Gibbs paced the room edgily. Twenty-six minutes and forty-eight seconds since he'd made the call ordering Tony to meet them in the family room. He'd taken his phone out several times with the intention of calling again and threatening to fire his ass if DiNozzo didn't appear in the next ten seconds, however Mary being the excellent judge of character she was proving to be, talked him into waiting. Very few people had been able to talk him into anything in his life and of those only one was still around now, the same person currently causing him grief. Walking the length of the small room again, he was close to going postal when the door finally eased open.
The 'where the hell have you been?' was on the tip of his tongue, but recognised that made him sound more like the worry parent than ever and would reveal too much about his true feelings at the moment. Tony needed to believe he believed everything would be fine, so true to form he opted to glare at his subordinate instead, which was much more effective in producing the desired level of chastisement for his lateness, where in DiNozzo had no clue if he was angry with, or worried about, him.
Tony snuck in and hovered coyly by the door, as if hoping they hadn't noticed his absence. He needed his head shrinking if he believed for one minute Gibbs wasn't going to notice his every move at the moment. Gibbs up held the glare, purely in exasperation now as he tracked DiNozzo's slow skulk across the room towards the only sofa, channelling every nice bone in his body so as not to, as Mary had advised, put Tony too much on edge. Apparently she needed him relaxed otherwise this wasn't going to work.
"Am I late?" DiNozzo asked turning to face them both, megawatt smile covering his obvious insecurity.
Gibbs held his gaze, forcing his face into a blank expression so as not to ruin anything they were going to try here. He doubted it was working, DiNozzo had the uncanny ability to know exactly when he was in trouble, if not always the why. Gibbs missed the excuse Tony was babbling because he was too busy working at portraying a calmer exterior. He saw him subconsciously pat his pocket and instantly identifying the square shaped packet knew the reason Tony was late - he'd gone seeking a vice. Stupid kid that he was, you'd think being a Phys. Ed. major he'd know better, but impulse usually went ahead of sense when it came to DiNozzo.
Shaking his head, praying for strength Gibbs' attention was drawn to Mary when she pulled a chair out from the table nearest the door and placed it next to the sofa.
"Tony, I want you to lie down here," She patted the seat cushions.
Gibbs looked at Tony and almost laughed at his incredulous expression.
"DiNozzo," he nudged his head encouragingly when it looked he was about to protest.
The hesitation in his stepped had Gibbs narrowing his eyes and he had sudden thought Tony might not want him to stay and witness this.
"Okay Tony, I want you to relax." Mary said once he'd settled.
She continued to speak in soft calming tones, instructing him to think of somewhere he felt safe and count backwards from 100. Gibbs hovered in the background, all set to leave, but caught Tony's eye first. He saw the unabashed fear in his expression and knew he couldn't abandon him, not now. Perching himself against the table he nodded and forced a smile, hopefully sending that message of support Tony clearly so desperately needed. He then watched him slowly close his eyes and start to count.
Gibbs didn't move, not a muscle for the whole ten minutes it took Mary to declare Tony 'suggestible'. His instinctual thought was that you didn't need hypnotism for that, enough attention and pizza would have the same effect.
Everything seemed to be going well, enlightened and oddly humbled by Tony's choice of 'safe place' he avoided thinking too much about it. They were getting close to asking the questions Gibbs was keen to hear the answers too when Tony's breathing suddenly increased.
"Tony?" Mary called out.
"What's wrong?" He asked, alerted to the change in her tone.
"He's panicking." She stressed, picking up Tony's hand. "His heart rate's increasing rapidly."
"You've barely started." He grumbled taking a step closer even though there was nothing he could do.
"It means whatever was at the forefront of his mind, he's gone straight there, he's just scared." She attempted to reassure.
It didn't work. Gibbs drew his expression into a worried frown, feeling no need to hide his concerns.
"Well then do something." He barked at her.
She nodded, ignoring his tone completely.
"Tony." Mary called out again, holding his hand close to her chest, fingers placed on the pulse point. "Remember your safe place…"
Gibbs saw Tony shift a little, a pinched look on his face that eventually evened out.
"Okay," Tony squeaked.
It was the first time Tony had spoken differently since going under and the high pitched tone nearly knocked Gibbs off his feet. He sounded, well… like a child. Mary had expected it no doubt and must have sensed his surprise. She turned briefly towards him, indicating he should take a seat, but instead of going back to his perch Gibbs rested against the wall next to the sofa by Tony's head.
"Now Tony, tell me what you see…"
There was silence as Tony sank deeper into the couch cushions, relaxing.
"Gibbs."
…
Tony screwed his eyes shut and pulled his knees to his chest the minute he saw the knife. Shaking uncontrollably he wished himself away as fast as possible. Without warning the room suddenly spun, Tony felt it as sure as he felt the wind against his face, as if powered by his own desperate desire to leave his nightmare. Everything stilled just as suddenly as it started, daring to open one eye his chest heaved with relief when he saw the man, the blood – the knife! - had been swapped with something much more pleasant. He was back where he'd started and recognising the home as surely he would his own apartment breathe sigh of relief.
Tony pushed himself up from the floor and walked around. Warm sunshine swam in through the glass making up part of the front door, the living room being basked in the same golden glow creating an image of dancing dust in the air. It was quiet, which wasn't unusual for this place, but something seemed off. Entering the kitchen Tony noticed something strange about his point of view that had been different from before. He was looking up at everything. Edging forward, even straining to stand as tall as he could Tony could barely see above the counter top. Frowning, he was about to leave the room when a high pitch whistling permeated the air, disturbing the peaceful quiet of the house. It didn't take him long to realise it was the kettle on the stove, and Tony instinctually reached out to remove it.
He snatched his hand back with a wail and grabbed his wrist where he'd burnt it on the open flames. Tears sprang to his eyes, but not because of the searing pain. The cry that had issued from his own mouth didn't sound like him, scared beyond reason Tony sucked in a breath.
Before he could truly assimilate the situation he found himself flying through the air, the floor moving away from him at speed. Tony tensed at the hands gripping him firmly around the waist, and though disorientated with the confirmation that he wasn't his usual 6ft tall 180lb self he didn't feel the slightest bit scared.
Hitched into two strong supporting arms Tony was forced to face the person who held him.
"Boss?" He blurted, snapping his jaw shut upon hearing the high pitched squeak which had emitted from his own mouth.
But Gibbs didn't seem surprised in the least, with his voice or his size. He didn't answer him either. Holding him securely, supporting him comfortably against his hip Gibbs walked back though the living room, heading for the basement. Tony instinctually wrapped both arms around his neck, not ashamed in the least of his clinginess. Being carried, everything looking so big all of a sudden was extremely disorientating. Gibbs adjusted his hold, hitching one arm under his butt as he opened the door and descended the stairs into the dark basement. The smell of sawdust assaulted his senses and feeling suddenly tired Tony rested his head on Gibbs' strong shoulders and closed his eyes…
…
June 30th 1978
"Think this will work?" Shauna asked, hefting the bleach from the top shelf of the DiNozzo's laundry room.
"Its full proof," Tony exclaimed with delight, standing on his tip toes and pouring it into the washing machine drum. "No way she'll get a new one before tomorrow night."
"I still can't believe your mom really makes you wear it," Shauna exclaimed, face screwed up in disgust at the navy sailor suit being slowly drenched in bleach.
Tony looked up at Shauna sat on top of the counter, legs swinging back and forth and assessed her own attire of netted skirt, unlaced boots and several of her mom's gold chains around her neck, not to mention the blue eye shadow.
"This is fashion," she started seeing his disbelieving look, "Mom brought it back from Monty Carlo in spring."
"If you say so," Tony snubbed, wiping sweaty palms over his simple blue jeans and Hawaii Five-O t-shirt.
"You won't get anywhere if you don't dress to impress." Shauna continued to lecture him on the merits of fashion as she jumped off and stood proudly before him, arms folded.
Ignoring her Tony closed the machine lid, encasing the horrid sailor suit in its tomb and pressed all the buttons. He'd tried sabotaging it before, spilling food, falling over, that sort of thing, but each and every time she managed to fix it. Tony was just praying if this didn't work that he had a growth spurt soon so it would no longer fit him, but deep in the back of his mind he feared when that day came he'd just end up with a new one anyway.
He was about to suggest they go play outside while they wait, but as he opened his mouth, instead of his voice, he heard his father calling for him. Tony and Shauna ran out of the laundry room, leaving the sailor suit to get wrecked, and trailed into the entrance way.
"Junior," his dad called again walking down the feature spiral stair case, best suit on, tie hanging loose around his neck, "You're mom's out for the night and Nancy's not here yet but I have a meeting I can't be late for, go upstairs and get your bed clothes on."
"Dad!" Tony protested, seeing Shauna snigger.
Mr DiNozzo continued to dress in the mirror and didn't register her presence.
"See you later Tony." She said sadly, taking her cue to leave.
Tony grudgingly waved bye and approached his dad.
"I don't want to go to bed, it's still light out."
"Junior, you know how important these deals are. Just stay in your room. You'll be fine." His father used the same patronising tone as always when he wasn't really listening to him.
Tony's little shoulders slumped at the prospect of a night alone in the house. He watched his dad walk passed him without a second glance and stand in front of the hallway's floor length mirror to do up his cuff links. Tony could see his own reflection in the mirror, standing behind his father and wondered what mirror-Tony was thinking. The little boy staring back at him looked very unhappy, which was to be expected since he wasn't happy either.
Tony considered begging his dad not to leave him, but he knew from experience that wouldn't work. He was going to be seven in a week and it was about time he grew up. Tears threaten to over spill before he could stop them.
"Anthony," his father snapped, "DiNozzo's don't cry."
"Can I watch TV?" He sniffed, sucking in his fears.
Senior sighed at him, dropping the grip he'd had on his now half-done tie he turned to look down at Tony.
"Fine, just don't fall asleep with it on."
Tony smiled, his fears instantly forgotten and kicking off his shoes ran up the stairs to fetch the black and white set from his cupboard.
"And don't tell your mother, you know she hates that TV in your room," Senior's voice travelled up to him.
"It doesn't go with the décor." Tony recited back happily.
…
Tony sat up with a gasp. He'd fallen asleep with his nose to the TV again. After watching five minutes of family feud he'd flipped the channel and watched a Man from Uncle Marathon instead. The screen was now snow and pulling himself up Tony looked blearily around his room for a clock, forgetting anything with batteries or a plug didn't belong in a 15th century styled room.
Knowing he'd have to leave his bedroom if he wanted to know the time filled him full of dread. The house was in darkness, and after turning off his TV it was silent too. That meant Nancy had never shown up and neither of his parents were back yet. If Nancy were here the sound of the Beatles would be blaring up the stairs and woken him long ago. If his parents were home he'd be able to hear the ritual door slamming and consequent yelling of obscenities.
Just as he was reaching the threshold of his room, poking his head out into the corridor thunder rumbled outside making Tony jump and run back, nose diving into bed to hide under his covers. If no one was home then it couldn't be that late he reasoned from inside his little safe haven of heavy blankets. Tony lent back and pulled a torch from under his pillow. His mom knew he had it, he'd told her it was for reading since candle light would be dangerous, but really it was for moments such as this, when the dark became suffocating in solitude.
He sat there for a while, wondering if he could try and fall back to sleep, but the slight pressure in his stomach alerted him to his need to use the bathroom and Tony knew unless he wanted to be called names by his father for wetting the bed he had to leave his room. Bracing himself Tony counted to five before climbing out of bed. He crossed his room and peaked around his bedroom door. Standing on his toes Tony reached up and tried the light switch but for some reason nothing happened. Tony walked back to his TV and turned it back on, but like the lights it didn't work now either. So clutching his torch he went back to his door and stepped into the dark hallway. Lightning struck outside, swiftly followed by another rumble and illuminated the long corridor. Tony ran, making a mad dash in the temporary light towards the bathroom.
Once done he was working up the courage to head back to his room when a loud smash from downstairs had him dropping to his knees and hiding behind the stairs baluster. He shone his torch in the general direction of the noise, but it did little to chase away the consuming darkness.
Going against his gut feeling to run back to his room Tony descended the first flight of stairs slowly, shinning his torch in front of him.
"Hello?" He called out, "Mom? Dad?"
No one replied but the thunder, which succeeded in scaring him so much he slipped and fell down the last few steps. Holding in his cry of pain and nursing his aching ankle, Tony wondered what Illya Kuryakin would do in a situation like this. Looking around the dark house Tony caught sight of a light bouncing around underneath a door that was slightly ajar. That door was never open, it belonged to his father's office and he was never allowed inside. Sucking in a breath, being brave Tony pushed himself to his feet and went to investigate…
…
"Who's in the office, Tony?" Mary asked him, keeping her resolve.
Gibbs was finding that hard to do himself. Senior had already admitted leaving Tony alone that night, but hearing exactly what happened, from the child himself, seemed to make it feel so much more real and intensified the anger he was already feeling.
He was broken from his homicidal thoughts when instead of answering the questions like he had been doing Tony started breathing quickly again. Alert to what it meant from earlier Gibbs pushed away from the wall and bent over the top of the sofa.
"I don't want too." Tony's six year old answered Mary's question.
"What don't you want to do Tony?" She asked him, following his lead.
"I don't want to go in there."
"Where?"
"My dad's office, someone's there, I'm going to look but I shouldn't, I shouldn't, I'm not supposed to be there!" Tony screamed, his cries turning into wails.
"Anything I can do?" Gibbs asked coming up on her right.
"Comfort him," she nodded offering a soft smile, "let him know you're here."
Gibbs immediately crouched down next to the sofa and placed a hand in Tony's hair. He quietened, and seemed calmer, yet the odd whimper still escaped.
"Tony, tell me, what do you see." Mary continued on task…
…
Lights flashed before his eyes, images assaulted him that Tony couldn't place, faces familiar and some not so appeared and disappeared. Like a thousand small needles pricking him at the same time it all became too much, Tony collapsed into nothingness, the room spinning around him again. It stopped as suddenly as it had started and he felt pain, vision greying in and out, the stench of blood hanging lazily in the air. Waking up Tony knew he wasn't anywhere he'd like. The scent of sawdust was absent as were the comforting arms he'd expected to still be holding him.
Tony opened his eyes to what he believed was an empty room. He was on his back, and from this angle he could see dirty uncovered windows above and to the side. It was daylight outside, though by the looks of it either a very dull day or nearing night again. He felt woozy, his arms and legs unable to move, a burning in his throat that he remembered from the last time he'd had stomach flu.
Turning his head to the side Tony caught sight of two men, they were arguing.
"Shut up!" One man hit the other, punching him square in the gut.
Tony watched wondering why the man hadn't moved or defended himself. He rolled forward to get a better look around the door-less frame and that's when he saw Mr Miller holding the man's arms behind his back.
"He's just a kid, I didn't get into this to hurt kids." The man being restrained spat, literally, blood onto the floor.
Tony's brain wasn't working wonderfully, but he wasn't stupid. He knew they were most likely talking about him.
"No you got into this for the money," the man hitting him said, bearing his teeth.
"Hurt him, and you'll never see that money again Bell."
"That's SSA Bell, Special Agent Hannigan." The man hit the other man again. "Now tell me, where's the money?"
"So you can kill us both?" Hannigan laughed, "I don't think so."
Tony blanched at the mention of killing anyone, he wanted to get up and run, but his legs still wouldn't move, and in the face of adversity Tony did what any six year old would, he started to cry.
…
Gibbs clamped his jaw tight when Tony described what was happening and then suddenly started to cry. He tried everything to calm him, but his struggles increased, to the point he could no longer hold him down without hurting him. Just as Gibbs was losing his resolve Tony's posture changed. He arched off the sofa, piercing screams loud enough to attract attention from everyone in the building. Ducky's words from earlier echoed in his mind, and Gibbs realised the truth of what his old friend had been trying to tell him. This wasn't helping, whatever Tony had gone through, he didn't need to relive it.
"Bring him out." He commanded, his grip firm on Tony's shoulders
"He wants to remember his kidnapping and we haven't gotten everything yet." Mary protested.
"I don't care, bring him out!" Gibbs shouted back at her.
Tony continued to scream, tossing his head from side to side muttering words that made no sense.
"Okay, but this isn't a parlour trick…I can't just snap my fingers." Mary conceded grudgingly, making it clear he had no authority over her.
"Ok," he nodded, turning his head away when Tony's screams increased in volume, and intensity "Damn it Ducky was right." He whispered to himself.
"Tony focus on the sound of my voice, tell me what you can see." She continued, ignoring him.
"I've got my eyes closed." Tony squeaked in the child's voice he'd been using since going under.
Gibbs cringed, it was strange and unnatural and it gave him the creeps, even more so now he knew Tony was in pain.
"I want you to open your eyes, and not be afraid."
"No!" He started to panic again.
"Okay Tony, calm down, go back to your safe place." Mary continued her tone as calm and casual as if she was ordering coffee.
Tony fell silent, his ragged breathing slowing and evening out.
"Tony," Mary began, "I want you to count up from one and open your eyes…"
They waited and listened, until suddenly, Tony's eyes shot open.
"You good?" Gibbs asked immediately upon seeing Tony gaze confusedly around the room.
Gibbs still hadn't let him go. He was shaking and trembling and staring wide eyed at the ceiling.
…
Taking deep heaving breaths to quell the panic he looked around the room, his last memory was of Gibbs carrying him up from his basement, he was still small. But looking around he saw orange walls, felt the uncomfortable sofa under him and saw his very sizable feet hanging over the edge… he was back at NCIS.
Tony relaxed marginally, before his senses aligned with his memories and spurred him into action. Jumping up from the low sofa, pushing Mary away without meaning to he dashed out of the room to one panicked voice calling his name and Gibbs' irate growl.
He ignored both of them, running out into the corridor and down to the bullpen, he ignored Kate's demand of 'What the hell is going on DiNozzo?' and approached McGee. His wild craziness obviously scaring the Probie half to death if his face was anything to go by.
"Probie the FBI agent that got killed, what was his name?" Tony asked urgently.
"I erm, what?"
"The whole FBI operation that Abby told us about, an Agent was killed! What was his name?"
"I, don't-" McGee shook his head, forehead drawn into a frown.
"Probie!" Tony screamed at him, arms out wide grabbing him by the shoulders and nearly shaking the answers out of him.
"Ok, yeah," Tony let him go and McGee retook his seat, tapping at his keyboard, "It's Patrick Hannigan-"
He pointed at the plasma screen where he'd brought up the Agents profile photo as he said it. Tony spun around and stared at the face, hanging there like a living nightmare. Feeling his chest tighten, Tony visibly forced himself to just breathe, well versed as he now was in the symptoms of an impending anxiety attack. He was so preoccupied with not losing it Tony didn't notice Gibbs coming from behind to stand at his side until the hand was placed in the middle of his back.
"That's Craig Bower." Kate was the one to state out loud what everyone present was thinking.
"Actually its Special Agent Patrick Hannigan, FBI. Deceased July 2nd 1978." McGee read off his computer.
"How's that possible, he's down in autopsy, and I'm sure Ducky would have noticed if he'd been dead over twenty years." Kate continued.
McGee stood up before Gibbs.
"Boss I don't know what to say, I…"
"DiNozzo?" Gibbs growled instead, ignoring McGee. Tony spun around to stare at him. "You remember him hurting you?" He almost whispered, nudging his head at the screen
"No," Tony shook his head, wide eyed, eyebrows drawn together, "I think he saved me." He looked Gibbs dead in the eye. "I think we're being played Boss."
Face unreadable and without saying a word Gibbs turned to the others.
"McGee the other guy, the one who blew his cover, bring him up,"
McGee did as ordered and everyone stared at the old photo.
"Does he look familiar to anyone?" He asked.
Kate sighed and stamped her foot.
"That's the detective from Bower's, er, Hannigan's," she shook her head, still a little confused, "crime scene."
"Oh we are definitely being played." Gibbs affirmed, looking at Tony with something akin to pride before determinedly striding out of the bullpen.
Normally Tony would drink that up, but the situation as it was made any outward thoughts or reactions near impossible. He was in shock and hadn't even begun to think about the meaning behind what he had remembered under hypnosis.
"Boss," Tony breathed, coming to and chasing after him, leaving Kate and McGee behind to work out what had happened for themselves.
…
Gibbs stormed into interrogation, slapping a piece of official paper on the table.
"Gibbs, I thought you'd forgotten about me." Senior dropped the smile when Gibbs made it very clear he was near homicidal, "what's this?"
"Your deal." Gibbs growled. "Now tell me what I need to know to save him."
He hated asking this man for help and that translated well into his begrudging tone, but he could not and would not put Tony through anymore. It was his mistake for not 'getting it' sooner, now Senior was going to give them answers willingly or Gibbs would make him talk.
"Save who? You can't still think junior's in danger?" Senior was firm, "It's me they're after. No one's going to hurt Anthony."
"Now how could you possibly know that?" Gibbs inquired lightly, leaning over him intimidatingly.
Senior looked nervous for the first time since they'd dragged his sorry ass in there.
"Well …" he chuckled nervously, "its obvious isn't it? Why would Henry want to hurt Tony?"
"I don't know, why don't you tell me?"
DiNozzo Senior looked abashed and refused to meet his eyes with his answer.
"You really are a piece of work aren't you?" Gibbs shook his head. "This whole thing was a set up, you know exactly who took Tony and what happened to him. You also know why. Now you're just wasting my time so you and your partner can get to the money first."
"Gibbs, I don't know what you're smoking to think that, my life is in danger the Bonanno's-"
"Don't care!" Gibbs shouted. "What's left of the Bonanno family don't even know who the two of you are."
"If that's the case then why are the FBI following me?" Senior countered.
"They're after the money." Gibbs guessed, but didn't let DiNozzo see that, "Money you stole. Money Tony was hurt over."
"I told you I didn't hurt him." Senior said through gritted teeth.
"No, you just helped the man who did." Gibbs eyed the paper he'd slapped down on the table
DiNozzo's gaze followed and he instinctually picked it up, turning it over. Senior came to face to face with the detective from Bower's crime scene and gasped.
"Who is he," Gibbs' steely eyes bore into him, "really?"
"I don't know him." Senior admitted without a fight. "I only met him once. When he approached me with the money."
"And when he kidnapped Tony," Gibbs said calmly, eyebrows raised, daring him to deny it.
"It wasn't like that." Senior shook his head.
Gibbs leaned forward, voice deadly calm.
"Then what was it like?"
….
July 1st 1978
The cab pulled up at the steps leading into the house. Anthony DiNozzo Sr paid the driver what he owed, plus a little extra to keep his lights off as he travelled back down the long private driveway. It was late, past one in the morning and he only hoped the house lights were all on because his wife had passed out after drinking all night with her friends. He snuck through the door and shut it carefully, but before he could take a step further he heard the distinctive sound of his wife's high heels rebounding off the marble flooring.
"My god where have you been?" She shouted at him.
He sighed, so that was how it was going to be.
"I told you I had a dinner-" He stopped once he saw the panic on her face. "What's wrong?"
"Where's Tony?" She shrieked, grabbing his shirt.
"Tony?" He repeated, "He's in bed."
She burst into tears right there and then, leaving him feeling completely confused.
"You liar! What have you done with him?" She collapsed against him.
"I've done nothing with him!" DiNozzo Sr grabbed his wife by her forearms, holding her away from him, "where he is?"
"I don't know!" She shouted, breaking free and running towards the stairs, "someone's taken him!"
He ran after her not quite understanding what the hell was going on. Following her into Tony's bedroom he staggered to a halt upon catching sight of the broken window and the blood pooled on the floor.
There was such a lot he didn't know what to think at first, but then he saw the leather wallet peeking out from under Tony's bed. Kneeling down he carefully picked it up, even caked in blood he recognised what it was and wrapped a hanky-chief around it, quickly hiding it in his pocket.
"What time did you get home?" He asked her calmly, standing up.
She didn't answer, turning around he saw his wife staring blindly at the blood covering her son's bedroom floor.
"I went for drinks after the fundraiser, I thought there'd been an accident and you'd taken him to hospital, but…"
"What time?!" He bellowed making her jump.
"About five minutes ago." She shouted back, her upset forgotten in face of his anger. "If he's not with you we need to call the police, where the hell were you?"
"I had a meeting, a dinner, Nancy didn't show, I thought you'd be straight home I didn't want to be late…"
"You left him?" she ran up to him, her despair almost swallowed by outrage with every damning word he uttered. "You left him alone?"
"I had no choice!" He defended himself.
"Couldn't tell your floosy to take a hike?" She snapped back. "When did you leave him?"
He closed his eyes, not wanting to admit the truth, not wanting to think of how long Tony could have been missing.
"A little after seven."
She collapsed again, her anger for him not nearly as powerful as her sorrow for her missing little boy. He however remained standing, staring out the broken window, rigid and still in the night air.
….
DiNozzo spun his car into the Miller's driveway, not caring about the hour he left the engine running and banged on the door. Trying the handle and finding it unlocked he wasted no time and stormed right in.
"Henry?" He called heading straight for the stairs.
"Anthony, whatever's wrong?" Elaine Miller appeared on the top landing looking down on him, her daughter Shauna appearing by her side seconds later.
"Where's Henry I need to see him." He demanded urgently, not wasting any more time.
"He was out with you…" Elaine started to ask what was wrong again, but he ran off heading deeper into the Miller's house. "What's going on?"
She ran down the stairs and followed him into her husband's study.
"Anthony you're scaring me, what's wrong?"
He looked at her briefly while he searched through Henry's desk in the study, stood in her night gown, arms held protectively over her chest.
"Nothing," he dismissed her, "take Shauna back to bed."
"But-"
"Do it!" He slammed a draw and pinned her with his most disturbing glare.
Elaine jumped but didn't move to leave, finding what he was looking for DiNozzo Sr pushed by her. Feeling eyes on him all the way to the door he only hoped he got the opportunity to explain later.
…
Pulling up at the abandoned warehouse lot he jumped out of his car and looked around. The night was un-seasonally cold and there wasn't nearly as many attending tonight as he thought would be usually. Though the storm from earlier probably had something to do with that. Spotting Henry's car he made his way over briskly.
"Henry! Henry!" He called across the lot.
"DiNozzo what the hell are you doing here?" Miller greeted him with a smile and a handshake.
"They got Anthony." He completely ignored the hand.
Miller pulled him away from his little group and they came to a stop in a quiet corner between two empty cars.
"You sure?" Miller questioned, checking over his shoulder to see if he was being watched.
"Positive." DiNozzo nodded.
"Shauna?"
"She's fine." DiNozzo checked his watch, they'd already lost another hour by him driving out there. "You've got to help me get him back!"
"Ok, ok, how do we know it's them?"
DiNozzo pulled out the FBI badge he found under Anthony's bed. Miller stared at the dried blood covering it.
"He's dead?" Miller questioned.
"Someone is, or injured, there's was blood all over the floor… "
"And you sure it's not Tony's?"
"Of course I'm sure!" DiNozzo snapped, "Damnit Henry, we should never have gotten involved."
"Well it's a bit late for that now! Would you have preferred federal prison?"
"I did this to KEEP my family Henry!" He snapped, "If I lose Tony I lose her."
"You'd have lost her anyway." Henry hissed back, "You really think she'd choose you over the money? You're nothing, you have nothing, this was your chance to break free, be your own man and provide for them. The cash the deal promised would have set you up for life, neither of you would need her family then."
"What's done is done. I need to get Tony back, that's all I care about."
"Well why do they have him?"
"I don't know!" DiNozzo groused, "They broke into my office, maybe someone turned on us, told Bonanno we had his cash."
"But we don't right? You hid it like we agree?"
"I set up the account, the details were hidden in my office-"
"Were?" Miller's face slackened.
"They're gone," DiNozzo admitted.
"Damn it!" Miller stomped, pissed off. "Well that's it, this has got to be an inside job, nobody else knew. We've lost everything!"
"We've got bigger concerns! His mom's all up in my face about calling the police!"
"She didn't right?"
"Of course not," DiNozzo growled, "But we have to get him back or they'll be no convincing her, then we'll definitely be heading for prison, both of us!"
"Okay. Well, someone at the FBI is going to find out about this," Miller pointed at the badge DiNozzo was still holding, "We just need to hang tight."
"Hang tight? It's my kid that's out there!"
"You worried about him or what your wife will do to you if you don't bring him back in one piece?"
DiNozzo grabbed Miller's collar, Miller forcefully removed his hand.
"I'll make a call." Miller continued calmly, "trust me."
…
"Bell" Senior tapped the photo, "was the undercover agent who approached us, said we could split the money or he'd send us both down with the Bonanno's when the case closed." He took a sip of the water provided while he'd been kept waiting in interrogation. "Wasn't much of a decision, I had everything to lose."
"And thousands to gain." Gibbs slipped in, refusing to feel sorry for this man.
DiNozzo didn't seem to be listening, trapped in his own hell of self-recrimination.
"Gibbs where is he?" Senior looked up, his face open and honest for the first time.
"Your buddy Bell?" Gibbs quipped, "Last we saw he was at our crime scene."
"I mean my son. Where's Anthony?" He asked tiredly.
"Didn't think he was your son."
"Gibbs I'm not playing anymore!" Senior growled, matching Gibbs' furious tone. "Tell me where he is!"
…
"I'm here." Tony stormed into the room, going straight to Gibbs' side, fiery gaze aimed at his father.
"Anthony?" his father dared to smile at him.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs growled, just as surprised, but for other reasons.
He could tell the boss was pissed, after all he'd broken another rule, but he'd had enough of standing outside watching. He wanted answers just like Gibbs and wanted them now.
"Tell us dad, what do you know about what's going on?"
"Junior I-"
Tony glared, an excellent imitation of a Gibbs glare, making it very clear how he felt about that name.
"I know alright! I remember, you and Miller were there, in that room! Miller stood by and watched them hurt me."
Tony felt Gibbs flinch next to him. They hadn't discussed yet what he remembered and he had no idea how much he'd said out loud during the hypnosis, so some of this would be news to Gibbs too.
"Henry isn't trying to hurt you, he's trying to protect you." Senior insisted.
Tony laughed and Gibbs remained stoic.
"Oh really," Tony laughed more, "And why pray tell would he be doing that?"
"Because I asked him to." Senior admitted, defeated.
Tony dropped his smile.
"You sent that man to kidnap me again? Kill me?"
"I sent him to stop that from happening."
"By having him threaten me?!" Tony was incredulous.
"I don't know what he did exactly, but he called me, told me the FBI had brought him back because Bell was back and looking for the money. I was worried about you…"
"You were worried about yourself!" Tony snapped back, opening his mouth to impart another insult, snapping his jaw shut when he felt the hand on his arm.
Senior didn't miss the action he was sure and Tony wondered if that was a look of regret that flashed in his dad's eyes upon seeing Gibbs take hold of him, able to calm him with a simple touch, when he couldn't control him the entire time they lived together.
"You're right, I was trying to protect myself, but only because I loved both you and your mom. I didn't want to lose you." He pleaded, "I'm not proud of my decision Junior, especially how it turned out."
"Don't call me that." Tony shook his head, not looking Senior in the eye.
"What?"
"I'm not you. I know." Tony flashed a quick glance at Gibbs, but his point was made. "We have the same name, that's it!"
Tony held himself together, saying it out loud had been harder than he imagined. But it was done and he wasn't going to regret it. He needed to stop running after people, stop hoping that they'd change their minds and suddenly start loving him. It was time he grew up.
He stared at his father, all his anger and upset focused into this one moment.
"What happened to me in that apartment?" He whispered dangerously.
His memories were spotty, but this was his opportunity to hear the why it had happened and he wasn't leaving until he got the answers he was looking for.
"Anthony-"
"What happened Dad?!" Tony shouted.
Senior and Gibbs flinched at the use of the word dad, but Tony really didn't care. Senior nodded, giving in.
"I didn't know what they had planned until it was too late, the damage had been done." He admitted quietly. "It seemed like the best idea at the time, you got to believe me Jun-" DiNozzo swallowed, "Anthony, so much was at stake we couldn't risk you saying anything to anyone."
"Are you telling me this happened because I talk too much?"
Gibbs' hand, which still held his arm squeezed slightly.
"Miller isn't who you need to worry about," Senior avoided answering, changing the subject. "There was only one person who would kill Patrick Hannigan, who you call Craig Bower, if he got in the way."
"Bell." Gibbs filled in the gap. "Why?"
"He thinks Tony knows where the money is." Senior shrugged as if it was obvious.
"What?" Tony's gaze snapped to Gibbs, shaking his head in absolute denial.
"Junior I swear I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I didn't do that." Senior leapt on the moment of temporary weakness, trying pitifully to dig himself out of trouble.
"Then what did you do Mr DiNozzo?" Gibbs stepped in before Tony could voice his less than polite reply.
Senior swallowed, desolate eyes meeting Gibbs' sorrowful ones Tony noted, too ashamed to look at him, he answered lowly.
"I left him there."
…
July 2nd 1978
DiNozzo senior walked back into the kitchen after talking to the detective over the phone only to discover his wife propped up on their breakfast table, a mint julep in one hand, cigarette in the other.
"You give a wonderful performance darling."
"I've told you, it's being handled by the FBI, they told me to keep up appearances with the local PD and that is what I'm doing." He snapped, reaching for a bottle of scotch and a glass.
It was late afternoon and Tony had been missing nearly two full days without word. Miller had been right, the FBI knew about what happened, an agent was missing and Bell had missed his assigned contact. They also knew about the money he, Miller and Bell had stolen from FBI funds. They wouldn't tell him much more, other than if he did or said anything without their say so the only place he'd be going was straight to federal prison.
The phone rang again and DiNozzo answered it. Listening intently to the message he dropped his drink and grabbed his car keys.
"Where are you going?" His wife part shouted part slurred after him, but he kept on walking, slamming the door behind him.
…
"Henry what the hell is going on?" DiNozzo demanded as soon as Miller opened the door to the shabby apartment.
He arrived at the address as ordered, not knowing what he was walking into only to almost fall down at the sight of Tony lying on the floor in an adjoining room. He stubbed out the cigarette he'd been smoking, dropping it to the floor and running to his side, falling to his knees picking Tony up.
"You hurt him." He exclaimed, holding Tony limply in his arms.
Looking up again he could see Bell prowling near the door, looking less than pleased.
"The little shit bit me." Bell growled, holding a knife between his hands. "You're lucky I didn't kill him."
"You've had him all this time?" DiNozzo stood angrily. "Why the hell didn't you say something?"
"Easy," Miller stepped between them. "We need a plan."
"What plan?" Senior snapped, "it's over, the FBI knows about us, the money, everything. I haven't heard from you in days! Did you know he was here?"
"I got him a doctor, he took care of everything, Tony won't remember a thing. We can still come out of this if we keep our heads."
"What?"
"I sorted it." Miller nodded at Bell.
Senior was about to say something else, ask why exactly they had his kid in the first place when he caught sight of the other guy lying face down in the corner.
"Whose that?"
"Agent Hannigan. The reason we're in this mess, bastard broke into your house to get evidence against us." Bell kicked the man, he didn't move.
"Does he have it, the code?" Senior asked his concern for Tony, still unconscious in his arms, forgotten.
"No, he must have hid it somewhere in your house,"
"I've looked! It's nowhere, I disguised so no one will know what the numbers mean, but that was the only copy, we're screwed without it."
"Who hear that, you bastard." Bell kicked at Hannigan again.
"You killed him."
"I stabbed him, would have finished the job if your stupid kid hadn't gotten in the way and made me change my plans." Bell seethed, "But he's going to tell us what he did with the money, bet your ass he does."
Senior felt his anger reassert itself. He placed Tony back on the floor and stood to face him.
"Anthony you better go now, let me handle this, I just wanted you to know he was safe," Miller intercepted him, before he could make a move.
"I'm taking him with me." DiNozzo growled, daring them to stop him.
"You can't! You need to keep up appearances with the police. I have a plan, please Anthony trust me." Miller said smoothly. "I'll look after him."
DiNozzo looked at his son. Taking out his cigarettes Senior smoked nearly the whole packet, before nodding his agreement. He didn't see as he had many options, what was done was done. And if Tony really wouldn't remember any of this then that would be a bonus.
"You'll make sure he's okay," Senior confirmed taking one last look at Tony lying helpless, sprawled out on the floor.
"I promise, but you need to go back home."
DiNozzo put out his last butt, dropping it to the floor to join the others as he turned his back on Tony and left the room.
….
Tony ran out of interrogation room the minute senior finished telling his story and dared to ask for his forgiveness. Gibbs had to quell every natural instinct he had in him to not run out after him.
"The ransom was to pay the doctor wasn't it?" Gibbs said knowingly, "For the shock treatment that made him forget."
"How'd you …?" Senior started but his voice drifted off.
Gibbs didn't feel he needed to explain how they'd worked out what he had so carefully avoided admitting too just now, but found himself telling him anyway.
"The photos told us, our M.E can assess causes of injury even from a black and white. Those electrical burns on his forehead…" Gibbs couldn't finish his sentence, and wasn't putting himself through that again for this son of a bitch.
"I hadn't know the exact method at the time, but Miller filled me later… what they'd done." DiNozzo shrugged, seeming to be at peace with what he'd allowed to happen despite how wrong it was.
"Yeah," he nodded, leaving the room slowly, not looking back.
Once in the corridor Gibbs pulled out his cell and knowing how bad it was speed dialled Ducky. He picked up on the first ring and before he could say anything informed him of Tony's whereabouts. A pleased, but sad smile graced Gibbs' face as he hung up and called another number. Gibbs filled Kate in on the situation, issuing orders as he made his way down to join them.
Ducky saw him approach autopsy and stepped out to greet him.
"We're very lucky." He announced gravely, after the doors closed behind him.
"He okay?" Gibbs asked the obvious.
"No, not by a long shot."
"The hypnosis took it out of him." He agreed with a sigh, avoiding the core issue.
"Yes well I'm asserting my right as a medical practitioner," Ducky said point of fact," he won't be doing that again."
"I know that, Duck." Gibbs swallowed, thinking on what DiNozzo had said to his father and wishing to god he could forget it all over again. "But he did good, got us the answers we needed."
Ducky was staring at him. "Jethro what's going on?"
Gibbs tried to not look like he was hiding anything, but knew he was failing miserably when Ducky kept up the stare.
"It's a setup, Duck." "Senior and Miller are working together, Bower isn't really Bower he's a-"
"FBI agent I know Katelyn has already informed me. Young Anthony has kindly just filled me in on the rest." Ducky nodded. "But what I meant was, what's going on with you?"
Gibbs smiled at Ducky's bluntness. He was lucky to have him.
"I should have listened Duck. He didn't need to do that. I know that now."
There was a brief pause where Gibbs looked suitably abashed and Ducky smiled smugly. It wasn't often he was wrong, it was even less often he admitted to it.
"May I suggest you hold off from kicking yourself," Ducky said smoothly, nudging his head at the closed doors behind them, "he needs you right now, Jethro."
He nodded, yeah he knew that too.
…
Tony heard the doors open and close again and knew instantly it had to be Gibbs. Ducky would have said something by now. He could smell the scent of fresh coffee and, if he wasn't mistaken, hot chocolate as Gibbs approached, appearing by his side. He hitched himself up onto the autopsy table he was already sat on in the same way he'd entered, without a word, and handed him a cup.
They sat there for a few minutes, Tony held the cup between his cold hands, not knowing what to say now everything had calmed down and all that was left was the elephant in the room. He didn't know how much Gibbs would know from his session with Mary, didn't know if he'd described everything that happened out loud or if he'd just dreamt it, but he remembered being a little kid, Gibbs picking him up, carrying him and falling asleep in his arms. He felt foolish thinking of it now, but at the time it had seemed so normal, so right.
Hot chocolate drunk Tony tossed the cup into the waste bin opposite making a sound shot. Gibbs moved at his side, digging into his jacket pocket he pulled out a chocolate bar, the kind usually found in the NCIS vending machines and more often, in Tony's desk. He held it out and Tony took the bar with a small smile, examined it but didn't open it.
"Boss, we don't have to do this." Tony said eventually holding onto the chocolate like a lifeline.
"Do what?"
Tony pursed his lips and folded his arms fast across his chest, letting out a nervous chuckle.
"Do what." He repeated to himself, directing his gaze everywhere except at the man beside him.
"Tony-"
"I'm fine Gibbs."
"DiNozzo,"
"Really." Tony pinned him with a look. "Don't we have an investigation to get on with?"
"It can wait." Gibbs said softly, with just a hint of patronizing.
"Boss-"
"No." Gibbs barked, tone hard this time. "I need you with your head on straight."
"What like yours is?" Tony shot back, "you're being nice. You've been being nice since this all started."
"That a problem?" Gibbs shrugged.
"Well yeah!" Tony exaggerated his outrage. "I'm used to the bad moods and the shouting and physical assaults, I'm a simple person Gibbs change confuses me."
"You're anything but simple DiNozzo."
"I'm not a child." He snapped unconvincingly, the image of him as a kid with Gibbs still fresh in his mind and the jealously of not experiencing that for real influencing his less than stellar mood.
"No," Gibbs chuckled annoying him with his self-confidence, making Tony believe he was most definitely aware of everything that happened while under hypnosis, "You're not a child. But you are a kid."
"I'm over thirty!"
"Still a kid to me DiNozzo," Gibbs shrugged refusing to explain himself.
"If that's true why aren't you yelling and dishing out the corporal punishment, what's with all this caring crap…"
"It's necessary." Gibbs sighed, sitting back, looking up at the ceiling.
"Why?" Tony stood and paced the room, thrown by the lack of fight in his normally easily angered boss.
Gibbs' eyes flashed.
"Because if this was happening to me I wouldn't want to be smacked in the head."
Tony blanched, he knew what this was. Pity. Well he didn't want anyone's pity, least of all from the man he respected the most, the one person on the entire planet that looked at him and saw there was more to him than he put out there.
"Well news flash. I'm not you." Tony tried to deflect, thought he saw a brief flash of hurt in Gibbs eyes and tried to ignore it. "I'm not much of him either it seems. He let me get hurt."
"He left you alone." Gibbs confirmed, giving him a curious look.
"You were there, you heard what he said. Don't need to go over it again, it is what it is. No one gave a rat's ass about me then, why the hell should that be any different now?"
Gibbs took a sip from his coffee. Tony couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he was cooking up something. Retaking his seat on the table next to Gibbs he let the dejected silence stretch on and waited for the grilling and recrimination to start.
"You hold onto that chocolate bar any longer and it'll melt." Gibbs said evenly, as if Tony hadn't just had a proper hissy fit.
Tony froze, wide eyed stare aimed squarely at the bar in his hand, eyes glassy with tears. The simply statement hit him hard because it was such a dad thing to say. Why would his boss bring him the bar in the first place? Easy answer, because, just like he'd brought the hot chocolate, and the cookie earlier, despite the gruffness and the irritation he cared and he showed it not in words, but with little gestures. Gestures like giving him a roof over his head when he needed one, a willing ear when he had a problem, a headslap to show him he was paying attention and sometimes… a chocolate bar.
The emotions built up inside him until he couldn't hold them in any longer. He'd been spoiling for a fight, something to get him angry and let him shout and curse at the injustice of having no one that cared when it really mattered, but that wasn't true and Gibbs' refusal to play the game proved that.
Tony laughed. Laughed until tears streamed down reddened cheeks. It wasn't even funny, but damn it, it was the truth. The memory of being a kid and having Gibbs pick him up came to the forefront of his mind once again. It would be an image he'd never be rid of he assumed, his safe place. Funny that his safe place was a home that wasn't his and arms he'd never been comforted in as a kid or otherwise, at least until very recently and only then because he'd had a nightmare or was so messed up words were beyond reaching him. They'd never hugged just because and though these were strange circumstances Tony was doing okay he thought and felt it was time for one of those kind of hugs. So unlike the last few times where Gibbs had had to pin him in place to comfort him, Tony turned and gave Gibbs the biggest hug he had in him.
He was careful, turning around on the table he avoided the coffee cup Gibbs was holding in his right hand and slipped his arms under, squeezing his boss so tight there was no room for him to even try and break free without causing damage. When Gibbs didn't immediately push him away, and even went so far as to close his own arms around him Tony couldn't help himself.
"People will start to talk." He muttered with a giggle over one solid shoulder, not letting go.
Gibbs temporally lifted his coffee free hand and slapped him lightly across the back of the head.
"Thank you, boss."
TBC…
A/N:
Too fluffy? Nah, you've gotten this far, you must know my style by now…
Sorry for the wait, I have been taking in all the update requests, sometimes the muse gets railroaded ;) As always thanks for all the reviews I LOVE them! It's been a while, but you'll be pleased to know I fleshed out the whole story and it's finished- ish. I 've also gone through each and every chapter to tidy the story somewhat, chapters 1 and 2 got the most altering, but chapters 5 through 10 had some small changes made. Nothing that's going to majorly impact your continued reading, just an FYI if you noticed something that wasn't there before ;)
Ttfn!