Tony really did wish he could fall into the sweet oblivion of sleep and forget everything, even just for a short while. But unfortunately all the will in the world wasn't going to stop his mind from turning over everything he'd discovered about himself these last few days. Hell the events of the last hour alone were enough to consume his dreams for a week.
Lying on the floor in the relative dark of autopsy wasn't a very sleep inducing environment anyway. Ducky had turned the overhead lights off and since there were no windows he had no sense of time passing, which only added to his feelings of misery and confusion. Before he could suppress it a heavy sigh escaped his lips and Tony quickly rolled over, pretending to sleep so Ducky wouldn't feel the need to talk to him about what was keeping him awake. Like that would take any stretch of the imagination. Tony's hand instinctively went to his left wrist, gripping it where Gibbs had grabbed him in the corridor and cradled it to his chest. He felt for sure that if he were to look at it now he'd see the fingers marks still imprinted on his unusually pale skin. Tony tried to distract himself from further unhelpful thoughts by idling wondering if he should take a holiday to recapture his normal olive skin tone when all this was over, but his mind kept dragging him back to that corridor and the moment he opened the door to hear Gibbs claim he'd have 'done it in a heartbeat' had he been charged with the task of loving and raising him instead of Senior.
What exactly did Gibbs mean by that anyway? Because, yeah, it could be explained away as what he'd do for any child in that situation, not just him, but Tony being Tony couldn't help but make it personal. The thought that Gibbs might care about him enough to wish he'd been the father to him that Senior never was made his heart swell. Even now his whole body was tingling with excitement that finally someone possibly loved him for who he was instead of what he could give them.
For woman he was arm candy, not to be conceited, but he knew he was good looking and getting a date was incredibly easy if he wasn't fussed about much beyond looks. He often picked woman who saw him in the same light, therefore eliminating any chance of an emotional connection. Falling in love made him way too vulnerable. He'd been hurt once and had since learned how to avoid experiencing that kind of pain again. With his dad Tony had learnt that not all parents loved their kids unconditionally. In fact how his dad felt about him could often be measured on his importance in sealing the deal on another marriage. For some of his stepmothers he was the price, others, an inconvenience. Boarding school and summer camps were places his dad stored him until required and half the time he had no idea where Senior was or what he was doing. Every school holiday he'd wait pensively for the phone call that would either let him down gently or result in introducing him to his dad's latest squeeze. Gibbs however was nothing like that. He even had a rule to 'never be unreachable' and since all these rules came about due to experience Tony suspected that Gibbs had in some way written that one just for him.
2002
"Gibbs! Gibbs!"
Tony ran down into the basement, his feet slamming every step so hard and fast he sounded more like an out of control irate teenager instead of an experienced federal agent.
"DiNozzo?!" Gibbs groused, his tone an equal mix of surprise and irritation at his unannounced presence.
Tony jumped off the last step to land in the middle of the empty dusty basement floor, poised between continuing onward, getting close enough to be slapped and turning around to run back out again. Considering the hell he'd been put through the past week, right now he didn't know whether he wanted to hug or hit Gibbs, and by the look on his boss's face the feeling was mutual.
"What the hell are you doing here, DiNozzo?" Gibbs said calmly, throwing him an irritated look over the rim of a mug of bourbon.
"What am I doing here?" He screeched, throwing his arms wide and not caring that he perhaps he looked a little crazy in his dishevelled suit and wild uncombed hair. "You've been gone a week! No word, no warning, you've not been answering your phone, Abby's been going insane, Ducky was… well…" Tony stumbled, too wound up to keep track of anything beyond the burning anger simmering deep within him, "Where the hell have you been?!"
Tony sagged, physically and emotionally wrung out. The frantic drive over here after getting a call from Sally in resources letting him know Gibbs had been spotted leaving the NCIS parking lot, combined with his little run down the stairs and subsequent shouting having nearly done him in. He hadn't slept properly in days, ate even less and was at the point where breaking down into tears wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen to him today. In short he was just really, really goddamn tired.
"Working," Gibbs answered after a moments pause, breaking the silence wherein all Tony could hear was the rushing of blood inside his own head.
He'd been through hell worrying where his normally reliable boss had taken off to these last few days, wondering if he was okay, if he needed his help. All in all he was strung out and all Gibbs could offer as an explanation was 'working'? The rushing sound got louder, so loud in fact Tony thought his head was going to explode with the sheer volume.
"Oh work-ing!" Tony laughed as he strung out the syllables, "okay that's fine, that's cool," he switched to nonchalance, "Sure, of course, because you work alone right? We're not partners, on the same team, supposed to watch each other's six, are we?" There was no missing the sarcasm that now dripped from every word and although the voice inside his head was telling him to 'shut the fuck up' Tony's basic survival instincts weren't up to par.
"You answer to me DiNozzo, not the other way round." Gibbs shrugged with a bite to his tone, turning his back to refill his suddenly empty mug.
"I get that. I do." Tony nodded honestly, his resolve fading with his energy, "but didn't you think I might be worried?"
He looked beseechingly at Gibbs hoping, praying the man would turn around and say something to snuff out the fuse lit by his complete ignorance of what his thoughtless actions had done to them - to him.
"I thought you'd do your job." Gibbs stated as plain as ever.
The fuse burned out and Tony exploded.
"You thought I sit on my ass and do paperwork while you were god knows where doing god knows what and could have been in danger?!"
Gibbs' face changed in an instant. His nondescript manner morphed into a look so deadly Tony actually flinched. He thought he was in for the biggest slap of his life when Gibbs suddenly stepped forward so they were toe to toe, face of stone, eyes narrowed and standing so tall he made Tony feel all of twelve years old again.
That was the first - and last – time he'd ever stood up to his father. On that occasion he'd finally come clean to his dad that enough was enough, he was old enough to make his own choices and wasn't going to be pushed around anymore. That had ended with him usurped from his home of the moment and packed off to a military academy where he would learn to 'respect and obey' his elders. Tony actual smiled at the memory, if there was ever something Tony truly excelled in it was confrontation. He could argue with the best of them, weave an argument round to fit his purpose and generally wind up anyone who tried to best him. Anyone until Gibbs that is.
Back in the basement, just as Tony thought he'd pushed too far and prepared for the expected smack, Gibbs' face slacken. The anger disappearing as fast as it had appeared only to be replaced with a look Tony found very hard to classify. It wasn't pity, closer to understanding. Tony was sure he'd kept his inner fears so well hidden that even he had trouble pinning them down from time to time, but the look on Gibbs' face told Tony he knew something more than what was being said.
"I'm sorry."
Tony blinked, wide eyed and in shock, his confusion over what Gibbs might know completely forgotten.
"Uh, what?" He blurted, aware he sounded rather dim.
"Sorry," Gibbs repeated casually, as if Tony wasn't standing in the middle of his basement stunned and completely confused. Reaching for a cup off his top shelf he continued "Broke one of my own rules."
Gibbs tipped a bunch of nails out of the cup onto the counter, ignoring as each one rolled and fell to the sawdust covered floor. After blowing out the dust he poured in a shot of bourbon making sure to top up his own glass before handing the cup over to him.
"What rule?" Tony took the offered bourbon without noticing how badly his hand was shaking.
He pushed aside the apology, more focused on what rule could possibly cover this particular situation.
"Never be unreachable." Gibbs raised his own mug slowly and waited for Tony to mirror the action before bringing it to his lips.
"What number's that?" He asked, holding out his own mug, sensing something wasn't quite right.
Gibbs appeared to think about that.
"Three." He said eventually.
"I thought three was 'don't believe what you're told. Double check'" Tony quizzed, though he had a good idea about what the boss was going to say next.
"I changed it…" Gibbs smiled and drank.
…
And true to his word, since that basement toast, which Tony believed was actually in recognition of a new rule 3, there wasn't a time when Gibbs failed to inform Tony if he was going away for a while or at least answered his phone when called. It was a defining moment for him, it let Tony know that Gibbs understood him, even if he didn't understand himself, and was willing to make allowances just for him no matter how silly it might seem to others. Of course the memory of that night brought to mind the second time that rule came into play, since clearly it went both ways and the elevator punishment was still so fresh in his mind that he couldn't help but cringed each and every time he was reminded of it. One thing was for sure though, it would be a long time - if ever -that he'd be making that mistake again.
Going back to his original question though, the one that drew him into this weird train of thinking, what did Gibbs really mean when he'd said he'd have done it in a heartbeat? Was it possible Gibbs loved him like his own? If he did that would be like all his Christmas' at once and there certainly was an argument for it because despite his often short temper and gruff attitude, it was obvious at the core Gibbs cared about the welfare of his agents. It was a marine thing, a cop thing too, which was why Tony never took it personally when Gibbs growled at him to work smarter and harder even when he was already giving 110%. Tony easily let the bad moods and the insults to his intelligence roll off him, understanding the frustration only came from wanting to 'catch the bad guys' and maybe, he was hoping at any rate, a little bit of paternal teasing.
Although others would say he believed otherwise Tony knew Gibbs wasn't perfect, that he had flaws just like everyone else. The thing that people didn't get was why Tony kept him on such a lofty pedestal anyway. The way Tony saw it, it was human nature to fall short of expectations and if growing up under Senior's guiding hand had taught him anything it was that nobody was perfect, even less so when they were trying. What Tony loved about Gibbs though, and yes he loved his boss, was that Gibbs never tried to be anything. Gibbs was a good man; he was a marine and a role model. There was no try about it.
As Tony considered the facts further the excited tingling he felt building only moments ago faded. The good feelings of having someone care being chased away by reality as always. Not all his memories with senior were great, but at least he'd belonged to someone back then and someone was better than no one. Now he didn't belong to anyone, and no matter how Gibbs may feel about him or how he knew he felt about Gibbs, the facts didn't change. He didn't belong to Gibbs either and the day would soon come when the boss would expect him to fly the nest, put to good use all those hours of training. He wasn't Gibbs son, he was his Agent and when Gibbs was through with teaching him he'd be expected to survive in the world alone and damn-it Tony wasn't sure he could do it. Yes he was an excellent investigator and yes one day he probably could live a very successful life without Gibbs looking over his shoulder checking he was doing it right, but did he want to? Probably not.
Tony didn't remember a time that he wasn't alone and what he really wanted in life was permanency, safety, a place to call home – no matter where in the world he found himself living. He believed he'd found such a home at NCIS and it terrified him that he might be forced to leave it all behind to start anew all because of his so called dad. The sadness the very thought of leaving brought made his eyes sting and Tony pulled the blanket Ducky had so carefully placed over him up as far as it would go, hiding his face so as to rub at the annoying salt which had glooped in his lashes from his last crying episode without drawing too much attention. The memory of Gibbs holding him as he lost it, his unwavering support like a rock in Tony's suddenly upside world, caused his cheeks to flame. He'd kept up a good front with Ducky on the trip down to autopsy, but the reality of everything was suddenly hitting him, and hitting hard. Tony didn't think he'd be able to survive this mess if it went on much longer.
Relaxing wasn't easy, but when he was done his eyes felt scratchy and sore, which only threatened to bring on more tears at the hopelessness of it all. Shamed beyond belief at his ridiculous overly emotional behaviour and that he had broken down so spectacularly in front of his boss as well as god knew who else watching in the other room, Tony wanted nothing more than to go home and be alone for a while to clear his head, but he knew with Miller still out there even that small luxury was going to be a pipe dream for the foreseeable future.
Screwing his eyes tightly shut Tony willed sleep to come for him, since anything would be better than this self-imposed prison of constant recrimination, but, aside from the ghost of Gibbs' hand on his wrist and in his hair, Tony's whole body was numb. He felt cold, bereft, unconnected and, worst of all, alone. Like if he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift he'd never wake up again. The thought scared him so much Tony didn't think he even wanted to sleep anymore.
While he was busy shaking off those terrible thoughts a slap, not to his head, but his backside snapped him out of his head and into action. Flipping onto his back all the fight drained out of him when Tony forced bleary eyes to focus on Gibbs, who was crouching over him, holding out of all things, a large double chocolate chip cookie.
"Thanks boss." Tony rasped with a soft pleased smile reaching up for the cookie, in no doubt the treat was for him.
Without bothering to sit up he ripped into the bag and took a large bite of cookie, leaving dark crumbs to fall from his mouth onto his chest and the floor. Bite followed bite and Tony would swear Gibbs had waited until the moment his mouth was completely full of cookie goodness to land the verbal bomb on him.
"We need to talk."
Tony paused in chewing for the barest second, audibly swallowing, he sat up.
"No offence boss," he started, "but those words from you, it means Armageddon."
With the blanket pooled in his lap Tony took another careful bite and looked up at Gibbs with earnest wide eyes, waiting for him to reveal what it was they needed to talk about.
"This isn't the time for jokes Tony, I'm in no mood." Gibbs said sourly, but with a hint of weariness that had his head hanging below his shoulder blades.
Tony struggled to his feet and walked over to Ducky's desk to put some space between them, the closeness only reminding Tony of what an idiot he'd been lately. The pensive silence stretched on, and to occupy him he messed with a model of the heart, picking a piece up and causing several others to fall off. He gave up putting it back together as a bad job and managing to avoid eye contact with Gibbs lowered himself into Ducky's waiting chair.
"Didn't think you were ever in the mood for joke's boss," Tony said with forced levity, his smile nervous and unassuming, "Sorry boss." He retracted without Gibbs having to say a word, a glare being all that was required.
"I've just met with Fornell." Gibbs maintained his stone faced facade and jumped straight to business.
Tony patiently held his tongue, but noticed almost immediately when Gibbs didn't elaborate it wasn't because he'd finished talking, but because he was actually, for the first time Tony could ever remember, struggling for words. Forget bells, warning sirens where whirring in Tony's head at this development.
"And?" He pushed, leaning forward all of a sudden, every nerve in his body on high alert.
"It… doesn't look good for your dad." Gibbs managed to say eventually.
"He's not my Dad." Tony snapped instantly, hooded eyes not wavering from Gibbs' face, using every ounce of energy left to ensure his facial expression remained indifferent.
Gibbs rolled his eyes in a way that made him appeared more concerned than frustrated.
"Tony-"
"Gibbs I know what you're going to say," Tony breathed out a heavily frustrated sigh. "I don't know what your parents were like but mine were…" Tony drifted, his mind going instantly to a memory of his mother, "… my father… he was never around."
"What about your mom?"
Gibbs' uncanny ability to zone in on exactly the topic he'd wanted to avoid irked him considerably.
"Why are you asking me?" Again all it took was a look from Gibbs to shut him up. "Sorry, doesn't matter." Tony pushed it aside, breaking the eye contact he gazed around the cold, still semi- darkened sterile room, "What did Fornell say?"
"See for yourself." Gibbs handed him a thin file folder, not looking at all surprised he'd figured out who he was meeting.
Wide eyed, Tony took it.
"Fornell gave you this?" He said after glancing through it, now understanding Gibbs' uneasy attitude.
"McGee pulled it directly from the FBI database. Fornell just confirmed it." He nodded, looking unusually apologetic.
Tony nodded solemnly and perused over it in more detail while Gibbs filled him in on more of the details Fornell had shared.
"There's more." Tony said with dread, sensing Gibbs was leaving something out.
"DNA confirmed your dad's presence at the apartment where you were held," Gibbs confirmed his suspicions. "It suggests he was more involved in your kidnapping than he claimed… for one."
"And for two?" Tony didn't need to ask for more details even he'd suspected his father's involvement, from the moment Henry Miller's picture flashed up on Abby's screen only two short days ago.
"That anything he says can't be trusted."
Understanding dawned why Gibbs was being so coy and unlike his usually brash unemotional self. Nobody was about to take Senior's word for anything, least of all Gibbs.
"My DNA should be in the system."
"Abby's working on it." Gibbs nodded sadly, reading his understanding from his own resigned head bob.
Tony had hoped to keep the snooping into his life to a minimum, but understood the team would go where the case took them, regardless of his involvement or how it affected him, but it was the complete lack of control over the flow of information which was making it difficult to accept and decide what he should do next.
"How long has Fornell known?" Tony slumped down into Ducky's rather comfortable seat, placing the folder face down on the desk, an unconscious action which spoke volumes about his mental state.
"Not until the FBI got wind of McGee hacking the system. He's not in trouble," Gibbs immediately reassured upon seeing his sudden apprehension, "Fornell covered his ass."
"But he did know about my father." Tony stated quietly, already resigned to the truth since knowing that when Gibbs glossed over something it was for a reason.
"Not all of it." Gibbs stayed strong, proving there was still some of the old Gibbs determination in there somewhere.
"Did you?" Tony pushed it a step further, not bothered by Fornell's secrets, but if Gibbs had known his dad had been involved with the FBI...
Gibbs' expression hardened, but not so anyone else bar Ducky would be able to tell and caught his gaze before answering with extreme calm.
"No."
Eyes narrowed, remaining silent, Tony sized him up, trying to determine what was the truth and what lie.
"You knew something though." Tony sensed, his mind wandering back a few years and was as surprised as anyone when Gibbs looked away first.
"DiNozzo-"
Gibbs managed his name before the lost for words look appeared on his face and because Tony couldn't stand to see the man he admired so much look so lost he decided to help him out and end this painful moment as soon as possible.
"I know about your background checks Gibbs." Tony blurted.
Gibbs straightened and instead of any of the ways Tony had imagined this moment going when he dropped the bomb that his secret little space in his basement desk wasn't so secret, he never once imagined Gibbs being angry. And right now he couldn't think why that was.
"Don't look at me like that." Tony said nervously, feeling it was unjust that he was being made to feel like the bad guy here. "You're the one digging up everyone's dirty secrets."
"I have to know everything about my Agents." Gibbs justified.
"I know." Tony nodded simply. "It's why I've never said anything. But you could have just asked me."
"Would you have told me the truth?"
Tony winced and then, he laughed.
"You got me there."
It didn't need to be discussed. Tony knew perfectly well he had a penchant for over exaggeration, or twisting facts to fit his purpose. Small white lies here or there that threw people off, he was a master at, just like his so called father. Tony was too irresponsible that was why he was cut off from the family money, not because his dad was a selfish bastard who used it to fly around the world meeting and bedding beautiful woman. T
ony took a bite of his cookie, feeling the need for some comfort right now since his mind was intent on torturing him.
Gibbs, like Gibbs did, clued into his thoughts immediately and making no mention of what he did or didn't know got straight to the heart of it.
"There's nothing wrong with who you are DiNozzo."
Tony looked up, surprise written all over his face on hearing the heartfelt words come from his 'second b's for bastard' boss. The small upturn of lips from Gibbs made it even more unusual, but it was good to hear somebody liked, or dared he hope, loved him, for who he was.
"I'm not sold on the gambling excuse." Tony cleared his throat, refocusing and picking at the details Gibbs had shared about his dad's claim for the reason he was kidnapped.
He didn't know how they'd gotten so far off topic, but right now he needed to refocus, get things back on track before it was too late.
"Not something you remember?" Gibbs joined him in his mission and it was clear from his enthusiasm he was grateful too.
"He liked money Gibbs, threw it around all the time, wasted it on hotel rooms and fancy booze, anything for a good time, but he'd never risk it, not like that."
"If you're right it means he was covering for someone."
Tony sat forward.
"Or he did something much bigger to piss off the mafia."
….
"What do you think they're doing down there." Abby paced her own lab in the background while Kate, McGee and Ducky surrounded her workstation staring at the repackaged evidence.
"Abigail for the last time they are just talking." Ducky sighed, feeling he'd aged twenty years since stepping through the door.
He'd come up here to get out of the way, much in the same vain as he'd sent poor Mr Palmer to seek out other tasks until it was time to leave for the day, only to find Kate and McGee clustered around Abigail's computer discussing the current situation.
"Gibbs doesn't talk." Abby refuted automatically, the frown she'd been wearing since he entered getting deeper with each minute that passed.
"Well today he does." Ducky stated flatly, his own legendary patience with even the most difficult of people worn out completely.
Tony hadn't exactly been a gem, but it would be unfair to blame the poor boy entirely, Gibbs was certainly trying his patience today too.
"No, if Gibbs is talking it's bad very, very bad." She continued to pace.
Ducky shook his head, giving up.
"Abby, Ducky's right." Kate caught his eye, "Tony's just found out the man who raised him isn't his dad, may have been responsible for hurting him and involved with the mafia… anyone would be upset! Gibbs is just doing his job by treating him like the victim instead of an Agent, isn't that right Ducky?"
"I think raised might be pushing it my dear, but otherwise correct." Ducky nodded, his countenance back to being soothing, "lets we focus on solving this case so the poor boy can rest easy at night and in his own bed for a change, hmmm?"
Abby appeared at his shoulder.
"All my babies are working Ducky they'll let me know when I'm wanted." She said smoothly like a guru.
"What are they working on?" McGee asked, more as a filler for when the room fell into silence.
Tony's absence was most notable then Ducky realised and with the reminder came great sadness that it might be a while before they heard his rather infectious laughter again.
"I'm running Tony's DNA against Senior's, you know, because… and something else Gibbs asked me."
Her avoidance of discussing what that something else was along with her forced aloof manner clued Ducky in that she was hiding something, so it wasn't long before McGee found out what it was.
"You're hacking the FBI!" He shouted upon looking over one of her many computers, "does Gibbs know?"
"Gibbs told me to Timmy. And oh, by the way, what you found out was…WOW." Abby was vibrating with excitement and Ducky found even he was intrigued to hear what had been learned while he was trying to convince, unsuccessfully he might add, Anthony to take a sleep aid.
"What's this?"
"McGee found out Miller's working as a C.I for the FBI. Fornell swears he didn't know." Abby rushed out, with McGee looking instantly annoyed.
"Abby I could get in trouble! It's a federal offence we could go to jail!"
"Well if we do I'll share a cell with you, like a sleep over, it would be fun!" Abby playfully punched him in the arm.
Ducky smiled, only just holding in a chuckle. McGee didn't appear to share her enthusiasm, but wisely held his tongue regardless. Maybe he could give Tony a few pointers on how to stay on the good side of woman, because for all his charm it was often his mouth which got him into the worst trouble.
"I take it you knew this?" Ducky turned to Kate who hadn't looked at all surprised by the information.
"Gibbs told me before coming down to you and Tony. That's why we followed him," she pointed at her and McGee, "he never shares like that."
"You see." Abby pointed at him. "Talking. Not Gibbs." She stomped her feet once, seemingly satisfied her point was made and turned back to her machines.
McGee joined her and as they were discussing new variously confusing ways to 'hack' as Abby put it Kate leaned in to him and spoke in confidence.
"I'm worried about him Ducky."
"You and me both my dear…"
….
Jimmy once again found himself looking for something to do that would keep him out of autopsy for a while. Yesterday he'd managed to cleaned a few pipets before having dinner with Agent DiNozzo., but it didn't look like that would happen today, by the state of him when Dr Mallard had walked into autopsy something big had happened and being the new guy, with few connections he was still in the dark about the details. After ushering Abby out he'd considered asking her, but just a few hours prior he'd told her and Agent McGee when they were hacking the security cameras that it was wrong to spy on people, especially their friend, so it would have been hypocritical of him to ask for gossip. So once they'd parted ways at the elevators Jimmy ended up wandering the corridors of NCIS until he found a supply closet to organise.
That done he was on the prowl for a new job when he passed by an empty office and had the idea to study for his prelim exams coming up in the fall. Since starting at NCIS he'd had very little time so this was a good opportunity to cram in some revision. His books were in his car so Jimmy made his way through the lower levels of NCIS and out the rear door into the car park. It was only the middle of the afternoon, so no one was around, everyone still working hard inside. Jimmy walked casually down the long row of cars, his being out of the main lot in the overspill around the corner.
As he passed one car the lights came on and beeped as if opening. The noise made Jimmy jump and he looked around, but seeing no one nearby carried on walking. When the beep sounded again, he stopped and walked back. He couldn't see anyone at first, but then a voice drew his attention from behind the car.
"Excuse me, young man" a strong male called to him.
Jimmy turned to find a distinguished older gentleman standing at the side of the car that had been opened. On closer inspection it wasn't just any car, it was a dark 1972 DeTomaso Pantera, obviously custom built with additional modern accessories like auto-locking. Classic cars were something of a secret interest for him, mainly because the college friends he had where more excited by beating a fellow student at chest than the speed you could reach in one of these babies. Admiring the sleek exterior Jimmy hoped one day he might actually get to own a car just like this.
"Can I help you?" Jimmy stuttered, wishing he had the nerve to ask the strange man if he could drive it.
"I'm looking for Agent DiNozzo."
"Tony?" Jimmy whispered unthinkingly, thrown out of his train of thought…
"Yes I'm worried about him, he hasn't been home in over two days, I do hope he's okay." The man said smoothly, closing the gap between them.
Jimmy managed to shake off his initial confusion, noticing the man had a slight British twang not unlike Dr Mallard he quickly put two and two together. He may not be an Agent, but he wasn't a moron either.
"Oh, right," Jimmy laughed, more through nervousness than design, though it served him well in this particular situation, "erm yeah okay, well how about you come in and I'll, I'll get him for you."
Jimmy smiled tightly, trying hard not to lose it. That was until the man frowned at him and raised his arms revealing the gun tucked in his waist band. Unable to prevent what was essentially an instinctual reaction Jimmy stepped back and knocked the cars wing mirror.
"How about you let him know I'll be waiting for him." The man held his position, his own tight smile indicating he knew what Jimmy was trying to do.
Jimmy sucked in a breath, his hands shaking so much he shoved them in his pockets.
"Yeah, yeah, okay, can I tell him where you'll be?" His voice squeaked on the end.
"He'll find me, don't you worry." The man smiled a toothy superior grin, "Or I'll find him first."
After a brief moment of intimidation the man turned around and strolled away, leaving Jimmy pressed up against the very nice car, but as soon as he was a good enough distance away to not shoot him Jimmy ran out the lot and back to autopsy as fast as he could.
….
"Dr Mallard!" Jimmy screamed running through the doors and skidding to a halt, coming face to face with Agents Gibbs.
"Palmer." Gibbs groused.
He was still in the middle of talking with Tony and was about to bring up Kate's suggestion of the shrink when Ducky's assistant had barrelled through the doors like he was on fire.
"Agent Gibbs thank god."
"What's wrong?" Tony butted in, causing Gibbs to turn and look at him.
He was surprised, even though he knew shouldn't be, by the sudden business as usual tone when mere seconds ago he'd looked like a beaten on ten year old.
"Car park I saw him, I saw the guy!" Palmer streamed out, breathing heavily.
"What guy?" Gibbs pressed though he caught on quick enough to make a guess.
"I was going to my car, to get my books because you see Dr Mallard told me-"
"Jimmy!" Tony snapped.
"Yes," Palmer shook his head, "Sorry, erm the guy, he asked about Tony said he'd be waiting for him, knows he hasn't been home in two days I think..."
"Old guy, nice suit?" Tony asked for clarity.
"That's him." Jimmy agreed.
"That's Miller boss." Tony said flatly, looking Gibbs right in the eye.
Gibbs didn't waste time asking more questions, he ran out the room and into the stairwell, pulling his cell phone out as he went.
"Kate, secure the yard!" He hung up before she could say anything.
Sensing Tony on his heels he stopped and spun around.
"You!" he yelled, "get back to autopsy now!" Gibbs pointed at Tony, shaking a finger in his face.
"Boss-"
"No!" he shouted not wanting to waste more time and in lieu of any other option turned to Palmer who had followed them into the stairwell and was stood stock still at the bottom, "You! Keep him here until I return, or your fired."
And with that he left.
...
Tony watched Gibbs go and didn't move a muscle until he was out of sight.
"He, er, can't really fire me can he?" Tony looked sullenly at Palmer as he re-joined him at the bottom of the stairs. "Best not to test that though right? We should stay here. You will stay here right?"
Tony looked at the gremlin. He was pretty certain that yes, he could leave and yes, Gibbs could probably fire them both, but he knew he wouldn't. That said he didn't leave, he owed Palmer after all for bandaging his hand… and the pizza.
"Think you can take a look at this since we're here?" Tony asked to distract him from his own low feelings of self-worth.
Palmer looked more than a bit relieved to have something to focus on and once they walked back into autopsy he busily went about fetching medical supplies to clean and redress his cut hand.
"Looks good," Palmer held Tony's palm and inspected it, "you can leave the bandage off, better for the healing process, but er, don't get it too wet for a couple of days."
"No washing the pots or scrubbing the floors at chez Gibbs. Got it." Tony joked.
"Isn't it weird living with your boss?" Jimmy asked as he repacked the first aid kit, "I wouldn't want to live with Agent Gibbs –not that I don't like him, I, well…" Jimmy paused to regroup, "What I mean to say-"
"Jimmy?"
"Yeah?"
Tony let his face do the talking and tried really hard not laugh as he watched the understanding transform the autopsy gremlins features from frown to confusion to embarrassment all in the same minute.
"So what shall we do while Gibbs and the others protect the damsel in distress from the evil monster outside the castle?" He said changing the subject without a hint of irony.
"Who?" Jimmy frowned at him again.
Tony rolled his eyes and pushed off the table he'd been leaning over, rolling down his sleeve.
"Me!" There was an audible 'ooh' followed by a quick chuckle then Tony found Jimmy at his side. "And to answer your question, it isn't so bad. I've lived worse places with far worse people."
Tony shrugged when jimmy looked sideways at him, clearly expecting more. He may have asked too but the phone rang, and being a good assistance Jimmy jumped to answer. He on the other hand ignored it and instead picked up an x ray film Ducky had left lying out and held it up to the light to see if he could see anything other than a blurry mass of white.
"Yep, definitely could be worse..."
…
"Gibbs?" Kate stood up from examining the car when she saw him approaching them.
"What ya got?"
"Well it's a classic, Palmer was right." She nodded at the DeTomaso's front end which was sticking out just that little father in the space.
It was a car her brothers would surely kill for, Tony too she guessed given his fascination with large shinny things.
"You talked to Palmer?" Gibbs snapped.
"Yeah, you said he was the one who saw Miller-"
"Where?"
"What?"
"Where is he, I told him to stay in autopsy with DiNozzo or I'd fire his ass."
"Oohh," Kate grinned, that explained why Jimmy had refused to come up and talk to her when she asked, "I interviewed him over the phone. He's probably still there."
"Probably Kate?"
"Is. He is still there."
He better be anyway she thought, because though normally Kate wasn't too bothered by Gibbs blowing steam, she wouldn't put it passed him that this would be the time he'd actually follow through with his threat.
McGee came up on her left side, handing her a set of keys.
"Found these under the driver's seat."
"So he drove the car into the lot and leaves it here. Why?" Kate held out the evidence bag with the keys inside.
"It's a message." Gibbs said, looking around at the small crowd gathered around them.
"What is it?" She asked, Gibbs stopped looking and glared at her. "I'll find out." She added quickly.
Kate ducked her head to hide the grimace threatening to break out on her face. Gibbs must have transferred his glare onto McGee because in an identical tone to her she heard him say…
"Get the footage from the front gate, on it boss." He walked off, leaving the bagged keys in Kate's hands.
"I know there's no body, but I thought you might like my assistance." Ducky joined their little group. "Miller was here I take it?"
She stood still, studying as a profiler every move Gibbs made. Now his short temper and clipped sentences were common place, but the air of urgency was not. Gibbs didn't exactly slack off at crime scenes, but he normally held himself in check, which meant something had gone down in autopsy that had really unsettled him. She was about to inquired as to what that was, but Gibbs beat her to the punch, as if he sensed what she was going to say.
"Kate go fetch Tony from Autopsy, bring him back up to the squad room." Gibbs ordered.
"Yes Gibbs," She agreed, knowing she was being got rid of and that there was nothing to be done about it.
Walking slowly away Kate could see Gibbs was saying something to Ducky, but with all the commotion outside she couldn't hear the words clearly enough to put a sentence together.
"And do not leave him alone!" Gibbs bellowed back to her.
Kate jumped and picked up pace, knowing she'd been spotted. The order was an obvious one for show, but she nodded in agreement anyway to keep on his good side. Walking away and leaving them to it Kate guessed if she wanted to know what he and DiNozzo had talked about she'd just have to ask Tony herself.