Upon hearing the usual click of disconnection Ducky flipped shut his cell and sighed deeply. Despite knowing that trying to stop Gibbs from doing anything he set his mind on was a near impossible task he did so wish his friend would approach the situation less like the proverbial bull in a china shop. Something was going to get broken before they closed this case and Ducky feared that 'something' could well be poor Anthony.
Thinking about the sorry state of the young man sat behind him gave Ducky pause. Although by his age he had seen and learned a lot, none of his experiences had granted him the same quick thinking reflexes Jethro had when there was a crisis. Anthony walking into the room at that moment had been unfortunate, but Jethro had made it work for the better, the marine in him reacting instantaneously to prevent an even bigger tragedy than that which had already occurred.
Unfortunately Gibbs' weakness came in the aftermath, being a man that struggled to express his own feelings it certainly was no surprise to Ducky that as soon as everything calmed he was escaping the room like a cat on a hot tin roof. And now it seemed he wasn't returning anytime soon and wanted Ducky to pick up the pieces. A role he didn't often mind per se, but knew without a doubt he was not the one Anthony needed at his side right now. All the kind platitudes in the world could not make right what had come to light today and only the assurance from one man could have Tony walking out of here feeling secure about his place in life, which was imperative, otherwise the damage inflicted may well never be undone.
With those heavy thoughts swirling around inside his head and the burden of success resting firmly on his shoulders, Ducky drew in a very deep breath to gather strength and turned to face his newly acquired charge. Tony was still seated, face down, forehead resting on the desk, hands tightly clasped through his now dishevelled un-gelled hair. For all appearance it would seem he hadn't noticed the brief phone call.
"That the boss?" Tony sniffed into the table, unmoving.
Ducky gave the cell in his hand a cursory glance before pocketing it and walking over to lean against the table at Tony's side.
"He's checking to see if you're okay." He answered humbly.
Tony's shoulders began to shake and Ducky reached out, prepared to offer any comfort he could, but stopped, snatching his hand back upon hearing the muffled chuckle.
"Yeah Ducky, tell him I'm just fine." Tony lifted his head, letting lose the hysterical laughter. "Better yet," he sobered, the raspy quality of his voice giving his true feelings away, "tell him I quit."
Ducky bent down and looked upon Tony with his best narrowed eyed, disappointed stare.
"I will do no such thing."
Tony flinched away as if he'd been hit, briefly eyeing Ducky with suspicion before lowering his head back down to rest in the safe haven of his arms. He clearly hadn't expected the harsh tone, but even he had his limits when it came to childish behaviour.
"Now, now, you can't hide from us Anthony." Ducky reached out and, copying a move he'd witness Gibbs pull off without getting his hand bitten off, grabbed Tony's chin forcing him to turn his head and look at him, "Jethro no more wants you to quit than you want to leave and you know it."
They held eye contact a few moments longer in silence, Ducky only dropping his grip once he was convinced Tony had read everything in his look that he wanted him to. He couldn't deny it was rather saddening to see the slight edge of fear in the younger man's eyes as he pulled away. While hurting someone he considered family was not in his repartee Ducky knew all too well that sometimes a firm hand was what was needed to prevent a catastrophe, and Tony leaving NCIS certainly fell into that category.
"I'm not hiding." Tony grumbled quietly, gazing off to the side, avoiding any possibility of eye contact.
"Well you could have fooled me." Ducky smiled, adding a softer note to his tone, hopefully indicating that he wasn't actually angry with him. "There's no shame in being afraid, a lot has happened in the last few days, it'll take time to come to terms with it all."
As expected Tony completely ignored the truth of his words, focusing instead on what he deemed as a slight against his character.
"Me? Afraid, I'm not-" he laughed, shaking his head nervously, demonstrating the perceived weakness was closer to the truth than he clearly wanted to admit, "DiNozzo's don't-"
Ducky assumed the abruptly cut off phrase was meant to be one of those infamous epitaph's that the boy spouted each and every time someone showed him concern. Only this time the common turn of phrase caused him to blanch and go still. Recognising the problem Ducky immediately sort to console Tony that his identity as a DiNozzo was not completely lost.
"Anthony, Look at me," Ducky gripped his shoulder.
Tony refused to turn, fighting off his tears with everything he had left. Ducky rolled his eyes heavenward, praying for strength. He much preferred his usual role as the understanding ear, the person everyone could come to and tell their problems, but he knew all too well that with Jethro gone the responsibility of keeping DiNozzo from jumping off the cliff he was currently so precariously balanced upon fell to him. If they let this set back break him, the likely hood that Tony would follow through with his threats to leave NCIS were high indeed.
"You may not be that DiNozzo's son, but you are still our Anthony DiNozzo. You've not lost anything." Ducky continued sternly.
Timed passed by and Tony shifted gently under his grip. Ducky felt the tension ease slowly away and held his breath in anticipation of a response. It wasn't in his nature to be so harsh, especially to a victim, but he could appreciate now more than ever the choices Jethro had to make on a daily basis. The role of a father wasn't an easy one, sometimes it was necessary to be the bad guy even if it hurt the one you're always striving to protect.
Mere seconds later Ducky's determination to hold ground paid off. Tony slowly tilted his head back and looked up at him with wide tired eyes.
"If I even had it to begin with," Tony uttered solemnly, voice hoarse with yet more unshed tears.
Ducky dropped his hand, letting his arm hang limply at his side in defeat. His meaning had been missed again and sighing in frustration, he soldiered on by initiating the next stage in the process of pulling DiNozzo away from the unstable cliff's edge to stand supported on secure ground.
"Come on my lad," Ducky hooked his arm under Tony's and encouraged him to stand "let's get you downstairs, I've got a nice cup of tea waiting for you."
The sudden switch back to his more often used softer approach seemed to touch something inside Tony which was getting increasingly hard for him to bury. One look at the pained confusion in his features and Ducky knew it would only be a matter of time before he broke down completely. Holding Tony around his middle Ducky could feel only bone, giving him a good once over he looked pasty and pale, like he'd not slept or eaten in days. He knew that wasn't the case and that stress was the most likely cause of his dreadful state, but given Jethro's penchant for surviving on nothing but coffee Ducky wondered when any of the team had last eaten a decent meal that wasn't out of the vending machines. More than a cup of tea was in order if that was the case, so placing a guiding hand under his elbow Tony was unresisting as Ducky led him towards the door.
"I'd prefer some of that scotch you hide in your desk draw." Tony broke the tension as they left the cold comfort of the interrogation room and entered the hallway.
"I have no such thing Anthony," Ducky scolded good-naturedly, ensuring they hurried passed the agent posted outside Senior's door. "Not all Scotsmen have whiskey hidden in their desks you know."
"Second draw down, under the paperback of Bridget Jones' Diary - which by the way is much better on DVD I'll lend you it -" Tony looked over his shoulder, pointed at him and winked, "-30 year old McCallum blend. A gift?" He asked innocently, smiling smugly.
Ducky chuckled, very pleased to see that despite his dishevelled appearance, Tony was still very much his comical self.
"Has anyone ever told you you're too nosy for your own good?" Ducky asked him as they walked side by side towards the elevator.
Tony's reply was instantaneous and deadpan in its delivery.
"Kate."
…
"Fornell" Gibbs bellowed across the crowded green area where Navy Yard personnel were spending their lunch basking in the heat of the midday sun.
"Gibbs," Fornell growled upon setting eyes on him, advancing on his position, "What the hell's going on?"
"Funny I was going ask you the same thing?" Gibbs shot back coming toe to toe with the FBI agent and matching Fornell's annoyed look.
"I told you I'd handle it." Tobias immediately tempered his anger and lowered his voice, alert to those walking around them. "You keep getting Agent McGee to hack our computers and…"
"And what Tobias?" Gibbs challenged.
He'd had just about enough of the FBI's veiled threats and predisposition to only sharing information when it suited them, especially when it was his agent's life in danger.
"How about you explain why you didn't tell me about Miller and DiNozzo Sr's connection to the FBI earlier?"
"It was classified." Fornell growled reluctantly.
"Tony's life is in danger and your excuse is 'it's classified!" Gibbs shouted not caring if he was making a scene.
In fact the more fuss he kicked up the better. If FBI agents were watching them right now he wanted it known nothing was going to stop him getting to the bottom of this and seeing Miller and Senior behind bars for what they did.
"I wasn't read in until someone hacked our database and accessed the information, and that was only so they could ask if I knew who that might be!" Fornell groused out through gritted teeth, giving Gibbs a pointed look.
Gibbs stepped closer and glared at Fornell, who merely huffed in response to the non-verbal threat. Since McGee wasn't being escorted out of NCIS in handcuffs, he guessed he probably owed Fornell a thank you, but since that wasn't ever going to happen and in lieu of anything else to say Gibbs kept an impassive face and waited for Fornell to continue.
"You're welcome." Fornell said with an air of superiority, a barely noticeable curl of lip indicating he knew exactly what Gibbs was refusing to say.
"I'll buy you a coffee," He offered shortly in conciliation.
Luckily Fornell knew him well enough not to push further and moved the conversation straight back on to the business at hand
"I take it since you've gotten this far you found the information I left you about Miller's aliases?"
"That was you?"
"Gee Gibbs, you're really off your game," Fornell chuckled, looking at him in surprise, "thought you'd have ran that down straight away."
Gibbs winced, not liking the idea that that could be true.
"I've been busy, I let McGee handle it." He dismissed.
Gibbs could see the frown form on Fornell's face but was resolute he wasn't talking about it now.
"Yeah well, don't give the kid too much free rein, can't promise I can cover his ass again."
"So where's Miller now?" Gibbs asked casually, ignoring Fornell's flustering.
"Even if I did know I wouldn't tell you."
"Why the hell not?" He brought them to a halt.
"Because this is Ari all over again. Only I know you Jethro, you will kill this one." Fornell whispered dangerously, well aware others were likely trying to listen in.
"Well yeah!" Gibbs confirmed his suspicions with a smile.
Fornell shook his head seeming to get that there was no point in arguing with Gibbs about the politics of a situation when it concerned the safety of one of his own.
"Ever heard of Joe Bonanno?" Fornell started them walking again, looking serious.
"New York Mafia boss, thought he retired."
"He did. His son took over the reins the early '70's. Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno was someone not to be messed with…"
"But?"
"It seems DiNozzo and Miller messed, big time."
"Tell me this is just the FBI's sick sense of humour." He said deadpan.
"Wish it was, Gibbs" Fornell sympathised as they approached the coffee stand, "Then at least I wouldn't have to worry about what you'll do when I tell you the next part."
"Tony." Gibbs sighed out his agents name like he was evoking some ancient curse.
Gibbs approached the barista and ordered, a feeling of dread had made residence in his gut and coffee was the only thing he had to ground him right now.
"As you probably already know by now the FBI was never really involved in DiNozzo Jr's kidnapping. Obviously at the time there was no such thing as Amber alert and the local LEO's never contacted us for help, so…" He shrugged.
"So how did the FBI get involved with DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked paying for and collecting their coffees, pocketing the small paper bag the young woman also handed him before Fornell could question him on the odd additional purchase.
"Two years after the kidnapping the FBI are close to bringing a case against Bill Bonanno. DiNozzo and Miller end up on their radar as having ties to known Mafia front businesses, mainly in real estate. Miller up and leaves the country before the FBI can get to him, but Senior's still hanging around. Apparently his wife's just died and all his assets were tied up with her estate, he was a sitting duck…"
Gibbs flashed back on his conversation with Senior concerning his wife and her family money. He was betting Miller's abrupt departure had little to do with what the FBI knew and more about what Senior would tell them regarding Tony. If what Senior had told him in interrogation was true, with his wife gone the threat of blackmail regarding telling her family about Tony's real father would been lost too. Senior legally inherited his wife's estate and was free to tell whatever truth he wanted regarding Tony's lineage.
"…they catch up with him and Senior makes a deal for information in lieu of time in federal prison." Fornell takes a sip of his coffee and they move on, walking back towards the main building.
"Let me guess," Gibbs smiled knowingly, "he told the FBI about Tony's kidnapping at the hands of the mafia?"
"How'd you guess?" Fornell smiled back sarcastically, showing Gibbs he believed the story as much as the rest of the team would.
"This where the ransom demand comes in?"
"Apparently from Bonanno's enforces for unpaid debts. He claimed your little DiNozzo Jr was taken because he'd refused to pay up after a card game at one of Bonanno's club. He said he never told the police the truth because they had threatened to kill him and his wife if he did. After the deal was made we seized the stored evidence from the LEO's in '82, just in case some over-zealous cop got any ideas to look at it again if it came out that Bower was a patsy."
"Something doesn't sit right. DiNozzo doesn't strike me as the gambling type." Gibbs said mostly to himself, systematically storing away the details, "What else?"
"That's it. The case got thrown out a year later when Bonanno was executed by a rival family. DiNozzo never testified and despite having some assets frozen for reasons that still aren't clear he was free to live his life pretty much as normal. The FBI settled for DiNozzo's story and didn't reinvestigate the kidnapping."
Gibbs gave Fornell a look. It was returned with as much heat as it was received, after all both men were fathers and Fornell didn't disagree that the FBI agents in charge at the time had dropped the ball, leaving a young child in danger by not checking out DiNozzo Sr's version of events.
"What about the current case, involving Miller?"
"It's classified."
Gibbs looked away with a smirk, he wasn't about to inform him Abby, and likely McGee, were already working on tracking down the information anyway.
"But you can tell me where Miller fits into this." Gibbs pushed anyway, it was always useful to check and compare sources.
"All I know about Miller is what McGee already found out. He's working as a C.I for the special ops task force, its need to know and I'm definitely out the loop as to what their directive is." Fornell stopped short and dropped down on a bench near the main doors.
The sun was shining high now, bathing the open green area in warm rays of light. It was a poor sense of irony that despite the pleasantness of the day, inside Gibbs' veins were like ice. A cold hard dread was creeping slowly up upon him, a sense that whatever was happening was out of his control and if he didn't act soon everything that was good about his current life would be cruelly ripped away from him, piece by piece.
"Tobias." Gibbs growled dejectedly, joining him to sit on the bench.
"Gibbs, I swear." Fornell held his hands up in surrender, "I don't know anymore. If you want a clue I'd suggest asking daddy dearest because I know there is more to this than I'm being told."
"Ya think?" Gibbs snapped.
Fornell frowned and sat back against the bench. Gibbs could see something else was on his mind and patiently waited in silence for Fornell to grow the balls needed to say it.
"I hate to say this Jethro,"
"Just spit it out Tobias," Gibbs rolled his eyes, taking a long sip from his paper cup.
"I know how you feel about him," Fornell turned and looked Gibbs in the eye, "but are you sure the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree?"
Gibbs froze.
"You best not be suggesting what I think you are." He responded dangerously, before looking away and taking another long sip of his coffee to ease his rapidly rising temper.
"Him remembering nothing is a mighty coincidence Gibbs, I'm just saying-"
"Shut up right now, while you still have your teeth." He snapped, pinning Fornell with his trademark glare.
The look and the tone appeared to roll off Fornell, which only made Gibbs angrier.
"Admit it. If it was anyone other than your agent, you'd be suspicious." Gibbs refrained from commenting on that and made it clear with another hard look that further accusations would not be tolerated, "Ok fine, but at least now you know you've got nothing to worry about. With Miller working for the FBI your boy's safe." Fornell finally relented, seeming more at peace with himself now he'd said it.
"And how'd you work that out?" Gibbs barked affronted. "Ari's working for the FBI too, but he shot me and one of my people, kidnapped Kate and threatened DiNozzo's life. You actually expect me to trust their judgement on Miller?" Gibbs couldn't hide his surprise at Fornell's seeming stupidity.
"If Miller wasn't on the level they'd never have set up whatever this is. Especially given the connection to your golden boy," Gibbs gave him a look. "You scare people Gibbs."
"Oh yeah?" Gibbs valiantly held in the smile that threatened to break free upon hearing that. "If Miller is so on the level why is Craig Bower dead?"
"Bower's dead?"
"We found his body yesterday with a bullet through his brain." Gibbs didn't hide his surprise at discovering the FBI weren't up to speed on the current situation with their new asset, "Henry Miller killed him." He finished affirmatively.
"You're reaching Gibbs" Fornell scoffed.
He wasn't, they hadn't the evidence yet, but he was sure all signs would eventually point to Miller and when they did the FBI where going to get their asses handed to them on a plate.
"Do the FBI even know where Miller is?" Fornell refused to answer and looked away, "I didn't think so. You come see me when you find him, but until then I'm gonna keep looking." Gibbs stood up from the bench and quickly walked away.
"Gibbs you can't!" Fornell stood up and shouted after him, "You interfere with an active FBI operation and the director will have both our asses!"
Without looking back Gibbs binned his empty cup, throwing it headlong into the trash can beside the path.
"Watch me."
…
Ducky stood alone, hovering by his desk and staring at his phone, willing it to ring. He'd finished checking Tony's general condition a few minutes ago, and after determining all he needed was some food and a little rest he'd settled him down in the corner of autopsy on the futon cushion Mister Palmer had thoughtfully retrieved from Abigail's lab. It was a good idea, after all Jethro was the only one he'd ever known able to find comfort on the cold hard autopsy tables. Unfortunately Abby had accompanied Jimmy back downstairs with the bed and had attempted to visit. Ducky managed to intercept her before she made it through the sliding doors and explained why now was not the best time. He had no doubt she already knew everything that had happened in interrogation and understood perfectly why she so desired to see young Anthony, but although Tony appeared calm, happily interacting with Mister Palmer as he set up the temporary bed, on the inside Ducky knew he was wound tighter than one of Abby's pigtails and Ducky didn't want him being pushed too far too soon all because she wanted to help him.
Luckily Abigail was an astute individual who understood other people better than other people understood themselves sometimes and with Ducky's urging Abby, with Palmer in tow, returned grudgingly to her lab, but not before handing him another tin of those English biscuits she had shared out the previous day, with the strict instruction to force feed them to Tony if necessary. Ducky had offered him some before leaving him alone to rest, but one look at the ostentatious red tin had Tony pleading for a, as he put it, good ole American chocolate-chip cookie instead.
"How's he doing Duck?" Gibbs asked smoothly, startling Ducky from his contemplative thoughts.
"Jethro!" he smiled in relief that Gibbs hadn't left to take matters into his own hands as he had so feared. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
The last hour had taken all he had in him and Ducky was certain before long Tony would have run rings around him in order to get his own way, by then it would have been too late to stop whatever crazy plan he'd formulated in the meantime. Ducky knew full well what Anthony needed most in life was boundaries, and whereas he had often criticised Gibbs' methods in dealing with others, especially those he cared for, Ducky had to admit when it came to Tony DiNozzo he knew exactly what the boy needed.
"I wouldn't leave him Duck." Gibbs whispered earnestly.
There was a drawn quality to his voice that was like nothing Ducky had heard from his friend before. No doubt an after effect of the effort it must have taken for him to come back and help deal with the emotional trauma instead of hunting down those responsible for causing it.
Knowing any enquiry as to where he'd been and why would be duly rebuffed, Ducky contented himself with recounting Tony's condition.
"Well his blood sugars a little low and heart rate a little fast, but overall, considering all he's been through in the last 48 hours, I'd say he's doing remarkably well. Could do with some of that tough love you're so fond of."
"That's good." Gibbs nodded with an amused smile, walking over to where Tony lay sleeping under a blanket.
"He needs to eat but all he'll entertain is -" before Ducky could finish Gibbs was waving a thin white paper bag in his face containing one large round double choc-chip cookie.
"Got it covered Duck." Gibbs threw at him without turning, walking over to the futon and drawing Tony's attention.
Ducky turned to leave them to it and smiled when he heard a husky 'thanks boss,' as the doors slid shut behind him.
…