Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.
Warnings: Slash from here on out. More explicit warnings as necessary.
AN: Thank you so much for your support and reviews, especially your reviews. They make me so happy and grateful for the time you take to write them and let me know you're enjoying my work. I hope you continue to enjoy this work.
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Chapter 10: Decisions to Be Made
The rest of the BBQ had gone very well. Once people had their fill of food and the pool, they had gathered around the fire pit and started a bonfire. As the children and teens sang songs and ate s'mores, the adults relaxed on lounge chairs and caught up with friends.
It was made pretty clear to most of the attendees that both Tony and Aaron had hit it off and their families could not have been happier. Jackie and Tobias had been plotting for some time to set Tony up with someone and the members of the BAU had been of the same mind.
It had worked out perfectly and both men seemed to click. They had spent the majority of the night talking alone or wandering from group to group, never straying too far from one another. Where one went the other seemed to follow, never too far behind. They simply gravitated towards one another.
Toby and Leon had agreed, after much pleading on Tor's part, not to tell Tony about the team's visit until the next day. They didn't want to ruin such a wonderful day for Tony and Tor was adamant that they wait.
The guests left and Tor went up to bed, or at least pretended to as she waited for her uncle Toby and her grandparents to leave before she finally went to bed.
When morning came, Tor woke up feeling rested and lazy. All she wanted was to sleep in. She jumped as her door banged open and her father rushed in, rapidly checking her over until he came to her wrapped wrist.
He reached out for it tenderly and drew it closer to him for inspection. "Victoria, why didn't you tell me anything last night?" Tor bit her lip at the serious look in her dad's eyes and felt guilty for lying, well not lying because she had never once said nothing happened. She just hadn't told him something had happened and she had, maybe, kind of hid her injured wrist.
"I'm sorry papa, I just didn't want to ruin your night. It was such an awesome day and you were having such a great time." Tor said as she looked down guiltily. She knew her papa was still uncertain about their relationship. He loved her and it absolutely showed but he was worried he wasn't a good dad.
"I was going to tell you this morning after breakfast, I swear," she said earnestly as she looked into his eyes and Tony sighed as he drew her into a hug.
He knew he was overreacting. Not over what had happened, oh no, he would deal with them tomorrow but with his daughter. She wanted to protect him almost as much as he did and he was coming to learn that she was selfless when it came to those she loved.
"I know, I believe you cara. I was just worried, your uncle Toby is downstairs with your grandparents. They told me what happened and I just—I panicked." Tony said as he cupped her chin and lifting it until their eyes met. He kissed her gently on the forehead as they hugged for a few minutes, a myriad of thoughts running through his head.
This was too much. He could handle anything they threw at him but this? No. He wouldn't allow anyone to hurt or attack his daughter. This had gone on too long and he would no longer stand for it.
They had no right to show up at his house, who he hadn't even given his address to and try to barge in. Tony was honestly still trying to process the fact that Gibbs had condoned it and allowed Ziba to act the way he did, especially considering a child was involved.
Tony knew how much Gibbs valued children and how much it would truly piss off the man to see any child hurt in front of him. Tony knew what kind of man Gibbs was and the behavior Leon had told him Gibbs had shown did not speak of the same man Tony thought he knew.
"Get dressed and come downstairs for breakfast, grandma just finished making it so don't be long." With a final kiss to her forehead he got up and made his way out of the room.
He made his way down the hall and passed at the top landing of the stairs. He lent against the wall and closed his eyes. What was he going to do?
He felt rage rattle in his chest at the thought of anyone hurting his daughter, intentionally or not. Although, Tony had a feeling Ziva hadn't cared as long as she got the answer she felt she was entitled to. Just thinking about it made him clench his fist tight and itch to punch something.
He breathed deeply and tried to look that up somewhere until he could find a healthy outlet for it. As much as he wanted to put the hurting on someone, he wouldn't give Ziva that hold on him. He refused to give her that kind of importance. No, what was important was figuring out what his next move was going to be.
The team hadn't really been a team for a long time, at least not to him. Abby hadn't stopped making underhanded comments on how much he wasn't like Gibbs no matter how hard he tried. She had made him feel like a failure more than anyone else because Abby had never been that cruel to him. Ziva and Tim, he knew thought of him as nothing more than a goofball-fratboy-jocker.
They just didn't take him seriously in day-to-day life but Tony had at least thought that they respected him where it mattered but no. They didn't even have any type of respect for his work or his position as SFA. It was jarring to acknowledge but having Tor helped. Having a family: Leon, Jackie, Toby, Sarah, Micah, and Emily, with Jimmy quickly becoming a part of his mismatched family, made him so much stronger than he ever thought it would be.
Tony marveled at all the changes his life had taken since Gibbs had left with nothing more than, "you'll do," and a broken team in his wake. A part of Tony felt this was all too good to be true and the other shoe was soon to drop. It was second nature to be wary of the good things that came into his life and Tony hated that small niggling in the corner of his mind. He refused to fall prey to his old insecurities, he was even attending counseling.
All the things he had held off on before he was doing now, he wanted to be the best father he could be and he knew had to deal with some of his issue before he could safely say that he would be the father he had always wanted.
It surprised him how much the people who had meant so much to him could still hurt him. Tony had grown so numb he had almost thought they couldn't hurt him anymore.
But enough was enough.
Tony knew he only really had one option at this point and while he had hesitated before this, he now knew what he had to do. For Victoria and himself.
He opened his eyes and walked down the stairs.
Today he would enjoy the normalcy and quite of a Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow he would start a new chapter of his life with those who truly cared about him by his side.
It may have taken decades to find himself but he knew he was on the right path to true happiness. And it was time to let go of the things, the people that hurt him. Clinging to the past wouldn't make him any happier but letting go would.
Anthony DiNozzo was ready for what the future had for him and this time, this time he would have the love an support to face it head on.
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"Are you sure about this Agent DiNozzo?" Director Vance asked as he stared at the young man across from him.
He had come in early, as was his custom, and knew that Tony would most certainly come in. He was been prepared for legal action to be taken against the MCRT but he had honestly not expected this to happen. As much as Leon wanted Tony off the MCRT, he knew how stubborn Tony was and he was determined to ride this out. He would stick around if for no other reason than loyalty. Above all else, Tony was extremely loyal and no matter what they had done, the members of Team Gibbs still had his son's loyalty.
A part of him hated that loyalty for making his son stay and endure the poor treatment of people Tony honestly cared about, people he couldn't help but still care about despite their treatment of him.
Tony had been offered his own team as far back as Director Morrow, so he knew his boy was more than ready. He just hadn't been willing to leave the team, or Gibbs more like.
Leon didn't want to lose an agent like Tony but he knew that Tony would be happier at a different agency, like the FBI. If Tony took a new team within NCIS, he would still have to face his tormentor's daily and Leon didn't want that but he also didn't want him to leave.
In this, being so close to a subordinate led to problems. As Director of NCIS, Leon was supposed to convince Tony to stay at NCIS and take a new team, which had been offered him in his city of preference for the first time in eight years. As his father, no matter the lack of blood ties between him, Leon wanted to encourage him to take up any of the offers of the ABC's. Hell, the FBI had made an offer just two weeks past and he knew it was still open.
Tobias had made sure to bring it up often and in his presence, Leon had pretended not to hear so as to be able to say he didn't know about it. He was supposed to seek out the best for his agency but this was a difficult situation. It was duty to his country and his office versus duty to his family. Leon had never felt so conflicted.
"I speak to you as Director Vance of NCIS when I say it would be my pleasure to have you lead your own MCRT, here at NCIS." Leon said as he stared into his son's eyes. "You are a credit to this agency and I am well aware of all the poacher's waiting in the wings to snag you up at the first opportunity. I am a selfish man and wish to keep your talents here." He continued as he stared his son down, willing him to understand what he couldn't say.
Tony smiled and nodded. "I understand your concerns but I am certain I can handle anything thrown at me. I simply cannot remain on that team and since you have offered me a team located in Washington D.C., I can finally take you up on your offer." Tony responded and Leon sighed exasperatedly even as he smiled.
"Very well Agent DiNozzo, your promotion if effective immediately. Clear out your desk and move into your team's new workspace. I will call the members of your team in at 1300 hours. Congratulations." Leon walked around the desk and reached out to shake Tony's hand. He pulled him into a brief hug, "Now go and give them hell, son."
Tony's smile turned predatory and his eyes took on a cold glint that Leon had rarely ever seen. He truly did pity the fools that had dared to touch his granddaughter. Objectively speaking, he knew he could not take action without Tony bringing up charges as he was too close to the girl and in a position of authority.
Thankfully, Tony hadn't disappointed and now he could take action without worrying about them falling through due to the circumstances. Even Tony's promotion was beyond reproach despite the ties between the two men.
Jenny had offered Tony is own team twice and Director Morrow had done so as well. No one could say this had been a preferential and biased choice; no, this promotion was well deserved and a long time coming.
He pulled the necessary forms towards him as he watched his son prowl out the door. He smirked and wondered if he should if he should go watch the show. Glancing over at his clock, Leon determined he still had time before the team arrived.
Meanwhile, he sat back and worked on delivering his own blows to the arrogant fools who had dared to hurt a member of his family.
Team Gibbs had this coming. Leon was sure he would not be the only one enjoying the members of Team Gibbs be taken down a peg or twelve by the man they thought so little of.
Team Gibbs may hold no respect for Tony but NCIS was filled to the brim with people who loved and respected the man.
If Tony didn't make them regret his treatment of him, Leon knew of plenty of people who would. All he had to do now, was wait.
Ahh, Mondays. Leon truly did love Mondays.
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.end chapter
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