Chapter 13

A/N 1: 2 big confrontations up ahead…lack of humor in this one…warning :)

After having a quick and, thanks to Ducky, a very nutritious breakfast, the odd group of four drove to the Baltimore Police Department, ready to get back to the case. Ducky still had an autopsy to perform, Abby had evidence to process and Gibbs had a CO to interrogate and a detective to hunt. After a hug from the forensic scientist and a warning from the elderly ME to take it easy, Tony found himself alone with Gibbs once again. He was still a little bit confused by the turn of events and honestly didn't know what was expected of him after an ordeal like the one that happened yesterday. He really didn't think Daniel would be able to beat the hell out of him, like he did yesterday, but it wasn't anything shocking either. He had his share of experience with people like his partner, who were more often seen drunk than sober and so it didn't come as a big surprise to him when Daniel reacted the way he did. But having Gibbs, Abby and Ducky take care of him was something he found much harder to comprehend. They showed him more concern than anyone before in his life, for no apparent reason and it left him feeling bewildered. How was he supposed to act around them from now on? What if he managed to make them hate him? It wasn't that impossible in his case.

"Something bothering you?" Gibbs' voice startled Tony out of his thoughts, making him jump slightly.

"Everything's fine," he replied with a big grin, "just thinking about the case."

"The case, huh?" The older man gave him a doubtful look, but let it go, much to Tony's relief. He didn't think he could explain what was going on in his head, it was all a jumbled mess and despite being able to outtalk almost anybody, emotions were a completely different matter.

"You gonna show me to your CO's office or you want me track him down on my own?"

Tony gaped at the NCIS agent in front of him."Wha-what? Why would you want to talk to Detective Sgt. Ward? I mean, I already called him yesterday to give him a report."

Gibbs gave him a look as if it should have been obvious. "Something wrong with your memory, DiNozzo?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Although, that little concussion and those head slaps couldn't have been very healthy…" The glare the older man sent him was enough for him to stop from continuing.

"You really though I'd just leave things like they were? Pretend that your own partner wasn't a violent drunk who beat the living daylights out of you?"

Not wanting to admit that it was exactly what he had been counting on, Tony decided to go with his usual answer to hard questions like these - humor. "'Beat the living daylights?' Whoever uses that nowadays? You should definitely refresh your dictionary, Gibbs. Try saying something like 'beat the crap'. Although, there was this Bond movie called 'The Living Daylights', but seriously, whoever came up with that? How can daylights live?"

The smack to the back of his head wasn't that unexpected; he had been rambling about an idiom, after all. His was still tender from the concussion he had suffered the day before and even though Gibbs was evidently holding back, it still made his head throb.

He gave Gibbs a glare but the ex marine just crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for his truthful reply this time.

Tony sighed and decided there was no point in keeping secrets anymore; the older man had seen him at his worst the day before, revealing this little detail couldn't hurt, right?

"Yeah," he started,"I thought we'd just forget all about yesterday. It doesn't really matter, I'm fine an-"

"Like hell you're fine," Gibbs growled, "You look into the mirror lately? You're one giant bruise."

Tony opened his mouth to respond but Gibbs silenced him with a glower."This isn't just about some petty disagreement, DiNozzo. He is a drunk and that alone is reason enough to report him. But violence? Beating up his partner? Beating you up? That can't be overlooked and I can't understand why you're so against this."

The younger man averted his eyes and bit his lip in nervousness. How could he explain this to Gibbs without sounding stupid and utterly pathetic? How could the tough ex marine even understand that he didn't have a problem with the violence part? That he grew up with it and it was now a part of him?

"I just…don't want Daniel to lose his job on top of everything," he murmured, still looking anywhere but into the blue eyes of his temporary team mate. Though he behaved more like a boss than a partner, really.

"Why the hell not?" Gibbs' tone was harsh and unyielding.

"He had already lost too much in his life, Gibbs. You can't fault him for taking comfort in alcohol."

The NCIS agent's expression darkened and Tony unconsciously took a step back at the fierce look on his face. There was something different about the former sniper and it almost scared him. Almost.

"You think that's an excuse?!" he hissed, curling his hands into tight fists. "Imagine everybody solving their problems like this, with booze, violence and self-pity. To hell with the world, right? It's a stupid waste of time, so let's get pissed drunk instead." He took a step closer. "Think that's alright?"

The Baltimore detective narrowed his eyes, the anger in him rising. Of course he didn't think it was right! Living with his father was a cruel reality check very early on in his life. Did Gibbs really have such a low opinion of him? "No! Of course not!"

"And is it ok to hurt people when drunk? Does that excuse the abuse?"The ex marine's voice was calmer now but Tony was too angry to care at the moment.

"It doesn't excuse anything! "He spat out, hands clenched into tight fists.

"But it does when you're the one harmed? Just who the hell told you that, Tony?" The question was soft but demanding at the same time. There was an edge to his words that the younger man didn't understand and at the moment didn't particularly care about. Logically, he knew that he was being played, manipulated by the older man, but his emotions were on a rollercoaster ride lately and he was too tired to play it by his usual script. He didn't even notice that Gibbs replaced the usual 'DiNozzo' with the more casual 'Tony' for the first since he had known the man. All he knew was that he couldn't let the ex marine think he was so heartless or weak for that matter. He had to make him understand. He had already disappointed too many people in his life.

"Nobody…everybody. It was…something I grew up with. I understand it's a load of crap but…" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's just…nobody ever gave me reason to believe otherwise."

Gibbs observed him for a couple of seconds in silence before shaking his head. "Then you're either stupid or too blind to notice."

Tony gave him a questioning glance, demanding further explanation.

"Why do you think Abby is so dead set on hugging you each time she sees you? And Ducky? He can't stop talking about what an 'exceptional young man' you are. Think it's just because of your megawatt smile?"

"You think I have a nice smile?" He couldn't help but flash one of his most charming grins at Gibbs, who just rolled his eyes.

"What I think is that you're hallucinating, DiNozzo." The ex marine returned the smile with a small one of his own. "And that after you're done grinning like an idiot, you're going to show me the way to your CO's office."

Tony sighed dramatically, having once again regained the control over his emotions. "How could I possibly refuse such a polite request?"

"Always knew you were a fast learner."Gibbs nodded his head in approval as they started towards one of the halls in the building, DiNozzo leading the way for a change.

Tony led them into a crowded bullpen full of policemen going about their daily business, stopping at a desk with mountains of papers strewn all over the surface and some of them even creating a pile on the floor.

"This is my desk," Tony motioned towards the mess. "I haven't had much time lately to do paperwork."

"No kidding," the older man muttered, reaching out to grab one of the papers on top.

"No!" Tony yelped and grabbed Gibbs' wrist to stop him."Ever heard of the domino effect? We'd end up buried alive."

"This a danger zone I'm not aware of?"

"Gibbs, that's four months worth of paperwork! That'd kill just about anybody."
The ex marine raised an eyebrow."Ever heard of a preventive strike? Do it on time and there's no need to worry about suffocating under its weight."

Tony gave him a horrified look and put a hand on his chest, right over his heart, for emphasis. "But where would the fun be in that?"

Gibbs just shook his head at the younger man's antics. He supposed it was an improvement from the depressed mood he had been in just a couple of minutes ago. It was both admirable and worrisome how quickly he could mask his true feelings with false exuberance. Pretending shouldn't come so easily to someone as young as DiNozzo; it was something that should have been reserved for bitter men like him, whose lives had already given and later taken everything from them.

Tony started to feel nervous under the close scrutiny and shuffled his feet before deciding a change of subject was in order. "Detective Sgt. Ward's office is right over there." He pointed to the door on the other side of the room. "We'd better get going now…"

"You're not going anywhere, DiNozzo." Gibbs announced and started towards the office." I want to talk to him without any witnesses."

The young detective gaped at the ex marine's retreating back."No witnesses? Gibbs! That's it, I'm coming with you!"

The NCIS agent stopped in his tracks, turned around and sent Tony a look that the younger man came to regard as the 'Gibbs-stare'. The look that made everyone, no matter how old, feel as if they were a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"Sit." The tone of voice broke no arguments and Tony found himself automatically complying with the request."And stay there until I say otherwise."

Gibbs turned around and continued his trek to the office with a slight smile on his face, leaving a dumbfounded detective behind him.

"Hey!" The special agent was slightly surprised to hear the indignant response, having thought Tony would be too stunned to react in any way. "Just don't expect me to roll over at your command!"

Gibbs' smile widened. "Wouldn't have it any other way, DiNozzo."

Gibbs saw no reason in showing respect to someone like Tony's CO, who was too blind to even notice what was going on right under his nose, and barged into the office in his usual style, without knocking. Being in the Corps taught him a couple of valuable lessons, one of which was that a surprise attack gave you an advantage in battle. As far as he was concerned, this was a battle he wasn't taking any chances with.

He had met the man before, at the crime scene, and judging by what he had seen and heard, the detective was as a man too preoccupied with his own importance to care about what his people were going through.

Ward looked up from the document in front of him, shock at the intrusion evident in his sharp features. He obviously wasn't used to being interrupted without any warning. Well, too bad Gibbs wasn't in a very agreeable mood at the moment.

"Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs," the detective greeted, "to what do I owe the pleasure of this sudden visit?" The pleasant tone and friendly words were obviously forced, which only served to irritate the silver haired special agent even more.

"Just came for some chitchat." Ward snorted at that and the ex marine smirked at the reaction."You know, trade some crime fighting stories, go over office gossip, and discuss alcohol drinking while in duty. Just the usual stuff."

"Didn't take you for the gossiping type, agent Gibbs."

"Didn't take you for the avoiding type, detective," the ex marine countered, approaching the spacious oak desk.

Ward bristled and tightened his hold on the pen in his right hand."I'd appreciate it if you'd use my correct title. It's Detective Sgt., agent Gibbs."

"Dully noted, detective." Without waiting for an offer, the NCIS agent sat down on a chair right across from the other man and deliberately ignored the snapping sound that followed his answer.

"Please take a seat," detective Ward spat out, obviously not liking the fact that he was losing the control over the situation.

"Already did, as you can see." Gibbs refused to play his game."But we should probably get back to the reason why I'm actually here." His face immediately darkened and the whole air surrounding the agent turned icy.

He leaned forward and rapped the hard surface of the desk with his knuckles."I want you to get your head out of your ass and acknowledge the problems you're ignorance and indifference had led to. "

"Excuse me?!" Ward snarled, abandoning his sitting position in favor of the more intimidating standing one."Who the hell gave you the right to barge into my office and insult me?!"

"Can you even call it an insult if it's just the truth?" Gibbs narrowed his eyes at the looming figure."Not my fault you're incapable of controlling your detectives and leading this department."

Incredulous realization seemed to have dawned on the other man's face. "This all about DiNozzo?"

The NCIS agent's glare just intensified. He didn't like the tone of voice used in relation to his temporary teammate.

"Damn kid! Should have fired him a hell of a lot sooner." Gibbs' ears caught the muttered words and his anger at the other man rose.

Standing up and leaning against the desk, he glared. "For you're sake, I'm hoping you're taking about detective Daniel Kinsey."

Ward frowned in confusion. "Daniel? What does he have to do with anything?"

"Everything," Gibbs spat out. "It seems detective, and I use that term loosely, Kinsey has a bit of a drinking problem and enjoys taking out his frustration on his partner."

"That's ridiculous!" The detective laughed out loud."And how would they have solved all those cases they had had together with him drinking like that? Impossible."

"There's still DiNozzo. He ain't the one with the alcohol addiction."

Ward just shook his head, not believing a word he had just been told. He had heard lots of stupid things in his lifetime but this…was just plain absurd. He sat back down on his chair and regarded the man in front of him with amusement. "I don't know what DiNozzo has been telling you, but you've obviously become a victim of some prank of his, or something. But don't worry; I'll take care of the problem. Been considering firing him for a while now."

Gibbs couldn't believe what he was hearing. How short-sighted could a person get? Getting rid of Tony because he liked to joke around and keeping an abusing alcoholic? Where was the logic in that?

"Don't believe me? Then get your lazy ass out of this office and go look at DiNozzo! He's all black and blue because your good friend Kinsey decided it would be fun to use him as a human punching bag." Ward opened his mouth to retort but Gibbs beat him to it."Think twice about what you're about to say. I'm not in the mood to listen more crap."

The head of the Baltimore homicide department obviously didn't take his words too seriously and his next words anything but cautious in Gibbs' opinion."He could have gotten into a bar brawl for what I know. How does that prove anything?"

The silence that followed was tense, with both men were waiting for the other to break it. Gibbs tried to get his feelings of anger under control but was having no such luck. He wished for nothing more than to punch that smug bastard straight in the face. Hard. The ex marine didn't really want to imagine what he'd do once he met Kinsey in person. But right now, violence would only make it worse for Tony.

"Fine, don't believe me, don't believe bruises or Tony for that matter, don't believe all the evidence that's been sitting right under your nose but you're gonna regret this later! I'm not going to leave it like this, mark my words. We'll see what you're higher-ups will have to say about this."He gave Ward a cold smile."And do fire DiNozzo. I'll be the first one to offer him a job. Special Agent DiNozzo does have a ring to it, doesn't it?"

He turned around and started towards the door, leaving a speechless and pale detective in his wake. Truthfully, Gibbs hadn't though about offering Tony a job before this conversation. Not that he didn't think the younger man was good enough for the job, but because he hadn't had the time for decisions like that yet. But now, leaving the office of DiNozzo's CO and seeing what a bastard he was, he couldn't imagine leaving Tony behind with such a boss. Or partner for that matter.

And as he closed the office door behind him, spotting Tony sitting behind his overflowing desk with a frustrated expression on his face, Gibbs came to a sudden realization. He already considered Tony as his agent.

To be continued

A/N 2: Hope you liked it…and sorry if I made some mistakes…they are bound to happen to me :D Especially since it's…4AM??? I think I've just my new personal record of the time spent writing :)

Thank you once again for all the wonderful reviews, favs, alerts and pm's people! It means so so much to me!

I also want to wish you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! May the New Year be full of love and laughter:)And may all your dreams come true! Sending you all a virtual cookie :)

Hugs,

Andy