A couple of hours later, as Tony dozed fitfully beside her, Michelle propped herself up on one arm and studied him intently. It was glaringly obvious that there was something badly wrong with him. If the dark rings around his eyes and the 20-30 pounds of weight he'd lost weren't an indication of that then the powerful aura of defeat he'd been exuding when she first joined him in the shower definitely was. This was so unlike the happy, fun loving guy that Michelle knew she was sorely tempted to wake him up and demand to know what was going on but she had a feeling that it was a while since Tony had had a proper sleep so she forced herself to leave him be, at least for now.

Some time later Tony awoke to the wondrous smell of food permeating his nostrils. He'd been working so hard lately that he hadn't had time to have a good meal for a while now. He'd pretty much been living on takeaways which, despite the frat boy, pizza guzzling image most people had of him, he wasn't happy about. Tonight, though, by the smell of it, Michelle had made something involving meat and cheese. He opened his eyes to find her holding a bowl of cabonara under his nose. "Thanks, Beautiful," he mumbled, struggling into a sitting position and taking his bowl and hers while she shrugged off his robe which she'd borrowed and rejoined him in the big bed.

Michelle couldn't contain herself any more. "So, what's going on Romeo?" she asked, between bites. "Because no offence but you look horrible."

Tony swallowed his mouthful and laughed bitterly. "I feel horrible. Well, less horrible now you're here," he amended quickly.

"Start talking," she ordered, leaving absolutely no room for argument in her tone.

As a rule Tony didn't like to share his problems when things went bad. He had nothing and virtually nobody in his life so if he was the only one in danger so much the better. He needed someone to tell him whether his fears were justified, though or whether he was just being irrational. Just like Ducky had been before Gibbs ruined everything with his retirement, Michelle was easy to talk to so Tony couldn't seem to stop himself from sharing, holding nothing back. He told her how exhausted and overworked he was, trying to balance his normal SFA duties with the shit Gibbs was dishing out and the cover he was having to provide Tim and Ziva who thought it was hilariously funny to flout his orders and only to a half-assed job. He told her how utterly abandoned he felt by Ducky and Abby. He told her how Gibbs' insulting, at best, parting shot of "you'll do" had given everyone the impression that he was only being made team leader because there was no other option and his abrupt return from Mexico had only confirmed that in Tim, Abby and Ziva's minds, causing them to taunt him mercilessly. He told her about the abuse he was taking from Gibbs and how he couldn't take it any more.

Michelle was horrified. She hadn't realized things were this bad. She'd known last time she spoke to Tony that he wasn't happy at NCIS anymore but she'd had no idea that the situation had escalated so badly. It made her so mad! Tony was such a lovely guy. The only reason he sought approval so much was after loosing his mother so young and being abandoned by his father he had never gotten it from his parents. He yearned to be loved and in return would open his huge heart to you. If it weren't for the fact she knew it would only make things worse for Tony she was sorely tempted to storm into the bullpen tomorrow and give Gibbs, McGee and David, the bastards, a piece of her mind.

"What are you doing to do?" she asked worriedly. "Resign?"

Tony frowned. "I love NCIS. It's the best job I've ever had but I don't think I have any other choice. I can't take this shit anymore, Shell and to tell you the truth I'm worried about what's going to happen to me if I stay. I don't want to get shot and killed because I'm too tired or too busy second guessing my orders and wondering if I'm about to get screwed over by my colleagues to focus on the guy with the gun. You know, only the fact that you're here now is stopping me really regretting turning down the job Jen offered me in Rota."

Michelle only just managed to stifle a cry of shock. Things were so bad that Tony thought he was going to get killed in the line of duty? She set her bowl down and kissed him softly, running a hand soothingly down his side. She felt him relax at least a little bit at her touch. "Well, just so you know I'm extremely glad you're here and not in Rota. If you think you're going to get killed, though you definitely need to leave. What would you do, though?"

Tony had been thinking about that. Even though he wanted out of NCIS he didn't want to leave DC, especially now that Michelle was there. For the first time in his life he had found a home and he would be dammed if he let Gibbs, McGee and David drive him away from that as well as job. It wouldn't be hard for him to get another job in DC. Former NCIS Director Tom Morrow had offered him a couple of jobs with Homeland Security. That probably wouldn't involve much field work but it would be interesting and he had always gotten on well with Morrow. He also had a standing job offer from Fornell with the FBI. If he accepted that the downside would be having to work with Sacks but on the upside it would seriously piss Gibbs off. Also, in the worst case scenario, he could always join Metro. He had been a good cop and he had, for the most part, enjoyed the job.

Michelle nodded, glad that Tony was thinking about his future and not just escaping from NCIS. "You've been at NCIS for a long time now, right?"

"Seven years," Tony nodded.

"Then, do you think you should talk to Director Sheppard about all of this before you leave?" Michelle said, choosing her words extremely carefully. "You've done a lot for the agency and there's a lot they could do for you in return. Obviously you aren't close with your current team any more but there are others at NCIS you get along well with so she might be able to find you a position away from Gibbs but still with NCIS. Besides, the Director needs to know because whoever ends up replacing you will be in danger if Gibbs and the others don't change their ways."

Tony thought about it and realized that Michelle made a good point. Gibbs was very set in his ways and didn't like change. If McGee wasn't promoted to SFA when he left Gibbs would probably demand to have Stan Burley, his old SFA back. Stan was married and had two young daughters now so if something happened to him because the rest of the team's horrific behaviour and he hadn't reported it Tony didn't think he'd ever be able to forgive himself. Besides, Jen already knew about some of it. She'd made note of McGee and David's insubordination on more than one occasion and had encouraged Tony to reprimand them and file an official complaint. Tony had never taken her advice because he feared that such an action would just make things worse but Jen had given him a lot of leeway when he'd had to go and interview suspects and follow up leads on his own or paperwork was late because McGee and David weren't doing their jobs properly. Tony had felt a bit betrayed by her when she'd demoted him without so much as a warning but she had followed that up with the offer of a promotion to Rota and Gibbs was her friend and former lover so she probably had no idea of how much he had changed. Surely she would believe him if he spelled it out for her, though?

"You're right," he nodded. "I'll talk to her tomorrow."

"Thank you," Michelle said, relieved.

They finished their meal and then settled down to sleep. With a tentative plan in mind and Michelle beside him Tony slept well for the first time in months.