AN – Just when I think I am getting close to having all the T's crossed and the I's dotted and I get evil thoughts. So, not finished with this sandbox yet.

DiNozzo rested his head against the car window, holding his right arm with his left hand as Gibbs drove at an unusually considerate pace. He watched the familiar streets slide by, glad to be out of the sight and smell and sounds of the Hospital.

"Aw, smell that ozone," He took a deep breath. "Gotta love global warming."

Gibbs's lips quirked in a small smile, but he didn't comment or take his eyes off the road. Absently, Tony started to do the finger exercises that the physical therapist had shown him, counting the repetitions silently in his head.

"Cut it out, DiNozzo."

"But Boss, .."

"Three sessions of fifteen minutes a day," Gibbs reminded him. "You're already ten minutes over. You heard what the Physical Therapist said pushing it would only make your recovery go slower. Now cut it out, before I cut your arm off."

Tony visibly huffed, but he subsided for now. Gibbs wasn't naïve enough to think that this was the last conversation they would have along those lines. Like any natural athlete Tony hated inactivity and always tried to do more than he should to get back to full fitness as soon as possible.

"You missed the turn off."

"Not to my house."

"Boss, I don't need a baby sitter."

"No?" Gibbs glanced pointedly at his hand. "You're still on medication. You're not cleared to drive and you've already proved you can't be trusted. Don't even think about arguing with me. Kate is swinging by your apartment to pick you up some clothes. McGee's already hooking up your TV and DVD in my lounge room and Abby's gone shopping to buy food you might actually eat."

"You couldn't have sent Abby to pick up my stuff?"

"Sure, if I'd sent Kate to the store. You really want to eat that healthy stuff?"

"Ah, good call."

"I thought so." Gibbs smirked as he turned into his driveway.

"Boss," Tony hesitated, as he exited the car, seeing Ducky and McGee's vehicles already there. "You wouldn't have done anything like organise a surprise party would you? Cos, my birthday was ages ago now. The statute of limitations is way over."

"DiNozzo, I wouldn't dream of organising you a birthday party."

"Right," Tony nodded, feeling oddly disappointed. "Well, good."

"Can we go in now?" Gibbs asked. "Or are we going to stand out here all day?"

"Sorry." Tony ran a hand through his hair. As he followed his boss through the front door and into the entrance way he wondered if Gibbs would mind if he skipped dinner and went straight to bed. The noise hit him like a wave.

"Surprise."

"Hey," Abby swatted him lightly on his good arm. "Do that later. We're not finished yet."

"Sorry," Tony took one last look at the spectacular photos, before regretfully putting the book on the coffee table besides Abby's home made card and the Six Flags tickets. "It looks incredible Ducky. I can't wait to see it for myself."

"I thought you'd like it," Ducky preened. "I first went there myself when I was a young man. Just graduated from Medical School. I do recall there was this .."

"Duck."

"Well, maybe I'll tell you when you are feeling a little stronger."

"My turn," Kate stepped forward, placing an awkwardly wrapped package on the coffee table. "I hope you like it."

"You lied to me, Boss." Tony accused, as he tugged happily at the wrapping. "This is definitely a party."

"Rule 42." Gibbs grinned openly at him.

"What's Rule 42?" Kate wanted to know.

"To get the right answers you have to ask the right questions." Tony scowled. He'd only asked if Gibbs had organised a party and from the look of the decorations this had definitely been Abby's work "You still knew about it."

"Doesn't count." Gibbs was smug.

Any response Tony might have made was lost as his eyes widened and he revealed a large round glass bowl complete with waving weed plant, and two fish.

"Oh, they're so cute." Abby cooed as she taped on the glass.

Tony said nothing.

"Its like a complete environment, so they won't mind too much when Gibbs makes us work those 22 hour days." Kate was talking. "And I thought it might do you good to have something else to look after with us all fussing over you."

"They need names," Abby declared. "What are you going to call them?"

"I don't know," Tony said slowly. "I never had a pet before."

"What? Never?" Abby was aghast. "Man, your parents were mean."

"Abby." Gibbs murmured.

"Well, they were." Abby huffed, at the implied reprimand.

"That one looks like you," Tony nudged her, as he pointed at a fish with a black band around its throat. "And that skinny one with the deer in the headlights expression. That's gotta be Probie. Hey, maybe I'll get lots of little baby Goths and Geeks."

"Do you really like them?" Kate worried.

"They're great, thank you," Tony gave her a warm, sincere smile. Then he spoiled it with a rakish grin. "It'll be a real chick magnet. Make me look like the caring sensitive type."

At Gibbs insistence they took a break for coffee and cake. Kate teased Gibbs for his caffeine dependence, but McGee suspected that their boss was more concerned about making sure Tony ate something, if the large slice he cut and stuck under his Senior Field Agent's nose, with a pointed glare was any indication.

"All right, Timmy," Abby bounced in her self assigned role as Mistress of ceremonies. "Your turn."

They were all a little surprised when McGee pulled a small black velvet box for his pocket.

"Something you want to say to me, Probie?" Tony teased.

"Um, Happy Birthday?" McGee said cluelessly, as the others smirked.

Tony shook his head before opening the box to find a pair of solid silver cuff links, in the shape of two tiny polished handguns, accurate in every detail.

"I mean, I know you have to re-qualify," McGee tried to explain. "But with Gibbs teaching you, we all know that's just a formality, right?"

"Wow." Abby admired them.

"Where on earth did you find them?" Kate wanted to know.

"I bought them online," McGee admitted. "It took a while to track down a store that made anything like that. Then I had to pay extra for customs duties and priority shipping. I was worried they wouldn't get here in time."

"Customs duties?" Gibbs asked.

"The only place I could find them was in Australia."

Tony ran his thumb over on of the tiny, shiny, pistols, inordinately touched both by the faith in his abilities and by the trouble McGee had gone to, to find him such an appropriate gift, bringing it halfway across the world.

"It was a bad idea, wasn't it?" McGee fretted, un-nerved by his silence. "Its not the sort of thing a guy should buy for another guy."

"No," Tony's voice was a little rough. "No, I really, really like 'em. Thanks, Tim."

McGee beamed, warmed both by Tony's use of his first name and the sharp, approving nod that Gibbs sent in his direction.

"Alright people," Gibbs noteed that DiNozzo was looking a little worn around the edges. "Time to call it a night."

"Are you really alright?" Abby worried as she hugged him goodbye at the door. "You still look more like one of Ducky's patients than you."

"The Hospital said I was good to go," Tony reassured. "And Gibbs agreed."

"He just wants you where he can control your every waking moment," Abby disputed that.

"I'm in better shape than McGee," Tony smirked, not having missed the careful way that the younger Agent was moving. "How's that going?"

"Its not so bad. Gibbs is actually a very good teacher," McGee made a face. "Although, I think I have bruises on my bruises."

"You'll get used to it." Tony grinned at him. "Don't worry, he won't do any permanent damage."

"Don't bet on it," The swat on the back of his head lacked its usual force.

"Ow, I was talking about McGee."

"Well, I wasn't. You just got out of the Hospital. Get your butt back inside before you catch your death."

"See, every moment," Abby smirked. She called up the stairs. "Kate, we're leaving!"

"Coming."

"Tony, I put your suitcase in the spare room," Kate came down the stairs. "I think I included everything you might need. But I couldn't fit in more than three different types of hair products, sorry."

"Funny." Tony rolled his eyes.

"And I put that large box that was delivered to your apartment in the kitchen."

"Box?" Tony stiffened.

"Yeah, about so big," Kate gestured. "It was outside your door."

"Great," Tony ran a hand through his hair. "Just great."

"DiNozzo .." Gibbs voice was oddly compassionate.

"I'm going to bed," Tony cut him off. "Thanks for coming guys. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Gift from an ex-girlfriend?" Kate hazarded, as she watched him retreat up the stairs.

"Worse than that," Gibbs expression was grim. "Its from his father."

"And this is a bad thing?" Kate surmised.

"Last year, he bought him a power sander," Abby scowled. "The man knows nothing about Tony and cares even less."

"Go home, people, its late," Gibbs sighed. "I'll handle this."

As the little group walked towards the car the last thing he heard was McGee's bemused voice. "Doesn't anyone else think it was strange that there was no present from Gibbs?"