McGee looked from Gibbs to Kate, both still shouting 'Tony' over and over again as they searched the meagre crowd of local police officers, motel guests and the odd employee.
"Kate?" McGee shouted after her, juggling the remaining bags.
Seeing she wasn't going to stop and explain what was going on he gave up on holding onto them. Dropping all three to the floor in a heap he gave chase, running up the small grassy incline, which bordered the main slip road leading back onto the interstate, coming to a skidding halt by Kate's side.
"Bower was killed to get us to the crime scene McGee, it was a trap." Kate spoke swiftly without taking her eyes off the road ahead, scanning the odd car as it drove on by.
"And you think they have Tony?" He didn't mean to sound so incredulous, but it was kind of hard to believe someone, especially DiNozzo, could be kidnapped from right under their noses and at a crime scene no less.
"Well do you see him anywhere?" Kate snapped, turning to pin him with her very own imitation of the Gibbs glare.
McGee sensed any reply he made would only be met with disdain so he opted to keep his mouth shut and quietly consider a more plausible explanation for Tony's sudden disappearance.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Kate's judgement, or Gibbs' for that matter, catching sight of the boss heading back their way, face like thunder and still no DiNozzo in sight, but they both were acting irrationally. Granted McGee hadn't been on the team long enough to judge the actions of his new colleagues with any degree of accuracy, but he was still a trained an NCIS Agent and could identify someone who was losing objectivity over a case. Just because they couldn't see DiNozzo anywhere didn't instantly mean he'd been kidnapped.
"Maybe he left to get some air. He didn't look good when he passed me." McGee suggested.
Kate marched up to him, closing the gap between them from feet to mere inches.
"You saw him leave?"
Her tone was biting and McGee involuntarily stepped back before answering.
"Well… no," he stuttered, "but he walked passed me… heading for the van-"
"Tony wouldn't just walk off," she snapped, "we're straight off the highway and the van is clearly still there. He wouldn't get far on foot even if he tried!"
McGee resolutely held in the 'calm down' he wanted to voice, knowing without a doubt that would get him a slap, and not on the back of the head. He may not have been working for Gibbs for long, but he'd seen Tony deal with enough angry women to learn a few things about self-preservation.
While Kate ranted he took the time to think back to what had happened the last time he'd seen Tony. McGee had been sent to fetch the cameras and other scene processing equipment. He'd been struggling back to the room when DiNozzo had bolted passed him, keeping his head down, not giving him a second glance…
"He completely ignored me…." McGee blurted, cutting Kate off.
"That's not unusual," she shrugged, dismissing his half verbalised epiphany.
"No I mean he didn't say anything!" He persisted, "he always has something to say, like 'Probie needs exercise' or something."
Kate nodded, but he could see she wasn't convinced that Tony's lack of teasing meant anything.
"He's had a lot on his mind McGee."
"No," McGee corrected her, getting worked up. He knew what he wanted to say, but struggled to find the right words for her to understand his point. Pausing, taking a breath brought back his focus, "I mean yeah of course he has, but no he looked …"
"What?"
"Scared," McGee announced, feeling like he was telling tales out of school.
"Scared?" Kate parroted, her turn to sound incredulous.
"I guess, yeah."
McGee knew it sounded odd, but he couldn't describe the desperate look he'd seen on Tony's face any better.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Gibbs barked, marching over to them, still stood by the side of the road.
Kate was the first to try and explain.
"McGee was just-"
"I don't care what he was just, find DiNozzo, track his cell, do something and do it now!"
McGee opened his mouth to explain that it didn't quite work that way, but Kate's elbow to the ribs stopped anything but a low 'ow' escaping his lips.
"What was that for?" He hissed, turning to Kate as soon as Gibbs had walked away again, heading back to their car.
"You don't tell Gibbs why you can't do something, you just do it." She explained in a tone like he was a particularly difficult six-year-old, a tone he had only ever heard her use towards Tony.
"How am I supposed to run a trace now?" he shot back, arms flailing, "I need a computer, his cell would have to be making a call I can't…"
"McGee," Kate shut him up, "think! What would Tony do?"
McGee dropped his arms, face drawn into a frown.
"Flirt?"
Kate grunted and hit his arm. McGee gave her what he was sure was a stupid look before the light bulb blink on in his head.
"Abby!"
…..
Abby, having finally finished processing all the evidence from the 7/11 where Tony and Kate had been attacked, had been bouncing around her lab to her newest album celebrating with a Caf-Pow when she received a mystery parcel in the mail from none other than one Tobias Fornell. She'd just signed for it and was placing the heavy cardboard box on her lab table for inspection when Ducky walked in.
"Ducky!" She greeted him with her usual enthusiasm, which dampened considerably upon seeing his uneasy expression. "On my god what's happened?"
"Abigail dear, I wonder if I can have a moment of your time." Ducky sat down gingerly by her computers.
Leaving Fornell's little gift on her evidence table Abby walked over to Ducky and picked up her remote, clicking off her music.
"Something's wrong." She declared into the vast silence, putting on her most serious face.
Ducky smiled sadly at her and for a moment panic built up inside.
"Is it Tony? I thought he was upstairs-"
"No, no nothing, nothing like that," Ducky grabbed her hand and patted it with his own. "I didn't mean to frighten you. Anthony has gone to a crime scene with the others, but as far as I'm aware everyone is fine."
"Oh, thank god. You scared me, Ducky." Abby relaxed, slumping on to her stool. "You looked troubled."
"I am troubled my dear," Ducky sighed wearily, "there is something I know that I need to share with someone, for fear I may worry myself senseless if I don't discuss it."
Despite the heaviness of the words Abby felt a cheek splitting grin overtake her face.
"I'm your gal," she declared happily, "spill it!"
"Quite," Ducky chuckled, then sobered, noticing the package on the table behind her. "What's this?"
"Oh," Abby spun around jumping off her stool, falling for the temporary distraction, "I don't know, it's from Fornell, wanna open it with me?" She eyed Ducky suggestively and was pleased to see a small smile grace his features.
Quickly drawing her box knife across the seal Abby pulled back the lid and stared at its contents.
"It's evidence," she said, reading the printed inventory that lay on top.
Ducky came up on her left and reached inside, pulling out a large clear bag containing an old bloody blanket.
"Not just any evidence," he said after studying the label. "This is from the original crime scene."
Eyes wide Abby searched through the rest, it was indeed all the original evidence from Tony's kidnapping in '78. It looked like she wasn't finished after all.
"Where did Fornell get this?"
Ducky showed her the stamp on the bag indicating the original chain of evidence had ended with the FBI and raised both eyebrows.
"Jethro gave me an FBI report on Anthony's kidnapping," he announced as an aside, "I'm led to believe it differs slightly from the one McGee accessed from the police files?"
"Yeah, Kate mentioned a ransom." Abby nodded distractedly, her mind swimming with questions about the FBI's involvement, wondering how much Fornell had known to begin with.
"Well more than a ransom demand was left out." Ducky added jadedly, returning to his seat and his troubled expression. "The FBI file contained records of a blood test taken while Anthony was in hospital. They hadn't been analysed properly, and are incomplete, but from what I can tell from the levels of phencyclidine in his system Anthony was likely dosed with something during his confinement…"
More questions Abby thought, but managed to bite her tongue, hold in her enthusiasm and respectfully asked to see the results. Ducky instantly produced a sheet of paper from his lab coat pocket and handed it over.
"The print has run I'm afraid."
Abby looked at the sheet, it appeared like whoever had been running the tests had stopped half way for some reason, maybe they were ordered to. Abby mentally shook herself, conspiracy theories where already running rampant through her head, she really didn't need evidence like this to confirm them. To distract herself from following a road Gibbs certainly wouldn't appreciate right now Abby ran over the possible chemical combinations in her head. Coming up with a plausible idea she brought up a programme on her computer and inputted several factors.
"Oh Tony," Abby felt disheartened upon seeing her hunch had been correct.
"What is it?" Ducky sat forward looking hopefully and she almost didn't want to tell him.
"Ketamine," Abby fell back onto her stool once again pulling her gaze away from the screen to address Ducky, "that could explain why he doesn't remember anything. The memories aren't repressed because of trauma. According to these numbers he'd have been so highly dosed the whole thing would have seemed like a nightmare."
"I think he remembers something's," Ducky said quietly, "his adverse reaction to seeing Bower proves that."
"This what you wanted to talk about?" Abby reached under the desk and retrieved Bert, giving him a good fart inducing squeeze.
"Ketamine can cause hallucinations and to a six year old with no idea of what was happening to him, it may have seemed very much like a nightmare." Ducky sounded so pained, she didn't pull him up on ignoring her question.
"Yeah a nightmare you can't wake up from… and with nobody there to give him a big hug after." Abby pouted, squeezing Bert again, thinking of Tony all small and helpless without anyone there to look out for him. "Does Gibbs know about this?"
"He's seen the file," Ducky nodded, looking away from her, "but I haven't spoken to him about my suspicions yet. I wanted a second opinion before I told Jethro."
Abby smiled sadly. It just kept getting worse. She jumped up from her chair suddenly and screamed out her frustration.
"This is soooo unfair." She spun on her large high heels without falling and faced Ducky, "what could Tony have done to deserve this?"
"Abigail," Ducky gentled chastised, remaining seated, "he didn't do anything. He was just a pawn in someone else's game."
"You mean his father." Abby groused, her anger growing with the very thought.
"How do you know about that?"
"Conference room camera," she reminded him quickly, never one to hide anything she did, right or wrong.
Ducky looked away again and Abby froze.
"There's something else?"
"Am I that transparent?" Ducky chuckled sadly, still not making eye contact.
"Ducky?" Abby asked gently, sitting once again in front of him.
For a moment she wasn't sure if he would open up about what else was bothering him or just walk straight out. Abby held her breath in anticipation, prepared to talk him to death before she let him leave, until Ducky's shoulders dropped and he started talking.
"The kinds of injuries inflicted on Tony," he paused, "they're not the usual sort to be found on abused children."
Abby's look of worry morphed into one of disgust.
"There're usual types of abuse on children?" It was times like this she loved her lab and the fact she worked with computers and not directly with the victims, or the bad guys.
"I'm afraid so, yes." Ducky nodded. "Burns are common, as are fractures and sever bruising, but the kind of injuries Tony sustained during the time he was held are more similar to those I've seen on victims of torture, designed to cause substantial pain without permanently harming the victim."
"You think Tony was tortured?"
"Well if I were doing an autopsy I could be definitive, but all I have is photos," Ducky stood and stepped away from the desk turning his back on her. "Not that I would prefer a body you understand…"
"Of course," Abby affirmed and allowed him a moment to gather himself.
She had seen the photos for herself and didn't envy Ducky having to study them in detail. She couldn't even bare thinking about looking at them again and though Abby had never seen childhood pictures of Tony, it wasn't hard for her to see her friend in the young boy's bright green eyes. She was sure Ducky saw it too.
"Why would anyone want to torture a six year old?" Abby spoke eventually, pulling them both back into the here and now.
Ducky spun around to look at her, it was the question of the hour, one that no one as yet had been able to answer. Why exactly was Tony kidnapped twenty-five years ago? As Abby stared at him she was sure from the renewed spark in his eyes that Ducky might now have an answer, but his phone started to ring before she could ask what he was thinking. Abby waited none too patiently while he checked the caller I.D, but hearing the frantic voice on the other end as soon as Ducky hit the accept button had her jumping out of her seat to his side.
"Anthony?" Duck asked confused, holding up one finger to shush her.
Affronted she listened in, startled when Ducky began shouting.
"Anthony, calm down. Tony!" Ducky lowered his phone, "Abby call Gibbs, now!"
She didn't need to be told, Abby had already speed dialled Gibbs the moment Ducky had started shouting Tony's name.
…
Gibbs walked away from his two agents leaving them to discuss how exactly they would follow his orders and reaching the car he pulled out his cell phone. He was preparing to make a call to the director, but the phone started chirruping before he could dial.
"Gibbs!" Abby screamed at him the minute he picked up.
"Abby now is not the time…" He snapped.
"No it's definitely the time Gibbs, Tony just called Ducky-"
"Where is he Abby!" He shouted immediately, drawing the attention of Kate and McGee who were still nearby.
"You mean you don't know?!"
"Abby!" Gibbs barked.
"Okay, okay, Ducky said he hung up, but he sounded like he was inside somewhere, it was echoey."
Gibbs rolled his eyes.
"I need you to find him Abby!" He shouted again.
"What's going on?" Kate asked running over to him, McGee following not far behind.
Gibbs barged passed her without answering, he reached out to open the car door when Abby's next words stopped him in his tracks. She'd managed to give him a rough location of DiNozzo's cell.
"Got it Abs." He clicked his phone shut, disconnecting the call.
Shoving the phone back into his jacket pocket Gibbs turned around slowly, scanning the area. His eyes landed on single structure, set back from the rest of the motel. A broken restroom sign hanging limply on its side from the door.
"Gibbs?" Kate called out to him again as he walked off in that direction.
With swift hand signals he sent Kate and McGee into position and without further questioning they flanked the small building. Gibbs raised his weapon, stepping up to the door, McGee joining him at his side while Kate moved around back. They couldn't see anyone, but he could hear heavy breathing coming from inside. Instincts on high alert Gibbs stepped closer, hoping to get a visual through the gap between the wall and the door, however the sound of glass breaking broke the suspenseful silence and without wasting another second Gibbs burst inside, demanding the occupant to give themselves up.
…
Tony looked at himself in the dirty cracked mirror and hated what he saw. Adrenaline still surged through his veins, powered purely by his own contempt for himself. The whole situation was fucked up. He was fucked up. So much so his own father wanted nothing to do with him. The man was in D.C, where he lived and still hadn't bothered to call, even after Gibbs had questioned him. Okay so he had no idea what had been discussed, but Bower and the kidnapping had to have come up. Turning the tap on Tony cupped his hand under the faucet and splashed water over his face. He was stupid to believe his Dad might actually give a damn about him. Why change a habit of a lifetime?
Looking at his reflection once again he knew he was kidding himself. Tony hadn't been able to prevent that small spark of hope that had alighted inside of him, hope that this time his Dad would come through for him. The fact that it was his boss, and not his own father, keeping him safe walking him through this sudden and surprising upheaval of his life, spoke volumes. Staring at his reflection Tony couldn't help but question why exactly Gibbs was bothering, he saw nothing worth saving here.
The mirror suddenly shattered into a thousand pieces at his feet and Tony didn't know what had happened. That was until he looked down at his hand, clenched tight in a fist, blood dripping from cut knuckles. Before Tony could assimilate what he'd done the room exploded with shouts for him to put his hands up and get on the floor.
"Boss, what the hell?!" Tony spun around, hand instinctively reaching for his weapon as he jumped back from the smashed mirror bits decorating the filthy concrete floor.
"DiNozzo?" Gibbs lowered his gun and relaxed his stance. "What the hell is going on?"
"Funny, that's what I just asked you!" Tony re-joined, breathing heavily like he'd had the shock of his life.
McGee had come through the door immediately after Gibbs, Kate appearing seconds later. Both where now hanging back, guns still drawn, looking between him and Gibbs like they had no idea what to do next.
They all stared at each other, Tony taking in as much air as he could to calm down.
"Why are you in here?" Gibbs demanded, being the first to break the standoff.
Tony stepped back, put the broken mirror shards on the floor between him and them.
"I got some blood on my hands," Tony swallowed, showing them his messed up hand, "must of have been on the door or something."
By the way Gibbs promptly holstered his gun making no move, either to leave or head slap him, Tony knew he'd heard the quiver in his voice, and he was in for a world of trouble for the lie.
"You called Ducky." It wasn't a question.
Tony nodded slowly, but Gibbs' pissed as hell glare told him more information was required before they could move on.
"I didn't get to tell him about the body…" Tony's quietly uttered sentence faded before he could finish.
What could he tell him? Not that he'd had another fucking panic attack after seeing Bowers body, had run off to the bathroom and hyperventilated to Ducky over the phone that was for damn sure.
"McGee, Kate," Gibbs spoke up calmly, but it wasn't the good kind of calm, it was the deadly sort. The kind that occurs just before the axe wielding murder claims his finally victim after letting them believe they'd escaped to safety. "Call Ducky back. Tell him to get over here, then go process the scene."
Gibbs' glare had remained firmly fixed on him while he dished out orders and Tony didn't know how long he was going to be able to keep it together. Ridiculous, but true, Tony DiNozzo was near a full on break down. Two very subdued 'yes Gibbs' followed the boss's order and they filed out. Tony closed his eyes in resignation - they knew. They all knew. He was weak, as stupid as his father always declared him to be. Once they were gone, and he was alone with Gibbs, the glare and the calm, Tony felt like melting into the floor.
"Gibbs I was just…" he stopped, recognising his voice was an octave higher than it should be.
"Just what?" Gibbs snapped without moving a foot in either direction. "You disappear, let us think something's happened to you, when the whole time you've been hiding in the bathroom like a stared kid? You're not a child anymore DiNozzo, you're a trained federal agent!"
That hurt. Tony shuffled on the spot, not wanting to continue if that was how Gibbs was going to be. He distracted himself by taking in every corner of the dirty, smelly, empty room, looking everywhere but at his pissed off boss.
"I needed a minute." He spoke in a rush when the silence became too painful for him to keep it shut, whereas Gibbs thrived in silence, waiting for the moment to strike, Tony was still learning that kind of restraint.
"You panicked?"
Tony adamantly shook his head at Gibbs' assertion, but knew he was basically lying again so quickly changed it to a minute nod, lowering his head in shame.
"We're heading back." Gibbs didn't yell like Tony had been expecting and he instinctively flinched upon seeing the hand reaching out towards him.
Gibbs didn't react to his reaction, not visibly at any rate, but Tony knew there was no way he'd have missed it. Grabbing his arm none too gently Gibbs escorted him out and Tony chose not to fight him.
"Boss, I'm good, I can help." Tony tried a last ditched attempt to redeem himself, even though he knew Gibbs would never believe him in a million years.
"Bowers I.D was left in plain sight…. it's a trap" Gibbs spoke monotone, walking him out across the motel car park, Tony tripping over his own feet just to keep up with him before being pushed into the sedans passenger seat.
"You're going back, no arguments."
Tony fell into the seat and Gibbs slammed the car door before walking away again. Taking a deep, deep breath he buckled himself in, resolutely staring dead ahead, his vision began to blur and Tony resolutely promised he would not embarrass himself further by crying. Not a chance. No matter how hard or upsetting this got Gibbs wasn't going to make him cry.
Without warning Gibbs returned, climbed into the driver seat and started the car. Tony was still pulling himself together and blinked furiously, fighting his body's traitorous reaction. Luckily Gibbs' cell phone rang, offering enough of a distraction to give Tony time to regain control.
"Gibbs" the boss answered it in his usual manner, balancing it on his shoulder while he weaved in and out of traffic on the interstate, then the tone changed, "Abby calm down."
Tony could hear Abby's high pitched screeching from his side of the car, but couldn't make out what she was saying.
"Yes… Well okay, I will… Yes I promise. Now what did Fornell send?" Gibbs sighed tiredly and paused, listening to Abby some more. "Good, get on it."
Gibbs threw the cell behind him and Tony watched it sail through the air to land on the back seat. The short respite where Gibbs seemed less annoyed while he was talking to Abby had given him enough time to compose himself, game face back on Tony acted like the last half hour had never even happened.
"Abby got something?"
He waited with bated breath while Gibbs stared out the front windshield, drawing in patience from somewhere, before answering tersely.
"Fornell sent us the evidence from the original case." Gibbs' eyes soften as he turned to him though, leading Tony to believe Gibbs hadn't missed how close he'd come to completely losing it.
Tony immediately looked away to stare out of the window, nowhere near ready to explain himself or what happened at the scene, to any degree of clarity. He was sure questions would have to be asked and answered eventually, but preferring not to give Gibbs any more reasons to have him benched Tony resolved to stay silent the rest of the drive back.
Gibbs put his foot down on the accelerator as they neared the Navy Yard, jerking the steering wheel angrily as he weaved in and out of traffic, his usual half smile of enjoyment that driving fast usually brought to his face replaced by a grim expression. Tony knew that was because of him. He couldn't even look at Gibbs, let alone speak to explain what had happened, which he was sure was winding him up even more. He kept rubbing his palms together, one hand over the other and fidgeting in his seat, unable to stay still.
"Will you stop that," Gibbs barked at him.
"Sorry," Tony responded on autopilot.
"Don't-"
"Sign of weakness, got it." Tony finished for him, knowing it was coming the minute the apology slipped from his lips. Passing through the check points Tony realised if he was going to explain it would have to be now or never if he didn't want an audience and built up enough courage to try, "Gibbs I-"
"DiNozzo I don't want to hear it." Gibbs cut him off nastily, pumping the accelerator once again.
Tony clamped his jaw shut, eyes misting yet again at the overly harsh treatment. Not his usually MO for dealing with a pissed off Gibbs by a long shot, but normally when Gibbs snapped at him it was for goofing around or talking too much, something easily fixable. He never took it personally. It actually made him feel wanted because it proved Gibbs was paying attention to him. This time Gibbs though it sounded like Gibbs was disappointed in him and that upset him more than his father's failure to call.
When Gibbs made no move to set thing right, even after seeing that he'd upset him Tony got mad, because Tony thought, let's face it, there's no way the almighty Gibbs doesn't known I'm near tears in the seat next to him, which in Tony's mind meant Gibbs had passed caring. The burden of his damaged psyche too much to handle in a crisis. Always happened eventually, he was rather high maintenance, at least that's what his step-mother claimed on his board school application. Well if that's the way he wants to play it…
"By original case I take it you mean my kidnapping?" Tony clarified sarcastically, taking them back to the phone call with Abby, hoping to provoke him into an argument, but Gibbs thinned his lips and remained silent.
Tony rolled his head back against the headrest sighing out of frustration, wishing the boss would just pick a temperature with him and stick to it. Luke warm would be just fine, Tony didn't think he could cope if Gibbs got all Poppa Smurf protective over him, only to go ice cold again the minute he failed to live up to his expectations.
"You're going nowhere near it, you hear me?" Gibbs spoke suddenly, assuming correctly what his next move was going to be.
Gibbs' almost telepathic powers normally amazed Tony and made him feel like finally someone knew him, could understand him, but not this time. This time Gibbs knowing what he was thinking and cutting him off at the pass only made him mad.
"Oh I hear you alright boss," he replied with obvious fake cheer, "don't worry, I'll be a good little agent and sit at my desk where everyone can see me fall apart!" He punctuated it with a wide teeth showing smile.
Gibbs pulled into the NCIS parking lot, mere feet away from the very spot where Henry Miller had approached him yesterday and slammed on the brakes, sending them both flying forward.
"Enough!" He shouted, unclipping his belt and turning in his seat to loom over Tony, "You will do exactly as I say if you want to keep working on this team, hell for Agency!"
Tony stared wide eyed at Gibbs, rage, fear and upset building up a maelstrom in his gut.
"Fine, fire me," he shouted back, seething. Making a rash decision he stepped out of the car and bent down to lean back inside, "After this I'm not sure I'd want to stay anyway."
Slamming the door, scaring himself with the truth of his hastily made statement, Tony stomped away without a second glance.
…
Gibbs remained seated in the car gripping the steering wheel trying to rein in his temper. He certainly could have handled that better.
Shouting matches weren't usually his thing, except with his ex-wife's and then it was usually them doing the shouting. Problem here was he couldn't reconcile his feelings, he knew he'd been acting irrationally when Tony had disappeared and was now taking it out on the one person he shouldn't be, but logical thinking wasn't one of his better attributes.
His problem here was he got too comfortable, too self-assured that he knew everything there was to know about Tony. Three years ago he'd made it a priority to learn all he could because Gibbs knew from the moment he met Tony he wanted this kid in his life for as long as he could keep him. Not that he'd ever tell DiNozzo that mind you. He could pick on him, slap him on the head and generally work him to death, but Leroy Jethro Gibbs was not going to admit that Anthony DiNozzo Jr meant more to him than any other team member that had come before him.
That's when it hit him, like the mother of all head slaps. He'd broken rule ten again.
Never get personally involved in a case.
The case had always been personal and the smart thing would have been to put another team on it. It wasn't too late he reason, there was still time to step away and let objectivity back in, but Gibbs knew in his heart there was no way he'd trust anyone else to protect DiNozzo the way they could. He needed to find this guy. Miller or whoever else might be out there pulling the strings. Bower was dead, but that just meant one less bad guy to cause his kid harm, which was perfectly fine with him.
Gibbs scoffed at his own choice of words. Since when did he make the change from thinking of DiNozzo as a kid, to thinking of him as his kid? Fornell always referred to him as his boy and Gibbs had never questioned him. Shaking his head Gibbs stepped out of the car into the warm late-afternoon sunshine, he could see Tony up ahead still slowly making his way inside, pinching his nose like he had the mother of all headaches. Watching him closely Gibbs followed, contemplating how he hadn't notice the role he'd managed to avoid with so many probationary agents, but had fallen so easily into with DiNozzo. It was almost like history repeating itself. Mike Franks had been the agent to bring him into NIS, Gibbs having been not much older than Tony was when Franks gave him the opportunity to learn. Now over a decade later Franks was retired and he was running his own team, finding himself filling his mentor's very large shoes.
Well if that was the case Gibbs needed advice. His kid, he thought again with a chuckle, was falling apart and instead of helping him he'd pushed him away with his own insecurities and frustrations. Before Gibbs could properly kick himself for being such a class A bastard his phone rang again.
"Yeah, Gibbs" he answered tiredly.
"Jethro," Ducky's exuberant tone altered immediately upon registering his monotonal response, "my, is everything all right?"
Gibbs watched Tony finally enter the building ahead of him, head down, the usually skip to his step completely absent.
"No. What you got?"
"It'll be best I give you my full report back at NCIS. Needless to say primary cause of death is gunshot wound to the head. I'll see you in 30 minutes."
Gibbs clicked his phone shut without a goodbye and after going through security, DiNozzo no longer anywhere in sight, he headed to see Abby in her lab while he waited for Ducky.
"Abs?" He called, walking into the dimly lit lab and not seeing her.
"Gibbs, you would not believe how badly the FBI store things," Abby appeared like magic from her office, talking her usual mile a minute, "but you first how's Tony, did you give him the hug I told you to?"
Looking at her expectant face he didn't know what to say, so true to form he ignored what was in front of him and moved on with the case.
"What you got Abs?" He asked, forcing strength into his voice he certainly didn't feel.
Abby immediately deflated.
"You promised Gibbs, you best deliver," she whined, managing to sound upset and angry with him simultaneously.
"The case Abs?" He handed her the Caf-Pow he'd detoured to collect, knowing it wouldn't stop her asking about Tony, but hoping it would at least distract her for a minute.
"Everybody is working," Abby spread her arms wide encompassing all her machines, "but it's going to take time to pull DNA evidence off twenty-five year old stuff. Tony can't be fine." Abby spun to face him, hands on hips.
Gibbs glared at her. Abby continued….
"I talked to Kate, she said he had a panic attack after seeing Bower, plus you brought him back, you wouldn't do that if he was fine,"
"Abs-"
"No Gibbs," she slammed the Caf-Pow down on her desk, flinging her wide to emphasis her meaning, "he needs us, we've got to look out for him, this is big, I mean really big and Kate said you were mad and I know he scared you but you can't be mad at him he's Tony and you love him and-"
"Abby!" Gibbs bellowed, hoping against hope she'd stop. He knew he'd been a bastard and would make it up to him, but right now what he wanted more than anything was answers. "I'm not mad at him. Now tell me …What. Have. You. Got?"
Abby smiled, as if she heard everything he'd thought and turned back to her computer.
"Fornell's box of tricks has all the original evidence in it and I'm running tests that wouldn't have been run at the time."
"Like what?"
"Well for a start, like DNA, because although it wasn't being used in crime investigations successfully at the time it seems the NYPD were savvy enough to be aware of its importance and preserved various pieces of evidence in sealed bags. It's like they were psychic and knew I'd be running the tests thirty years later, spooky no?"
"No." Gibbs shook his head, unwilling to get into her belief in anything supernatural, he'd seen smarter than him try and fail.
"Well the blanket looks filthy, but I'm thinking I could get DNA evidence off it, I'm actually running some cigarette butts now, so once you catch the suspect I'll have something to compare his DNA to and connect them to the case."
"Kate and McGee are on their way back with evidence from Bower's crime scene. Run it, top priority." Gibbs gave her a chaste kiss and walked off.
"I'm going to need another Caf-Pow!" she shouted after him. "And don't forget that hug!"
He was originally heading to autopsy to wait for Ducky, but detoured to update the Director on Bower instead. Walking back down the stairs from MTAC he bumped into McGee and Kate coming off the elevator.
"Ducky back?"
"Should be, he left before us." Kate dropped her bag on the floor in front of her desk, then herself into her chair. "Gibbs we're exhausted."
"What you got?" Gibbs ignored her comment.
Both agents looked at each other and Gibbs glared at them.
"Sorry," Kate stood wearily, "Tony usually fights us for the remote," she covered.
"Where is he boss?" McGee asked nervously, pugging in his camera and typing a few commands into his computer, bringing all the details up on their big screen.
Gibbs softened his features marginally. He was pleased despite the ribbing Tony gave him McGee seemed to care about his wellbeing; it made him feel slightly better knowing that McGee would have Tony's back through-out this. Kate and Abby were good, but they were women. Tony didn't need to be coddled right now, he needed a friend.
"I'm more interested in where Miller is." Gibbs spoke without revealing his current thoughts, focusing only on the case.
"You think he was the one to kill Bower?" Kate came up on his right side.
"I think he's a good suspect."
"What about Senior?" She offered around a barely disguised yawn.
Looking outside Gibbs noted the sun had set while he'd been filling in Morrow and the view they were left with outside the bull pen window was a dark summers evening, the only light emitting from the street lights and those flooding the ship yard.
"What about him?"
"Well we were asking him questions about Bower only this morning and suddenly he turns up dead?" Kate pointed out.
Gibbs nodded. It was a theory, though he doubted it. Senior didn't strike Gibbs as being the leader of anything, let alone masterminding a murder, the man was full of hot air and not much else.
"Boss I think I have an idea of how to bring in Tony's father." McGee approached him, handing Gibbs several bank statements from off-shore accounts all with DiNozzo's name on. "We can't arrest him, but this may be enough for him to agree to come in and answer some questions."
"Ours or the IRS you mean?" Kate smiled.
"Do it." Gibbs thought that was the best news he'd heard all day.
"Gibbs-"
"I don't want to know. Whatever works." He moved behind his desk, indicating the discussion was closed.
"Right," Kate muttered under her breath, "McGee, come on!"
Gibbs witnessed Kate kick McGee and force him back out. Once he was sure they'd gone he collapsed into his chair, placing his head in his hands and aiming a lingering glance at Tony's empty desk across the way.
…
Feeling like crap, tears on the brink of falling and about to fall apart Tony wanted nothing more than to throw up. He was huddled down low in the corner of one of the many storage rooms on the basement level trying to shut the world out and the last thing he needed right now was to draw the attention of whoever was encroaching on his personal space.
After his spat with Gibbs Tony had needed to cool off, the comment about leaving had shot straight out of his mouth, he hadn't meant it or at least he didn't think he did. What was scaring him now though was what a real possibility it was, not Gibbs firing him, he had been threatened with that every week since he'd started working at NCIS, but him feeling like he couldn't possibly stay, that was new and the thought he may have no choice but to leave once all this was over cut him deeply.
Before hiding here he had originally headed straight for the locker rooms, intending on using the gym for a bit to vent, but a class was monopolising the mats. There was no way he'd be able to enter unseen and it would only take seconds for someone to notice he was hitting the punching bag a little harder than necessary and make a call to Gibbs. Despite having the reputation of a complete bastard the man had surprisingly loyal spies everywhere. Deciding to bite-the-bullet he'd then headed back up to the bullpen to wait for the others, assuming Gibbs would be down with Abby getting results on what Fornell had sent over, revealing yet more secrets he probably wasn't ready to hear.
However his temporary resolve hadn't lasted long. Storming off from the car had been as much about being angry as preserving his dignity. After failing to find a vent his frustrations, walking into the empty bullpen and having no one to keep up an act of calmness for Tony felt his resolve quickly waning. It had started as a slight trembling in his hands, building up to full on hyperventilating by the time Tony stumbled into the nearest, darkest, quietest place he could find, hoping to hide for as long as it took to rebuild himself.
In the conference room earlier Gibbs had been so gentle with him, so understanding and he ashamedly craved to have that back, even knowing that if Gibbs was being nice it meant something was very, very, wrong. It honestly scared the hell out of him, headslaps and threats Tony could live with. If Gibbs was paying enough attention to him to chastise him, then he clearly cared about him. His uberbastard side though, which had come out in the car, now that hurt. Tony slumped back, resting his arms loosely against part raised knees. He didn't know where that left him.
It became clear after several minutes of listening to the person stumble around and knock things over that whoever it was that had entered his secret sanctuary wasn't leaving any time soon. So schooling his features, Tony mentally pulled himself together and feigned indifference as usual when he was hurt where no one could see.
"You know it's much easier if you turn on the light."
The young guy with glasses stumbled back upon hearing his voice and Tony couldn't help but outright laugh. Within seconds the lights flickered on and Tony felt exposed sat in his little corner.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Just hanging out, you know day two of protective custody, shit hits the fan and Anthony DiNozzo keeps on going." He flung out one hand, supposedly emphasizing just how unflappable he was.
Tony cringed, so much for putting himself back together, now the autopsy gremlin was looking at him as if he'd grown a second head and neither of them knew what to say.
"Erm, should I get Doctor Mallard, he just got back from the scene?" Palmer stepped back, looking like he was all set to run out of there as soon as the opportunity presented itself, but wanted his permission first.
Tony chuckled. He didn't think he would meet anyone greener than McGee.
"It's okay Palmer."
The gremlin looked surprised Tony knew his name.
"You sure, you don't look well and your hand is bleeding."
Tony raised his eyes to meet Palmer's. He'd forgotten about smashing the mirror and wondered why he hadn't felt the pain until now his attention had been drawn to it.
"You know what's been going on?" He said looking around for something to wrap his hand in.
Palmer immediately looked away, he'd heard something obviously, but having only been working with Ducky a couple of months, Tony guessed he hadn't quite worked out how to separate all the scuttlebutt from the facts.
"Were you injured yesterday?" Palmer gathered himself and re-established eye contact, pointing at the bruise still visible on Tony's cheek where Bower had hit him only. "Doctor Mallard got a call from Agent Gibbs really late, and he stayed all night. I only know because I noticed his car hadn't moved and everyone was wearing the same clothes when I came in this morning, including Abby. Not that I notice what people are wearing, I mean I do but not like that I…"
"Palmer." Tony interrupted, "stop talking."
"Okay." Palmer nodded, still looking a bit nervous.
Tony was tempted to tell him to fetch Ducky if it made him feel better, Tony didn't intend to be here when they got back, but he decided that would be cruel and would worry Ducky unnecessarily, as well as get the new guy into undeserved trouble. He was the one hiding in the supply cupboard stupidly thinking no one would find him.
Tony was still looking for something to wrap his hand in when he caught it on a box low on the shelf next to him and yanked it back hissing in agony. Opening screwed shut eyes Tony was startled to find Palmer kneeling in front of him. Without a word he took Tony's palm in his and examined it.
"What are you doing in here anyway, shouldn't you have finished hours ago?" Tony turned the topic around and onto the gremlin.
"Oh well," Palmer smiled, obviously not catching the rouse for what it was while he stood and busied himself looking for something, "Dr Mallard was talking to Agent Gibbs and sent me away, yeah he does that a lot when he doesn't want me to hear top secret stuff going on so I usually clean the pipets or restock the supplies on the van. It's time consuming but quite calming..."
Tony half listened as Palmer gathered what looked like alcohol wipes and bandages while he recited the history of the pipet. He couldn't believe there was someone else that rambled as much as Ducky did. Tony would give anything to hear one of his uncomfortable tales right now, even if Ducky's stories of his wilder days were akin to a grandfather telling his grandson sex stories about grandma, anything had to better than the history of pipets. If this was what happened from spending too much time around the old guy Tony thought Gerald had had the right idea with those headphones – it wasn't boredom, it was protection. Going back to what Palmer had said before he launched into his pipet lecture, there was only one subject that was top secret at the moment and he was at the centre.
"You hear anything good before you left?" Tony interrupted, and not feeling at all bad about it.
He sucked in a sudden breath when Palmer swiped his cut knuckles with the alcohol wipe.
"Hmm, no not really," Palmer answered without stopping what he was doing.
After picking small glass fragments out he quickly cleaned the rest of Tony's hand before bandaging it.
"Hey, have you eaten, because I've been stuck here all day and Dr Mallard wouldn't let me leave for lunch and I hate eating in autopsy-"
"Palmer, you asking me to dinner?" Tony cracked a teasing smile, the first real one he'd felt all day. He took a moment to enjoy the flustered look on his face. "Sure Palmer, I could really go for pizza right about now."
"I don't think they sell Pizza in the Navy Yard."
"Well, then, since I'm banned from leaving we'll just have to get it delivered." Tony stood, admiring his now clean and wrapped hand as he walked Palmer out the door.
…
Gibbs was leaving autopsy when he got the call from Kate informing him they had Senior upstairs in the briefing room. Entering the elevator Gibbs thought on what he'd just been told. Ducky had walked him through Bower's injuries. No fight, head wound being the kill shot. Cut and dry execution. There was no doubt in his mind this had been if not a trap, a message to Tony. However the thought that someone a lot smarter than Bower was behind all this wasn't Gibbs' major concern at the moment. What occupied his mind most was what Ducky had discussed with him afterwards.
"There something else you want to share Duck?" Gibbs had noticed he seemed distracted and by the way Ducky glared at his assistance, who promptly ran off, Gibbs knew he probably wouldn't like it.
"Before you called me to the scene I had a chance to draw up a preliminary report on Anthony's injuries from when he was six."
"Go on." Gibbs leaned back onto a free autopsy table.
"I'm afraid what I've found merely raises more questions than it answers." Ducky walked over to his desk and pulled out the scotch, pouring two glasses. "I know regulations state no drinking on the job but since it is" he glanced at the clock, "passed nine in the evening I assume we can be forgiven."
"That bad?" Gibbs followed him over, taking the offered glass.
"Tony's injuries, they aren't consistence with the usual binding marks or burns you'd find on victims who have been tied up. At first I assumed his other bruises were simply a result of ill treatment, they confirmed what our dead man claims to have inflicted after all."
"But?"
"There is a definite pattern I hadn't noticed at first and then I remembered where I've seen these before Jethro," For a change Ducky skipped the background to his story and got straight to the point, which was enough to convince Gibbs this was going to be really bad, "amongst his many injuries where two very defined marks on his temple."
Ducky picked up and passed him a blown up copy of one of Tony's photos. Gibbs examined it but couldn't quite work out what he was seeing.
"They're electrical burns. Their placing leads me to the conclusion that at some point Anthony received electro shock therapy," Ducky paused, "Torture Jethro."
"Jesus Duck, he was six years old!" Gibbs downed his drink, slamming the glass on the table before pacing the length of autopsy.
"I talked to Abigail, Jethro what if it wasn't something they wanted to know, but more over something they wanted to know if he knew?"
Gibbs shook his head, not taking it in, the idea that Tony had been kidnapped and hurt was bad enough, knowing he'd been drugged and tortured was too much.
"Duck you're talking in riddles."
"He saw something, maybe at his home," Ducky sounded like he was reaching, "something these men went to great lengths to ensure he never told anyone-"
"The drugs found in his system?" Gibbs interrupted.
"Abby identified the compound possibly as Ketamine. A strong dose at that."
"Strong enough to make him forget everything?"
"More like dismiss the whole thing as some awful nightmare," Ducky nodded, knowing as well as Gibbs did that if what they were suggesting was correct, then there was no doubt of Tony's father having some direct involvement in what happened. "If Tony's mother and father encouraged him to believe so, it's entirely possible."
Gibbs poured himself another drink. If he was going to have to arrest DiNozzo's father, he'd certainly need it.
The elevator dinged its arrival and Gibbs stepped out, the lateness of the evening making itself known in the form of dim lights and an empty office. Knowing time was escaping them darkened his mood further, until the scent of DiNozzo's favourite pizza followed by light hearted laughter assaulted his senses.
"Having fun DiNozzo?" Gibbs commented heading towards his desk with carefully concealed amusement at the sight of Tony with Ducky's new assistant, eating at pizza DiNozzo's desk.
"Agent Gibbs!" Palmer jumped, discarding his pizza slice.
Tony didn't even flinch and Gibbs felt comforted that Tony looked almost relaxed, not even putting on his usual show of feigning surprise at his arrival. "Boss, just having pizza, want some?" He smiled cockily back at him.
If anything Gibbs was relieved. Before they'd even got into details about the case Ducky had torn a strip off him for being so hard on Tony at the scene, something told him Kate had a hand in that as well as Abby. After the argument they'd had in the car Gibbs wasn't sure what Tony's state of mind would be. The fret to leave NCIS Gibbs hoped was just the stress of everything. Gibbs knew, rewind the clock a fair few years, if it were him at the centre of this case, he'd probably feel the same. Either way, he was much calmer now, despite the new information from Ducky, and Tony seemed back on form too, though what he was doing with Palmer of all people, he really didn't know.
The pair carried on with their dinner, talking and laughing, and Gibbs was content to let them continue. Knowing that being able to relax and be himself for a change was just what DiNozzo needed right now. Gibbs was always able to gage Tony's mental state by his behaviour. Moody and argumentative, Gibbs would be very concerned that Tony planned on doing something reckless. Needy and eager to please meant he was feeling insecure and wanted attention, that behaviour often lead to acting out that lead to headslaps and once a time out in the elevator. No one on the current team knew about that and Gibbs hoped he'd never have to punish DiNozzo that way again, the kid had taken it to heart. No matter, what he was looking at now was a DiNozzo doing his best to not just look comfortable, but be it as well. It was a good start, having DiNozzo feel secure with them, with him, on this case made Gibbs feel like he'd made the right choice by not letting Morrow give it to another team.
Despite not wanting to spoil the semi normalcy of the moment, it was late and there was still a lot to be done.
"Palmer," Gibbs cocked his head to the side and Palmer ran, leaving the bullpen faster than any probie agent ever could.
"You've got my dad in interrogation?" Tony spoke softly once Palmer was gone.
The tension was clearly back in his posture, all the calm Gibbs had briefly witnessed walking in having been sucked out like they'd entered an air lock. Gibbs stood up and perched himself on the corner of Tony's desk, acting unsurprised that Tony knew what they'd been doing.
"He's in the conference room. You want to see him?" Gibbs asked casually, taking a cooling pizza slice.
Watching from the corner of his eye he could see Tony was mulling it over. Obviously it wasn't a cut and dry decision, aside from the fact that his father had never told him about his kidnapping, Gibbs knew the fact that Senior hadn't even bothered to call him while he was in D.C really hurt, but before Tony could decide, Gibbs' phone rang and he answered it.
He barked a gruff 'yeah' down the line and hung up without comment. Clipping his phone back to his belt Gibbs eyed DiNozzo questioningly. They nodded at one another and though it felt wrong to leave him alone again Gibbs knew he what he had to do and left to talk to his father.
…
"Why are you in D.C Mr DiNozzo?" Gibbs launched into his questioning as soon as he walked through the door of the conference room, offering him a bottle of water which was grudgingly accepted.
Sitting down opposite the man Gibbs envisioned himself pressing Senior's face fully into the table, cutting off his air supply until all he could do was beg for his life. None of what he was thinking showed on his face though, all Mr DiNozzo would see was a very calm special agent sat across the table from him.
"I was asked by a friend." DiNozzo answered, "Look Gibbs what is this really all about? I merely offered that lovely young lady my help in sorting out this mess Junior's supposedly in, which you haven't explained much about. Where is he anyway?"
Gibbs smiled, he no longer had the urge to suffocate the man, what he really wanted to do was punch him instead. He hadn't asked Kate what she'd had to do to get him in here, but one thing he did know, DiNozzo Sr wasn't here because he wanted to help.
"You know a Henry Miller?" Gibbs sidestepped the question about Tony and slipped a picture of Miller from there security cameras in the parking lot across the table.
Senior visibly bristled, not so much that anyone could tell, but Gibbs saw it, the brief flash of his eyes, slight shifting forward in his seat, he was definitely hiding something.
"So that's what this is all about," Senior chuckled, his face turning suddenly hard. "Let's not beat around the bush Gibbs, you already know I was partners with Miller, Anthony would have told you. I came here because I was told Anthony needed my help, and since that clearly isn't the case I will be leaving."
DiNozzo stood, Gibbs didn't bother.
"Sit down Mr DiNozzo." He said none too politely.
DiNozzo Sr seemed to consider his options, before carefully retaking his seat. Gibbs waited, watched Senior open the bottled water and take a sip.
"Telling us about Miller will help your son." He said calmly.
"I fail to see how."
"Have you seen him recently?"
"He contacted me a couple of days ago, invited me to D.C to discuss a new project."
Gibbs sat forward, instincts on high alert.
"Miller is the reason you're here?"
Senior either didn't notice the change in his demeanour or didn't care, he continued to sit back as if the fact that Henry Miller was in town and in contact with him was of no consequence.
"Look Gibbs I don't know what Anthony has told you about me, but don't believe everything the boy says. He has a wild imagination."
Gibbs regrouped and mentally counted to ten before asking his next question.
"Where's Miller now?"
"I don't know," Gibbs glared, "I really don't, look Gibbs I don't what any of this has got to do with Anthony, or you for that matter, you may have my son hanging off your every word but I'm not so easily intimidated."
Gibbs absorbed his surprise, not letting this DiNozzo catch on to the fact he didn't know Tony had spoken about him to his Dad, though it did explain why, when they'd approached Senior in the restaurant earlier, he seemed to know who he was.
"When are you meeting him?"
"Who's says I am?" Senior quickly deflated under Gibbs' glare, "Fine, not that it's any of your business, but we've having lunch at the Adam's House tomorrow. I'm only telling you this because Henry Miller is a good friend and he's done nothing wrong, he has nothing to hide."
"That's not what the FBI say."
"That was ages ago. He's been living in England for the past twenty something years, there's no way he's done anything they'd be interested in now." Senior stood, this time grabbing his jacket. "Now if you don't mind, I'm leaving."
Gibbs pushed back on the table to stand and walked him out the door. Seeing Tony was absent from his desk he escorted Mr DiNozzo through the bull pen and down in the elevator. Arriving at the entrance level of NCIS and just before passing him over to the guards Gibbs spoke for the first time since their interview ended.
"One more question Mr DiNozzo, when he called did Miller ask you about Tony?"
"I told him Anthony was working for NCIS." Senior shrugged, Gibbs held eye contact, "Look I don't know why you were dredging up the past yesterday, but what happen… it was a long time ago, Tony doesn't even remember it happening, and for his sake you should leave it alone."
Gibbs kept his mouth firmly shut knowing the more cards he held the easier it would be to bring him in when the time came. Senior seemed to interpret his silence as agreement and past the guards, handing in his visitors badge before walking out the main doors. Gibbs stepped back inside and let the doors close, the elevator taking him back upstairs in silence.
TBC…
A/N:
No awful cliffy this time, hope you still come back for the next part! Hopefully not so long a wait next time;) It was half term here, we went to Somerset Haven – in the rain, hail, wind etc… there was lots of mud. Won't complain too much because I'm sure a lot of you have had it far worse! Guest: Sorry no pre SS-Sandy update! I'm just not that quick lol. xxx THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS THEY ARE FAB! Xxx