Tony sighed. When he had first woken up, he had felt something. He didn't know what it was. But he had chalked it up to the fact that he hadn't really known what was really going on at all. He didn't understand why Gibbs had not been there. He had remembered hearing Gibbs talking to him. He had remembered hearing Gibbs saying something about leaving and not coming back. That had upset Tony greatly. He wanted Gibbs to know that. Tony had squeezed Gibbs' hand, as hard as he could, to let Gibbs know how he felt about Gibbs's leaving. "Gibbs said he wouldn't be back to see me anymore…." Tony said, remembering.

"He thought you seeing him would upset you." Ducky explained. "He didn't want to do anything to hinder your progress."

Tony nodded. "I remember him telling one of my nurses…Amanda. I think was her name."

Abby nodded. "Yeah, you had a nurse named Amanda when you were in the ICU. She dropped by to see you yesterday, but you were asleep. She told me not to wake you. She said you were looking much better and she had heard good things about your progress."

"It's good to know I am remembering some things." Tony said as an aside to Abby. Then he turned his attention to Ducky and Jenny. "What you said about the bossman, Director. It can't be true. He is so…so solid. And Ducky, he left because him staying here would hurt me?" Tony paused. "I don't get that at all."

"He blames himself, Tony for everything that happened. It happened in his basement. It was his fault." Ducky said, trying to make Tony understand.

"I don't blame him. He didn't physically push me. I fell. I fell back and the railing gave way. It wasn't his fault." Tony paused and tried to sit up a little. It hurt too much so he resumed his former position. "He was angry. He said I had taken a stupid risk in trying to catch…I don't remember his name. He saw me fall during the chase. I had tripped, but he didn't know that. I lay there for just a minute because the wind had been knocked out of me. He thought I had been shot. I went to his place that night, to talk about the case. He laid into me. He told me to never make any kind of move like that without clearing it with him first."

"Tony,…." Kate started.

"I changed the game plan, mid-play and didn't tell him about it. No wonder he was pissed." Tony stated.

Tim said. "With what you did, we ended up catching the guy."

Tony nodded. "Good to know, but Gibbs was still pissed that night."

"This is not about THAT case, Tony." Abby moved beside the Director and took Tony's hand again. "This is about your relationship with Gibbs. You mean a lot to him, something special. Like Ducky says, Gibbs loves you." Abby squeezed his hand a little. "I'm not even THAT special to him."

Tony sighed and leaned back against his pillows, unsure what to say or what to think.

Jenny nodded. "You are the son he never had, Tony."

Kate and Tim had always known that Tony and Gibbs had a special relationship. Neither of them had been invited to stay at the bossman's house when they got sick or were injured. They knew it would not be okay if they just "dropped by." Those privileges were not reserved for Tim and Kate. They knew that and were okay with it.

"You have to get him here. I need to talk to him." Tony stated. "He needs to understand that he is not to blame for this."

Jenny shook her head. "It's not that easy. He can't face you. He won't come."

"Right now he is too busy moving." Kate interjected.

"What? Moving? Where is he moving to?" Tony asked. His heart monitor spiked and an alarm sounded.

Ducky gently pushed him back down on the bed from where he had tried to sit up. "Calm, down, Anthony. He is not leaving NCIS. He is not leaving the state. He is just moving down the street."

"He sold his house…." Tony said, stunned and shaking his head.

"Actually, his is in the process. He is packing and he is showing his house right now." Ducky said. "He has two families interested. He has already put his bid in on a house down the street."

"Why?" Tony said, completely mystified.

"Gibbs hasn't been in his basement since your accident." Abby explained. "He rarely went home, except to change his clothes. He said it didn't feel like home anymore."

"That's not Gibbs." Tony stated.

"No, Tony, it's not. He hasn't been the same since that night." Kate said. "I came into your hospital room, this was before you woke up. I saw him crying, Tony. I have NEVER seen him cry. He has endured a LOT of physical pain over the years I have known him, but he never cried."

They all nodded. They had all seen that particular scene played out before them, more than once.

"I still want to see him." Tony restated his request. "Try to get him here, please."

They each nodded. Tony could read their faces, however, and he knew it would be an uphill battle. When Leroy Jethro Gibbs set his mind to something, it was nearly impossible to change it.

Tony improved more and more as each week passed. It was not long until Tony left the hospital, able to walk out under his own power and with all his faculties. All Team Gibbs prayers had been answered. The 'old Tony' was back.

Gibbs had not been told of Tony's release. There was a huge surprise planned and Tony was a huge part of it.