Title: My Conscience is clear Chapter 13
Slash/Mature: Don't like, don't read.
Summary: Moral compass, principles, right and wrong, inner voice, conscience…whatever you call it. Gibbs isn't sure he can keep his conscience clear when someone he cares about is missing. The one thing he is sure of, his conscience is clear when it comes to a past transgression between them. Will that memory help or hinder the future.
All mistakes are mine, this has not been proofed.
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Gibbs glanced over at the little girl asleep on the couch and leaned back in the chair. Putting his feet up on the coffee table he closed his eyes and put his head back. He wasn't physically tired but he felt emotionally exhausted, something he always felt when he talked to Tony. It was a constant struggle, especially now that his emotions were so raw again. Taking a couple slow deep breathes he tried to let his body relax and convince his mind not to ponder what could be. The hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up and he sensed the eyes upon. He slowly lifted his head as he opened his eyes and met the gaze of the little girl standing before him.
"You talk in your sleep."
Gibbs' brow furrowed. He hadn't fallen asleep. Picking up his arm he glanced at the watch on his left hand and his eyebrow went up. Almost eleven o'clock, he'd been asleep for almost two hours.
"You were saying daddy's name."
Gibbs ran his hands down his face. He didn't remember dreaming at all. "Maybe you heard me on the phone with daddy earlier."
She shook her head. "You just said his name before you woke up." Her head cocked to the right. "You talked to daddy?"
"Yeah."
"Is he coming home?" There was an excited in her voice.
"As soon as he can." He reached down and picked her up, sitting her in his lap. "He loves you so much and misses you and he's doing everything he can to get back here."
She looked up at him. "Why is he coming here?"
Gibbs looked at her slightly confused.
"Why aren't we going home?"
"To Paris?"
She nodded.
"Daddy needs to talk to some people here and he's probably going to need some help with things for a while."
"What things?"
"Well things like making breakfast or dinner, getting dressed, and he's going to need to rest more than usual so he'll need help taking care of you."
"I can take care of myself."
Gibbs smirked. "I know you can, but there are still things you need help with."
She looked at him with that same look he would receive from Ziva any time he questioned her ability to handle a situation.
He couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. "Wow, you look just like your mom."
That made her smile. "She said I can do anything."
"Yes you can."
"I can take care of daddy." She bit at her lower lip. "I can't use the oven but I can make sandwiches."
"And I know your daddy is going to love having you help take care of him. What kind of sandwiches do you want to make him?"
"Salami, pepperoni and cheese."
"Sounds good."
"Can we get the stuff so we can make it for him?"
"Sure." Gibbs was drawn in to her excitement. "What kind of cheese?"
"Provolone and daddy likes the brioche rolls."
"Brioche rolls?" Gibbs smirked. "I'll work on that."
"And mustard."
"And mustard." The smirk slowly faded from Gibbs' lips as the realization suddenly set in...Tony was come back to DC, would be staying for at least a few days, but Gibbs had no idea where Tony was staying or if Tony had made any kind of plans.
"Gibbs?" Tali looked up at him confused by his change of mood.
Forcing a smile, Gibbs pushed the thought from his mind. "You need to get back to bed." Picking her up he zoomed her through the air over to the couch and gently laid her down.
"Are you going to sleep in the chair?" She watched him as he pulled the blanket up over her.
"Chairs not real comfortable."
She slid over towards the outer edge of the couch and Gibbs bit back a chuckle. Taking the hint he slipped in behind her and laid down on the couch. As he had before, his arm instinctively wrapped protectively around her and she snuggled back against him. He didn't feel tired but as he listened to Tali's breathing grow slow and steady he unwilling was pulled into the sleep praying he wouldn't talk in his sleep again.
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"God this is amazing." Tony's voice was low and filled with a lustful hunger as he caressed the to go cup like a long lost lover. He took another long swig from the cup and let out a satisfied moan.
"Do you want me to leave the two of you alone?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
"Maybe." Tony smirked back and wiggled his eyebrows.
Shaking her head, Jack laughed. "Wow and I thought Gibbs loved coffee."
"It's been too long." Tony held the cup close to his face inhaling the scent.
"Coffee is one of the most common addictions in the world."
"I've already had three cups." The doctor said as he walked into the room. "And you are looking much better."
"Thanks doc, feeling a lot better." Tony was actually sitting on the side of the bed, his feet over the edge as he drank the coffee.
"So I've heard." The doctor walked over to the bed and looked at Tony. "So much better that you're annoying the nurses asking when you're getting out of here."
"When am I getting out of here?"
"Your blood work looks good, the liver function is back to normal, but I want an ultrasound of the spleen and then we can talk."
"If that comes back good?" Tony's right eyebrow went up.
"Maybe a day or two."
"A day, that could mean tomorrow."
"Let's not jump the gun." The doctor caught Tony glancing over at the picture on the night stand.
"Let's get the ultrasound back and I promise we'll talk."
"Alright." Tony had been through this before, go along with what the doctor says at least at first, or you'll be here even longer.
"How's the rib pain."
"Better still hurts sometimes when I take a deep breath or laugh."
The doctor motioned for Tony to lie back in the bed then turned back to Jack.
"She can stay doc, she's already seen almost all of me anyway." Tony grinned as he sat the coffee down on the bedside table and laid back.
Jack rolled her eyes. "Yeah he feels better."
The doctor chuckled as he pulled the gown down and Tony put out his arms to allow it to be slid down. The doctor bunched the gown just below Tony's belly button and palpated the areas around Tony's stomach watching for a reaction in the man. When he didn't receive any reaction he removed the bandages on Tony's chest and evaluated the wounds. Gently removing the bandages on Tony's legs he again evaluated the wounds and then looked up at Tony's face. There was still some bruising under his eye and a little swelling. "Any problems with the eye, pain or blurry vision?"
Tony shook his head.
"Would you tell me if there was?" The doctor snickered. Undoing the bandage on Tony's arm he made a last evaluation. "The chest wounds need to still be cleaned and covered, but the legs and arm have healed enough to be left uncovered."
"Halleluiah, I don't have to feel like a mummy anymore."
"If and this is a big if I let you go home you still need to rest, have the chest wounds changed and dressed and he glanced over at the little girls picture on the bedside table. "You're gonna need help with that one. The arms going to be in the cast for a few weeks yet."
"I know, already taken care of."
"Good." The doctor helped Tony put the gown back on. "Let's get the ultrasound and I'll be back in."
Tony nodded.
"I'll see you soon." The doctor smiled at Jack as he headed towards the door.
"Thanks doc." Tony settled back into the bed and sighed. When he turned and looked at Jack she was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"You already took care of help with Tali?" She smiled. Although Tony hadn't really talked to her about his conversation with Gibbs the other night, it seemed it had gone well. She was hoping maybe they had discussed Tony staying with Gibbs.
"Yes and no I'm not staying with Gibbs."
"Why not?"
"He didn't ask and it's not a good idea." He saw the questioning look in her eyes. "He wants to be my friend and I'm accepting that, but I have somethings to work through and I can't do that staying with him."
"And Tali?"
"What about Tali?"
"She's obviously formed a bond with Gibbs and you're going to just come back and take her away from that."
"She'll have her father back."
"Yes she will and she'll be overjoyed, but you still need help with her."
"And I'll have it."
She could hear the defensiveness growing in Tony's voice. "And the protective detail? We don't know how long that's going to continue."
"We're staying with Ellie. It makes perfect sense and agents are familiar with her place."
"You've already talked to her about this?"
"I said it's all taken care of."
"And does Gibbs know about this?"
"I asked her not to say anything to him about it."
"And she agreed to that?" She was completely surprised.
"She wasn't thrilled about it." He paused. "And before you ask I already have someone coming in during the day to help me with Tali."
Her head went back in surprise.
"And she's already been vetted by NCIS."
She tried to rack her brain on who it could possibly be.
"Breena decided to stay at home with Victoria for a while so she and Victoria are going to come over during the day. It's perfect. Tali will have someone to play with."
Jack shrugged her shoulders. "Guess you have it all worked out."
"I do, so don't worry."
Nodding, Jack smiled. Oh Tony thought he had it all worked out. It's so easy when you're not in the moment to make plans, but she knew there was one thing Tony hadn't planned for. He couldn't prepare of the reaction he would have when he was in the moment with Gibbs, seeing the man he loved, the man Jack had no doubt would ask Tony and Tali to stay. Add a daughter who no doubt would also want to stay and that makes for a very persuasive duo.
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The man stepped in through the back door and headed to the living room. Seeing the image before him, he couldn't help but grin. Gibbs was lying on his side, Tali curled up against his chest, her one arm lying over the side of his face as she snored softly.
"What do you want Torres?"
"I was thinking I want a picture of this for the bullpen." Torres had pulled out his phone and aimed it at the couch.
Gibbs' eyes opened and he glared over at the younger man.
Torres slowly put the phone down to his side. "Okay now it's not so cute."
Gently moving Tali's arm from his face, Gibbs slipped out from beside her and stood up.
"I wasn't really gonna take a picture."
Gibbs continued to glare at the man.
"Well I might have if you weren't looking." Torres cleared his throat. "I just came to check in before I leave."
The glare started to fade and Gibbs walked by Torres and into the kitchen.
"Everything was quiet." Torres followed Gibbs into the kitchen.
"And there's another dead lieutenant."
"You heard about that."
Gibbs looked over at him and rolled his eyes.
"Of course you did." Torres nodded. "And did you also hear there has been no chatter about Cavellero and the situation with Tony."
"Yeah." Gibbs pulled down a coffee cup and sat it by the still brewing pot. He looked over at Torres. "Coffee."
Torres shook his head. "No, I'm good."
"Say what you wanna say Torres." Gibbs snapped as he leaned back against the counter.
"How long is the protective detail going to stay on Tali?"
"As long as it's necessary."
Torres' eyebrow went up.
"Did you read the newest report from the agents in Paris?"
"What new report?"
"Came out about three o'clock this morning."
"What?"
Gibbs folded his arms across his chest. "The report that said one of the lieutenants is trying to figure out why Ossip is dead."
"The man that tortured Tony?"
Gibbs nodded.
Torres raised his hand and head slapped himself. "On the house Gibbs."
"Believe me I don't want her in protective custody any longer than she has to be."
"I just thought maybe-"
"I know what you thought." Gibbs let his hands fall from his chest and turned around pouring a cup of coffee. "You thought I let me personal feels effect how I handle this case." Even without looking over, Gibbs could hear Torres swallow hard.
"And I should have known better."
Gibbs grunted as he walked out of the kitchen and to the dining room sitting down at the table.
"I'm back tonight."
Another grunt. Gibbs heard the back door close and he took a sip of his coffee. His first thought was to look over at the little girl still sleeping on the couch but he stopped himself. The truth was last night he actually would have agreed with Torres. He felt he was allowing this to go on just because of how much he cared about Tony and Tali. Fortunately for him, he couldn't sleep last night and made a call that's when he found out about the report from the agents in Paris. Although there was still no mention of Josie, Tali or Tony, there was a link and as long as there was even a possibility someone might go after Tony or Tali again Gibbs would do everything in his power to prevent it.
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Jack had slipped from the room and pulled her phone from her back pocket. Hitting a number she waited for the voice on the other line. "I need a favor."
"Okay let's hear it."
"You're not going to like it."
"I rarely do when you ask me for a favor."
"And I need you to not ask any questions."
"Now that we might have a problem with."
"I need you to trust me."
"I always do."
"Then we shouldn't have a problem."
"Ask away."
"I'll call you back to ask and with all the details in about an hour." She could almost hear his exasperation. "Thanks."
"I haven't said yes yet."
She hung up the phone and walked back into the hospital room.