AN - OK, so I was just going to write a neat little chapter, tie up all the lose ends, and then I started thinking .. so they will be more after this!
As he emerged from Tony's room, Gibbs easily dodged the two FBI officers loitering in the hallway. The dark suits and the shades doing nothing to help them blend in. As he'd expected Ducky had gone no further than the Doctor's Lounge to fetch him a cup of real coffee. Giving his old friend a smile of thanks Gibbs took a long swallow before asking the question that was uppermost in his mind.
"How is he doing?"
"Physically, he's more battered and bruised than anything else. All he really needs is rest and plenty of it." Ducky sighed.
"And mentally?"
"His own father tried to kill him Jethro. That kind of thing tends to be rather unsettling."
"I can see that," Gibbs huffed out a breath. "Take care of him, Ducky."
He had barely gone two paces when the cultured tones stopped him in his tracks.
"That boy thinks the world of you Jethro. He won't thank you for sacrificing your career for this. A little restraint might well be in order."
Gibbs paused, knowing there was more.
"I took the liberty of pulling Mr DiNozzo's medical records. I fear he smokes and drinks rather too heavily to die peacefully in his own bed. A bullet in the brain would be something of a kindness." Ducky's tone clearly indicated that he didn't think the man merited such consideration.
"I hear you, Duck."
Gibbs carried on walking. Glancing at his watch he decided it was still too early. He wanted DiNozzo Snr to stew for a little while longer. When he emerged into the parking lot he caught sight of Kate struggling with a large bag of take out from the Burger Bar across the street. With a thin smile he pulled out his phone, watching as she scowled and tried to juggle the bag as she went to answer. He supposed he could just have walked over and spoken to her but he wanted to keep her on her toes.
"Gibbs, where the hell are you?"
"Taking care of business," He said cryptically. "What have you got for me?"
"The FBI thinks you shot Tony."
"Tell me something I don't know."
There was a brief silence as she wondered how he had found out that particular piece of information, considered asking him and then obviously thought better of it. "Did you know that Tony's family were as rich as Midas?"
"Yes."
"Oh," Obviously disconcerted, Kate looked around for a way to free up her hands and dropped the takeout onto a nearby bench as she dug into her purse to look at her notes. "The local CSI pulled two bullets out of Tony's vest and matched them to a handgun registered to a company employee, Paul DeSanto. He reported the gun stolen two days ago and he has a cast iron alibi."
"Figures." Gibbs snorted. "Anything else?"
"Morrow was trying to reach you. You turned off your cell again." Her tone was both curious and accusatory.
Gibbs said nothing. She was supposed to be an NCIS Agent now. If she couldn't work out that his phone had been switched off because he had been visiting with Tony in the Hospital, then she had no place in his team. She had already lost points for being less than observant.
"For future reference Agent Todd, you should have bought Pizza."
He clicked his phone shut. Leaving Kate standing in the parking lot gazing at her handset in consternation and confusion. With a disgusted sigh she dropped the now cold and greasey takeout into the nearest trash can.
He waited until he got to his car and the laptop before calling up Morrow. He suspected it was going to be a difficult conversation and those he always preferred to have those face to face. Or as close as. As he'd expected Morrow didn't waste any time on pleasantries.
"Some hotshot at CSI called Nick Stokes found a hole in the east wall of DiNozzo Snr's office. He's convinced it was made by a third gunshot."
"Won't do him a whole lot of good without a bullet." Gibbs shrugged. And he knew that he'd done enough damage gouging it out of the wall with his knife that they would never be able to match the size to any calibre.
"What the hell happened, Jethro?"
There was an element of censure in Morrow's tone and Gibbs knew he was on dangerous ground. However justified the Director could not be seen to countenance anything that might be seen as a revenge attack. He had the reputation of the Agency to consider.
"It was a clean shoot. I came in just after DiNozzo Snr had put Tony on the floor. He was still armed and when I challenged him, he turned the gun on me. Tony shot to save my life." Gibbs justified.
"He doesn't usually miss," Morrow raised a brow. "You sure you know nothing about that?"
Gibbs sighed. He could see how bad it looked. Morrow knew as well as he did that he wouldn't have hesitated to knock Tony on his ass if he thought it would save the younger Agent's career. If this thing went to court or even IA there would be hell to pay.
"He had a concussion, Tom. Not to mention two bullets in the chest at point blank range."
"About that," Morrow frowned. "He's refusing to press charges."
Gibbs sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"You don't seem surprised."
"No," Gibbs agreed. "Do we have enough other evidence to put DiNozzo Snr away?"
"For a few years," Morrow sat back in his chair. "Not enough to make up for what he did to all those people he cheated out of their life savings, never mind what he did to his own son."
"You let me worry about Tony."
"He won't thank you for throwing away your career." Morrow warned.
"I know," Gibbs face twisted. "Ducky already gave me that lecture."
"Good," Morrow approved. "I don't want to lose you or DiNozzo over this."
"Duely noted, Sir."
Gibbs cut the connection and looked at his watch. It was time. He had his own plans for DiNozzo Snr.
Tony knew there was a reason he hated taking pills. He always slept too long and woke up feeling like his head was stuffed with cotton wool and his mouth was full of sawdust. To make matters worse, no-one had heard from Gibbs, Kate wouldn't stop talking and now the Hospital was trying to poison him.
"Tony, are you even listening to me?" Kate demanded.
"You want me to press charges," Tony parroted distractedly, as he poked at his dinner. "I don't even know what this is supposed to be." Taking a cautious forkful he chewed slowly, his expression morphing into something akin to disgust.
"Well?" Kate demanded.
"Might be chicken," Tony mused. "Or rattlesnake. Can't really tell."
"Tony, not the food! The charges. A few dirty business deals isn't enough to convict him as a murderer. Especially not of his own son."
"Even the jello's green." Tony ignored her.
"Caitlin my dear, perhaps we should save this discussion for another time?" Ducky murmured. "When Jethro is around?"
"I just think ..," Kate bit her tongue as Ducky's words registered. Of course, Tony would be more worried about Gibbs than his father. Privately she thought it would have helped if her Boss had let them know what he was planning. But she kept those thoughts to herself.
"What's wrong with green jello?" She asked, genuinely curious now.
"No-one eats the green stuff."
"I do."
"Hey," One of the FBI Agents stuck his head through the doorway, a smug grin on his face. "You guys might want to catch the news."
Tony had already dropped his fork and picked up the remote, surfing through the channels until Gibbs' face filled the screen. With a feeling of dread he turned up the volume.
"And in breaking news, Federal Agent Leroy Gibbs has been placed under arrest. As yet the FBI are refusing to confirm the charges, but our sources say that it they are connected to the shooting incident on Thursday night at the Lakeside Condo rented by the millionaire industrialist Anthony DiNozzo. Staff at the Condo say Mr DiNozzo is presently away on business and was not available to speak to this reporter."
Kate stood open mouthed. She couldn't believe what just happened. She wasn't sure what worried her the most, the fact that the FBI had arrested Gibbs, or that her Boss had let them.
"Oh dear." Ducky murmured.
"Give me a hand with these, will you Ducky?" Tony was already tugging at his IV.
"Tony, wait! You shouldn't leave the Hospital." Kate worried.
"You saw Gibbs."
"I know, and he's really pissed but .."
"Its much worse than that, Caitlin. I'm afraid he actually looks rather pleased with himself," Ducky had already deftly removed the lines in Tony's arm, now he lifted the edge of the sheet as he prepared to remove the catheter. "My dear, would you mind?"
Scowling her frustration, Kate spun on her heel, crossing her arms. Why couldn't she get this right? She was supposed to be the profiler and she couldn't even tell if Gibbs was pleased or pissed, awake or faking.
"If he's so happy why are you both looking so worried?"
"Kate, name, four things that make Gibbs happy." Tony's voice said.
"Coffee, his boat, shooting bad guys and redheads."
"Do you see any redheads around here?"
"And the boat's back in DC." Kate began to catch on.
"Plus the FBI make lousy coffee," Tony winced slightly as he turned himself around to sit on the bed. "Ducky, call Abs and see if she can get a trace on the tracker on my father. Kate, get the car."
"Wait!" She turned around. "We're going after your father? What about Gibbs?"
"You have your orders, Agent Todd."
Very carefully, Tony eased himself off the bed, wincing slightly as his bare feet hit the tiled floor, then he began padding determinedly towards the door, dressed only in his Hospital gown.
"And where are you going?"
Tony answered without looking back. But they could hear the wolfish grin in his tone.
"The FBI confiscated all my clothes as evidence. They owe me a suit."