Chapter 10-Issues

Disclaimer: See previous chapters. Sorry for the long update…real life and all LOL! Enjoy! Only probably one more after this. This will explain where Gibbs dream came from. Spoilers from Frame Up of course and Ice Queen.

The day had been so long. The night seemed even longer. The rain had begun again as it was off and on throughout the wait for social services to take Charlie back into custody. He would be kept watch by a guard until his hearing in juvenile court could take place. Tony watched the kid whose now lifeless eyes could barely meet his. Any anger Tony once had for the lad had dissipated with the rain as he could only feel pity and compassion for the direction the kid's life had turned. With a heavy sigh, Tony leaned into his desk propped up on his elbows, hands around his cheeks. He was so goddamn tired. He stifled a yawn that threatened to approach knowing that his night was not nearly over with a report to finish and a Gibbs to face.

Gibbs had watched Charlie exit the building and wondered if things were different would the events turned out any differently or was that boy destined for trouble the day he was born? He felt his eyes flicker to his senior agent and wondered that about him too. He wondered it about himself as well. Events that altered his life…events that led to this moment were so calculating and twisted…Gibbs felt a pang of regret pass through his old bones.

He continued to watch Tony even after he had noticed the other agent staring back at him. Maybe he should leave the rest unsaid. DiNozzo had been through the wringer. Then again….he suppressed the image of the blue eyed boy from the other night whose words continued to whisper to him…tell him.

Tony began to squirm under the scrutiny of his boss. He barely dropped his eyes in time before he saw Gibbs standing before him simply waiting.

Tony licked his lips and began to type although he wasn't sure what he was typing at this point.

"Almost done Boss. Why don't you go on ahead and I'll…"

"Enough."

Tony looked up in the direction of the whisper not sure if he understood.

"What?"

"I said enough, DiNozzo."

Tony leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest, defensive…wounded.

"Enough? Enough?" A forced laugh escaped his lips. "It was enough over 20 years ago…no….just had to be accused of murder…had to be locked up…got me to thinking….." He bit his lip and swore under his breath.

Gibbs continued to stand there doing nothing. He said nothing.

"What no words of wisdom to depart? 'Get over it Dinozzo?' 'What the hell's wrong with you Dinozzo?' Well I'll tell ya…I thought I was over it until all of this." He gestured his arms wildly unable to sit still any longer and stepped closer to Gibbs' face. "I was wrong. Might as well have a self pity party and from what…." His eyes softened as he continued his rant. He lowered his eyes unable to look into Gibbs's blue ones any longer suddenly as if coming to a dreaded conclusion.. "It wasn't a big deal you know. I made so many mistakes in my life. I deserved it."

The words were barely out of his mouth before Gibbs pushed him up against the filing cabinet and held him there.

"I said enough!"

Tony's eyes narrowed. He felt caged, threatened and misunderstood.

Gibbs got into Tony's personal space holding him steady in place meaning to get his point across.

"You think you're the only one who makes mistakes? Do ya?"

Tony remained motionless.

"Well, you're not. There are so many things in my life I wish I could take back…so many …"He paused and Tony cocked his head his heart thumping loudly.

"Can't change the past DiNozzo, the good parts or the bad parts. That's the way it is. You have to except it, learn from it and move on. But what you need to realize is that it wasn't your fault. No one deserves…"

Tony reached his breaking point and began tot push back. Fire raged in his eyes.

"You don't understand! You never had to go through something like that….face yourself and realize that maybe you did deserve it somewhere down the line you would deserve it. I feel like I never had a …." He was about to say a chance but somehow couldn't. The word chocked in his throat. Gibbs took in the look and knew he was about to face Tony's rage head on.

"You don't know anything!"

Gibbs immediately felt small. He could see Tony and hear Tony but somehow felt disconnected. Never had a ..? A what? A chance? Did either of them?

Suddenly he knew what he had to do.

"I saw my mom killed in front of me what I was 11."

Tony had his hands on his hips breathing hard when he blinked and took a step back.

"What?"

Gibbs felt the need to sit down and grabbed McGee's chair and rolled it near Tony.

"We had gone for a walk in the woods. Planning on a picnic." He smiled at that memory. "We hadn't hung out together just the two of us recently. It was supposed to be a special day." He stopped not sure if he should continue but found that he couldn't stop himself. "I had gone off chasing something or other when I heard a gun shot. I was hidden in the trees and I saw a man struggling with my mom. Back then I didn't know but I think he was going to rape her. Didn't figure out her to be a fighter. Boy was he wrong. "

Tony had sat down at this point and placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Shot her twice in the chest and took off. Never did catch the son of a bitch."

Tony didn't' know what to say but suddenly a lot made sense.

"That's why you became a sniper huh?"

Gibbs eyes stung and continued to avoid Tony's gaze.

"Yeah." He choked out.

The two sat in silence.

"You know what you told me…works for you too, right?"

Gibbs gave a half smile and nodded.

"I know."

Tony let go of his boss's arm and leaned back in his chair.

"How do you get over it?"

Gibbs met Tony's eyes, wishing he held the answer they both sought and spoke.

"You don't."

Did you like it? Reviews if you can please. I love them! I was really intrigued in Ice Queen when Gibbs said to that boy that he saw something bad when he was his age and told him not to dream about her. I was hoping NCIS would answer that questioned but I guess they forgot LOL Anyway, that's what I think happened.