AN – thanks for the reviews, your encouragement means a great deal to me and I'm so glad other people are enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it.
"Alright, I've done that," Gibbs scowled at the laptop like it was an alien life form. "Now what McGee?"
"Now you just click on the button that says connect and we should .. Yeah, that's it. I can see you now."
Gibbs clicked shut his phone and glared at McGee's face on the screen.
"Put Abby on."
"Um, she's not here right now." McGee hedged.
"Its alright," The angle titled and Abby's face appeared, looking as if had been crying. "What's up, Boss?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Oh," Abby sniffed and swiped a hand across her face. "Its stupid. I never cry. Its just Mrs Harrison's cat died and it seemed like you know, a bad omen, and then I couldn't get my Caff Pow on the way in because the machine broke down and then this research programme I've been working on got pulled and then Tony called me and he sounded so .."
"Tony called you?" Gibbs frowned. "I have his cell."
"You have one of his cells."
"McGee, go fetch Abby a Caff Pow as of ten minutes ago. And McGee?"
"Yes Gibbs?"
" If you ever lie to me again, you're fired. Understood?"
"Yes Sir." McGee gulped.
He watched until McGee disappeared over Abby's shoulder then turned his attention back to the matter in hand.
"Tell me what his father said."
"But I didn't even get to get to the part where I told you that Tony called him," Abby pouted. "No fair, Boss. You spoil all my fun."
"I got you a Caff Pow." Gibbs was unrepentant.
There had been a damned good reason why he had confiscated DiNozzo's cell phone. And preventing him from playing Tetris on it whilst in the Hospital wasn't the half of it. Tony wasn't the type to sit around and wait for problems to come to him. As soon as the initial shock of seeing his father had worn off Gibbs had just known he would do something like this.
"He was nice to him, Gibbs. He invited him to the funeral."
Gibbs walked back into Tony's room to see his Senior Agent up and dressed in shoes, shirt and pants, a suit jacket and tie lying on the bed.
"Phone." He ordered, holding out his hand.
Tony sighed and dug one handed in the side table drawer, pulling out a second phone
"Abby?" He asked.
"Yep." Gibbs pocketed it.
"Its just for an hour or so," Tony gestured at the suit in explanation. "I'll be fine."
"You don't look fine."
"Polyester," Tony made a face, as he tucked his shirt into his pants, one handed. "I had one of the nurses pick it up from that little place across the street. I guess people buy them for those quickie weddings. You know, with Elvis as the minister and .."
"Strange you didn't just ask me to go pick up your suit." Gibbs observed, in a deceptively mild tone.
Tony winced, but his voice was level.
"That's because I knew you wouldn't go for it."
"Dammed straight, DiNozzo," Gibbs scowled across the room at Ducky, who was standing against the wall, observing the proceedings. "And what the hell were you thinking?"
"He needs to do this, Jethro. Its important."
Gibbs wrestled with that. At Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pretoria DiNozzo's file was littered with reprimands for insubordination and refusing to obey orders. He was one of the few people Gibbs had met who was almost as stubborn as he was. It was his quiet boast that DiNozzo had never disobeyed his orders. But that was because he led by example and was never stupid enough to order the young man to do something that went against his own highly developed sense of honour.
"Get your ass into gear DiNozzo," He conceded. "We should have left ten minutes ago."
"Boss, I'm not dressed!" Tony gestured at the bed.
"We'll pick up your suit on the way. I want you looking like an NCIS Agent. Not one of Fornell's rejects from the FBI."
"Thanks, Gibbs. You're the greatest." Tony grinned.
"Save it, DiNozzo. When that shoulder heals I'm going to take you down to the gym and knock seven bells out of you for being so damned reckless."
"Looking forward to it, already Boss."
As they pulled into the parking lot at the large Church Gibbs glanced over, not surprised to see the intense focus and concentration in DiNozzo's expression. It felt more like they were about to launch an undercover operation than attend a family funeral.
"Ready?"
"I feel like I should be wearing a wire." Tony echoed his thoughts.
"You know the drill."
He felt Tony glance across at his profile. Clearly hearing all the things he hadn't said. Undercover work was dangerous and unpredictable. You had to be one your guard and ready for anything. And the second things looked like they were going wrong you were out of there. No arguments.
"I think we'll need a better code word than, "Bikini." Tony commented, referring to their most recent operation.
"You could always tell them about your Shi-Tzu." Gibbs said, as he exited the car.
Tony paused, half in and out of the car, shooting Gibbs a quick look. "Was that a joke, Boss?"
"Move it, DiNozzo. They're going in."
"It was, wasn't it?" Tony grinned with satisfaction. "Wait till I tell Abby."
Gibbs said nothing. But inwardly he smiled at his success at distracting the young man sufficiently to settle his mood. In front of them, DiNozzo Snr, was accepting condolences from a large group of mourners, when he glanced up and noticed their approach. Gibbs fully expected him to stand his ground until Tony reached him. When he excused himself from his guests and came over to greet them Gibbs barely hid his surprise.
"Anthony," He offered his hand with a warm smile. "I'm so glad you could make it."
Tony looked coolly at the hand and for a moment Gibbs thought he was going to ignore it. Then he reached out and shook it briefly, quickly breaking the contact.
"I'm here for Aunt Teresa. No other reason."
"She'd be so glad you finally called. You know, how much she always wanted us to be closer."
Gibbs eye's narrowed at the emotional blackmail. In the field he had no doubts about his Agent's ability to take care of him-self. But Tony's emotions were fragile when those he loved and cared about were involved.
"I only called because Gibbs made me. He's big on honour and respect."
Only years of practice enabled the former Gunny Sergeant to keep his expression neutral. The lie had come out of nowhere. Its barbs smooth as silk. Delivered with a casual nonchalance designed to provoke. Gibbs didn't know whether to feel pride at DiNozzo's quick wit. Satisfaction that DiNozzo knew that he would back him. Or fury that he was toying so casually with such a dangerous target. The utter lack of emotion in those flat grey eyes as they swivelled in his direction worried Gibbs more than scorn or fury would have done.
"Thank you giving Anthony a ride, Agent Gibbs," It was a dismissal. "I'll see he gets back safely."
Gibbs nodded slightly, putting his hands in his pockets. There was no way DiNozzo Snr could refuse him. Not without causing a scene in from of all his society guests.
"I'd like to stay. Pay my respects."
Tony had been given a place of honour, next to his father, in the family pew. Not being a DiNozzo, Gibbs had been relegated to somewhere near the back. Tony had almost snorted at the obvious tactic. It wasn't as if he needed to hold Gibbs' hand to know the older Agent had his back.
Or vice-versa.
He hurt like hell. Buthe wasn't about to let a sign of weakness leak out in front of these people. On the way over, when he had pulled out the bottle of painkillers and shaken four into his hand in preparation for the ordeal ahead, Gibbs had raised a brow, but held his peace. Even so, the hour long ritual of standing, kneeling and sitting, plus the emotion of standing at the graveside, was taking its toll. He was glad he had come. But even more glad when it was over.
Somewhat to his surprise, his father had stepped back and invited him to throw a handful of earth onto the coffin. As he recalled he hadn't been allowed to do that at his Mother's funeral.
"Anthony," As the mourners were filing away, his father put a hand on his arm. "We should talk."
"Don't you need to see to your guests?" He nodded at the heavy gate of the Churchyard, where the priest was ready to shake hands with people as they filtered out.
"I need to spend some time with my son."
Tony froze. He didn't like this man and he sure as hell didn't trust him. But he couldn't remember a time when he hadn't wanted his father to put aside his business and social concerns for his sake. He couldn't remember it ever actually happening before.
"Tony needs to get back to the Hospital in time to take his meds." Gibbs voice at his shoulder gave him an out.
"Not till 12.30," Tony decided, grateful for the chance to set a time limit. "That still gives us fifteen minutes."
"Ten," Gibbs said shortly, clearly not missing the tight lines of pain across his forehead. "Traffic's always heavier at lunchtime."
"Shouldn't be a problem the way you drive, Boss." Tony teased.
"Ten, DiNozzo and not a second more, or I'll have you on desk duty for a month."
"Yes, Boss."
Aware of his father's glower at being kept waiting, Tony refused to move until he had Gibbs' nod of permission. Slipping his sunglasses firmly into place he fell into step beside the man who, despite his subsequent exposure to rapists, murders and serial killers, still managed to haunt his nightmares.
"So, talk."
To his surprise they walked on in silence for a few feet before his father spoke. Tony gritted his teeth as each footstep jarred his shoulder and every swing of his hips pulled at his side, he needed some pain meds and soon.
"Does your arm hurt?"
The solicitous tone, as much as the question itself surprised him.
"Its fine."
He waited. Gibbs would have picked up on the obvious lie, methodically catalogued every way in which he was obviously not fine before dosing him with pain pills washed down by a glass or two of Jack. His father just nodded.
"You were shot in the shoulder, before. Philadelphia, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Tony didn't elaborate. That had been back in the days before he had met Gibbs and his father had still been his legal next-of-kin. As was usual in such circumstances, his father had neither visited nor returned the medical team's calls. He'd never actually told Gibbs that the reason he hated being in Hospital so much was the associations with isolation and abandonment. It hadn't been an issue lately.
"You seem to take it all in your stride."
"I've been shot in the shoulder three times, plus arm, side, and leg," Tony catalogued. "Not to mention the times I've been kidnapped, tortured, stabbed, drugged, half-drowned and dated a serial killer. And that's in a slow week."
Antagonising the witness wasn't an interrogation technique he often employed. Usually he left that to Gibbs. Preferring to get them on side with his charm, lull them into thinking he was their friend. He didn't want this man to be his friend. And he was heartily ashamed of the small part of him that still desperately wanted him to be his father.
"You have a very dangerous job."
"It's a calculated risk," Tony nodded. "But Gibbs is very protective of his people. And we save lives."
"Still, you could do so much more."
"If this is about the Corporation again, I really don't give a .."
"Maybe, you should."
Leaning against the car Gibbs watched as DiNozzo made his way across the parking lot to the car. His shoulders were slightly slumped and his face was pale and tight with pain. Without a word Gibbs slipped a hand through the open window and fished in the glove box for the bottle of pills. Fleetingly checking the dosage he shook out two pills and offered then to his Senior Field Agent as soon as he was within range.
"Thanks." Tony took the pills and chewed them, accepting the bottle of water Gibbs held out to wash them down.
"I swear, DiNozzo, if you tell me you're fine."
"Actually, I feel like crap," Tony was unusually candid. "Can we go?"
As soon as they were alone Tony slumped in his seat, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. Too drained emotionally and physically to keep up any pretence that he was holding it together. When they were in the field he usually tried to maintain the facade, at least until they got the job done, or even while he was in the Hospital, if he thought he had screwed up and he wanted to give Gibbs some reason to be proud of him.
This was different. He knew Gibbs wouldn't think any the less of him for this.
"We're here."
DiNozzo blinked as Gibbs voice woke him. Shit. He hadn't meant to fall asleep. Looking blearily around he cast a wary eye at Gibbs to see if he had said anything in his sleep. Gibbs looked calm, but then that was usually more dangerous than the yelling.
"Um, this isn't the Hospital." He ventured nervously, as he recognised the entrance to their Hotel.
"You don't need the Hospital. You do need this." Gibbs responded, as he got out of the car and tossing his keys to the parking valet came and around to open his door.
"Right." Tony said slowly, as he levered himself out of the car, stifling a wince.
Gibbs rolled his eyes, but reached out to put a hand under his arm, steadying him as they walked slowly across the cavernous lobby. Tony concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and tried not to think about just how angry Leroy Jethro Gibbs could get in the privacy of their suite, if he had said anything whilst he was napping.
"Look, Boss, I think, maybe, perhaps, I should go back to the Hospital," He offered as they rode the elevator. "I mean, they have wheelchairs and drugs, lots of drugs and pretty nurses and you know, you really don't have the legs for .."
"Nervous, DiNozzo?" Gibbs tone was oddly gentle.
Tony flinched, as if Gibbs had actually hit him.
"Look, Boss, it isn't what you think .." He began desperately.
"Not now DiNozzo," Gibbs tone brooked no argument. "First you sleep. Then you eat something. Then, after we get your dressings taken care of, you tell me why you want to resign from NCIS. Understood?"