AN - Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews I am really sorry I can't respond personally but I'm manically busy with school at the moment. Please take this chapter as my apology for such rudeness!
Predictably, the story turned into something of a media circus. Gibbs' decision to commandeer a squad car to get them to the Hospital with lights flashing and sirens wailing, kept them one step ahead of the pack. Just. But as he stepped outside the cubicle to give DiNozzo the illusion of privacy while the Doctor checked him over, the journalists were already gathering in the parking lot. His jaw set, he strode over to the nurses station and flashed his badge to procure a phone.
"Kate, I need you to pull some strings with the LVPD."
"Gibbs," Kate sounded impatient. "I've been trying to call you. Your phone was switched off. Where are you?"
"Tony was shot and my phone was switched off. Do the math." Gibbs replied tersely.
"Oh, Hospital?" Kate guessed with a wince. "Abby, caught the newscast on the web."
"Yeah? So did half the journalists in Nevada. I need you to call the LVPD and get some uniforms down here ASAP. No-one gets into DiNozzo's room without my personal authorisation."
"They're admitting him?" He could hear Kate's frown as she noted down his instructions. "How bad is it?"
"The gunshot wound is the least of our worries." Gibbs said cryptically as he hung up on her and immediately redialled.
"Gibbs, wait!" At the other end of the phone Kate stared at her handset as she was left listening to a dialling tone. "The Director wants to speak to you. He said it was urgent .." She trailed off.
Back at the Hospital, Gibbs put his finger in his right ear in preparation for his call being picked up.
"Abby, I need you to run a few checks for me." He shouted.
"Hey, Gibbs," Mercifully the music immediately receded to a manageable volume, a sure sign of Abby's concern. "How's Tony? It seems like every time he leaves the building he gets shot or kidnapped or abducted by aliens or something."
"Aliens, Abs?"
"Those guys from Montana seemed pretty hinky to me, Bossman."
"Tony says he's fine."
"That bad, huh? What can I do?"
"Two things. I want you to hook up with McGee and find anything and everything you can about Tony's father. Then I want you to run a background check on our robber. And put Ducky on for me."
"That's three things Gibbs."
"I know you can multi-task."
"Sure thing Boss," He heard footsteps as Abby started walking. "Give Tony a big kiss from me. And not like last time. Do it right."
"Abby."
"You better do it Gibbs, cos I'm going to be checking up on you. Here's Ducky."
"Jethro?"
"Duck, I need a favour. How soon can you get here?"
While they were settling Tony into his room he went down to the gift shop and bought a plain white T-Shirt to replace his bloodstained shirt, a paperback book and an extra large coffee. He hadn't even stepped off the elevator when he heard the shouting.
"I'm sorry Mr DiNozzo," The nurse was apologising. "You're son is being admitted. I can't let anyone see him right now."
"I am not anyone. I am his father."
"Well, I'm afraid his visiting is being restricted. You'll need to be added to the list .."
"Restricted? On those authorisation?"
"That would be me." Gibbs said quietly.
DiNozzo Snr turned and looked at him. At this close range the physical likeness was unmistakable. Except, where Tony's green eyes sparkled with life, this man's eyes were hard, flat and grey.
"You seem to be going to great lengths to keep my son and I apart, Special Agent Gibbs."
Gibbs wasn't remotely surprised that he knew who he was. He had obviously had him checked out. Well, he was doing the same thing and he was pretty sure who would dig the most dirt.
"Tony is the lead witness in an ongoing LVPD investigation. I'm just following the protocols." he said mildly.
"By denying his next of kin access to his bedside? I'm sure my lawyers would have something to say about that."
Gibbs almost smiled. "Actually, I'm Tony's next of kin."
"You're bluffing." DiNozzo Snr decided.
"Oh no," The Nurse assured him. "It says here that Agent Gibbs has acted as Agent DiNozzo's next of kin on a number of occasions. Most recently when he required emergency surgery on a stab wound. He almost bled to death. It was all rather unfortunate," She looked up, re-considering. "I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't be telling you all this. Patient confidentiality and all."
The dark fury that burned in DiNozzo Snr's eyes etched Gibbs' respect for Tony's stubbornness up yet another notch. This was a man who was used to making boardrooms shake and empires topple with a single look.
"I am his father." He growled.
"And I'm his boss," Gibbs replied calmly. "And right now, Tony's on the clock. You want him, you can have him evenings and weekends."
"I'm surprised that your employers let you get away with such insubordination." The threat hung in the air between them.
"I am very good at my job."
"I demand to speak to your ultimate superior."
"Alright," Gibbs shrugged. "But I have it on good authority that this is his Golf afternoon. He's gonna be pretty pissed if you call him in off the green."
"I think you underestimate the level of my influence, Agent Gibbs."
"Its your call," Gibbs reeled off a number and turned on his heel. "If you didn't catch that, he lives in the big white building on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC. You can get the switchboard number from any directory."
Gibbs knew that the mask of calm indifference that he had assumed was good enough to fool most people. Including all three of his ex-wives. Unfortunately, DiNozzo wasn't most people. Sure enough, Tony took one look at his expression and his eyes slid unerringly to the bruised and bleeding knuckles on Gibbs right hand.
"What happend?"
Gibbs ignored the question as he pulled up a chair and took a good look at his Agent. The thin lines of strain around DiNozzo's eyes only served to highlight the pinched look and the pale complexion.
"You take your pain meds, DiNozzo?"
"They make me groggy." Tony vetoed that.
In answer, Gibbs simply pulled open the drawer in the side table and found the little plastic pot and three large pills that DiNozzo had quietly palmed, picked up the glass of water and held out them both out.
"Swallow. All of them."
"Look, Gibbs," Tony looked down. "I need to talk to you .."
"If you think I'm talking to you when you're light headed from loss of blood, not to mention probably concussed and God knows what else," Gibbs shook his head. "You'll make even less sense than usual."
"Boss, I'm serious." Tony looked up, his eyes haunted.
"Tony," Gibbs tone was unusually gentle. "There's a uniform on your door and another at the nurse's station. He's not getting in here without a note from God. It'll keep. Now, take the dammed pills."
Looking relieved Tony reached out and took the glass, holding out his hand for the pills, that Gibbs tipped onto his palm. Then he hesitated.
"I swear, DiNozzo, if you don't take those pills in the next three seconds .."
"You staying, Boss?"
"Now I know you're concussed." Gibbs said shortly.
Tony gave a rueful grin. He should have known better than to ask. Swallowing down the pills he hunkered down, carefully, on his uninjured side and closed his eyes knowing that he would have his back. The last thing he heard was Gibbs voice.
"Two hours, DiNozzo. Then I'm waking you for your concussion check."
After a surprisingly restful night, apart from Gibbs' scheduled interruptions, Tony came awake slowly. His were eyes crusted with sleep, his body stiff and protesting every moment. His side felt hot and scratchy, his head was throbbing and his shoulder ached like the devil. Worst of all, his throat felt parched and sore. As he tried to reach for the cup of water on the dresser, a hand closed over his and guided it back to his side.
"Here, dear boy, take small sips."
Tony sucked gratefully on the offered straw, feeling the blessedly cool water trickle down his throat before the voice fully registered and his eyes popped open.
"Ducky? What are you doing here?"
"Well, I had a few days vacation coming," The familiar features smiled down at him. "And I hear Las Vegas is very nice at this time of year."
"Gibbs called you."
"You know, Jethro. He thinks Doctors are the spawn of the devil. Present company accepted, of course. He wanted you looked over by someone he trusts."
"You shouldn't have had to come all the way out here for me."
"Now Anthony, I am sure that it hasn't escaped your notice that I have known Jethro somewhat longer than you have and we are more of an age. I am perfectly capable of saying no to him when the need arises. Is it so surprising that I would be concerned over your welfare?"
"You mean before or after you didn't want me to know where you lived?" Tony asked, a shadow of that hurt in his voice.
"And then Jethro sent you round to look after mother and what happened?"
"So, I've come back a few times to sit with her," Tony shrugged. "Anyone would do the same."
"Anyone could, and yet you are the only one who does, aside from Jethro, of course," Ducky looked steadily at him. "You know, you must not give so much of yourself to others that you leave nothing for your own needs."
"Me? I don't need much. A fast car, a pretty girl and a fresh pizza and I'm pretty much done." Tony shrugged, uncomfortable with the topic.
"I believe if Jethro was here he would slap you across the head for such a comment," Ducky eyed him sternly. "We all need our family around us in times of difficultly."
"Where is Gibbs anyway?" Tony demanded.
Ducky smiled slightly at the unconscious connection. It was plain to him that young Anthony had a filial devotion to Gibbs. Although, he suspected that DiNozzo was not wholly aware of the depth of Jethro's feelings on the matter. Perhaps, it was time that changed.
Tony was sleeping again by the time Gibbs returned, sprawled on his back with his mouth hanging slightly open as Ducky expounded in a low soothing voice about the exploits of Prince Rupert and his toy Poddle, "Boy" during the English Civil War.
"How is he?"
"Physically, he's fine," Ducky reassured. "It's a clean shot and there are no signs of infection. His has a mild concussion, but nothing to worry about. He lost a lot of blood, but rest and fluids will take care of that."
"Good," Gibbs relaxed a fraction. "When can he be discharged?"
"I see no reason why he can't be released this afternoon."
Gibbs considered that. His eyes never leaving the younger man's sleeping face. "Find one will you, Duck."
"Oh dear. Young Anthony's not going to like that very much. You know how he feels about Hospitals."
"Ducky, this man has ignored his son for more than a decade. Why is he suddenly so keen to play happy families? There's something else going on here and I'm not letting DiNozzo out of my sight until I find out what it is."
"Are you planning on explaining any of that to him?"
"I think he's already all too well aware of what kind of man his father is." Gibbs looked sombrely down at DiNozzo.
"I meant the part where you are so concerned about his welfare that you will risk your entire career to ensure that he goes unmolested by this man's attentions. A word of advice from an old friend, Jethro. Don't take young Anthony's father too lightly. He is a very powerful man and the Director tends to frown on the shooting of unarmed civilians."
"The love of a child is a very precious thing, Duck," Gibbs said quietly. "No man should be allowed to just throw that away."
"Have you ever told Tony that you think of him as a son?"
"He knows, I'd take a bullet for him." Gibbs huffed. "That has to count for something."
"Its hardly the same thing."
"I'm not the touchy feely type Duck, why do you think I got divorced three times?"
"Come now, Jethro. You underrate yourself. You managed to woo them in the first place didn't you?"
"Woo, Ducky?" Gibbs raised a brow.
"Strange that you don't seem to have any problems being demonstrative with Abby."
"That's different. She's a girl."
"And Anthony is a young man, chronically starved of love and attention who craves the least bit of approval from you."
"I know," Gibbs murmured. "I do try."
"A head slap is a rather unorthodox sign of affection."
Gibbs took a step forward and gently brushed back the dark hair from the bruised forehead, taking care not to disturb the stitches. Tony stirred slightly but leant into his touch, murmuring his contentment.
"Damn it, DiNozzo, you better not be thinking of some girl." He growled softly.
Then he bent over and with impossible gentleness, dropped a soft kiss on his forehead.
"That do you?"
"Well," Ducky was slightly nonplussed. "It's a start."
"You're my witness," Gibbs cast over his shoulder as he made his way towards the door. "Tell Abby, I did it."
"Well my boy," Ducky observed to the still sleeping Tony with some satisfaction. "That was progress, indeed. Perhaps, next time we'll get him to do it when you are awake."