Thanks once again for the reviews. I really enjoy reading your different comments. I have 3 chapters to go then it's finished. But I decided to let it up to you to decide if Tony makes it or not. So if you're reading this, and you review it, just put lives or dies in your review and which ever gets the most votes, that's the way I'll end it. I have already written my own ending, but I'll change it depending on how the votes go.

A Son for a Son

Chapter eleven

"I … don't understand Boss … why did he take me? ... I'm nothing to you I mean we're not family…or anything like that."

"He took you Tony because you're the closest thing to a son I have. He wanted my son to die because his had."

"Oh … so you think of me as your son?" Tony flashed a smile. So Gibbs thinks of me as a son he thought. Wait till Kate hears this.

"He thinks of you as my son Tony, don't get it mixed up."

"Oh." Tony's smiled dropped.

Gibbs turned around trying to hide his smile from Tony. Yeah Tony, I think of you as my son, but I'll be damned if I'll let you hold it over me the rest of my life. Gibbs felt a sharp little pain of guilt shoot through his heart as he realized Tony might not even have a life. The bomb could go off and…. He wasn't going to let his mind go there. Tony was going to make it through this.

A short time later

The bomb squad finally arrived and quickly dressed in their protective clothing. They then entered the building and checked out the situation.

"You're going to have to leave." One of the officers said to Gibbs as he examined the bomb.

"No way." Gibbs flashed his identification at the man.

"Okay, but you'll have to stand behind a shield." The man instructed another officer to return to their truck for the shield.

"Does anybody have anything to drink in their car? My agent hasn't had anything to drink since Saturday." Gibbs said.

"I'll check." The man who was going for the shield said. He returned a short time later with a half drunk soda and the shield.

"This is all I could find."

"That'll do."

Gibbs took the soda over to Tony and held it up to him.

"Just a little at a time." Gibbs said. He knew a dehydrated man would try to gulp the soda down and it would just end up coming back up.

Tony sipped on the soda. He had never tasted anything so good.

"Thanks." Tony said. "It could have used a little more ice though." He grinned at Gibbs but was then hit by another wave of pain and turned his head to the side, his teeth clenched in pain. He broke into another coughing fit, this time little specks of blood sprayed from his mouth.

"You hang in there Tony. It'll be over soon." Gibbs frowned when he saw the blood. God Tony how bad did he hurt you? He wondered.

Tony nodded, right now he felt so bad he didn't care whether he lived or died.

The officer opened the shield and handed it to Gibbs.

"I need you to stand back against the wall and keep this up in front of you."

Gibbs nodded then leaned close to Tony.

"I'm going to be right here, we're walking out of this together Tony."

"Gibbs." Tony shook his head weakly. He was terrified that Gibbs was going to die alongside him and he didn't want to be responsible for that. " Please, just get out of here."

"Ain't going to happen Tony."

"No … no sense you dying with me …" Tony managed a small smile. "Hey, what'll Kate say if I manage to get the boss killed?"

"No one is dying today Tony." Gibbs wanted to reach over and touch Tony to reassure him, but his entire body was covered in bruises and sores and he wasn't sure where to touch him without causing him more pain. An officer came over and instructed Gibbs to move to the far wall and to keep the shield in front of him. He hated having to leave Tony's side but knew the police had work. to do. "Stay strong Tony just a little while longer." He said as he was led away.

The bomb squad then moved in and began their attempt to disarm the bomb.

Ten minutes later

"It's a dummy timer." An officer said as he examined the clock. "This thing could go off at any time."

Tony who was barely conscious raised his head slightly.

"Look…everyone … just get out of here ... please." He said weakly. He had finally given up and just wanted it over with, he didn't have the strength to fight any longer.

"We're not leaving here without you." The officer said to Tony as he continued examining the bomb. "But I want all unessential personal out of the building, and that includes you." He said glancing over at Gibbs.

"I'm not leaving here without him."

"I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. I want you out of here now … or I'll have you escorted out."

Gibbs glared at the man, but knew he was only doing his job and Tony didn't have time for them to argue. He walked over to Tony.

"I'll be right outside waiting for you Tony." He turned to leave.

"Boss." Tony called out weakly.

Gibbs face wrinkled with concern as he looked at Tony, he could tell that his breathing was getting worse.

"Yeah." He said as he turned around and walked back to Tony.

"If this … well, it this doesn't work out … I … I just want you to know that it was an honor working with you sir."

Gibbs blinked back tears, Tony looked terrible, and he could tell it took all of his strength just to talk.

"You can tell me that when you're out of here. Right now all I want you to think about is a nice hot shower and a soft bed."

Tony gave Gibbs a small smile and nodded.

Gibbs swallowed the lump in his throat as he turned around and left. He felt like he was deserting a teammate.

Outside

Kate walked over to Gibbs when she saw him exit the building.

"Tony…is he okay?" Kate asked worried, she knew Gibbs would never leave him unless… Oh God, please don't say he's dead.

Gibbs nodded, too choked with emotion to speak.

"My God Gibbs did you see what Dawson did to him? All those bruises and soaking him in gasoline when it's so cold out. I can't believe Dawson would hurt Tony like that."

"Dawson's only thought is to hurt me, and he's doing that by attacking one of my team." He said softly as he looked back at the building.

"What's going on Gibbs? Why aren't they bringing Tony out?" She too looked over at the building when she noticed the worried look on his face.

"They're still working on the device. The timer was a fake … and I was ordered out of the building."

"So they still haven't gotten the bomb off of Tony?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"They're going to Kate, Tony's going to be fine."

He had just gotten the words out when the building was rocked by a small explosion.

TBC