Chapter 3

Once Gibbs and Tony got back to the NCIS building, Tony went up to the work area while Gibbs went off to do something. Tony steps off the elevator and walks over to his desk. Ziva and McGee both look up from behind their computers.

"Welcome back Tony." Ziva greeted him.

"Yeah, welcome back." McGee also greeted him.

As Tony sits down into his chair, he sees Ziva and McGee get up. The two of them walk over to Tony's desk. He looks up at them.

"Whatever you're gonna say, just spill it. Come on, let's get this over with."

"Thank you so much for coming back." McGee stated.

"Huh?"

"Every since you were fired last week, Gibbs has been a real grouch to us." Ziva said.

"You're not gonna start pick on Tony day?"

"Why would we?" McGee asked.

"Besides… Now that you're back, Gibbs' bad side will be focused on you… Not us." Ziva stated.

"Just remember Tony, you're like Superman and Spiderman to Gibbs." McGee said.

"What did he call it again?" Ziva asked.

"If I recall correctly… It was SuperSpiderMan." McGee answered.

"You two are enjoying this, aren't you?" Tony looks up at them.

"Of course." McGee said.

"Every second of it." Ziva said.

"Both of you can kiss my butt." Tony smiled.

Ziva and McGee both notice Gibbs is standing by the stairs behind Tony's desk, just glaring at them. They immediately go to sit at their desks. They both sit down as Tony stands up out of his chair. Tony walks to the front of his desk and sits on the edge of the desk.

"You know what Gibbs' problem is?"

"Tony…" Ziva tried to get his attention.

"Not now Ziva." Tony said. "If you really thought about it, it'd take all day to make a list of Gibbs' problem…"

"Tony…" Now McGee tried to get his attention.

"Hush McGee… I'm in the moment."

Gibbs walks over and stands right behind the barrier which separates Tony's desk from the back stairs that lead up to MTAC and the Director's office.

"Problem one… Is the fact that he's stubborn. He has to make everything so difficult all the time." Tony stated. "Problem two… Is the fact that he's unreasonable. I mean, how on earth can I even reason with him when he won't even listen to me in the first place. Yeah, I'm dating his daughter Jamie and she's happy…"

"Tony…" Ziva tried getting his attention once more.

Gibbs, still standing in the same place, shakes his head as Ziva looks over at him. He nods his head as to just allow Tony to continue. She then looks at McGee to give him the same signal.

"Hey! What's with the head shaking?" Tony asked.

"Just a muscle cramp." Ziva replied.

"You might wanna get that checked out." Tony said. "You remember what happened here last week. I tried telling him the truth about what was up with me and Jamie, but he took the whole thing and just threw it in my face. Which brings me to problem three… He's too judgmental. In his eyes I'm definitely not good enough for Jamie cuz I've been labeled as a womanizer. I can sorta see why there would be cause for concern, but he didn't have to completely overreact about it. Ok yeah, the whole overprotective father thing cuz he lost her for 15 years, I guess I can understand that… Well… Not really. But you do realize with me and Jamie being together, that he's gonna be very insufferable. So you two are lucky. Gibbs' bad side is gonna be directed toward me for a long."

Gibbs shakes his head.

"Basically… Gibbs is stubborn… Unreasonable… Judgmental… Way too overprotective… Definitely gonna be insufferable… Slightly self-absorbed… Unrealistic… I could also add slave driver…"

Gibbs finally walks around the barrier, in order to walk to his desk.

"You forgot the word, bastard." Gibbs said as he walks passed Tony.

Gibbs places his coffee on his desk then he turns to the team.

"The three of you… Here, now."

Tony, Ziva and McGee all walk over to Gibbs.

"You all realize I heard every single word each of you said."

"Tony's presence provoked…" Ziva tried to say.

"It's Tony's fault…" McGee tried to say.

"In my defense…" Tony tried to say.

Before any of them could finish their sentences, Gibbs smacks Ziva on the back of the head. Then he immediately smacks McGee on the back of the head. Ziva and McGee walk to their desks in order to sit down. Gibbs looks at Tony. Tony lowers his head slightly. Gibbs walks around his desk and sits down. Tony is left standing with a look of confusion upon his face.

"You're not gonna smack me on the back of the head for talking about you behind your back?"

"No."

"May I ask why?"

"No you may not."

"But…"

"You feeling left out DiNozzo?"

"Well… Kinda."

"Good… Now go away."

Gibbs looks at his computer screen. Tony turns around and begins to walk toward his desk. He then stops. He turns back to Gibbs and walks over and stands in front of Gibbs' desk again. Gibbs looks up at Tony.

"Is there a problem DiNozzo?"

"I think you know what the problem is, Gibbs."

"You feel ostracized that I didn't smack you on the back of the head."

"It's not just that… But that's a start."

"I'm unreasonable, remember… So why would I listen to what you want to say?" Gibbs stated. "And don't even think about smacking the back of your own head."

Tony snatches Gibbs' coffee cup from off the desk and tosses it in the trashcan.

"Are you trying to provoke me into smacking you in the back of the head?"

"No…" Tony answered. "I'm just trying to be as much of a prick as you are."

Gibbs, sitting in his chair and Tony standing in front of Gibbs' desk, just stare at each other. Jamie steps off the elevator and begins walking toward the work area.

"Are you ever gonna approve of me and Jamie being together?" Tony asked Gibbs.

"He better..." Jamie said as she walks into the area. "Eventually… I hope."

Jamie walks passed Tony, walks around her father's desk and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"Dad, can I borrow Tony for a little while?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really." Jamie said cheerfully.

Gibbs looks toward Tony.

"Actually… I would love for you to take him out of my sight." Gibbs stated.

"Daddy… You need to behave yourself." Jamie said.

"Just get him out of here."

Jamie walks to the front of the desk, grabs Tony by the arm and the two of them begin to walk away. As they just passed Ziva's desk, Gibbs calls their attention.

"Jamie…"

"Yes Dad?"

"Whatever you do… Don't smack him on the back of the head."

"Got it."

Gibbs watches as the two of them walk to the elevator. They step onto the elevator in order to leave the building.