Just sort of formulated into a story as it came out within the past hour or two, not my longest of chapters, that is for certain, however, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much for all the reviews, they are greatly appreciated.

Brrrrinnggg. Brrrrringgg. Brrr-

"Gibbs.." Jethro said in a gravelly tone as he reached over from his spot in bed and answered the bedside phone. He felt Jenny stir awake beside him. He squinted at the alarm clock, and saw that it read 4am.

"Hi, I am calling for the parents of Anthony Gibbs?" A deep voice asked over the line, and Jethro felt his stomach sink. He swallowed hard, and sat up. He shot a glance at Jenny who sat up in bed a little straighter, her face growing in concern at her husbands change in demeanor.

"I'm his father.." He looked over at Jenny, thinking that this was one of the calls they had always had nightmares about getting.

"Jethro, what is it?" Jenny asked in a panic, her voice a whisper, thinking she didn't really want to ask. She didn't really want to know the answer..

"Sir, this is Sherriff Erik Evans of DC Metro Police Department," The voice gave itself a name, a name that Jethro didn't care for. Jethro just wanted him to tell him what the hell happened with Tony and if he was alright. Oh, God, please no…

Jethro felt his throat thicken, and his heart rate increase. He felt sweat begin to form on his palms, and his gut ache in the way it always did when bad news was on the horizon.

"Sir, we have your son here downtown. He was the victim of an attempted mugging after leaving the bar," The voice said in an experienced tone.

"Is uh- is he alright?" Jethro asked, afraid of the answer.

"Well sir, the men who attacked him had a gun. Your son fought back pretty hard and-"

"Is he alright?" Jethro decided he needed to know now.

"Tony is okay, we have him right here. He is giving the EMT's a hard time, he has a few minor injuries, but he will be fine, thankfully."

Jethro let out the air he had been holding, and put a hand to his forehead as relief washed over him. "Oh thank god…"

"Yes, sir..indeed. I am calling because Tony needs a ride home, and he didn't want me to call you, but my Captain knows you and thought we ought to give you a ring. He refused the medical treatment so he wont go to hospital, but it wouldn't sit right with me if I let him ride off in a cab. He is intoxicated, and he didn't want to drive, nor would we let him," The policeman said rationally. "Your son has been through a lot this evening." he felt for the twenty something year old he was looking at as he sat on the curb, head in his hands.

"No, no of course. I will be right down. Where do I need to be?" Jethro stood from the bed and began to put his jeans on from where they lay on the floor, belt buckle rattling in his haste.

"We are on the corner of Fitch and Main. We still have to process the scene, and we are going to sit with your son until ya get here, Agent Gibbs." The officer said definitively.

"Appreciate it, Sherriff. Be there soon, tell Tony Im on my way." And with that Gibbs hung up the phone and sighed, turning to his still very anxious wife.

"What is it? What's happened to Tony?" Jenny's voice and expression laced with concern.

"Some dirt bag tried to mug him. He's alright though. Just too drunk too drive, and too hard headed to call me himself…" He finished buttoning his jeans and grabbed his Sig and cell from the nightstand. "I will go get him."

"Well I can come with I want to make sure he's okay!" Jenny swung her legs over.

"No, Jen, I'm going to go. LEO gave me the impression he was pretty shaken up," Jethro gave Jenny a kiss on the forehead. "Let me.." He said softly.

"Okay, I will stay here, but take care of him.." Jenny said sadly.

"I always do,"

"I know."

Jethro could see the flashing lights from a half mile away. His gut churned at the thought of what could have been the outcome of this. The lights in the night sky, like a circus, reminded him of another time he ws called by the police to come see his kid, Tony, the time he was pinned in his mustang just a few blocks from here. He pushed back the bad thoughts as he parked near the police tape and briskly walked over to the scene.

His eyes bypassed the ambulance and the police cars, and all the investigators and officers. His eyes

weaved through the circus, and finally spotted Tony.

Tony was twenty two and was trying to figure out where to take his next step after he graduated from OSU a month or so back. Jethro and Jenny had encouraged anything that had crossed his mind, and recently it had been the marine corps. Jethro would be proud if his son became a marine, he had been one himself…. Many years ago. And maybe that's why he had some reserve. Jethro and Jenny had encouraged a career in law enforcement as well. Tony would be great at either.

But when Gibbs looked at that twenty two year old, he didn't see a marine or an officer. He saw a boy who needed help… who needed him. Tony sat in a black buttondown and dark jeans. The sleeves rolled up and the top few buttons missing, and dirt on his jeans. Tony was staring at the dirt DC street, his long legs bent up near his chest, arms resting around them as he sat on the curb.

Jethro approached the tape, and as he went to duck under it, still a few yards away from his son, he saw a man laying on the sidewalk a few meters away from Tony. The man wasn't getting up, or getting tended to by EMT's. The man was being photographed, and examined. The man was dead.

Oh, god.. Jethro now knew what the officer had meant by 'your son has been through a lot tonight'.

Tony had killed a man.

"Sir, can I help you?" A LEO approached the tape, seeing the gaping expression on the man's face.

"That's my son…" He said quietly.

"I'm very sorry to hear that sir, if you come over here.." The LEO was trying to lead him away from the dead body.

"No, no my son is okay. He's sitting over there on the curb," Jethro was very thankful he was able to say that, the possible consequences of what could have happened this evening still prominent in his head. "I am here to give him a ride home." Jethro's glad that his son hadn't lost this fight, that his son was strong and a fighter. If this had been most other men, especially while intoxicated, he knew the usual outcomes. He was an crime investigator after all …. Atta boy, Tony.

"Yes, of course, sorry sir. I will take you to him." The man was understanding, and lifted the tape for the father to walk under. "Sherriff Evans wanted to have a word with you as well, I will show you to him…"

Gibbs nodded, and then a taller, slightly older sherriff approached the two. "Agent Gibbs?"

"Yes," Gibbs nodded. "Appreciate the phone call Sherriff."

"Appreciate you coming down," The Sherriff nodded.

"What happened here? Tony give his statement already?" Gibbs stood close to the man, wanting to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but …

"Yes, Tony has given his statement. It seems the assailant was with another male about the same age and size, and Tony and a female subject were walking from bar to bar, when the attackers came up from behind and held your son at gunpoint."

Gibbs nodded ever so slightly, a sign for the man to continue.

"They told the girl to come with them and no one got hurt, and your son fought the two of them, and told the girl to run."

Atta boy, Tony.

"The female ran away and hailed down my partner and I in our patrol car, when a gunshot went off. Then in pursuit to the scene, there was another gunshot. According to your son's statement, Tony disarmed the attacker with the gun, and they continued to fight for the weapon. While he and one were in a tug of war for the handgun, the other man was continuing to assault and attempted to strangle Tony. Somehow, Tony managed to hold his own, but at one point the man got power over the weapon, pointed it towards your son's face and fired. Tony either leaned or the man just missed, and the bullet made no connection. That was the first shot we heard. Then, Tony gained possession of the weapon after a few more rounds of brawling. He fired once to the chest, straight through the heart. The other assailant took off after his friend was killed, and LEO's caught up with him a few blocks away."

Gibbs was all the while staring at Tony in.. in emotions he couldn't explain. He was proud of Tony for his actions, but knew what it was like to look a man in the eyes and kill him. He felt for him…

"The fact that your son was under the influence and still able to fight off two dirt bags, and save the girl… it's the kind of thing we wish we ran into more often down here at Metro," The Sherriff eyed the 22 year old once more. "Too often we see the worse outcome."

Gibbs nodded slightly again, eyes not leaving Tony, trying to gage where his head was at, if he was okay. He couldn't tell… one of Tony's specialties. "Is he free to go, or do you need more from him?" Gibbs asked the Sherriff.

"We have gotten all we needed outta him, he's all yours. I would, however, run him to the ER if you can talk some sense into him. He took a few good blows, and I think he twisted his knee, and I can see some bruising starting to form around his neck already," Sherriff Evans respectfully put his hand on the father's shoulder before him. "You raised a good kid, Agent Gibbs. Take care of that boy.." He said with the compassion of one father to another, knowing that the young man was indeed trying to be a man, refusing to call his dad, or go to the ER… but Jethro would set his straight, he would indeed take care of him.

Gibbs was a few feet away from Tony when he finally looked up and saw that his Dad was here.

"Sorry you had to come down, Dad." Tony's green eyes showed sadness, and a little bit of shame, and his voice was strained and hoarse. Jethro could see bruises forming on his jaw and a split lip and blood on his temple. One cheek was beginning to puff up, and his neck looked like it belonged to one of the body's on Ducky's autopsy tables. Jesus, Tony..

"Hey.. None of that." Jethro sat down on the curb next to Tony, taking up the same posture. "No place I'd rather be right now, than right here with you."

"I can think of a few I'd rather be.." Tony said sarcastically, and Jethro found the energy to smirk. At least he still had some humor, he thought.

"You okay, Tony?" Jethro looked over, and Tony turned to meet his gaze.

"Think so," Tony nodded and dropped his head. "I just.. I don't know." Tony shook his head.

"It's alright, what you did. You saved that girl's life, Tony. You saved your own. That's a good job, son." Jethro said calmly.

"Doesn't feel like it," Tony said slowly.

"It never does," Jethro could relate to what his son was feeling so evenly. He remembered the first guy he had shot and killed, he hadn't been much older than Tony, around the same age. He was in a war though, Tony was.. Tony was just walking down the street trying to have a good night out. Still, he knew the feeling… and he didn't with it on anyone.

Tony nodded slowly, remembering his Dad could relate to this situation, and thankful for it..

"Sometimes we have to do things we never thought we would, or even could, just to survive. You were brave tonight Tony, and you did everything exactly right."

Tony swallowed and nodded, if he had to go back through the situation, he probably wouldn't do anything differently. If he would have, he knows he would have been the one being photographed on the sidewalk.

"Let's get you home, and get you to bed. I know a bed with superman sheets that's been begging for you to come back to visit it.." Jethro smiled slightly.

Tony smirked. He had felt a little like superman tonight, the whole fighting off two guys, with a strength he didn't quite know he had. And saving the damsel in distress, dodging a bullet meant for his head from point blank range.

Jethro had been driving for ten minutes, the car in silence, leaving Tony to his thoughts, when he decided to see if Tony was ready to talk a bit more about what was going on in that head of his.

"Want me to call Ducky? Have him meet us at home? There's blood in your hair, and I want him to check you out.." Jethro said as he stole a glance at his passenger.

"Nah, Dad. I think I'm okay," Tony looked back at Gibbs. "Don't want to wake Ducky up for nothing.."

"It's not nothing, and your mom is going to have my head if I don't get you checked out.. That head of yours can only take so much knocking around you know…." Jethro tried not to make it sound so serious.

"Yeah, and you knock it around enough," he rubbed the back of his head in reminiscence.

"I wouldn't say that it's enough," Jethro played. He picked up his phone and called Ducky from the road, much to his son's disproval.

They sat in silence once more, the ride nearly over.

"I wish he wouldn't have made me do that.." Tony said solemnly in a hoarse whisper. He was looking at his hands in his lap, and Jethro felt sorry for him.

"I know, Tony."

"I asked him, I told him not to make me do it…But he came at me with a knife and the other guy was getting up behind me and I knew it would be my last chance… I-I didn't do anything to the guy and he was.. he was going to kill me." Tony said sadly.

"Tony, there are a lot of bad people out there. People that do things we cant understand. I see it everyday, and it doesn't get any easier to understand or comprehend. Luckily, there's people like you and like me and your mom and police officers everywhere who try and stop what you stopped tonight."

Tony nodded silently, head still down, soaking in the information.

"I just.. I don't even know what happened, but they wanted that girl I was with. I didn't even know her name, til after this all happened. And I just told her to run, and then I just went crazy trying to protect her.. And me, I guess." He cleared his throat, but the effects of the strangling made that uncomfortable.

"The girl okay? Mentally?" Jethro knew his son had succeeded in physically protecting her.

"Yeah, I think she was just a little shaken up, but who am I kidding I am too I guess. Her friends came to pick her up, they wanted to give me a ride, but I needed to give my statement still and I could tell she wanted to get out of there…" Tony said.

"She cute?" Jethro smirked.

"Hah. Course… She's a 10. Her name is Chanel." Tony smirked back at his Dad, his voice becoming raspy, likely from the neck trauma.

"Well.."

"She totally wants it…" Tony held up the back of his hand and showed him the digits inscribed in black ink.

"That's my boy.." Jethro shook his head.

"Im glad she's okay.. If anything.." Tony began.

"But nothing did. Because of you. You did a good job, son. A great job. Im proud of you," Jethro hoped he was saying the right things. He wasn't proud his son killed a man, but at the same time he was.

Tony nodded and they pulled into the driveway of their home.

"Ready for this?" Jethro.

"You mean mom's worry-train?" Tony said sarcastically. "Ready as I'll ever be." And with that they got out of the car.

"Jethro?" Jenny yelled from the kitchen, she had put on a pot of coffee and had been anxiously awaiting her husbands return.

"We're here Jen," Jethro shared a look with Tony, as they kicked off their shoes. Jethro then clapped his somber son on his strong shoulder, and they walked through the foyer, met halfway by a nervous Jenny as she swooped Tony into her arms.

"Oh, Tony I was so worried. When we got that phone call…" Jenny said over his shoulder, eyes squeezed tightly.

"I know Mom, I'm okay…" Tony hugged her back. His voice a little raw from the near-strangulation just hours ago.

"No, your not. Look at your face," Jenny leaned back a little and gasped over-dramatically at his face. "Oh you poor baby, your face. Who did this? Huh!" She gasped even sharper as she caught a glimpse of the deep bruising on his throat. "Oh my god, your neck! Tony, what happened?" She looked to him, and then to her husband when neither made a move to answer the question.

"Why don't we let Tony go up and get changed into some comfy sweats, maybe take a hot shower, and by then Duck should be here…" Gibbs rubbed a hand across Tony's shoulders and hoped Tony complied. "You've got blood on you and I'm sure your cold, son."

"Okay, doesn't sound like a bad idea," Tony was more somber than usual, Jenny noticed, but wasn't surprised. Someone tried to mug him, but something else told her that there was something more..

"I will go bring some fresh towels, and find you some of your old sweats honey," Jenny rubbed his arm soothingly, not liking to see her son upset like this, nor physically hurt..

"Tony, if it's okay with you I can fill your Mother in on what happened, unless you wanted to tell her..?" Jethro asked calmly, supportively.

"No, I would rather not. You can.." Tony began a slow trudge up the stairs to his old bathroom to take a shower. He wanted to wash all of the night off of him, all of the mixed emotions and bad energy he felt.

XXXXX

"Jethro… what happened to him?" She asked as soon as she knew that Tony was down the hall and in the bathroom.

"Why don't we get some coffee, and I will wait til Ducky gets here so I only have to tell it once…"

Just then there was a light rap at the door, and Ducky let himself in. "Ahh, Jethro, Jennifer… to what do I owe the pleasure of this fine early morning visit…" He said with an attempt at cheerful though he could tell the room was somber.

"Let's get in the living room, I need some coffee first."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

"Jen, don't cry.. Tony's gonna be just fine." Gibbs rubbed a hand across her back. She was only tearing up, but clearly upset for her son.

"I know he will, I know. I just… feel so bad. I know what that's like and.. He's so young and … Oh, Im just glad he..it wasn't him that, you know.." Jen said sadly.

"Yes, that is some trauma he has been through.. Poor boy…" Ducky shook his head at the end of the story.

"Yeah.. He'll be okay.." Jethro assured himself, and the others.

"Okay, Im going to go find his clothes and put some towels out for him," Jenny got up and went upstairs.

"Jethro, how's his head? Psychologically.."

"A little shaken up, but nothing too bad. Anyone would be, ya know? Mixed emotions about it.." Gibbs sipped at his coffee.

"Yes, as to be expected. I just hope he realizes he did the right thing," Ducky said. "Lord knows that boy can be very hard on himself.. Much like someone else I know." Ducky looked pointedly at Gibbs, who nodded.

"Yeah-" Gibbs huffed.

Just then Tony appeared with a fresh smell of that strong body wash they still kept in the shower of his, a scent they all enjoyed to smell, as it meant that Tony was home. His hair wet and freshly awry, and Ohio State sweats hanging off his hips and a white tee, cozy socks wrapping his feet. He wore a gentle smile..

"Hiya, Duck. Sorry to wake you.." Tony's voice was noticeably strained and he walked a little closer- to no surprise he and his uncle shared a much needed hug.

"Ahh, nonsense dear boy, it is always a pleasure to see you. And an honor you let me treat you when your stubborn streak lets no one else…" Duck smiled and playfully pointed on his chest. "Someone has to make sure your as alright as you say you are." The elder man smiled softly.

"Thanks Duck, but I really do think I am fine." Tony said, and the hoarseness of his voice becoming more evident.

"Hush, hush. Now, take a seat over here," Ducky gestured to the couch, and I shall see for myself, hmm?"

"Sure, Ducky." Tony's voice was raw, and it was beginning to sound painful to Gibbs' ears.

"Now, first I want to look at that cut on your scalp, no doubt the shower stung the blazes out of it..?"

Tony huffed a little with laughter, "Wasn't that bad Ducky."

"Mmhmm," He said it like he didn't believe it.

"Yes, well I am going to put some butterfly clips and liquid bandaid to try and avoid stitched, lord knows you need another set of those, and it does not appear to need them…as of now," he looked over the brim of his glasses to the tender green eyes beneath him. "Let's not do anything for a while to change that prognosis, shall we?"

"We are going to keep a good eye on him, Ducky." Jenny said proudly from behind him.

"Yes, well.. I would give the boy some aspirin, for the headache," Ducky could sense a Tony-headache when he saw one. Tony had had enough head injuries he was lucky he didn't have a perma-ache, but any knock to the head always left after effects like a rung bell. "And bring some ice for this swelling." Jethro turned Tony's head back and forth in the light, and prodded the swollen cheek and split lip.

"I'll go get some," jenny loved something to do, anything to help, in times like these..

Tony winced a little at the prodding on his cheek bone, "I know that hurts, sorry Anthony."

"Your fine, Ducky."

"Follow my finger, if you will." Ducky did so and Tony followed it. "Very good."

"Okay now smile for me," Ducky ordered gently, and Tony opened his lips to reveal his teeth. "Tutut, you must have mistaken me, my boy, I said smile.." And with that Ducky poked Tony in the belly button like he used to do when he was just a boy, and had fallen off his bike, or needed a check up for any reason. Tony forgot about that trick, and laughed as the poke tickled him. "Ahh there it is!" Ducky smiled. "My favorite smile!" Ducky cheered the room up in an instant.

"All your teeth in check, then…nothing chipping that ole grin of yours, " he informed. "The lip will heal, just give it a little time."

"Now, tip your head back please, my boy, I would like a good look at your neck," Ducky had a feeling this was the most extensive of his injuries.

"Deep bruising, and it feels.." He felt around his throat tenderly. "Feels a little swollen, I suggest an anti-inflammatory immediately. And your voice sounds a bit hoarse, is your throat sore?"

"Ahh.." Tony pondered the question.

"Be honest, Anthony…" He couldn't disobey his uncle.

"A little bit," Tony said honestly. .

"And swallow for me," Ducky put his hand on his throat and felt all the things moving the way they were supposed to when you swallowed. "All things good mechanically, all bones and cartilage intact. However it does feel inflamed, and no doubt that it was painful swallowing?" Ducky presumed.

Tony cleared his throat a little, as gently as he could. "Yeah, a little," He rubbed subconsciously at his sore throat.

"Right, then I want you to gently gargle some warm salt water, and don't eat any solid foods for a few days, that will not feel well, my boy. I know how hard that will be, staying away from your beloved junk food, but I must suggest that you do so… okay, Anthony?"

"I gotcha Ducky," His hoarse voice replied.

"Now, take these pills," He held his hand out to the boy, "one at a time, and gently. If you are uncomfortable we can crush them, no?"

"I'll be fine," he swallowed them all obediently. "Good boy, now here's some pea's for your cheek, and I would place that on there for about 20 minutes to keep it from swelling, or you will regret it in the morning.." Ducky smiled.

"Sure thing, Ducky." Tony agreed as he sat back into the comfy couch.

"After that, I want you straight to bed. I would prescribe some Scotch perhaps, but I do think you have had your fair share of liquor this evening, wouldn't want to spoil your morning.." Ducky played. He rubbed his hand gently down his arm. "Do take care of yourself."

"I will, thanks Ducky." Tony smiled softly.

"Yeah, thanks Duck. Appreciate it.. Makes us feel better now that we know he's been checked out.." Gibbs nodded to his brother.

"You know you can call me anytime, day or night.." The pleasant man replied. "Especially for that one.." He pointed an accusatory finger towards the young twenty two year old, who smiled playfully back.

"Have a nice night Ducky, thanks again for coming over," Jenny said as she shut the door behind the older doctor.

"Tony, you ready to head up to bed?" Jenny asked gently as she sat on the arm of the couch and played soothingly with his short hair.

"Yeah, you look like your about to pass out," Jethro rubbed his knuckles across the cheek not currently being occupied by a bag of peas, Tony's half closing eyes opening back up, their green igniting again.

"Yeah, guess so. But first," Tony took the peas off his face and tilted his head back forward. He looked at both his parents. "Thanks for bringing me home, and .. Taking care of me and stuff. I know I got drunk and shouldn't have been out that late and-"

"Tony, none of this is your fault, okay, understand that.." Jenny soothed him again.

"Maybe, but still… thanks." He looked bashfully at his hands.

"We are both just so glad that you are okay. That you took care of yourself, and others… you are brave, Tony." Jenny chided, her hand still rubbing through his hair gently.

Tony blushed a little at that.

"Its true, Tony." Jethro squeezed his muscular shoulder reassuringly.

"Well, I've been thinking.. Not just tonight but for a while, but after tonight .. I .." Tony began, his head still looking at his hands.

"You what?" Jethro encouraged lightly.

"I wanna be a cop." Tony looked up to his parents, and met their eyes, ready to read their expression.

They both smiled, proud of their son, and happy he had found a passion in life, besides catching a football- - as they all knew that was out of the question, heartbreakingly so.

"Oh, Tony. You will be great at it.." Jenny hugged him.

"Proud of you, son."

"It runs in my blood…" Tony smirked as they both hugged him at once, he knew he was making the right decision… finally.