Part 29
Gibbs glared at the man sitting at his kitchen table. There were two things preventing the team leader from jerking Senior up out of the chair and pommeling him; the first being that he was Tony's father and the second being that he just had open heart surgery. He had to admit that Tony's dad had balls; who else would sit at his kitchen table and try to negotiate with him? The former sniper was not one to bargain, especially when it came to welfare of his agents. Gibbs struggled to contain the rage that was coursing through him; he couldn't afford to lose control.
Clenching his jaw against the urge to vehemently swear at the man, he pulled out the chair opposite Senior and sat down. The elder DiNozzo had wanted some of his coffee, but Gibbs was not inclined to waste his precious brew on the older man; that blend was reserved for friends and Senior certainly didn't fall into that category. "No coffee," he growled. "Now, tell me what your…condition is."
"You don't pull any punches, do you Gibbs?" Senior retorted.
"No." Although his natural protectiveness of his team was well known, the paternal feelings he felt towards Tony were on a more personal level; DiNozzo had filled a void that had been left by years of self-imposed guilt and in turn, the Marine had managed to become the strong, father figure that had been noticeable absent from Tony's life. When it came to his 'kid', he didn't play games, especially when the stakes where so high.
"Now, don't make me ask again," Gibbs warned. "What is this condition that you're talking about?"
Senior grinned and leaned back in his seat, forcing the team leader to once again resist the urge to wipe that arrogant smirk off the older man's face. "I think you're going to be surprised by the simplicity of my request."
"Really?" Gibbs had to admit that Senior had piqued his curiosity, but he was still wary of the man.
"Really."
"Well, let's hear it."
"I want you to butt out of mine and Junior's relationship," Senior coolly stated.
To say that Gibbs was surprised by Senior's request would have been an understatement. The agent expected the older man's condition be completely self-serving; of course, knowing Tony's father, even the most seemingly innocent request could have a hidden agenda. "Excuse me?" he finally replied.
"You heard me, Gibbs. I want you to mind your own business. You urged me to get to know my son and with you around, I can't do that. Do you know how hard it is to try and measure up to you? Whenever Tony and I do get to talk, our conversation somehow comes back to you. I probably know more about you than you do about me."
"I doubt that." Gibbs knew that Tony would never betray any of his confidences but he probably knew more about Senior than the man would be comfortable with. He was privy to a great deal of DiNozzo's past and he would take those secrets to the grave; the fact that Tony had trusted him enough was something that he didn't take for granted and he would die before breaking that faith DiNozzo had in him.
After meeting Tony's dad, he fully understood DiNozzo's insecurities, which exacerbated his protective nature towards the younger man. He had yet to understand how Senior could have neglected his son for so many years and expect Tony to act like nothing ever happened. Gibbs didn't want to see DiNozzo hurt any more than he already had been and the team leader was more than ready to continue in his role as father and protector.
Senior cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence between them. "What do you mean by that?"
Gibbs shook his head and shrugged. "Not a thing, Mr. DiNozzo; not a thing."
"I know what you must think of me…"
"No, you don't. If you had any idea what I was thinking, then we wouldn't even be having this conversation. You would have already agreed to testify unconditionally and not put any additional stress on your son."
Senior had the audacity to appear confused by Gibbs' words. "Stress on Tony? I don't understand."
"Nope. I don't suppose you do. You never have." Gibbs leaned back in his chair and studied the man before him. "I'm not the problem; I never have been. The problem is that you waltz back into your son's life after barely acknowledging him for years and expect everything to be perfect; it's not gonna happen. You're going to have to accept that if you want a shot at being his father."
Senior's face flushed crimson. "How dare you?" Tony's dad bellowed. "Your daughter is dead! Quit trying to replace her with my son!"
The Marine could no longer control the anger that was coursing through him. Senior had crossed the line with his fiery words and Gibbs was no longer going to hold back; the gauntlet had been thrown and he was accepting the challenge. As he stood up, his swift movements knocked over the chair he had been sitting in; his sole purpose was silencing Senior's wicked tongue.
Reaching across the table for Senior, Gibbs was met with resistance in the form of Fornell. He cursed Tobias for intervening as he struggled against the firm grip that his friend had on his shoulders. "Let me go, Fornell!" he roared.
"I know he's pissed you off," Tobias attempted to soothe, "but you've got to let it go! He's a bastard and you're not going to change that. Now, listen to me!"
Gibbs finally managed to pull free and angrily strode out of the room. He had to get away from the elder DiNozzo before he succumbed to the desire to send the man back to the hospital. The team leader pounded the wall with the fist, the fury he was feeling was still surging within him. He whirled back around and pointed his finger at Senior. "You don't deserve a son like Tony! If you know what's good for you, you'll agree to testify and stay out of his life!"
"What the hell is going on here?"
He froze at the sound of his senior field agent's voice. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Tony standing in his door alongside Ducky, who was looking exceedingly apologetic. The team leader had given specific orders for the ME to keep DiNozzo at the hospital; instead, the two men were now in his living room and Tony's ashen appearance only proved the fact that the young man still needed to be in the hospital.
"Tony? What are you…?" Gibbs glared at the Scotsman. "I thought I told you to keep him there."
"I did try, Jethro," Ducky stated. "Believe me, I tried; however, trying to reason with Anthony can be just as difficult as trying to reason with you." The doctor placed Tony's bag on the floor and took his coat off. "Besides, Tony tricked me; I've forgotten how devious he can be. He reminds me of another NCIS agent I know."
His harsh stare was now fixed on Tony, who seemed nonplussed by the infamous glare. "You were supposed to stay put," Gibbs testily stated.
"Yeah, and you weren't supposed to fight with my dad," Tony pointed out.
Guilt fluttered across his normally stoic features. Tony was right; he had promised not to antagonize the elder DiNozzo, but unfortunately, it was a promise he had been unable to keep. Gibbs could not stand by and let Senior hurt his son; Tony deserved so much more than his father had to offer him. The team leader despised having to watch DiNozzo pick up the pieces of his life again and again, but that's what Tony seemed destined to do every time his dad was in town.
"I'm the one who started it, Junior," Senior spoke up. "I seemed to have inadvertently push Agent Gibbs' buttons."
"Inadvertently, my ass," Tony seethed. "I don't know what you said to piss him off, but you never do anything that's not well thought out and to your tactical advantage."
Gibbs couldn't help but grin as a sense of pride swept over him; Tony had apparently lost the desire to cater to his father's demands and had decided to stand up to him. With Ducky's assistance, Tony made his way into the kitchen, silently acknowledging Fornell before he sat down. Gibbs firmly planted himself beside Tony, hoping that his presence would cause Senior to have second thoughts about trying to play on his son's sense of familial duty.
"You promised me that you would rest," Ducky reminded the dark-haired agent.
"I'm sitting down," DiNozzo reasoned. "I'll rest as soon as I have a few words with my dad."
The team leader watched as Tony's gaze shifted between him, Fornell, and Ducky. He easily sensed that DiNozzo wanted to talk to his dad without an audience, but Gibbs wasn't comfortable leaving the semi-estranged father and son alone. However, he wasn't going to deny Tony the opportunity to speak his mind; Senior needed to hear what his son had to say and right now, the older man was a captive audience.
"We'll be in the basement," Gibbs reluctantly conceded. "If you need…"
Tony nodded his understanding. "Thanks, Gibbs."
As he, Fornell, and Ducky made their way towards the basement, Gibbs found himself hoping that he wasn't making a huge mistake; Tony wasn't in any shape to take on his father, but he also knew that DiNozzo was too damn stubborn to admit it. Sparing one final glance over his shoulder, his gaze momentarily rested on Senior, who appeared anxious for what was about to happen in the next few minutes. The arrogance that usually exuded from the elder DiNozzo was no longer present; was the man truly concerned about what Tony was going to say to him? Maybe this was going to be the swift kick in the ass that Senior needed.
When Tony's dad finally looked at him, Gibbs' piercing orbs delivered a silent warning; he wanted to make sure that Senior remembered that he wasn't far away. You better watch what you say, old man. You do anything to hurt him again and there won't be enough money in the world to keep you safe from me. Judging by the glimpse of fear he saw in the other man's eyes, the team leader knew that his message had been received loud and clear. Satisfied, Gibbs followed Fornell and Ducky down the stairs; it was time for father and son to clear the air once and for all.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tony slowly blew out the breath he had been holding as he heard the basement door latch. He was grateful that Gibbs had understood his unspoken request to talk to his father alone; it was evident that the bond between them was still as strong as ever. The team leader's actions were a testament to the deep level of trust between them; it was a trust that neither of them could ever willingly betray. Unfortunately, he couldn't say the same thing about his father; although Tony knew that there had to have been a time when he had possessed a miniscule amount of faith in his dad, he was hard pressed to remember when that time was.
It was his dad who finally shattered the awkward silence between them. Tony knew that his father was trying to take control of the conversation in hopes of making himself look like the martyr. However, the agent had realized long ago that his dad would never be a martyr; Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. had never been self sacrificing and he wasn't about to change.
"You shouldn't be here, Junior," Senior stated, his voice laced with a hint of reproach. "You should still be in the hospital."
Tony shrugged. "Probably so."
"Maybe we should do this another time. We can talk later when we both feel up to it," his dad suggested.
"And when would that be?"
Senior leaned back in his chair. Tony realized that his dad probably was exhausted; the doctor had warned him that it would take a while for the older man to regain his strength, but he wasn't prepared to let his dad play that card right now. "Well, Junior, I just had heart surgery," Senior pointed out. "I think a few weeks would be…"
Tony wasn't prepared to listen to any of Senior's reasons as to why they should avoid having this particular discussion. "I had the crap beat out of me, Dad; I really don't want to hear about how weak and tired you are. You've got enough energy to piss Gibbs and Fornell off; I figure you've got enough energy to have a little talk with me."
He saw his dad visibly bristle at the mention of Gibbs' name. It was clear that his father despised the team leader and Tony knew that the feelings were mutual. "So," Tony continued, "You want to start or do you want me to?"
"Start what?"
"Talking."
"What's there to talk about?"
The younger man clenched his jaw, exacerbating the pounding in his skull that had been present ever since he had left the hospital. "What's there to talk about?" Tony couldn't believe that his father had possessed the nerve to ask him that question. The two of them always had things to talk about, but usually, both of them chose to ignore the elephant in the room and skirt around any conflicting issues. However, enough was enough; it was time to talk and this time, his father was going to listen.
"That's a loaded question, Dad," Tony growled. "I'm not even sure how to answer that one, so let's just start with the reasons you don't want to testify against Brewer."
"It's a matter of principle," Senior replied.
"Principle? Since when have you had principles, Dad?"
"Watch your tone, Junior. I'm still your father."
Tony scrubbed his face with his good hand. Why couldn't his dad understand that he was tired of playing games? He shook his head as he met his father's defiant gaze. When Tony finally spoke, the weariness in his voice matched the weariness in his soul. "No, no you're not. Just because your name is on my birth certificate, doesn't give you a right to make that claim."
Senior's expression was now a myriad of hurt and confusion. Tony had meant for his words to sting and apparently, they had hit their mark. Years of pent up feelings were about to erupt like a volcano and he was no longer trying to keep them under control. He had spent most of his life trying to please this man and he was tired of failing to live up to his father's expectations. If his dad wanted to continue to be a part of his life, it was going to be on his terms.
"Anthony, I…"
"No, Dad. For once, I want you to listen to what I have to say."
"All right," Senior conceded.
He was surprised that his dad so readily agreed to hear him out. Usually the only person that Senior listened to was himself; his father was definitely one of those people who enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice. Now that he had his dad's attention, Tony wasn't sure exactly where to begin. There was so much that he wanted to say, but he doubted that they were going to hash out their differences within the next thirty minutes.
"You know, I've often thought about this day and what I'd say to you," Tony began. "I've tried, Dad; I've really tried to be…to be someone you could be proud of."
The younger man pushed these thoughts out of his mind, ignoring the previous urge to open up old wounds. Their sordid past wasn't what they needed to address; it was the future that needed to be decided on and Tony needed to make sure his dad was heading down the right path. "But, that really doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that you have a chance to do something right; you can put Brewer away and never have to worry about him again."
"So I've been told."
"And?" he pressed.
"I was discussing the possibility with Agent Gibbs when you arrived," Senior explained.
"You expect me to believe that?" Did his father truly think he was that stupid? Tony had heard them arguing while Ducky was helping him up the stairs to the front porch.
"Believe what you want, Junior; I was providing him with the condition to which I would agree to testify against Brewer."
Tony stared at his father in disbelief. "You were giving Gibbs an ultimatum? How did that work for you?"
"Not as well as I thought it would."
"Gibbs doesn't bargain."
"I'm sure he would if the price was right."
He shook his head. "Unlike you, Gibbs can't be bought." Tony rose from the table, his stiff muscles protesting every movement. The young man bit back a moan as he carefully stood to his full height. Bracing his ribs with his good arm, he began to slowly pace the short distance from the table to the sink and back.
"My condition had nothing to do with money," Senior snapped.
Tony was finding that revelation difficult to believe; money defined his father and it was what motivated him. "Really? That's a first."
"You don't have to be such a smart ass, Junior. Believe it or not, I do think about other things besides money."
"Yeah, I know. I've got a string of stepmothers to back up that statement," Tony reminded him. "So, what was your condition?" His curiosity had been roused, prompting him to ask about the deal his dad was trying to finagle with the team leader; whatever the demand was, Tony was sure that it would be self-serving.
"I told him that I wanted him to stop interfering in our relationship."
Tony couldn't help but laugh. The fact that Senior even thought they had any kind of relationship was a testimony to how blind his father had been all these years; as far as Tony was concerned, he and his dad would barely qualify as acquaintances. He had to give his father credit; his dad certainly had a lot of gall. "Our relationship? Are you freakin' kidding me? What relationship would that be, Dad?"
"How can you say that?"
"Pretty easily," Tony glibly replied.
"I don't think you can blame the chasm between us solely on my failure as a father; you weren't exactly easy to live with."
"How do you know that?" he growled. "You were never home!"
"Forgive me for trying to provide for my son," Senior shot back. "I was trying to give you everything you wanted."
"No, you weren't. All I ever wanted was a father who…"
Frustrated, Tony blew out a long breath. This hadn't been the direction that he had wanted the conversation to take; the last thing that he wanted to do was take a trip down memory lane. Their last conversation of this nature had resulted in Tony going to Ohio State instead of into the family business. "Never mind," Tony sighed. "This isn't the time for this. Right now, we have another pressing matter at hand. You need to testify against Brewer."
"Don't change the subject, Anthony. I think maybe it's time we clear the air once and for all."
He shook his head. "No, now right now. We both need to be in a better frame of mind."
His father held up his hands in surrender. "Just remember that I was willing to talk, Junior. You're the one shutting down."
"Do you blame me?" Tony resumed his pacing, his movements deliberate and cautious. He truly didn't want to go back to the hospital, prompting him not to push himself beyond his current physical limits. "I tried for years to talk to you, but there was always someone or something else that held your attention! I've waited for years to have your undivided attention, so I figure while I have it, that I better do my best to convince you to do the right thing."
"You don't give up, do you?"
"Depends on the circumstances," Tony replied. "I've learned to pick my battles."
"And getting me to testify is your battle?"
"Yep."
Tony obtained a glass from the cabinet and turned on the faucet. Filling his glass, he turned off the water and drank thirstily. Setting down his glass, he braced himself against the sink and stared out the window. "Why won't you testify?"
"I never said I wouldn't."
"Then you will?"
"I didn't say that either."
"So once again, Anthony DiNozzo, Senior, is trying to play for both teams. Whichever one can offer you the best deal is who you'll choose. Can't you do something just because you know it's the right thing to do?" Tony was struggling to keep the rage building within him from escaping; losing his temper once again would only fuel the fire that had already ignited between the two of them.
"I'm trying to do what's best for you," Senior pointed out. "I'm trying to leave you an inheritance."
"I'd rather have a legacy," Tony admitted. "I'd rather have a dad who has integrity than one who makes his fortune off of others. I don't want your money; or should I say I don't want Brewster's money. I've always gotten by without it and I don't need it now. "
He turned around to face his father, hoping that his dad would be able to sense the sincerity of the words he was about to utter. "I've never asked you for anything. I've overlooked the forgotten birthdays and holidays that you couldn't make; I've cleaned up the messes you've made over the years, and right now, I'm draining my savings account to pay off your hospital bill."
"I'll pay you back," Senior stated. "Once I get…'
"You don't get it, do you?" Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. His frustration with his dad was beginning to take a toll on him. "I don't want your damn money! Why can't you understand that? What's it going to take? What do I have to say to get you to understand how important this is?"
"Anthony, I…"
"You know what, Dad?" Tony was too tired to continue the heated discussion with his father. There wasn't any use to even try and reason with him. "I give up. Do what you want, but you find someone else to be your lackey. I'm done. You better figure out what you're going to do after your rehab is over because I'm not going to be around anymore for you to screw over. I hope that blood money that you're after makes you happy; I hope it's worth spending the rest of your life alone."
"Junior, I…"
"Don't call me that," Tony warned. "I hate that."
His father immediately corrected himself. "Anthony, I didn't mean to upset you; I just…I want…"
"I don't care what you want anymore. You've clearly made your choice and I have to accept that. You chose money over me. Again. You'd think I'd be used to it by now," he snickered. "But you know what? Even after all these years, it still hurts. I'm tired of…I'm tired, Dad. I'm tired."
Tony started towards the basement, hoping that if he could make it down the stairs that Gibbs would be ready with a shot of bourbon. He knew that he shouldn't mix alcohol with his pain medication, but at the moment, he didn't care; Tony simply wanted to forget.
"Anthony," Senior called out. "Wait."
"What is it?" he sighed.
"Is my testifying that important to you?"
"I told you that it doesn't matter to me anymore. You made your decision and now you can live with it. Tomorrow morning, I'll make arrangements to take you to a rehab facility; you'll be able to receive your therapy and…"
"I thought I would be going home with you."
Tony shook his head. "No. I told you that I'm done. In case you've forgotten, I've got some rehab of my own to do; I can't take care of the both of us."
"Tony, I'm…I'm sorry," his father apologized.
"For what? For loving money more than me? Don't worry about it. Like I said, I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up that you had changed. I'm done making excuses for you and I'm done forgiving you; from now on, you're responsible for your own actions." Tony silently vowed to never allow his dad to hurt him again; he began to examine his armor, making sure that there weren't any chinks. His father would never truly see how much pain he was in; his mask was firmly back in place.
"Wait a minute."
Tony grabbed the door knob when his dad called out to him once again. "Please wait."
"Why?" Tony asked. "I think we're done talking."
There was a sadness now evident in his father's voice. Could his words have had some kind of positive effect on Senior? "No, no I'm not," his dad said.
He heard his father stand up and slowly shuffle across the floor. Tony visibly tensed when Senior placed his hand on his forearm and gave a gentle squeeze. "Please tell Agent Fornell that I'd…like to make a statement."
Tony met his father's gaze. He looked for signs of deception in Senior's eyes, but to his surprise, the only thing he could see was regret and fear. The younger man graced his dad with a slight nod. Maybe he had been wrong about his dad; perhaps Senior did care about him after all. Tony quickly quelled that idea; he would not let his guard down. His father was a master manipulator and only time would tell if his old man was truly sincere in his attempt to do what was right.
"Really? Why the sudden change of heart?" Tony warily inquired.
"Because…I just realized…that I was about to lose more than money," Senior answered. "I can't afford to lose you. You're really all I have."
"How do I know you're not just saying that? How do I know that you're just not…" Tony swallowed hard, biting back a gasp as he straightened to his full height. It was definitely past time for his pain medication; he hoped that he could hold off until after he got that drink from Gibbs. "How do I know that you're not just running another scam?"
"I give you my word, Tony."
"Your word doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot, Dad. It's time for you to back up those words with your actions."
"I know."
"What about your so called condition?" he wanted to know.
"I withdraw it. I…maybe Gibbs will be willing to give me a few pointers," Senior said. "He seems to have earned your respect; maybe one of these days, I'll have that honor as well."
Tony opened the door and called for Fornell and Gibbs. He then gestured for his dad to go and sit down on the couch and wait for the agents. Tony once again found himself wondering if Senior actually was prepared to go through with testifying against Brewer. Whatever happened in the next few minutes would either completely destroy or rebuild their floundering relationship and the decision would have to be made by his father.
Believe it or not, one more chapter/epilogue! Hope you enjoyed this post and thank you for your patience during this extremely busy time. Now, on to the conclusion!
