Hey everyone. Only one more chapter after this one! Almost done! Please tell me what you think, reviews mean a lot! Speaking of which, thank you to all of you who reviewed the last chapter, I was really unsure of what I wanted to do but I think I made the right decision, so thank you so much to all of you who are sticking with the story, it means a lot to me!

~Renee

Four days.

That's how long he had been sitting in this room.

Four bloody days.

Tony sighed and looked up at the ceiling, waiting. For anything.

Man he was so bored.

He supposed he should be grateful that nothing was happening, no one had hurt him since Bergan disappeared, in fact they had been surprisingly gracious, taking him to the restroom once a day, they even brought him water.

It thoroughly unnerved him.

In the six months that he had worked with the Malachi family, he had never once seen them react like this, not to someone who betrayed them. If you turned against the family retribution was swift and painful.

Tony tapped his foot.

And waited.

He could hear the sound of muffled voices behind the door and he snapped to attention, straining to hear.

The door began to open.

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Fornell's grip on the car door was tight.

"Gibbs, this is a bit extreme...even for you."

He let out a slight gasp as the car narrowly dodged a pick-up truck, horns blaring in their wake.

"We have to hurry."

Tobias glanced at his friend and saw a worry there that was seldom seen.

"You're...are you alright?"

Gibbs took his eyes off the road long enough to glare at his FBI friend.

Tobias leaned against the door and raised an eyebrow.

"You only met this kid once, you're awfully concerned about him. This goes a lot further than just trying to solve another case, which I might add, isn't even in your jurisdiction."

Gibbs grunted.

"That's why I called you isn't it?"

Tobias nodded and turned back to the window.

"Gibbs, what's so special about this kid?"

Gibbs was quiet for so long, Tobias didn't think he was going to answer.

"He saw a complete stranger in trouble and helped, then offered an entire group of rude pushy people his home. Then he's in trouble he didn't have anyone else to call so he sent his partner to those same rude pushy strangers. And I don't think he expected us to really help."

Fornell nodded and turned away, leaving Gibbs to his thoughts.

Gibbs' phone broke the silence.

"Gibbs...Yeah Abs..."

Gibbs' eyes darkened as he snapped the phone shut and gripped the wheel tighter.

Tobias was quiet as he stared out the window, choosing his words carefully.

"You know...that wasn't your fault."

Gibbs growled and jerked the wheel to the left.

"How far behind is back-up?"

Fornell slipped back into FBI mode.

"Ten minutes. How far are we?"

"We're here."

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Vittorio Malachi stood in front of Tony with a calculated expression.

Tony sat back in the chair, trying to look as relaxed as possible, with a lazy smile on his face.

"So Vittorio, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Tessie Alexander."

Tony went dead serious.

"You stay away from her. You do whatever the hell you want with me, but you leave that family alone."

Vittorio sighed and gently stroked the gun resting in his hands.

"I'm afraid it's too late for that. That family has been irrevocably changed."

Tony strained at the ropes holding him to the chair.

"You b*st*rd, what did you do?"

"No need for language Anthony. I merely needed to make a point. When you go against the family, your family must pay. And since you have so little family, we had to find the one you made. Now I'm afraid young Tessie will learn what it's like to grow up without a father. I wonder what she will think when she finds her father died searching for you, the man who will never be found. Poor Tessie. Losing her father and best friend all in the same day. I wonder how Marissa will handle it?"

Tony couldn't move, couldn't think. All he could feel was rage, pain, hatred, sorrow. He wanted nothing more than to wipe the satisfied expression from Vittorio's face, but he couldn't move. He could barely breathe.

"Do not worry Anthony, I will not leave you to your sorrow long, I am just, not cruel. Your betrayal took men from me, so I had to take one from you. Now I will simply take your life."

Vittorio raised the gun.

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Gibbs pulled the car to a halt outside of the abandoned storage facilities. Sparing a glance at Tobias, he nodded and the left the car.

"No look outs."

"Confident."

"Or stupid."

Tobias smirked. Gibbs was not in a happy place and he could almost pity the man who took this Tony. Almost.

"Do we know which one?"

Gibbs dipped his head to the farthest container before making his way.

They were halfway there before they heard the voices.

"I heard it hit the forehead, perfect shot."

"No man, chest work. The guy was alive until the ambulance got there. Last I saw the man was loaded in and still breathing."

"Ha! That man was blown away."

Gibbs' grip on his sig. went tight as he followed the conversation.

With a look to Tobias the two took the corner.

"FBI, put your hands in the air!"

One of the men grabbed for a gun, but a shot from Gibbs took him down permanently before he could bring it up. Tobias grabbed the other man.

"Seven minutes until back up."

Gibbs continued to the storage unit.

He sighed and cuffed the man to a pipe, ensuring he wasn't going anywhere.

The two came to the right number and braced themselves.

Tobias nodded and grabbed the door.

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The burst of noise and shock of pain came in the same instant.

One minute Vittorio was aiming his gun for his forehead, the next the door was open and people were shouting. And the shot went down.

Tony couldn't stop the cry of pain as the bullet hit his shoulder.

His vision went fuzzy, but that didn't stop him from seeing Vittorio hit the ground in rush of noise and blood.

Tony swallowed back the nausea the pain brought on and forced his eyes to focus on who was crashing the party now.

"Ton-DiNozzo. You with me?"

"Special Agent Gibbs." He croaked.

Gibbs nodded and pulled a knife from his pocket and made quick work of the ropes holding Tony. Tony watched him carefully, trying to get the words past a throat that really didn't want to work.

"Gibbs, tell me he lied. Please, tell me Daniel is okay. Tell me he found you and he is safe at home. Tell me… tell me everyone is okay."

Gibbs blinked.

Oh that man was cruel.

Tony tried to ask again, but he couldn't get the words out. His eyes couldn't focus.

The edges were going black and still trying to ask about Daniel, he lost consciousness.

Gibbs put pressure on the shoulder and yelled for an ambulance while whispering to Tony.

"It's going to be alright Tony, stay with me, hold on."

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Beep beep beep

"Stupid alarm. I'm fired, I don't have to get up. Go away."

"Tony."

Tony opened his eyes and looked around.

"Did I redecorate?"

"Tony!"

He looked to the left and saw a young woman, with black pigtails watching him carefully holding a vase of black roses.

"Tony...are you alright?"

"….Abby! Hi! I'm fine! I'm great...I'm on painkillers. Sh*t. Why did Daniel let them give me painkillers? I hate painkillers. They make me a little…loopy."

Abby grinned slightly and put the roses on the table next to him.

"I can tell. How do you feel?"

Tony thought about it for a moment. Actually he couldn't feel much of anything. It felt like his head was disconnected from his body.

"I feel...high."

She smiled a sad smile.

"Well considering the amount of painkillers your on, I'm not surprised."

Tony grinned at her.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you again Abby, but where's Daniel, normally he's here chewing my *ss off for landing in the hospital again."

Abby glanced at the door.

"I should let Gibbs explain."

"Abby?"

Tony didn't like the look on her face.

She paused and looked at him, before abruptly throwing herself at him. Gently wrapping her arms around him. Tony tried to hold back the jump of surprise.

She whispered in his ear.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

"Okay isn't exactly the word I would use Abigail. Our dear Anthony has been in better shape."

Abby looked up and at Ducky who stood at the door with Gibbs who spoke quietly.

"Considering the alternative?"

Ducky grimaced and gestured for Abby.

"Come along Abigail, let's give them a chance to talk."

Abby nodded and gave Tony another gentle squeeze.

"Everything is going to be okay."

Tony nodded and watched her go.

Gibbs walked in the room quietly and sat in the chair Abby had vacated.

"Agent Gibbs. Thank you. I know I'm not exactly in your jurisdiction but...thank you."

Gibbs nodded.

The two regarded each other in silence for a long minute.

Surprisingly it was Gibbs who spoke first.

"What do you remember?"

"Left Daniel a voicemail. That I am assuming you all figured out. Was dragged to some storage containers in the docks, met a very p.o'd Bergan. Vittorio showed up, talking, you came..."

There was something he needed to remember.

He didn't want to, but he needed to.

Something bad.

Daniel.

His eyes shot to Gibbs.

"Tell me he lied."

"I'm sorry."

Tony closed his eyes.

"He was shot in the head, it was very fast, he didn't feel anything."

Tony clenched his fists and leaned against the pillows.

"Didn't feel anything. That's comforting. I'll be sure to mention that when I tell Tessie."

Gibbs winced.

"Tony...I'm sorry."

Tony sighed and shook his head.

"No, please don't…. I'm not...It's not your fault Agent Gibbs...It's mine. I never should have gotten him involved in this."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow.

"You really think you could have kept him out?"

Tony stared at the window, his voice quiet.

"I could have tried."

"Tony-"

"I'm sorry Agent Gibbs, but do you mind, I'm feeling kind of tired."

Gibbs nodded and stood, walking slowly from the room.

He closed the door behind him but remained standing outside of it.

And waited.

The expected sound of shattering glass met his ears. He sighed and leaned against the door.

Ducky came walking down the hall.

"Jethro? How is he doing?"

"How do you think he's doing Duck? The man just lost his partner, his friend. His...family. Daniel was the man's d*mn next of kin."

Ducky nodded.

"Abigail did some more research on his family while he was in surgery to try and find someone to call, she wanted me to bring it to you. I think you may be more right than you know. Daniel was all the dear boy had."

Gibbs sighed and took the papers.

"Jethro… I know we haven't known the boy long, but-"

"I know Duck. I know."

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An hour later Gibbs gripped the files with angry hands as he stormed down the hall to find Abby.

She was sitting in the waiting room with Ducky.

"Gibbs?"

He handed her the papers and turned to Ducky.

"Please kindly explain to me what a twelve year old would do to justify being disowned by his father?"

Ducky's eyes widened.

"Oh my."

Gibbs turned and walked back down the hall.

"Gibbs? Where are you going?"

Abby shouted after him.

Gibbs didn't answer so Abby turned to Ducky.

The older man looked at Abby with a thoughtful look on his face.

"I believe Abigail that Tony may be just what Gibbs needs."

Abby looked towards the vanishing figure of Gibbs and the curious expression on Ducky's face.

"What? So where is he going?"

"To find what they are both looking for."

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Gibbs stepped back into the room. Tony was asleep, shards of broken glass scattered across the floor and black roses now sitting a glass of water rather in the vase that used to be whole.

He saved Abby's roses

He sighed and sat down, watching the younger man sleep. he had decided against calling his family, the kid was going to be fine, there was no need to bring estranged family members into this mess. That was up to Tony. Heaven knew so little was up to him at this point.

Gibbs looked at the younger man closely and saw the tear tracks streaming down his face as he slept.

"Oh Tony."

Gibbs shook his head.

He settled himself further into the chair and waited. He was going to have questions when he woke up, and Gibbs was going to be here to answer them.