"The second case rolled around and I went to HQ to confess everything." Tony continued the story.
"Can't remember that."
"You weren't there. Palmer was the only one and I begged him not to tell you."
"Why didn't you stay?!"
"He said you were on a stakeout, besides there was nothing for me to do there."
"Homework?!"
"Did it in the first one and a half hours."
"Good boy."
"Not really, I failed a math test next…"
-Flashback-
The math test with the big red F on it was quickly stuffed into the backpack as Tony made his way out the door.
"Are you okay?" Luke asked quietly as Tony reached his locker and angrily threw in the Math's book in his locker.
"I'm fine." Luke just eyed him before quickly grabbing a note that had fallen to the floor. Tony saw his eyebrows rising when he read the note. "You are crazy! Sassing that old b***h was a given note to your Dad. He is gonna kill you Tony."
"No he won't."
"How?!"
"Like this." Tony took a pencil from his locker and signed the note "Jethro Gibbs.".
"You truly are crazy."
"He isn't home Luke, there's no way he could know."
"He still isn't?" Luke asked sympathetically.
"No."
"How long has it been now? 6 weeks?!"
"5." Tony sighed.
"Close enough. That's what the beer is all about, right?! You know this isn't the way Tony."
"It's the only way I know."
-Flashback ends-
"Hi." A pale looking Tim greeted, appearing in the kitchen doorway.
"Hi kid. How are you feeling?" Gibbs questioned careful to keep his voice neutral.
"Better. Thanks Dad."
"You really should be resting a little longer kid,"
"Okay. Hey Dad?!"
"Yeah?"
"Don't be mad at Tony, I made my own choices."
"Was there more than once?"
"No." Tony said quietly.
"Did you know your brother was drinking?" Gibbs now questioned his oldest.
"Not until it was too late, no. I may be an idiot, Dad but I'd never let Tim do that."
"Good." Gibbs acknowledged before turning towards Tim: "Bed. Now."
"Okay." Tim grumbled but made his way upstairs and only then Gibbs continued:
"Anything else you want to tell me?"
"I got into a fight."
"A fight Tony?!"
"A bully picking on a smaller kid, I stopped him, but only to let off some anger."
"So you did the right thing for the wrong reasons?!"
"Yeah kind of."
-Flashback-
Tony looked down at the kid with the bleeding nose, he hadn't punched him that hard, not really.
"Anthony Gibbs, is this your doing?" Mr. Jamison asked sternly approaching the scene. The old marine was his homeroom teacher and Tony had great respect for him.
"Yes sir."
"Why?"
"He was bullying Adam again."
"So you punched him?" The older man asked quietly.
"Yes sir."
"Then you know I have to take the three of you to the office."
"Yes sir." Tony answered following him towards the office. Mr. Jamison was the only one Tony hadn't tried to anger lately, that was all gone now though. Tony silently followed the order to sit down in a chair and wait, when it was his turn to explain things he did so and as soon as he was cleared to leave the office with another note in his hand. Walking out the door he was surprised to find Mr. Jamison there waiting for him.
"We need to talk, Tony."
-Flashback ending-
"Mr. Jamison talked to you?!"
"Yeah. He told me he was disappointed, that I knew better than to strike someone and that he would give me one chance to confess to you with only a note. If it ever happened again he would try to get in contact with you until you answered."
"Do you still have the note?!"
"Yeah. It's in my bag."
"What happened to the rest?"
"Signed them." Tony whispered focusing on the table top waiting for the explosion.
"Eyes Anthony." Tony bit his lip before warily looking up at his Dad.
"Who's signature?"
"Yours. I'm sorry."
"Eyes up Anthony."
"You forged my signature?!"
"Yes sir." Tony whispered barely keeping the tears from falling. Hearing himself say that had been the last straw in seeing how badly he had messed up.
"Tony. Calm down, son." Gibbs said gently rubbing the teen's shoulder.
"I messed up."
"We both did. Now about the party yesterday." Tony's head snapped up and his eyes pleaded with his Dad to believe him.
"I had no idea Tim would come, really, I didn't. I never would have allowed him."
"It wasn't Tony's idea." Tim suddenly said coming into the kitchen once again.
"I thought I told you to rest." Gibbs frowned.
"I needed a refill." Tim explained showing his empty glass.
"You have your own bathroom."
"Didn't think about that." Tim moaned.
"But since you are here you might want to explain what you were doing at the party." Gibbs said sternly.
"I forbid you to come!" Tony growled angrily at his brother.
"You can't boss me around Tony."
"I am your older brother."
"But clearly not smarter. You wonder why I took the beer, why I even showed up?! I was tired of seeing you self-destruct and at the end of the day…I wanted to be just like you. Just as carefree, just as…"
"You wanted to be like me?!" Tony asked disbelieving.
"Yeah. You are my older brother after all."
"So everything is my fault." Tony groaned burying his head in his hands.
"I'm lost for words." Gibbs sighed heavily.
"Good then that I ain't."
"Grandpa Mike?!" Tim asked disbelieving, making Tony sink even deeper into his chair. With his grandpa here the hope for any kind of leniency was gone. His grandpa would care less about the reason behind his actions and more about his actions. On the other hand, he had messed up greatly this time, more than ever before, so maybe his Grandpa could pick up the pieces when his Dad learned about everything that had been going on.