Of Fathers and Sons Chapter 14
Your son at five is your master, at ten your slave, at fifteen your double, and after that, your friend or your foe, depending on his bringing up. ~Author Unknown~
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Tom Grady and his two sons had been gone only ten minutes when the bell over the door chimed.
Tony and Cal were busy in the stockroom which left Lila alone at the front counter.
She was busy balancing receipts and not bothering to look up immediately said:
"Be right with you!"
When she finally turned to her customers she was taken aback to find three men standing near the door.
"Um…how can I help you?" she asked trying not to sound shocked.
But Lila was shocked.
Two men dressed all in black and the third looking like an Arab sheik was not an everyday occurrence in Stillwater. She looked towards the store window and saw the black limo with the tinted windows right outside.
The "sheik" stepped forward, bowed slightly, and smiling kindly said:
"Good afternoon young lady…I would like to speak with Anthony DiNozzo, please."
She simply nodded, moved to the stockroom door, yelled for Tony and stepped back behind the counter.
Tony emerged from the backroom looking concerned-he had heard the sound of fear in Lila's voice.
"What is it Li….Prince Omar?! What are you doing here?" Tony said amazed.
He felt Cal behind him then saw him peripherally, as Cal took up a protective position next to Lila.
Lila looked at Cal wondering what the hell was going on.
Cal mouthed 'trouble' then turned to watch the strange drama unfold.
The Prince smiled and said "Anthony, I have travelled all this way on behalf of your father. You have caused my dear friend much distress I'm afraid….I offer you the chance to redeem yourself…make amends to your loving Father….my limo is right outside…I would be grateful if you would accompany me willingly…"
"What?!" Tony said with disbelief "Accompany you willingly?! You have got to be kidding me! If I don't go "willingly" what is the other option? Besides…my father and I are done….you have wasted your time coming here!"
Tony saw disappointment cross Prince Omar's face, then the smile dropped and his eyes hardened.
With a nod of his head, the two men in black moved quickly, each grabbing one of Tony's arms, they began to manhandle him towards the door.
"HEY!" Tony yelled as he struggled against their grip.
The man on his right turned towards Tony and punched him the stomach….the man on the left noticed his bandaged hand and grabbed it, squeezing so hard Tony saw stars. The pain incapacitated him and gave Prince Omar's goons the leverage they needed to grab him under each arm and drag him towards the door.
Prince Omar smiled at Lila and Cal who stood stock still mouths agape.
"Good afternoon" The Prince said dismissively.
Before he could move another step Lila and Cal both sprang into action.
Lila grabbed the Winchester from under the counter as Cal grabbed a hammer from the toolbox.
Cal yelled "Let him go!" as Lila maneuvered the lever of the rifle, loading the chamber.
She pointed the rifle barrel at Omar's head, her stance solid and her look determined.
Prince Omar looked surprised but that surprise quickly turned to anger.
Cal came out from behind the counter wielding the hammer as he moved towards the men who had Tony, yelling for them to get back.
Omar looked to his men and they released Tony.
Cal grabbed Tony's arm and dragged him back, still threatening the men with the hammer.
Tony fell heavily to the floor, his left hand bearing the brunt of his weight.
Now under the protection of his employees, Tony looked at Omar and pointed towards the door yelling:
"Get the fuck out of this store! And since you are acting as my father's minion you can report back to him that I said to stay the fuck away from me and out of my life!"
Prince Omar bristled being compared to a minion and his voice reflected that as he said quietly:
"You are disgrace to the DiNozzo name….you shame yourself, your father, your family …"
"Yeah, yeah…whatever…blah, blah, blah….I've heard this shit before…just get out!"
Omar's eyebrows shot up at the disrespect.
When Cal laughed, Prince Omar glared at the young man and if looks could kill, Cal would be six feet under.
"I will be seeing you again soon, Anthony!" Omar warned as he and his men exited the store, got into their limo and drove away.
"Oh my God!" Lila said as she lowered the rifle.
She felt her knees quiver. She had many years of handling a gun but it was the first time she had ever pointed one at a living person with the intent to kill them if need be.
She placed it back on the shelf under the counter and rushed around to help Cal lift Tony off the floor.
Cal dropped the hammer to the side as he and Lila moved Tony up and over to a chair.
"You okay boss?" Cal asked as Tony caught his breath.
Tony grinned at his two employees and said "Thanks…I'm good."
He was still doubled over a bit and his hand was throbbing as Lila brought him a bottle of water.
She knelt next to him as he took a sip and said: "Who was that Tony? Is he really a Prince?"
"Prince Omar Al Awaan…close friend of my Father's…and he is indeed a royal prince…."
He took another sip of water as Cal sat next to them.
"But don't be too impressed though" Tony continued "In his country Princes' are a dime a dozen…but this Prince has a lot of clout…."
"I can't believe he thought he could just waltz in here and kidnap you!" Lila stated.
"Yeah…dude has a lot of fricking nerve!" Cal added with anger.
"He has diplomatic immunity….and he'd play that card if need be."
"But he would have been kidnapping a Federal Agent!" Lila protested.
Tony laughed and said "I am a disposable resource Lila….trust me…the Prince has a lot of powerful friends and allies…they wouldn't give it a seconds notice if he took me back to D.C. to face my father."
"Gibbs would be pissed!" Cal added
Tony cringed and looked at the time. Gibbs could be back any moment.
He looked at his employees and said:
"Speaking of Gibbs…I'd rather not burden him with this…not yet okay? You two can keep a secret right?"
Lila glanced at Cal and both grimaced.
The worry they had for their new boss was evident on both their faces.
They shared a look that ended when Cal nodded.
Speaking for them both Lila said:
"Sure Tony….mums the word."
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Gibbs pulled up at the back of the store just before closing and honked.
Lila had left to pick up Kip, so Cal watched the counter while Tony exited the rear of the store to greet Gibbs.
"Hey Boss! Have a good day?" he said with a radiant smile.
Gibbs smirked as he got out of the truck and handed Tony the lists and two sets of keys.
"Was pretty busy thanks to you, Tony….but….I ran into some old friends and we had a nice lunch and conversation."
"Really?"
"What? You think I don't have old friends?"
"No…that isn't it…it was the "having a conversation" part that had me wondering..."
Tony laughed as he ducked the head slap he knew was coming.
Gibbs grinned at him and shaking his head said "Help me get all your stuff into the store….I need a beer!"
"Boss…how about we have a beer here at the store…I have some stuff I want to show you."
Gibbs had been waiting all day to find out why Tony had sent him on the shopping spree.
"Sure…sounds good."
The joy on Tony's face warmed Gibbs heart. He had his hands out in a "stop" gesture as he said:
"Cool…don't come into the front of the store yet okay…give me a few minutes to…."
Tony stopped when he saw Gibbs smile fade, his gaze falling to Tony's hands.
"What?" Tony began as Gibbs moved quickly grabbing his left wrist.
"When did this begin?" Gibbs demanded looking at Tony's bloody bandages.
SHIT!
Tony pulled away from Gibbs saying:
"I overdid it…that's all boss…just sprung a leak….it doesn't hurt!"
Gibbs didn't believe him as he grunted his disapproval.
Tony was saved from further scrutiny as Cal came out the back door.
"Hey Gibbs." He said then turning to Tony added "I locked up the front door and the register till is in the safe…see you tomorrow."
"Thanks Cal…oh…and here!"
Tony reached out and handed Cal two sets of keys.
"Can you give a set to Lila? You two will be on your own in the morning…me and my boss are going shooting!" Tony smiled at Gibbs who did not return the gesture.
"Sure! No problem!" Cal said pocketing the keys.
"Cal?" Gibbs said
"Yes" Cal looked at Gibbs as Tony sucked in a breath.
Gibbs eyes never left Tony's face as he calmly said "It looks like Tony over used his left hand today against doctor's orders to take it easy…do you think you can help me unload this truck before you leave? It wouldn't look too good having bloody handprints all over the cardboard boxes."
Cal gulped and looking at Tony said "I can do that."
Tony supervised as Gibbs and Cal unloaded the truck.
Cal took off as soon as he could, sensing Gibbs growing anger towards Tony.
For Tony's sake, Cal hoped the changes he did to the sign and adding the photos softened Gibbs attitude and didn't further enrage the man. Gibbs was an enigma Cal had no desire to understand anytime soon.
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When the door closed behind Cal, leaving Gibbs and Tony alone, Gibbs turned to Tony to rip into him about his hand. Tony knew Gibbs too well to not know what was coming so he said:
"Boss…hold the anger okay….let's have a beer…and let me show you why I played you to get you away for a few hours today…"
"A few?" Gibbs asked sarcastically trying to control his temper.
"Okay…many hours…but please…don't be mad…my hand is ok…really… "
Gibbs snorted in response saying: "Okay…beer first…."
Tony smiled and said: "Excellent…stay here I'll be right back!"
Tony grabbed two beers from the front of the store and returned to the back.
He handed one to Gibbs and said "We'll start outside…follow me."
Gibbs took a swig of the cold beverage and followed Tony out the back door.
When the two men turned the corner of the building, facing the store, Tony raised his right hand and pointing at the sign said:
"What do you think!?"
When Gibbs saw the sign, any anger he had was washed away. He stood there in awe.
"Wow Tony! That is….it just….."
Tony watched Gibbs with care. He was so nervous his boss would be mad he changed the sign but when Gibbs looked him in the eyes he knew any concerns he had were unwarranted.
Gibbs looked at him with love and pride and with gratitude.
"Thank you, Tony…." He began.
"Wait!" Tony added excitedly "There is more to show you…."
Gibbs felt overwhelmed…what else could Tony have up his sleeve? He hoped whatever it was didn't have him reduced to a blubbering idiot.
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His pride intact, Gibbs was happy not to be blubbering but he had tears in his eyes as Tony explained how he had picked the photos and why he chose to display them.
Gibbs stared at the photo of himself with Shannon and Kelly. He had not seen the photo in ages and yet he could remember that day like it was yesterday.
"Boss?" Tony asked quietly "I….um…I wanted to enlarge that photo…make Kelly more prominent in the display as she is the last of the Gibbs line but I wasn't sure if you would….I mean…I can always take it down if you wan…."
He didn't have time to finish as Gibbs turned to him and pulled him into a crushing embrace.
Tony was at first shocked but relaxed into the hug as he felt Gibbs body tremble with the emotion of all of it.
Tony hugged Gibbs back and he smiled, feeling hot tears against his cheek.
He couldn't be sure if they were his tears or Gibbs….maybe both.
It didn't really matter.
When Gibbs whispered:
"Thank you, son…for doing this for me…for honoring my father…for honoring my family…"
Tony could only hug Gibbs tighter not knowing exactly how to respond.
They were both so vulnerable…so outside their comfort zone.
Tony closed his eyes and gave into the feelings he was experiencing for the very first time in his life.
He finally had a father who loved him….and although he did not share their name, a family he loved.
A/N-Hey Peeps…thanks to y'all who sent a "hi" and more…I tried to thank everyone personally but might have missed a few…please forgive that oversight and accept my love and appreciation for you being on this journey with me. I am posting this at 8:20pm Sunday night 8/3/2014 from a very humid Las Vegas NV…wishing all of you a wonderful week to come! And let me know what you think of this chapter...thanks! xoxo