Tony sat and talked to his Aunt while a few people trickled in. Mostly Senior's business associates. Also now there were dozens of floral arrangements lining both sides of the room. Sent by people who couldn't come in person.

There were large wreaths and other sprays of roses and lilies. McGee brought one over to show him was from Director Vance. It made Tony smile a bit that Vance had been that thoughtful.

Tony always found the smell of lilies to be a little overpowering, almost obnoxious. A little like his father. Maybe that's appropriate, he thought, after all.

His Aunt was crying, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, and Tony tried to comfort her by putting his arm around her and kissing her temple. Her silvery hair was soft, as he inhaled the familiar scent of lavender and talcum powder. She had always smelled like that.

A pastor walked in, and everyone seemed to know it was time to take their seats.

Gibbs, Abby, and McGee sat behind Tony and Aunt Theresa, a bit diagonally to the right of them.

Tony tried not to look at the ceramic urn. It was so final…

He tried to relax back a little in his seat, as the pastor took to the podium, and began speaking.

It was the usual. Roman Catholic flavored service, with the pastor describing Senior as a hard working, loving father.

Tony sighed a little, feeling subtly accosted by the words.

Loving father. What a joke.

He knew he needed to keep it reigned in. The ferocious rage that he knew he had inside…waiting… Just handle it. Get through the service without letting the anger and the pain out.

Mr. Byron came up to speak next about Tony's father.

"Most of you here knew Tony Senior as a business associate. But obviously saw something more in him. Something deeper and genuine, that brought you here today," Byron said evenly, looking around the room.

Gibbs and Abby both caught the tension coming off Tony, as he quickly rolled his head from side to side, as if to relieve it. They knew he was having a hard time with hearing about what a wonderful man his father was, when he had let Tony down so badly.

Byron continued.

"He was always looking for the next deal, always optimistic. And when you traveled with him or went in to negotiate, he was both entertaining, and very ethical. He always took the time to make sure everyone had what they needed."

Tony coughed for a moment, and shifted in his chair, sighing again. His Aunt rubbed his shoulder in an effort to comfort him, not knowing it was fury, not grief, causing him to stiffen next to her.

Abby sighed deeply, and Aunt Theresa turned, now dry eyed, and gave her a look filled with daggers.

Abby couldn't help herself. She made the Italian sign of warding off the evil eye to her, subtly, keeping her hand close to her body. She smiled a little, raising her eyebrows over her pale green eyes.

Aunt Theresa's eyes widened and she scowled, turning quickly around to face the podium again.

Gibbs turned and glared at Abby, wiping the subtle smile off her face. She quickly looked forward. He saw McGee on the other side of her, absently looking at the flowers at the side of the room.

"I spent a lot of time with Tony. He was a good partner, a savvy and charming businessman, and devoted father," Byron went on.

Tony shifted again in his seat. Now getting very uncomfortable. His hands were clenched in his lap.

"He talked about Tony a lot, and about how talented he is." Byron looked at Tony directly.

Tony tried to suppress a shudder. He was grateful to feel the firm hand grip his shoulder from behind. Gibbs. Reminding him they were there. He took a deep breath and tried to relax as the fingers let go.

"He was an amazing man. It's a great loss, for us all," Byron said, and Tony sighed with relief as he left the podium.

Gibbs heard a sniffle next to him, and his eyes widened as he saw Abby was tearing up.

Several more business associates of Senior's got up to speak. All of them singing his praises. Thankfully, none of them made any references to what kind of father he was, or to Tony's musical abilities.

He felt back in control, until Aunt Theresa got up to speak.

That was when he felt the color drain from his face. Please…

Aunt Theresa stood for a moment, looking at the urn, and then turned to face the room.

"My brother, Antonio, and I, came from nothing. But that didn't stop him. He always told me, "Theresa, I'm gonna be somebody. You'll see. I'm gonna make it big." And don't you know, that's exactly what he did. Even though our parents never told us we could do anything. He was so smart. He made good decisions, and married a beautiful woman, who gave him a beautiful son." She smiled at Tony, who returned it weakly.

"It was a shame, she wasn't with us all longer. But she was so proud of you too, Tony. She and your father." She glanced at the urn and then returned her eyes to the room.

"Tony is so talented, and smart like his father. My brother could see it. And he gave Tony the gift of music…"

Tony drew in a breath, and shook his head ever so slightly, wondering if he was going to be able to stop the reaction that was roiling in his stomach.

Behind him, Abby pulled out a lacy kerchief, starting to gasp quietly, crying into it. Gibbs put an arm around her, touched but perplexed at her sadness. McGee still hadn't noticed, but Gibbs knew Tony must be sickened by the heartfelt speech his Aunt was giving…

"I still have pictures and recordings," she said to Tony as she looked at him, "of some of the performances you gave on that piano in your father's study. They were so amazing…"

Tony raised a shaking hand to his face, and rubbed his eyes, feeling like his life was being drained out of him. He prayed she would finish, before he needed to throw up. He didn't want to lose it here…in front of all these people. He felt cold, and tried to force away the nightmarish vision of his hands on blood splattered piano keys…

He couldn't help the furrow in his brow, or the grim set of his mouth, as he gazed back up bleakly at his Aunt.

"He was very proud of you," she continued to look at Tony, "for the man you have become. I know he wanted to see you more than he did…but he loved you, very much." She smiled again. "My brother was a good man, a self-made man. And I loved him more than I have words for," her voice wavered a little. "I will miss him. May God rest his soul."

Tony looked up at the ceiling for a moment, beyond relief that his Aunt left the podium to return to her seat.

The pastor asked if anyone else wanted to say something.

It was quiet except for Abby, who was sobbing more loudly into her hanky, with black mascara running down her cheeks.

Gibbs wanted to get up and use some four letter explicatives to paint what he thought would be a truer picture of Tony's father. It was a gratifying fantasy…

Tony saw that no one expected him to speak. Thank God, he thought.

They said the Lord's Prayer, and then the pastor mentioned there would be a meal directly after the service at Aunt Theresa's house if anyone wanted to attend, to spend some time reminiscing about Senior.

As soon as it concluded, Tony got up, looking at no one, and left the room. He walked straight out, through the lobby, on quaking legs. He needed air. He walked to the end of the building, and leaned against the warm bricks, gasping, and trying to regain his composure.

Aunt Theresa had watched Tony leave the room with pained eyes.

"I'll take care of him," Gibbs told her gently, "he just needs a minute to himself."

"You'll bring him to my house, ah?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Yes."

"Bene," she said, nodding, and then turned to thank the people who had come to the service.

McGee was rubbing Abby's back, but there was no sign she was letting up.

Gibbs turned to her as well.

"Abby," he said softly, "you okay?"

She pulled the kerchief from her face, wiping at her eyes. "No!" she choked out, a little loudly. "I'm not okay."

Gibbs noticed her hands were trembling, much as Tony's had been by the end of the service.

She looked at Gibbs, with absolute anguish. "I'm freaking angry…" She hissed and then hiccupped. Only one or two people seemed to notice the outburst, but quickly returned to their conversations. "No…m-make that furious." She sniffled and then forced out, "That he actually had to sit here…and listen to that…it's…" she tried to hold back another sob. "It's awful. To be reminded…" she squeezed her eyes shut for just a moment, and then looked at Gibbs with ferocity. "He was a bastard. A bastard!" She wiped at more tears. "Tony deserved better…than..him."

Gibbs swallowed, and looked from Abby to McGee, who was also pale now.

"You're right," he said in almost a whisper, "but…there's not much we can do about it now. Except be there for Tony."

She nodded, and leaned in for Gibbs to hug her.

"I, ah, think I'm gonna' go check on Tony," McGee said a little shakily. His big eyes focused on Gibbs.

"Good," Gibbs said, while rubbing Abby's back, "we'll be out in a minute."

McGee nodded and walked past Aunt Theresa talking to Mr. Byron.

Gibbs knew that Tony was only hanging on by a thread at the end of the service, and all it would take was seeing Abby like this to undo whatever control he had left.