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"Do you want to explain to me why you are just letting him go, Jethro," Ducky said as he took a seat in the living room after entering Gibbs' house.

"To be honest Ducky," Gibbs handed over the drink to his old time friend, "I can't."

"Honesty is always best you know," Ducky took a sip and smiled in appreciation. "Always loved a good bourbon. "

"Hmm," Gibbs said sitting across from him.

"I realize the pregnancy has come as a shock to you, but believe me none were more shocked that that poor boy, and now you are just going to let him deal with this on his own." Ducky placed his drink on the table.

"He won't be alone Ducky, he is staying here and the team will be here for him. You said yourself that he has the best doctor to deal with this situation and Abby is already having a field day with the prospect of having a little baby on the way." Deep within Gibbs was thankful that Abby was able to talk him out of leaving DC, but he had to be honest that the relieve was also there when he requested another team. He did not know if he would have been able to deal with seeing Tony every day.

"You heard that he has requested to change teams?" Ducky was not happy with his friends no-care attitude.

Gibbs nodded, "Jenny told me last night."

"Last night?" Ducky raised his eyebrow in question.

Gibbs ignored his inquisition, "Look Ducky, I know that he did not ask for this, but neither did I. I don't want children!" Gibbs said frustrated as he got up, walking to the window, the memories of his little girl still vivid in his mind. "That was one of the reasons I never seemed to be able to keep a relationship with any of my previous wives, they thought that they would be able to change my mind."

"Abby said that he spoke about giving the baby up for adoption." Ducky did not know if this fact was known to his friend and wanted to see what the reaction would be.

Gibbs turned around, not really shocked, but surprised none the less. "What do you want me to say Ducky." Gibbs pulled his hand through his hair, why could his life not be simpler, why did he have to make these difficult decisions. "Do you want me to say that I'll stand by him and just pretend that none of this has happened. And that we will be able to continue where we were when all this is said and done." Gibbs shook his head, "I don't know if I could do that and I don't think that Tony will be able to do it."

"So you are giving up on him, you are just going to let him go and pretend that you are not involved in all this."

"I'll be around Ducky, he knows that. The whole team will be here for him."

"But he needs more than that Jethro, he needs you to have his back, he needs to know that when everyone bails on him you will still be there."

Gibbs closed his eyes the pain of losing his family has still not healed and he did not know if it ever would. How do you explain this to people who do not know the history behind his decision.

The door bell chose that moment to ring and Gibbs felt a little relieved, this confrontation with Ducky was going no where and he did not want to take part in it any longer. Jenny walked in a few seconds later, unaware of Gibbs' guest, a bottle of wine and a bag full of Chinese food, "Evening Jethro, thought I'd bring some dinner seeing that you paid last night." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then turned to head to the kitchen, freezing in place at the sight of the older man on the couch. "Doctor Malard," she forced a smile, "my apologies I did not realize that Jethro had company."

"No apologies necessary Director," Ducky stood up, "I was about to leave," he nodded politely and then turned to Gibbs, "If you'll walk me out."

Gibbs knew what was coming, knew that they will all be upset about the fact that he had restarted his relationship with Jenny. But he just wanted things to be simple, he hated a complicated life. "I'll be with you in a few minutes Jenny," Gibbs said and then turned to walk behind Ducky. As the door closed behind him he sighed, "Don't say it please Duck."

"Say what Jethro," Ducky put his hat back on walking towards the care, "That I thought you had a little bit more compassion in you. That you could have waited for Tony to feel a little more secure before you go and throw this on him as well."

"Look, I was confused and I needed someone to talk to. Jenny was there and she listened," Gibbs signed again. "It is not as if I'm going to throw it in is face Ducky. I'm not intending for anyone to find out about this."

"Then I hope you tell her that, because since the day she walked into NCIS she had her hooks in for you and she did not fail to let everyone know that. Do you think for one minute that she will not be proclaiming it to the world, and especially Tony, now that she knows that you have left him?" Ducky shook his head as he opened the door to his car, "I'm sorry to say dear friend that you are about to make the worse decision of your life. One day you are going to look back at this day and realize that you threw away what could have been the best thing that has ever happened to you to settle for the ordinary."

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Tony got up from his desk, walking over to the vending machine. His cravings for peanuts were driving him up the wall and he has had about every candy bar that had the faintest sent of peanuts in them. He dropped the coins in the machine choosing yet another one, "You know you going to make me fat," he spoke softly to his growing bulge.

"Oh dear boy, I must say that the little one has no choice in what you give him for lunch," Ducky's voice was amused looking at Tony from the door.

"Hi Ducky," Tony said shamefully, "It's the cravings, its going to drive me nuts – no pun intended."

"Yes, I'm afraid that is a big part of pregnancy, but do ensure that you have something more than that for lunch dear boy." Ducky walked with Tony to his desk, leaning against the empty desk next to him. "Have you taken your vitamins and supplements this morning?"

"Yes dad," Tony rolled his eyes. "I can assure you that I'm looking after myself and I would not dare not to seeing that I have three wives and a father checking up on me."

"We do it because we care Anthony." Ducky smiled, "and speaking of Brad what did the good doctor say at the checkup?"

"Well, I'm getting fat!" Tony smiled, sitting down behind his desk, placing a hand on his tummy, "Gail said it's growing nicely and is happy with my health."

Ducky shook his head, there were moments when it seemed that Tony was growing closer to the little one but then just like that he would just revert back to being clinical about it. He had a scan about a month ago and the sonar had shown what looked like a health baby boy, although it was not always 100% accurate. Tony however still reverted to calling him, an "it", stating that he did not want to become too attached to "it". They had all hoped that Tony would change his mind on the adoption issue but as the time passed and his relationship with Gibbs turned worse, he had just kept on insisting on giving him up. In the passed three months he, Abby, Brad and Gail had all tried their level best to get him to change his mind but the only one that could do that would not even speak to him. It was hard enough to get him to stay where they could keep an eye on him and make sure that he looks after himself but he was not giving an inch about the adoption. Sometimes he wished that he was younger so that he could knock some sense into his friend, Gibbs could be a total bastard if he wanted.

"Well I must be off," Ducky smiled as he stood up, "apparently there was a shooting at the base camp, seven men gunned down by a young recruit. Think it is going to take quite some time to clear the scene."

"Can I help with anything Ducky?" Tony asked eagerly as he got up, "Sitting here going through file after file of cold cases is starting to get a little boring."

"I'm afraid that you will be of no help to me, dear boy, the only thing I'll need is someone who would have to pick up the bodies and you are in no condition to do that," Ducky said sadly seeing the dejected look on Tony's face.

"Yea, not much worth to anyone these days," Tony said desponded, sitting down again.

"O dear me, I'm not saying that dear lad," Ducky felt horrible, "it's just that I don't want you to strain yourself."

"It's fine Ducky," Tony smiled his now famous fake smile, "I'll survive as soon as this thing is out me I'll be good as new."

The slap to the back of his head was unexpected and he felt a little anxious to turn around, not daring to hope. "If I hear you call my nephew that again I'm going to hit you so hard you'll forget your first name." Abby said as she came to stand in front of him.

Tony's face fell again, "Sorry," he said not looking at Abby. "I just wish that I can go back sometimes you know."

"Yea you miss him don't you?" Abby spoke softly.

Tony looked up, hurt still clear in his eyes, but schooled quickly with anger, "What I meant was that I would never have started a relationship with him. Then this," he pointed at his bulge, "would not have happened."

Abby shook her head she knew better than to argue with him but she also knew that anger was the only way he was able to deal with the hurt at the moment. "Ok, but just so you know I'm here to ask you for some help. The Director said that I could get you to help seeing that most of the teams were going to be involved at the scene getting the evidence and I'll need some help with all the evidence. You can be my personal assistant, I'll let you wear a lab coat and everything."

Tony 'smiled' again, "I'm sure I can do that."