That Dreaded Night

Tony: 2 (In the Dream) 9 (Reality)

Tony's Perspective:

Tony looked up at his mother with a wide-toothed grin, "Hi mommy!" Tony squeaked excitedly.

"Hi my sweet prince." Shannon said softly as she leaned down, kissing Tony lovingly on the forehead "What're you doing sweet boy?" Shannon asked as she joined her son on the front lawn in front of their house, looking up at the pitch-black night sky.

"I waitin!" Tony explained with a frown on his face.

Shannon turned her head to the side and gently brushed her hand through Tony's hair "What are you waiting for?" Shannon asked softly as she looked back out at the dark road ahead of her.

"Waitin for you, time to go home." Tony said with a sniffle as he looked up at Shannon with wide, tear-filled eyes.

Shannon nodded as she pulled Tony against her chest and snuggled closely with him "Yeah, but I don't want you to be sad about me going home, okay my sweet prince? It won't be forever, I promise you." Shannon said softly.

Tony nodded and hugged his mother around the neck lightly "I know momma. You gonna be a pretty angel." Tony said softly as he kissed his mother on the cheek.

The headlights forming on the dark road began growing brighter as they headed straight for Tony and Shannon. "Tony, always remember, I love you… so, so much!" Shannon said as she set Tony on the ground, kissing his forehead once again. "You behave for daddy and Grandpa Jack, okay?" Shannon asked.

Tony nodded as tears began riding down his face "I love you mommy." Tony whispered as the headlights drew nearer, and Shannon began fading into their brightness.

Tony gasped awake, gripping at the sheets beneath him tightly, his entire body trembling as tears began riding down his cheeks "Love you mom." Tony whispered into the darkness of his bedroom, lying back down and curling up into a tight ball as he wrapped an arm around Charlie's neck and sniffling into it sadly.

Gibbs' Perspective:

Gibbs opened the front door, stepping out onto the porch before the two officers could knock and wake up Tim, "How may I help you gentlemen?" Gibbs asked cautiously.

"Sir, I'm captain Riley and this is my partner Lieutenant Calder. Are you Leroy Gibbs?" Riley asked, his tone already edging on sympathetic.

Gibbs nodded his head tiredly, looking at Riley with a raised eyebrow "Yeah, I am…" Gibbs said, his voice quivering slightly as he gripped onto the banister behind him.

"Sir, we're with the DC Metro Traffic Division. Is your wife Shannon Gibbs?" Riley asked. Gibbs nodded mutely, swallowing convulsively as he tried clearing the lump in his throat.

"We're sorry we have to inform you of this, but your wife was involved in an accident earlier this evening, she was hit by a drunk driver and died on the scene. We are all so very sorry for your loss." Riley stated in a somber tone.

Gibbs inhaled deeply as he nodded "TH… Thank you… Um… Where… Where is she?" Gibbs asked, clearing his throat several times and swiping at the tears that continued welling up and falling down his cheeks.

"She's been transported to County General. You'll have to come down and identify her body. Lieutenant Calder here can give you a ride." Riley stated sympathetically.

Gibbs nodded and turned towards the house with a deepened frown on his face "My uh… My kids are… inside… I uhm… I need to call... someone to come over here…" Gibbs said as he shakily walked back into the house.

Calder and Riley stood in the doorway, looking around briefly as Gibbs grabbed the phone and punched in a number "Mike… I uh… I need you… I need you to come to the house… Watch the kids for me… Yeah, yeah… I'll explain later… It's important Mike… Yeah, thanks…" Gibbs said into the phone, and then let the device drop to the floor, his breath hitching as he looked around the living room.

The white sheet covering her body, and the iridescent lightbulbs flickering overhead were causing waves of nausea to rip through Gibbs' throat and stomach as the Medical Examiner pulled the sheet back and revealed Shannon's body from the shoulders up.

Gibbs nodded and gently reached out, stroking Shannon's cheekbone with his index finger "Shan… I… I'm so… sorry…" Gibbs choked out as he leaned down, kissing first Shannon's forehead and then her lips tenderly, a single tear falling and landing on her cheek.

Gibbs gasped awake, clutching at his chest tightly as he let out a silent sob, he could still feel the cold of her lips on his, every time he had that dream, could never erase the pale complexion of Shannon's naturally tanned body. Gibbs stood up, staggering towards the bathroom and twisting the cold water tap, splashing water on his face "Damn it…" Gibbs gritted out, slamming his palm against the counter.

"Daddy…" Tony called quietly from the bedroom doorway.

Gibbs walked out, sighing quietly "Hey bud, what're you doing awake?" Gibbs asked as he sat on the edge of his bed.

Tony shook his head as he dove into his father's bed, "I uh… I had that dream again… about mommy…" Tony said quietly as he laid down on the empty side of his father's bed.

"Oh… Yeah… I did too." Gibbs said quietly as he laid down and turned onto his side to face his son.

"Can I stay in here with you?" Tony asked quietly, sniffling back his tears as he plucked at his father's comforter.

Gibbs nodded as he brushed a stray tear off Tony's cheek, "Yeah buddy, you can stay in here." Gibbs said as he pulled the covers up over his and Tony's body.

Charlie came into the bedroom, pouncing on top of the bed and then snuggling close to Tony's body, sandwiching the young boy between his body and Gibbs' body. "Good boy, Charlie." Gibbs praised as he wrapped his arm protectively around his son, and held onto the dog lightly.