A/N: Two chapters in one night again… good luck and thanks for reading!
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The second the shot rang out and Gibbs charged forward, knocking Bell off his feet to smash into the large Oak desk behind him. Dodging a punch Gibbs countered with one his own, hitting him square in the gut, enticing a groan. Bell kicked his feet out from under him, but landing sideways Gibbs grabbed Bell's gun arm with his feet and twisted, sending the weapon sliding across the floor and filling the room with a blood curdling scream when the bone audibly snapped. Standing again he surprisingly took a few more hits, Bell was strong, but Gibbs being the better fighter by a mile grabbed hold and landed a punch on Bell's jaw so hard his neck snapped back with the force. Releasing his grip Gibbs let bastard that had held a gun to his kid's head fall to the floor like the worthless bag of shit he was.
Out of breath and full of adrenalin Gibbs dropped his hands, shaking his head to clear the spots dancing before his eyes.
"Boss? Gibbs, you okay?" Tony hobbled over to stand by his side.
Bent double, hands pressing onto already abused knees he turned his head, looked him over and nodded. "Think I should be asking you that question."
"I'm fine." He said a little too enthusiastically, wincing and holding his side.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs said his name in the same tone he would say bullshit.
"Well nothing's broken," he returned with a toothy grin, eyes sliding to Bell lying unconscious at their feet. "A little bruised maybe, Miller did go postal on me when I declined to help him, but I'm okay."
That last bit was said quietly, as if embarrassed he'd let himself get hurt in the first place. Gibbs stood straight and reached out, cupping Tony's least damaged cheek. The extra wide smile he was sporting not only looked grotesque with the split lip and dried blood covering a large portion of his face, but reminded him of the last time Tony had tried to fool them into believing he was okay when he really wasn't.
Kate had escorted the waitress out of the sewers, leaving him to follow with Tony and their missing marine.
"Steady." He said calmly unsurprised by the skittish behaviour when Tony nearly backed into the wall on his approach.
Grabbing his arm to keep him on his feet Gibbs gave Tony a moment to get his bearings, before visually checking him over, pulling him forward inspecting his hands and face in more detail.
"A little banged up Boss, but nothing too bad." Tony's weak attempt at a bright smile warmed him, even if he didn't believe a word of it.
With one palm on his too warm for their surroundings cheek Gibbs moved Tony's head from side to side, taking in every bloody scratch and newly formed bruise underneath the layer of dirt. 'Not too bad' had to be the understatement of the day, given he'd been drugged and locked up in the sewer. Gibbs refrained from saying anything until they got to the surface and Tony ended up forcing his hand - and his patience.
"You should go in the ambulance DiNozzo." Gibbs stood at the back of the bus glaring down at Tony who sat glumly on the back step, a blanket wrapped around his hunched shoulders.
"I'm fine –ow!" Tony scowled, rubbing his arm where Abby, who had hitched a ride to the scene with Ducky, punched his arm.
"Don't be an idiot! They said you have high blood pressure and possible head trauma."
"I don't remember hitting my head." Tony stressed as if they were the ones being difficult.
"Head trauma!" Abby shouted at him, fist aiming to make another hit to his arm.
DiNozzo stuck out his bottom lip and ducked his head, making her hug him instead of hit him. Gibbs rolled his eyes, amazed at how even the smartest women fall for the kicked puppy look. Tony had once told him being pathetic was part of his charm and it hadn't been long before he found out he wasn't kidding.
Breathing a weary sigh, fuelled by relief at finding him alive and a desire to put this day to bed Gibbs allowed him his victory.
"Just get in the damn car." He was sick and tired of arguing anyway.
DiNozzo didn't need telling twice, he leapt up from his perch surprisingly quickly blanket falling from his shoulders to pool on the floor and ran off towards their car still parked this side of the police tape. Abby looked at him with a smug sappy smile and he shut her down with a dismissive wave before she could even voice what he sensed was coming his way.
"Where's Abby?" Tony asked him a little too desperately when he climbed in the car and drove off without her.
"She rode in with Ducky." Gibbs told him bluntly.
It was enough to prevent any further remarks and he managed to leave the scene without delay. He'd hoped Tony would have fallen asleep on their way back, Kate having turfed him to the backseat somehow, but no such luck. He was wired and chatty all the way back to the Navy yard.
Gibbs had managed to remain silent the whole journey, letting Kate fill any gaps in DiNozzo's running commentary of waking up next to the gooey corpse as he'd put it to how he'd used his belt knife to escaped the locked room. Having run out of movie references he finally fell silent in the elevator up to the squad room and Gibbs had initially been overjoyed. However his relief was short lived as that silence proved to be the precursor to a much more poignant conversation.
Tony had started off casually, keeping his body language relaxed, facing the elevators doors, "Admit it, you were worried about me. Right? You don't have to say anything. I know."
His gut tightened, but still Gibbs kept up the 'ignoring him' act, hoping Tony would get the hint and leave the conversation for later, when they were alone.
"Okay, I want you to say it. You care, right?"
He knew Tony was looking at him expectantly as they stepped off the elevator and walked towards the bullpen, but still he had hoped he'd let it drop.
"So are you saying you don't care?"
Gibbs spun around upon hearing the desperate words and tone, taking in the defeated body language. This wasn't going to wait. He walked back over to him took Tony's cheek in one palm and forced the words he meant with his whole heart to pass his lips.
"Tony, as far as I'm concerned, you're irreplaceable."
Irreplaceable. Gibbs let his hand drop. Tony had no idea the hell he'd go through if he lost him. This stupid stunt could have cost him his life and he was stood there smiling, acting as if none of it matter, like it was all fun and games – a god damn joke!
"You think this is funny?" Gibbs snapped at the still grinning DiNozzo standing before him.
He wasn't smiling. He was angry and disappointed and let that show in his glare so Tony was in no doubt about the trouble he was in. Gibbs' inner voice was warning him to calm down, encouraging him to tune into some of that guilt he'd been feeling on the journey over, but with Tony stood before him grinning like an idiot keeping calm was a tall order.
He'd be the first to admit the whole situation had scared him to death. Fear wasn't an emotion Gibbs dealt with well and instead of letting it out in the form of hugs and kisses like Abby would his fear knew only one way to find release.
Tony flinched when the hand connected with his head. He immediately lost the smile and looked to the floor.
"Boss I-"
"Shut up DiNozzo!"
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Shut up. Shut up!
Tony grit his teeth as Gibbs continued to rake him over the coals for leaving the Bullpen and taking matters into his own hands, involuntarily hissing when he pulled on his lip and it started to bleed again.
"-Of all the stupid stunts you've pulled this has got to be the dumbest, DiNozzo. What were you thinking?"
Tony waited, but Gibbs had fallen suddenly silent. Oh, this isn't one of his rhetorical lectures where he yells and storms off - he actually wants me to answer that one…
"I'm thinking you look pretty good for a guy who was SHOT not so many hours ago!" He counted, shouting in Gibbs' face, too beaten to care how pissy he sounded.
Surprisingly Gibbs had no comment for that, though he held his angry glare well Tony thought he saw something in his eye that signalled he'd hit a nerve. When the silence continued he actually began to feel guilty for bringing it up, but just as he was about to crack a joke and lighten the mood someone else made their presence known.
"Don't feel sorry for him Tony, he tricked you." Shauna was standing in the corner, looking down on her father.
He'd forgotten about her. Gibbs' timely arrival and ensuing fight with Bell having shocked him so much he wasn't quite sure what was up and what was down at the moment. Of course the continuous and painful throbbing in his head that made his eye sight blur intermittently could have something to do with his confusion.
Tony shook his head, trying to encourage the greying around the edges to recede just a little and turned to address her.
"Doesn't matter, let's just get out of here," he waved her towards the door.
But Shauna didn't move, instead she raised the weapon she'd retrieved off the floor and pointed it at Gibbs. His eyes widened, panic setting in at not wanting a repeat of the last time someone named Miller aimed a gun at his boss. The image of Gibbs falling to the ground suddenly came unbidden to his mind, increasing the pain in his head tenfold.
"Shauna, what are you doing? Your dad needs help." Tony wheezed, hands gripping the sides of his head as if it could somehow stop it from hurting.
He was trying to appeal to her caring side, the one he'd seen briefly when she'd stood up to her father to protect him. He was hoping that even though she was complacent in his kidnapping and knew she'd be facing jail, she still actually cared enough about her father to save him. Unfortunately his hope died when Shauna merely sniffed at him, not giving Miller bleeding out on the floor a second glance.
"It's not the way I'd have like thing to go, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. He ruined my life." She shrugged, her tone remaining indifferent.
"You don't mean that." Tony tried to deny her words, not believing his childhood friend, someone he actually used to have fun with could be that heartless.
"Give yourself up," Gibbs interjected quickly, sounding edgy and unGibbs like, making Tony wonder if he was actually as stable as he believed himself to be.
Watching Shauna look between him and Gibbs, Tony had a feeling he wasn't, not by a long shot and that didn't spell anything good for either of them.
"Join me," she said, looking directly at him, the gun still held steadily on Gibbs. "We can kill him, find and share the money, leave here for good."
Tony stared dazedly back at her. Was she joking? She couldn't possible believe after everything he'd told her about Gibbs, about the money that he'd even consider what she was suggesting.
"Don't listen to her DiNozzo," Gibbs spoke evenly, his gaze also fixed on Shauna.
Tony wanted to ask Gibbs if he was seriously questioning his loyalty, but then thought better of it. Gibbs may not be making any sense to him right now, but he trusted him wholeheartedly, and no matter how he felt about being tricked into thinking he'd gotten him killed, that trust hadn't changed.
"Drop the caring parent crap, Agent Gibbs. We both know there's no such thing, don't we Tony?" Shauna reached out her gun free palm and stroked his cheek, looking at him with crazy desperate eyes.
Tony couldn't move, in fact all he could think about was what a mess he must look, hair matted with blood, nose and lip still bleeding, looking so beat up a stiff breeze could blow him over.
"Tell me where the money is," Shauna draped herself over him, "and I might just let you live."
"I really don't know." He whispered despairingly, certainly not feeling anything like the strong capable federal agent he often tried so very hard to be.
"YES YOU DO!" She pushed away from him, screaming at the top of her lungs. "You've always known!"
"No he doesn't. His father never told him what it was when he gave it to him," Gibbs stepped slightly in front of him when Shauna waved the gun lazily between them.
No one spoke for some time, Shauna was looking more desperate by the second and Tony was trying very hard to process everything. He heard what Bell had told Gibbs about his dad playing them, and he'd noticed Gibbs hadn't looked at all surprised. The idea that he knew, or had known about the location of the money, that Senior knew that, set everyone up…?
"You're plan isn't going to work Miss Miller, should give yourself up." Gibbs' controlled tone broke through his internal self-interrogation.
Shauna laughed, looking more than a little hysterical and approached him again, eyeing them in turn.
"Agent Gibbs," she said with meaning. "Probably should have shot you myself when I had the chance."
"Does someone please want to tell me what the hell is going on?" he shouted, surprising Shauna and Gibbs with his sudden volume.
Since when had Shauna had a chance to shoot Gibbs? Why would she want to? Her Dad dragged her into this… she was just desperate to know the truth like him…wasn't she?
"Yeah Gibbs, tell us what you know!" She purred, running her gun under his chin this time instead of just her hand.
Tony instinctively flinched away, her proximity making him bypass any further questions he had for her.
"Not talking?" She asked sweetly, once again addressing Gibbs who had tensed as soon as Shauna laid a finger on him Tony noticed.
"Why'd you do it?" Gibbs spoke eventually, sounding overly calm.
"For the money, of course," Shauna stressed, flicking her matted blonde hair away from her sweaty face. "I tell you that moron in security is going to pay. He assured me you were dead."
"Sorry to disappoint." Gibbs shrugged.
"You planned all this?" Tony blurted in surprise, his mind obviously running a little slow if Gibbs had already worked this out. "How? Why?"
She glanced at him, eyes hooded, lips settling into a line of despondence.
"I went from a long island mansion and private school to desert hell because of the money our dad's stole." She growled, voice rising with each syllable. "I knew all about what happened to you, but hadn't thought about it in years, until I finally got around to cleaning out mom's things. Imagine how I felt when I discovered a letter she'd gotten from my dad saying the money was still here, that you knew where it was." She stared at Tony, as if blaming him for her poverty ridden upbringing. "I just want what's owed me, Tony."
"That the same letter you said your dad had sent you?" Gibbs clarified.
Shauna smiled cunningly. "Seems I inherited my father's knack for forgery, only had to alter the names and dates, wasn't difficult. Enough to convince you I had a reason for coming to NCIS at any rate."
"So you contacted your father and together you resurrected an old case by getting all the old players involved, forcing the FBI to take action." Gibbs summed up with a flat smile.
Tony watched Shauna fall for the rouse hook line and sinker. Even in his currently disabled state of fuzziness he could see when Gibbs was playing a suspect. He almost felt sorry for her, if only he could muster enough energy to enjoy it.
"It was fairly easy to get Bell riled up enough to come back to Washington, as for Hannigan, well it wasn't hard to find out where lonely FBI agents spent their time. After a couple of dances it didn't take long to convince him that the money was ours for the taking, that we deserved it."
Tony felt the tension in Gibbs' shoulders increase as easily as he felt his own.
"You killed him?" He asked, formulating a theory in his painful fog filled brain and really hoping it wasn't true.
"He failed to take you from the 7/11, so when we met up at the motel he argued with my father, wanted out. Said it was a mistake." Shauna leered at him, running her tongue over her bottom lip. "Seems meeting you face to face reminded him of what happened to you as a kid. Guilt drives people to do the most stupid things." She sighed.
"So?" Gibbs snapped, drawing her attention away, something else for which Tony would be eternally grateful to him for.
"So I took appropriate action." Shauna shrugged.
"But why go to all this trouble," Tony couldn't believe what he was hearing, couldn't connect the memory of his adventurous childhood friend to the reality of the murderer stood before him, "if you thought I knew where the money was why not just come after me?"
"Didn't want anyone else coming after me or the money and… I wanted you all to pay for ruining my life." She said sweetly with a smile.
Tony didn't know if Shauna was all there or not, but he was pretty sure if anyone had a case for wanting revenge for what happened twenty-five years ago, it was him.
"So let me get this straight, you orchestrated this whole thing, killed an FBI agent and all because you missed your walk in wardrobe?" He joked.
"Don't make fun of me!" Shauna screamed at him, clocking him in the side of the head with the gun. Gibbs caught him under the arms before he could fall to the floor, not having seen the hit coming. "If you'd have just told them where the damn money was back then none of this would have had to happen!"
"I didn't know where it was, I still don't!" he shouted back at her incredulously, trying and failing to plant his feet underneath him so Gibbs could have his hands free.
He wanted to shout it again and again, whatever happened the reasons for it were a complete mystery to him, the little glimpses he'd been getting since the hypnotherapy offering nothing more than visual snippets and remembered pain, no explanations. He felt a hand squeeze his elbow and twisted his neck to look up at Gibbs, who shook his head, ordering him with a glare to shut up.
"I'll make this simple." Shauna interrupted their silent conversation, pulling Gibbs' attention back to her and addressing him instead of Tony. "I get him, and you get to leave Gibbs."
Tony shook his head, amazed at how far gone Shauna must be to think Gibbs would just up and leave now.
"Not much of deal." Gibbs said, not sounding as outraged by the offer as Tony thought he should be.
"It's the only one you're going to get."
"What about the money?"
Tony's jaw dropped, was Gibbs really asking that?
"What about the money?" Shauna countered.
"I can't just leave, need something to return to the FBI." Gibbs shrugged, letting Tony stumble to remain standing and stepped closer to her.
Luckily he was semi stable and managed to grab hold and support himself on the desk.
"Stop it." Shauna shouted, backing up, suddenly edgy and clearly as perturbed by Gibbs' about face as he was. "Any closer and I'll blow his brains out."
Tony flinched when Shauna cocked the gun once again in his direction, fearful third time definitely wouldn't be the charm for him today.
"Go ahead," Gibbs said calmly still walking towards her. "He quit. He's not my responsibility anymore."
"You're lying," Shauna countered, sounding unconvinced.
"Ask him." Gibbs dared, tormenting her with a grin.
There was a moment of indecision on her face where she was completely thrown by the new direction of their conversation. Her gun arm faltered and Tony watched Gibbs step closer again.
"He's right I quit." Tony puffed out his chest, trying to sound strong.
He hoped to god Gibbs was bluffing right now. Yeah he'd left his gun and badge behind, but that didn't mean he'd quit… did it?
"Give yourself up." Gibbs stood tall and spoke strongly, in direct contrast to himself who was a wreck that couldn't even hold himself up right.
"Tony, Tony we can be together!" She screamed in desperation, running over and wrapping her arms around him. "With all that money, we can go anywhere we want, you can get away from him!"
"DiNozzo," Gibbs issued his one word warning that could mean any number of things.
The gun was still in her hand and now pressing uncomfortably into his cheek and as Tony looked between them, from one to the other, couldn't help but think how surreal the situation was, like he was being asked to choose between his dad and his girlfriend. Tony rested his gaze on Shauna and stared at her for a long time before mustering enough energy to push her off him, like she burned.
She stumbled back, regaining her footing and her aim. "You're going to pay for that." She growled, finger squeezing the trigger…
"Noooo, you're gonna pay." Fornell appeared behind her, seemingly out of nowhere, his own gun pointed squarely at her head. "How's ten to twenty sound, or better yet, life?"
…
Shauna closed her eyes in defeat, raising her hands and relinquishing her gun with a pissed off resigned look on her face. Gibbs didn't visibly relax, but inside the tight feeling in his chest began to release a little bit, allowing him to breathe easy once again. That had been too close.
"Took you long enough Tobias," Gibbs growled stepping up to Tony roughly taking his arm and bodily dragging him over to the other side of the room pushing him to sit down, leaning him against the wall furthest from the two bodies littering the floor.
Fornell ignored him in favour of hand cuffing a very compliant and silent Shauna, though they did exchange a brief glance over her bobbed head before passing her off to another Agent who walked her out. He gave Tony a brief pat on the shoulder before walking over to the door.
"Everyone okay?" McGee joined them on Fornell's right, having brought in a paramedic.
Gibbs indicated Tony to the medic and walked them both out of the office which was steadily filling up with FBI Agents. "You're taking the scene."
It wasn't a question. He could tell by the sheer number of Agents here Morrow and likely SecNav had most likely already signed off on it.
"Thanks Jethro," Fornell swallowed, confirming his thoughts without even asking, "just sorry it had to go down this way."
Gibbs gave him a grateful nod. He wasn't a fan of apologies, but wasn't against accepting them when due. This wasn't Fornell's fuck up, he'd gone to great length in convincing Wilkes to read them in and for that he was extremely grateful, knowing some of what happened would make it easier to help Tony in the long run. Turning to McGee Gibbs instructed him to find Kate and make their witness statements as quickly as possible so they could go. He felt the sooner they got out of this house the better everyone would feel.
As McGee left Fornell glanced over his shoulder, "What about your boy?"
Gibbs followed his gaze and could see Tony was still being treated by the medic, but wasn't sure how to answer. He couldn't ignore how reckless he'd been, placing himself and everyone who was responsible for him in danger. Gibbs knew better than to question Tony's loyalty, but the blatant insubordination simply couldn't be ignored. In all they definitely had a lot to talk about and now probably wasn't the best time, given previous experiences.
His lack of reply must of have been all the answer Fornell needed to know thing s were not yet settled. He gave him a commiserating pat on the back and walked away. Stepping back inside Gibbs pushed his way through the crowd, another medic came near him, but he quickly waved her off without taking his gaze off DiNozzo who was still sat where he'd left him, looking lost.
"He okay?" Gibbs asked the medic who'd finished treating him.
"Bruised but not broken," he said referring to his nose, "I've taped the lip, he could do with a CT. Pupil reaction isn't great, probably a concussion."
The medic stood up from his squat where he was packing away his stuff and looked Gibbs in the eye. The message was clear, kid needed a hospital. Gibbs nodded he understood and shook the medics hand politely, silently thanking him for letting him handle it.
Once gone Tony pulled his knees up and leaned his head back against the wall, "if you're going to shout at me boss can it wait 'til my head stops pounding?"
"I'm not going to shout at you DiNozzo." Gibbs smiled mustering enough energy to be thankful it wasn't worse and, back pressed to the wall, slid down until he was sitting next to him.
"You're not?" Tony turned his head to the side so their faces were less than an inch apart.
"No," he said lightly.
"You're going to hit me then?" Tony shied away, preparing for a slap.
"Not right now." Gibbs admitted, not seeing the point in lying to him.
There was no doubt that Tony would be in receipt of another headslap at some point within the next few days thanks to this stunt. Was he still was angry? Hell yeah. DiNozzo was going to be subjected to a severe telling off once he got him home, but Gibbs not only didn't see the point, he simply couldn't bring himself to withhold comfort from him any longer, not when he was looking quite so pathetic. Too relieved to have him back alive to be mad, he placed one warm palm on Tony's knee and squeezed. Tony responded by falling into his side and resting his head on Gibbs' shoulder.
"I really thought you were dead." He admitted quietly.
"Yeah, I know." He sighed relaxing with the close contact like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Gibbs shifted, careful not to dislodge him, and reached into his jacket pocket pulling Tony's badge out and held it up between them.
"I made a mistake." Tony said without moving.
"Damn right you did." Gibbs snapped, pushing him to take it.
Tony held the badge in his hands, unmoving. To pass the time Gibbs watched the FBI work the scene, witnessed Bell being taken away on a stretcher by paramedics, Miller too surprisingly enough. When Tony still had yet to raise his head after ten minutes he worried that he might well be following them.
"What's going to happen to her?" He asked quietly after a couple more minutes' quite time.
Gibbs grunted, grudgingly allowing the change of subject, accepting that his earlier prediction was correct and now was not the time or the place for an in depth discussion.
"She got greedy DiNozzo, don't feel sorry for her."
"I'm not." Tony paused, finally lifting his head and sitting up straighter, "much. I just… it's not her fault. Her dad did this - my dad did this, to her - to us…"
Gibbs was in no mood to discuss the reasoning of a crazy woman's actions. Sympathy from him was in short supply and he certainly wasn't going to waste it on the likes of Shauna Miller.
"Do you blame your father for everything you do wrong?" He asked sarcastically, pinning him with a glare.
Tony shook his head and they lapsed into another painful silence, Gibbs glaring at anyone who dared to so much as glance in their direction and Tony steadfastly trying to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible.
"DiNozzo-" Gibbs started, thinking he'd said the wrong thing considering the topic of fathers was pretty much an embargoed subject, but was taken by surprised by Tony's next words.
"I don't blame you for anything." He spoke quickly, and then, as if only realising afterwards what he'd said, dipped his head to hide between raised knees.
Gibbs sucked in a breath. He knew he'd been struggling to classify their relationship, but he'd no idea Tony had been having the same issues. The weight of that knowledge sat heavily on already overburdened shoulders, this case highlighting just how much Tony had come to mean to him over the years, it's just a shame it took tipping his life upside down to do it. Strangely, all Gibbs wanted now was to help DiNozzo get back to being his normal irascible self. He missed the easy camaraderie as he entered the bullpen, the banter, hell even the bickering that normally drove him to distraction. All of it. He especially missed having a reason to dish out the occasional ill-deserved headslap, because that was one of the few times Gibbs could show Tony how he really felt about him without it getting awkward and uncomfortable, like now.
Neither of them spoke for several more minutes. Unused to such silence from Tony Gibbs didn't know what to say in response. Normally DiNozzo would talk enough for the pair of them, leaving him to add not much more than the odd word here or there. His own gaze slightly clouded as he was looking down at the top of Tony's head he nearly missed Kate's presence in the room. She caught his eye and pointed to the door. Thank God, Gibbs slapped Tony's thigh, standing he offered him a hand up.
"Time to go DiNozzo"
.
Kate watched Gibbs with Tony and then left the room to check on McGee outside, giving them a minute together before she announced they were ready to leave, no matter how they chose to play it she could see both needed some time to deal with recent events. Seeing Tony inch a little closer to Gibbs and rest his head on his shoulder had made Kate's smile even wider. It was hard not to feel for him right now. Funny thing was she wasn't surprised by the action, actually found it kind of sweet, especially since Gibbs looked completely at ease with Tony leaning on him. She always knew he had a softer side hidden away in there somewhere.
Her phone rang as she was making her way back upstairs and Kate stopped out into the hall to take the call. "Abby?"
"Do you have him?!"
"Yeah, Abs, he's fine how did you-"
"I've been monitoring the FBI phone lines, Wilkes just received a call from Fornell telling him they have the suspects in custody."
"Abby you cannot spy on the FBI!" Kate whispered urgently down the line.
A forensic tech close by who was dusting for prints gave her a curious look and Kate snapped the phone shut after telling Abby she'd call her back later. Desperate to keep their own tech out of jail for espionage Kate stormed back into the room intent on retrieving Tony and Gibbs and getting the hell out of there.
They were still sat on the floor and she grinned madly at Gibbs' fatherly expression as he looked down at Tony with his head trapped between his knees. She still had the goofy smile plastered on her face when Gibbs looked at her over DiNozzo's shoulder. Quickly schooling her features Kate pointed to the door indicating they were ready to leave and Gibbs nodded. She walked back out and waited for them in the hallway.
"McGee got us a flight back from Newark, it's a long drive so we need to get going." She said once they joined her.
"Where is he?"
"Still outside waiting by the car, FBI are crawling all over the place."
"They're having one last look for the money." Gibbs said resigned, giving Tony a sideways look.
"You think it's still here?"
Gibbs was about to answer her, but then Fornell made an appearance at the top of the stairs.
"DiNutso! Need to speak with you."
"Can't this wait?" Kate asked, stepping protectively in front of Tony who, despite having been cleaned up by the paramedic still looked more than a little worse for wear.
"Afraid not," Fornell shook his head, "A quick statement and we'll be done. I'll even get him a new shirt." He said looking passed her to Gibbs for the final word.
Kate pursed her lips, not happy, but Gibbs nodded a subtle okay when Tony looked to him for permission.
"You okay Gibbs?" Kate asked, watching him watch Tony walk away down the long corridor with Fornell.
Gibbs didn't answer. Not that she expected him to, to be honest. This was Gibbs after all. Instead she observed with interest as he proceeded to explore the house. Kate followed him up to the second floor, taking in the décor and the many paintings still hanging on the walls. Coming to a standstill outside a small room Gibbs nudged the door open and peeked inside. Kate followed him in without a word, curious as to why, after passing so many rooms, he chose to poke his nose in this one.
The sun was fully up, shinning brightly, filtering through the gap in the curtains, making it easier to see what she had no doubt was once the bedroom of one Anthony DiNozzo Jr.
"Kind of sad isn't it?" She commented, studying Gibbs as he looked around, not asking how he knew which room was Tony's.
"What?" Gibbs shrugged, looking uncomfortable at simply being there.
"The room," she pointed, looking around herself, "I mean I give Tony grief for snooping, but we all do it given the chance, Tony's just more obvious about it."
"Your point, Kate?" Gibbs sighed wearily, picking up a stuffed dog from the floor and placing it on the dresser.
"I imagined snooping around Tony's childhood bedroom I'd find plenty of movies and posters, playboy magazines, a TV even. But look at this place - it's straight out of a catalogue. This isn't a child's bedroom, Gibbs. Its impersonal, nothing of sentimental value or importance anywhere, all store bought décor, there's no emotional connection. If I didn't know better I'd profile the child who occupied this room to be a victim of abuse."
Kate felt she'd hit the nail on the head when Gibbs blanched. She was getting a feeling, no doubt Gibbs' gut was telling him the same thing; everything was wrong here and it had been wrong long before Bell or Hannigan had come into Tony's life. The room compounded what she had already suspected of Tony, that all his ticks and neurosis were stemmed more from environment than genetic trait. His personality was a vibrant one, no one could deny that and had he been allowed to flourish as an adolescent maybe he would have learned to curb some of his more irritating qualities and Kate would have found him less annoying today. Seeing this room gave her yet more insight into who Tony really was deep down, or rather who he'd never been allowed to be.
"Let's go Kate," Gibbs said after a few more minutes quiet, leaving the room and expecting her to follow.
…
Tony felt the shakes coming on, the same way he felt whenever he'd fired his weapon at someone that wasn't a terrorist or really deserved it. He hadn't fired his gun, but he guessed what had just happened could be considered just as terrifying.
Fornell's questions had centred on what happened before Gibbs had entered the room. He wanted to know how he'd ended up beaten and bloody basically. Tony told him what he could, very aware of how jumbled his short term memory was. Fornell told him it was okay and that it was a normal reaction to stress. He knew that. He told victims that when he interviewed them. Tony never expected he'd ever be on the other side.
In telling Fornell about Miller, Tony confessed that he wished he'd fought back a little harder. He'd never been much of a fighter, scrappy sure, he could defend himself no problem. The police academy and NCIS had taught him how to do that. Real full on fighting however was out of his skill set, not that Gibbs hadn't tried to teach him the basics. The way Tony had survived in fights over the years was to simply never give up, keep taking the hits until the attacker gave up. That's what he'd done with Miller. A bully eventually got tired of hitting someone who showed no fear or pain. Tony had learned to hide pain a very long time ago and he hid it now as he saw Gibbs and Kate approach.
"You ready DiNozzo?"
He nodded, "yep, all set in my FBI shirt."
It wasn't his usual style, but beggars can't be chooses. Fornell had given him the ultimatum of taking the lime green and blue checked shirt offered or having fun facing Gibbs when he got refused a seat on the plane home. He could make an argument that the shirt alone would prevent him from travelling, but wisely kept his mouth shut this time.
"I really am glad you're not dead, Boss," Tony repeated as honestly and happily as he could.
"I know DiNozzo. You said that already." Gibbs said tiredly, pushing him down the hallway.
"Would have kind of ruined my rescue plan," he continued as he quickly jogged down the large spiral stairs, not taking any notice of his surroundings, denying the memories that wanted to be set free.
"You had a plan?" Gibbs looked at him incredulously, keeping up with his frantic pace. "You're lucky I don't kill you for this stunt, DiNozzo, what the hell were you thinking?"
"That you wouldn't actually kill me?" He replied sheepishly, eyes down cast hoping for the sympathy from early to continue, "Just be really, really mad for a while."
Gibbs pulled him to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and he watched and waited for Kate to walk past them heading for the car before speaking. Something in his expression told Tony he'd maybe pushed too far.
"I wasn't mad," Gibbs said straight, "I was terrified."
"Boss-"
"Shut up," Gibbs pointed at him, "you never do anything like this again, you hear me."
Tony took that as you're still on my team and the earnest Gibbs like sentiment warmed him, causing him to display a goofy tear filled smile.
"Sure is a nice place, Tony." McGee said greeting them by the car when they finally made it outside.
Looking back at the large home and the grounds Tony snuffed.
"Didn't think I'd ever be back here," he said distantly.
"Well todays the third." Kate said, standing at his side, gazing up at the run down mansion not looking all that bad in the bright sunshine.
"I guess it's your home again, DiNozzo." Gibbs joined them on his other side.
Tony lowered his gaze and their eyes met. Thinking about his wish, that no matter where life took him he'd always have a special place he could call home, Tony thought he might actually have that. He'd originally dismissed Gibbs' home because, though comfortable and familiar, he believed that when the day came for him to move on Gibbs would willing push him out the door and replace him with someone new. He was now pretty confident that wouldn't happen and some of those big gaping holes in his psyche created by past neglect began to fill in and heel over.
"His home," Tony shrugged with a smile climbing into the back seat without a word.
He pushed himself over as close to the window as possible. Gibbs tossed Kate the car keys with a look that told her not to comment when he climbed into the back to sit next to him. McGee hovered on the outside like he didn't know if he was allowed the front seat or if he was expected to squeeze in back with them and Tony couldn't contain his laughter. He eventually climbed in the front choosing not to be left behind.
"So" Kate started.
"Just drive." Tony interrupted anything she might have said next. "I just want to get out of here."
"To the nearest hospital Kate," Gibbs said resignedly, like he expected a fight.
"Boss!" Tony shouted, fully prepared to give him one.
Gibbs glared back at him, silently instructing him to shut it. Tony tried to glare back, but didn't have it in him, instead he slumped in his seat looking sullen.
.
When Tony woke up from his slouch in the cold plastic hospital waiting room chairs it was to discover he was drooling all over Gibbs. His head shot up and he sat up abruptly.
"This is like a scene out of seven." He said cagily.
"What's that?" Gibbs responded, not even reacting to his return to consciousness.
"A movie."
"Never seen it." He dismissed easily, turning the page of his newspaper with ease.
"Argh…Why are we still here?" Tony moaned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Because I'm not flying you across the country until I know for sure your head is screw on right."
"My heads never been screwed on right boss!" He responded without thinking, "And with the amount of whacks it gets never will be."
That comment did earn him a reaction, just not the kind Tony liked. He mouthed a quick apology, understanding by glare alone that if he weren't sat here waiting for a CT scan, he'd be getting another one of those whacks right now.
"They're not going to keep me in you know. What if the doc takes one look at me and say's I'm fine to leave? We're going to have to wait for another flight." Tony raised his eyebrows and stared at him intently.
"They won't," Gibbs dismissed with confidence.
"What if they do?" Tony pressed, with a nonchalant shrug. "You'll look pret-ty silly, boss, just saying."
Gibbs shook his head, not arguing and continued to read his paper, Tony tapping his leg nervously next to him the longer he refused to rise to the obvious bate. Checking his own watch he could see they'd been waiting more than an hour already.
"You heard anything from Kate yet?" Tony spoke up again, hoping to engage Gibbs in a change of subject.
"They reached the airport, should be in Washington before dinner." He answered calmly without taking his gaze off of the paper.
Sensing that he should probably give up while he was behind Tony pulled up his feet to rest on the plastic seats, bunching up the coat McGee lent him to ward off the chills he'd been experiencing despite the warming sunshine on the trip here he laid down and tried to go back to sleep.
.
Gibbs threw down the paper as soon as he heard the soft snores issuing from the warm body squashed next to his. The waiting around wasn't easy on him either, but upon entering the hospital after sending Kate and McGee onto the airport Gibbs hadn't pulled the federal agent card to get seen quickly for a reason. Tony wasn't in immediate danger according to the nurse who checked him in and brought them through to the secondary waiting area, and he wanted to give Tony time more than anything to get himself sorted in his head, before the doctors checked out his body.
"I hate this place." Tony muttered eventually after a good 30 minutes peace and quiet.
"Why's that?" he asked tiredly, not bothering with the newspaper rouse this time.
"It's where my mother died." Tony said pointedly.
He huffed. Gibbs knew that. Wasn't why he'd forced him to come, but was prepared for Tony to use it and every other card in his arsenal to try and emotionally blackmail him into letting him leave.
"Gibbs why are we here?" Tony continued when he didn't comment.
Gibbs sighed, pretty sick of the whining and turned to look down at him with a disapproving frown.
"You were kidnapped and beaten up." He snapped, "What do you think we're doing here?"
"Ducky can check me over." Tony insisted, but when he didn't let up on the angry glare started to show his anxiety, "Seriously Gibbs! We can go - I'm fine!"
Tony stood seemingly satisfied he'd made his case, but Gibbs merely rolled his eyes and with the smallest effort grabbed a handful of his un-tucked shirt and pulled him back down.
"Sit DiNozzo"
He sat, but made it very clear he wasn't happy about it by visibly pouting.
"So how are we going to get home?" He snapped irritably, in full on tantrum mode.
That was it, he'd had it. They couldn't keep going in circles, repeating this pattern of self-destruction where Tony was secure one minute and an emotional train wreck the next. This relationship, be it fraternal or paternal or whatever connection it was they shared needed to move forward. Tony needed to accept his place in their life's and stop running to old coping mechanisms when things got tough. Evolution had to occur at some point and Gibbs wasn't going to avoid to his part in progressing things further anymore.
"Where's home DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked him calmly. When Tony stilled completely all the colour draining out of him he continued, his resolve that this conversation needed to happen strong, "to you," he stressed, then more kindly " where's home?"
Tony shrugged, answering quietly, "Wherever I'm living at the time I guess," gaze focused down on his clasped hands.
"Home is where your family is, DiNozzo." He corrected, sitting straight, staring pointedly trying to catch Tony's eye. "You… Abby, Ducky, we're family. Your home is with us."
It wasn't that the words where hard to admit to, but speaking them out loud without feeling completely exposed, that was extremely difficult.
"Even after I royally screwed up and got you shot?" Tony surprised him by not questioning his place, but by assuming it was conditional on good behaviour.
Gibbs wanted to tell him so many things right then - mainly that he didn't get him shot, but also, that for better or worse they were a team and there was nothing Tony could do that would change how he felt about him.
"I'm stuck with you no matter how badly you screw up." He said with a smile.
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts. You make mistakes and you always try to set things right. That's what matters." He said with sincerity before taking a deep breath, "Just because I yell at you DiNozzo," he paused, forcing the words passed suddenly dry lips, "doesn't meaning I love ya any less."
And that was it. The zinger that rendered Tony DiNozzo speechless. An offhand, throw away comment being about as close as he'd get to speaking about his feelings, but he meant every word. Now he could only hope Tony understood that.
"I really want to come home…boss," Tony managed eventually around the lump in his throat.
Gibbs smiled.
TBC…
A/N: Well only two more chapters to go! I'll try and post them together sometime before the end of August. Thank you all very much for the rec's I'll be reading them on my very handy kindle while camping ;) Hopefully when I get back I'll also work out how to instantly reply to feedback using my phone, kindles – though wonderful little devices – are terrible for typing with.
So let me know what you think, and if I've forgotten something feel free to remind me, TTFN ;)