Hell From 12

A/N: LOL it was interesting to see all the views on how Gibbs should react to Tony. Was wondering about preconceptions. Thanks all for reviewing.

For an eternal second they stood toe to toe. Tony was already preparing to pack his bags or even clear out his desk. There would be no arguments, no tears no nothing.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me all this before?" Gibbs remained expressionless.

"For starters you were in the marines and I shirked my duty so of course you're going to be mad as hell and disappointed that I refused to join up," Tony answered. "I guess I was just trying to delay the inevitable."

Gibbs sighed allowing his gruff exterior to fall. "I could never be disappointed in you DiNozzo," he replied.

"But," Tony said.

"You think that just because I was a marine that I'd want everyone in the army even if they didn't want to?" Gibbs asked. "Have I given you any inclination that I wanted you anybody else for that matter to be in the military? It's always a choice," Gibbs looked deeply, making sure his senior field agent understood clearly.

"You're not going to kick my ass to the curb?" Tony asked with a stunned expression. The last time he mentioned anything about not joining up, he was beaten and kicked out. Gibbs looked like he was going to do that.

"No," he felt somewhat insulted that he'd somehow be compared to Tony's father. "I'll never betray you DiNozzo and I know you'll never betray me… I will not abandon you," his tone was soft and soothing. His hand reached out searching for another and when their hands interlocked, Tony was surprised to find himself pulled into a tight hug that he couldn't move from. Not that he was trying too hard to get away.

"Boss?" Tony said. This felt like a real awkward situation to be in. Tony felt the strong arms around his neck and showed no signs of letting him go.

"I'm never going to let you go son," Gibbs said.

Tony felt the last word go straight for the heartstring. Surely he couldn't have heard his boss right. Nobody had ever called him son that he could remember. "What you say, Boss?" Tony whispered as he resigned himself to resting his head on his shoulder. It'd be just a matter of time before Gibbs would push him away.

"I said I'll never let you go Son," Gibbs repeated.

No, he hadn't misheard him before. Nobody called him son. His heart was opening up like never before to the only person he'd been able to trust in years. "I think you're the first person that's called me that," Tony's voice resembled a whimper. "You've always been there for me… I don't have anything to repay you with. I bring nothing to give you in return."

"You're wrong DiNozzo," Gibbs said. He'd never expected anything in return. "You pulled me out of darkness and taught me to care for myself and others. Something I never did before," he said as he comforted Tony who was quietly sobbing into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry what I said to you about Kelly," Tony replied. "I just, I didn't."

"It's ok… You're forgiven, come on and one more thing, if you say you belong in the trash again… There'd be hell to pay." Gibbs said. "It sounds like you need to let it out," he said. "Come on Abbs."

"You heard that?" Tony asked feeling somewhat ashamed.

Truth be told, Abby didn't need too much of an invitation. Her family were coming together and healing her brother which Tony needed so much. He was a broken man that needed patching up. "Oh, comfortation, this is so, so sweet," Abby said.

The three way hug was eventually released. "Now, DiNozzo, I want you to go get a checkup by Ducky," Gibbs said. "I don't want any arguments."

"Yes Boss," Tony wiped his eyes.

Gibbs was relieved that the others had come back after Tony had left. Kate and McGee entered the bullpen and he motioned for them to stop in the centre. "I know you heard what DiNozzo said."

McGee and Kate nodded.

"I want you to not say anything," Gibbs said. It was a strong request rather than an order. "Don't press him or hound him. But if he needs to talk, listen," he said.

"Got it Boss," McGee answered and went back to his seat. For the time being, they were waiting for fingerprint analysis from the candlestick. That's if it was at all possible to find the fingerprint amongst all the crap.

"Is Tony alright?" Kate asked.

"He will be," Gibbs said. He just hoped that everyone had the good sense to tread carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was have Tony go backwards on this.

AUTOPSY

Ducky checked the pulse, BP and temperature. The BP was lower than the norm that was for Tony and his temperature was slightly elevated. From the condition that Gibbs had told him, it wasn't surprising actually.

"What's the verdict Duck?" Tony asked.

"Well, you my boy aren't in a healthy state," Ducky said. "I already assume that you know that your body's reaction to food and anything like that is your subconscious is punishing yourself," he said removing the BP kit and putting the thermometer away.

Tony didn't respond. The idea actually didn't sound too absurd. If this was caused by him then he should be able to stop it.

"I can prescribe you something to help you sleep," Ducky told him. "And you have to eat several times a day about five times a day."

"You're not going to recommend that I take time off are you?" Tony asked, the case was of importance and he couldn't be kicked off it at this point of time.

"I would if I believed I could get you to do that." Ducky answered.

BULLPEN

Gibbs had thought he was on a winner. That thought turned sour when the prints removed wasn't enough to get a positive match with anything. The only thing that was for certain was the fact that that was the very candlestick that was used in the murder of Linda Andrews. Perhaps it was time to get sneaky, a maniacal smile spread across his face as he knew exactly what to do.

Tony picked up his backpack and was about to head out when a cough caused him to turn around. "Boss?" Tony asked.

"You're coming home with me," Gibbs told him.

"Alright," Tony replied, clearly not in the mood to argue. "But keep taking me home with you, some people will begin to talk," he forced a smile. Gibbs walked past him and Tony braced himself for the familiar pain of a head slap that never arrived.

"Hang up," Gibbs said as he watched the news report on one of the small screens.

This came in… The NCIS team investigating the murder of Marine Linda Andrews has come across a vital piece of evidence. The candlestick used as a murder weapon. NCIS has managed to get prints off of it and there's only a matter of time before Linda Andrews' killer is brought to justice according to an unnamed NCIS source.

"Someone's leaking information Boss?" Tony asked. That wasn't going to sit well with the boss since there were two things he hated… Leaks and the news and this were the two things rolled into one. Gibbs' reaction to the whole thing was almost amusing and somewhat troubling. He was smiling as if he… "You leaked the information?"

"No," Gibbs answered.

GIBBS RESIDENCE

Where were the kids? None of them were safe. Then they were there, looking to me for help. I'd guide them through, I can protect them all. They were almost out of the dungeons where they were trapped. The intertwining catacombs must have been coming to an end. There was growling from every turn and the smoky breath could be felt from where I was standing. The breathing approached, there was no way out as I couldn't take the kids back. The hot breath was upon us. The beast came into sight with its horns protruding, looking as menacing as anything on Earth.

"Well, boy… You've really led them out of safety and into hell," The beast said.

"They weren't safe!" I shouted back, acting defiant. The face came out of the shadow and that was when the beast became recognizable. The defiant act was abandoned as fists flailed and it was impossible to defend oneself against the onslaught. But it wasn't just me… I couldn't stop the others from getting hurt. My catacombs had not only trapped me.

"Stop! Please stop!" I still could never defend myself against my father.

"Wake up," Tony heard someone say. "Come on DiNozzo." But he still didn't dare to open his eyes and face whatever dark creature was before him. "Come on Son," the voice broke through his nightmare.

"Don't let him hurt them!"

"DiNozzo!" Tony felt his body being shook. "Come back."

"Boss?" Tony asked sleepily. For just waking up he felt really exhausted. "Just a dream that's all," he said.

Gibbs sat on the side of the bed and looked at him with concerned eyes. He thought for a moment and it was the back to back case that was breaking him physically and emotionally. "I'm going to recommend that you take some leave DiNozzo. More than recommend actually," Gibbs said. "You need some time."

"You're kicking me from the case?!" Tony yelled as he leapt out of bed to follow Gibbs down the hall.

"Not kicking… Taking," Gibbs corrected but it was of no use now.

"I have to be on this case," Tony stepped in front of him. "I need to be on this case," he told him. It was true, he couldn't stop what Daddy Dearest had done to him but he sure as hell can protect the kids these days.

"Are you blind? You're in bad shape DiNozzo," Gibbs said. "You need to take a look at yourself," he pointed to him.

"Let me stay on the case," Tony was almost pleading. "I'll be good. I promise I won't be sick anymore. I'll eat, I won't drink, I'll sleep. I won't be sick."

The pleading look drove Gibbs' patience to the edge. If he was left to his own devices while the team went gallivanting around, there's no telling how problematic he could get. "Alright then DiNozzo," Gibbs said. "You can still be on the case… But get this. You eat when I tell you to eat, drink when I tell you to drink and if I ask if you're alright, you better be damn well honest with me."

"Yes Boss," Tony answered with a look of relief.

But Gibbs just wanted to make sure Tony knew how serious he was. "If you break any of those conditions I'll drag your ass down to Bethesda and put an IV in your arm myself," Gibbs warned, making sure Tony didn't think it was an idle threat.

"But you don't have any medical training," Tony said. Gibbs' glare stopped him in his tracks. "But of course," Tony continued.

"Goodnight DiNozzo," Gibbs said.

"Night Boss."

A/N: Another nightmare… I like the nightmare, had to base it on that certain legend. And I love the Gibbs/Tony moments as well. And Abby's word, "Comfortation" someone mentioned it to me and I figured that they either misspelled comfrontation or it was deliberate. Hope you enjoyed