Spoilers: 7x09 'Child's Play'
"Last chance, you sure you don't want to join us?" asked Jimmy he gathered his stuff, he was leaving early because he still had drive to his parents house. "You still haven't met Justin yet," he reminded Tony, the baby boy had been born just over a month and half ago and Jimmy hadn't seen him since that free weekend back in September shortly after he had been born.
"Naw, it's okay, go and enjoy Thanksgiving with your folks, Lauren, Tyler and the kids," Tony replied as he ushered Jimmy out of autopsy and into the hallway. "I'll be fine."
"What are your plans anyway?" asked Jimmy curious to see what the other man had planned for Thanksgiving. Tony knew that he was always welcome to join in any holiday celebration, Lizzy and Lauren adored him, Kevin looked up to him and as a fellow Buckeye Tyler and Tony got along great. Even Jimmy's parents who Tony had met a couple of times before loved him and told him that he could always join them during the holidays if he wished.
"Poker tournament at the Big Ben Indian Casino."
Jimmy's eyebrows shot up at that. "You're not going to New York?" he asked surprised. Tony and his father had recently started talking again and while their relationship was, still strained and rocky Tony had indicated that he might go to New York to spend Thanksgiving with his family there.
"No," Tony replied curtly.
"I thought you said that you might go to New York for Thanksgiving, you said yourself that you haven't seen them in at least four years," Jimmy reminded him.
"Yeah well, things change," Tony said his tone hard and indicated that this conversation was over.
Jimmy narrowed his eyes, he knew Tony well enough to know that even though Tony had only mentioned his potential plans to go to New York for Thanksgiving in passing the older man was actually excited about the possibility of going back to see his family under more happy circumstances. Jimmy acquiesced, he could always talk to Tony after Thanksgiving, and perhaps he would be in a more agreeable mood then.
"It's just…."
"It's just what, Jimmy?"
"It's a holiday."
"So is Labor Day."
"You know what I mean," Jimmy said in a no nonsense tone.
"Yeah, Jimmy, I do," Tony replied softly. "I swear, I'll be fine now go before you get stuck in the rush hour traffic," he said practically pushing the medical student out the door.
Jimmy nodded and started walking towards his car but stopped half there. "Have a good Thanksgiving, Tony!" he called.
"You too, Jimmy!" came the reply.
--
Thanksgiving Day
"DiNozzo," Tony said, his words slightly slurred by the two glasses of wine he had drunk.
"Been hitting the bar, Tony?" asked an amused voice on the other end.
"Palmer! How's Thanksgiving?"
"It's good, Lizzy and Kevin have been asking for you and Tyler's really disappointed that he won't get to see you before he goes."
"Well you'll just have to tell that brother-in-law of yours that he'll just have to make sure he comes back then."
"Will do, Tony. Are you in the casino or something, it's kind of loud."
"Actually, no, I'm at Ducky's," he replied as he moved farther down the hall, "we caught a case."
"You did? What kind?"
"Yeah, we did. Well, I now know what the Satler Institute for Strategic Studies and Analysis has that's so valuable."
"What's that?"
"Kids who could give McGee a run for his money..."