This chapter is really late and I am really sorry but I hope you all enjoy it! I apologize that no action happens but I wanted to give you guys an idea of what things have been like for Tony since he was released from the Hospital.

Please review your thoughts!

Recovering was the worst thing about the entire experience. Getting captured? Not that bad. The bag over his head had been cleaned and there was little force used since they drugged him before they locked him up. Being tortured? Well, Tony was used to dealing with physical pain. That wasn't that bad. Hallucinations? He got to see Kate again, didn't he, even if it was only in his imagination? Mental torture? That wasn't anything new. People had always tried to get into Tony's head but none had succeeded as of yet.

No, the worst thing was being confined to Gibbs' house until 'further notice'. Like what the hell? What was that supposed to mean? Tony was perfectly able to go back on duty. Sure, his ribs were still kind of sore and it took him a few minutes to get out of bed and catch his breath, but most of his injuries were healed! He was tired of being locked up in this house! He had been in here for months!

"I know, Mr. DiNozzo but until you pass the physical fitness test we cannot allow you to blah blah blah."

Ugh. Stupid test. He had tried to let Gibbs let him try it but the older man refused, claiming he could try it once he didn't almost pass out from the effort it took to walk from his bedroom to the kitchen downstairs. Tony had simply muttered under his breath in response, which earned him a smack upside the head and a slightly burned dinner.

As much as Tony hated being cooped up like this, though, he had to admit it was nice having someone worry about him. Now he wasn't going to do anything stupid to try and make sure people would worry about him all the time, because he didn't want that. Maybe a better word for it was… being cared for.

He enjoyed having someone scold him for not making his bed and then giving him a beer as a silent award when he did odd chores around the house to help out. Tony enjoyed the looks of pride and the smiles Gibbs gave him when he made some sort of breakthrough, whether it be mental or physical.

He remembered the first month he was at Gibbs' house, he was confined to his bedroom for the entire month. Abby kept him company for most of the month, whenever Gibbs would allow her to visit or stay for a few days. She made the month more bearable. They never talked about what he went through, he wasn't ready for that at that point, but Abby did a wonderful job at keeping his mind occupied on other things.

She talked about how her bowling team was doing and they discussed plans for how she should decorate her lab for Halloween this year.

"Abby… you realize Halloween is like almost a year away? We just had Halloween a few months ago." He has asked her this, trying not to laugh as he did so but she just hit him and demanded to know where the best place to put her vampire would be. He didn't argue, and advise she should put it by the door to scare the visitors and probies.

After that first month, Abby's visits became fewer and shorter. She had apologized over and over, saying the director demanded she needed to get back to work and there was abig case with one of the other teams and she hoped he would understand-Tony had stopped her there and gently, but firmly told her to go back to work.

Tony looked back on that month fondly. Despite the hardships he went through that month, looking back, it didn't seem so bad now.

"Tony! Get your ass down here! Time to eat!"

Tony winced slightly as Gibbs' loud vice rang out from downstairs and he sighed, stifling a smile. 'Dinner'. Which meant he would get the food Gibbs made him and go to the basement and watch Gibbs work on his new project while he ate.

Still, he wasn't complaining. Often times this was when he Gibbs talked, whether it be about nothing and everything, the case he was working on, or how Tony was dealing. But Tony never dreaded these talks. In actuality, he enjoyed them and looked forward to them because they took away from the boring events of the day.

Tony put his book down on his bedside table; carefully making sure his page was marked. He was ashamed to say he had never read Dracula before, but was thrilled to find out Gibbs owned it and allowed him to read it. Reading and watching television was pretty much all he could do nowadays.

Bracing himself, Tony pushed himself up from the table and gritted his teeth when he put pressure on his left leg. It still hurt, and so did his ribs every time he took a step, but he forced himself to ignore it as he started walking down the hallway. It took him longer than normal to walk down the stairs, he hadn't done any of his exercises today and he hoped Gibbs wouldn't notice.

Slowly, he walked into the kitchen with a smirk on his face. "Hey Boss, what's cooki-" He was cut off when he hit by the smell filling the kitchen. Oh, it was heaven coated in tomato sauce. His favorite Italian meal.

Tony looked up at Gibbs only to see the man smirking proudly to himself and Tony chuckled. "Is this…?"

Gibbs nodded and gestured to the already prepared bowl and fork waiting for him at the table. Tony snatched it up with renewed vigor and made his way into the basement behind Gibbs. He settled himself down on the steps and started eating, or rather, devouring, his meal as Gibbs got to work.

Tony assumed Gibbs was working on yet another boat. He had dismantled the last one he had been working on, apparently not satisfied with it, and the other one he made, which was only three feet long, was hanging on the wall.

"So," Gibbs began as started sanding down a piece of wood. "There a reason you skipped out on your exercises today, Tony?"

Tony almost choked on his food. Hastily swallowing what was in his mouth, he bit his lip and lowered his eyes. "You, uh, knew?"

"It took you longer to get down here for dinner." Gibbs stated simply and Tony sighed. Of course Gibbs was going to figure it out. Why wouldn't he, he was Gibbs!

"I'll do double the amount tomorrow." Tony mumbled and Gibbs nodded, like he was satisfied and stopped talking to let Tony finished his dinner.

They stayed this way, both of them appreciating the comfortable silence as Gibbs worked and Tony ate. "Tony?"

"Yeah?" Tony looked up to where Gibbs was staring at him, previously lost in thought. He was glad Gibbs pulled him out; his thoughts were starting to wander where he didn't want them to go.

"Come here."

Surprised, Tony hesitantly walked down the steps and over to where Gibbs was standing. He frowned slightly when Gibbs handed him sandpaper and took it, holding it awkwardly. Gibbs rolled his eyes and fixed his grip on it and Tony blushed slightly. "Uh, thanks… Boss, what-?"

Gibbs cut him off and put his hand over Tony's guiding it over the wood. "You want to make sure, when you sand, that you go with the grain, never against it."

"Okay…?" Tony was still confused, but he did as Gibbs said. "Boss, why am I-?"

"It's Jethro in the house, Tony." Gibbs chided and he kept a careful eye on Tony's movements. "Besides, you've been watching me do this long enough. I think you should learn how."

Tony was surprised, beyond surprised, but he didn't argue. He continued to follow Gibbs' instructions and found the time passing by quickly. But not just that, he felt content, for the first time in a while, and he realized for the first time that maybe, maybe things could be alright.

Of course, he couldn't be more wrong.