"You recognize that number Boss?" Stan Burley noticed Gibbs' head snap to attention as he read the message from Cynthia that was left in the bullpen while the team was out in the field.

"What's the message?" Gibbs looked hard into Stan's eyes awaiting the answer.

"Binx is out, come home when you can.." Stan tried to hide the slight confusion at the strange message.

"Who's Binx?" Gibbs grabbed his gun from the bottom drawer and started calling his speed dial number one before standing immediately and heading out of the bullpen, explanation-less as usual.

"My cat…" Gibbs replied over his shoulder hastily as he strode to the elevator.

"I though their cat died last year?" Carl said from his desk as he overheard the conversation, slightly worried over Gibbs' sudden change in mood over a message about a cat …. that doesn't exist.

"It did.." Stan frowned.

XXXXXXXX

"Yeah," Jenny answered her phone while still watching Cassandre run some tests on the evidence they just collected from the scene.

Cassandre heard a sharp intake from Jenny, and stole a glance at her coworker and good friend.

"Meet you at the car…" And with that Jenny slammed the phone shut and began walking quickly to the exit, "Cass I gotta go, send the results upstairs ASAP…"

"But, what's going on…. Where are yo-" she gave up as jenny was long gone by now.

XXXXXX

Jenny sat in the car stock still, in silence save for the roar of the Charger's engine as her husband drove fiercely down the roads that led to their house. It was mid December, and the roads were barely cleared of snow and ice. It was so cold outside, she hoped her second born was someplace warm… and safe.

"What do you-" Jenny began timidly.

"I don't know …" Jethro said with more force than he meant. He wasn't angry at her.. "That call sign only stands for a blown cover… its very specific and only for an emergency!" Veins raged from under his skin.

Jenny exhaled, she knew Jethro was worried, and she's been dealing with him in Papa Bear mode for over twenty five years now, she would let him vent. It was best he get it out now…

"It's just …" Jethro hesitated, "my gut." Jethro knew it wasn't good.

Jenny swallowed hard, and nodded. That usually never led to good things… his gut was the eighth wonder of the world in her eyes.

They pulled up to the driveway and noticed the car in the driveway, one that they did not recognize, but knew who's it was immediately. The license plate was Maryland.

They walked in the front door to see Joel Matthews rise from their family's couch, a grim look on his face as he extended a hand to Jethro Gibbs. Joel had a key to their house, he was a good friend and Tony's partner of two years at Baltimore.

"Jethro, Jenny…" The man about their age, mid forties, greeted with a nod.

"Matthews," Jethro greeted back. His eyes worried and calculating, trying to judge what was about to come.

"What happened to Tony?" Jenny spoke up. "What's going on?" Her eyes pleading.

Matthews let out a huff, "His cover's been blown, as you know from the message.. And we don't know much else." His eyes showed fear and anxiety. He loved the kid like his own son … and this was bad.

"What was the assignment?" Jethro stood with worried eyes.

"Tony and I were on a drug ring bust, with known arms dealings.. The Al Pache's. Biggest in the Northwest, center out of Baltimore…He'd work the inside and I would work the outside."

"God damnit…" Jethro had heard of them, most people had. They were dangerous, highly.

"It's been going on for around 2 months.. He worked his way up to being pretty high up on the chain of command, and we were formulating the bust for this week, he'd gotten us plenty of information and evidence.. But he wasn't alone undercover… there was Kevin Rodriquez a DEA for Baltimore, fit the profile and begged to get in on the assignment, so he did. He blew Tony's cover… I should've known.. I should have had his back but Rodriguez was supposed to." Joel's voice was rising with each sentence. His face reddening as he went into more detail.

"What happened?" Jethro needed more information, his own voice rising in anticipation.

"Rodriguez was dirty." He said it plain and simple as Jenny covered her hand with her mouth and tried to keep her head in the situation, Jethro turned in anger and paced, swearing again.

"Rodriguez had a thing out for Tony ever since Tony was even just a Cadet.. They've gotten into a few fist fights and … I should've never let Captn. talk me in to letting him go in… Im Tony's partner.. I shoulda helped… if anything happens-"

"Joel, its not your fault," Jenny rubbed his arm. He and Tony were close.. Like a father/son relationship… they all knew that. Joel would never let anything happen to Tony purposefully, even though Tony always did end up at the short end of the stick when it came to being in the firing line of anything thrown the way. It was like the kid had a black cloud hanging over his head… But he was the best damn Detective Joel had ever worked with.

"I know that they were meeting at a warehouse in the 34th district early this morning, and I don't know exactly what was going down, but Tony missed his first check in call, so we tapped the GPS in his phone.. It was smashed. Then Rodriguez sent a text saying " Rod let Binx out he"

"Tony must've gotten ahold of Kevin's phone for just long enough to send that-" Jethro piped up

"That's Tony for ya.. But when we tried to get a fix on Rods phone it was gone already too…The text was sent from the same district Tony was going to.." Joel finished up.

"Okay, so you think they have him?" Jenny let tears roll down her cheek as it all sunk in and she realized her son was possibly in the arms of one of the most dangerous drug cartel's in the nation.

Joel ran a hand through his black and grey hair, huffed, and met their eyes boldly. "They wouldn't keep him around long if they did."

Jethro closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. His gut knew Tony was still alive.. .he could feel it. But something was definitely not right if he had yet to contact anyone and it was already late afternoon.

"I just know Tony and I know his skills and I think he gave them something to keep him around longer, or got outta there.." Joel said. "I scoured the whole district, but found nothing … most of the squad is out looking for him right now, but I knew Tony would want me to come and tell you guys."

"Appreciate it, Im gonna get my team on it and meet you up in Baltimore in a few…"

"I will let you know if we find anything," Joel said as he scurried out the door, eager to go find his partner that needed him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Duck, we are headed up to Baltimore.. Tony's in trouble, and we have Stan and Carl. Just thought I'd give ya the headsup.. Give me a call back when ya get this." Gibbs hung up and looked over at Jenny.

"Kate.." Jenny began into the phone. "Your dad, the team, and I are headed up to Baltimore… Tony is missing."

"His cover was blown, there was a dirty cop.. I know you cant leave work honey. Its okay. You know Tony.. He's tough, Im sure he's gonna be fine. I will call you as soon as we hear from him … Love you too, Bye." Jenny hung up the phone and stole a glance at her husband.

Jethro's forehead was smushed into a mean mug, his jaw set tight and his eyes burning holes in the cars getting in the way of the mock speed vehicle they were riding in.

"Jethro-"

"Jen.. Don't." His tone was stern. He wasn't mad at her, but he was trying to snap completely which he was so on the verge of. "This shouldn't be happening, Tony should have left that crooked department three months ago after the last damn mistake…I swear, when I get my hands on that bastard of a captain of his-or this Rodriguez"

"Jethro, none of that is important… we just need to make sure Tony is okay," Jenny reached a hand on her husbands neck, and tried to relieve some of the rock hard tension.

Jethro huffed as the car sped on in the cold December afternoon.. Stan and Carl sitting awkwardly in the back, Jethro a stone statue in the drivers seat and Jenny saying silent prayers as she hoped for her son's safety.

XXX

He could still feel the knuckles on his face. The knuckles that had slammed into him with such force it brought him immediately back to that time two years ago when the Russians had gotten the better of him. He could feel the knuckles, but moreover he could still feel the blinding pain of the crow bar that had barreled him with such ferocity it was comparable to not much else he could remember enduring, even considering his track record.

He had looked the scum bag that was to be his backup in the eye. Square in the eye, and let the glare he inherited from his father bore into his soul. Rodriguez was a real piece of work and he let him know it. Even as Kevin swung the crow bar himself, and laughed at the fists Tony kept giving it to Kevin, talking all the trash he had on him. But that was hours ago… now he was so far away from all of that.

XXXXXXX

"Aii Tony , es about time!" Carlos Rivera, the dead center of the Al Pache ring was sitting nonchalantly on a stack of pallets as some of his men worked behind him unloading the trucks. A few of his henchman stood around him, and turned as their leader acknowledged Tony's entrance.

Something twinged in Tony's gut as he caught the glint in Carlos' deep brown eye as he feigned happiness at Tony's arrival. Carlos wasn't like that… he was all business. He never wasted time with pleasantries or greetings, but cut right to the chase… always. Tony did a quick nod of his head, a sign of hello, and walked over to the small group of Al Pache's surrounding their leader.

Carlos stood, his hands in his pockets, black leather jacket and a black beanie keeping the Hispanic warm in the cold December air that filled the warehouse. He met Tony in the middle of the almost huddled group of men, and titled his head to the side in a strange stare as Tony tried to calculate what was going on.

He didn't like what his gut was telling him.

"Tony…. Tony short for …" Carlos lead him into a conversation. Tony bit..

"Antonio.." Tony added a hint of a Mexican accent to the pronunciation of his name.

"Ah.. Antonio Reynaldo" Carlos didn't blink as he said Tony's undercover name, his head still turned at a rather frightening sideways angle… his eyes feigning amusement at his name. This definitely wasn't good.

Tony just stared back .. Acting smooth as if he had nothing to hide.

"A nice name.." Carlos stepped close, and reached into Tony's coat pocket and removed his cell phone.

Tony swallowed and nodded …

All of the sudden from behind the trucks he saw Kevin Rodriquez, or in this op 'Adam', emerge and walk straight towards the group, an amused glint in his eyes. Tony immediately took his gaze back to Carlos… whose head straightened out and a sinful smile spread across the man who has killed many, and enjoyed it's face.

"You know what name I like better …"

"Tony Gibbs…"

Tony locked eyes with Rivera and didn't let a flicker of fear show through.

"Who is that?" Tony tried to act intrigued, like maybe this was a new assignment given to him by his Al Pache boss.

Suddenly the very large, and muscular men that surrounded the two in the warehouse took a step closer, and Tony could feel them breathing down his neck. He felt the chills rise immensely, and he didn't dare steal a look to Kevin.. He felt his only gun being removed from his waistband. If he was gonna go down he wasn't going to take his partner down with him, so he made sure to keep his eyes clear of Kevin's.

"Don't you FUCKING play dumb with me PIG!" Carlos exploded. His hand took a grip on Tony's windpipe and he kept his eyes locked in Carlos'. All he could see was fury…

"I don't know what your talking about Ca-" Tony squeezed out through his vastly constricted throat before Rivera squeezed, somehow, even tighter and effectively cut him off.

"Save your lying shit!" Carlos took a step closer and brought his face nose to nose with Tony who tried to remain calm. "Kevin told us all about you…"

Kevin? He was 'Adam' to them. Wasn't he? That scumbag… He KNEW not to trust him, but he did it anyway by order of the Captain and look where it got him.

Tony looked behind Carlos and saw Kevin with a rueful grin waving delicately back at him.

Carlos released his throat and threw the gasping Tony to the warehouse dirt. Tony grabbed his bruising throat, and yelled a hoarse insult to the man that had just likely cost him his life, "You piece of shit!" Tony glared up at Kevin.

The gang members around him began to chuckle… and Carlos turned back to his friend, Kevin Rodriguez with an amused and expectant smile. Kevin got up from his seat and walked over to Tony who was now regaining his stance and was about to surprise him with a nice uppercut when Tony surprised the whole group as he tackled Kevin and the tow began to spar.

"Get him !" Carlos yelled as the gang members watched Tony wrestle with Rodriguez.

Tony snuck his hand into Carlos' coat pocket and removed his cell before shoving it stealthily in the front of his jeans, and letting it settle in his boxer briefs as he was yanked off Kevin by the henchman after they'd had enough.

Tony felt blood trickle from his mouth as he stood, his arms now held tightly behind his back. It was now or never …. If he didn't get out of here he was d e a d , dead. He collected a quick portion of the blood flowing from somewhere in his mouth and effectively spit it directly in the face of the approaching Carlos Rivera and his carving knife. As they all stared in silence, Tony gangly broke loose from the hands holding him and took off to the other side of the warehouse, making it behind a row of tall cargo trucks just as bullets and footsteps chased his every move.

Tony pulled out Kevin's cell phone from his pants and sent a text to Joel with the message he knew would get the point across in the short amount of time he had to send a text. He heard bullets tink against the metal above his head and ducked and around the front end of a truck, only to see a crow bar comingly rapidly and dangerously into his line of vision from the side .. Then there was only blackness.

Tony fell limply to the ground.. Out cold upon impact of the crow bar to the side/back of his head. Kevin, the swinger of the crowbar saw his own cell phone roll out of the now unconscious kid on the ground.

"Little shit had my cell … sent a text.."Kevin announced as the rest of the Al Pache's caught up to him.

"We gotta move… ahora!" Carlos Rivera clapped his second in command Kevin on the shoulder. "Load up the pig and let's get a move on… we arent done with the pretty boy yet!" he chuckled as they all hurried into a frenzy and left the district in a well organized and untraceable, practiced fashion.

The criminals were out there in ten minutes. Which was about the time it took for Joel to check his cell phone to see a new message from Kevin of all people…

"Oh shit.."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx

"Okay Boss, the BPD detectives have some blood marked out already here.. And over there in the corner." Stan Burley said with sadness. "'Its.. Tony's"

"What else ya got.. Theses are just a few drops… nothing serious, Stan." Gibbs responded, keeping positive thoughts and faith in his son, also trying to make sure Stan kept his head in the game. Stan had watched Tony grow up for a bit, watched Tony play at OSU almost every game, and thought of him as family. Last thing he needed was an emotional team that let that interfere with the investigation.

"Right Gibbs… Uhh tire tracks belong to a type of van.. Maybe an industrial. We got a few blood drops leading to a set of tracks," Stan finished.

"They definitely left with Tony," Carl huffed out with a hint of sorrow as he hit his pen against his notebook and shot a look at his teammates, an apologetic glance at Gibbs.

"He's still alive, Carl." Gibbs looked at Carl with a look of pure assurance, and Carl soaked up every bit of it he could. He needed that… Gibbs was all knowing, and he would know if his own son were dead.

XXXXXX

"Tony has been missing since 0800 Carl, and its almost midnight, he could be almost anywhere…" Stan laid his head in his hands and rubbed his face in them trying to wipe away the stress as he sat in Tony's desk at the PD while they still continued to piece together any hints as to where Tony Gibbs might be.

"I know … I know it," Carl stood and walked over to the map they had began to strategize the search plan on.

The buzz and hub-ub around them was near chaotic even as midnight neared, the whole squad trying to follow leads and answer the busy phone calls as information was passed and hopes of finding the young detective carried across the squad room.

Gibbs walked in with Jen at his side and they looked less than ragged.

"You guys get a nap in?" Jen asked the boys.

"Like hell," Stan stood and crossed his arms as he joined the rest of his team at the base of Detective Gibbs' desk. Eyes on the map of the tri-city area and beyond, as they wondered where on the map their boy was, and if he was okay. As time went on it was unlikely.

At about 3pm the Captain had got a phone call from a burn phone, untraceable, that said they were going to gut the pig and leave him to rot like all 'pigs' should. "Let this be a lesson, don't fuck around with the Al Pache senor… Gibbs was a nice kid, such a shame."

They were able to get the tapes, and it was all the team had been listening to, replaying in their minds …. Analysts had torn apart the audio looking for something, anything that could lead them to Tony. Nothing.

And that was hours ago.

Gibbs cell rang and he answered it without looking, as he had been with it ringing off the hook nearly all day.

"Gibbs"

"Daddy? Did you find anything out about Tony yet? He's okay right?" Abby's voice filled his ear quietly. He closed his eyes and rubbed them with his forefinger and thumb soothingly. Abby and Tim were at University, worried sick about Tony after Jen had called them with news he was missing.

"Abbs we are looking, you and Tim just hang tight, I told you I would call if we heard anything, but if you keep calling im not gonna get any work done…"

He heard her sniffle on the other end, "Okay, sorry Dad. Just find Tony okay?" her voice wavered.

"Im doin my best Abbs," with that he was about to hang up when a private call beeped in on the line.

He hesitated only a second before taking the call.

"Gibbs."

"Dad. It's Kate. Ive called in a favor, and I need the coordinates of the warehouse Tony left in," Kate's voice was all business, man she was growing up. He pushed the thought aside.

"What are ya gonna do Kate?" Jethro wanted details on this kind of favor.

"CIA satellite imaging, the ones that they "don't" have, I know the tech and we can probably get a shot of the vans leaving the district and follow them up to wherever they are now."

"That's good work Kate, talk to Carl" he handed over his phone to an expectant Carl who after kate asked the question he began rattling off coordinate point from memory. He handed the phone back over to Jethro.

"Kay, dad. This could take a while, but at the rate things are going, I think it might be our best bet.

"Get on it Kate, and get back to me ASAP." They hung up at once. Jethro explained it to Stan and Kate what her plan was, when his phone rang Private again.

"Kate?" he answered expectantly. He wasn't met with the immediate babble of information that he expected from his first born. He pressed his ear a bit deeper into the receiver, and he could finally make out the sound of harsh breathing. Sounds of someone struggling for air. Painful gasps and sharp weezes.

"D-d-daddd?" It was quiet and it sounded painful, and weak. Jethro felt his chest tighten like a vise.

"Tony? Tony.. Where are you?" Jethro yelled into the phone as those around his gasped into silence, Carl immediately began a trace on Gibbs cell phone from the computer. Typing away furiously as Jenny's eyes welled and she held a hand to her mouth.

"S'cold…"

"I know your cold Tony… just try and stay warm til we get to you! You gotta help us out though Tony, what do you see? What do you remember?"

"S'dark…s-s-soo c-c-cold D-dad." Jethro could hear the shivers and the harsh breathing.

"Tony, where are you?" Tony wasn't following the conversation well, which made Jethro's chest pang.

There was no answer…

"Tony, son, where are you hurt?" Jethro closed his eyes in frustration as he tried to keep his voice strong for his son as Carl sadly shook his head no that the phone wasn't traceable either. Carlos had put it there as a trick … a teaser …

"Mmm…." Jethro could hear his son choke on some air, or something … he sounded terrible. He felt something hot run down his cheek as he closed his eyes and listened to the struggling sounds of his dying son.

"Tony! Stay with me… wheres it hurt?"

"D-d-dad? S'at you?"

"Yeah Tony, its Dad, can you look around at all … tell me what you see. Please, Tony…" Jethro felt more of that hot stuff on his cheek.

Jenny watched in horror, Stan with his arm around her in support as she watched Jethro's heart break on the phone in front of them. She hadn't seen that look on him in … ever.

"H-hurts d-dad. Hu-urtss-"

"I know it hurts Tony, you be strong. I know you are tougher than this Tony." Jethro tried to keep Tony fired up, and awake …. Alive. "Can you tell where you are? We gotta find you Tony!"

"s'like beginnin' …A-Team..h-h-huh d-dad"

"Sure, Tony…" Jethro huffed in defeat.. Until he remembered he actually had seen that movie … it started out .. In a barn.

"A barn Tony.. Youre in a barn?"

"S'cold ….hhurts ssso bbbad."

"Tony? Can you tell me anything else about how you got there?"

"M'head hurts…"

"Your head hurts … " Jethro said aloud, looking at his team as he gave the injury report as of now. "What else Tony? Anything?"

"Stabbed…"

Jethro dropped his head back and looked to the drabby ceiling of the station, and swallowed hard, tears falling from his eyes, his lip threatening to shake.

"What is it Jethro?" Jenny leaned forward anxiously, almost angrily.

Jethro shook his head no… and fought the breakdown. He couldn't tell her that …

"Tell me Jethro! Now!" She cried and got in her husbands face…

"Stabbed…" he choked out in a low voice… and Jenny fell into his arms.

"Tony you hang on! You are gonna be just fine, you hear me?"

"Hurtss.. " More choking.

"Tony, you will not give up..Kapeesh"

Choked gasps.

"Anthony!"

"K'peeshhh" That was as good as an oath on the Bible. His phone beeped again and he looked at the caller Id :Private.

"Stan, call Kate! She's calling me right now, might have something!"

Jethro listened to painful gasps on his phone, and faintly listened as Carl responded to kate and scribbled down furiously things Kate muse be rambling off to her.

"Got it Gibbs! Let's head out!" Joel looked up from what Carl was writing and grabbed the keys to the car, "I will drive while you stay on the line! Carl send that to the GPS and lets go!"

"Promise," he kissed his wife on the forehead and took off with Jenny, Carl, Stan and Joel to pile into the Charger.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"M-mom?"

"Hey baby, how you doing?"

"C-c-cold…"

"We are gonna be there soon honey, just hold on, we will get you warmed up soon, okay?"

"H-h…h-h-hu-" Then nothing but weezes and gasps.

"Tony? You there? Stay with me!" Jenny screamed into the phone.

Jethro looked at her before sadly putting the phone up to his ear.

"Tony?"

"C-c-ca-can't …. b-brea"

"Tony take nice slow breaths … come on. Your gonna be fine, we are almost there," Jethro said before covering up the speaker, "ETA Joel?"

"Ten minutes Gibbs…" Joel said, not taking his eyes off the road they were viciously flying down.

"Make it five!"

Joel didn't respond, he was pushing it way too much already. The roads were way less than stellar, but if Tony only had five minutes, he would make it there in 5 mins.

XXXX

"Damnit! Tony!"

"Hes not answering…." jethro explained his worry and his yelling.

"That's the barn right there!" Carl pointed before they followed the somewhat fresh tire tracks that led to the old barn that looked to be barely standing.

They ran out of the car, guns up and ready, although they knew tony was alone… Jethro raced into the barn first. The rest of them followed not shortly after, as they walked in the doorway, they really couldn't see much, but the smell of blood flooded their nostrils, and their eyes scanned the barn for where Tony and Jethro could be ….

Joel found an old lantern and lit it with his matches and the entire barn ignited in light.

Stan Carl Jenny and Joel shared matching gasps of shock and they saw the chains that hung from the ceiling, the crow bar laying tossed to the ground below it, where blood pooled on the dirty ground beneath the ropes that had once held Tony to the chain that dangled from the ceiling, once suspending him in the air… like a punching bag. Their eyes followed the much too big pool of blood to a trail of heavily-leaking bloodstains what smeared across the dirty floor. Their eyes led them to the heartbreaking scene of Jethro covering his son with his own jacket, trying to staunch the flow of blood from the stab wounds with his hands.

"Tony? Bud, we made it? Can you hear me?" They could hear Gibbs talking, pleading with Tony.

"How did the damn paramedics get so far behind us!" Jethro growled over his shoulder. "Bastards left him in a damn t-shirt and jeans!"

"They will be here soon Boss!" Carl added as the rest of them walked briskly over to Tony who lay prone on the floor. Jenny ran to his side, and picked up his cold, clammy hand in her own.

"Oh Tony! Jethro - he, he's freezing. Is he-" Jenny rubbed her sons pale hand in her own, as if willing it move like the usual energetic, jovial Tony would be moving about. "His wrists… and these bruises.. His face… oh tony"

Joel took his coat off and placed it beneath Tony's battered head, and Stan and Carl and Jenny laid their heavy coats ontop of Tony trying to warm his too cold body.

"He's still breathing Jen, barely." Jethro lifted his hands and looked at the stab wounds. "They got him twice in the gut…" He said sadly. "Lost a lot of blood.."

Joel had noticed a pretty nasty head wound when he went to put his coat beneath Tony's head. "He's got pretty gnarly head trauma there in the back…"

"Tony doesn't need another head injury.. God damnit." Jethro growled to himself more than anything, he pushed harder into his sons leaking stomach…

Tony elicited a low moan beneath them.

"Tony, can you hear me?"

"S'top ,,, Hurtss.." He weakly tried to combat the hand pushing hard into his stomach..

"Tony.. Listen to me, your dad is trying to help. You lost a lot of blood, you don't need to lose any more," Jenny rubbed a hand down his bruising cheek gently.

"P-please.. M'sry" he whimpered and his still closed eyes screwed shut in pain.

Sirens suddenly could be heard growing louder and louder, until the lights were reflecting through the small barn window.

"Hear that Tony, help is here, your gonna be alright! Hear me?"

Tony began gasping, and coughing, and soon the EMT's pushed them out of the way, and the next thing Jethro knew he was riding on a bumpy ambulance ride on his way to the hospital, watching his son getting shocked with paddles repeatedly. He could only watch with tears as the paramedics furiously fought to bring the severely beaten, and stabbed victim back to life. The same, one tone beep that filled his ears fell into the background as his eyes watched Tony bounce off the backboard once again, bloody plain white tee shirt now turned a deep crimson, face a mottled mess, wrists bleeding and torn, eyes swollen, a piece of plastic hanging from his son's mouth almost limply. He watched them recharge the paddles, but before he saw them shock Tony again and again, his mind took him to a different place.

"Hey Dad, when I grow up Im gonna be a cop…. Just like you and mommy!" His six year old smiled toothlessly as he looked up at him. Eyes full of pride, and of wonder. Of all the happiness that comes along with being 6 years old. He had his superman backpack, that was a few sizes too big for the still scrawny first grader.

"Oh yeah, Tony? And why is that?" Jethro ran his hand through his son's unruly, spiky hair that he just couldn't get enough of. They began the usual walk home from school at a casual, enjoyable pace in the afternoons sun.

"Cause you are the best cop in the world, and you can always watch my six and I wont ever have to be scared," he smiled that winning smile, big green eyes shining with pride. With that smile, Jethro knew he was going to have a handful with Tony when he became of age.

"Hahaha, that sounds perfect to me, Tony," Jethro kissed his forehead and messed up that hair once more before grabbing his hand and continuing the walk home on the sunny afternoon.

"God damnit Tony," Jethro wasn't a man of faith. But it was at this moment when he realized things were no longer in his control, something he had rarely ever felt in his 47 years. He laced his fingers, let the tears fall through closed eyes, his elbows on his knees, his head down on his hands, and his spirit calling all its power and strength on those above him to spare his son-his heart and his soul, his pride and joy- and to help Tony get through this. He needed his son, and he needed higher help. He prayed with all he had.

The beeping came back as suddenly as it had stopped nearly six long, agonizing minutes ago.

"Kid's back!" The EMT shouted, shocked himself. He was absolutely certain the kid was gone, he had never seen someone down for so long, and his partner had asked him to call it nearly two minutes ago.. However, when Kyle had looked over at the Dad, staring so helplessly at his sow, and praying so hard, he knew he owed to the kid and his Dad to keep trying for as long as it took.

"Holy shit .." his partner breathed in disbelief. "Rico step on it, he doesn't have much longer before he crashes again unless we can get some units in him!"

"Okay, stats are back up, bp still low, breathing is rough… possible pneumathorax over here."

"Pupils non-reactive… shit.. Possible skull fracture temporal/occipital bone. Concussion for sure .."

"Stab wound look moderately deep, definite internal damage… and a lot of dirt in these wounds," the EMT winced.

Damn. Jethro wished that the list didn't keep getting longer and more complex. It was going to be a long night …

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Mom!" Kate yelled as soon as she breached the doorway to the waiting room. "Anything yet?"

"The surgeon came out and said they had encountered a few more problems and it was touch and go .. His heart stopped in the ambulance…" Jenny let the tears fall as she said this … her own heart taking a strange beat as she imagined Tony gone forever. "And the surgeon said that it stopped again on the table… but its going again and they have to keep going with the surgery."

"Oh my goddd," Kate cried for the first time that day. And she finally let it all out. She ha been putting it all behind her, thinking it was just Tony and his bad luck.. He'd come out with a few bumps …but fine in the end… because he always did. Maybe he wouldn't this time … Kate couldn't bare the thought.

Jethro stood up and Jenny let him have a turn at giving her a hug. His hugs could cure most anything… or at least make them a bit better.

"Hey, you listen to me… I saw Tony fight.. He's not giving up.. This time is no different than any other .. Hes a tough kid, we all know that," Jethro looked Kate square in the eye. She would believe her dad … for now. It was her only option…

"Hey Abby, Tim .." Kate walked over and took a seat in the chairs by her twin brother and sister who looked even older than the last time she had seen them, they were 21 now, and studying hard at college still… Tim almost done with a Masters degree already.

"Hey Kate," They chimed, Abby dropped her head on her big sisters shoulder. She hadn't seen Kate in a long time .. A few months at least. And the last time that they had all been in the same room together was even longer … not that they were all together yet, Tony was still missing.

Tony had a way of bringing all of them together … it wasn't just his uncanny ability to make them all worried sick about him. It was more than that, whenever Mom and Dad had gotten to busy with work, and Kate too, and Tim and Abby were too caught up in school work, he would get everyone together for a movie night, or dinner. Or plan a trip, or something. Since they were all out of the house, and all of them naturally busy bodies he knew the importance of stopping to smell the roses along the way. Tony knew how to enjoy life and not just stroll through it .. He always has, always will.

They all sat and thought about the important things in life, and it was that moment that Kate decided the Secret Service wasn't the career choice for her. It was too vital and time consuming, and no way to spend a life… if you wanted time to enjoy it. Maybe she would take up a career in law enforcement. It was along the same lines, and hell … it ran in her blood.

It was then that Jethro decided it was over her dead body that he would allow Tony to be an officer of the law anywhere but at NCIS where he could watch his back … always. Just like Tony had wanted … ever since he was 6.

Just then Ducky emerged in the doorway, his face expressionless.

"News Duck?" Jethro looked up from his chair and hoped for good news … hoped more than anything.

"He made it through the surgery.. Settling him in ICU as we speak.." Ducky walked over, and pulled the surgical mask off from around his neck in exhaustion as he plopped into a chair beside his family, "You've got quite a strong boy, my brother." Ducky gave a small smile as he patted his younger brother on the shoulder. "A special boy, that's for sure."

"I know it," Jethro smiled down at his hands as he thought about Tony, and what a great young man he had become and man he would become still.

They all agreed, and allowed themselves a small sigh of relief that Tony was still with them.

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