGH YOU COULD BOTH SEE THAT HE WAS BEING A DICK!"
Gibbs put his hand on Tony's arm in an attempt to calm him down, but Tony snatched it away and turned to the older man. "BACK OFF!"
Gibbs held his hands up in surrender and took a step back.
"Tony, please let me explain," McGee begged.
"FINE, YOU GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN TO ME HOW AFTER ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF WATCHING YOUR BACK LIKE A PARTNER IS SUPPOSED TO, YOU TURNED ON ME! WHY'D YOU DO IT? FOR FUN?"
"No, Tony, it wasn't like that."
"BULLSHIT! YOU AND ZIVA DECIDED THAT IT WAS FAR EASIER TO LET GIBBS SHIT ON ME, BECAUSE HE LEFT YOU BOTH ALONE! I NEVER WOULD'VE DONE THAT TO EITHER OF YOU, AND YOU KNOW IT! I WAS LESS ANGRY AT ZIVA BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN PARTNERS WITH HER AS LONG AS YOU, BUT YOU, TIM, WERE MY FRIEND!"
"You're right, Tony, I did go along with it because it was easier for me that Gibbs was giving you a hard time and I have no excuse. You're my friend and my partner and I should never have done it. I didn't see what it was doing to you and I should have. I'm very sorry, Tony."
"I'll tell you the same thing I told Ziva; you and she are no longer my friends. IF I come back to NCIS, we'll see how it goes. And seeing as you're in my apartment, I'll talk to you, but don't think for one second I've forgotten. A lot of people have betrayed me in my life, but I never expected one of those people to be you. Both of you used me for your own personal gain."
Tony turned and looked at Gibbs. "And don't think I don't know what you're doing."
"What?"
"You think that if McGee, Ziva and I patch up our differences, I'll be more willing to come back to NCIS, right?"
Gibbs looked down to the floor. "It crossed my mind, Tony, but I was thinking of you."
"No, Jet, you weren't. You were thinking about yourself and your godforsaken team. I know you better than you think I do, and I won't be used this way."
"No, b-"
"DON'T!" Tony said loudly. "I'm gonna read in my room." He walked away, leaving Gibbs standing in the hall with McGee watching from the kitchen.
Gibbs turned around and called after Tony, "I'll call you for dinner, Tony."
The only answer he received was the slamming of the bedroom door.
"SHIT!" Gibbs exclaimed.
XXXXXXXXXX
An hour and a half later Tony still hadn't come out of his room. McGee had made dinner while Gibbs made some phone calls.
"Ah, Boss, dinner will be really in five minutes," McGee said.
Gibbs looked at him and sighed. He got up and went to Tony's bedroom door. He knocked, but there was no answer. He opened the door and looked in the room. Tony was asleep with the box Gibbs had given him wrapped in his arms. Gibbs smiled a little and walked to Tony's side of the bed and sat down. He stroked Tony's hair and kissed him on the head. Tony's opened his eyes and looked at Gibbs.
"I'm sorry, baby," Gibbs said. "I was thinking that if you all made up you'd come back, but it was never my intention to make you upset or to use you. Please, forgive me?"
"You should've let me do this my way, Jet. You seem to have forgotten that everything only came to a head yesterday. I just needed time."
"I'm sorry."
"Okay."
"McGee made dinner. You hungry?"
"Yeah."
"C'mon then."
Tony got up and put the box back on the nightstand. Gibbs pulled him into a hug and kissed his neck. Tony hugged him gently.
"I love you, Tony."
"I love you, too, but sometimes you're an idiot."
Gibbs chuckled. "I know, but I'm your idiot."
"God help me."
They both laughed and Tony pulled Gibbs closer and kissed him deeply. They broke apart to catch their breath.
"Let's skip dinner and make out instead," Gibbs suggested with a leer.
"No, I'm hungry. C'mon." Tony took Gibbs' hand and led him to the door.
"I'm hungry, too, but not for food, baby," Gibbs said.
"Stop it, you big flirt."
"I can't help it. You drive me crazy."
Tony opened the door and started to walk out, then he turned and winked at Gibbs.
"Stop that, Mickey."
"No."
"I'll make you."
"Oh, please," Tony scoffed.
"Just you wait."
Tony turned and winked at Gibbs again while walking into the kitchen.
"So, McGee, what's for dinner?" Tony asked.
"I made pizza."
"You made pizza? McGee, I have three pizza places on speed dial. You didn't have to make them."
"I wanted to and I made your favorite."
"Okay, then let's eat."
"What am I having?" Gibbs asked.
"Pizza as well, Boss."
"I don't want pizza."
"Sit and eat the pizza," Tony stated. "McGee made it special."
"I don't care."
"Jet, if you sit and eat McGee's special pizza, I'll do my special later."
Tony winked at Gibbs, whose mouth dropped open. He looked at Tony to make sure he got the signal right. Tony winked again. Gibbs jumped to his chair and took some pizza. McGee didn't have any idea what was going on.
"What's your special, Tony?" McGee asked.
"Ah, lasagna," Tony answered.
Gibbs tried to hide his smile.
"I'll look forward to it," McGee said.
Gibbs laughed out loud and Tony kicked him under the table. "OOWW, that was uncalled for, Mickey."
"I don't think it was, Jet, now eat your pizza."
Gibbs took a bite of pizza, still smiling.
"Tony, Abby told me to tell you to call her," McGee said.
"She's speaking to you then?" Tony asked.
McGee played with his pizza and put his head down. "No, she's not. We drove to NCIS to get your video phone and she wouldn't say a word the whole way. When we went into her lab she shoved the phone at me and said, 'Tell Tony to phone'. That was it."
"Well, I don't know what to tell you, McGee, she's pissed," Tony said.
"I didn't know you two had become so close."
"Well, you wouldn't."
"Sorry."
"Abby and I look after each other. There's no more to say."
McGee looked at Gibbs and then back at Tony. "Tony, can I ask you a personal question?"
Tony swallowed a bite of his pizza, then looked at Gibbs and then back at McGee. "You can ask. I don't know if I'll answer."
"Okay, well, are you and Abby together?"
Tony looked at Gibbs again.
"I don't think that's any of your business, McGee," Gibbs said.
"Tony and Abby are my friends," McGee stated.
"No, McGee, I'm not, but feel free to ask Abby," Tony said.
Gibbs tried to help Tony out. "But I would expect a slap for your trouble, so just mind you own business."
"Okay," McGee said.
"So, Tony, what do you want to do tonight?" Gibbs asked. "We could play a game of cards like we used to."
"Okay," Tony agreed. "But I should call Abby and Ducky first to check in."
"I should check in with Tobias," Gibbs said.
"Didn't he say he'd call if anything happened?" Tony asked.
"Well, yeah, but I want to be kept in the loop."
Tony put his pizza down and sighed. "Jet, it's not an NCIS case. Let the man do his job."
"But if we know what's going on-"
"Does it have anything to do with protecting me?"
"No, but-"
"He'll call if something happens. Leave Tobias alone. You aren't working the case. If you want to, then ask Tobias if you can take over for Ron."
"NO! I want to stay here."
"You can't do both, you can either protect me or go and work the case. Take your pick."
"Okay, I'm sorry. It's just I don't like waiting around and I know that if our team was on it, we'd be doing a better job."
"You don't know that, Jet. Tobias knows what he's doing."
"PPPHHH the FBI."
"I don't like them either, but it's their case. You shouldn't be concerned with that, only with being here.
"You're right, but I want this guy either in a box or behind bars."
"And he will be. Leave it alone, please?"
Gibbs nodded his head. McGee was just looking at the two of them. He had never heard Tony talk like that to their boss, and he had never known Gibbs to back down either.
Tony noticed the way McGee was looking at them. "What, McGee?"
"Nothing, it's just I've never seen you two talk like this before," McGee commented.
"This is how I talk to my friends, McGee," Gibbs explained. "Tony isn't my agent anymore and he's earned the right to talk to me however he wants."
"I'm just not used to it," McGee said.
Tony's phone rang and he got up and went into the living room to answer it. "Hello."
"Well, Anthony, how are you doing?" Gary Brown said.
Tony recognized the voice, so he signaled to Gibbs to pick up the phone in the bedroom. Gibbs quickly did what Tony wanted so he could listen in on the extension.
"I'm good, Gary, and you?" Tony asked.
"Oh, not bad, I'm a bit bored, though."
"Why don't you drop by so we can catch up?"
Tony wrote on a pad of paper, 'call Fornell' and threw it at McGee.
"Did you get my gift, Anthony?"
"No, what gift was that?"
"Don't play with me, DiNozzo, the girl."
"Oh, yeah, I heard about that
"And what did you think when you saw her?"
"I didn't."
"WHAT?"
"I didn't see her, Gary, and I have no intention of playing your game."
"THIS IS NOT A GAME!"
"What do you want from me, Gary?"
"I want you dead, Tony."
"Okay, well, you have my number, so I think you know where I live. Come and get me."
"You've had a few visitors to your place, Tony."
"Well, what can I say? I'm very popular."
"Things must have changed for you then?"
"Let's get back to my visitors, Gary. Tell me what you saw."
"Um, ah..." Gary stammered.
"Gary, you haven't been watching my place."
"I've been busy, Anthony, but I'm coming after you now."
"So, Sharon was just to get to me then?"
"Yes."
"It didn't work though."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
"You murdered Sharon and left the note to draw me out to play your game, but you seemed to have forgotten something; I'm smarter than you are."
"NO, YOU'RE NOT AND WHEN I GET YOU, WE'LL SEE WHO'S SMARTER, MICHAEL!"
"I told you, I'm waiting. Come and get me."
Gary hung up the phone and Tony looked at McGee, who was on his own cell phone with Fornell.
Gibbs came back into the room and walked over to Tony. "You all right?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks, Jet."
"You did good, Tony, real good."
"We'll see. McGee's on the phone with Tobias now. I need a beer."
"Come and sit in the kitchen for a while." Gibbs put an arm around Tony and guided him into the kitchen. McGee stopped them and handed Tony the phone.
"Hi, Tobias," Tony greeted.
"Tony, are you all right?" Tobias asked.
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry; we couldn't get a trace in time."
"I tried to keep him on the line, but he hung up."
"I know, you did well. We heard most of the conversion."
"Tobias, I know this is your case, but would you mind getting a copy to Abby? You know how good she is."
"I don't see why not."
"Thanks."
"Do you mind if a couple of agents and I stop by? We want to talk to you about the call and have a look around the neighborhood."
"Sure, I have no plans."
"How's Gibbs?"
"Pissed. I'm almost ready to take his cell phone away. He wants to call you."
"We'll be there in about 15 minutes."
"All right, see you then." Tony hung up the phone and handed it back to McGee.
"No trace," Tony stated.
"I heard you asked them to send it to Abby," Gibbs said.
"It couldn't hurt. I better call her now, and Tobias is on his way over." Tony walked into the bedroom and called Abby in her lab with the video phone.
Abby answered her phone and Tony could see her on the video phone screen.
"Tony, are you okay?" Abby asked.
"Yeah, I'm good. Look, Abby, he just called."
"WHAT?"
"It's okay. I'm having Fornell send a copy of the tape to you to see if you can get anything off it."
"That's okay. Did they get a trace?"
"No."
"Idiots."
"The call wasn't that long, Abby. Anyway, he said he was watching my apartment. I called him on it and he hesitated, but he IS coming. I pissed him off, so you have to promise me to stay away from here. This guy's got my phone number and my address and they're almost impossible to get. He has someone giving him information."
"Any idea who?"
"Yes, I think my father's involved."
"BASTARD!"
"Exactly, and I have to tell Fornell."
"Do you mind if I look into it?"
"No, you know all of it anyway, but, please, don't talk to anyone or ask any questions about my father. Do it all by computer, and make sure they can't trace it back to your lab. Gary called me Michael, which only my father used to call me, so be careful."
"Okay."
"Abby, promise me you'll stay at NCIS. If my father's involved, you're not safe. He probably knows you stay at my apartment and are my best friend. He could use you to get to me."
"I'll stay here until you say it's safe."
"Thank you, Abby, and call if you need anything, or if you just need to talk to me, okay?
"Be carful, Tony."
"I will. I better call Ducky. I want him safe, too."
"I love you, Tony."
"Love you, too." Tony disconnected from Abby and called Ducky.
"Dr. Mallard."
"Hey, Ducky, it's me."
"Hello. Is everything okay?"
"He called, Ducky, and he's pissed."
"What did the FBI say?"
"Tobias is coming over now, but Ducky, I wanted to let you know. I think my father's involved and I don't have to tell you what that means."
"Oh, Anthony, what can I do?"
"Stay safe. I've asked Abby to stay at NCIS until this is over. I know you can't do that because of your mother, but Ducky, please be careful."
"I have sent my mother to her sister's with a heath care worker this morning, so I don't need to be there for her. I will stay with Abby."
"Thank you, Duck, that's a weight off. I want you to be safe."
"What are you going to do about your father?"
"I don't know. I'll talk to the others, but Gary called me Michael, so he's mixed into this somehow."
"Be safe. Anthony, I think you should tell Jennifer."
"Yeah, I think you're right. I just don't want everyone to know about my past."
"Anthony, I know it's hard for you, but if it helps catch this man and gets you some peace from your father, it could be worth it. Think about this; if he is involved, he could be out of your life forever."
"Maybe you're right. I could have a nice life if I wasn't constantly looking over my shoulder."
"Think about it, Anthony. You could be completely happy for once. I know people have let you down in the past, but these people around you now are different, even McGee and Ziva."
"They do seem sorry."
"I'm not saying you should forgive them, but maybe reach out a little and see what you get in return."
"Thanks, Ducky. I always feel better after talking to you."
"You are welcome. Call me later, all right?"
"I will. Bye, Ducky."
"Goodbye."
Tony hung up the phone and poked his head out of his room. He saw Gibbs coming down the hall. "Jet, would you call Ziva and Ron for me and get them here as soon as possible?"
"What's going on, Tony?" Gibbs asked as he approached Tony.
"Would you just call them and I'll explain everything after I finish talking to Jen."
"Okay." Gibbs looked around to make sure McGee couldn't see them and then he gave Tony a quick kiss and walked away.
Tony went back into his room and picked up his phone and called Jen.
"Director Shepard."
"Jen, could you stop by my apartment, please?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"He called and said something important."
"Are you all right?"
"Not really. There's something I need to tell you and I don't want to do it over the phone."
"I have a meeting in MTAC in two hours. I have until then."
"Great, and Jen, would you bring an agent with you?"
"Tony, I'm trained."
"Jen, please, I'll explain everything when you get here."
"Okay, I trust you."
"I've called Ziva and Ron in as well, if that okay?"
"If that's what you need, that's fine."
"I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
Tony disconnected the call. He hung his head and rubbed his hands over his face. Gibbs came in the room and closed the door. He sat beside Tony and waited for him to speak.
Tony faced him and took Gibbs' hands in his. "Okay, Jet, I'm gonna tell you what's going on, but please let me finish, okay?"
"Sure."
"I've asked Abby and Ducky not to leave NCIS and they agreed. I've also asked Jen to come as soon as possible with another agent for her protection. Once everyone gets here, I'm gonna tell them some things I've never wanted to tell anyone. I told you some things about my father last night, but there's more a lot more, and if these people are gonna protect me, then they have a right to know about what kind of person my father is. The reason I'm telling you this is because I think my father's involved. Gary called me Michael on the phone; only my father used to call me that, and Gary has my home phone number and my address and they're almost impossible to get."
"What did he do to you, Tony?"
"He beat me every chance he got, Jet. He hates me just for breathing."
Gibbs hugged Tony and kissed his neck.
"Jet, I'm gonna say some things that aren't pleasant. I'll understand if you need to back off."
"I'm not going anywhere, Tony, please believe me."
"Thank you."
Gibbs leaned out of the hug just enough to kiss Tony softly, which soon turned passionate. They both shifted to lie on the bed and continued the kiss. Tony put his hands under Gibbs' shirt and rubbed his back and then Gibbs rolled them so he was on top and continued to plunder Tony's sweet mouth. They were interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door.
Gibbs groaned and broke away. "WHAT? He shouted impatiently.
"Fornell's here, Boss," McGee called from the other side of the door.
"All right, we'll be there in a minute," Gibbs said.
They heard McGee walk away.
Gibbs dropped his head onto Tony's shoulder and sighed in frustration. "When this is over, I'm taking you to a cabin in the woods with no one around for miles."
"God, that sounds great," Tony said dreamily.
"We could just go now, you know; run away so no one could find us."
"Nice try, but we have a murderer to catch."
"Ah, hell."
They both laughed and then got up and walked to the door, where Tony stopped them. "I'll need your support in there, Jet."
"You have it, don't worry about that."
Tony gave Gibbs a quick kiss and then opened the door and walked down the hall. They saw Tobias and two other FBI agents sitting on the couch.
"How are you doing, Tony?" Tobias asked.
"All right, Tobias. Thanks."
"I've listened to the phone call, Tony, and there are a couple of things I need to ask you," Tobias said.
"I have some things to tell you, too."
"Okay, go ahead," Tobias instructed.
Tony looked at the two agents who had accompanied Fornell. "I'm sorry, guys, would you mind waiting outside?"
"Tony, they're on the case, too," Tobias said.
"I know, but what I'm about to tell you is personal and I'd rather tell you alone. You can decide if they need to know after I'm done. Please, Tobias, this is important."
Tobias turned to his agents and nodded for them to wait outside.
"I'm sorry, guys. Would you like a soda or something else while you wait outside?"
One of the agents answered, "No, we have to look around the neighborhood anyway, but thanks."
"Come back when you're done and I'll make you some coffee," Tony offered.
"How much time do you need?" The same agent asked.
"About an hour," Tony replied.
McGee showed the two agents to the door. When he opened it, he found Ron and Ziva about to knock and he let them in when he let the two FBI agents out.
"Thanks for coming, guys. Sorry about this, but I have to tell you all something," Tony said once Ron and Ziva were in the room.
"I was out looking for a black Santa anyway, Tony," Ron joked.
"Funny guy," Tony replied.
Ziva and McGee looked at Ron like he had lost his mind.
"We're just waiting on Jen," Tony stated. "McGee, would you go get the coffee, please?"
"Sure, no problem," McGee said. He went to the kitchen to do as Tony asked.
There was a knock on the door. Gibbs and Fornell went over to the door and drew their guns.
"Who is it?" Gibbs asked.
"Jen and an agent," Jen stated.
Gibbs opened the door and let her in. He told the agent with her to stay outside.
"Okay, everyone get comfortable. I have some things to tell you," Tony announced.
McGee came back into the room with the coffee and some cups and busied himself pouring and distributing.
"Okay, first off, I got a call from Gary," Tony said. "I pushed him to come after me so no other girls would die and I think he took the bait. He said he'd been watching the apartment, but I don't believe him. I pushed him, so he'll be here soon. We need him to think that I'm not under protection, so I'm asking everyone, excluding Tobias and Jen, to stay here from now on. It'll look strange if we have the same people coming and going. Tobias, you have to catch him so you have to leave, and only come back if it's important. Jen, you have to go because you have an agency to run, but I'll have to insist that you have an agent with you at all times. I know you're trained and trained by the best, but there's a reason that I will come to. Abby and Ducky have promised me they won't leave NCIS headquarters until this is over."
"Tony, can I ask a question please?" Ziva asked.
"Okay."
"Not that I'm complaining, but why do all of us have to stay?"
"Okay, this is what I asked all of you here for." Tony took a deep breath. "Gary called me Michael on the phone."
"That's one of the things I wanted to ask you about," Tobias said. "I know it's your middle name. Do you go by it?"
"No," Tony asked. "The only person who's ever called me Michael in my whole life is my father."
"Oh," Tobias stated.
"Yes," Tony said.
"What?" Ziva asked, confused.
Tobias explained, "Tony's father is known to us."
