Tony stood up straight, his hands clasped behind his back tightly as his father walked around him slowly. He could feel his father's eyes burn into him, eyeing him up and making Tony feel like her was seven again. The living room looked exactly like it did ten years ago, it was his father's favourite room and no amount of pestering by wives convinced him to change it. The familiar smell of antique wood and musty books filled Tony's nostrils. Anthony ended up in front of Tony, his hands clasped behind his back, matching Tony's formal pose. Anthony DiNozzo Sr. looked nothing like his son. The only thing they had in common was their height. Anthony's salt and pepper hair was slicked back and his Italian olive skin and dark eyes differed from Tony's sparking green eyes and light complexion. It was obvious that Tony's good looks came from his mother's side.

"You're here because?" Anthony asked. His voice was cold and impassive.

"I've quit my job. I realise now that I was playing out some childish fantasy playing cops and robbers. My life is better suited to other things," Tony lied, his voice similar to his father's. There was no hint of jock-Tony or any of it's versions. Anthony's expression said nothing. He walked away from Tony and began pouring himself a drink. The ice-cubes clinked into the expensive cut glass whisky tumbler. He lifted the stopper out of the decanter and poured himself a generous amount of single malt whisky. "I thought you quit drinking?"

Anthony looked up at his son as he took a sip "I thought you hated my life, obviously thinks change," Anthony sat down on the nearest leather chair. "You didn't answer my question Anthony," Tony winced as his father said his name. Only his father called him Anthony and only his father could fit so much disappointment into one word. Anton-ee, he called him, sounding the "ee" with an almost English accent. "Why are you here?"

"I didn't know where else to go. I was hoping-"

"Hoping what?"

"That we could put the past behind us and start again. I'd like to come work for you, father."

Anthony narrowed his eyes "Why now?"

"I guess I had to grow up at some point," Tony said, keeping his eyes trained on his father.

Anthony placed his glass on the nearby table and stood up. "There's a lot of history that can't be put behind us Anthony. I'll never be able to forgive the way you threw everything I offered you in my face."

"And I'm sorry for that."

"Are you? I offered you so much Anthony, what makes you think the offer is still on the table?"

"Because you want an heir," Tony answered calculatingly. "You don't want just anyone to take over the family business. I'm the right person for the job and I have the surname to prove it."

"You're very sure of yourself Anthony."

Tony cocked his head to one side and answered simply "Family trait," Anthony stayed silent, his steely eyes still displaying disapproval. Tony knew he couldn't change his father's view of him overnight. "So?"

"I've yet to make up my mind Anthony, after all you need me a lot more than I need you." Anthony brushed passed Tony and began to walk away. He stopped suddenly and turned slightly. "You know where you're bedroom is, I'll expect you at eight o'clock for dinner. Don't be late," He added before disappearing out of sight. Tony let out the deep lungful of air he'd been holding and relaxed his shoulders. He unclasped his hands and stuck them into his pockets. He exited the room and into the large entrance hall. Newcomers to the house never ceased to be impressed by the cavernous hall. The marble floor shone underneath two large chandeliers. Works by Constable and Millais hung on the walls leading to a grand staircase. Tony walked up the marble staircase and up a second staircase to the second floor. At the end of the extravagantly decorated corridor was his old bedroom.

He sighed as entered the room his hadn't seen in over ten years. In wasn't a normal teenagers bedroom. There was no obscure 80's bands on the walls, no records piled up next to a guitar or muddy boots lying next to a football. It looked like any other room in the house. A four poster bed, trompe l'oeil and antique furniture. Everything in the room must have cost a fortune but then that was the life of the DiNozzo family, flaunting their riches for the world to see. The maid had already placed his suitcase beside his bed and reached for it to begin unpacking.

"I still can't believe it," Abby said as she paced up and down her lab. She took a sip from her caf-pow.

"Abs, it's been two days," McGee replied from his seat.

"Exactly!" Abby exclaimed, pointing at McGee.

He frowned. "Huh?"

"I've been trying his cell every couple of hours and no answer, I've tried his home phone and no answer. I went to his apartment and there's not sign of him!"

"How'd you get into Tony's apart- on second thoughts I don't want to know."

"This isn't like him Timmy."

"Maybe it is."

"Timmy!" Abby scolded.

"What!" McGee defended himself "Tony has more personalities than a Robin Williams comedy," Abby sniggered. "This could be exactly what he's like. He did leave Peoria and Philly and Baltimore without much explanation."

"Are you saying that Tony's never coming back?" Abby asked with a look of sheer horror on her face.

"All I'm saying is that if he wanted to talk to us we'd be able to get hold of him. He obviously wants nothing to do with us."

"Don't say that McGee! He loves us…Well me at least" Abby slumped into the other chair, exhausted from all her pacing and worrying.

"Gibbs has already started to look for a replacement."

"What?"

"I saw him looking through agent's files earlier," He confirmed.

"Someone needs to talk to him," Abby said with a shake of her pigtails.

"Who, Gibbs or Tony?"

"Both of them," Abby decided. "They're both as stubborn as each other,"

"The secretary pool has begun a petition to bring Tony back," McGee said.

"Tony was the only agent that flirted with them," Abby added.

"I think even Ziva's missing him,"

"What? Psycho-spy is showing emotion? I don't believe that,"

"Come on Abs, she's not totally inhuman" Abby gave McGee a look "Okay, that sounded better in my head."

Abby smiled but let the subject drop "Okay so how do we confront Gibbs about Tony?" The pair sat in silence as they decided on their action plan. A light bulb went off in McGee's head a minute later and he looked up.

"We don't."

"That doesn't solve anything McGee!"

"No Abs, we don't confront Gibbs, we get someone else to."

"Who?"

McGee smiled "Who else?"

Abby smiled as she caught on to McGee's plan "I like you're thinking Timmy, but how do we get him to confront Gibbs?"

McGee shrugged "Ask nicely?"