I'm so, so sorry this took me so long. I got back to school and was suddenly loaded with work, it also didn't help that I had writers block for the Tibbs conversation. But it is here now! Plez, plez review, they make my day and I love the feedback, constructive criticism is also welcome. Thank you so much for the response so far!

As usual thank you to Susie666 for editing this, she was also a great help for the writer's block.

Oh and I'm REALLY sorry that last chapter had some edit notes still in, I don't know if anyone else noticed but I have now corrected it.

Some answers to reviews:

petuniatc– In NCIS LA, that serial killer called 'the phantom' called Abby a white female in her late twenties, but Pauley Perrette is 40 something (it's always confused me somewhat!) so I'm just gonna go by NCIS LA.

xenascully– I think 'yer' is an English thing, but it does mean 'yeah'. Sorry for any confusion! I have now replaced all the 'yer's with 'yeah's.

P.S There is no Fornell or Franks in this chapter because I decided against it, however Fornell will be appearing next chapter for a definite.

Gibbs closed the door behind himself, his back to the office. He took a deep breath and prepared for the inevitable. The thing he most hated was that even though he had worked with the new director for about 10 years, and knew him better than anyone, but that no longer seem true. Gibbs had no idea what to, and that killed him – Tony was like a son he never had and now he was no better than a stranger.

Pull yourself together Gibbs internally shouted meanwhile giving a mental head-slap to his cynic self. Maybe DiNozzo hadn't changed that much, maybe he was still the same old Tony. He lost his wife! Gibbs sighed it changes things, hell, I should know! He's Director, he's a father – it's been eleven fucking years!

Gibbs turned to see Tony sitting on the shiny black leather arm chair in the corner of the office, his office. He was slowly slipping a glass filled with something looking spuriously like good old Jack, while staring of in the distance.

"Enjoy your nap?"

Well at least the jokes were still there.

"Bit long"

A dry, sour laugh sounded from Tony as he took another swig. Gibbs took his own glass from the coffee table and sat down on the three seater, to the side of DiNozzo. He still didn't look at his former boss. An awkward silence followed, Gibbs figured that it was going to have to be him to break it this time. Oh crap, he was never one for words - that was always DiNozzo. There was so much to say, yet nothing. It was infuriating!

"Thank you" interrupted the silence and Tony's head snapped to Gibbs, disbelief and confusion shone in the tired green eyes. "For looking after the team." The family, 'cause they were a family.

DiNozzo's eyes abruptly darkened and Gibbs knew he had made a mistake. Tony downed the bourbon and set the glass down.

"Well, I did a crappy job at that now didn't I?"

Gibbs flinched at all the self loathing and biting sarcasm that the statement contained.

"It wasn't your fault, you can't cause or stop cancer, DiNozzo." Tony's face stayed stoic as he refilled both glasses.

"She still died in my arms."

Flashback – 9 years after the mission.

Tony had been in MTAC with McGeek all day and was finally relaxing in his office. Lounging back in the black leather chair, feet on top the desk and eyes closed, Tony let himself drift off to his Jazz, which had filled the room, before another catastrophe needed immediate attention. He had so very nearly drifted to the comforting nothingness when the shill of the cell phone made him jump. Groaning and wishing nothing more than a few more minutes alone time, he picked up his cell and started with the customary "Director DiNozzo."

He was chilled to the core when he heard his weeping daughter reply, quickly sitting up.

"Daddy? Daddy, please help."

Tony swallowed the full on panic and went to Agent mode.

"Tali...Tali, calm down, what's wrong?"

He could hear the deep breath and shudder as Tali spoke.

"It's Mum!" Tony's heart just stopped, oh god please no. "She was tired and went to bed, after a few hours she came down stairs, she..." Another shuddery, deep breath "S-she tripped and n-now she won't wake up." A huge sob escaped Tali as she finished.

Fear had now completely encased Tony as he tried to think.

"Where's Ducky?"

"He...he went out to the s-shops."

"Alright honey, I'm coming, ok, just hold on!" Tony hung up and started to dial 911 as he raced out the door and down the balcony stairs. His face contorted with worry and sheer terror.

McGee looked up at the sound of hurried footsteps and immediately realized something was horribly wrong, he quickly ran after his boss. He overheard Tony's half of the conversation and, as realisation dawned, he became just as alarmed.

They had by passed the elevator and shot down the stairs, they quickly made it to the parking lot and headed towards Tony's Mustang. McGee had tried to get the keys so that they could at least make it to the house in one piece, but Tony had just sent him one of the iciest death glares he had ever seen and knew Gibbs!

The drive was made up of hurried calls and driving that seemed to be the spawn of both Gibbs and Ziva's driving, plus a pinch of salt – actually maybe a whole bucket. When McGee stepped out, he forced the world to stop spinning just in time to see DiNozzo disappear in to the house.

Stepping through the front door and into the hall way, McGee thought that he would be seeing his lunch again, and very soon.

Tali had a protective arm around her young brother, her body shielding his view of their mother. However, her eyes were locked on her parents, filled with fear. Tony had Ziva on his lap and was having a futile attempt to wake her. At the sound of McGee's entrance his head shot up, a wild expression fixed to his face, making him seem crazy.

There were so many emotions in his voice that Tim couldn't even name half.

"Where the HELL is that DAMN ABULANCE!"

Gibbs was shocked at the icy tone, yet at the same point ablaze.

"Still not your fault." He replied with a soothing voice, trying to calm DiNozzo into talking.

Silence ensued one again and it hurt to see such a strained face on such a good friend. What Gibbs wouldn't do to change the past, but he couldn't and now it was his job to fix it and he didn't have clue how to do it.

"McGee turned out well." Gibbs stated, deciding it was best to stick to a safe topic.

"Yeah, he has. You know that the only people who can make him stutter now are Ducky, Abby and me... and probably you, but I don't think that will ever change."

A small smile graced Gibbs's lips at the excellent job his agents do, and that was the longest sentence he had gotten out of DiNozzo. Tony was once again staring of into the distance and Gibbs pondered what he was thinking so much about.

"He was also there for the team when any of us truly needed it, he really stepped up."

Gibbs's smile instantly vanished at the accusation in his old SFA's voice and words. The pain and angry emotions slapping Gibbs full in the face. However, before he could respond they were interrupted, without even a knock, by Abs. To be fair he hadn't knocked either but still, it was rude. She bounded into the room with the kids following close behind.

Tony plastered on a Chester cat smile, although Gibbs noticed it didn't quiet reach the green eyes, put down the glass, stood up and swooped up his youngest.

"Hey there, how you doing?"

Alex's reply was a thumps up and big smile.

"Miss Chapel give you any more trouble?"

The smile grew even wider and he bent his head to whisper into his Dad's ear. An air of triumph and mischief surrounded the small boy as he murmured something incoherent to the rest of the group. Tony burst out laughing when he heard his son's secret and Gibbs inwardly groaned at the possibility to whatever trouble this DiNozzo had done.

"Well, that wasn't very nice." Tony continued, but couldn't quite hid the humour "You're too much like me son, you know that?"

Alex nodded "Uncle McGoo says that all the time!"

The Italian placed his son back on the floor and ruffled his hair, and then turned to his oldest.

Tali smirked, head tilted as she gazed up at her father, it was freaky how similar both her and her mother were in that very moment. If she had been a couple of feet taller then you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.

"School was fine, no troubles and no one discovered that the prank was performed by AJ." Gibbs would never know how such a young girl could speak so grown up.

"Well he is a DiNozzo, my little Ninja." Tony walked up to his daughter, and knelt so that they were practically the same height. He whispered, but loud enough for everyone to hear, "we never get caught."

Tali fully smiled and gave her father a tight hug as Alex bounded across the room to join. The three of them stayed like that for a few seconds until Tony let go, giving them a quick peck on the cheek and herding them to Abby.

"Now, be good to your Auntie Abby, don't over tire her out and go to bed when she says, alright!" DiNozzo made eye contact with both of his children until they nodded in understanding.

"Aww, Tony, they're always perfect angels!" Abby replied as she gave a quick goodbye hug to Tony. Strange, Gibbs thought her hugs are never quick.

The kids chorused goodbye as Tony said "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow" and shut the door. He walked over to the corner where Gibbs still sat and cleared the empty glasses, signalling the end of their brief conversation and Gibbs knew he wouldn't get anything out of DiNozzo, yet.

"I think I'm gunna go and call my dad, see you later Tony." But before he could leave, the Director stopped him. Gibbs turned to face him and saw a flash of pain and remorse. For a heart beat Gibbs had thought and hoped that maybe Tony might just talk, but he just received another mental slap when Tony responded.

"Jackson had a heart attack, I'm so sorry Jethro."

Abby was humming to herself as she pooped the popcorn in to the microwave. Today was a good day, Gibbs had FINALLY woken up, took him long enough! She had the kids for the weekend and for once there was no sickness - nothing could spoil this day. As though reading her thoughts, there was a knock on the door. Quickly shouting that she'd get it, Abby made her way to the door and opened it without checking. She was too damn happy!

Hell, it could be anyone; some clowns, a tap dancer, maybe even the president, she did not expect, however, the 9 mil gun glaring back at her.