Chapter 2

AN: By an overwhelming margin, you guys wanted me to continue this. And for that I am grateful. I had wanted to have Gibbs and Abby, especially, do a little groveling. But, I was not sure if you readers would just consider it pathetic and not really something you would want to read. But, apparently, you would. I don't know when or who will grovel first. But, it will occur. Thanks to everyone for your continued reading, commenting, and supporting. And, thank you to my 'Guest' reader for seeing my error. I have corrected it. JL

No one had realized or even considered that Tony could have consulted on the mission. The rules for undercover ops would really not be something that most agents should know by heart. By Tony knew all the rules and knew them well. He had been on so many undercover missions, he had them practically memorized. And this one about having minor children was huge. They had all sort of 'forgotten' about Tali in their condemnation of Tony.

There were hard questions Tony would have had to consider, had the team's beliefs been accurate. Who was Tony to drop Tali off with in France? Just name someone, anyone would or could take care of another person's child for an undetermined period of time. Who is willing to say, 'Yes, I will raise your child in the event you don't return"? And Gibbs and company had not even thought about how it might have been for Tony to leave Tali. They had not even considered how it could possibly feel to tell your child you love them and hug them for what might literally be the last time. These realizations gave them all pause and made them wish they had handled things much differently.

Gibbs cleared his throat, bringing them all back to the present and out of the stupor Tony's revelations had caused. He mumbled something about coffee and pressed the button for the elevator. Bishop, McGee and the newbie slowly headed back to their seats as the rest of the agents got settled back into their tasks. But, the room was still buzzing. This was made even more evident when moments after the scene Vance left a message, on McGee's phone, for Gibbs to see him immediately. Vance didn't get paid enough to deal with a full-on angry Gibbs, so a cellphone chat was out. The director knew Gibbs would go out for coffee. That would give the agent a little time to calm down first.

Gibbs showed up to Vance's office almost 15 minute later. Coffee in hand. He took the seat across from Vance's desk.

"Agent DiNozzo's back in…." Vance started.

"Why wasn't I told that Tony was asked to consult on our rescue?" Gibbs asked.

Leon looked a Gibbs for just a moment. He was trying to figure out what Gibbs really wanted to know. "Well, Agent Gibbs. It's not like I could get your input on the situation. I/We consulted Agent DiNozzo because…oh, you mean as opposed to calling him in as a part of the rescue mission. We could not do that, Gibbs. And, you know the reason. Tony s the sole caregiver for Tali. I cannot take a father away from his daughter, her only support, when there is even a chance, that that parent will not return home. And I'm not doing that to Tali. As Tony said, she's had enough drama in her young life."

"You talk to Tony…about Tali?" Gibbs asked, surprised and very curious.

'Wow, Agent Gibbs! I'm surprised you remember her name, but yeah." Leon replied.

"What does that mean?" Gibbs said, getting up from his chair.

"That means, Agent Gibbs, in the time you have been back from being rescued…you have only trashed Tony and dismissed Tali. You've never even mentioned her once."

Gibbs shook his head.

"Need I remind you of the cameras we have…throughout the building. They have audio." The director stated.

"He never called. He could have called." Gibbs offered.

"Tony said he didn't know you were back until 9 days later. Around that time both he and Tali had the flu. And, to honor Tali's Jewish heritage, they were involved in certain practices of the Jewish faith that do not lend themselves to using cellphones." Vance explained. "He didn't deserve what you threw at him."

Gibbs signed and nodded.

"And, he was right about that second B." Leon said as Gibbs left his office.

SIX WEEKS LATER:

Tony heard a knock on his door. The junior agents visited him often with questions so he told the person to come in, suspecting it was a student. But, that was not the case.

Tony stood. "What do you want?"

Gibbs was not used to being challenged, and he was usually the one with the attitude. But, he knew if he pushed, back he would not get nowhere. The Team Lead swallowed, hard, before he spoke.

"It would…appear that I have a lot to apologize for, Tony. I…."

"Yes, a hell of a lot." Tony answered. "And, you've lost the privilege of calling me Tony."

Gibbs nodded before proceeding. "I didn't know you had been consulted. I didn't know you had the flu. I didn't…."

"You didn't know a lot of things." Tony replied. "You didn't want to know anything. You didn't try to find out anything. And,you based what you did know on things told to you by people who had no clue what the hell they were talking about." He paused, fuming. "Do I have it…about right?"

Gibbs started to speak. But Tony continued.

"And you allowed your people to spread rumor and downright lies about me? You allowed my reputation to be tarnished? And you allowed the new agent to be filled with such hate and misinformation about me, that he verbally attacks me when we first meet? And, you back him up?" Tony was clinching his fists now, wanting to punch something. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Gibbs started to open his mouth again.

"You know what. I don't care! You and McGee have turned most everybody against me. I don't care what you have to say. Nothing is going to make things right. I will never trust you again. My child will have NOTHING to do with you!" Tony paused again. "I have explained to Tali that she has no Grandpa Gibbs or Uncle Tim or Aunt Ellie. You can spread the word to Ducky and Abby, too. My child will not associate with people who can't stand to be around me."

Gibbs was shocked. "That's not fair. Tali belonged to Ziva, too."

"Yes, she did, she does." Tony stated. "But, Ziva is not here. I am Tali's parent, her ONLY parent. And I will be the one making the decisions for her."

"She deserves a family." Gibbs pleaded. "Ziva would want her to…."

"Really? You're gonna…." Tony couldn't believe her ears. "You're gonna actually try that shit? You have a hell of a nerve saying anything to me about Ziva after the way you treated Tali!"

Gibbs was clueless.

"It broke Tali's heart for me to have to tell her that she would not be getting her American family. And, I had told her all about you and how you would be her Grandpa. For months, I had been telling her about you, all of you. I explained our FORMER relationships to her. I explained to her about how we considered ourselves to be one big family. But, now that is no longer the case." Tony glared at Gibbs. "And do you know what that sweet, precious, little girl thought? She actually thought that this horrific…mess was, somehow, her fault. She actually asked me if she was the reason everybody was mad at me." Tony replayed the scene in his mind, and it brought tears to his eyes. "How do you think Ziva would have felt about that, Agent Gibbs?"

Gibbs started to speak.

"Just get out. Get the Hell out!" Tony said in an even and as level a voice as he could muster.

Gibbs hesitated.

Tony growled. "Don't think, for a minute, I won't remove you! GO!"

TBC