Huge apologies for taking so long with this… vacation, followed by the worst writer's block I've ever experienced, combined with prepping for the start of the school year. Hoping I'm over the worst of the block; confidence is still a bit shaken, but I'm generally happy with how this has turned out.

A tiny spoiler for Witch Hunt included here. Thanks to colorguard28 for giving me a little confidence boost when I needed it. One more chapter to go for this story.

14: Progress

Weekend Recap

Tony stepped off the elevator with a smile, still thinking of the expression on Jethro's face that morning in the living room, when Tony found him looking at Kelly's picture. He couldn't remember the man ever looking quite so content.

He grinned at the young female agent who eyed him as he passed her, and sent his backpack sailing in a nice arc through the air to land next to his desk.

Tim McGee glanced up from his computer and smiled; Tony's mood was infectious. McGee got up and walked to Tony's desk, watching as Tony settled into his chair and fired up his computer.

"You're happy this morning."

Tony glanced at McGee and his smile widened. "Yes, Probie, yes I am."

McGee's eyebrows shot up. "I'm guessing things got better after Friday night."

Tony cocked his head to one side. "Yeah, they really did." His lips twitched a bit as he tried to suppress his smile. "So, McFanboy, how was your weekend?"

McGee pursed his lips and nodded. "Good. I placed third in the Halo tournament, and found a few pieces to add to my comic collection." His eyes lit up. "You should have seen Ziva."

"Ziva bought comics?"

McGee laughed. "No, knives."

Tony sat back. "Is that legal?"

McGee rolled his eyes. "Yes – the dealers are all licensed. You should have seen her discussing the merits of different Klingon weapons with the dealer and a brigadier."

"A what?"

"Klingon brigadier… you do know what a Klingon is, right?"

Tony shot McGee an irritated look. "Yes, McTrekkie, I know what a Klingon is. Remember the time Gibbs had to interrogate one?"

"Oh, yeah. Well, Ziva got to talking knives with the dealer, and this guy in full makeup and brigadier's uniform started arguing with him… the dealer confused a bat'leth with a mek'leth, if you can believe that." McGee rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Tony blinked. "I can, actually."

Ziva came around the corner, smiling at them both.

"I must say that I found the bat'leth intriguing; it has great potential against multiple opponents." She looked at McGee. "As far as knives are concerned, I know the d'k tahg is the more popular weapon, but I prefer the balance of the kut'luch."

McGee glanced at Tony with a smile. "She bought one."

"She bought one what?"

"A kut'luch."

Gibbs strode into the bullpen. "Gesundheit."

Tony snorted while Ziva and McGee hurried to their desks. Gibbs shot him a grin as he sat as his own desk, then looked at Ziva. "You look tired."

Ziva blinked. "Abby and I spent some time together last night."

"Oh, ree-ally?" Tony leaned forward. "Doing what, inquiring minds want to know?"

Ziva cleared her throat and rummaged through the papers on her desk. "Just girl stuff."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows. Ziva glanced at him. "It is not important; we should get back to work, yes? There is still much to do with the audit."

Gibbs shook his head. "Nah, Vance just told me the project's been extended through the week."

Ziva shot furtive glances around the bullpen. All three men were looking at her curiously. "Abby and I just wanted to spend some quality time together, a girls' night in." She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "That is all."

"Ziva!" They all turned to see Abby trot up to Ziva's desk. "When can we watch the rest?"

Tony's eyes narrowed. "The rest of what?"

Abby turned toward him. "Supernatural! We managed to score tickets to the actors' panel while Timmy was playing Halo – and oh, wow, those guys are hot!"

McGee tilted his head. "You didn't tell me about that!"

Abby smirked at him. "It was need to know. And you, didn't." She beamed at Tony. "So after the panel, we found one of the dealers who stocked DVDs, and Ziva bought season one! We watched the first six episodes at Ziva's place last night." She widened her eyes. "Sam is just… mmm."

Ziva, who had closed her eyes when Abby started talking, sighed, then opened them and shook her head. "I prefer Dean."

Abby grinned at her. "Of course you do. You like the bad boys."

Tony's eyes took on an evil gleam, but before he could say anything, Gibbs spoke up. "Back to work, people." They all turned to look at him, surprised by the undercurrent of laughter in his voice. Abby straightened up and gave him a quick salute before heading for her lab; the rest of them got busy at their desks. Tony glanced over at Gibbs to find the other man looking back at him. He winked, Gibbs' lips twitched, and they refocused on the audit.

After almost an hour of self-evaluation, Tony stood, stretched, and announced to the room that he was going to see Ducky. Ziva and McGee, discussing their respective evaluations of the same case, ignored him, while Gibbs grunted in response… and smiled slightly as Tony walked by.

Tony breezed into Autopsy, high-fiving Jimmy Palmer, who grinned and then looked confused. "What was that for?"

Tony reached out and grabbed both of Jimmy's shoulders. "You – are a rich man."

Jimmy blinked and tilted his head. "I don't… I won the pool?!"

"Yes, you did, you Autopsy Gremlin, you! Thursday night."

"Wow… really? That's great!" Jimmy cut himself off and stepped back. "I mean, it's great that I won, but it's not great that I won, 'cause that means you and Agent Gibbs had a fight."

Ducky sat up at his desk and turned to look at them. "Is everything alright, dear boy?"

Tony nodded. "Good as gold, Ducky." He turned to look at Jimmy. "Abby said you can collect your winnings from her today. You have to spend it on Breena, though."

Jimmy grinned. "I know exactly what I'm going to get her." He looked at Ducky. "Doctor Mallard, mind if I…"

Ducky waved him out. "Go right ahead, Mr. Palmer."

Jimmy rushed out, and Tony walked toward Ducky, who stood up, looking serious as he turned to face him. "Are you sure you and Jethro are alright?"

Tony nodded, then reached out and pulled Ducky into a hug. The older man stiffened up for a moment, then relaxed, chuckled and returned the gesture. "To what do I owe this affectionate demonstration?"

Tony squeezed a bit harder, then stood back, his own eyes meeting Ducky's with a serious expression. "My father told me what you said… about claiming me as your own. I wanted to thank you."

Ducky reached up and patted Tony's shoulder. "My pleasure, dear boy. I meant what I said – I would be honored to be considered family."

Tony smiled. "You already are."

Ducky blinked and cleared his throat. "And how is your father?"

"Tony shrugged. "Saw him on Saturday. We had what I guess was a productive conversation."

"I do hope he has learned at least one lesson from all this, and is beginning to treat you in the way you deserve."

Tony shook his head. "I don't know… maybe? He knows how to talk the talk. We'll see if his actions measure up. But if not – let's just say that it won't bother me as much as it used to."

"Glad to hear it, dear boy. You deserve far better than you've gotten from that man, from what I have seen and heard."

"Thanks, Ducky."

Ducky nodded. "Yes, well… he is taking proper care of that nose? Splendid work on your part, by the way."

"Seemed okay to me. He was about to get a massage when I left the hotel."

The M.E. rolled his eyes and was about to say something when Tony's phone chirped at him. "Sorry, text." He looked at it quickly; it was from McGee. Heads up, your dad's here.

Tony's eyebrows shot up, and he looked at Ducky. "My father's upstairs. Guess I'll go see if things are going to change or not."

He headed for the door, then turned back and smiled. "Thanks, Dr. Mallard. For everything."

Ducky returned the smile and waved him out; as soon as Tony was out the door, he hurried to his desk and hit the button that gave him instant communication with Abby.

"Hey, Duckman!"

"Abigail, my dear, Anthony needs reinforcements upstairs."

"His dad?"

"Indeed."

"On my way! See you there."

Change Indeed

Tony jogged up the stairs to work off some nervous energy. When he rounded the corner into their section of the squad room, it was to see McGee sitting at his desk, eyes on his computer screen, while Gibbs stood in front of his own desk, silently gazing at the senior DiNozzo, who stood quietly near the flat screen and the file cabinets, hat in hand. Ziva was getting up from her chair just as Tony arrived; she had a file in her hand and gave Senior a quick, impersonal smile as she moved past him toward the back elevator.

Senior's eyes met Tony's and he visibly relaxed. "Jun – ah, Anthony! Glad you're here; I'm headed back to New York, but I wanted to say goodbye before I left."

Tony glanced at Gibbs, who returned the look with raised eyebrows. "Dad! Nice to see you." He looked at his watch. "We could catch brunch, if you want. When's your flight?"

Senior blinked, then smiled. "Wish I could, but I have just enough time to make it to the airport and deal with security." His voice dropped confidentially. "I have an appointment with Ted Rankin late this afternoon; he's interested in one of my business ventures."

Tony nodded. "GFM, right?"

"Exactly!" Senior's eyes twinkled a bit as he pointed to the bandage over his nose. "I was thinking… if you have time, you could ride to the airport with me and help me concoct a good explanation for this."

Tony laughed. "Truth's a bad idea?"

Senior's expression grew serious. "You know I don't like to advertize my failures." There was a moment of silence following that statement. Gibbs shifted his feet, McGee looked up at Tony, and Ducky rounded the corner with Abby and Ziva right behind him.

Senior looked at all of them, then back at his son. "You were right, you know, Agent Gibbs – both you and Dr. Mallard. I haven't been the best father, not since I lost Anthony's mother." He glanced down at the floor for a moment, then looked back up at his son. "I'd like to start making up for that, if you'll let me."

Tony just looked at his father, waiting.

Senior glanced at Gibbs, then back at Tony. "I was thinking I'd come back next month, take you and Gibbs out to dinner. Seems to me I should get to know him better."

Tony smiled slowly. "That sounds really nice, Dad. Jethro, you in?"

"Yup."

Tony huffed a small laugh. Senior looked around at everyone else, then back at Tony. "You've got good people here, Anthony. They're your real family, aren't they?"

"Yeah. Have been for a long time now."

Senior nodded. "Then I'll hope to earn my place in their company. You'll let me know when's a good time?"

"Soon as I can. Not always easy, 'cause if we get a case..."

Senior nodded again. "I did some research on NCIS over the weekend. You're doing good work here, son. I'm sorry I didn't realize that before."

Abby couldn't contain herself any longer. "Better late than never, right, Tony?" She moved forward, pulling Tony into a hug, then doing the same with Senior. "This is so great!"

Senior smiled. "I'm sorry about the role I made you play on Friday," he said.

Abby shook her head. "If you're really going to fix things, it was worth it."

Gibbs stepped forward. "Mr. DiNozzo." He reached out to shake Senior's hand. "We'll see you next month."

Senior smiled. "Or else, right?"

Gibbs just looked at him impassively.

McGee followed Gibbs' lead, standing up to shake hands and say goodbye. Senior shook hands with Ducky too, although he was more apprehensive with him than he'd been with anyone else. Ziva stepped forward to do the same, smiling. "It will be good to see you again," she said.

Senior looked at her seriously for a moment, then smiled ruefully. "It wasn't so good this time around, was it? But I intend to make up for that!"

He looked inquiringly at Tony, who glanced over at Gibbs, raising an eyebrow. Gibbs returned the look with an almost imperceptible tilt of the head, and Tony smiled.

"Probie!" he called out.

"Um… yeah?"

"How many more cases do we have to go through?"

"Don't ask."

"Alright then. You and Ziva tackle the next batch; divide it all up and put a stack on my desk as well as one for Gibbs. Coordinate with Abby and Ducky… let's see if we can streamline this process a bit. Jeth, I'll be back soon as I can." He turned to his father. "Let's go, Dad. Maybe we'll have enough to time to grab a bite at the airport."

Senior's smile lit up his whole face, and he laid his arm across Tony's shoulders as they headed for the elevator. "I'm thinking Ted might be impressed if I tell him I got this while I helped you take down a criminal… what do you think?"

Gibbs watched them leave, his face breaking out into a grin as he shook his head. He met Ducky's eyes; both men smiled while the rest of the team gathered together to talk about what had just happened.