Taking the time to stop and think over everything weigh on his mind, Tony realized he was completely and utterly frustrated beyond reason. Gibbs had disappeared from the squad room yet again in the middle of the paperwork phase of putting the latest case to bed. Between that and the complete lack of response from Tim in his absence, several unsuccessful trips to the younger man's apartment while working back to back cases -to no avail and the feeling that El Jefe was fully aware of the details of what was going on with Probie; of which no one was sharing with him, Tony began to feel more than slighted - in fact, downright pissed. After all, he'd already apologized through his messages and in person in the days following that Monday - several times, in fact. So, what else did he have to do to get this kid to treat him like a human being again? Or to be let it on whatever it is he's missed?
Equally frustrating is the way in which Abby'd become kind of clingy. So...what the hell was going on? Did she really think he would believe there was nothing behind her 'impromptu' movie night with him? He wasn't an idiot and he hadn't forgotten how she and Ziva had been huddled up in the squad room earlier that day. It also hasn't escaped him that all of this weirdness started after that god-awful morning he couldn't remember hours of his time from the night before - the night Tim had last rescued him from the bar.
He just wished everyone would stop trying so hard to keep whatever was going on around here from him. The way he saw it, Ziva and Ducky knew too and just weren't telling him. Hell, he wished his mind would stop acting like a rookie cop without clues instead of the seasoned cop and investigator he was!
And if all of that wasn't bad enough, he'd been getting the cold shoulder from his college fraternity brothers for days now. These very same guys who'd taken him out for drinks now won't return his calls so he was really clued in to the realization that he was missing a very important piece to this very perplexing puzzle that now had his complete focus. Hell, he couldn't even concentrate on this damned case report that had been due an hour ago!
*******NCIS******
"You seemed unwilling to let Agent Gibbs hear what you had to say." Dr. Finnerty put out there for Tim to address. "You're angry with him."
Tim swallowed hard and looked away for a long silent minute. Swallowing hard again, he looked back at the good doctor briefly. "I guess I am."
"Why?"
"He refused to be there for me in the beginning. I was standing in front of him bandaged up, obviously in pain and not myself - and his only concern was Tony."
"Didn't you tell me he asked you how you were?"
"Token. He never really wants to hear the actual truth - at least when it comes to me. If it's not case information or work related, it doesn't matter to him what I have to say. Even if I had told him the truth, he would have just brushed me off and focused back on Tony. He's always done that. Besides, it was blatant. His real concern in that moment was still Tony."
"Seems to me, he changed his tune rather quickly - started putting you first later that morning when he and Ducky took you to the conference room, his only concern then was you."
"Yeah. Maybe. Probably because Ducky made him do it."
"That what you really think, Tim?"
"Gibbs doesn't do an about face on anything unless Ducky weighs in on it and heavily. He's always been our buffer, the one person who can snap Gibbs back into some perspective."
"And yet, according to what you told me yourself, all it took for Agent Gibbs to finally fully focus on you was for you to ask him to stop badgering Abby and look at the evidence that spoke for itself." Dr. Finnerty replies with all seriousness.
Tim sighed. "Yeah. I know. It's just..."
"Felt like too little, too late?"
"Yeah. I guess that's the best way to put it. All I know is that I'm not ready to talk to him yet." Tim admitted firmly. "Not that he'll talk about it anyway. He'll just brush it off and carry on. Always does."
"Fair enough. You do know he'll be there tonight, right?"
"Yeah. I figured. So long as I don't have to talk directly to him about any of it, I'll be fine. Besides, you'll be there." Tim said as he turned to head out. He stopped and looked back. "You will be there, right?
"Tim. Nothing, short of someone dying will stop me from being there. In fact, I'll probably be driving in right behind you, that is if you're checking out of your hotel room soon." Dr. Finnerty vowed.
"I was planning on getting in another swim first." Tim admitted.
"It helps you relax and let it all go." Dr. Finnerty surmised knowingly.
"Yeah. Actually has me considering moving to an apartment complex with a pool." Tim opened up and admitted.
"Why not your own house with a pool, Mr. Gemcity?" The doctor gibed with a grin.
"I'd have to write another book to be able to afford that." The young man admitted ruefully, his tone completely serious.
"That should be easy enough for you."
Tim shook his head. "No. It's not. At least not anymore."
"Wanna talk about it?"
Tim sighed. It'd been ages and ages since that had been on his mind actively, but now that it'd come back up again, he really did want to be able to actually talk about it and try to make some sense of it , at least enough to possibly be able to salvage the writer within him. "I really would."
"But not until this situation with Tony's resolved."
"Is that stupid?" The young man wondered seriously.
"No, Tim. It's not stupid at all. It's normal and even more important, it's how you feel capable of dealing with things - one thing at a time and there's nothing wrong with that."
Tim let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. "Whew."
"Feel better now?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe a little."
While you're driving back today, Tim, I'd like you to think about something."
"Okay?"
"I want you to focus on your relationship with Gibbs. Why it is that it almost pained you to have to admit that you're angry and hurt by the way he treated you those first few hours when you needed him to be there for you most of all."
"You want m..." Tim tried to repeat but the unexpected hit blindsided him.
"It might help you put that part of this in perspective in time for the meeting tonight."
"Sounds like you want me thinking of anything other than Tony."
"That's part of it. But, more importantly, it will give you a little more contemplation about something that you know needs fixing, whether for you or for the team, that's up to you to decide, but it still needs fixing."
"Contemplation?"
"There has to be some reason that's kept you working for him; kept you taking it all and repeatedly coming back for more even though, as you said, he's always treated you this way. Maybe if you think on it for a while, you'll be able to step back and find that again, take things with him from there."
"Forget how he treated me this time, you mean?"
"No. Not at all. But, maybe temper it with some of that rationale that's kept you on his team
Tim sighed. "You're right. I have lost sight of that. It would be nice to have it back."
"The rationale?"
"The desire to be on this team."
"And maybe the way to talk to him about it?"
Tim sighed. "You're not gonna let this go, are you?"
"It's a festering wound, Tim. Can't leave it untreated."
"Ok. I'll think on it while I'm driving back."
"Good. I know it's a lot to think about, but I know you're up to the challenge."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Guess I'll go take that swim and then check out. I will see you there?"
"Tim..."
"Sorry. I'm sorry. It's just... I'm sorry. " Flustered, Tim headed out as he worked to calm himself down. For all this talk about thinking over his relationship with Gibbs, his mind wasted no time in going back to what he was really worried about. He really didn't want to face Tony tonight. Even with both Dr. Finnerty and Ducky there, it was going to be excruciating pouring this over Tony. It wasn't something he was looking forward to at all. He definitely needed to work off some of this pent up frustration and nervousness in the pool!
*******NCIS******
"No." Vance shook his head with regret.
"Leon, this is important!"
"I know, Gibbs and normally, given that I'm positive that this has everything to do with the interrogations I had to conduct earlier this week, I would do it if I could. But I'm sorry, right now, I'm short two Senior Field Agents on other teams. Yours is the only team in readiness for field work. Bump this to tomorrow - if you're not working a case - and I'll give your team the next two days off."
"Just not today." Gibbs sarcastically surmised.
"I'm sorry. I can't." The Director replied seriously, letting the older man's attitude go unaddressed.
Shaking his head in silent anger, Gibbs turned and left the room. Descending the stairs from above his team so he hollered down at them. "Gear up. Dead Navy Sailor across the way."
In short order, the team was silently trekking out to the crime scene, this now the only thing on their minds.
*******NCIS******
Once Tim had gone for that swim and checked out of the hotel and headed home, time seemed to drag to a crawl. It certainly gave him more time to think which was driving him insane because all he could think about was how he still felt uneasy about tonight's meeting with Tony, even with the safety net of both Dr. Finnerty and Ducky being there. For some reason, his mind refused to even go near the subject of his relationship with Gibbs.
Maybe it was the idea of Tony reacting the way his subconscious has been warning him he would that had him feeling this way. Or maybe it was the thought that if worse came to worse and Tony came after Tim for keeping it from him, Gibbs would once again, side with Tony. Whatever it was, he wished he felt more relaxed about it the way Dr. Finnerty attempted to get him to be. It just wasn't there.
Barely thirty minutes into the drive, Tim wasn't happy to hear his phone go off with the ring tone that he'd set up for Dr. Finnerty. This couldn't be good. Quickly, he picked it up and answered the call, but got straight to the point. "Doctor?"
"I am sorry, Tim. But, I've just been notified that my wife's mother died in a car accident about an hour ago. My wife needs me right now."
"Of course, I'm so sorry for your family, Doctor."
"Thank you. Tim. I'm asking Ducky to record tonight's meeting - as your doctor I still want full details of how this goes for you - and for Tony."
"All right. Thank you."
"I'll be checking in on you periodically and you can call me any time, Tim. Day or night."
"I appreciate that, Dr. Finnerty, but I'll be fine."
"I have no doubt of that. Just don't get bogged down in other people's expectations. All right?
"Right. I can remember that."
"Good. I'll talk to you tomorrow, then. Goodbye, Tim."
"Goodbye." With an even heavier heart, Tim closed his phone, tossing it down on the seat beside him. Finding a place to pull over, he did just that, sliding the car up into park, he laid his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. This was too much to process with all the crap already running around in his head that he couldn't stop worrying about. He needed a minute to pull it together, stuff it all under a rock somewhere so he could concentrate on the drive. Taking a few deep breaths and slowly letting each of them back out in turn, he regained his mental equilibrium enough to concentrate and pulled back out onto the road, this time thinking only of each song on the radio as he turned it up, essentially tuning out the rest of the world.
************NCIS*************
"Dr. Mallard?"
"Yes, this is Dr. Mallard."
"This is Rene Cassidy. Dr. Finnerty's secretary. I'm sorry but the doctor won't be able to join you for that meeting tonight. He asked me to give you his regrets but he's had a death in the family."
"Please convey to him our deepest sympathies. And send him my reassurances that we will carry on as he's requested"
"Dr. Finnerty would like you to record the meeting, Dr. Mallard and he asked me to convey to you his confidence that you will be able to be there quote. 'for both of them without fail.' Unquote." The young woman continued on with a seriousness that felt ominous.
"Thank you for relaying the message my dear." Ducky ended the call, more than a little rattled at this change of plans and for the unexpected tragedy in the life of Timothy's doctor. He wondered if the young man had been notified. With a heavy heart, irritated at his own touch of anger that had him hanging up on the woman, he realized he couldn't very well call her back now. Sadly, he'd have to have this discussion with Timothy when they met tonight because as of right now, work was calling his name.
*******NCIS******
Leon Vance wasn't a happy man. He'd put the pieces of what'd been going on with his MCRT together with little problem after that interrogation, even having gone into it nearly blindfolded. What evidence he'd been given had been just enough to get started, knowing the culprits had drugged one of his agents' drinks.
The questions had come a dime a dozen and luckily for the two responsible, the answers had come without a struggle. The bottom line had equaled more understanding about what had his Major Case Response Team's Leader so parentally angry. But, it left a gaping hole regarding the connection of how it had anything to do with Agent McGee.
Yet, the fact that Dr. Mallard had literally dictated that the younger man be given two week's medical leave had already spoken loudly of that, with Gibbs' request cinching it in his mind, even without full understanding. What spoke to him even louder that somehow it did in fact have a lot to do with the younger of the two agents was the fact that Gibbs wanted his team taken off rotation until he'd had a chance to do whatever it is he needed to do with them. That rarely, if ever, happened and the look on the Team Leader's face when he'd first brought it to him had left no doubt, it was serious and personal and affected all of them.
From a people skills standpoint, he was relieved that all of them were here for Agent DiNozzo, able to make sure he was still all right. It didn't escape him that things weren't t like that for Agent McGee and it had him concerned that one of his best agents was going through something without support. Who was making sure he was all right? Understandably, he was speaking with a shrink. That much he got from Dr. Mallard's request. But Vance still wanted undeniable proof that one of his agents wasn't being left to drift alone in the muck of this mess in terms of the others on his team being there for him. With a heavy sigh, he picked up his phone and called the man. The least he could do was check on him.
******NCIS********
Upon arrival at the crime scene, Ducky relayed to Gibbs the phone call he received necessitating the meeting with the boys going forward without Tim's doctor being there. Both of them cast worried glances in the direction of the busy Senior Field Agent who hadn't stopped scowling all morning.
"Soon as this case is over, Duck. Not a minute longer." Gibbs stated, fully expecting this to be carried out.
"I wholeheartedly concur, Jethro." Ducky replied. "The sooner, the better."
Without another word, both of them got back to the case at hand, needing it to be solved quickly yet just as accurately as every other case. They could only hope and pray it wouldn't take long this time. Both of them were on edge and tense, willing the clues to fall into their laps before they'd even gotten back to the office. It was going to be a long day.
***********NCIS***********
Ziva had been holding her tongue for days but seeing the quiet discussion between Ducky and Gibbs and the look of concern they both send in Tony's direction, she felt her stomach drop. Something was definitely wrong. She knew it had to do with Tony and Tim and that night that had been snowballing into something bigger ever since. Very bothered by the not knowing only because it left her in no position to be of any help to any of her friends, all going through this without her, Ziva sighed heavily and forced herself to get back to work. In a desperate attempt to at least to do something for them, she palmed her necklace and spoke softly before once again taking photos of the scene.
***********NCIS***********
Abby had already done, as much as she could while waiting for whatever evidence this new case would bring her, and had dragged her silenced phone out to check for messages from Tim. Having done that a hundred times throughout the course of the morning, all with the same silent, non -response, she wasn't really expecting anything different this time. Since getting that text from him on Saturday when he amended his promise from a call to a text but kept it just the same, she'd been worried about him. For as long as she'd known him, he hadn't ever communicated in such an ambiguous way - at least not with her, as the text he'd sent her then.
Sorry, Abby. Really can't talk.
What did that mean? Can't talk now? Can't talk at all? Not yet? Maybe later? Not to her? Maybe to someone else? What did he mean by that?Had something happened to him that he was injured now on top of everything else? Why couldn't he talk?
The questions had been running around in her head in circles all day, nearly keeping her from doing her job. Somehow she'd managed and even managed to keep a solid lid on her whole thought process and the accompanying emotions while she worked. Now, she was idle with nothing to do but wait on the team to come back and she could barely think straight for the worry that was consuming her.
******NCIS******
As the miles disappeared beneath his car, Tim realized it was earlier than he needed it to be and he still had a lot to think about. Pulling into the next gas station he came across, he cut the engine off and sat back for a minute, sighing tiredly. Taking a few breaths in and out, he picked up his phone and checked for new messages to respond to that had come unexpectedly while he'd been trying hard to block everything out except the road, nearly choking in surprise when he heard the first one.
"Agent McGee. I just wanted to check and see how you're doing. I conducted the interrogations on the responsible parties. Thought you would like to be aware of that in case you have any questions. If you need to talk, my door is open. Looking forward to having you back on the job as soon as you're ready."
Vance. Called him? Interrogations? Oh, right those scumbags Tony thought were his friends! Questions? Oh, he had plenty of those! Straightening up, Tim steadied his breathing and readied himself to return the call. He definitely wanted to talk to him. In fact, the sooner, the better!
******NCIS*******
Heading back into the squad room with little evidence to speak of on this case, a murder that took place elsewhere but no indications as to where that other place may have been, Tony shrugged off his gear bag and plopped down in his chair. He wished Probie were here to do his magic background tracing quicker so they could concentrate on other avenues of investigation but since he wasn't it wasn't much good dwelling on that.
With a heavy sigh, he dug in and did what he could while Ziva ran the short supply of evidence down to Abby. She'd volunteered to do it and he'd been grateful for it. He needed some peace and quiet for a while so his brain could stop churning on overload. He hoped she'd be down there a while since that meant he had the squad room all to himself.
******NCIS*******
"...realize that under the influence as he was, due to the unforeseen situation did not create, Agent DiNozzo can not be held accountable for his actions and will not be under fire in regard to his career over this." Director Vance's calmly spoken words were like music to Tim's ears as they finally sunk in.
All Tim could do was sit back and soak that good new in. It was everything he'd been worried about for a solid week now! The relief washed over him like gigantic wave that left him weak in the knees
Watching his agent work to process what he'd just told him, Vance found himself surprised that he'd obviously been worried about this. Hadn't he known that's how things worked? Hadn't he been on the job long enough to know that?
"I should have realized that, but all I could think was that with what happened as a result of what they'd done, the legal implications on that end would hurt him." Tim finally spoke, albeit quietly as he glanced at the Director briefly before looking over the man's shoulder. He hoped like hell that the man would not need further explanation.
Vance mentally kicked himself for not realizing that perspective would be the one this sharp-minded young man would be so hard hit by anything that had come from what those scumbags had done. That explained it! Making sure to nod in understanding, He offered his response. "Agent McGee. You don't' have to talk to me about it, But in order to interrogate them, I had to see the evidence. I'm aware of what happened, just not the specifics. The rest of your team has been able to keep tabs on Agent DiNozzo. But, how are you holding up?"
Tim shrugged. "I'm okay. Not looking forward to telling him. You know since he can't remember that night, it's up to me to tell him. "
"Because if he figures it out on his own, he'll lose it?" Vance managed while trying to process the new information he was just now understanding. How had he missed that detail - Agent DiNozzo still doesn't recall what happened to him?
"Something like that. Ducky and the shr...doctor I've been talking to both think it's important that we do and soon. Tony's big on trust. Being the last one to know what he did while he wasn't aware of what he was doing is gonna hit him hard, so..."
"The last to know?" Vance asked in surprise.
"Abby got the evidence. Ducky interpreted it for Gibbs."
"I see."
"And Ziva' most likely put all the pieces together since she was here that next morning."
"So telling Agent DiNozzo is the next step to getting past this?"
"According to the two physiologically knowledgeable men I trust most." Tim quietly admitted. "Hopefully tonight. Ducky and Gibbs will be there."
"Agent McGee, rest assured that no matter what happens when he finds out, your career and his are safe. There will be no mention of this in either of your records."
"Even with my taking the time off?"
"Yes."
"Tony's probably gonna need to do it too."
"Same answer."
"What if he does lose it, Director? When he hears?"
"We'll help him in any way we can. But it will not touch his career."
"Thank you!"
"Thank YOU, Agent McGee - for doing all you could to look out for your fellow teammate despite your own ordeal in the matter. Do what you need to - to take care of yourself. Come back when you're ready."
"Thank you, Director." Tim shook the man's hand and left his office, feeling very much buoyed in spirit for the first time since hearing Dr. Finnerty wasn't going to be there tonight.
************NCIS**********
Already doing what tests she could with what evidence she had been given, Abby's mind had returned quickly to the quandary of what might be going on with Tim. Her phone sat mockingly silent on her desk while every other machine in the room hummed and sang as it worked. Picking her phone up, she turned it over absently in her palm while the concerned questions kept circling around in her mind.
"Hey."
The quietly spoken greeting startled her but quickly brought a ray of sunshine to her expression. "Timmy!" She squealed as she threw herself into his arms. "You're back!"
Wrapping her up in his arms as much to absorb the impact of her weight, as to impart the warmth of an actual hug that she obviously needed, Tim quietly spoke to her. "No. I'm not." Stepping back, he withdrew his arms. "I'm just here to talk to Vance about the interrogation since he called me and offered me the chance."
Her eyes grew big as she asked in complete awe. "He let you see the interrogation tapes?"
"Yeah." Tim wiped a tired hand across his face. "It wasn't long. They're wimps that folded really quick once he started demanding answers to how, why and how long they'd planned it."
"And?" She demanded. "What'd they say, McGee?"
"Stupid, Abby! It was all so damned stupid! They'd planned it since he 'did it to them on Spring Break'!" He angrily paced her lab as he spelled it out for her.
"Wait! Tony spiked their drinks with a drug? No! That's not something Tony would do!"
"Yeah. I know. Took Vance all of a minute to get the guilty party's name - though right now I'm too pissed to remember what it was."
"So basically, they blamed Tony and retaliated for something he didn't do in the first place?" She asked in outrage.
"Like I said. Stupid!" Tim reiterated as he came to a stop in front of her. "Look, I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls or your texts. I've just..."
"It's okay, Timmy. You've got a LOT on your mind and you're probably all talked out, too. I get it now. I was just worried about you."
"I didn't mean to make you worry." He frowned. "You've been such a rock for me in this Abby. I don't know what I would have done without your help. Thank you. And thank you for being so understanding about the whole, not wanting to talk thing."
"You're welcome, my friend." She answered solemnly as she kissed him on the cheek and stepped back to give him space. "I'm glad to see you're doing better with this. So happy you talked to a professional that was able to help you!"
"Now comes the hard part."
Telling Tony?" She asked sympathetically.
"Telling Tony." He agreed in an expelled breath of air that resonated with worry.
"But, Ducky and your doctor will be there for you, won't they?"
Tim shook his head. Just Ducky. And Gibbs."
"Not your doctor?" She asked in shock. "Why wouldn't he be there for you? Maybe you need a better doctor, Timmy."
"Family emergency, Abby. And, no. I do NOT need to go through talking about it with anyone else!"
"You're right. I'm sorry. I know you're worried but Gibbs and Ducky will be there - for both of you. Everything will work out! I know it will."
"Not if he loses it. And we both know he might."
"Gibbs will make sure he doesn't go off the deep end."
"If he can, Abby. If he can."
**********NCIS**************
By 1700 hours, with the case finally moving forward thanks to some nameless tipsters calling in their information, they were finally as close to putting this case to bed as they could be. When the boss firmly yet quietly made it clear hours ago that they couldn't leave until this one was completely put away, Tony had felt the tension increase ten-fold in his limbs.
He was tired, hungry and way past frustrated. He felt like he'd been operating from outside his own body, forcing himself to keep his mind on the case. Even while working the case, he'd had lots of time to think with everything he'd had on his mind this morning still circling around and around up there, Tony was now drawn even closer to the idea of talking to Gibbs some more about the chaos. In fact, he kept wishing the next words out of the Team Leader's mouth would be that they could pack it in for the night.
***********NCIS***********
Just up from spending some time talking to Ducky and then Abby again after lunch, nestled into the shadows, unwilling to be seen while he'd stopped to scrutinize how Tony seemed to be doing, Tim frowned. Something was off. Something was very off and that look on Tony's face, well, Tim hadn't seen that look in a VERY long time.
He stayed put, watching as the Boss called the end of the day for the team.
***********NCIS***********
"Pack it in, Da'vid." Gibbs called out only as loud as he needed to for his words to reach Ziva's ears.
She nodded in understanding and closed down her work space. Shouldering her gear bag, she rounded her desk with a quiet 'g'night everyone' just before she got on the elevator when it opened up and disappeared from sight when the doors closed on her, taking her away for the night.
"DiNozzo. With me." Gibbs had already closed down his own work station and was heading around his desk towards the entry way near Tony's desk.
"Boss?" Tony's surprise wasn't really a good thing and it left Gibbs feeling like he hadn't handled this right. Still the younger man kept coming, not keeping him waiting at all. They'd taken all of three steps when from behind them at the top of the stairs, Vance's Administrative Assistant called down to him. "Agent Gibbs! Director Vance wants to see you. He says it's urgent!"
"Not surprised." Gibbs muttered as he glanced apologetically at his Senior Field Agent and motioned for him to relax behind his desk while he dealt with whatever this was.
Tony nodded. "I'll be here, Boss."
On his way up the stairs, Gibbs looked the room over, his eyes moving to the shadowed area beyond his team's work space, nearly stopping in his trek when he saw Tim standing there. Tim shook his head, obviously not wanting to be seen by anyone else. The Team Leader nodded at his absent yet present agent and wondered how he was doing. Making a mental note to check on him as soon as he could, Gibbs kept going on up to the meeting he'd been called to.
***********NCIS***********
Still standing in the shadows, some ten minutes after exchanging glances with the boss and watching him head upstairs, Tim continued to watch Tony. Seeing him impatiently snap his phone shut, startled the younger man into standing upright and looking more closely at him. That look that said he was far from happy and just getting started on digging for the truth seemed to be sitting on him. In fact, if he remembered correctly, that look meant...oh, crap! No! Hell no! Before he could blink, practically ran from the squad room, obviously leaving for the night
Now genuinely worried, Tim hit the stairs. In an attempt to head him off at the pass or at least catch up to his teammate enough to tail him, he poured some speed into his steps. A deep seated feeling of dread pooled in his gut, that worry escalating through the roof when he saw Tony already speeding away. "Damn it!"
Tim ran for his own car and hustled after Tony, but by the time he'd cleared the front gate of the yard himself, the other man's car was no longer in sight. Forcing himself to stay calm, he headed to the Senior Field Agent's apartment, hoping he was just headed home. He'd call for reinforcements when he needed to, but first, he needed to find him.
****NCIS****
Getting off the yard as fast as he could had been a knee-jerk reaction. Once he'd cleared the main gate, Tony'd been quick to get to Gibbs' neighborhood. He'd felt a wave of fear go through him earlier when the boss had called him with that clipped order to meet him.
"my place - one hour, DiNozzo."
It felt like a lifetime ago that he'd felt drawn to talk to Gibbs some more about the chaos of that night he couldn't remember, even though it had been just this morning when that feeling had come over him. Oddly enough, the day he'd finally bitten the bullet - decided to seek the man out after work about it, he'd been ordered to meet the man there anyway. He didn't believe in coincidences any more than Gibbs did.
All of this had his gut twisted in knots even though the man's door was never locked. His expectation that his team would come to him when they needed to, understood. Finding the man not home et was discouraging to say the least. Restless, Tony's feet took him to the man's inner sanctuary that was his basement. Maybe the guy was actually here.
********NCIS*********
Tim felt his heart sink when the parking lot at Tony's apartment complex did not include Tony's car. With a heavy heart, he drove to several of the older man's haunts that he knew about, including the one he'd last picked him up from. An hour into this, and he had to admit defeat. Pulling out his cell phone, he called the one man who would know where Tony was and why it was so dire that he be found.
********NCIS*******
Just down from the unexpected briefing with Vance, Gibbs felt a sliver of worry course through him as his phone lit up with a call from Tim. He was quick to answer it with a quiet tone. "Tim? Somethin' wrong?"
"I can't find Tony! He had a really troubled look on his face when he left out in a hurry and I tried to follow him, but I lost him at the front gate an...!"
"Breathe, Tim. I'll find him and I'll get him to Ducky's'. Need you to relax and just meet us there. None of this is on you."
"Yeah...ok"
"Tim? You're gonna be fine. Not in this alone, even without the Doc. ok?"
"Ok." Tim's sigh was full of worry
"Okay. Be there as soon as I find him." Gibbs did what he could to calm without letting it escalate by telling him where the older man was supposed to be at this moment.
"Ok."
"Relax.. All right?"
"I'll try."
"Good." Gibbs ended the call and called Tony's number. He was not really surprised to hear the call picked up after only 2 rings.
"Boss?"
You all right?"
"Uhm. Yeah?"
"Where are you, DiNozzo?"
"Your place? Like you told me to be?"
"Stay there. Be there in 15 to pick you up."
"Boss? What is this about? Where are we going? Why all the cryptic crap?" Tony demanded.
"I'll explain it when I get there, Tony." With a sigh of relief, Gibbs ended that call and immediately called Tim back. Getting the young man's voicemail, he left him the message that Tony was fine and they'd be at Ducky's within the hour.
Sitting down at his desk, he sighed heavily. Of all the nights to be stuck on paperwork with a killer deadline! Luckily, over the years, he'd honed the skill of getting that bane of his existence done rather quickly. Tonight certainly necessitated the skill for it.
********NCIS*******
Tony wandered aimlessly around the man's basement for a few moments as his thoughts began to swirl darkly in his head. Getting a call from him while he'd been standing in the man's basement had been eerie to say the least. Finding out from the background noise, that the man was still at work hadn't really been a surprise. But being asked if he was all right had been worrying. In fact, being called by his given name cinched it in his gut. Whatever was going on here had to do with the trouble he'd gotten himself into but couldn't remember.
Stopping in his almost absent pacing to lean against the table in the middle of the room where the boats used to be, Tony braced himself against the work bench, his fingertips touching on a slightly different level of surface. Looking closer, Tony spied a hastily closed drawer in the table, Tony's hands almost automatically moved to close it when he saw the edge of something sticking out just enough to be seen - as if shoved hastily away - but not secured quite good enough. Curiosity being a prime motivator for the Ex-cop, Tony pulled it out and frowned at the discovery that it was an NCIS file folder. He set it on the table and cautiously opened it, as if he expected it to bite him. As he began to read, his vision sharpened and stalled as his mind stuck on the very first word he saw, he had no doubt that all the answers he'd been looking for are right here in his hands.
Closing the file quickly, he held it with an iron grip as he tucked it under one arm and took the stairs two at a time, his pace almost running as he hustled out to his car and threw himself into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut. Revving the engine, he threw his car in reverse and double-timed it out of the driveway. His foot all the way to the floor, he was gone from the neighborhood in a loud instant that had anger written all over it. It was all he could do to think straight enough to drive, the sight of his name on that case file flashed before his eyes on constant repeat.
Thankfully, his place to escape to wasn't far and he was soon safely ensconced in his own private little hideaway. Quickly fixing himself a cup of coffee and a sandwich, he tried to calm down. Whatever was in there, once he sat down to actually pour over it, there was not a chance in hell, he'd be stopping until he'd looked through it all, so the last thing he needed was to be hungry or tired before he got to the bottom of whatever was in here.
Taking a huge bite of his sandwich, he followed it up with a thirst quenching gulp of coffee and sat down where he'd be able to spread the file open in plenty of light with which to read it. Taking a cleansing breath, he opened his phone and actually set it to go straight to voicemail. He set it down and opened the front cover on the file and the top sheet so he could get to the basic facts under the case identifying info he'd already noticed earlier.
What he found inside that file had his dinner coming back up and shattered his world