Title: Not Your Job (To Protect Me)
Summary: Gibbs gets a surprise visitor, while at the cabin with Lucy.
Second Summary: Tony returns to NCIS to visit his team mates and Gibbs. But when he meets Ellie outside the doors, he is informed that Gibbs has been suspended due to assaulting a suspect in the dogfighting case. So, Tony decides to go and see his boss and talk about it with him. When Ellie says that they had tried to visit him and Gibbs isn't home, Tony knows exactly where he'd go. The only place that Gibbs can go and be completely at peace.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Written on prompt from SoapDramaCrimeGirl, her prompt was: Ellie runs into Tony outside NCIS and tells him about Gibbs' suspension and why. This is the result. This is set before we meet Phineas again, so that's why Gibbs still has Lucy the Pitbull.
Gibbs looked up from chopping wood when he heard Lucy bark and then she bounded into view. Her tail wagging wildly, she was healing well and her personality was coming out and Gibbs found that – even if unintended – he had fallen in love with the pit bull. She had liked him from the moment they met, he had been heartbroken seeing her hurt and being an animal lover himself, had felt like he needed to protect her.
He had heard of his team finding the other dogs that Stana had been using in the dogfights and they found them all good, loving homes – even Stana's poodle. He had heard that he had to avoid reporters in particular Marcie Warren. And he was, no one except his team knew where the cabin was.
"Hey Luce. You hungry?" The dog barked once and ran around his legs before bounding up the steps to the cabin door and then turned and watched him, waiting for him to join her.
Tony blinked against the sun as he gazed up to the top of the brick building in front of him. It had been several years since he'd last stepped foot in the Navy Yard let alone the NCIS building. The feeling that washed over him was nostalgia. Both good and bad memories filled his mind. First stepping out into the bullpen and being slightly startled by the orange walls and how all the agents could work with the ridiculous amount of glare from the skylight; his first head slap that same day; being led to the Agent Application Office; applying to get his first meaningful job that he had no reason to leave after two years.
Then there were bad ones. Pacci's death, Kate's death, Jenny's death. Sometimes the good outweighed the bad – Tim joining the team, being able to joke with the junior agent, gaining a little brother in the younger man, a sister in Abby and Ellie. A lover in Ziva – though he had lost her now. He could recall when he first met her, it was the same night he met Director Sheppard.
It would be years later that he would be called into Vance's office to meet his two-year-old daughter with Ziva. Tali was at the house Tony had purchased in Alexandria with his father. He had said it would be better if he did all the visits himself. It's not like Senior ever said 'no' to looking after Tali.
"Tony?!" He turned, a smile growing over his face when he saw who was running towards him.
"Hey, Ellie." He grinned embracing her as she threw her arms around his neck. Ignoring all the looks they were given as other gave them 1.5 meters for social distancing.
"Oh, I missed you!" she hummed in his ear.
"I missed you too, Ellie." He said as he inhaled her familiar scent.
"Are you here to see the team?" She asked.
"I'm here to see everyone! Jimmy, your new lab tech, Tim, you, that new guy – Nick, is it? And Gibbs." Tony said.
"Well, that would be difficult. Because Gibbs has been suspended." Ellie admitted.
"What? Why?" Tony asked.
"Our last case, was a guy who was keeping pit bulls for dog fights – when they lost…he killed them." Ellie said.
"How?" Tony asked, almost dreading the reply.
"He would shoot them…or in extreme cases…drown them." Ellie said, feeling sick just recalling it.
"I know how Gibbs feels about dogs." Tony muttered.
"Yeah, he nearly beat the guy to a pulp. He was pretty messed up. Tim and Nick had to pull him off. He was so angry he pushed me away hard when I tried to stop him. I think he was really upset by it. If you want to see him, you'll have to find him. He's not at his house." Ellie said, honestly, she and Nick had both tried and Gibbs wasn't home they had no idea where he could be and it worried them, they didn't want him to do anything stupid.
"Oh, I know where I can find him." Tony said.
Gibbs noticed when Lucy tensed and sniffed the air. He couldn't hear anything but then dogs had much better hearing. He stood slowly listening hard.
"What is it, Lucy?" She began to growl, not used to the noise she could hear. Then he heard it, it wasn't a car. It was…whistling? Gibbs grabbed his gun and moved to the window, before he froze when the figure who was whistling came into view. He blinked a few times in confusion. What was he doing here? How did he know Gibbs was here in the first place?
"Gibbs? You here?" The figure called out. Gibbs knew that voice, it had been burned into his brain ever since that first day in Baltimore.
"Tony?" Gibbs whispered, Tony hadn't moved he was watching the cabin, almost as if he could tell Gibbs was watching him. Suddenly, as if pulled by an invisible force, Gibbs moved to the door, forgetting momentarily he had a dog, he pulled open the door, Lucy bolted out, towards the new-comer.
"Lucy!" He heard a shout of alarm before a thud and then laughter.
"Hello to you too, girl!" Tony's voice laughed.
"Lucy! Down!" Gibbs shouted; the dog gave a whine but moved off the man she had tackled to the ground. Gibbs reached out a hand and pulled Tony to his feet. The two men looked at each other for a moment before embracing each other. It had been a long time.
"Where's Tali?" Gibbs asked, noting the absence of Tony's little shadow.
"With Senior at my house in Alexandria." Tony replied, "It's good to see you, Jethro."
"You too, Tony. Why are you here?" Gibbs asked.
"I came back to see everyone and Ellie said you'd been suspended. For fighting. Were you sent to the principal's office too?" Gibbs joined in Tony's laughter.
Tony sipped at his bourbon that Gibbs had poured for him after they retired to the cabin to 'catch-up'. Lucy was curled up in front of Tony's feet resting her head on his shoe.
"Since when did you have a dog? Or is she replacing me?" Tony asked with a grin.
"Well, I needed someone who would keep me company in the basement didn't I?" Gibbs said with a smile of his own.
"That's funny, Gibbs. Guess you don't get the head slaps huh, Lucy?" Tony said reaching down to scratch her behind the ears.
"I found her. On a case." He said.
"The dogfighting one, right?" Tony asked.
"Yeah. She'd been shot. I took her to a vet, he saved her and I adopted her." Gibbs said.
"I think she's a good fit for you. Pit-bull. It's the kind of dog – next to a German Shepard – that I imagine a marine would have." Tony said.
"Yeah. She's not the first dog I've had. I had one as kid – not that my dad wanted me to." Gibbs admitted.
"I have to hear this story." Tony laughed.
"Another time maybe. Tell me about what you've been doing." Jethro said, refilling their glasses.
It was a week later that Tony was outside NCIS again. This time with Tali holding tight to his hand. She had been begging him to take her to see Uncle Tim.
"Ok, Tali – you ready?" He asked, looking down at his young charge.
"Ready, Aba." She replied with a smile.
"Ok, here we go." He led her inside they signed in for contact tracing and Tony made sure his mask was in place. Their first stop was autopsy.
"Gremlin!" Tony crowed.
"Tony! Wow, it's great to see you! And Tali!" Jimmy scoped the little girl into a hug.
"We're just paying a visit today, before I go to work on Monday." Tony said.
"Metro?" Jimmy asked, knowing Tony loved to investigate.
"They can't afford me." Tony laughed, "Bethesda."
"Bethesda?" Jimmy's jaw dropped.
"Anthony DiNozzo, comma, MD." Tony said proudly, "you know…Gibbs was little more vocal when I told him." Tony said. I never would've believed it, Tony. Congratulations – we'll see a bit more of you then.
"So…you'll be around?" Jimmy asked.
Tony nodded, "I'm hoping to be able to set up lunch dates with Tim and maybe Ellie or Gibbs when he comes back…if he comes back." He said.
"It's good to see you, Dr. DiNozzo." Jimmy grinned.
"You too, Dr. Palmer." Tony said, shaking Jimmy's hand firmly and then taking his daughter's and they returned to the elevator. One floor up to formerly Abby's lab. Now Kasie's.
"Kasie Hines?" She turned from her computer to stare at the newcomer.
"Help you?" She asked.
"Tony DiNozzo." He said in way of explanation.
It took all of three seconds, "Oh! I've heard of you! Yes, you were Gibbs' Senior Field Agent before McGee! Wow! Hi!" She rushed forward and hugged him, reminiscent of Abby.
"I'm sorry we hadn't met before. I had a bit of a family matter back then." Tony indicated to the little girl holding tightly to his hand. Kasie grinned down at her but Tali had gone shy. In fact, since telling her father she was ready to go in she hadn't said a word.
"Ok, after this being sufficiently awkward, I'll go upstairs and see the rest of my old team and meet Nick Torres, is that right?" Tony asked, Kasie nodded.
"Right. Thanks, Tony. I'll see you around?" She said.
"Definitely." He nodded and led Tali back to the elevator. When the doors close, he hit knelt down in front of her after he pressed the emergency stop. Tali had barely noticed.
"Hey, what's going on Regina del mio cuore?" He asked her, brushing his fingers through her hair.
"Not feeling good." She told him.
"You feel sick?" she nodded; Tony reached up to get the elevator to move again, "OK, let's get you out of here and we'll see if we can't get you feeling a little better." He said pulling her into a hug. He got them up to the squadroom and walking the opposite way than his tram he took Tali to the bathroom. He got her there just in time – as soon as she was inside, she ran to one of the toilets and threw up.
"Oh, baby. You'll be ok. We'll get you some water and something sugary." They would have to replace her fluids and glucose, particularly if this turned out to be food poisoning. He waited her out until she was done and then, passing through the breakroom to get her something to drink, they made their way into the bullpen.
"Tony!" Ellie was on her feet and embracing him like she had a week ago.
"Hey, there Ellie." He said returning the hug.
"Tony!" Tim was on his feet and grabbed Tony into a hug. Tony laughed and returned the embrace.
"It's good to see you, McGeek!" Tony laughed.
"So, this is the famous Tony DiNozzo then?" A new voice asked.
"And you must be Nick Torres, right?" Tony said turning to the Latino.
"That's right." Nick said nodding and shaking Tony's hand.
"And you don't know movies?" Tony asked.
"No. I have a life." Nick replied.
Tony chuckled, "Oh, buddy, you're talking to the wrong guy about that." He said.
"Nick, Tony knows everything about every movie ever made. He would have wept hearing you not know about George Lucas. Trust me on that." Tim said.
"I still might. You and me Torres, movie night. Thursday, you bring the pizza, I'll supply the beer." Tony said.
"You're on. If you can teach me something about movies – I'll do McGee reports for a week." Nick said, Tim grinned but a wink from Tony told him to hold off on the joy just yet.
"Make it a month, and I'll take that bet." Tony said holding out his hand.
"Done." Torres said shaking Tony's hand to seal the deal.
"Hey, Tony – are you back for good in DC? Or just for a visit?" Tim asked.
"For good, I got myself a job and I bought a house in Alexandria." Tony explained.
"Gibbs'?" Tim asked.
"No, close though. Close so I can still go and see him if I want to and if I've got the time." Tony said with a smile.
"What's the job?" Tim asked. Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out an ID card that he handed to McGee.
"Doctor Anthony DiNozzo, MD?! What department?" Tim gasped.
"Read the card." Tony prompted.
"Attending ER Physician. Oh my god, you said you'd be a dermatologist." Tim said recalling the conversation with Kate.
"Yeah well…changed my mind. Decided I needed the action. It's exciting. And I'm working at Bethesda so you'll probably see me around sometime." Tony said with wink and wide smile. Tim returned the smile and found himself actually looking forward to it.
"Enough reminiscing McGee, Torres. Let Doctor DiNozzo got and take care of his daughter before he has to go to work on Monday." Gibbs said as he strode into the bullpen.
"Boss!" Tim cried, "you're back!" Tony gave them all a farewell smile and took his leave taking Tali's hand as they walked to the elevator.
"Suspension finished yesterday, McGee." Gibbs said, "now…what have we got?"
A/N: Yeah, I know Gibbs doesn't return a week later, but this is fiction – and I didn't specify how long after the incident this story happens. All I said was that Gibbs wasn't at home and that it was a week later he returns. I just put him at his cabin because I like the idea of Tony going to talk to him there and not in his basement. Although that it the usual place.