- ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO -
"Please, Tony? Can I drive? You promised."
"I know. Later, okay?"
She gave him the biggest pout and opened her mouth for another round of begging, when the sound of a police car sirens got their attention.
"Oh come on..." Tony sighed and stopped his car. He then took out all the necessary documents. "This is now what, third time today? I'm pretty sure it's by now borderline harassment."
The cop walked to the car and it was obvious from the look the man gave Tony what he was thinking. Somehow Tony kept his calm when the questions began. "What are you kids doing? Stole your daddy's car?" the man was condescending and mocking.
Tony almost snorted. He hadn't even seen his old man in years. Smiling sweetly, he handed the documents before the cop even had the chance to ask for them. "No. I bought this little baby myself."
The man glared and opened his mouth to say something else when he finally looked at the ID. The smile on the man's face was smug, almost like the smile of Grinch. Did the kid think he was an idiot? "Fake ID? Son, you're in big trouble now. Step out of the car and keep your hands where I can see them."
"Tony?"
"It's alright, Jeanne. The idiot thinks he's some big shot," Tony muttered as he was trying to keep his girlfriend from worrying, which didn't work too well when the man yanked the door open before Tony had even time to react and pulled him out violently, like he was some dangerous criminal. "Hey. Easy there, man."
However the cop, thinking this kid would be an easy prey for him, cuffed Tony and didn't listen to what the two teenagers were trying to say.
"What do you think you were doing out there?! Did you have to treat them like some big criminals carrying weapons or drugs?! They're kids!"
Tony grinned as he was listening to the very loud and public stripping down the cop received from his boss. It was almost worth all the trouble they'd been put through all day.
"Did you even read them their rights!? Answer me, Bolton!"
The cop Bolton's whole face was red and he hadn't said a whole lot since his boss had stormed in the room.
"Excuse me," one of the young police officers spoke to his boss, sounding far too cheerful.
"What!?"
"Sorry, but a man wants to see you."
"Tell him I'm busy!"
"It's about those two kids Forest brought in." There was almost gleeful look on the young cop's face as he glanced toward Bolton. Obviously not a fan then.
"Finally. So did their parents come?"
"Not exactly..."
"Howard!" Tony cheered out and waved toward the—thirty something—man entering the room with his usual swagger. As calmly as the man moved, the look on his face was stormy. It only softened for a moment, when he smiled at the two teens sitting there. Then he turned toward Bolton and his boss.
"Let me get this straight. You arrested my brother and his girlfriend for no reason whatsoever?" Howard sounded calm, but one look from him made anyone too close to him take one or few steps back. As handsome as his face looked, right now there was something primal about him and no one had any doubts that if given the chance, he'd tear into pieces anyone who had dared to go after one of his own.
"And you are?" the now weary looking boss asked.
"NIS Agent Howard."
"NIS?"
"Stands for Naval Investigative Service."
"I know what it stands for. Why does someone from the—"
"So is this the idiot who treated my kids like some world-class criminals?" Howard pointed his thumb toward Bolton, who didn't look one bit like someone who's willing to admit he had done something wrong.
"He's the one..."
"Good. In that case—"
Whatever Bolton's fate might have been in the hands of the young Agent, no one would find out. Knowing his surrogate brother and how far he could go—threatening to rip out the internal organs of his little brother's bullies wasn't the worst of it—Tony decided to step in. Walking to the menacing man, Tony held his hand on his brother's arm, which stopped the words leaving Howard's mouth. "Can't we just go now? Jeanne and I are both really tired and I still need to get my car back from the thieving cops."
Howard threw one last nasty glare at the cops, before he nodded. "Of course. Don't worry about your car; already got someone to get it and take it to my work place."
The look on Tony's face was that of pure horror. "Y-You... You let someone else drive her?"
Howard laughed, which completely transformed his face, and pushed the kids toward the door. Before following them, he turned around. "Hey. You." He enjoyed seeing the Bolton guy flinch at his tone. Once Howard was sure he had the cop's full attention, he pointed at himself, then at his eyes with two fingers and then he pointed at Bolton. The 'I'll be watching you ' gesture added to his death glare, made finally even Bolton break and look afraid, to the point where the man became pale. Howard didn't move from his spot where he had nailed the cop with his glare, until he smelled the familiar odor filling the air. Smirking and with raised eyebrows, he glanced toward the darkening area on the cop's pants. He nodded once and walked outside.
"You did it again, didn't you?" Tony scowled at Howard, once he joined the two teenagers in his car. "Do you have to scare everyone who even looks at me the wrong way, Howie?"
Howard glared and wasn't surprised when the kid wasn't one bit affected by it. "Yes. That idiot should not even be a cop in the first place. He's the type that gives rest of them a bad name. You did nothing wrong. It's not your fault that you look so cute and adorable. Plus, you attract trouble like a supersized magnet, so someone has to look after you."
"I hate you..."
"I love you too, kid." Howard grinned. He reached his hand toward the kid's head and ruffled the hair affectionately. He was perhaps the only one Tony ever let this close and he loved showing his affection whenever he could. Okay, so maybe Jeanne was slowly getting on that very short list as well...
"Hey!" Tony slapped the hand away. Trying to fix his hairstyle, he glanced to the back seat where Jeanne was sitting, and he sighed. "Why are you taking his side?"
Jeanne smirked. She'd been watching the whole thing with great amusement. "Who? Me? How could I? You two are just so cute."
Both Howard and Tony looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Cute?"
"You're even in sync with each other... I swear, if I didn't know any better, I would think you two are real brothers."
Tony wasn't sure whether to feel proud or annoyed. Howard however had a wide smile on his face as he reached over to ruffle Tony's hair again. He smirked at the 'if looks could kill' glare he got from the sixteen years old. "What? I can't help it. You're my baby brother."
"Would you stop it? It's the same reason why I'm getting so much trouble all the time. Cops think my ID is fake or that I've stolen my parents' car or something else just as fun."
"Don't worry about it too much, kid. You're just... late bloomer." Howard looked completely unapologetic.
"Late bloomer... I swear, if I don't get taller by the time I'm eighteen and start growing some proper... facial hair, I'll start believing I'm doomed to always look few years younger than I really am." The red face and hesitation at the 'hair' comment, was a giveaway exactly what kind of hair Tony was thinking about.
Jeanne giggled on the backseat and Howard snickered. "Hey. If I were you, I wouldn't complain. Too much. Do you have any idea how many people even at my age would give anything to look younger?"
Tony muttered something only Jeanne heard, which made her laugh and lean forward to give a soft kiss on his cheek.
"What?" Howard looked at them curiously, while driving away from the police station.
"Nothing..."
Jeanne answered for Tony, "He said, say that again when your own girlfriend is taller than you and looks like someone at her age should look like."
"Fair point. Don't worry, kid, your girl loves you anyway."
"I love you anyway," Jeanne agreed with a smile. There was a ghost of smile on Tony's face, before it was gone.
They had been driving for few minutes, when Tony smirked at his sudden thought. "Did he wet his pants?"
"It was impossible to miss."
"Nice... I don't think it should be called death glare or whatever it is. More like... I don't know... Pee glare? PG? Or maybe urine glare? Urine eyes?"
Howard glanced to the passenger seat and hid his smile. He couldn't even remember how he had lived his life before that fateful day, when his father brought home that small and skinny boy; a relative he had barely even heard of. It took over a year to make the boy smile and only a little less to speak without given permission. Being a grown man already, and with a life of his own, Howard hadn't thought then that he'd be spending his time around the twelve-year-old. Didn't think he'd grow so deeply attached to the boy. A boy who was hiding far too many scars. During the worst moments, Howard found himself staring at his gun and fantasized how he'd burst into the DiNozzo mansion to kill Senior, but one look into the child's innocent eyes and any homicidal plans would vanish. For a moment anyway. So instead he kept trying to find out anything that would put DiNozzo Senior behind the bars.
"I mean, you've got to admit that it would be more fitting. People don't really die when you look at them. Instead they end up wetting their pants. Who does that? I surely never wet my pants. Not even as a kid. Senior would've beat the crap out of me if I did."
Howard hid the flash of anger in his eyes from Tony. If he'd ever get his hands on Senior... "Well, he's not here now. You can wet your pants all you want." Howard grinned, knowing without looking that there was disturbed look on Tony's face.
"Are you trying to embarrass me in front of my girlfriend?"
"Don't mind me." Jeanne giggled.
Howard smiled at the angry look Tony threw at him. It was one of the few times the kid actually acted more like a kid, rather than someone as old as he—Howard—was. Four years... That's how long they had been a family. Felt much longer than that. He wished it had been longer. "Let's stop on our way to get some food. What do you kids want?"
Tony's whole face lightened up and he looked hopeful and almost shy. "Pizza."
Jeanne bit her tongue, to not comment just how unhealthy it was to want to eat pizza each time. Seeing that look on Tony's face did it each time. She could imagine how dangerous it would be once he found out he could get almost anything if he just let people see that...
"Pizza it is then," Howard finally agreed with a defeated sigh, once he got the one worded agreement from Jeanne.
"So what do you think?" Howard grinned widely as they stepped in the bullpen. They had spent good hour and a half just eating pizza and talking. He knew his boss was going to kill him, but he had nowhere near enough time to spend with Tony and now the kid even got himself a girlfriend of all things... Oh, jealousy was an ugly thing.
Jeanne was clearly in awe as she stared around the room and then at the agents staring at them with good amount of curiosity. Howard was bit of a celebrity there so anything he did or didn't do was immediately noticed.
Tony shrugged, holding his hands deep in his jacket's pockets. "It's alright I guess."
Howard blinked and then covered up his laughter with a cough. He pointed toward his desk. "Sit there while I'll go and see where my boss is."
Tony walked to the desk, and pushing bunch of papers away, he sat on it. Jeanne joined him, sitting properly and like a lady on a chair."Are you in trouble, Howie?" Tony had a smile on his face, but there was also more than a hint of worry.
Howard made a face. "Most likely. I did kind of run off in the middle of this important case."
The smile on Tony's face fell and he frowned, looking guilty as he stared at his shoes.
"It's not your fault," Howard started, walking closer.
"But if I hadn't called you, you wouldn't have left your work."
Howard put his finger under the kid's chin and made him look at him. "Not your fault. You want to blame someone, blame that cop who doesn't even know how to do his own job. Got it?" Tony shrugged, trying to look away, only Howard didn't let him. "I said, do you understand? I can't help it when I know someone I care about needs help, you know that. I would have been very upset and angry if you hadn't called me."
Tony smiled uncertainly and nodded. "Alright..." The moment Howard let go of his chin, he dropped his gaze. He barely even noticed it at first, but then he felt a slender hand taking hold of his hand. Looking over his shoulder and seeing the soft and gentle smile on Jeanne's beautiful face, Tony smiled too. The day Jeanne had told him out of blue that she wanted to be his girlfriend, in front of the whole school, he had completely frozen and then in shock uttered the word 'yes' without even understanding what was happening. After two years, he still didn't regret it though.
It amazed him every day... Tony still couldn't believe how he had people like Jeanne and Howard in his life. Then there was also Howard's father. He had even gotten plenty of friends at school, much to his shock and confusion. He didn't understand it... Why did they want to spend their time with someone like him? Senior had drilled it in his head all his life that he wasn't worth to be loved and to be taken care of. And as much as Tony was still in denial about it, to some extent his mother hadn't been much better.
Howard was feeling a mix of emotions when he saw the loving looks shared between the two kids, surely too young to be dating anyone yet. He felt jealous again, since it meant it wasn't just he anymore to receive that still too rare smile. He felt happiness, since Tony was finally learning what it was like to be loved. And then there was the worry that if anything at all would go wrong, what kind of damage it would leave behind.
"Be nice, kids," Howard warned before leaving them there. He barely made it in the elevator when his partner joined him. Sighing inwardly, Howard counted to ten in his mind.
"So who's the kid, Howie?" The smug grin on the Agent's face disappeared the moment his back hit the wall as he was pushed and then held against it.
"It's Agent Howard to you, probie. Got it?" Howard spoke with a low voice and the younger man swallowed. "Who he is or who he isn't, it has nothing to do with you. You just focus doing your job. That would be a nice change."
The Agent snorted. "Like you do? The way you left, boss is going to eat you alive. Maybe even fire you."
"Franks is my problem. Until he does kick me out I am still your superior, your boss when he's not around, and I am telling you now to mind your own business. Do you understand?"
The only answer he received was a slight nod and he let go of the shirt he'd been holding. He tried to ignore the angry stare he could feel behind him. He didn't have time for childish games right now. He would deal with the idiot later.
Mike Franks stormed in the bullpen. For a moment he stopped to stare at the two kids at Howard's desk. He turned toward his agents and one of them spoke while the question was still lingering on his lips, "Howard brought them."
Frowning, Mike watched as the girl laughed softly at something the boy had said. They both froze when he cleared his throat loudly. "Who are you? Where's Howard?"
The teenagers shared a look, unsure what to say to the man who was obviously Howard's boss. Tony finally spoke, "He went to look for you." He slipped off the desk on his feet and keeping his back straight and voice steady, he looked straight in the man's eyes. "He didn't do anything wrong."
"What?"
"Howard. I got into some trouble and he came to help. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not him."
Mike sighed and leaned against his own desk. "Look... Kid. What do you know about our job?"
Tony shrugged. It wasn't like Howard ever told him all the details about the work he did. No matter how often Tony tried to find out more.
"Our work is important, but it's also dangerous. We give justice to people and sometimes we also protect them. I need to know that I can trust my Agent—my Second In Command—to listen to my orders and obey them. That I can trust he is watching my back, no matter what. Having a good partner is everything with this kind of work. This time we were not working in the field, but I need to know I can trust him to not run off in the middle of a case, leaving me possibly with no partner to watch my back."
Tony frowned. "He wouldn't do that. No, really, he wouldn't. It really was my fault for calling him like that. I'm sorry."
"Look, kid. I do need to have a little talk with him because of this. However, like I said, we weren't in the field and I will give him a chance to prove that he won't run off like that again, with no word. Just between you and me, I know he wouldn't leave me in the field with no backup. He's one of the best agents we've had and he knows better than most the importance of always having a good partner or a backup."
Tony sighed, understanding that this was as good as it was going to get. "It still was my fault though."
"Yes, yes..." Mike chuckled.
"Boss!" They turned around to see Howard stepping out of the elevator. "I've been looking all over for you and then they told me you're already here..." Walking to the work area, he looked uncertainly between his boss and Tony. He was worrying what Franks might have said or done while he wasn't there. Mike could be many things, but being smooth with his words and actions wasn't one of them.
"What were you thinking?" Mike asked with surprising calmness.
Howard looked completely unapologetic for someone who might get a good whipping. Metaphorically speaking of course. "Sorry, boss. Won't happen again."
"You better make sure it won't," Mike growled and then he completely changed the subject. "Shannon and Kelly Gibbs."
"What?"
"Those are the two you will be protecting."
"I will— Wait, what?"
"Had you stayed there, while we went over the details, you would know. Congratulations. You were chosen. Their husband and father is a Marine."
"Well, obviously," Howard mumbled.
Mike ignored him. "And it's our duty to make sure his family is safe when he can't do it. Any questions?"
"Why do they need protection in the first place?"
"The wife, Shannon, witnessed a murder."
Howard grimaced. So it was protecting a witness. "When do I have to go?"
"Now."
"Now?" Howard glanced toward the kids who were listening to the conversation, and especially Tony seemed to be absorbing every word with eagerness that sometimes worried Howard, which was why he tried to not share too many gory details about his job. That in turn made the boy even sneakier at getting his many questions answered... Perhaps he really was just a little too overprotective and subconsciously refused to believe that Tony no longer was that same quiet little boy he once was.
"Yes. Now."
Howard muttered a soft curse. "Can I at least first make sure the kids make it safely to my place?"
"It's alright. It's not like we need to be looked after," Tony interrupted. "As long as I get my car, we can get there on our own." There was a slightly forced smile on his face.
"I'm sorry..."
"It's fine, Howie. This is important. It's your work."
Howard sighed. He was feeling strangely upset how eagerly he was being sent to do his job. "If anything happens..."
"I'll call... your boss." Tony changed the 'you ' to 'your boss ' after seeing the look Mike gave him.
Howard frowned and then he pulled Tony into his tight embrace, ignoring the muffled complaints against his chest. "Be careful. Both of you." He shared a look with Jeanne, who nodded, and then he turned to look at his boss. "So then..."
Mike handed him the case files. "Don't disappoint me."
"He won't," Tony spat out and Howard was grinning proudly at his personal cheerleader.
"He's right. I won't."
"Are you sure this is okay?" worried Jeanne asked for the second time.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Of course. Howard told me it's safe right now and even that boss of his said it's okay, and I quote, as long as you're not in the way."
"Alright then. But you still owe me that driving lesson you promised me."
"Anything you say, Jeanne."
The door opened before they had time to knock or ring the doorbell. Howard stood there, letting his eyes wipe over the area before dragging them inside. The man looked stressed out and there were deep lines of worry on his face. "What are you two doing here?"
Tony and Jeanne shared a confused look. "What do you mean?" Tony wondered.
"It's not safe."
The confusion changed into glare and Tony crossed his arms over his chest. "Really? Then why did you tell me it's safe when I called you?"
"That..." Howard didn't know what to say. He had said it to keep the kids from worrying, and knowing Tony, from running straight to him.
"Besides, your boss said it's okay to come to see you."
"He did?" Howard furrowed his brows in confusion, wondering just what Franks was thinking. His own safety was one thing, but sending the kids here, now of all times? Had the bastard finally lost his mind?
"We're not staying. We only came to say goodbye."
"Goodbye?" Howard repeated, even more confused.
"Well, yeah. We only came to spend the weekend. It's time to go back home. You know, school and all."
Had it already been almost three days? Howard's eyes widened. "Tony... Kid... I'm so sorry. I promised we'd spend at least some time together."
"It's okay. I understand. Your work is important." More important than me, Tony added that in his mind only and he shrugged.
"Kid..." Howard's gaze softened, having heard the unsaid words anyway. Before he could say more, they heard someone coming and he pulled out his gun.
"Whoa! Agent. It's just me."
"Mrs. Gibbs, I told you to stay hidden until I come and get you." Howard sighed and put away the gun, while the redheaded woman looked curiously at the two teenagers standing there.
"I've told you to call me Shannon. Who are these?"
"My family." Howard sighed again. It seemed like sighing was all he'd been doing these last couple of days. And he needed to get some real sleep, before he'd end up keeling over. "Let's all move to the living room for now."
"Howie... We only came to say goodbye," Tony spoke.
"Nonsense. You will join us for the dinner," Shannon said with a smile.
Both Howard and Tony were at a loss what to do, but it only took few more minutes and they all found themselves in the living room with a ten-year-old girl. She must be Kelly, Tony mused and found himself under the intense stare of the little girl, much to the amusement of the others.
"I'm Shannon and this is my daughter Kelly."
"Tony."
"I'm Jeanne. Tony's girlfriend."
"Girlfriend? How old are you two?"
"Sixteen," Tony and Jeanne spoke at the same time.
"You sure don't look your age..." Shannon said, obviously talking about Tony as she studied the skinny boy sitting on her couch. "Don't take it the wrong way, but you must be one of the cutest things I have ever seen..."
Tony had a hard time not showing his annoyance. Jeanne held her hand over his hand on the couch, reassuringly. It worked and he relaxed almost immediately. Giving a grateful smile, he turned his face back toward the Gibbs family who seemed to be completely oblivious of the unsaid words shared between the two.
"Even my daughter agrees," Shannon kept talking, with a tantalizing smile on her face. "Don't you, sweetheart?" She grinned at the wide-eyed stare her baby girl was giving to her mom.
"Mom..." Kelly sounded embarrassed.
As Tony kept his eyes on his lap, Shannon suddenly got worried. "I hope I didn't upset you?"
Tony finally looked up and smiled dryly. "No... It's fine. I'm used to it."
"Oh, I hope you can forgive me. I spoke without thinking."
"Really. It's okay."
Shannon looked relieved and she smiled. "You are such a cutie though."
"Mom!" Kelly cried out.
This time it was Jeanne who spoke, "It's alright, Kelly. He is a cutie and he knows it."
"Jeanne... One more word and no more driving lessons," Tony threatened and Jeanne made a small show of zipping her mouth closed.
"Kelly, take care of our guests while I'll go and finish the dinner."
"Yes, mom..."
The moment Shannon left, awkward and long silence took over the room.
"...and this is where dad is with his friends," Kelly explained happily, while showing the two teenagers photos of her dad the Marine, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Tony had snorted at the name, but Jeanne elbowing him in his side had silenced him into biting his lip, to keep himself from snickering.
Shannon was still in the kitchen and they could hear her humming a happy tune. Howard hadn't said a word and simply focused keeping his eyes and ears open for any kind of danger. Right now he was sitting next to the window and looking outside.
Kelly showed Jeanne and Tony few pictures of her and her dad together. There was not one unhappy picture there. Every single picture just screamed of love.
"He seems like a great father..." Tony finally spoke with a quiet voice, which made Jeanne look at him in concern, scolding herself for not realizing sooner how this was extremely sore subject to him.
"He's the best!" Kelly proclaimed with a big smile on her face.
Jeanne kept looking at Tony, until he finally met her eyes. Nodding slightly she let him know he could go. Smiling gratefully, Tony nodded his thanks and he stood up.
"Do you have more pictures?" Jeanne asked and Kelly was nodding enthusiastically.
Making his way to Howard, who hadn't relaxed the whole time they had been there, Tony leaned against the wall next to him. He finally voiced the one thing that had bothered him the most. Especially after Mike Frank's big talk about the importance of having someone watching your back. "Where's your partner?"
Howard was looking dead on his feet and it took him a few seconds too long to register what the question was. "Don't have one."
Tony frowned. "What the—?"
"Watch your language," Howard scolded absent-mindedly, while his hand kept making sure his gun was where it should be. Brushing his fingers over it and sometimes even taking it out for a few seconds, only to put it back. Then the cycle would begin again.
"Are you telling me that all this time you've been here alone? All by yourself?"
"What..? Yeah. Should be simple enough job for one man."
"I'm gonna kill him..!" Tony's raised voice got the attention of the girls for a moment, but Jeanne managed to turn it back on the photos. Lowering his voice, Tony hissed between his teeth, "Those big words about needing a partner, a backup... Howie... What if the bad guy shows up while you're passed out?"
Howard snorted. "Won't be passing out."
"Oh yeah? Then why do you look like you could fall asleep any minute now? When was the last time you slept? I'm not talking about closing your eyes for five minutes. Howie... If you end up dead because... I can't..."
The tight look on Howard's face melted into a soft smile and he ruffled the kid's hair affectionately. When Tony didn't even complain, he sighed, giving up. "Alright, kid. I'll talk to him. I'll call him. I promise."
"Not him. Talk to this... this Director of yours."
Howard rolled his eyes. "Alright. I will."
The two of them barely had a chance to share a smile when it happened. One moment they were smiling and then Tony saw Howard's eyes go wide; the man might have even made some noise, but Tony never heard it. All he saw was the dark red color, spreading fast around the wound. "Howie!" Tony screamed and try as he did, he couldn't hold up the weight of the tall and muscular man. Falling on the floor with Howard, he tried to stop the bleeding.
"Shot in the back... Went right through the left side..." Tony's dazed mumbling was stopped by the surprisingly strong grip on his arm. He looked down and he was only barely keeping it together when he saw the glassy look in Howard's eyes. Saw how the life was already fading. "No... Howie... Please..."
"Girls... Get them... safety..."
"I'm not leaving you!"
"Anthony!" Howard raised his voice with pure willpower, making Tony freeze. Howard never called him by the given name. Never. He swore to not do it.
"Tony..." Howard spoke again, but this time gently. He'd been shot not only once, but twice and his time was running out. He could feel it. Had he moved away in time, before the second bullet came, there was a big chance that Tony would be bleeding out next to him. He had no regrets, other than the pain this would bring to Tony and his father. He found himself sending out a little prayer for there to be someone to look after them for him. "Tell... Tell dad that... I'm sorry and... I love him..."
"You tell him that!"
"Be safe... love you too... kid... Go!"
Tony looked up and only then did he realize the living room was looking like a battle field. Shannon had come from the kitchen and was now hiding behind the couch with crying Kelly in her arms and Jeanne was not too far from them. For a moment, the shooting had stopped.
Swallowing, Tony looked down again. "Howie?" His brother's eyes were open and Tony knew enough about dead people to know that he was gone. For a while Tony could only stare, frozen to the place. Then, feeling like he was in a dream, he leaned forward to kiss Howard's still warm forehead and closed the man's eyes. "I love you too, brother..."
Tony didn't even notice he was staggering when he stood up, but the sudden pain in his left shoulder when a bullet hit him, brought at least part of his mind back to reality. Distantly he was aware of someone shouting at him; screaming his name in terror. Jeanne.
"Tony! Get down!"
He dropped himself down on the floor and crawled to where the girls were. Jeanne cried when she reached over to help him, but Tony pulled away.
"You've been shot!"
"I'm fine... We need to get out of here... Who knows if the shooter comes inside before any help arrives..." Tony spoke in a monotone voice, having already distanced his mind from the situation. When he had been still living with his father, he learned the hard way how to separate himself from the pain. And now he was falling back into those old ways without even trying.
"But, Tony..."
"Hey, Jeanne... You remember your first driving lesson?"
Jeanne frowned. "Yes."
"I need you to drive."
"What?"
Tony glanced toward Shannon who was in a full mother lion mode, ready to defend her baby against anything and anyone. "Can't ask her to do it... And I'm... not feeling too good..." He was starting to slur his words.
"Tony..."
"Now."
Closing her eyes, she nodded. "Okay... I can do it."
Crawling closer to the other two, Tony felt dizziness starting to take over his head and for a moment the room tilted dangerously. "Mrs. Gibbs."
"Good heavens..." Shannon looked absolutely horrified, seeing for the first time the bleeding sight of the boy.
"We need to get out of here... With a car... We'll drive to the nearest place that has cops and guns... Or just anything..."
Shannon was about to say something, when he saw the look on the far too young face. It was like the mirror image of her husband, which both terrified her and eased her mind. Much later she would think how strange it was, to let a sixteen-year-old order her around and ease her mind just like that. A boy—who still had some of the softness of a child—shouldn't have such a calm and hardened look on his face.
It seemed that the shooter had finally left since the escape worked out perfectly, but had Tony been older, he would've known to be suspicious of just how perfectly it went.
After trying to call Mike Franks, they had realized that the phone lines had most likely been cut. No surprise there. When they made it outside the house, the whole neighborhood was like a death had run over it. It was so quiet and eerie, but regardless, they made it to the car in one piece. Shannon and Kelly took the backseat, while Jeanne went to the driver's seat and Tony took the passenger seat, knowing that if she'd need any help, it would be easier for him to be next to her.
By the time they made it to the big road and they were surrounded by other cars and people, they all relaxed, since surely the shooter wouldn't attack in a place like this.
Holding the pressure on the bullet wound, Tony found himself fighting against the need to close his eyes. Now was not the time. Not now. Later. Much later, he kept telling himself. He was aware of the worried glances Jeanne kept throwing his way, despite his reassuring smiles. Letting out a deep sigh, Tony closed his eyes. He suddenly remembered what he had just lost. It felt surreal. He opened his eyes and turned to look at their nervous driver with no license to drive yet. "Jeanne."
Jeanne kept her eyes on the road. "Yeah?"
"I love you."
She smiled and just as she was about to say 'I love you too ', a car appeared out of nowhere next to their car. Just like before, Tony saw it all happen like in a dream. A very bad dream. He barely had time to notice the gun when the bullet hit Jeanne, killing her on the spot—she never saw it coming—and splattering her blood on his face. In his mouth. He could taste it and it would be a memory that would forever make him want to vomit.
What happened next, Tony could later remember only bits and pieces from here and there. The car going off the road. The angry horns blaring at them. Screaming voices. So much screaming... He most likely also felt pain at some point, but that detail would always remain somewhat hazy, as if the pain wasn't his; mostly he felt disconnected. The world around them was spinning—or was it the car that was spinning them?—and then it all suddenly stopped. There was no movement, no sounds. Not thinking it might be a bad idea, Tony opened his seat belt. With clumsy movements it took few tries. At the back of his mind, he realized that the car must have flipped back on its wheels, because he didn't fall down when he was finally free. He didn't question it why there was no door on his side and he made it outside easily, or rather, he fell out.
Getting on his feet was a feat and after falling down many times, Tony wondered why he felt so strange. Part of him was even wondering where he was and what was happening. For all he knew, he could've been on the moon. That's how confused he was right then. Confused or not, something kept him moving. He didn't question it when the damaged car doors seemed to open so easily, or why carrying the unmoving bodies out didn't make him fall down, when just a moment ago even the smallest movement had been too much.
After he got them all out, Tony fell down on his knees. As the adrenaline left his body, he could suddenly hear again. People hurrying to the scene. Ambulance getting closer... Curling up next to the dead, the pain and bloodloss was finally too much and Tony was met with darkness.
The constant beeping noise was starting to get on his nerves. For a long time he had tried to tell someone to make it stop, or at least block his ears, but no words ever came out of his mouth. Not to mention being unable to move himself or open his eyes.
"Tony?"
Well, that was first; hearing someone talking to him. Fighting against the remaining drugs in his system, he finally managed to open his eyes. White. Everything was so white and bright that he had to close his eyes few times before he could keep them fully open. Next to his bed was an old man, Howard's dad, who looked relieved and older than ever. Tony stared at him confused and when he spoke it was with a painfully raspy voice, "What happened?"
"Tony... son..."
And then they hit him, the memories. All at once. It was too much. "No!" He didn't realize it, but he had started screaming hysterically, as much as his weak voice let him. He never heard people running in the room; never felt the hands keeping him steady as he was given something, which soon pushed him back into that deep coma like dream.
The next time Tony truly woke up, it was almost a week later. He didn't know he'd been waking up at least few more times in between and how each time he'd become hysterical enough for them to have to put him back to sleep, to make sure he didn't cause any of his wounds to reopen. He stared at the darkness above him. He didn't know why, but he felt drained, almost weightless. As if he wasn't even in his body. The door was silently opened and he turned his head to look at the stranger standing there.
"Oh my... I hope I didn't wake you, dear boy."
Tony just stared and a moment later there was a small amount of light in the room. The older man hesitated before he stepped forward and took the only chair in the room, sitting on it next to the bed. Normally Tony would have at least wished for this stranger to get lost, but right now he couldn't care less about anything.
"My name is Donald Mallard, but you may call me Ducky." Seeing as the boy did not plan on saying anything, Ducky smiled sadly. Although he had never met the boy before—not awake anyway—it broke his heart to see the deep depths of emptiness in such young eyes. Somehow it seemed so wrong. He had a feeling those eyes were supposed to be full of sparkling life and mischief of youth. In his mind he tried to picture what they would look like when filled with laughter.
"You do not know me, but I was the one who fixed you up. Seeing as the hospital had no free hands on that sorrowful day and it was a matter of life or death, an old doctor friend of mine asked for my help." Ducky chuckled at his next thought. "It has been a while since I have worked on a living body. I must say, I am pleased I did not have to end it with a dead body."
That got Tony's involuntary attention and he looked at the man, truly looked this time and there even was a small spark of interest in his eyes, but it was faint. Much to Ducky's joy, the old man saw it, though he pretended to not notice.
"You see, I work for the NIS; I am their Medical Examiner. Perhaps you have even heard of me?" Ducky saw the boy's mouth move slightly, but the spoken words were so quiet he could not hear anything, until he leaned closer.
"Thought you're some shrink... Instead I was under the mercy of someone who... works on dead people."
Ducky chuckled. "That is precise, my boy. But worry not, I did perfectly good job on you, even if I say so myself."
Tony turned his face away from Ducky again and stared at the ceiling instead.
"Anthony..."
"Tony... It's what people call me."
"I think your name is splendid. Too nice to not use."
"Whatever... Don't care... I'm not going to kill myself or anything... You can go now."
Ducky frowned slightly. "I do admit that was one of my concerns."
"Already went down that road once... Promised to the people who saved me to never do it again."
"That's good to know, Anthony."
"Where's my uncle?"
Ducky was quiet for a moment. "Today was the funeral."
"Funeral? Whose— Oh..."
"No one could be sure when you would get out of the hospital so they could not wait. Certainly not when you kept reopening your wounds."
"Look... Doctor Mallard..."
"Ducky."
"Ducky. Let's be straight here, to save both of our times... I lost two very dear people to me. Jeanne's father must hate my guts right now... And the Gibbs girls..." Tony frowned. He didn't even know what happened to them. No one had told him, or if they had, he'd been too out of it. "Are they..?"
"They are alive. You saved them from a certain death. Twice. The doctors said it and the agents investigating the whole incident said it."
'Incident'. How little a word like that could even begin to describe what happened. Tony wondered if that's what they would say on the news. Would it even make it on the news? If it did, would the world even know the truth? Would they know just how horrific that 'incident' truly was and how wonderful people Howard and Jeanne were? Or would they be sidelined by some federal BS? "I can hear the but coming."
"They have not woken up yet. Anthony..."
Tony turned his head away and closed his eyes. "I'm tired. Could we please not do this now?"
"Certainly. I apologize."
"Just go..."
Ducky stood up, but before he left he spoke once more, "If you need to talk to someone, I am more than willing to help."
When he was alone again, Tony felt tears in his eyes, but he wouldn't let them come out. He couldn't let it happen or all he would do was cry again. This time his pain was quiet. Defeated.
Sitting behind the table, Tony couldn't help but feel like a criminal, despite the fact that he was here only to give his statement. As a victim. The Agent doing the interview was Howard's partner, the probie of the team; a man who didn't seem to be having any kind of compassion in him.
"So how did Howie react?"
Tony's eyes narrowed at the use of the nickname, reserved for his use only. His brother had even refused to speak to his own father when the man had jokingly used it one time. To make the things worse, this Agent seemed to be using it mockingly. It felt almost like the Agent was trying to break him. For what? He wouldn't know.
Relaxing his posture on the chair, Tony hid a yawn behind his hand, which he didn't even have to fake. "I'm pretty sure we already went over that part. Don't you know how to write down notes? Or did they not teach you how to do it? Is it meant for only those who graduate from probie to Agent?"
The probie frowned and then blushed, from both anger and embarrassment, knowing that there were people watching them behind the 'mirror'.
"So could we get to the real business now..." Tony said, throwing the man a glare, which sent chills all the way in the Agent's bones, because it was almost like looking at... "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost?"
The man turned around and fled from the room. A ghost indeed. He had looked his dead partner in the eyes. While it wasn't as strong as Howard's—being worn by such a childish and innocent looking face—it was enough of a reminder. As if Howard himself had sent a warning from his grave.
Tony kept the look on his face neutral once the man was gone. That was for you, Howie.
Mike Franks walked without any idea where he was heading. As long as he didn't end up alone with that kid, he didn't care. He had avoided seeing Tony even with other people around, since it was always there; those green eyes, silently accusing him for what had happened. His own feelings of guilt didn't make things any easier.
Stopping, Mike realized too late that he'd been cornered by the one person he'd been avoiding.
Tony's eyes weren't just accusing, Mike could almost swear they were on fire; green burning blaze that had to be consuming the kid himself from the inside. Although Tony was much shorter and just a kid, Mike found himself taking steps back to avoid being too close. Perhaps his own feelings of guilt were playing tricks to his mind.
"Don't you even have a conscience?" Tony finally spoke and Mike did all he could to not flinch or show any kind of reaction. "How can you even look yourself in the mirror?!"
Mike found it practically impossible to face that deathly glare and he didn't even know how he did it, but he didn't turn his eyes away. "Look... Kid. What's happened, happened. Looking like you want to kill me, won't bring them back."
That only served to make Tony even angrier. "You let your Agent be there with no backup! Because of that, two people got killed! You can't just walk away from it and put all the blame on the bad guy! You share the blame!"
At that point Mike hardened himself as he finally was the one to take a step closer. "Are you not barking at the wrong tree here now, kid?" And because he had experience with survivors of various crimes, he was pretty sure this kid had it too. The survivor's guilt. He would never know why, but he didn't feel guilty for using that knowledge against the boy. "You share the blame, Tony..." Ah. There it was. The flash of shame in those eyes of his. Good. "Go home, kid. There is nothing for you in here anymore."
Mike didn't need to look back as he walked away. He knew what kind of look there would be on the kid's face. In some twisted way, he felt satisfaction.
Standing outside the now fixed house, Tony stared at the door. He had tried to take a cab, but just like few times before, from the moment he sat on the passenger seat, he had gone into full panic mode, which ended up with him pretty much being kicked out of the car. So he had walked. Ducky was going to have his head, since he was still supposed to be taking it easy.
After a few half tantrums and at least twice as many times where he completely ignored the man, Tony had sort of started liking Ducky. Or maybe it was the way the man could tell him a story after a story, without seemingly ever getting tired of it. It also gave something else to think about. Ducky had also kept him informed how the Gibbs family was doing. Kelly had started showing signs of waking up and even Shannon had woken up couple of times, although she hadn't been aware of her surroundings yet. So all in all everything seemed to be going well for the Gibbses, which was also the only reason Tony felt now brave enough to face the infamous Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Walking to the door, Tony first knocked and then rang the doorbell. He frowned when he got no answer. Seeing as the door wasn't locked, he stepped inside the house. For a moment he had to close his eyes when the flashbacks started attacking him with full force. It was so intense it made him want to throw up when he refused to leave the house.
"Hello? Mr. Gibbs?" He was surprised by how steady his voice sounded like, even if it was just a little wary. It seemed no one was home so he turned around to leave, when he heard a sound. Taking a deep and nervous breath, Tony went toward the basement.
The room was full of some broken pieces of wood and small pieces of broken glass. Sitting against a wall was a man, whom Tony recognized only after having seen all those photos Kelly had been showing them. The man looked furious and taking a few steps closer, Tony stopped to stare with wide eyes when he saw that the man was holding a gun in his hands. But the worst part was the horrible smell of alcohol, which he could smell without getting any closer. It brought too many unwanted childhood memories and he almost turned around and fled.
Taking a deep and shaky breath, Tony willed himself to remain there. "Mr. Gibbs?"
Gibbs looked up and slurred, yet still sounding shockingly sober for someone so obviously drunk, "Who're you? Duck send you?"
"What? No, he didn't. I'm here because... I'm sorry about what happened to your wife and daughter." To Tony his words sounded clumsy and wrong.
"What you want?" Gibbs snarled.
"I... I'm the one who... I mean... I was in that car with them..."
Gibbs stood up so suddenly it startled Tony. "What?"
"I... I was with them, when..."
"I'll kill you!" the man yelled. Completely fueled with unlimited rage. "It's all your fault!"
Tony froze, but not because of the words, although they had cut him deep. It was because of the gun that was now pointed at him. In a very short amount of time he went through different emotions. First there was confusion. Then he felt the kind of fear he hadn't felt since the last time he saw his father. Then the fear became relief; he could just let this happen. He could let the man kill him and both would be happy. The man would get outlet for his anger and he would get relief of... living.
He didn't know why he did it, but a split second before the gun went off, Tony jumped away, the bullet barely missing him. Crashing in the middle of the pieces of wood, he let out anguished sob when at least one of his wounds opened again. So much for being careful.
"You made them get in that car! You hurt them! You did it!"
Standing up, Tony finally fled the basement and then the house. After this, he didn't think he could ever come back again. He had barely made it two steps outside, when he ran into someone.
"Anthony, my dear boy. What happened?" Ducky was concerned.
Tony let out a sob. "I want to go home... But I bet uncle won't want me around now that I killed his son."
"Good heavens, child, what are you talking about? You did not kill anyone. Now, tell me, what happened? Did Jethro say something?" Ducky took in the shaking form, then the wide-eyed look on Tony's face.
"He... said and... Shot me... Tried to kill..."
"Jethro did what?" The look on Ducky's face became grim.
"Ducky... Take me away from here, please... I don't want to be here when he finds me..."
"Calm down. I will not let anything happen to you."
However Tony was far too gone by then and his mix of fear and panic jumped into a whole new level. "Anthony!" Ducky took hold of Tony when his eyes suddenly rolled back and he went completely lax. Ducky then noticed Tony's shirt was turning red. Not wasting any time, he took the boy in his car and drove toward the nearest hospital.
"Oh, Jethro. How you disappoint me... What am I going to do with you?" Ducky sighed, deciding then that the two of them were going to have a serious talk, which would not end up too well. He didn't know that Tony would stop him from mentioning anything to Gibbs. Didn't know that this new friend of his would keep disappearing from his life, for a long time periods; growing up to be a man who was always on the run, unable to form many strong and lasting relationships.
Meanwhile, Gibbs had finally passed out. The next time he woke up, he had no memory of the day before. Neither did he remember his young guest. Only the remaining fumes of alcohol, the smell of his own vomit and the destruction in the basement reminded him of how he had spent the previous day. For a long time though he tried to solve a mystery; why was Ducky so mad at him?