Title: A Father's Love
Pairings: Gibbs/Tony father/son
Summary: When Tony discovers his father's coming to town, it surfaces long buried memories. Can Gibbs convince Tony to let him help and that he's worth a father's love?
A/N: Hey, everyone! Sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter up! But there's a lot of character interaction and it's hard for me to write Ziva's character and the interaction between her and Tony. But I think I finally got them in character! I want to thank all of you who reviewed last chapter: jjd022980, Tiva-McAbby4Life, moira4eku, gibbsgirl1980, haamjoha, NickTonyK, angeleyes46, DarkRose4u, Downey for President, Long Live BRUCAS, ladykale1985, smush68, Skipper96, and tansysam. Your encouragement keeps my creative juices flowing! There is one more chapter left, and I will try to get that up as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'm working on another story, For The Love Of A Woman, and I would appreciate it if you guys would check it out and let me know what you think. Until next time!
-Starbeam4267
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Tony stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He looked around in confusion for a moment before remembering where he was. He was embarrassed at first, before remembering what Gibbs told him last night. 'He thinks of me as a son!'
Tony smelled coffee and heard pots banging together downstairs. Gibbs was up. He got out of bed and stretched. He got dressed and made his way downstairs to the kitchen. Gibbs looked over at Tony when he walked in and smiled.
"Mornin'", Gibbs said, handing him a cup of coffee and a plate piled with eggs and bacon.
"Morning," Tony said, smiling shyly. He sat down at the table across from Gibbs. There was silence, but it was a comfortable silence, not awkward.
"How are you feeling this morning, son," Gibbs asked him.
Tony looked up at him and smiled. "Better than I was last night."
"I'm glad." Gibbs put down his coffee and looked at Tony. "Look, Tony. I think we should tell the team about your father."
Tony looked at him in horror. "What! No! Why!"
"Tony, son," Gibbs said gently. "They need to know about your father so that they can help you keep your father away."
"I don't-"Tony started, averting his eyes.
Gibbs expression softened. He made his way over to Tony and knelt down next to him. He tipped Tony's chin up to look at him. "Son, they're not going to think you're weak."
Tony's eyes widened in surprise. How did-. But then, he shouldn't really be surprised. Gibbs sometimes knew him better than he knew himself.
Gibbs brought Tony's attention back to himself. "Son, they'll be angrier if they find out from someone other than you."
Tony thought about it. On the one hand, he didn't want the pity he knew he would see from the others. But on the other hand, it would be a relief for the others to find out.
Tony looked back at Gibbs. "Okay," he said softly. "Okay, let's tell them."
Gibbs gave him a smile. "Okay. I'll call the others over."
Tony returned the smile. "I'm going to go take a shower while you're doing that." Gibbs nodded and Tony headed to the bathroom.
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Gibbs watched Tony walk away with a sigh. He knew this wasn't going to be easy for Tony. But he needed to get it out in the open. Bottling it all up inside wasn't going to do anyone, especially Tony, any good. It would only make the memories come when Tony didn't want them to, as he witnessed in the basement. But he wouldn't let Tony go through this alone. He would be there with him every step of the way.
He got out his phone and pressed a number on his speed dial. He waited for McGee to pick up the phone.
"Boss," he answered. "Do we have a case?"
"No," Gibbs replied. "I need you to come over. Tony needs to tell you something. And bring Ziva too." He could hear McGee gather his things on the other end of the line.
"Does this have anything to do with why Tony was acting the way he was acting yesterday," McGee asked, and Gibbs could hear the concern in his voice.
"Yeah, McGee, it does."
"Alright. I'll get Ziva and head over there. Want me to call Abby?"
"No, I'll do it. Just get over here as fast as you can."
"On it, Boss."
Gibbs hung up the phone. He then called Abby. After calming her down from a near panic attack, she said that she'd be right there. After calling Abby, he talked to Ducky. Gibbs told him to bring Palmer as well. After he got the calls taken care of, he settled down to wait. Five minutes later, Tony came downstairs and took a seat on one of the arm chairs. Gibbs smiled at him and he gave a small smile back.
"Did you call them," Tony asked nervously, fidgeting in his seat.
"Yep. They're on their way here," Gibbs replied. His expression softened as he looked at Tony. "Son, look at me." Tony did. "Everything's going to be fine," Gibbs said reassuringly. Tony gave him a not-quite-convinced smile back.
Just then knocking was heard coming from the front door. Gibbs got up to unlock it, patting Tony on the shoulder as he went. He looked out the window and when he saw who it was, he opened it. The team looked at him with bemused expressions on their faces.
"Gibbs, your door was locked," Abby exclaimed as she and the others came inside. "Your door is never locked!"
"This time I had a good reason," Gibbs said as he led them to the living room.
They all took a seat and greeted Tony when they saw him. He gave a jerky nod in return. The others looked at Gibbs in return.
"Go ahead, son," he told Tony gently. The others grew even more concerned when they heard Gibbs' tone and turned their attention back to Tony.
"My father is arriving in town today," Tony said, playing with the hem of his shirt and not looking up at them. He then went on to tell them about his father, from the first time Senior beat him when he was five, to the last time he saw Senior when he was twelve. When he finished, there was complete silence and Tony chanced a look up. Ducky and Gibbs looked pissed, Ziva looked downright murderous, Abby had tears in her eyes, Palmer looked sad and McGee was in shock.
After recovering, Gibbs suggested they take some time to digest this information. Gibbs and Ducky went to the basement, Tony went to his room, and the others went to different parts of the house.
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McGee stood outside Tony's door debating about whether or not to go in, when the problem was solved for him.
"You just going to stand there all day, McGee, or are you going to come in," Tony called from inside the bedroom.
McGee opened the door and went inside. Tony was sitting down on the bed reading. McGee closed the door behind him and just stood there and watched him for a while. Finally, Tony looked up at him, concerned.
"What's the matter, Probie," he asked.
McGee started to move toward him, and then stopped. He played with the sleeve of his shirt. "Tony, I'm sorry," McGee said, alternating between glancing at Tony and looking around the room.
Tony furrowed his brows. "What do you have to be sorry about McGee," he asked, confused.
McGee finally looked at him. "I always thought that you had the perfect childhood," he explained, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. "That because you grew up with money, you got everything you could ever want or need."
"I thought the same about you," Tony pointed out. "The perfect childhood part I mean."
"Yeah, but I never imagined "Yeah, but I never imagined you were abused by your father. I mean, yeah, I got beat up, but that was by bullies, not someone who was supposed to love and care for me. I knew he was neglectful, but I never thought it went this far."
McGee was distressed. It must have shown on his face because Tony put the book down and motioned for McGee to come sit with him on the bed. McGee complied, still not looking Tony in the eyes.
"Tim," Tony said, putting his hands on McGee's shoulders and forcing McGee to look at him. "I tried very hard to never let anyone know what had happened to me."
"Still, I feel like I should have picked up on the clues," McGee said dejectedly.
"That just means I'm a good actor, not that you're a bad investigator," Tony said. "Don't worry about it."
"Thanks Tony," McGee said. He looked Tony straight in the eyes, trying to get him to believe his next words. "Tony, we're not going to let him get you."
"Thanks Tim."
Tony smiled at him and McGee smiled back. As McGee left the room, he swore that he would protect Tony no matter what the cost.
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Ziva was standing by the stairwell, thinking about what she had just heard, when Tony walked by on his way to the kitchen, not noticing her standing there. She pushed herself off of the wall and followed him into the kitchen. She stood there watching him. She had no idea what to say to him. What do you say to a friend when they reveal to you what an abusive childhood they had?
Tony turned around and finally noticed Ziva standing there. He jumped in surprise. "Gaah! Ziva! Don't do that," he exclaimed, putting a hand over his heart.
Ziva didn't feel the usual smugness she did whenever she managed to sneak up on him. "I am sorry, Tony." She stared at him with an intense expression on her face. Tony squirmed under her gaze.
"What," he finally asked.
Ziva stepped closer to him. She adverted her gaze before bringing it back to rest on Tony. "I never imagined this was what you had to go through as a child."
Tony leaned back and rested his hands on the counter. "You didn't have the best childhood either," he pointed out.
"Yes, but my father never abused me."
"No, he just raised you to be a killer."
Tony and Ziva stood there staring at each other for a couple of minutes. Finally, Ziva softened her gaze. "We will not let him hurt you again. You realize that, yes?"
"I know Zi. Thanks." Tony smiled at her and she smiled back. As he made his way out of the kitchen and to the back porch, he brushed his shoulder against hers. As Ziva's thoughts wandered again to the abuse Tony suffered at the hands of Senior, her eyes hardened. She was determined to keep her promise.
'He goes near Tony and I will kill him slowly and painfully,' she vowed.
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Abby stood outside on the back porch watching Tony. She felt sad and also angry. What kind of monster would do that to their own son? And to Tony no less! He didn't deserve that.
Tony turned his head and noticed Abby standing there. He smiled up at her. "Hey Abs. Care to join me?"
Abby rushed over to him and gave him a hug. "Oh, Tony," she said sadly, sniffling.
Tony put his arms around her and returned the hug. "Hey, Abby, it's okay," he said softly.
Abby pulled away and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "I just can't imagine what you must have went through. I mean, what kind of monster would do that to their own kid? I gathered that Senior wasn't the best parent, but I never thought he could sink so low and – Oh, Tony we're not going to let him get you!"
"Thanks, Abs," he said, giving her a smile. She returned it.
"Is there anything I can do for you," she asked, giving him another hug.
"Yeah. Just sit here with me for a little while." He returned the hug.
"Okay. I can do that." As she made herself comfortable next to him, she thought about Senior and swore that if he laid even one single finger on Tony, she would kill him and leave no forensic evidence.
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Palmer made his way out of the bathroom and toward the stairs. Halfway there, he ran into Tony. Tony gave him a smile.
"Hey, Jimmy."
"Hey, Tony," Palmer said, giving him a small smile back. He stood there uncomfortably while Tony examined him.
"What's wrong," Tony asked.
"Oh, no-nothing," Palmer replied, wishing he could escape this conversation. As they stood there, Palmer got the feeling that Tony could see into his soul. He saw a look of realization suddenly appear in Tony's eyes.
"Your father was abusive too," Tony said with knowing sadness.
Palmer was shocked that Tony could read him so well, but also relieved that he didn't have to hide it anymore. "Yeah. He was an alcoholic. He wasn't so bad when he was sober, but when he was drunk, which was most of the time, he was a real terror. And I was the one he took it out on."
"I'm sorry, Jimmy."
Palmer gave a small shrug. "Yeah, well, as long as he was beating me, he was leaving my little sister alone." He looked at Tony seriously. "Tony, you know we're going to stop him, right?"
"Yeah¸ Jimmy, I know." Tony patted him on the shoulder as he passed, and as they went their separate ways, Palmer felt closer to Tony in light of their shared pasts.
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Ducky was nursing a jar half-full of bourbon as he watched Gibbs work on his boat and thought about Tony. "Poor Anthony. It's terrible to imagine that the poor boy had to go through that." He took a sip of bourbon as he waited. He knew Gibbs would speak when he was ready. He just had to be patient. Sure enough, Gibbs soon stopped what he was doing and turned to look at him.
"You should have seen him last night, Duck," Gibbs said, voice full of pain. "As soon as he started talking about his father, he started having flashbacks. They lasted for twenty minutes and there was nothing I could do to stop them. If I had known what was going on when he was a child Duck, I would have put a stop to it." He ran a hand down his face.
"I know you would have, Jethro," Ducky soothed. "But unfortunately, you weren't. All you can do now is be there for young Anthony."
Gibbs expression suddenly hardened.
"Oh Dear," Ducky sighed. "I know that look. What are you up to, Jethro?"
"I'm going to go tell Senior that he'll stay away from my son if he knows what's good for him," Gibbs growled, heading for the stairs.
"Jethro," Ducky called after him. Gibbs stopped and looked back at him. "I know there's no stopping you. Just be careful. Anthony can't afford to lose you."
"I will, Duck," Gibbs called as he went up the stairs.
Ducky sighed and stood up. His expression hardened as he thought about Senior. He met his match in Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He would heed Gibbs' advice if he knew what was good for him.
'Although I wouldn't mind performing an autopsy on him,' Ducky thought darkly as he went upstairs.