CHAPTER 29

The following day found the house quiet. Gibbs and Tony were resting, trying to get caught up on sleep they had missed out on from the night before. Gibbs had felt exhausted when he awoke at his regular time, o' too early as Tony would call it. Today though he rolled over and slept in. He needed to rest while he could so he would be fit to help Tony. He was thankful his hand and wrist were less bothersome today. The pain had decreased to an ache. He figured Tylenol would work for him. He was grateful. He hoped this would allow him to get his emotions and brain straightened out.

Jack too had slept in. When Jimmy had arrived late into the evening he had gone to sleep on the couch. He knew whatever was going on was not something he should be a part of at this time. In the morning he would was the only one to wake up. He quietly went about finalizing his report, Harm had wanted more details to be added.

Tony lay in bed wishing he could fall back to sleep. He physically felt a little better. But emotionally he wanted to crawl back up in bed and stay there for a month. He felt good about finally talking to Gibbs. It as like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He had considered more than once in recent weeks about leaving the team, NCIS. Now, he felt he had a new lease on NCIS. A new lease on his friendship with Gibbs. A new family including a very caring grandpa, and that thought alone brought a big smile to his face.

Gibbs swore he could hear Tony thinking. His agent still had not noticed him standing in the door way. It was nearly 10 am and there was a lot for them to do today. Fornell was scheduled to meet them at noon.

"Tony…" Tony flinched at his name. "Why don't you come out for breakfast. You remember Fornell is suppose to be here at noon?"

"What does he want now?" Tony looked at Gibbs in confusion. He knew he should remember this but for the life of him he couldn't remember the conversation they had last night about Fornell. He was still reeling from all they had discussed.

"He still needs to get a full statement from you. I know you don't trust him but we need to do this. I'll be there and so will Rob. If you want a break you'll get it. If you just want to talk to me about whatever before you answer, then we'll ask them to leave and we'll talk."

"Okay. I guess that will be okay." Tony was hesitant. He didn't want to do this but knew he had to so it wouldn't happen again.

"Alright let's get you ready. We'll have a few minutes to relax and have breakfast before they get here." Gibbs called Jimmy and between the two of them they were able to get Tony moved to the wheelchair and to the bathroom. After getting Tony cleaned up and ready for the day, they moved to the kitchen.

Jimmy had everything ready for them. "Rob will be here at 11:30 to talk to you before Fornell gets here." Tony nodded, his head was down as he pushed his plate away. Gibbs reached out and stopped him. Putting a finger under his chin he lifted Tony's head up so he looked in his eyes. "Tony, no matter what you are a fine and decent man that did not deserve any of what happened to you. You are one hell of an agent and if they had had half the decency, or even a third of your skills this would never have happened. You have made me very proud, no matter what I will be there for you."

"Thanks," Tony gave a half smirk. He wasn't sure what was expected of him. He didn't want to go through all of this for nothing. But he didn't want anyone else to have to go through this either. Everything was happening quickly and yet it seemed to be dragging on.

Harm was due any minute. After their talk Tony had gone back to the den. Gibbs went to get him so they would be ready for Harm. The site that greeted him was not what he expected. Tony was sitting at the desk writing something. His concentration was fully on the task at hand. Gibbs knocked before entering the room.

"Tony, what are you doing?" Gibbs was concerned and curious.

"I decided to try to avoid a lot of talking with Fornell. I really despise the idea of having to talk to him and allow him to analyze me and my answers. I guess I haven't quite gotten over his little interrogation of me." Tony was looking down again not making eye contact with Gibbs. "I decided to write it up as if it were a incident report. I figured it will cut back on a lot of questions and it's already in my own words. I know he's your friend, I just can't deal with him right now. Do you think this will work?" Tony's voice was filled with anxiety. When this was all over he was going to need a break from all the non-sense.

"I don't know Tony. Rob may want you to recount it for him but we'll see. Are you almost finished?" Gibbs didn't push Tony to look up, he could tell Tony was on edge. He didn't want to put any further pressure on him if it wasn't necessary.

"Just about. I…I just need to write up what happened just before Fornell came to release me." The look on Tony's face was filled with anguish. He was hurting and he was angry. "Do you think the guards knew I was about to be released? I mean before Fornell got there."

"I don't know for sure but I would think they would have been informed Fornell was on his way to release you. Why?" His gut was churning. He had missed something.

"I guess it was just a parting shot then." Tony's quiet response confused Gibbs.

"What was?"

"The…the guard, he…ah… he came into the cell one last time before Fornell got there. He told me Fornell was on the way. He… ah… he told me they were taking me to gen pop. Said I didn't deserve to be kept separate. He went on some tangent about how even a crooked cop like me wouldn't be able to get out of a murder rap." Tony snuck a glance up at Gibbs before he lowered his eyes again. "I… It… ah… it kind of… scared the shit out of me. I mean I've put a lot of guys away through the years. The thought of… of being put in with them… especially after the other guard… I just didn't think I would be able to make it there. By the time Fornell was within sight I thought I was going to be sick again. But there was nothing left. Thank God, he didn't make me wait long. I was so relieved I don't think I really heard anything pass I was being released and Chip was going to jail."

Gibbs was infuriated. How in the world could those guards do that knowing Tony was about to be released. He wanted their heads on a platter. For the moment he needed to take care of Tony and get him ready for Harm. But in the back of his mind a plan was being hatched for a little payback for these idiots. "Tony, I would never have allowed you to be sent away like that, I would have broke you out myself. Hell, we could have added a room onto Mike's hut and hung out on the beach. I will do everything in my power to protect you always." He waited to be acknowledged before he continued. "Hurry up and finish. Harm should be here any minute."

As if on cue, the front door could be heard opening. "I'll keep him busy for a couple of minutes. But you really need to talk to him before Fornell get here, okay?"

"Yeah," Tony smiled. "I'll be right out. It wont take me long. I'll call if I have any problems with the chair."

Harm was in the kitchen fixing a cup of coffee when Gibbs walked in. "Just make yourself at home." Gibbs chuckled.

"Whatever, not the first time I've been here." He looked to Gibbs and saw Tony was not with him. "How's he doing?"

"Okay. We still have some stuff to work out on other fronts. He's writing up a report. He doesn't want to talk to Fornell. He's still pissed about his interrogation. Fornell was an ass. That preceding the rest of this…"

"Understandable. I assume you are taking care of the other fronts as well?" It had been a few days since all of this had begun but he still had not had the opportunity to get to know Tony. Gibbs had kept him up to date on the physical aspect of Tony's recovery but he knew the emotional toll was only just beginning to surface.

"Yes. Some of it is going to be tricky. But we'll get there. If not there will be some more people looking for jobs."

Tony came rolling in at that moment. "You'll have to excuse him. I don't think he's had enough coffee today." Tony grinned as did Gibbs. Tony handed Harm his report. "I hope this will be enough," he said rather shyly.

"Let me read it over and I'll let you know." He took his cup of coffee and headed out onto the back porch.

"Never thought I would see a lawyer look so comfortable at your house." Tony laughed.

"Well, I try to avoid thinking about the fact he's an attorney. God knows how I feel about them." Gibbs smiled at the return of humor and lightheartedness.

Tony was serious once again, "How long til the Feeb gets here?"

"Not long enough. You want some toast? Something to settle your stomach."

"How… Cause your Gibbs. Yes a piece of toast would be great. Thanks." Tony was looking down at the table. He wasn't sure he had wanted to admit he was sick to his stomach over all of this. He shouldn't be this nervous. He knew Gibbs would be there for him.

"You know we are going to have to start working on your appetite next. Brad told me you were down a good 25 plus pounds." The hint of concern in Gibbs voice was loud and clear to Tony.

"I know. I'm working on it…or I guess I will be. Just… with everything going on, it's all been so screwed up. I feel better though. Not getting the headaches as much." Tony wanted to shrug it all off but knew it wasn't going to happen.

"Well that's a start. We'll start working on it together. And we'll start working out together. Maybe go for a walk first then work our way up to running. We still have a lot to talk about but it can all wait til later. For now let's just get this settled and then we can start to move on." Gibbs wanted Tony to know he was going to be there for the long hall. He knew the kid hadn't really ever had anyone in his corner. He needed for Tony to start to understand he wasn't going anywhere.

"Boss, got to say. I don't think I'll every be able to call you the functional mute again… Thanks… I really needed all of this… you talking to me has helped a lot."

"Not a problem. I usually just don't have a lot to say. But this requires a different skill set. Here's your toast and peanut butter and jelly if you want it. And to top it off a glass of milk. That should help with your stomach."

Tony sat at the table picking at his toast. He thought he was ready for Rob but not for Fornell. Rob walked into the kitchen knowing this was going to be a tough go for Tony. He didn't want to cause additional pain for Tony or Gibbs.

"Tony, I think this is good. I have a few questions for you but most importantly I need to know if you are doing ok?" Tony was in a fragile state, Rob didn't want to add to the pressure but he needed to see where Tony stood.

"As good as I can be. This whole thing has been hard. It's brought up a lot of… of old memories. None of which are good. I just want this all to be over. I don't want to think about any of it any more. I want my life back. Can you get that for me? Can you help me find some peace?" The desperation in his voice was nothing either of the other men wanted to hear.