When McGee went outside, it didn't take him long to find Tony. He was leaning back, on the building, sunglasses on, arms folded on his chest.

It was the body language he was expecting.

As he neared his friend, he asked, "You okay, Tony?"

Tony turned his head, and pushed off the wall. "Yeah," he said tiredly. "I'm okay."

McGee took in the still pale face, and vague scowl.

"Okay...well, Gibbs and Abby should be out soon."

Tony nodded.

McGee shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

"Tony..."

"Tim."

"I...," McGee ran a hand through his hair. "This must be...really hard...for you. And, if you need to talk..."

Tony sighed. "Thanks. It is...hard. I...thought I was gonna' lose it in there..." he looked down, but it was hard for McGee to see what he was looking at exactly with the sunglasses on. "I really appreciate you guys being here." He picked up his head, and smiled wanly.

"You would do the same for us, Tony."

Just then, Gibbs and Abby walked out of the doors of the funeral home, and they could see, she was still leaning on Gibbs just a bit.

They walked over to meet them on the sidewalk, in front of the limos.

Tony smiled at her, and her puffy eyes. "You okay Abs?"

She nodded, and then leapt at him, trying not to launch into another crying fit.

"Tony..." she groaned. "Your Aunt...hates me..."she said, instead of calling his father names, which is what she really wanted to do.

He chuckled and stroked her hair. He gave her a squeeze. "Nah. She's just stressed. She'll warm up to you at her house... but just in case...I need to show you the right way to give the horns. Thumb stays in," he smiled, shooting it at her.

They all smiled at that.

She was still sniffling, and stared at Tony, trying to see if he was okay.

"Boss, why don't you go with Abs, and McGee can come with me to Aunt Theresa's?" Tony thought that Abby needed Gibbs more than he did at the moment. He knew damned well she wasn't this upset about his Aunt not liking her.

Gibbs stared at him for a moment, as if evaluating him, and then nodded, "Sure. We'll see you there. C'mon, Abby," he gently pulled her towards the car.

"We'll see you guys there, okay?" Abby said, as Gibbs opened the door for her to get in.

"See you there," said McGee.

They both gave a single wave as they turned to go to their car.

"Mr. DiNozzo !" they heard a voice call.

Tony recognized , his father's lawyer, carrying the ceramic urn in an open box and a large manilla envelope. The man was older, and graying at the temples. He had round spectacles. He was tall and thin, with an olive complexion.

Tony always thought he looked like The Count.

"Mr Gardiner..." Tony said, a little breathlessly as the man handed him the box with the urn in it. "Guess I can't leave Senior here, can I?" Tony smiled bitterly.

"Ahh, no, . I'm afraid he needs to go with you. And also, I have prepared some initial paperwork for you, and a copy of your father's will. We can review it sometime later, as I know this must be a hard time for you."

"You have no idea," Tony sighed, switching the box with the urn under one arm, to take the envelope.

"My card is enclosed, in case you don't have my information. Please just contact me when you're up to it." He put his hand out to Tony, "I'm very sorry for your loss."

Tony handed the box to McGee, who turned a little green having to take it.

Now with the hand free, Tony shook Gardiner's. "Thanks. I'll be in touch."

The man nodded, and walked away.

Tony watched him for a moment, and then looked at McGee.

"Wow, McPukey, you look worse than I feel." He gazed at the box in McGee's hands.

"Uh...w-well...it's...your Dad..."

"And how many dead bodies have we seen?" He teased, without any malice.

"But..."

"Okay, let's just put that in the car and get going," Tony said, glancing at the envelope in his hand. He was somewhat curious.

Once they were en route to Aunt Theresa's, Tony settled back across from McGee, in the leather seat, and opened the envelope.

McGee watched him, but tried not to stare or interrupt him with questions.

He looked out the window a bit while Tony pulled out a package of papers.

There were several loose pages paper-clipped with Gardiner's card, copies of the will, with assets listed, and an envelope with his name hand written on it, from Senior. The back had a wax seal.

"Huh," Tony murmured. Wax seals were pretty fancy for a note...it was obviously personal...he felt a flutter of apprehension as to what Senior had to say in it.

He first perused the loose pages. As he read, his eyebrows raised, and he took off his sunglasses, lips slightly parted.

"Tony..."McGee couldn't stand it, "what does it say?"

Tony's eyes flickered up to McGee's, without raising his head. He smiled.

"It says I own the Long Island estate, several other properties, cars, and some money as well, in mutual funds and offshore accounts."

"H-how much?" McGee couldn't help but be excited for Tony. "Uh...you don't have to tell me...if you don't want to..." At least something good could come out of all the Hell Senior caused his friend.

Tony grinned wider at him, "Wouldn't you like to know, McNosey."

McGee smiled and snorted, feeling a little embarrassed for asking.

Tony tilted his head. "Just kidding McGee. You're...one of my best friends. Of course I'm gonna' tell you."

McGee smiled, and rolled his eyes. "Tony!"

"Two point five."

"Two hundred and fifty thousand?"

"Million."

"Mmmm...mmm-" McGee couldn't spit it out.

Tony laughed a little. "Yeah, McGee, Dad was on a roll recently." He sighed, looking down at the paperwork. "That's a lot of Armani."

McGee nodded, still shocked.

"Wow," McGee blew out.

Tony smiled again, "Yeah," and put the papers back in the manilla envelope. He knew he should be ecstatic about the money. But…somehow, it didn't really make up for anything.

That just left the smaller envelope, with his father's handwriting on it.

He wanted to open it...but...

Tony looked up at McGee, who turned a little and looked out the window, realizing Tony wanted to read it without being stared at.

He heard Tony rip it open, while he saw they were approaching a bit of a bridge. He twisted a little, looking for water, but it was just a drop off over a large, rocky gulley. He couldn't see how deep it was yet, since they were still approaching it. He did see the tangerine type glow of sunset on the rocks, and thought it was a pretty color.

After a few moments, he heard Tony draw in a sharp breath, and when he turned, he became immediately alarmed.

Tony was staring at the letter with trembling hands, and the look on his face...McGee had never seen it. It was an ugly twist between shock and horror. A strange guttural moan left Tony's throat, as his green eyes glazed over with blind fury.

"Tony-" McGee said softly.

"Sonofabitch!" Tony crumbled the papers in his hands, looking at nothing for a moment. His breath was coming in ragged gasps. "You...fucking son of a bitch..."

"Stop the car," he leaned forward and called to the driver.

McGee was dumbstruck. Whatever was in that letter...must have been bad…

"Sir...we're just about over the bridge..." the driver countered up front. He was an older man, with leathery skin, and short grey hair.

"I said STOP the fucking CAR!" Tony's eyes looked wild.

Wordlessly, the driver pulled over on the bridge, near to the far end.

"Tony...w-what..." McGee tried to say, but the other man was lost in the fit he was having.

Tony opened the car door, roughly and got out. He stood, gasping, taking deep breaths.

McGee thought to call Gibbs, or get out and try to talk to him again. Just as he was wresting with what option to go with, he saw Tony lean into the car, and grab the urn out of the box.

"Tony!" McGee cried, and now scrambled out of the car after his friend.

As he stood up, he saw the gulley was very deep, and they were just next to the safety rail of the bridge. A car drove past behind them.

As Tony walked to the rail, McGee suddenly knew what he was going to do.

"No! Tony - don't!"

But it was too late.

Tony took the urn, and launched it over the side of the bridge, making a sound that was between a cry and a sob.

It sailed through the air, seemingly in slow motion. And then it hit the rocks, with a shattering clay pot sound, while the ash immediately billowed up in a mushroom type cloud...

McGee was shocked, and at an absolute loss as to what to do.

Tony was gripping the rail, shaking. He seemed to suddenly realize he had dropped the letter on the ground, and picked it up with unsteady hands.

McGee watched, open mouthed, as Tony shredded it up into little pieces, starting to hiccup, laughing and crying at the same time. Then he tossed the pieces over, to float down and flutter towards the drifting cloud of ash.

McGee was trembling now himself.

He slowly took the several steps next to Tony, who was gripping the rail again. He was muttering under his breath, something unintelligible.

"Tony," McGee said in almost a whisper, as he tentatively reached out a hand to touch his shoulder.

He startled when Tony pulled back violently, and looked at him, with tears streaming down his face.

"Tony," McGee said more firmly, trying to calm them both.

Tony's eyes registered that his friend was trying to get through to him.

"McGee..."he croaked. "Go."

"But-"

"Get in the car, McGee. I need to ..." he looked around, taking in the bridge, figuring out where he was. "We…we're only a mile from Aunt Theresa's. I need...need to clear my head..." his words were coming out slightly strangled.

"Tony, I don't think-"

"McGee, get in the fucking car before I shoot you," Tony said with menace in his eyes.

McGee nodded, swallowing, "Okay. But if you don't show in an hour we're coming to look for you..." He knew Tony wouldn't really ever shoot him. Would he? No...he just needed air to absorb...whatever that was...in the letter…

Tony nodded once and then turned his back to McGee.

McGee got in the car, and closed the door.

"Everything okay?" the driver asked.

"No...not so much," McGee said shakily. "Just got to the next stop. He's gonna' walk the rest of the way."

"Not taking the death so well, huh," the driver said, almost with concern.

"No."

They pulled away, as McGee saw Tony lean forward and put his head in his hands, still leaning on the rail.

Suddenly, he worried he made the wrong call. Maybe he shouldn't have left him alone.

He pulled out his phone, and hit the speed dial. It rang only once.

"Boss...I think we have a problem..."