Chapter 11:
"I'm coming with you Gibbs," Tony said, following the elder man around the office as he prepared himself for the trip to Illinois to interview Julie Brooks' family.
"Absolutely not DiNozzo," Gibbs said, brushing past Tony on his way to drop some paperwork on Bishop's desk. "Bishop you are on Tony sitting duty, McGee you are with me."
Tony followed him back to his desk again; looking like the lost little boy they now knew him to be "These people are the only link to find out who I am!"
"I understand that Tony, and I will find out everything I can about you, but you can't come."
"Why not? It's not like I don't know how to interview people; you forget I have been an Agent for 14 years and a cop before that. What are you afraid I will do? Run up and hug them say I'm your grandson?"
"You are too close to this Tony, and what if your involvement makes this harder to prosecute?"
"Then we get him on one of the others … we have quite the selection to chose from in case you hadn't noticed." Tony could tell from the look on Gibbs face that arguing the experienced cop wasn't going to cut it and neither was the sarcasm. He changed tack, "Gibbs, I need to know who I am, these are the only people who can tell me that." He could see mulling it over in his head. "I don't even know my name." Finally the older man agreed.
"You don't say a word, your don't talk to them, you don't touch anything, and above all else, you DO NOT tell them who you are. Is that clear?"
"Crystal boss."
"Gear up."
Tony quickly ran behind his desk and grabbed his bag.
"McGee, Bishop, keep digging into the other cases."
As the plane started it's decent into Chicago, Tony started to question if coming here was a good idea. What if he found out something about himself he didn't want to know, or something about his father that could make him hate him more (was that even possible?). What if these people recognised him as their grandson. Unlikely considering he was only a toddler when he was taken and it was some 40 years since his abduction… is it abduction when you are taken by your own father? Hold on, what if Senior wasn't his father? He knew that was unlikely. He knew he and his father looked too much alike and shared too many quirks and traits to not be related by DNA. At least he hadn't inherited his need to strangle women and steal their money. But he did inherit those weird long knobbly toes they both had. Tony started to giggle at the absurdity of his train of thoughts. Gibbs gave him a look that showed his concern for Tony's state of mind.
"You OK there Tony?"
"Yep, just thinking about my toes."
He could tell from the quirk of Gibbs eyebrow that he hadn't abated his fears but he didn't press him further as Tony's weird giggles had subsided and been replaced with deep breaths and closed eyes so he didn't press him further.
Gibbs was worried for Tony. The last days (had it only been four days since McGee came back from holidays?) had sent Tony on an emotional rollercoaster like no other he had experienced in his life. Although, thinking you had murdered someone and gone on the lam at 16 would have been on heck of a ride he guessed.
He left Tony to his thoughts for the rest of the flight.