Tony had laid awake most of the night tossing and turning in his bed, thinking about everything, but especially his Uncle's words: "You don't have to pretend around me Tony. Whatever your reasons are, you are enough just the way you are, just know that. And if you want to talk about it, I'm here." It was in fog that Tony got dressed in a marine blue dress shirt he had stolen from his Dad, knowing his Dad had many like it, and a pair of dark jeans. Walking out of his room at Uncle Steve's house, Tony had to stop without warning as his brother came out from his room.
"Morning Tim." Tony greeted softly, seeing the other teens gaze wander up and down his outfit before answering:
"Morning Tony." With a sad tone.
"Come on kiddo, let's see what Uncle Steve has managed to find us for breakfast."
"Okay." Tim shrugged, leaning into the arm Tony threw over his shoulders but not being able to fully relax. Tony almost broke at that and the kiss his Uncle delivered to his head wordlessly when he entered the kitchen only to seconds later stop Tony and tilt his head up taking in the dark circles and glazy eyes, didn't help either.
"Sleep any?"
"I'm fine Uncle Steve, I just need some breakfast." Tony knew the cheerful tone didn't fool anybody, but he had to try.
"Are you sure Tony?" The voice mimicked his Dad's so perfectly that Tony shuddered.
"I'll be fine for school."
"You come to me if you start feeling like it isn't fine. No matter when, do you hear me Anthony?!"
"Yes sir."
"Good boy." Tony struggled with keeping the tears at bay for the rest of the breakfast and nobody else felt like talking so they all ate in silence before heading to school. Once in school Tony met up with Luke:
"You look like crap."
"I know."
"I'm guessing your Dad hasn't seen you?"
"No, not since Sunday."
"You do know that your Dad will take one look at you and then not let you out of his sight until he knows what's going on."
"Dad is caught up with a case so I'll have time to perfect this before then."
"Why not turn back while you still can?! Tony you know your Dad didn't mean it that way. Gibbs loves you. This is no different than the trouble you've been in before."
"No. This is me now Luke, get used to it." With that Tony stalked of to his first class of the day.
-Flashback ending-
"Hi"
"Feeling any better?" Uncle Steve asked a bit more softly.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Do you understand our point now?"
"Yes sir."
"Good boy." His Dad praised, knowing full well Tony needed the reassurance.
"I didn't think that far."
"We know." Gibbs reassured his son.
"Tony, this isn't something we just can ignore, you put yourself in unnecessary danger. We can't let that happen son, why?"
"Because I mean too much. To all of you."
"That's right buddy, and you'd do well to never forget that even momentarily."
"I won't. At least I'll try my hardest not to."
"Did you try your hardest not to lie to your Dad and Uncle?!" Grandpa Mike asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No sir. I'm sorry, I should have trusted your judgment." Tony answered contritely, turning towards his Dad and Uncle.
"Yes, you should have, and I hope I can trust you to do so the next time." Uncle Steve said sternly.
"Yes sir."
"Good, then I'll leave it to your Dad, except once your Dad is through with you you are grounded to my place for two weeks, I think we need to revisit some trust issues."
"Yes sir."
"You do know we only want your best, buddy?" Uncle Steve asked as he drew Tony into a tight hug.
"I know." Tony said as he returned the hug.
"I'll see you at school."
"Make sure you listen to your Dad Probie Junior."
"I will Grandpa."
"Give me a hug boy and don't just stand there, I won't bite your head off."
"I'm sorry I disappointed you Gramps." Tony offered as he gave his Grandpa a big hug.
"Your actions Junior. Not you. Understand?" His Grandpa growled lowly into his ear before letting Tony go.
"Yes Gramps."
"Good. Probie I'll pick up Tim from Ducky tonight and take him to my place." Gibbs seeing Tony's face at that gently caressed the back of his son's head as he turned towards the man he considered to be a second father.
"Naah, bring him home, would you? I think it'd be good for us all to spend the night together." Mike gave Gibbs a knowing gaze but didn't question it, just nodded and walked out the door leaving father and son to work out the rest of the things.
-Flashback-
"Anthony Gibbs, report to the Principal's office immediately." Startled from working hard on his assignment Tony gave Mr. Morgan a questioning gaze.
"Go on Tony." Grabbing his backpack and carefully putting away his things, Tony headed for the office wondering what his Uncle wanted in the middle of the day.
"Hi" Tony greeted the secretary. "Principal Hayes wanted to see me."
"Mr. Hayes, Anthony Gibbs is here." She reported through the intercom. "Okay, I'll send him in." Turning back to Tony she told him to just go-ahead in. Thanking her Tony knocked once before turning the handle and stepping into the familiar space.
"Principal Hayes, I was told to report….Dad?!"
"Hi buddy." His Dad greeted and handed a few papers he'd been looking at back to Steve.
"Your Dad wants you to himself for the rest of the day kiddo, so I'll see you in school whenever your Dad decides you can return."
"I'm fine Dad."
"Let's go Tony."
"Dad…come on."
"I said let's go." Tony carefully weighed his options, he could either give in without a fight or keep fighting but risk his Dad's wrath.
"Yes sir." His Dad wordlessly held up the door for him and stepping into the hallway Tony said:
"I need to get my books." His Dad eyed him for a second before nodding approvingly and stopping by his locker. Once Tony had located the books he needed the pair headed to the car in the parking lot. The drive home was mostly silent, but Tony felt his Dad's eyes on him more than once. Usually Tony would talk a mile a minute about anything and especially the precious moments it was just the two of them.
"Is the case closed?" Tony asked once they turned into the driveway and the silence became too much.
"Nope."
"What are you doing home then? Shouldn't you be in the office?"
"You are more important right now Anthony." His Dad had turned so he was staring right into his eyes. "You will always be more important."
"Thanks." Tony answered quietly.
"Let's head inside. I want you in hiking clothes and downstairs in twenty minutes while I fix something to eat."
"Yes sir." Before he got far though Gibbs reached out and stopped him and brought him into a strong hug.
"I love you Buddy, never forget that."
"Love you too Dad."
"Get upstairs Bud and leave that shirt in my bedroom while you are on it and grab one of my hoodies instead, we are going hiking, not back to the office."
"Yes sir." Tony beamed. Him stealing his Dads hoodies wasn't anything new but having permission to do so was and he intended to fully take advantage of the opportunity.
-Flashback ending-
"You are coming to NCIS every day next week, and while you are there you are following me and my team around to see what could happen if you don't follow orders. I want a detailed report on Friday about what's happened and what could have gone wrong in different scenarios if one of my agents hadn't followed my orders. If you don't get enough material you can ask them for stories, okay?!"
"Yes sir." Tony knew well that it wasn't a hard punishment, in fact his Dad was going easy on him. He also knew though that there was a lesson imbedded in the punishment, one that his Dad felt that could be learned without grounding or loss of privileges.
"Then that's it Tony." Gibbs said caressing his eldest hair gently. "When Friday is over we'll move on and put this behind us. If even something similar ever happens again though, you won't leave my side until you turn 21, understood?!"
"Yes sir. Thanks Dad."
"For what?"
"For caring enough to do this."
"Love you Buddy, whatever happens."
"Love you too Dad." Tony took one step towards his Dad and leant against the muscular frame, just listening to the calm breathing.
"Are you okay Tony?"
"Yeah. Rizzo is gone and forgotten about, and with him out of the picture I can concentrate on Mrs. Lewis."
"Your Uncle will look into that, but you might have to give him a couple of days to recover from this."
"I know, Dad. I can handle it."
"I know you can."
"Dad?! Tony?! I'm home."
"Hey Squirt, Tony greeted and reached out a hand to mess up his brother's hair, but Tim ducked away and went straight for their Dad, giving him a hug. Gibbs on the other hand drew both his sons into the hug, creating a memory for a lifetime.
-Flashback-
The pair hadn't talked much during the short hike to a familiar cabin in the woods, but now staring at the flames from the fire his Dad had made, Tony knew he'd have to.
"What's going on Tony?"
"I changed my style and decided to put a little more effort into school, but Tim and Uncle Steve both freaked out."
"That why you can't sleep?" His Dad asked knowingly.
"Not exactly…"
"So then why?" Tony shrugged his shoulders, not coming up with anything that wasn't a total lie.
"I've been thinking back since Steve first told me something was going on with you, but I can't find out from where you got the need to suddenly change yourself. Care to enlighten me?"
"Preferably not."
"You stood in the corner and after that you started showing some signs, but I thought it was from you finally realizing our point and being ready to take responsibility. It wasn't though, was it?! Whatever this is started then."
"Come on Dad."
"You are hurting Tony and I can't let you hurt yourself."
"I'm…" One look into his Dad's eyes and Tony quickly stopped the all too familiar sentence.
"So since this all started in that corner you either came to a realization or overheard something that led to this dramatic change."
"It's not that dramatic Dad."
"No?! Combed hair, nice clothes, doing your homework every single minute you are awake and refusing to play football with your brother?! If that isn't dramatic Tony I don't know what is."
"Did Tim tell you that?!"
"Tim, huh? That's something he did mention, but I had to hear it with my own ears to believe."
"What?"
"You calling your brother by his real nickname all of the sudden."
"It's his nickname." Tony argued, causing his Dad to give him a very unimpressed look.
"What happened, Buddy?"
"Not…"
"Don't lie to me Anthony."
"You told Uncle Steve that that's how I get." Tony admitted defeatedly.
"What?!"
"You told Uncle Steve that 'that's how I get'." Tony repeated more forcefully with tears in his eyes. It took Gibbs a moment to realize what his son was talking about, but when he did he was quick to answer:
"I never meant it that way, Buddy. We both know that you have a tendency to shut down when you don't want to talk and that was all I hinted about. I never meant anything else with it Tony, and especially not that you should change yourself. I've told you before and I'll tell you again as many times as you need to hear it: you are perfect just the way you are Tony. These insecurities are something we'll have to work on, I can't have you thinking that you aren't enough."
"It's just hard to not think that you'd be happier if I were more like Timmy."
"And what would I do with two perfect sons?! I need you as you are Anthony Leroy Gibbs, too much like me for your own good."
"Mom used to say that." Tony recognized.
"Yeah, she usually reminded me that your stubbornness and need to handle things your own way, came from me. Do you remember what else she used to say though?"
"That just like she had seen more in you than just those quality's, she also saw your golden heart and kindness to everyone in me, as well as your strong feeling of right and wrong." Tony remembered, feeling tears starting to form in his eyes.
"Do you trust her?"
"Yeah of course!" Tony said instantly.
"Then take her word for that there is more to you than your trouble streak. I'm proud of you everyday Anthony, because I see the same as your Mom. You may not be perfect Tony according to everyone else, but you remind me every day that there is more to us both than what we let other people see."
"Thanks Dad."
"Be you Buddy and trust us. The people that matter will see what we see."
A/N: I worked really hard on this chapter so hope you like it! Also, for those of you not reading Nathan James, let me know who your favourite character is from any of my stories and between whom your favourite interactions are, thank you! I'm really curious….