And the angst continues...

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Someoneslove (Chapter 35) Yes. I never planned on all this angst, but I'm thrilled you keep coming back to read my story.

Violate (Chapter 35) Thank you sooo much. I'm glad you're enjoying my writing skills and the story. It's fun to bring this story to life.

Disclaimer: Don't own it. I know that.

Tony's too concerned and hurt to say even a word to his wife the following morning, and when they do have conversations, it eventually leads to an argument over nothing, and he's confused as hell.

She carries out her skills immaculately at work, whilst he's just plodding along, dreading the next unprofessional words they'll exchange. He's seriously not cut out for this shit anymore.

Part way through the day, he receives a phone call from his Uncle, saying his father has relapsed and needed surgery again, and wanted to see him urgently. He debated all day what to do, even asking Abby for advice, despite already knowing what she'd tell him.

He decided not to discuss anything with his wife, until he had something concrete, which was after he had asked both the Director and Gibbs for a few days off. He told Ziva outright he was going to New York for a few days, and wasn't surprised when she didn't offer to go with him. She couldn't fly when she was seven months pregnant anyway, but it would've been nice for the support.

He merely kisses her cheek, and bids goodbye, before he heads home to pack, so he can catch the quickest possible flight to JFK. Let's just get these next few days out of the way, he thinks. He's not looking forward to seeing his father, because he knows some horrible memories will arise and he'll resent his father even more, or they'll finally sort their crap out, and could actually get a father/son relationship again. He's not sure which one scares him more.

The flight was rough and he was restless throughout, but seeing his Uncle's face in the arrivals gate lifts his spirits, like it always does.

Vincenzo takes Tony straight back to his home to drop off his stuff, and get some strong coffee in him before heading to the hospital. Tony gets down to business pretty quick, asking what happened to his father in the past few days, and his Uncle doesn't hold back. It seems as though Seniors heart, ain't what it used to be, and the Doctors are doing their best, but Senior may be given limitations at the end of all this. So much for a lucky streak in the romance department after this Dad, he thinks.

Vincenzo gives Tony time to come to terms with the news, and figure out an approach to his father, before he drives him to the hospital, where his Aunt and Senior's so-called distressed fiancé is waiting.

Vincenzo and Sophie order little miss big boobs out of the room whilst Tony visits, and despite her over-acted reluctance, her face brightens up, when Junior walks past her, but he ignores her, and any attempts she has on cue to charm him. He ain't interested.

His father is a little droopy but awake nonetheless, and Tony remains rooted to the foot of his father's bed, his hands in his pockets, eerily silent whilst he tries his hardest not to avoid the lax gaze of his Dad, and run for the hills. God, where's Ziva when I need her? Oh yeah, back in DC, because she chose not to come and support-

"Junior." His father's voice is seriously weaker than the last time he heard him at the engagement party over a month ago. He expects that, really, he isn't stupid. He's been on his death bed before, so he knows the weakened feeling and being able to do nothing about it.

"Dad. You wanted to see me?" He is careful with his words, and does his best to disguise the extremely uncomfortable feelings he has right now.

"I just, wanted to apologise, for what happened, last time we were together."

He clenches his fists across the bar on the foot of the bed, and his jaw involuntarily tightens. "Yeah. Little late."

"I'm sorry, son."

"You know... I hoped I would never get used to those words as a kid... You'd apologise to me, every time you did it. I'm sorry Junior. I didn't mean it. I'm just frustrated. I'm so sorry... But you kept on doing it. EVER SINCE MY MOM DIED!" He wiped furiously at the few tears that escaped and took several deep breaths to calm himself. "8 years, Dad. 8 years, of you, lashing out, coming home drunk, beating me up... I was thrilled, when you disowned me at 16. If it wasn't for Aunt Sophie and Uncle Vincenzo taking me in, and, trying to fix me... I don't know where I'd be today."

"Junior-"

Tony lifted one hand up to prevent his father from speaking any further. "Save it, Dad. I don't want to hear it again... You never apologised after it was all over, once I was out of your life. And to be honest, I have so much crap going on right now, that you'll just make it worse."

"Junior please."

"Please what? Tell you, how happy I am that you're here? Tell you, that I forgive you for everything; you've ever done to me? Because right now Dad, I'm having serious trouble doing either... Glad to see you alive, but that's all. I can't, have a relationship, with someone, who lets me down."

The consistent beeping of his father's heart monitor sped up, and Tony quickly dashed from the room before he ended up being the cause of death. His Uncle and Aunt speedily followed him down the corridor of the ward, until Tony gave in and collapsed to the floor beneath him.

Sophie immediately bent down to cradle him when he began shaking uncontrollably with sobs. Why was life so determined to throw him in the gutter and destroy him piece by piece? It's never ending.

He dreads the moment he has to walk through his front door. The relationship is strained at the moment, he knows that. He's only young, but he's not stupid. Ever since his mother died, he and his father have drifted apart, and Tony's not sure what to do anymore.

He hears thrashing when he steps up to his front door, and he rushes inside without thinking. His father is throwing bottles around the front room again. He suddenly remembers why he doesn't set foot in there. It's no place for an eight year old.

He carefully sits his bag down in the hallway, and takes a tentative step towards his father. "Dad?"

Senior stops his movements for a moment, and Tony hopes to god he is settling down, but then his father's eyes flare up, and Tony does his best to dodge the bottle that comes his way. It grazes his arm, and he winces heavily at the pain the glass inflicted. He takes a step backwards when his father takes one forward, and Tony feels a little scared now. He had good news for his Dad, he'd come first in track today, but obviously he's the last thing on Senior's mind right now, he thinks.

"What's the matter Junior? Why you not happy? It's an all man's home this, boy. JUST YOU AND ME."

Tony instantly takes another step back in fear. "I am happy, Dad. I swear."

He feels the strain of his muscles under his father's vice grip, and he does everything in his power to fight him off, so he can escape to his room. But it leads to a struggle, and his father's violent and alcoholic attitude kicks up a notch, and Tony is the one who ends up with large handprints and bruises down his arms.

He just remembers running upstairs after that, and the comfort of his bed does no good to stop the tears or the fear he now harbours. His father has never raised a hand to him before, and frankly he's a little young to understand why this has all happened.

Tony's body is glistening with sweat when he wakes, and he takes several deep breaths and rubs a hand over his face to try and swallow the memory of his father's first lashing. He can't see his father anymore, it doesn't help.

Maybe it's time to see a professional...

I can't believe I cried whilst writing this. I'm seriously invested here. God...