Monday

Chapter 4

It's Monday morning, around the start of work time. Tony has been sitting at his desk for the passed three hours, staring at a picture of him and Jamie together. Ziva and McGee step off the elevator together, as they've been car-pooling the passed couple of weeks. They both walk into the work area and notice Tony just staring at a picture.

"Tony… Are you alright?" Ziva asked.

"Not really."

"You wanna talk about it?" McGee asked.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"You know what, this has gone on long enough… What the hell is bothering you?" Ziva asked.

Suddenly, Gibbs steps off the elevator. He stands there for a couple seconds glaring at Tony who notices and just looks down as he's ashamed of what he did. Gibbs walks over.

"Both of you go to your desks." Gibbs addresses Ziva and McGee.

Ziva and McGee walk to their desks and sit down. Gibbs walks around Tony's desk and grabs his shoulder. He hoists him up and drags him to the interrogation room. Once in the interrogation room, Gibbs slams the door and shoves Tony against the wall. With both hands he goes to grab Tony, he crosses his hands and grips onto his shirt, holding the cross of his hands against Tony's neck. They stare each other in the eyes.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't break your fingers for a second time?!" Gibbs stated in anger.

"Larry Dermont…" Tony responded.

Gibbs immediately calms down and lets Tony go.

"That's what the phone-call was about three weeks ago?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes." Tony answered.

"You didn't dump Jamie cuz you don't love her… You dumped her cuz you do. Why didn't you come to me?"

"I don't know. The day of the phone-call every memory of what Larry did all hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been disoriented, distracted and didn't know what to do. I know I should've come to you. And what I did last night…"

"You really hurt her."

"That's not what I wanted… It's just… When Larry started sending me eyes, it was always…" Tony begins getting choked up and tries to not show emotion.

"He started killing the women you dated."

"He killed 19 women I dated in Baltimore. And he always sent me their eyes. Do you have any idea how long it took for me to push that entire case to the back of my mind?"

"I can only imagine. And I know how that case affected your job to the point where you eventually got fired."

"The passed three weeks all of it has been haunting me. It's the same haunting feeling I had back then. And I don't want him going after Jamie. But I know I fucked up by not coming to you and I hurt Jamie in the process."

Tony sits in the chair and busts out in tears when he really didn't want to. Gibbs drags a chair over and sits next to him.

"I love her… And hurting her… The one thing I never wanted to do… Is what I did last night." Tony wipes a couple tears away. "I wish I wasn't getting this way in front of you."

"Showing emotions isn't a bad thing. And don't worry… What happens here stays between us, so if you need to cry, then do so. I won't think any less of you." Gibbs said.

"Danny hasn't been at work since Wednesday."

"Your old partner."

"Yeah… When I got home last night, there was a package waiting for me. He sent me eyes again. And I'm willing to take a bet those eyes belong to Danny."

"Where are the eyes now?"

"I brought them down to Autopsy and I brought the blood note to Abby's lab. I've been here for the passed three hours staring at a picture of me and Jamie together."

Tony keeps wiping a couple tears away and tries to not look at Gibbs as he's somewhat embarrassed about his emotional state.

"I miss Jamie so much." Tony stated.

Tony starts leaning to the side, toward Gibbs. Without hesitation, Gibbs wraps his right arm around Tony. Tony's face finally plummets into Gibbs chest as he continues crying.

"Just let it all out Tony." Gibbs said.

"Oh God… What have I done?" Tony stated. "I want Jamie back. I miss her so badly."

"We'll get this fixed."

"How?"

Gibbs stands up and Tony leans back a bit.

"Do you love Jamie?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes, I do." Tony said as he looks upward at Gibbs.

"Then let's find those bodies and put Larry where he belongs."

Gibbs extends his hand toward Tony. Tony looks at Gibbs' hand for a couple seconds. Then he places his hand in Gibbs's hand. Gibbs helps Tony to his feet.