Part 35

(Thanks again for all the reviews, this was going to be last chapter but there will be one more tomorrow.)

Tony slept all the way back to the house. Gibbs woke him up and helped him out of the car and into the house.

"Grandpa!" Tony yelled throwing himself into Jack's arms as if he hadn't seen him for ages.

"Sedative," Gibbs said in explanation to Michael.

"Duuuuckkkyyyy! I drove this great car." He looked around as if confused. "Don't know where it went. Dad," he said in an accusing voice," wouldn't let me drive it home. So it's lost. It was fantastic."

"Has he been like this the whole time?" Michael asked.

"No luckily he fell asleep."

"Michael," Tony said coming over and putting his arm around his shoulder," great car, great speed. You've got great taste. Send the bill to NCIS if it's lost, cause Dad would not let me drive it home. Okay?"

"As you can see Tony has a bad reaction to sedatives and painkillers," Ducky said.

"No Duckman, I feeeellll great." He turned to Finlay," Want to go to the pub for a drink? Where's Kirsty?" he asked looking around the room.

"We'll talk tomorrow, Tony. You need to sleep off this sedative."

"No I'm fine. Want to go to town."

"Not tonight," Gibbs said. "Come on." He tried to grab Tony's arm but he shrugged him off.

"Stop being a party pooper Gibbs," Tony said. "You really do need to learn how to live. I'm going to town."

"No you're not. The only place you're going is bed." Gibbs managed to grab him and pulled him towards the stairs.

"Dad please. You do know this is against my human rights. I could sue you." He giggled at this thought.

"Now Tony." Tony walked up the stairs muttering as he went. "I can hear you," Gibbs said.

"Is he always like this?" Michael asked.

"Yes," Ducky said. "We know what ones we can give him so he doesn't have this reaction. He'll be fine in the morning. I'd best go and check him over to make sure he doesn't have any injuries."

Ducky nearly burst out laughing as he reached the door to the bedroom. Gibbs was at the door with a pair of sweats and a t shirt draped over his head. "Good catch Dad," Tony said. "You like them so much you wear them." Then he giggled.

Gibbs pulled them off and strode towards Tony. Even in this state Tony could see he was not amused. "Joke dad," Tony said spoiling his attempt at an apology by laughing.

"Need some help Jethro?" Ducky asked.

"Looks like it." He turned back to Tony,"Are you going to get ready for bed or am I going to have to do it for you?"

"Okay, I'll do it if it's so important." He turned to Ducky," We are really going to have to get him to lighten up when we get back."

"We can try," Ducky said.

"Think I'll go to sleep now," Tony said lying back.

Ducky went over to examine him. "He's out. I'll just give him a quick check." Jethro managed to get Tony out of his clothes and into his sweats and t shirt.

"Didn't expect to have to do this for him," he said.

"He doesn't seem to have any more injuries than he had before. Let's just let him sleep."

"How much did I have to drink last night?" Tony asked as he opened his eyes. Finlay was making his bed and went over.

"Gibbs left these for you to take when you woke up," he said handing him two pills.

Tony took them and swallowed some water. "I have the most awful headache. What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

Tony sat up. He thought for a moment. "I didn't?"

"Depends what you think you did."

"Gibbs is going to kill me."

"He did look rather nice draped in your seats and t shirt," Ducky said from the door.

"Just let me die now," Tony said lying back in bed and covering his head with a pillow.

"Where would the pleasure be in that Tony?" Gibbs said from the door.

"You do know I couldn't help what I did?" Tony said. "It was the sedatives talking."

"I know," Gibbs said sitting down beside him.

"Thanks," Tony said in relief.

"But the sneaking out and taking the car that you will be getting the blame for."

"Shit!" Tony muttered.

"Get dressed and come downstairs. I think Sir Michael has something to say to you."

"He mad?"

"No. Not mad."

"Dad, what happened to Kirsty?"

"How much do you remember?"

"After we arrived at the croft house I remember drinking some wine and that's it."

"She's Patrick MacPherson's daughter."

"Oh God I do pick them."

"No one knew Tony. Don't blame yourself for that."

"I remember another woman and a huge man."

"The woman was Patrick's new wife and the man was her brother."

"Some family," Tony said.

"Well they're all locked up now."

"Good." Tony started to snuggle back into bed.

A swat hit his backside," Up, you have 15 minutes to have a shower and be in the dining room."

Tony was down in 14 minutes. Before he sat down he said," I want to apologise for last night."

Gibbs set a plate of food in front of him. "Eat it all you're going to need your strength."

That sounded ominous Tony thought.

"My car was delivered this morning," Sir Michael said.

"I'm sorry about that. I just...wanted to show off," Tony admitted. "Is it undamaged?"

"Yes but very dirty. I thought you could clean it up seeing as how it is your fault it got so dirty."

"Sure," Tony said.

"Then you can start on all the other cars."

"What?"

"I want every car in my collection washed and polished. And when you're finished with that you can start on the Estate Land Rovers."

"But I..." Tony looked round the room. No one was on his side. "Okay."

By the end of the day Tony never wanted to see another car again in his life. He had washed all of Sir Michael's collection but had not even started on the Land Rovers. He threw the sponge into the bucket. His arms were aching and he was wet. He went into the kitchen. Finlay's mum was making dinner.

"Finished?" she asked.

"Yes. I'll do the rest tomorrow."

"You deserve it," she said. "Going off like that, worrying everyone again."

"I know. What's for dinner?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"We're having venison," she said.

"Sounds great," he said. "I'd better go change."

He went up the stairs and took a long hot shower. He heard his door open. "Tony," a voice said.

"Just coming," he said.

Gibbs was sitting on his bed when he came out. "Sit down."

"I am sorry," Tony said. "About going off again without saying."

"It's too late to be sorry though. You need to think before you act. You could have been seriously hurt. I could have lost you."

Tony heard the hurt in Gibbs voice. "I'm sorry Dad." Gibbs pulled him into his arms.

"I will not lose you Tony," he said ruffling his hair. "You are too damn important to too many people now. Especially me."

Tony felt so loved in his father's arms. He wished it could have been like this when he was growing up. It was hard for him to take in that he had so many people who actually lik.. no loved him.

Tony shivered. He was still in his towel after his shower. "Get dressed son and join us for dinner."

Tony got up and turned round. Gibbs delivered two very hard swats to his backside. "Ow!" Tony yelled.

"That's just a start," Gibbs said. "After dinner you and I will be having a long discussion about your behaviour."

Tony groaned.

TBC