Tony was relieved to be home. Gibbs was with him, for which Tony was immensely grateful. It was a comfort that he hadn't realised he needed. He knew tomorrow was going to be hectic, knew that telling Rachel what had happened wasn't going to be easy at all.

"Tony, are you hungry?" Gibbs asked from the kitchen.

"Not really. But if you are, you can eat. I'm not bothered."

"If you change your mind, just say so. I'm in here if you need me."

"Thank you." Tony curled up on the couch and put on a movie. It was his way of escaping his reality.

Senior had been put back into general population in prison. He was angry about it. The guards hated him and had spread the word that he was a child abuser. The other prisoners were threatening him already, and he was getting a little worried. The loudest threat had come from his cell mate, and the threat had been of making Senior experience what he had put Tony through.

"Welcome back, big shot," said the cell mate, Johnny. "I missed you. I heard your appeal didn't get you anywhere."

"Shut up!" shouted Senior from his place on the top bunk.

"Why?" taunted Johnny. "Scared that I'll make you feel everything that you did to your kid?"

"I said to shut up!"

"And if I don't?"

"You'll regret it."

"How? Are you going to beat me up? Molest me?" Johnny laughed. "I'd like to see you try."

"Really? You would? I can arrange that." Senior jumped down to the ground, a malicious grin on his face. "Stand up."

Johnny shrugged as he stood. He wasn't scared. "Go ahead."

Senior made a fist and swung, but Johnny moved out of his way. He laughed at Senior.

"That was your best shot?"

"No, this is." Senior kicked out and hit Johnny's knee, making the guy fall to the ground. "Satisfied? Do you need more?"

Johnny swore at Senior as he got back up. The cells were open for the prisoners to have some free time, and as he got up, he called to the few friends he had made in the year he had been there. Before the guards could act, however, ten prisoners, including Johnny, were on Senior, punching and kicking him until he was unconscious.

Tony had just fallen asleep when something woke him up. He sat up in his bed, then realised that his alarm was going off. Checking the time, Tony saw that it was nine am.

"Why did I make the appointment for this morning?" he grumbled to himself as he got out of bed and headed for his shower.

A few minutes later, Tony found himself in the kitchen, drinking the coffee that Gibbs had put in front of him. He hadn't realised that his boss had stayed the night, but he was grateful for it anyway.

"What time was your appointment with Rachel today?" Gibbs asked.

"How do you know...?"

"You told me last night. Don't you remember that?"

"Yeah, I do. Sorry, I'm just really tired, that's all. The appointment's at ten. Why?"

"I'll drop you off and wait there for you. We can go to work together."

"You don't have to do that, Gibbs."

"But I will. You need the support, Tony, and sometimes, you need to ask for help, okay?"

"Alright," Tony said a moment later. "Thank you."

The drive to Rachel's office had been made in silence. Tony had been half asleep still, and Gibbs was lost in his own thoughts. It wasn't until the two men were sitting outside Rachel's office that they spoke.

"I'll be out here if you need me," said Gibbs quietly. "Even if it's to tell Rachel about yesterday's events. Alright?"

Tony nodded. "I know, Gibbs. Thank you."

Gibbs held Tony's gaze for a moment, but then seemed satisfied that Tony was being truthful.

"Tony, you can go in now," the receptionist said.

"Thank you, Claire." Tony stood up and headed to Rachel's office. He paused for a moment to take a deep, calming breath, then entered the room.

"Hey, Tony. Come and sit down," said Rachel. She was already in her seat.

Tony sat down on the soft couch again. "Thank you for this."

"Stop thanking me, Tony. I told you that there's no need for thank you's. You need help, and it's my job to help people."

"I know that, but it's nice to be thanked."

Rachel sighed, but she was smiling. "In that case, thank you, Tony, for your kind words."

"Meanie," joked Tony, though he was now feeling happier.

"Did I see Gibbs out there?"

"Yes. He's waiting for me so we can go to work together. He really is the best boss in the entire world, you know?"

"I know. Alright, let's start. I know you made this appointment to talk about what happened in court yesterday. Let's start with the judge's decision."

"Actually, it was a good decision. My dad is staying in prison for his twenty year sentence, and now he has to pay me ten grand in compensation, not that I think I'll ever see that, he isn't allowed to contact me in any way, and he will end up with a restraining order when he is released."

"That's good. Is it a relief for you?"

"Yes." Tony sighed. "I just want to know why he did it. I mean, what could possibly be the reason?"

"Think back to when you and I were first talking about what he did to you. Do you remember the look on his face when I said that I thought he abused you because he couldn't get it up for another adult?"

Tony shook his head. "I think that was after he punched me."

"Right. He looked so angry, yet shocked. It isn't the first time I've seen that look on someone's face after the truth has been revealed."

"So, in other words, he took out his frustrations on me. That was the reason?"

"I believe so, yes. It's a crappy reason, I know, but you'd be surprised how many child abusers do what they do for that reason."

"He ruined my life, Rachel."

"He did, I know. Tell me about what happened in court. Did he talk?"

"He tried to say that he didn't do anything wrong at all, that I made up lies to put him in jail."

"I know that's not true. What did the prosecutor say?"

"He told the judge that he had my medical records from when I was a child, as well as my current medical records. He said he had statements from staff, past and present, in my dad's house, as well as my statement and a statement from my doctor. He said he had a statement from you and video footage of my dad attacking me in Gibbs' front yard."

"Did you make that statement you mentioned?"

"Yes. It was so hard to stand there and look at him, Rachel. It was so hard."

"I bet it was. But you still did it?"

"Yes."

"Then you should be proud of yourself. You stood up to him and told him what he did to you. You were brave, Tony. Not many people at all would do that."

"I don't feel proud."

"And that would be normal after everything you've been through. Just keep telling yourself that you did a good job in court, and you'll see how quickly you feel proud of yourself."

"Are you sure?"

"Very. Now, I know that self-worth is a big issue for you, and after what you went through as a child, I can't say that I'm surprised. How you turned out to be a decent, loyal, caring person when you had no-one to guide you is beyond me, but that is exactly what you are. You need to remember that, because you need to see how much you are loved. You are a human being, and that automatically gives you the right to be valued. Do you understand that?"

"Of course."

"Good. I think you need to work on building up that feeling of being worthy, but it's not something that can be done overnight. Are you willing to try to rebuild that self-worth?"

"Yes."

Rachel nodded. She gave Tony a smile. "Then let's get started on it."