Thank you all for your reviews. I made a mistake in the last Chapter - It should have been the Patriot Act not Homeland Security. Sorry about that…
I still own nothing. This is written for entertainment only.
CHAPTER 56
The next morning Terry went in to check on Tony and found him wide-awake. He hadn't had a chance to talk to him without others being around. He figured now was his chance. "Good morning. How are you feeling?"
Tony looked at his friend he felt a little lost. Things had just started to get better when he got the news yesterday about his apartment. "I…I don't really know. My ribs and knee feel better. It's just…" Tony looked confused, which is how he felt. Terry patiently waited for him to finish. In almost a whisper, Tony finished, "How much more? How much more can I take? I know the phrase about karma coming back to bite you, but was I really that bad? Did I do something, hurt someone that I deserve this…all of this crap?"
"God, Tony no. You've never done anything that would warrant any of this. The crap with the FBI, Ziva… it's not about you. It's about them. Who they are and what they have chosen to do. I know you like to play the dumb jock. I know it unsettles people and they underestimate you. I always found it funny in college. I especially found it hilarious when you graduated with honors. Boy, the looks you got that day… Nevertheless, just like then, it wasn't because you did anything wrong. You just let people see what you think they want to see. You were different in the house. You were always helping, tutoring, or just flat out mentoring myself and the other brothers. You were the big brother of the house even when you were nothing but a pledge like me. I mean come on; the house captain's punishment for you was to tutor him in English Comp. Meanwhile, the lower than scum portion of the pledge group had to clean toilets with their toothbrushes. When you rushed people, you checked their grades and enforced the minimum GPA for the house. We all wanted to live up to your standard because we knew you didn't expect anything less from yourself."
"Thanks Terry. You know I tried to do that with Ka…Tim and Ziva. But she had such a chip on her shoulder. She came in that first day and I knew right away that she had me pegged for an idiot. She brought up stuff about my background but she wasn't very thorough. I was suspicious of her right off, she knew too much but not enough. I decided to not even try to change her opinion but to wait and see what game she was playing. I never thought she would endanger my neighbors." He still couldn't believe she would stoop so low. "Mrs. Granger across the hall shouldn't be on the 3rd floor. She's not mobile enough to navigate the stairs. And Mrs. Maycee, the apartment below me. She just had her hip replaced. I had been helping her get groceries since she couldn't get out. So many of those ladies are unable to move quickly. I'm just grateful in was confined to my apartment. I don't think I could handle it if something happened to one of them because of me."
"You live with 10 of your grandma's don't you?" Terry knew Tony was upset but he also knew Tony needed to smile and relax.
"Yeah, I really do. Mrs. Granger bakes me cookies about once a month. Mrs. Maycee use to bake me casseroles that I could easily reheat. We all kind of look out for one another. Humm, maybe I could set Jackson up with one of them. He's awesome. But I don't know if I should go back there. Am I endangering them by living there?"
"Again, it wasn't your fault. I think you need to play it by ear for now. Maybe stay with Gibbs for a while once you get back, at least until you gets on your feet. Now, today we are going to start with a few passive exercises. Are you ready?" Terry knew it was time for a little distraction but he also knew Tony needed the physical activity, and show of progress to keep his spirits up and alive.
For the next hour, Terry manipulated Tony's knee and put him through passive stretching exercises. 'Let's get started…"
Gibbs was sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee when his father joined him. "Morning son."
"Morning Dad." Gibbs was so grateful his father was there, it provided him with an opportunity to get advice and talk to someone that would give it to him straight. "Want to go for a little walk?"
Jackson looked at his son quizzically, "Sure, let me just get a cup of coffee to go."
They walked around the yard for a while before Gibbs started talking. "Dad, you know about Ziva and what she did to Tony's apartment?" Jackson nodded. "I told Tony about it and the first thing he asked about was his neighbors. I'm so proud of him. But how do I get him to start thinking about himself a little more?"
"I think the best way is to show him he's worth it. His self-esteem is in the toilet. This crud with Ziva and everything else is just enough to make him think he's not worth the trouble. Be there for him. Make him understand that he has value and doesn't come second to everyone and everything else. Just like you've been doing. Give it time; he's had a lifetime to get to this point. It's going to take time to change his attitude."
Gibbs felt better for talking to his dad. He was on the right track, he just needed more patience.
It was late afternoon when Gibbs was finally able to sit down with Tony. He wanted to talk to him about everything that was going on. He'd received updates from Fornell, Morrow and Sheppard. There was a lot to be discussed.
Tony was in the mood to talk as well. He had had a lot of time to think about what was happening and had made a few decisions. He just wanted to talk to Gibbs about them first.
"Tony, Sheppard has Ziva on suspension until the investigation into her disposition is decided by Homeland. It's looking like they are going to charge her with terrorism as well as Federal charges for her attack upon you. At minimum, she will be deported. Your apartment is already undergoing renovations. Tom said they found a few interesting connections between Patterson and some crooked deals. They haven't found the reason behind his treatment of you but he has been removed from office pending the outcome of the investigation."
"I don't get it. I cannot think of any reason he would have to want to go after me. I know we have had some contact with the FBI since I've been with you but nothing that should have caused this… He could be upset because of my dealings with them before but shouldn't they just be happy we took down the mob and move on."
"I don't know Tony. I'll call Tom tomorrow and see if he can find any connections with that case. Maybe this has been festering for a while. Patterson wasn't a director then. He was only promoted about 2 years ago." Gibbs decided to change the subject slightly. "How are you doing otherwise?"
"I'm…angry. Terry and I talked this morning. I'm trying to accept that this isn't my fault but it's hard. I keep feeling like I had to have done something for this to happen. I mean think about it. I've been in law enforcement for ten years. I've made enemies but I thought they were only the crooks. Now in the past couple of weeks I've been arrested, assaulted, molested, and now I'm basically on the run from the FBI and my own partner. Oh and let's not forget my apartment has been firebombed and my neighbors have had their lives threatened by my simply living there. Then there's you…Jackson…and my brothers. You have all had your lives disrupted because of me. I just don't think I can take too much more. I'm drained… physically and emotionally."
"Tony it's been a long road but it's not your fault. The whole thing with Chip…you did the right thing. You have always sought out doing the right thing. People may not like that you have the willingness to be unpopular as you do it but it doesn't stop you. WE will get this all straightened out. Jackson, your brothers and I are here for you. Let us do for you what you are always willing to do for others. But I want you to work on accepting that the actions of others are not your fault. What ever comes of these investigations, it was their fault not yours."
"Thanks, that's kind of what Terry said. I'll work on it. I just feel overwhelmed. But…I'll get through it."
Tim couldn't believe what was happening. He talked with Abby about Ziva's arrest and the fire. She was trying to understand but she couldn't.
"I thought she was supposed to be working with us; we were supposed to become friends. How could she do this to Tony?"
"I don't know Abby, but there's no disputing it was her or what she has done. This whole thing is a mess." Tim had been struggling with the same emotions. He had wanted to become friends with Ziva to replace the pain he felt over Kate. Now, he realized it was just the grief and sadness that made him reach out to Ziva. He was blinded by his emotions and now he had to face the consequences for turning his back on Tony.
Saleem stepped off the plane in DC. Eli had not known what Ziva had gotten herself into but he knew she was up to no good. She never went dark unless something was wrong. As Saleem made his way through the airport, he looked for his contact to approach.
"Shalom, I am Aamil."
"Shalom Aamil. Have you discovered anything?"
"Yes, Director David will not be happy. Ziva is in the custody of Homeland Security."
