Tony was honestly not sure why he was doing this. Sure, the man didn't deserve to live, after all the innocent blood he'd spilled without any visible sign of remorse. And yet, there he was, hating himself again because he couldn't stop being the bigger and most foolish man he knew. If he didn't have to kill them, he preferred not to. At least he hadn't grown to like this one, only to discover later his true nature and then end up having to kill him. He hated that type the most.
Jeffrey White... Knowing that he was most likely going to have to face that man again, made him really uncomfortable.
Pressing harder against the bleeding wound, Tony felt movement under his hands and he looked down. The look in Teddy's pain-filled eyes was almost surprised and then he stared curiously at the man above him, like he was trying to solve a mystery. Ignoring it, Tony looked away. For a moment he thought he could hear the ambulance, but then realized it was only his mind playing tricks. It was cold and his body was getting tired from the constant holding of his hands against the bleeding wound, turning them frozen and finally numb. His knees didn't like the kneeling position either. The smell of blood would've been nauseating, had he not been so used to it by now. Still, it was unpleasant.
"You... You know... It's fu-funny that... I would die like this," Teddy finally coughed out, pulling the other man back from his private musings.
"Save your breath," Tony muttered and maybe it was a payback for putting him in this position, but he forced his stiff hands against the wound with maybe too much anger, causing the wounded to let out a pained moan and he closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. "Why is it funny?" despite what he'd said before, Tony finally asked. It wasn't that he cared what the man had to say, but it was better than waiting and listening to the sounds of a man dying.
It took a few shaky breaths before Teddy spoke, "Years ago when... a coma... Bad case... Almost died... I think... It's funny the... kind of dreams you have some-sometimes... And they seem so... real." Of course it wasn't the same, but hearing the all too familiar description made Tony's insides turn cold. Teddy didn't notice his reaction, but then again his life was literally bleeding out of him, while the wistful look in his eyes was growing more distant with each spoken word and breath he took. "I made a choice... Live my life as I want... No one..." he swore intensely. "No one telling me what to do... Do you think I would... another chance..?" At this, Teddy looked almost hopefully at his once enemy who would likely be the last thing he would see before Death would come to collect what was rightfully his.
Tony smiled tightly. "I think you already used that second chance. Time is up, Terence; I'm afraid you used up all that was given to you. Many don't get even that much."
"Haven't been... that name... long time..." Teddy smiled with an almost dreamy look on his face. His glazed eyes turned to look at Tony again. The smirk on his face was uncertain and if Tony cared to admit it, it may have looked even a bit scared. "I don't... I don't regret... Any of it... It's just... too much... Thought I'd gone... mad."
"Good for you," Tony muttered. When the dying man looked at him again, he knew it would be the last time. It was a miracle he had been able to keep up with his sorry tale for as long as he had.
"I... I... I don't want... to... die."
Tony never bothered to answer; he had nothing to say. He watched as for only a split second there was raw fear in the man's eyes. Then it was as if someone had turned off the lights and Teddy was gone. Just like that. Of course it was then that Tony could finally hear the ambulance coming. He cast one last look at the dead before he backed away and sat down heavily on the ground; his pants were ruined anyway. Brushing his bloody hand over his forehead, he sighed tiredly and cursed Voltolini for not taking this one under his own name. It would've been more fitting had either he or one of his men done the job. "I hope that hell was worth it, Terence." While Tony didn't quite mourn for the death of a bad guy, he didn't rejoice either.
Tobias Fornell rolled his shoulders and stretched his aging bones. Old age certainly didn't come alone... And long working hours did him way more harm than good. Hearing the shower turned off, he poured coffee in the two waiting cups and carried them in his living room. Sitting down, he looked up just in time to see his young guest entering the room. With amusement he saw the way his borrowed clothes looked on the usually so well dressed young man. Unfit clothes were still better than the man's own blood covered clothes from before. "Say what you want about my clothes, it's much now better, DiNutso."
"Right... Thanks. At least your taste in clothes is better than Gibbs has, so that's something." Tony snorted and glanced longingly toward the cups of coffee, which he practically inhaled as soon as Tobias gave him his.
"It's still hot..." The warning came too late and Tobias watched, half-amused and half-concerned, as Tony shot out a few pained curses when it burned his mouth.
"I'm fine," Tony said quickly when Tobias opened his mouth. It was too unnerving seeing such open concern. Almost as bad if it had been Gibbs. And this was Fornell.
"So... Are you ready to tell me what happened?"
"I already told you."
"I meant unofficially. Just between you and me— What?"
There was a funny look on Tony's face as he stared at the older Agent. He finally shook his slowly head at the question. "No... Nothing... Just that... Well, it's you."
Should he be offended? Tobias wondered. "Am I really so untrustworthy?"
"Well... I'm pretty sure Gibbs would sniff it out if I shared something with you of all people and leave him out."
That was too easy to picture. Tobias snorted into his coffee. "You could talk to both of us or I can call him? It's only 3— No, wait, 4 AM? I'm sure he won't mind."
"If you take the first blow, sure, go ahead." After that neither man made another comment about calling Gibbs and they finished their coffee in silence. It was only after getting their refill that they broke the tired silence. Tired being the keyword, with an emphasis.
"Things haven't been great between us lately," Tony admitted. Part of him knew he would regret this later, if for no other reason then simply because he wasn't sharing your feelings type of person. Even less now than in the past.
"I've noticed. Never thought that would happen. Figured if anyone then you'd be the one the old bastard would work hard to keep close." Tobias looked at Tony with a meaningful look, but the younger man looked away with a slight grimace.
"You'd be surprised."
"What happened?"
"Well, he came out of nowhere—"
"I meant with Gibbs."
"I know that. I was hoping you'd let it go."
"What happened?" Tobias asked again, almost gently this time and Tony found himself feeling spooked because it was so not... Fornell. Then again they hadn't exactly spent time together outside work; it was more of a thing between Gibbs and Fornell. And wasn't this such a strange situation, him acting like friends with a friend of Gibbs. But it could always be worse...
Rubbing at his head slightly at the memory of Mike Franks, Tony sighed when he answered, "Captain Ahab. That's what happened. He sets his eye on one goal and forgets everything else, and God help anyone getting in his way. I just happened to be the one in the way. As usual. I just never learn."
"Ari?"
"That'd be it. And I'm running out of forgiveness, but still I'm trying to make things work. Trying to do the right thing, even if I'm left alone feeling that way. I've always been too quick to forgive people, so I guess I only get what's natural to happen if I let people walk over me all the time. Can I really blame them if I myself allow them to learn that kind of behavior around me?"
"Tony..." Tony, not DiNutso. Again, spooky. Almost as spooky as that worried look on the older man's face. Whatever Tobias was going to say, he never did. Maybe it was something he saw on his guest's face or a gut feeling, but he smiled. "Jethro doesn't know or appreciate what he has. My offer still stands."
"Join the dark side? That'd be the day to see. I'll think about it..." Tony took a sip of his coffee, reaching for the cookies on the coffee table with his free hand. At Tobias' surprised look he smiled tiredly. "Really. I will think about it. You did say it's a standing offer... So if it comes to it, it's good to know there's always a plan C."
"Why plan C?"
It felt like since forever since the last time when Tony flashed his cheeky smile, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're not the only one with a standing offer."
Tobias scoffed, feeling a little annoyed, but there was amusement in his own eyes. "Well, in the meantime, don't let Jethro burn out all of your potential, or hold you back."
Meanwhile the man in question—Gibbs—sat in his car, outside Tony's apartment, waiting for Tony to come home. Deep and worried frown on his face was the only visible sign of his inner turmoil.
