"Boss we have a huge problem Tony just quit." McGee said

"What the hell do you mean Tony quit?" Gibbs demanded once he found the strength to speak.

"I don't know Vance just came down here, said Tony quit, and asked if we had any idea why." McGee replied.

"All I could figure is he was shaken by the case." Ziva replied.


Gibbs let the feeling of relief that Tony had not told Vance what he had told him. That feeling was quickly replaced by anger at himself. How could he have been so cruel? How many nights had Tony stood in his basement and told him all the hurtful and abusive things Senior had done to him? He had to be the worst person on the planet right now. Sure the case and Vance's situation were causing old demons to resurface but that was no excuse to say such horrible things to his son or anyone. When he finally found the strength to move he ran across the office and took the steps two at a time up to Vance's office. He flung the door open. The director had been leaning back in his chair, feet propped on his desk, arms crossed behind his head, and as always a tooth pick sticking out of his mouth. Gibbs must have surprised him because he fell out of his chair.

"Jesus! Jethro are you willing to raise Jared and Kayla after you give me a heart attack?!" Vance demanded pulling himself back into his chair.

"Sorry Leon it's just McGee told me about DiNozzo." Gibbs replied.

"Oh" Vance replied.

"Did he tell you why exactly he quit?" Gibbs asked.

"He just said that he couldn't take it anymore. That's why I asked McGee and David. I mean I know this was a rough case and DiNozzo must feel incredible guilt but still it's not like DiNozzo to just up and quit." Vance replied.

"Leon I did something terrible." Gibbs blurted out.

"What happened Jethro?" Vance asked.

"We were at the hospital and Sgt. Darbey had just finished telling us that Keely had died and I just lashed out on Tony." Gibbs replied.

"Yeah so?" Vance asked.

"Leon I told him he was worthless." Gibbs replied.

"You told Tony he was worthless?" Vance asked surprised.

"I was just so upset about Keely her mother Sharon. The names were so similar and it all just brought back all these memories of my girls. That and your birthday being tomorrow and Jackie. I just went off." Gibbs replied.

"Relax Jethro I know you didn't mean it." Vance assured.

"I just hope Tony feels that way." Gibbs replied.

"DiNozzo is an understanding guy. I'm sure he'll hear you out once he cools down a bit." Vance replied.

"I hope so Leon." Gibbs replied turning the doorknob.

"Where are you going Jethro?" Vance asked.

"To find my boy." Gibbs replied.

"Good Luck Jethro!" Vance called.


Tony pulled over to the side of the road and rested his head on the steering wheel. He was starting to feel extremely light headed and dizzy. He cursed himself for refusing medical treatment. His stomach lurched, he flung his door open, leaned out, and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the side of the highway. The pain in his side was unbearable and had spread all over his body. Now his throat was burning from being sick. Tears started to pour down his cheeks. He positioned the rear-view mirror so that he could see his face. He was worthless. If Gibbs said it it had to be true. Though he was not the first person to tell him that and he certainly wouldn't be the last. He was just the one who mattered.

"You should just wrap this car around a tree and let it be over. Let McGee be SFA he was more qualified for the job anyway. At least then Gibbs would finally be happy." Tony told himself.

Tony closed his door and pulled back on the road. He decided that his "accident" would be at the tree not far from the wreck he'd been in earlier. It should have been him who died anyway he was the one who was careless and now a sweet little girl was dead. Tony quickly abandoned his plans for suicide though. When he realized that if he offed himself. Gibbs would get fired and God only knows what would happen to McGee and Ziva. He had already ruined enough lives that day. For a while he drove around just thinking of what to do. He knew everybody at NCIS hated him as much as Gibbs and none of his family wanted him. Finally he thought of one person who might just care.


Gibbs wandered around NCIS trying to figure out what to do. He hadn't just cost himself a Senior Field Agent he had cost himself a son. All because he let his emotions get the best of him. He knew he needed to try his best to get his boy back. Even if Tony didn't want back on his team the agency could not afford to lose Anthony Dimiti DiNozzo Junior. He knew Tony probably wouldn't listen to him so he needed someone to act as a mediator. He knew McGee and Ziva needed to wrap up the case, Abby could not let her lab get backed up and neither could Ducky. Their was one person he knew that could help and he was likely the only person Tony would listen to.


"Ah Jethro what can I do for you?" Ducky asked.

"I did something terrible Duck." Gibbs replied.

"What happened Jethro?" Ducky asked.

"That girl that got killed." Gibbs replied.

"Young Keely such a terrible tragedy when a young life is lost. How are you holding up with all of this?" Ducky asked.

"Alright but that is not my concern Duck." Gibbs replied.

"What happened Jethro?" Ducky asked.

"Tony" Gibbs replied voice cracking.

"Oh dear Anthony was assigned to protect her. How is he doing? I can imagine how hard this must be for him. Such a sensitive soul." Ducky replied.

"Not well Duck." Gibbs replied.

"Perhaps I could speak with him. Help him aknowledge that this is not his fault." Ducky replied.

"Duck he quit!" Gibbs yelled.

"Well just give him time Jethro he may just need to take some well let's just say mental health time. I am sure Leon will let him rejoin once he feels better." Ducky replied.

"It's not the case that made him quit Duck. It's me." Gibbs replied.

"What happened Jethro?" Gibbs asked.

"I got emotional and said everything was his fault and that he was worthless." Gibbs replied.

"Oh dear Jethro. That is the absolute worst thing you could tell Anthony especially now." Ducky replied.

"I know Duck and now I have to get him back!" Gibbs replied.

"Yes you do right away. Is there anything I can do to help?" Ducky asked.

"I need to borrow Jimmy." Gibbs replied.

"M...Me?" Jimmy asked nervously. He had watched the whole incident peaking out the door of his and Ducky's office.

"Yes you Palmer! I know Tony will listen to you." Gibbs replied.

"Well by all means take him for as long as you need Jethro. Just get our dear Anthony back." Ducky replied.

"Let's go! What are you waiting for?!" Palmer called.


Taking the hint Gibbs followed Jimmy out to the parking garage. The two men climbed into Gibbs's Challenger. Gibbs knew that if Tony weren't with Jimmy he'd be with his second confidant. His father and Tony's grandfather Jackson.

"Do you have any idea where Tony may have went?" Jimmy asked.

"One" Gibbs replied.

"Where?" Jimmy asked.

"Stillwater he and my dad get along really well." Gibbs replied.

Gibbs pulled into an empty spot and withdrew his cellphone from his pocket and dialed his father's number.


"Leroy is everything alright?"

"No dad it is not."

"What's wrong?"

"Our latest case was protecting a little girl after someone tried to kill her and we found out her mom's death last year was not an accident."

"Oh Leroy I am so sorry. That must have brought up some horrible memories for you."

"It did dad and it made me to do something terrible."

"What Leroy?"

"Tony had been protecting her when she died."

"Oh dear poor Tony he must feel horrible."

"He does and I made it worse by yelling at him and calling him worthless and now he quit."

"Oh My God Leroy!"

"I think he may be heading your way look out for him. I am on my way."

"It is no problem Leroy but you need to apologize and make sure that it is one hundred and ten percent sincere when you do."

"Believe me it will be dad. Bye"

"I know it will Leroy. Goodbye."


Tony arrived to Jack's store in Stillwater just after eight. The feeling of lightheadedness had gotten worse over the course of the four hour drive. Though he had wound up taking six hours to get there since he had to keep pulling over to vomit. His stomach ached from emptiness but he knew at this point he wouldn't even be able to keep water down.


Jackson Gibbs and LJ Moore had just closed the store and were getting ready to close the store when they heard a thumping noise from outside. They stepped outside to see what was going on and found saw that a car had driven over the sidewalk and stopped just inches front the store. Even though it was clear that you were supposed to parallel park.

"Should I call the police?" LJ asked.

"I recognize this car it belongs to Tony one of Leroy's agents." Jack replied.

"Are you sure?" LJ asked.

"Yeah Leroy said he may be coming up here and besides I recognize his car. He bought it just before I visited Leroy when you gave me off for my birthday last month." Jack replied. He had gone to visit Leroy on his birthday since he could not get off and visit since his team was in the middle of a big case.

"Is he drunk?" LJ asked.

"He wouldn't drink and drive." Jack replied.

"I'll check on him." LJ replied.

Jack followed behind his friend as he walked over to Tony's car. LJ knocked on the window and when Tony didn't answer he opened the door. He found Tony slumped over resting his forehead on the steering wheel. Eyes squeezed shut in pain.

"Wake him up and bring him inside." Jack said.

LJ nodded and gently shook Tony's body. "Hey Tony you need to wake up." LJ called quietly.

"Here I'll help you carry him in." Jack replied.

"Hey son. What the?! Holy Crap! JACKSON!" LJ called frantically.

Confused Jack got closer. What he saw made him feel sick. LJ was holding his blood covered hands up in the air pale as a ghost. Tony lay still slumped over except handing partially out of the car now. Blood rapidly pooling on the side of his white shirt.


A/N: How is Gibbs going to take knowing that his boy is in such poor condition after what he said to him? New chapter most likely Monday. Please review and thanks for reading.


A/N2: Yes this story will be Tiva almost every story I publish will have Tiva at least implied same with McAbby. I just wasn't going to have any pairings or anything official in case I decided not to continue with the story. If you have a problem with it do not read my work at all. Yes I know all the reasons why some people do not agree with Tiva or like Ziva as a character and respect them. However I like Tiva and love Ziva and hate to see her go. If Ziva is killed off I will stop writing Tiva. End of rant.