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Spoilers: 6x02 'Agent Afloat'

"I'm so happy you're home, Tony" said Abby before giving him one of her bone crushing hugs in Tony's foyer.

"Me too, Abs, me too," Tony said returning the hug with almost as much gusto as Abby. After Tony had delivered the good news at headquarters Abby had convinced everyone, even Gibbs, to go over to Mike's for a couple of drinks. Mike and Cheryl had been so glad to see them all again and gave them a round of free drinks as they talked and laughed just like old times while Tony recounted some of his more zany stories as Agent Afloat. The highlight to Tony's evening came when for a couple of minutes it was just the two of them, Gibbs and Tony, at the table and the older man told him that he did a good job while Agent Afloat. When the rest of the group returned they found the two agents swapping stories about their time as Agent Afloat. All too soon it was time to call it a night and Abby offered him a ride home.

"Gibbs said that he'd be over first thing in the morning," she reminded him, the former Marine had been housing Tony's car while he had been at sea. "It's so good to have you home!" she squealed giving him one last hug before skipping, well, as best as one could skip in three inch platforms, down his walkway to her hearse.

Tony waved one last time before shutting his front door and letting out one satisfied sigh. Walking slowly around the first floor he reacquainted himself with the few possessions still in his home, the rest had been stored with Abby or Gibbs. Despite having been gone for four months his house doesn't have that stuffy, abandoned feel to it that homes often got when their occupants have gone on an extended vacation, he supposed that he had Abby to thank for that, he really did need to take her out to that new restaurant she had been raving about on the way home as a thank you. After his walk through Tony collapsed on his couch and for the first time Tony notices a small potted ivy sitting in the center of his coffee table. He raises his eyebrows, he's never seen the plant before, the only time he's ever had plant life of any sort in his home is when he gets bouquets after getting out of the hospital or from Abby on his birthday. It's then that he notices the small white card leaning lightly against the pot and he smiles when he sees the familiar handwriting. Palmer.

Tony,

Something to keep you company. Welcome home!

-Jimmy

Tony smiled; it was good to be home.

--

The following morning Tony is up bright and early and ready to go when Gibbs appears. During the ride to his house Tony keeps up a constant stream of chatter until Gibbs tells him to shut his trap but there's no bark behind that order, truth is Gibbs has missed Tony's constant chatter and movie references, the past four months have been too quiet.

"You eat yet?" he asks right as they pull into the driveway.

"Yeah," Tony replies. This morning when he bothered to check his fridge he found it fully stocked with food, actually it had more food than it would normally have, courtesy of Abby along with a six pack of Tony's favorite beer from Palmer. A full fridge is not the only surprise his kitchen has, he finds his cabinets also well-stocked along with a sticky note from Abby, he makes a note to call the restaurant during his lunch break and make a reservation for later on this week. Gibbs just nods as Tony gets out of the car and makes his way to his baby. He lovingly caresses the hood of the car, god, he missed his baby.

"Hey, DiNozzo, get your ass to work!" Gibbs barks but there's a small smile playing on his lips and Tony knows that it's just Gibbs' way of saying welcome home.

"Meet you there, Boss," he says with a smile and with a final nod Gibbs gets back in his car and is off with Tony not far behind him.

He and Gibbs are the first ones to arrive, not that it's a surprise to Tony, and when he catches sight of his desk he can't help but smile, everything is right where he had left it all those months ago. He wonders who he has to thank for that. It's a slow day, no new cases, but Tony doesn't mind, it gives him a chance to relish just sitting at his desk and just working without the constant rocking of a ship or noise from the carrier. During his lunch break he makes that call and smiles, the restaurant's prices are exorbitant but Abby would totally love it. Deciding that he still has time before Gibbs comes looking for him he makes his way down to Abby's lab and autopsy. Abby's reaction was just like he expected and once she finally lets go of him and his lungs are sufficiently happy with him he tells her that he'll pick her up on Friday at eight.

"Hey, Jimmy," Tony says cheerfully when he enters autopsy.

"Hey Tony," he replies brightly, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Just wanted to say thanks…for everything," he says awkwardly, he doesn't have much practice with this sort of thing, not with guys at least.

Jimmy just smiles. "It wasn't a problem, Tony."

"Just have one question."

"Shoot."

"What's with the plant?"

"You need to have something alive in your house, Tony," the other man tells him, "that way it feels more homey."

"But ivy, Jimmy?"

Jimmy just shrugs. "Well, it was either that or a goldfish."

Tony is silent as he thinks back to the last time he had a pet fish, it was back in Philadelphia, his partner's kid, Michael, gave it to him as a present. Tony loved that fish, he really did, but he spent more time at the station than his apartment and when he was home he was usually too exhausted to do anything but head straight to bed. After almost two months he thought that it would just be cruel to leave a fish in his care since it would most likely starve to death and explained to Michael that while he really did appreciate the gift his lifestyle wasn't all that good for a fish. He hasn't had a pet fish since and his job has gotten even more unpredictable. Yeah, a plant was probably a better choice than a fish; at least Tony wouldn't feel too guilty if it died.

"Oh here, guess you want this back now," Jimmy says as he reaches for his key ring so that he can take the key to Tony's townhouse off.

"No, keep it, in case of emergencies or if I ever need you to house sit again," he explains.

Jimmy smiles brightly and grabs the American Pie mug off his desk. "Here, I took really good care of it while you were gone."

Tony returns the smile with one just as bright. "Thanks, Jimmy, I knew you would," he tells the other man sincerely.

"Welcome home, Tony."

Back up in the squad room Tony places the mug and his desk and looks around with a big grin on his face. It was really good to be home.