Night time was the hardest for Tony. He was used to Emily lying beside him and now suddenly she wasn't. Every night he went from pining for his fiancee to beating himself up because he was missing her like she died. What if Gibbs caught him acting like this? He had actually lost Shannon and Jenny and maybe others. That was real grief. Emily would be back soon. Hopefully. It was the same routine every night. Every night until he fell into a fitful and usually restless sleep. This particular night was really hard because Carly was sleeping over at the Tyler's and Gibbs had taken Jack for the night. The older man thought he was helping Tony by offering him a respite from the infant but in fact it was tearing Tony up inside. If he hadn't had two beers already he would drive over to Gibbs's apartment and ask him to give Jack back. So he just lay awake and stared up at the glow in the dark stars Emily and him had put up in Carly's room. Emily wanted to make the kids rooms look as much like their old rooms in DC as possible. The home that was burned down by Adam and Ray the same monsters who killed Breena and terrorized NCIS. The stickers back home had been hung two years earlier when Carly was still afraid of the dark. It had been Dylan's idea and now that he was gone and Emily was "away", they had become sacred to the small girl. So sacred that Tony had ordered a huge box of the internet and hid them down in the basement. That way even as the adhesive gave out on these ones. She would be able to have her special decorations as long as she lived in the room or wanted them up. In the last few months he found himself coming into his daughter's room when he needed comfort. On this particular night he was stretched out on Carly's twin bed with his arms behind his head. It reminded him of star gazing with his mom before she got too sick. His biggest fear was that Emily would end up getting "too sick" to be part of Carly and Jack's lives, like his had. He wondered if he would become an abusive and uncaring drunk like Senior.
"Tony? You up?" McGee called in a whisper.
"Probie? Is that you?" Tony asked.
"Yeah" McGee replied.
"What are you doing here?" Tony asked.
"Gee I feel loved." McGee scoffed.
"No! No! I don't mind that you are here. I am just surprised." Tony explained.
"Oh well Delilah's cousins came to paint the nursery. They have a painting business or something. The fumes were giving me a headache. So Delilah suggested I drive up for the weekend. She has been worried about you since we found out that Emily was so sick." McGee explained.
"That's nice" Tony mumbled.
"How is she by the way?" McGee asked.
"She won't accept help Probie." Tony choked.
"I am sorry to hear that." McGee replied.
"Thanks" Tony sighed.
"Have you talked to her since she was taken to the hospital?" McGee asked.
"I've tried." Tony replied.
"Tried?" McGee asked.
"She won't talk to me or anyone else." Tony explained.
"She'll come around. Remember how depressed Delilah was when she first learned that she would never walk again?" McGee questioned.
"Yeah but that's different." Tony sighed.
"Different tragedy, different depression but Delilah acted like that. She wouldn't accept counseling and she wouldn't let me try to help either." McGee explained.
"What made her come around?" Tony asked.
"Time" McGee replied.
"That's what Gibbs is saying about him after Shannon and Kelly." Tony admitted.
"Well Gibbs is very wise way beyond me and even you. I would listen to him." McGee replied.
"I know but it's hard." Tony sighed.
"I know it is but you are not alone." McGee assured.
"I know and I am beyond grateful, Probie." Tony replied.
"You know it's crazy. Just over a year and a half ago. You were the one reassuring me." McGee commented.
"Has it really been that long since the attack?" Tony asked.
"Yeah" McGee replied.
"Hopefully a year and a half from now Emily will be strong and happy again." Tony replied.
"She will. You'll see." McGee assured.
"When did you become so wise?" Tony asked.
"After I met you and Gibbs." McGee replied.
"Gibbs maybe but I don't see myself as being that wise." Tony replied.
"Well you are." McGee replied.
"Your pretty smart yourself... for a Probie!" Tony teased.
"Watch it!" McGee warned.
"What are you gonna do? Get Gibbs?" Tony asked.
"Actually yes" McGee replied.
"No! Don't tell!" Tony begged.
"But I have to." McGee smirked.
"No you don't!" Tony whined.
"Are you scared?" McGee asked.
"No... Why would I be scared?" Tony asked.
"Because I am going to tell on you to Gibbs." McGee reminded.
"I'm not afraid of Gibbs." Tony replied.
"So you won't mind if I tell." McGee observed.
"Of course I mind if you tell. I just am not afraid of Gibbs." Tony replied.
"Can't have it both ways!" McGee taunted.
"I am going to get you!" Tony warned
"Oh yeah?" McGee asked.
"Yeah!" Tony cried turning to chase his partner and brother.
"I guess I better run now!" McGee cried.
"Should have started a long time ago!" Tony teased.
"Oh crap!" McGee gasped.
"Oh I am telling Gibbs you swore!" Tony cried.
"So I can't tell Gibbs on you but you can tell him on me?" McGee questioned.
"You finally figured it out." Tony teased.
"DiNutso!" McGee snapped.
"McGeek!" Tony cried.
"That's the best you got?" McGee asked.
"At least I didn't steal mine from Fornell!" Tony yelled.
A/N: Thought it would be nice to show McGee and Tony's brotherly bond. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.