"Tony!" Gibbs said and ran to him. Clapping him on his back to help the coughing and gave him a bottle of water.

Soon the coughing stopped but his breathing was still irregular. Gibbs held Tony close to him so his head was on his chest. "Match my breathing Tony. That's it son." Gibbs said and runs his hand through Tony's hair. "You're okay."

"Oh my. You're Tony? Tony DiNozzo?" Heather asked.

"Doctor Willis?" Tony asked breathless.

"Yes Tony." She said with a smile. "Uhmm I got my bag in my car maybe I could check him out?" She asked Jackson and Gibbs.

"I think that is a wonderful idea Doctor Willis. It's time that boy sees a doctor." Jackson said and heather nodded before she left to get her bag.

Carefully Tony stood up. "I am fine. It was just a tickle. I was holding it for awhile that is why I got a coughing fit. Seriously I am fine."

"Still the same are you not Tony?" Heather said as she came back in the store.

"Look who's talking. Still always helping someone. I mean who has a medical bag in her car if she is retired? " Tony said and grinned.

"I am retired, doesn't mean I don't know how to do my job anymore young man." Heather said sternly.

"Why don't we go inside the house. We could talk there and check Tony out." Gibbs said and Heather nodded.

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Tony and Heather sat in the living room while Gibbs got them some drinks.

"So Uhmm haven't see you in awhile. How are you?" Tony begins.

Heather was looking in her bag when Tony start to speak.

She smiled. "I am good Tony. And you're right it has been awhile. But that doesn't mean I didn't want too. I always wondered what kind of man you became. A good one as I can see. Take your shirt off please." Heather said.

"I am sorry my father..." Tony was cut off by Heather who put her finger on his mouth.

"It was not your fault. We talk in a minute my dear. That is why I came. But now I want to listen to your lungs. Now take your shirt off." Heather said with her stethoscope in her hand.

"Do what she says Tony." Gibbs said as he came with the drinks. Tony sighs but did what was asked. All the time Tony was watching Gibbs. Gibbs would ground him.

A couple of minutes later she was done. "I am hearing something. You had lung problems before?" She asked curiously. Tony sighs and clapped his face. Gibbs shook his head and told her about his lungs.

Heather looked shocked. "You're kidding right? Child can't go anything easy with you?"

Tony grinned. "Well some of my colleagues are saying I am a magnet of trouble."

"Sheesh I wonder why they are thinking that." Gibbs said sarcastically.

"Hey! It's not that I am looking for it."

"No that is why there is a magnet." Gibbs said.

Tony looked at him and Heather smiled. "Well not only trouble, he found you did he not?"

Gibbs smiled and ruffles Tony's hair. "The best day of my life."

"You are serious? You liked that I punched you in the face?" Tony said and grinned. Gibbs gave him a headslap. "Oww."

"You know what I mean." Gibbs said and Heather looked shocked.

"You... you know about his past and you..." Heather stuttered.

"Uhmm no doc that is not... he is not... it doesn't really hurt." Tony said.

"You said Oww Tony that means it hurt. Anthony because of what happend with your father doesn't mean you have to except..." Heather begins.

"Wait a minute lady. I will never abuse Tony. And l mean never. I don't know what you are suggesting..." Gibbs begins angry.

"Uhmm let's all calm down. Doc it's fine really. Gibbs will never hurt me. The headslap, it's just like... uhm... like... a swat on the backside but then a lovely tap on the head. Yeah like that." Tony said happy when he came up with that explanation.

Both Gibbs and Heather looked at him if he was crazy. "You are comparing a spanking to a headslap?" Gibbs asked confused.

"Uhmm nooooo. Uhmm I didn't explain that right I think."

"You think? Otherwise I believe you never had a really good spanking before. I could demonstrate..." Gibbs said.

"Oh no no no that is not necessary. A headslap is like a love tap? Better?" Tony said innocent.

"Like a wake up call?" Gibbs said.

"Yeah yeah and that. Good one." Tony said happy and Gibbs shook his head.

Heather smiled at their interaction and shook her head. "I am sorry. I may have overreact. I couldn't always protect you when you were little Anthony but I see you found a lovely family you can trust."

Tony smiled. "Yes I have."

"So what do you suggest with his lungs?" Gibbs asked.

"Oh right. Uhmm you said you are already using your inhaler and have antibiotics so I could give you some cough syrup and maybe a nebulizer to clear the airways. I think a combination of those will help." Heather said.

"Good I will get it right away. In the mean time why don't you two talk." Gibbs said as he stood up.

Tony's eyes widened when Gibbs stood up to leave. Gibbs smiled and ruffles his hair before he whispered in his ear. "Talk to her. It will do you both good. I will be back as soon as I can." Gibbs left after that.

Tony looked nervously at Heather when Gibbs left. "Uhmm so.."

Heather lay a hand on Tony's shoulder and smiled kindly. "You found a new father. Someone who cares about you."

"How do you know?" Tony asked confused.

"He called you son and the way he spoke about you. Also doctor Mallard said some things and now I am sure."

"Oh uhmm..." Tony scratched his head.

"It's a good thing Tony and I am happy for you. You deserve someone who will take care of you."

"Uhmm thanks?" Tony said he didn't knew exactly what to say.

Heather smiled. "I think you are wondering why I am here. Gibbs said that maybe it was a good idea if we spoke to each other. So we could put the past behind us. I first didn't want to come because I was a reminder of your past but Gibbs made me think. Maybe we need to do that so we can close it."

Tony looked at her. He knew the story now why she was gone so suddenly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Well I was wondering if you had questions? I was there one moment and than I was gone."

"Yeah I know. I didn't understand why but now I know my father fired you and treated you. I am sorry to hear that. I wish I could have done something so you didn't had to live in fear. But it's good to know that you at least tried something."

Heather smiled sadly and ran a hand over Tony's head. "You have nothing to be sorry about. We both know how your father is. I could never help you why do you think you could help me? You were still a young child."

Tony looked away. "I don't know. You tried to help me but what did you got, threats till the end of your career. It's not fair."

"And leaving a child with an abused parent is? Anthony we both wanted something. Help each other but we couldn't. Maybe we can now."

Tony looked confused. "What you mean? Are the man back who were following you? You got threats?"

"No no Anthony. They stopped when I retired. But I wanted to see you so we could have a decent conversation than me walking away without saying anything."

"Okay I could understand why you wanted that even if I already knew what happened. It's good to see you. Knowing you are well." Tony said with a smile.

"Thank you. So this helped me. The conversation I had with Gibbs the other day made me wonder. Why would he ask when I left you and how many years ago?"

Tony runs a hand through his hair. "Oh uhmm... I uhmm I lied about my age and Gibbs found out. You were the confirmation. I was older on paper than I am in real time."

"Why did you change your age?" Heather wanted to know.

"Easier to get a job." Tony struggled.

"Or easier to hide from you father?" The expression on Tony's face was all she needed. "Oh Tony please tell me you are not still running away from him?"

Tony looked ashamed. "Got away when I was 14. He never found me. I doubt he is still looking."

Heather suddenly held him in his arms. She could feel Tony tense up. "Oh my dear child. You still don't have your peace. Does your family know? Your team?"

"Uhm Gibbs and Jackson. They know for now. Uhmm Heather really I am fine.(cough) He hadn't contact me since I walked away. He doesn't know where I am. I am fine. I got a new family and I got a team I can count on." He said with a smile.

Heather let go of him and looked at him for a moment. "I see you are happy now Anthony. They are really good for you my dear boy. Never forget that. Trust Gibbs and his father. They seem like good people."

Tony grinned. "Yeah I saw that when you accused him."

Heather laughed. "Yes not my best moment. I was just worried about you but when I saw you interacting with Gibbs it took all my worries away. I never saw you speaking with someone so relaxed. He is really good for you."

Tony smiled. "So was this the conversation you were looking for?" He asked curiously.

"Knowing that you are well and taken care of yes. It took some of my worries away that I was still carrying on with me."

"You know you didn't had to. You were only there for a few years. It was your job at the time. Gibbs has a rule. When the job is done walk away."

"That is not always that easy sweetheart. The scars are still there. On the inside but also on the outside." Heather said as she stood up.

Tony also stood up confused. "You know it's not your fault right?"

Heather sighs. "I regret some of my decisions I made at that time and that time you took the fall for it."

"He took the fall from what?" Gibbs asked when he enters the living room. He heard parts of the conversation.

Heather looked at Tony with sad eyes and Tony looked angry at her.

"Well are one of you going to tell me?" Gibbs asked impatiently.

Heather took a deep breath. "I am the reason he has those scars on his back."