A/N: Short but important bit on the aftermath in the room. And I need to say to my frickin' AWESOME readers- I am SO glad you enjoyed the big reveal in the last chapter, and that most of you were surprised by Tony's revelation, and the sly behaviour of our silver fox. I SO very much appreciate you guys, for the supportive words and excitement about the story. I will be working on the final chapters of this story over the weekend, so it will likely wrap by Monday or Tuesday.

And then I will peruse my "to do" list on my profile page. If you read the upcoming stories- feel free to PM me with a vote on which you'd like me to start next...

MUCH LOVE- MG

Tony was sitting, unfocused, and expressionless, tear tracks drying on his face.

He hadn't said a word as Gibbs rummaged for the key to the cuffs, and finally released him from the chair.

He wouldn't look at Gibbs at all, mouth set in a grim line.

Gibbs knew Tony was as about upset as he'd ever been with him.

Tony slowly, painfully lifted his arms out and up from the back of the chair, absently flexing and rubbing them.

Gibbs wanted to help him, but he knew Tony would likely throw a punch at him if he touched him right now.

He sighed, and said, "I figure…you're pretty pissed off at me right now."

Tony didn't respond in any way.

Gibb walked around to stand in front of him.

"I know you probably will be for a while," Gibbs said gently, but almost stepped back as Tony lifted his head and locked his eyes onto Gibbs. Gibbs almost winced.

It was a cold, hard look. One he'd only ever seen Tony give to perps.

Gibbs took a controlled breath. He willed himself to keep his eyes locked on Tony's. "I hope once you're done wanting to kick my ass, you'll feel a little better that it's out in the open now."

Tony looked like he was going to say something, and then just scowled and looked down.

Gibbs saw Tony's hands were shaking. His breath was still shallow.

"Fornell has EMT's waiting downstairs. I want you to get checked out."

Tony didn't react or respond.

"Tony."

The tone of his voice when he responded was so thick with sadness and disappointment, Gibbs felt it through his heart like a knife. "Yeah, I heard you."

Gibbs sighed and nodded, walking out of the room.

Tony stared at the closed door.

He felt almost numb. First it had been shock, then pure rage, which he squashed down before it overwhelmed him.

How could Gibbs have done this?To him?

He trusted the man. Looked up to him….

What he'd done was like…breaking an unspoken pact. Between them. He hated him for it. He felt cold. He felt…violated. All over again. But it a totally new way.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

He tried to think hard, about the moment he'd said the words out loud, said them to Gibbs. The pain, and accumulated humiliation, of all the harm caused by Senior's selfishness…it was suffocating. It wasn't just being adopted…it was about being…cheated…

And though he did actually feel some twinge of relief, of release, in telling Gibbs…he'd just been cheated again. Betrayed.

Tony tried to control it, but found he just couldn't, and another wave of inner pain washed through him, leaving him almost breathless, bringing water to his eyes again.

"Shit," he blurted out to himself, letting out a half moan, half sob.

He might have just lost one of the most important people in his life.

Fornell looked questioningly at Gibbs. "He okay?"

Gibbs nodded, "I think so. Told him to go get checked out downstairs."

They were standing in the hallway, near the elevators. Some of the LEO's and another FBI were littered through the other side of the hallway, talking. They were waiting for Fornell's go ahead to process the room. Campanelli's men were nowhere to be seen, already being transported to a temporary facility to be booked before going to face charges.

"I didn't see him come out."

"No…" Gibbs shifted a little on his feet, "I think he needed a minute. Campanelli?"

"Landing in one hour. Marshalls are waiting for him."

Gibbs nodded, not looking as smug as Tobias would have expected…or liked.

He eyed Gibbs more closely. He knew something had gone down, between the two agents, since Gibbs told Fornell specifically not to come in unless Gibbs had yelled for him. It was risky, letting Gibbs and Tony drive from Vegas…but in the end, it worked out. Like most plans the concocted together. It was a nice plus too, that Sharlee Benton was able to defend herself against on of the dirtbags.

It was a dangerous game, since they didn't know exactly how many men Campanelli had sent after them, or exactly when and where they might strike.

Most of it though, went smoothly. Carmine "Betty" Niagro, had cracked in ten seconds flat when Fornell caught him trying to take Gibbs, and Vito Randazzo was easy to apprehend (once he saw the six armed men outside his door, and Gibbs looking like a lion about to kill a gazelle).

But this time, Fornell knew it was about more than catching the bad guys. He saw the stress in Gibbs' face. But he didn't want to push his old friend. Gibbs had told him Tony was having some trouble…likely because of his father's death. But instinct told Fornell there was more to it. He knew about what happened with Tommy Anselmo…at least a little about it from Gibbs. But- he hadn't been generous with the details. And Fornell knew it was to protect Tony.

He wanted to push. To ask Gibbs why he looked…like someone shot his dog, rather than someone who helped save DiNozzo's life, and put away several criminals.

Instead, he gazed at the dried blood at the side of the man's head.

"You might wanna' get checked out too. You're a bit of a mess, old friend."

He sighed. "Yeah," he said quietly, "you're probably right. I'll go down…"

"After DiNozzo comes out of that room?" Fornell said, with a smile.

"I'll give him another minute. He could be…dizzy or something. He had a lump on the back of his head… But I'm sure he's fine," Gibbs said, as if saying it would make it so.

Fornell would have expected Gibbs to be at Tony's side. Not out in the hallway. He was about to ask Gibbs why, when just then, Tony emerged from the room.

He was extremely pale, face a little bruised and one side of his mouth bloody and a bit swollen.

And he was moving slowly.

As he walked towards them, he picked up his head, and Fornell saw the closed down, desolate expression on his face.

It made him feel perplexed, and worried at the same time.

Tony eyed Gibbs for only and instant, and then looked at Fornell.

"Hey Fornell."

"DiNutso."

"I heard you've been catching some squirrels for us," Tony said softly. He stood by them and pressed the elevator button.

"Yep. Luckily we had the right nuts to lure them with."

Tony snorted, smiling a little, and then said, "Thanks." He put out his hand to Fornell, and Fornell shook it.

When the electronic ding of the elevator sounded, and the doors opened, Tony gave Fornell a courteous nod. And then got on, without looking at Gibbs again.

Gibbs watched Tony's face as the doors closed, and the cool mask remained in place until he was out of sight.

Fornell looked at Gibbs.

"You wanna'-"

"No," Gibbs said sadly. "I don't wanna' get into it. Suffice to say…sometimes tough love is… tougher than you think it's gonna' be…tougher than you."

Fornell smiled, laying a comforting hand on Gibbs' shoulder. A rare event. But somehow, he knew Gibbs was hurting almost as much as Tony looked to be.

"Nah. Nothin's tougher than you, you bastard."

Gibbs gave him a raised brow and little smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Fornell pressed the elevator button to summon the car back up. "Let's go down so they can clean you up and give you a band-aid for that hard head of yours."