Agent Down Chapter 8, a ncis fanfic

A/N Just something very short to keep the posting going. Working on the final chapters but work is so busy that there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.

Wanted to work in the lyrics of a couple of songs, have given credit to the artists and to all involved in the footnote.

I have tried a number of times to make the lyrics look correct but don't know why they're not. If someone can please tell me I'd appreciate it.

Disclaimer: The show NCIS and its characters do not belong to me. They are the property of Donald Bellisario, CBS, Paramount and whomever else I may have omitted. Song lyrics used in this chapter belong to those who hold the copyright.

Chapter Eight

(1)

It was later that evening when Kate returned to the hospital and walked down the corridor into Tony's room. He was still awake and sitting propped up in bed, the television was on but he didn't seem to be watching it.

'Hey,' she walked into the room and he turned towards her and a tiny smile touched the corner of his lips as he watched her walk towards him, pulling up a chair to his bedside.

'I gather Gibbs came and saw you, told you what was happen.'

'Sure did. He also told me not to talk but,' he tapped the note book on the bed. 'That would make for a pretty boring conversation wouldn't it.'

'You should listen to Doctors orders,' she scolded him gently

'That was Gibbs not the doctor,' he reminded her as they lapsed into silence, Kate not wanting to burden her injured colleague with too many details about the investigation. He'd already given them important information and he was still weak from his injuries. She also wanted to know about his family but knew she couldn't ask.

'I can read your mind,' he told her is voice barely more then a whisper causing Kate to give him a startled look.

'Oh can you know,' she tilted her head to one side and smiled. 'So what am I thinking?'

'Yeah you want to know what I did to piss off my folks so much that they've cut me dead so to speak.'

'Tony Gibbs told me a little bit but... '

'Hey it's okay,' he closed his eyes then opening them he began to relate to her the whole sad story

I watched him take the two strike call

He hadn't tried to swing at all

I guess he had all he could take

He walked away for goodness sake

His father's voice was loud and mean

You won't amount to anything

That little boy quit trying

And he just walked away

There were teardrops on his face

Tell me how would you feel

You'd probably give up too

If nobody believed in you.

(Joe Nichols – If Nobody Believed In You)

'Nothing,' Tony sighed. 'Nothing I ever did was good enough in the eyes of my parents. I could never measure up to Jason no matter how hard I tried to, so I stopped trying. Once my parents realised that I wasn't going to be a scholar they pushed me into sports. Basketball. I was always tall even in my early teens and gangly in those days. Oh yeah I was good at the sport but I was never going to make the big league and that again labelled me a failure in the eyes of my parents. All this time Jason, the golden boy, he was making them proud, he was an all round sports man, a star pitcher in the baseball team, gained top grades without a problem, while I was always nothing more then an embarrassement and a disappointment to them.

'Oh Tony' Kate felt tears well and she fought them back. Tony didn't want her sympathy he was just telling his story and yet she could see the pain on his face even after all these years.

And the biggest disappointment in the family was me

The only twisted branch on that good old family tree

I just couldn't be the person they expected me to be

And the biggest disappointment in the world was me

(Slim Dusty - The Biggest Disappointment)

'So I gave up trying, gave up trying to please, trying to be someone I wasn't someone I couldn't be and that just made the criticism all the fiercer,' he sighed and closed his eyes. 'Then the straw that really broke the camels back when I joined the cops. I didn't even bother discussing it with them, I just went and did and that was it. I was officially on the outer although God only knew I'd been there for more years then I care to remember. So there you have it Kate,' he looked across at her. Pitiful as it might sound you're looking at the guy who, rather then do everything he could to prove his family wrong simply gave up trying because nobody believed in him.

'I believe in you Tony,' she grabbed his hand. So does Abby and Ducky, McGee and Gibbs.'

'Gibbs,' he chuckled and immediately regretted it. 'You think.'

'I know DiNozzo,' she told him sternly. 'You really think you'd still be on this team if he didn't believe in you. Come on Tony let that little boy and all the hurt he felt, is still feeling, let him go. And just because your family made you feel like a failure, a disappointment you have to realise that you're not. Not at all,' she shook her head. 'You're my partner and I trust you completely and know that you'd never let me down.'

At that moment Tony's face broke into one of his dazzling smiles. 'Thanks Kate, I needed that.'

'What you need is a kick up the pants or a cuff across the back of the head but considering your condition we might let that pass,' she gave him a smile. 'Thank you for sharing. I know it was hard.'

'Hey you had a right to know,' he told her. 'Besides in your position I'd want to know where the family was as well.'

'Yes but that didn't mean you had to share,' she squeezed his hand. 'I'd better go. You rest up and relax.'

'I will. You think the rat will take the bait,' he asked a slight frown creasing his brow.

'Gibbs does,' she told him. 'That's what's important.'

'You've got that right,' He muttered and Kate could tell that he was ready to go back to sleep.

'I'll see you soon,' she told him and smiled as she realised that he was already sound asleep

A/N Footnote regarding song lyrics used in this chapter

No infringement of any kind is intended and I hope that I have correctly credited all those involved.