Summary: It's always hard when someone in the family dies. And for Tony, when Mike Franks dies - it is up to him to provide his little brother and little sisters with the comfort only he can. As a big brother.
It's always difficult when someone dies. Even if they had been sick. For a long time, if someone knew and couldn't do anything they felt guilty. And that guilt could eat at you. Tony would often wonder if Gibbs felt guilt over his girls dying, or if he would now that Mike Franks had been killed right outside his door. The sound of thunder masking the sound of the gunshots, until the last. Rain had washed away most of their evidence, would they be able to get him? To avenge Franks? Was it all worth it? Would any of it be worth it in the end?
Come on, Probie! Mike Franks' voice said in Gibbs' head, you know better than to doubt the job! You've been doing this long enough to know to trust in your team! DiNozzo knows what he's doing, Tim's been right there behind him and Ziva she'll follow on with them! Abby will go over and over what evidence she does have til it falls into place! You trust in the team, Probie! It was still amusing to Gibbs that if Tim was irked by Tony calling him 'Probie', Gibbs – now at NCIS in excess of 20 years – was still called that by Franks. But he had never even thought to complain.
When Franks retired and gave the Team Lead to Gibbs, it had been a transition that Jenny Shepard and Leon Vance had seen coming but Gibbs didn't. He didn't think he was ready but as easily as Gibbs had known Tony would, he fell into the roll and found that even though he lost Jenny and Leon to ventures beyond the office, Stan Burnley made a fairly good replacement. But it wasn't until 2001 when he met Detective Anthony DiNozzo that he knew he'd found the replacement he needed for Burnley. And for 3 years it was just the two of them.
Father and Son.
But his son was ready to become something more. His Senior Field Agent was ready to be promoted.
To Big Brother.
When a member of your family dies, it is hard on everyone. But especially hard on the kids. And when it's a member of the family before you were a part of, despite not knowing them as well as your Dad might have, it still hurts. That is why the loss of Mike Franks hurt so much. When a loss like Franks occurs is cuts so deep that everything falls to the eldest son. He is charged with looking after his younger siblings. That job at NCIS falls to Tony. And after the death of Franks, it comes time for him to step up. When Ziva excuses herself from Autopsy, Tony follows her – after silent instruction from Gibbs - and joins her in the elevator.
"There is always another monster," she whispered as she tried to bravely fight back her tears.
"Yep." Tony said, at a loss of what to say to make her feel better.
"I mean we pursue them but we just keep making targets of ourselves." She said, the tears threatening to fall.
"Better us than someone who didn't sign up for it." He said.
"I just don't think I can take anymore." She stated, Tony reached out and pulled her to his chest, offering the strength and comfort that only he could give. As a man, a partner, a friend. A big brother.
"Hey," he looked down at her, she raised her eyes to his, "we're gonna get him. Okay?" he brushed his fingers on her cheek creating a tender moment between them, before the bell of the elevator made them look up. Tim and Abby stood in an embrace of family, Tim offering Abby the comfort she needed. Tony looked at them for a second as they broke apart, before inviting them in with the opening of his own embrace with Ziva.
"Bring it in." He said, Tim and Abby entered the elevator and join their embrace. Siblings offered comfort to each other. In their time of need.
All seeking the strength and comfort that only Tony could give. As a man, a partner, a friend.
A big brother.
A/N: I got this idea watching the elevator scene on YouTube. It struck me as Big brother, little brother and sisters sharing a hug after losing a family member. One they weren't close to, but they were still upset by it.