Gibbs stared at him, open-mouthed.

Tony looked away from him and let out a shaky sigh.

Tony shook his head. "I shouldn't have done it. I should've just…lied or said something else to end the conversation about the piano. I…" he closed his eyes for a moment, "I'm just still…so angry with him. I couldn't stop myself…"

"This is not your fault, Tony. I'm betting your dad had a problem with his heart before this. And…you had every right to get angry at him, and tell him the truth." Gibbs hoped his words were getting through to the younger man. But Tony's hands were moving, with a subtle wringing action…

He stood up suddenly, and began pacing as Gibbs watched him.

"I shouldn't…I shouldn't fucking care," Tony said with sudden vehemence. "He left me to the wolves, and then sent me away once I wasn't gonna' be the family star…" he was breathing a little harshly.

Gibbs noticed he was getting worked up, but patiently waited him out.

"God," he said finally, stopping for a moment to look at the clock, "are they ever gonna' tell me what's going on?" He huffed and then paced a little more.

Finally he sat back down again next to Gibbs.

"He's your father," Gibbs said softly. "No matter how he screwed up, he's still your father."

Tony swallowed, and looked at the wall. He nodded slowly. He sighed again. Then he looked at Gibbs.

"I…feel guilty for hating him. And stupid for loving him." Tony frowned at Gibbs, worried that he wouldn't understand. "And when I don't feel those things about him…I feel nothing at all…"

Gibbs put a hand on Tony's neck, giving it a gentle squeeze. He let his gaze fill with compassion for his friend. "I know." Gibbs wanted to kill Senior with his own hands once or twice. But he also knew that Tony would always have unresolved feelings about his father. And he didn't want to make it worse.

Just then the waiting room door opened, and Dr. Brad Pitt stepped in.

Tony knew by the way Pitt looked at him, and also by the simple reason it was him stepping into the room, that it was bad. His brow creased as he closed his eyes and shook his head. He opened them and stood up, waiting for the words.

"Tony…" Pitt said in sad tone, "he's still alive, but…there was too much damage to his heart. There's nothing they can do." Pitt put a steadying hand on Tony, who became a little dazed, looking around for a moment before focusing back on the doctor. "I think you should go see him. It won't be long…"

Tony stared at him for a moment, feeling the cold shudder roll through his body. He heard Gibbs offering to go in with him, but he shook his head. "I need to do this…myself," he turned to Gibbs, and the older man embraced him.

"I'll be here, if you need me," Gibbs murmured in his ear, before releasing him.

Tony stepped back, giving him a watery-eyed smile, and a subtle nod of thanks.

He followed Pitt out to the curtained bed in ICU where his father lay dying.

He was almost grey, connected to a host of machines.

Pitt left, after pulling a chair next to the bed for Tony. He gave him a sad, sympathetic look, and then left them to say their peace.

Senior's breathing was labored. A fine sheen of sweat coated the sickly colored skin.

Tony was having a hard time believing that this man was the same one who flew all over the world wearing expensive suits and wooing women half his age.

He took a breath, and took one of his father's hands. He wished he could say nice things to him…words of comfort. Even be able to tell him he loved him. But the bitterness, the anger, and hurt, all blocked his ability to choke the words out.

"Junior…" the raspy whisper came out, as Senior tried to open his eyes.

"Dad…just rest. Everything's okay…" Tony's words came out small and quivering.

"Nnnoo…Tony…" Senior struggled. "S'not going to be okay…this time…"

"This time?"

"Didn't wanna' worry you…the ol' ticker…" he pulled in a wheezing breath, "…been giving me trouble here and there…" he turned his head, looking at his son with pained green eyes. "No time…now…"

Tony bit his lip to try and keep a hold over himself.

"I'm so sorry, son…" the old man rasped. "I failed you in every way…I'm sorry…"there were tears of remorse flowing from his eyes, drifting into the nasal cannula.

"It's okay Dad," Tony whispered, afraid his voice would break.

It wasn't okay. It would never be okay. But Tony didn't have the heart to let his father die carrying such pain and guilt, even if he deserved it.

He mustered up a little strength, forcing his voice to sound out.

"You didn't know. You were just doing the best you could without mom there…"his breath hitched a bit.

"You were…just a kid…Tony…" Senior said, now barely audible and grasping Tony's one hand in his.

Then suddenly, his eyes started to close, and the machinery started going crazy. His hand went slack.

As the nurses and ICU doctor ran in, Tony stood up and back from the bed, letting his father's hand go. After several moments of frantic checking, they all slowed their movements down.

Only the doctor looked at him.

"I'm sorry, Agent DiNozzo, your father is gone."

Tony looked at him, and nodded. Without a word, he left the ICU, and didn't look back.

Gibbs had been pacing. Waiting on Tony, and wondering if he should call Abby to come down to Bethesda.

It wasn't long after Tony had left, when Gibbs saw him walking slowly down the hall with a blank expression.

Gibbs stood, watching him, with concerned eyes. His heart ached for the younger man, and the mixed bag of emotions Senior's death undoubtedly Tony would now be left to deal with.

As Tony got closer, Gibbs took a few paces to meet up with him.

"Tony."

The green eyes shifted up at him, with more of a bewildered look than the pain he expected to see.

"Boss…" Tony said sedately, slowing down a little to talk to him. "I'm…just gonna' take a walk…to clear my head…"

Gibbs wanted to reach for him, but he could tell Tony meant it when he said he needed to walk. So instead, he stared at Tony for a moment, and then nodded, without a word.

Tony looked down for a moment and then back to him. He tried the barest smile, before turning, and continuing his way down the hall.

Gibbs sighed, watching his back as he left, knowing he would be going to the younger man's apartment later, to gather him and his things up, and bring him to the house. There was no way he was going to let Tony go through this alone.