Abby smiled as Palmer came into her lab. It faded fast at the look on the young man's face. She couldn't quite describe it, but it filled her body with dread. Something had happened, something bad.

'Is everything okay Jimmy? Is it about Breena? Has she been hurt?' Abby babbled.

'Abby stop I…'Jimmy took a deep breath. 'You're not going to like it.'

'Like what? Please just tell me you are scaring me.' She begged.

'I didn't mean to frighten you. It's about Ziva and McGee, they came to see me. They don't like how things have changed regarding Tony.' Palmer watched as Abby nodded.

'Yeah, they came to see me earlier trying to get information about Tony out of me. I didn't tell them anything, and then one of my babies beeped thank goodness.' She chuckled and then noticed that her friend hadn't joined in. 'There's more to this, isn't there?' That was when Abby knew she was going to really, really hate what was coming next.

'Yes there is.' Palmer had to tell her, he didn't have any choice. It killed him inside knowing that he had to do this. Abby had always had a close and personal relationship with McGee, and everyone still thought that they would end up together. What he was about to say would probably stop that altogether. Abby would never forgive McGee or Ziva for planning to ruin Tony for their own selfish reasons. 'They came to me because they thought I would be in agreement with them.'

'In agreement about what?'

'Tony, they thought because he called me autopsy gremlin that I would be angry with him. They've come up with a plan.'

'What plan?' Abby never understood why McGee hated being called probie. Palmer loved his nickname, in his mind it was a compliment. To him it meant Tony liked and trusted him.

'They want to make Tony look incompetent, and when he denies any mistakes, it will make him look like a liar.' Palmer just stood there and waited for Abby to absorb the information.

'But Tony isn't, he's one of the bet NCIS or most other agencies have. Look at how many job offers he gets. How are they going to do this?' She couldn't get her mind around anyone looking at Tony like that.

'They're going to sabotage a case, and make it look like it was all down to Tony.'

'Oh my god, don't they understand what that could do not only to Tony, but to the case itself. Someone could get away with murder; the victims of whatever crime it was wouldn't get any justice.' Abby didn't want to believe it, they were a family. McGee wouldn't or couldn't do something like this, he wasn't like that. There was something deep within her that stopped her from voicing McGee's innocence. She had seen the way he changed, and more so with Ziva's influence. She could actually see them do it.

'Do you believe me?' Palmer asked quietly.

Abby whipped around to stare at him. She hadn't realised that she had started to pace. 'Yes Jimmy I believe you. We need to go and tell Gibbs.'

'Do I have to go with you?' He knew that Gibbs was going to be furious and he didn't want to be collateral damage.

'Yes you do. Gibbs will have questions for you.' Abby suddenly froze. 'Oh god, what is this going to do Tony?' He was going to be devastated when he found out that two people he considered family were willing to do this.

Palmer reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. 'We will show him that his real family will be there and that we will support him.'

'Yes we will.' She squeezed his hand. No matter what happened she would help Tony, and show how much he meant to her. Abby realised that she hadn't been as supportive as she could have been. It made her feel awful that she hadn't even noticed what was going on. What kind of person was she? Abby promised herself that she would apologise to him and then do better.

Abby quickly checked around quickly to make sure that everything was turned off, once that was done she headed off with Palmer. They had to go and talk to Gibbs and Tony. She knew that Tony was at Gibbs' home tonight. This was going to be hard for the two men she loved dearly. At least they had each other, and hopefully it would bring them closer. In her eyes, it was obvious that they had feelings for each other. At times, she wanted to bang their heads together and then lock the in a room with a bed, lube and condoms. If anything good came from this, she hoped it was that.

XXXXX

Reid had such a great evening. He and Hotch had talked about anything and everything except work. He had to go to know the older man a lot better, and it made him love him even more. At times, he thought Hotch might have shared those same feelings, but he was scared to do or say anything. There was also Tony to think about. Reid knew that Tony would be happy for him; they had both been honest about the unrequited love they both had for their immediate bosses.

XXXXX

Hotch had really enjoyed himself as he walked back with Reid to his apartment. He had to keep reminding himself that this was not a date. The two men turned to each other once they reached Reid's door.

'I had a good time tonight.' Reid played with the strap of his bag as he spoke.

'So did I, we should do it again.' Hotch held his breath and waited for an answer.

'I'd love that.' Reid froze as Hotch's face came closer and then kissed him gently on the cheek. The young genius couldn't stop the beaming grin that appeared on his face.

'I'll see you tomorrow.' Hotch smiled and walked back down the stairs.

Reid gently placed a hand on the side of his face. He could still feel where the lips had touched his skin. It seemed an unusual thing to do unless the senior agent had feelings for him too. The smile faded as he thought about Tony. The two of them were going have to talk. Dare he risk things with a man he truly liked and cared for, to a man who may or may not have feelings for him, and the one that he loved?

XXXXX

Hotch felt so much lighter. He hadn't planned on kissing Reid it just happened. The reaction had been better than he thought. What was he going to do now?

XXXXX

The steaks had been finished and they were just relaxing and drinking their beers.

'So the BAU?' Gibbs finally asked since Tony hadn't mentioned anything.

Tony turned to look at the older man, and knew that he was going to have to explain his studying and why he was doing that. The hardest part was going to be explaining how McGee, Ziva and sometimes Gibbs made him feel.

'You're not going to like it.' Tony warned him.

Gibbs frowned at him. 'Well, if that's the case I definitely need to hear it.' He hated the fact that Tony felt as if he couldn't tell him something.

'Okay, you've started to notice how McGee and Ziva have been acting.' Tony waited for Gibbs to nod. 'It's been like that for a while, and when you're not around it can be a lot worse. Don't say anything until I'm finished?' He begged.

'Okay, carry on.' Gibbs' voice was soft. He was livid at himself that not only Tony felt as if he couldn't tell him, but also he hadn't noticed. There were so many things he could have done differently looking back at things now. He might have also driven Tony to work elsewhere.

'They started to make me feel worthless. They came at me from different angles my lack of education, my lowly training as a cop, is how I think Ziva phrased it. Then there was you, and you'd just let it go. Every time you did the two of them became worse. I guess to them it seemed as if you'd agreed with their opinions.' Tony stopped speaking and just waited.

Gibbs knew that he promised not to talk, but he had to say something. He wanted to show Tony that he did care about him. 'I'm sorry I failed you.'

Tony just stared at the man he'd been in love with for years. He'd been so afraid that Gibbs would have been angry at him. That one simple sentence gave him the courage to carry on knowing that Gibbs wouldn't dismiss what he said out of hand.

'I needed to do something just for me. I guess I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't what they thought. I went to a seminar and that is where I met Spencer Reid. He was a guest speaker, and he also works at the BAU as a profiler.' Tony watched the different emotions run across Gibbs' face. He hated the fact that he was the one who was putting pain there. 'To make a long story a little bit shorter I am taking a course in behavioural analysis. Abby and Palmer have been helping me when I study.'

'That's why you are with them all the time, and when you suddenly stop talking when someone appears. Why didn't you tell me?'

'I was afraid that you would agree with them, and expect me to fail.'

'God Tony, I would never…' Gibbs stopped for a moment. 'Why did you stay with the team then?'

'Because you were the first person to see beyond the image. There were times when you would look at me and I could see how proud you were of me. I stayed because I will always believe in you. I thought things would get better. I wasn't ready to give up yet.'

'I'm glad that you stayed. I am proud of you Tony. I should have told you a long time ago that you're the best young agent I have ever worked with. You're also my friend. I'm sorry that it became this bad and I didn't do anything to stop it.'

'Thanks, Gibbs.'

'I think it's time when we aren't at work for you to call me Jethro. You've more than earned it.'

'Okay Jethro.' Tony grinned at him as he tested out the name.

'So I guess is there is more?' Gibbs wanted to make sure that he had been told of it.

'Not much more, you know the worst of it. Spencer checks my assignments to make sure that I understand them. He makes small suggestions or suggests other papers to read. My last couple of assignments he got the other profilers to read through them. That is how they know of me. They're dealing with cases that have people murdered that are dressed as Navy personnel. They have no history of ever enlisting. That is why they wanted me to take a look through the case files. They wanted to see if I noticed anything that stood out.'

'So you're doing really well on this course? You've passed all the assignments?'

'Yep, with top marks.' Tony eyes glittered with pride.

'Well done Tony, if I had known this before I would have had no doubt that you would do great. So Vance?'

'Vance wanted to know why I was a little late coming to see him. I'd explained about the incident and that you had dealt with it. There is something I should tell you though.'

'What is it?'

'Vance had complaints from other agents on McGee's and Ziva's attitude towards me. If you hadn't done anything, he was going to step in.' Tony winced, closed his eyes and waited for Gibbs to explode. There was nothing, but then a hand touched his face softly.

Gibbs knew that he should feel angry that Vance was going to get involved in his team. He couldn't fault the man; after all he hadn't done anything. He had missed so much. It was obvious by the look on Tony's face that he expected to be yelled at. He reached out a hand and cupped the side of the younger man's face. He just waited until he could see a pair of gorgeous green eyes.

'Vance was right to want to step in. It should've never become that bad. I took you for granted. You let so much slide off you that I expected this too. I never took a step back to watch how truly you were hurt, and how it looked like I agreed with their treatment of you. I hope one day I can earn back that trust you have in me.'

Tony moved his head so he put more weight on Gibbs' hand. He would've liked to stay in this moment forever.

'You earned my trust and my belief in you time and time again. It may be on the dull side at the moment, but it's still there. Just a little spit and polish and it'll be as bright as ever.'

'What did I do to earn this faith you have in me?' Gibbs felt so honoured and humbled by it. That lost look, the one full of pain had at this moment vanished. He couldn't help himself as he moved forward. His mind was screaming at him to stop, but he was acting purely on instinct. Gibbs gently pressed his lips against Tony's in a soft kiss.

Tony was sure that he was dreaming. He was being kissed by the man he loved only happened then. The kiss started to deepen and suddenly Gibbs pulled away from him.

'Oh god Tony, I'm so sorry. I know you're seeing someone. I hope this hasn't changed you still wanting to work with me?' Gibbs babbled, not sounding like himself. That was when it hit him, he sounded exactly like he did when he talked to Shannon for the first time. His eyes widened in fear. Gibbs couldn't believe it he was completely head over heels in love with Tony. What the fuck was he going to do now?

TBC