NURSEPATIENT

Tony knew that Gibbs would be pissed at him again for going downstairs but he knew that something was up. That and it was about time he got moving around again. He'd spent too much time in bed already. Gibbs was sitting in the armchair by himself staring into nothing.

"Boss?" Tony said as plopped onto the couch.

"What did I tell you about being out of bed?" Gibbs said but not turning his gaze towards him, instead had his fingers resting on his chin deep in thought.

"I wanted to see how you were doing?" Tony watched Gibbs stand up and retrieve something from the closet. A large blanket and wrapped it around Tony before sitting down. "Are you alright?"

"I'm good." Gibbs answered.

There was only one question on Tony's mind now. "Where were you?" He asked.

Gibbs lowered his eyes once more he just felt tired. "Nowhere DiNozzo." He just said as if he was talking to his lap. "Nothing to concern yourself with."

Tony wrapped himself tighter in the blanket and tried to make eye contact, finally Gibbs looked at him and saw his senior agent's eyes were watery as if on the verge of tears but was trying his best to hide it. "I'm sorry Boss." Tony blurted out. This was greeted by a silent gaze. "It wasn't my intention to piss you off… I just wanted to thank Kate. I didn't want to disappoint you. I never did!" Tony began the near impossible task of crying and coughing at the same time.

"DiNozzo." Gibbs said sharply.

"I'm just so sorry… I'll be out of your hair tomorrow." Tony said.

"What makes you think I'm disappointed in you?" Gibbs asked getting him a glass of water.

"You said it yesterday." Tony reminded him.

"I didn't say any such thing." Gibbs searched his memory.

"Not to –." Tony cut himself off. That was something he hadn't planned on saying.

Gibbs knew that he wouldn't get too much more out of Tony on that. "I'm extremely pissed at you for the stunt you pulled." Gibbs touched him on the shoulder. "But I'm not disappointed."

"But…" Tony said. "Then where'd you go?"

"Nowhere." Gibbs responded quietly.

Tony rested his head back and sighed. The tears had subsided but the never ending doubt had always been there refused to go away. Why couldn't Gibbs be truthful with him? Tony's dad was always truthful with him… He was an asshole but he always knew where he stood even if it was down in the mud.

"Should've known you didn't care enough to be truthful." Tony muttered which was only just heard.

Gibbs stood to his feet and felt like headslapping him but decided against that but instead paced around the living room before sitting back down again. That was something he hadn't figured on. Awhile ago, Ducky and Gibbs had done a little background research about Tony. At times it was almost as confusing as his behavior. The only thing they had been able to gather with a hundred percent certainty was that he was mentally and physically abused until being disowned by the family when he was twelve.

"I don't care?" Gibbs cocked his eyebrow. "Who took you in when you were injured or had the concussion… Who's looking after you now?"

"Only because you're obligated to." Tony said. "Oh come on… You're so extremely disappointed in me you won't even tell me."

"I'm going out." Gibbs said coldly, "I expect you to be in bed when I get back."

Tony watched him get up and leave him by himself. Oh Tony… You can't do anything right can you? Tony cursed himself as he thought but then an idea hit him. If Gibbs wasn't pissed or disappointed in him over him going out to call Kate, it had to be one other reason. Gibbs was tired and he needed rest, something that Tony wasn't giving him. "I got it." He exclaimed as he clapped his hands.

Further thoughts were interrupted by the blaring of the telephone. "Hello?" Tony said.

Hey Tony how ya doing? Wanted to check up on you.

"Hey Abbs." Abby was the only person who he didn't want to lie to. "It's going to hell here… I think I need rescuing."

Abby laughed on the other end. You sound dreadful… What happened?

"You two were right… I made Gibbs is really mad and stuffed things up." Tony whined. "I'm not sure what to do. Gibbs has gone."

Gone? Abby's voice sounded perplexed. What were you two talking about?

"About how he was disappointed in me. I didn't mention you two, but I think he knows I heard it from you two." Tony said. "But he's absolutely pissed at me. Jesus Abby he wouldn't even look at me."

Abby seemed to know people better than themselves. She seemed to have an eye on everybody. I can tell you something… Remind you of something Tony. But you have to promise you didn't hear it from me. Promise? Abby asked.

"I promise." Tony replied with a slight hesitation.

It's been the anniversary of his first wife and daughter's death. Abby said as Tony tapped the handle of the phone against his forehead. He was at their graves today. You still there Tony?

Tony could kick himself right there. How could he have not remembered? Shannon and Kelly were Gibbs' life. "No wonder he was so pissed." Tony said. "I have to go."

Before you go… Tony. Tony?

Tony thought about just hanging up. "Still here Abbs."

I know what you're like Tony. None of this has anything to do with you.

How could it not be? He just nodded before hanging up the phone and lying down on the couch with the whole blanket almost covering all of his body. You sure pick a hell of a time to get sick Tony. He told himself as he waited.

Gibbs had called Abby and Kate together and stared at both of them with the infamous stare. Though Abby was somewhat immune to these and it didn't matter how hard he tried he couldn't be really mad at her.

"Well." Gibbs said. "Are you going to tell me which one of you two told DiNozzo that I was disappointed in him?"

The question was greeted with silence before Kate finally spoke up. "He asked if you were mad at him and I said yes and then he asked if you were disappointed in him I said yes."

Gibbs' eyes flared the preverbal red with anger. "You did what?!"

"I was only joking Gibbs… I didn't know that he was going to fly out the front door over it." Kate quickly defended herself.

"But he didn't make it to the front door." Abby said to him before Gibbs could say anything. "And he went straight back to his room and ate some food." Gibbs opened his mouth to say something again. "Oh and I gave her a lecture on what you can't say to Tony." Abby added. Gibbs opened his mouth again. "It's not as good as one of your lectures Big Boss Man… But I think I got the point across." Abby continued.

Kate nodded, agreeing with all that Abby said.

Gibbs looked at Kate, then Abby and back again. "Do I make myself clear Agent Todd?"

"Crystal clear Gibbs." Kate answered seriously.

"Good." Gibbs replied before leaving.

The closing of the door made Tony sit up. He was wide awake now and feeling a little stiff after falling asleep. The first thing he expected was to get torn apart when Gibbs first saw him but instead he just walked by him, ignoring him and sat on the armchair, swiveled around and looked at something he took from a desk drawer and studied it.

Tony felt disheartened. He knew Gibbs was hurting. He stood up and quietly approached the chair. Sure his family was never big on the comforting scale. But he's seen it on the movies to know how to do it. That was why he got so interested in movies, to experience things he'd never experienced with others.

Tony caught Gibbs by surprise when he draped his arms around his neck and into the chest before leaning his chin on Gibbs' shoulder. "I'm really sorry Jethro." Tony said quietly.

"Hey." Gibbs said patting Tony's arm.

"I'm truly sorry." He didn't care how much Gibbs hated apologies. "I'd forgotten what today is. I'm here for you Jethro."

"Thanks DiNozzo but I'm fine." Gibbs said but it was duly noted that he didn't fight away from him. "I'm not surprised it escaped your mind."

Tony let go and patted his shoulders. "I'm going to lie down again. I'll be here for you."

"Sure." Gibbs replied glancing over his shoulder just to make sure he was alright.

A/N: Sorry about a bit of a sappy chappy.