AN: Thank you to all of my reviewers!!! I hope to be updating daily again, so there shouldn't be anymore gaps of waiting. I don't love this chapter, but the next one I really please do stick with it. The next chapter features McGee's point of view which I was really excited to explore. Also for those of you interested in a deaf story I really do like the idea and will be pursuing after I wrap this up.

Survival Italian:

Famiglia: Family

Basta: Enough

Per favore: Please

Dificil: Difficult

So apparently bringing Tony to Dominic's was the best thing I could have ever done. Tony is withdrawn and depressed for obvious reasons, but being here is slowly pulling him out of his funk. However, it is a slow pulling out and I swear, that I might actually have to kill Tony by the end of this. Some days DiNozzo refuses to get out of bed and others he just wants to be around people. The great thing about Dominic is that he seems to be almost as tuned into DiNozzo as I am. Almost. Dominic also, unbeknownst to me was an army medic which is perfect because Tony is comfortable with Dominic treating him, well, sort of.

Another real treat that I have discovered is McGee. I know he's smart, and that he's a good person, and loyal, but what I did not know is how good he is at working DiNozzo. Over the last few days they've become quite close, and McGee to his credit has learned to stand up to DiNozzo's temper tantrums and call him on it. And trust me, there have been temper tantrums: DiNozzo refusing to take his medicine, DiNozzo refusing to speak to our boss, DiNozzo refusing to let me look at him when I could clearly tell he was bleeding from underneath his shirt, DiNozzo refusing to take any calls from his family, well okay, that one I didn't really mind. But all in all? He's been impossible and he's been testing everyone every single chance he gets, which mind you isn't many because of the drugs that he is still on. Without them he's in agony, which is something he forgets every time that I tell him to take them. He likes his headspace, which I can't blame him for, but he is actually in agony. He's just furious, and to be honest if not for the drugs, he'd be dangerous and I don't know how I would handle him. At least the drugs dilute some of that anger. Well that's not true, they also fuel a lot of it.

It is normal what he's feeling, and I do not fault him for any of it, but it has to stop before he explodes or really hurts himself. He could have died in that cell, it was seven against one. The fact that he's breathing is a miracle, and I am not about to let him challenge the odds again. We have tried to keep him as entertained as possible, but it has been taxing. The continuous stream of movies has been our primary source, but DiNozzo can only sit still for so long. It was Dominic's idea to download more songs on Tony's iPod, which actually was a brilliant idea. Apparently Tony loves music. Five days in and we almost have a schedule down pat and everyone seems to be okay with it.

Tony and I have been sharing a room, under great protest let me assure you, but like everything else we too have become accustomed to a routine. Today, like most other days I get up around seven, earlier than the other occupants in the house, and go grab the morning paper and fresh bagels. I return back around eight, put the bagels on the counter and start reading the paper. Around nine Dominic enters, waves hello to me, and then disappears somewhere. The two of us are getting better at tolerating one another. I hear the shower upstairs and can now place McGee. At nine thirty I go to collect DiNozzo. I find McGee in the room sitting on the edge of the bed with Tony still laying in it looking straight up.

"Hey" I tell him, "Breakfast."

"Not hungry" DiNozzo tells me.

Okay so it's going to be one of those days. The first day he refused to get out of bed, and the second he refused until around lunch. The last two days we have gotten up and out but with difficulty. I'm not stupid and I know damn well that my agent is depressed. When full clarity was returned to him so he could ponder over the events that had transpired he became withdrawn and quiet and lifeless. He's in a trance and the fact that he can't move without assistance only exacerbates his depression. He has nothing to do all day but sit around and think about how upset he is. His family has called several times but after he threw the phone out the window, and the flowers that were sent in the mail (through a different window) I decided it was best to respect his wishes and so I have cut off all family interaction with him with the exception of Dominic.

"Tony", McGee says softly, "This is ridiculous. How am I supposed to watch this movie without you? I need the commentary to fully appreciate the cinematic masterpiece."

"I thought we were watching Austin Powers", Tony says back.

"Which I think is a stupid movie", McGee says, "But you have been quite insistent that I've been missing out."

"It's a cultural movie", Tony says, "It has pop culture, famous actors, and the beginning shot was all in one take, with all those people, that's insane!"

"Which is why I need you", McGee says.

"Probie", Tony sighs closing his eyes, "You're not working me."

"I guess not", McGee says. He moves over to the other side of the bed and lies down.

"What are you doing?"

Yes McGee, what are you doing?

"Waiting you out", McGee says challenging him.

Tony outright laughs. "You think you can beat me at laying here? I can't even get up, hell I can't feel half of my body, let's see how twitchy you get within five minutes."

"That's not what I think", McGee responds, "I just think that you'll get sick of me soon enough and want to leave."

"This is a trick", Tony says.

"Yes, yes it is."

"You're not supposed to tell people that you're tricking them when you're doing it."

"That's why this is especially tricky."

"I'm not getting up."

"Neither am I."

"Is this something you learned from playing online?"

"No, this is something I learned from you. To be so annoying that the other person has no choice but to leave the situation either by confessing, or in this case, getting up."

"Oh so you think you can out annoy me?"

"I'm a geek who pretends he's a fairy online. Do you know how much I could annoy you? Let's talk about the fundamentals of the game-"

"Come on", I hear Dominic yell from the living room downstairs. Apparently in this family intercoms are unnecessary and yelling from one room to another is perfectly acceptable. "I'm starting this, and I'm eating!"

"You're missing the beginning shot", Tony says.

"I hate stupid humor."

"Define stupid humor."

"Austin Powers."

"Define good humor."

"Scrubs."

"Sometimes I hate you."

McGee laughs.

"Come on Tony", he says, "Let's get up, okay? This is stupid."

There is silence.

"Yeah I know", he finally admits, "It's just frustrating McGee not being able to do anything."

"It's just the drugs Tony", McGee responds gently.

"I hate being like this", Tony says candidly.

"We hate it too", McGee responds laughing lightly. "So can we get up?"

Tony glances over at him and then me. A smile is tugging at him, and I can't believe this but I think that McGee actually did it.

"Okay McTricky" DiNozzo says, "You win this round."

I'm smiling despite myself and ruffle Tim's hair. Very very good boy.

"McGee" DiNozzo says as I help right him, "Can you tell Dom to hold the movie until after breakfast?"

McGee nods and runs off to do so.

"You leaving me today boss" he asks me as we make our way onto the floor.

"Yeah" I reply, "That going to be a problem?"

"I'll be fine" he says.

"That's not who I was worrying about."

He smiles to the floor.

"DiNozzo" I say as we hobble to the stairs, "You behave yourself, you understand me?"

He glances at me and after a beat responds.

"I'll try my best."

"Try harder than that."

We make our way to the kitchen and after I situate DiNozzo for breakfast and when I am satisfied he's eating with McGee and Dominic I go to change. This morning I am going to the police station to help tie up some ends, which I really don't want to do. I don't want to be around the people that almost killed my agent, I don't want to be around the people that accused my agent of criminal activity, I just don't want to be around them, but most of all, I don't want to leave DiNozzo. It's not that I don't trust Dominic and McGee it's just that I trust Tony more, and if Tony doesn't want to do something, I'm pretty sure neither of them are going to be able to make him do it. It's around nine and I'm about to leave except I hear what seems to be a fight starting. That's great DiNozzo, start the day off with a problem nice and early. I'm glad to see that you're listening. I walk into the kitchen and hear Dominic pleading with him.

"Come on Tony", I hear him saying. "I'm going to help you, okay?"

"Don't touch me", I hear Tony growl.

That's new development. No one touches DiNozzo without his explicit say so or else he goes nuts. He's always, always had issues with his space but after recent events any perceived violation of it just makes him angrier and more defensive.

"So what", Dominic asks, "You're just going to sit here all day? Tony, you're covered in milk."

"Don't touch me Dom", Tony replies.

"Tony", I hear McGee pleading, "This is ridiculous, and you know that this is ridiculous. We have plans and you're going to stymie them so you can sit in a puddle of milk? Now enough, let's not start the day off like this."

"Antonio", Dom sighs, "Basta, per favore, don't you want to watch the movie? We got all of your favorites."

"You touch me and I'll bite you" Tony snarls. And that right there is the only negative of staying with Dominic; my senior agent who has proved to be brilliantly resourceful is reduced to an angry bickering with a sibling over whose toy is whose. The two love each other, but the way they handle each other is like they did when they were children and the same rules apply.

"Well fine", Dominic sighs, "It seems that you have it all worked out, Tim, let's go."

"What about me", Tony cries.

"You can see the screen from here."

Tony is incredulous.

"Yeah well fuck you Dominic", he yells back.

Oh I've been letting the cursing slide, but that boy just pushes me to the limit. He's in pain and out of it I remind myself. He's on a million drugs and can't move I remind myself. If I hurt him I will have to train another field agent and I remind myself how much I hate the majority of the population.

"Tony", McGee says, "If you need us, just call. We'll be in the living room."

I hear glass being hurled and then smashing against something hard.

"Fuck you too", Tony shouts back, "I don't need your help, I can get up by myself."

No you can't. And if you try, I will kill you. You know, he is stupid enough to try, and I'm about to go in, I say about, well, let's give three minutes.

Dominic sighs again, "Look man, when you're ready, you let me know."

"I'm not a child", Tony screams angry that his baiting tactics have failed, "You can't just blow me off!"

Dominic stops and retreats back. I dare to peek over to see what is happening. Dominic has crouched down and is in Tony's face which is impressive for a man of that size.

"Hey", he says with a bit of an edge, "Look, I know you're in pain, and I know you're drugged to the gills, and I know that you're pissed at the family, and Tony you have every right to be, but I am not blowing you off, and I am not your father and I don't want to hear another word from your mouth that compares me to him. You understand me?"

"Did you know", I hear Tony ask quietly.

"Did I know what kid", Dominic asks patiently.

"About what Elena had planned", he says.

I hear a body being pushed onto the cabinets. I don't want to, but I will stop this if Dominic continues.

"You don't ask me that", I hear Dominic scream in his ear, "You fucking know I didn't know, you know that Tony! You and me, we're brothers, and I wouldn't do that to you, you don't ask me that again, you understand me? Hey, are you listening smart ass, I don't want to hear it again!"

"Well what did you know", Tony screams, "You had to have known some of it!"

I hear Dominic get up and walk around. This is the first time I've heard of DiNozzo taking issue with Dominic.

"Tony", I hear him say gritting the name out, "You're pushing it. I didn't know jack shit and you know that."

I hear another glass being thrown. The problem is that Tony apparently is right near the sink with a bunch of dirty glasses in reach.

"Damn it Tone", Dominic says, "Would you stop throwing all of my mugs, I don't have that many. I live alone."

"It's not my fault that your fucking fiancé died and left you!"

And that's my cue to enter. Before Dominic can charge him I'm already holding him back.

"Hey", I tell him I his ear, "Walk it off, go walk it off."

"Damn it Tone", I hear him screaming while fighting against me, "That was fucking low!"

"Walk it off", I order him, "Go, now."

I push him away from the situation and he doesn't resist me. He passes through the living room and goes out to the backyard slamming the door.

"You little shit", I say yelling at Tony, "That was uncalled for!"

"I can't fucking walk Gibbs" he yells right back at me, "I don't want to hear about my poor famiglia, yes this must be so difícil for them!"

That's it. I grab his face and hard.

"Watch your mouth", I tell him, "And that family member is the one who is taking off from work to stay home to be abused by you!"

"Bite me", Tony yells, "I can add it to my collection!"

McGee's head swoops to our direction but wisely says nothing. Tony goes to grab another glass, but I catch his arm.

"DiNozzo", I yell, and good the brat jumps a little, "I am pretty damn sure we have had conversations about you throwing things at people!"

"Let me go", he yells, "You let me go!"

"No" I yell right back, "Tony, it is 10 in the morning, we are not doing this all day!"

I grab him and start to drag him to the living room. I have to go and I can't leave this issue unresolved. I need him settled so I can go because I know damn well that there is no one else in this house that is going to hold him accountable for jack shit. You can't talk to people like DiNozzo, he's too smart and knows exactly what buttons to push on each and every person.

"Hey", Dominic says reappearing back, "Just let him go. Don't hurt him. He doesn't know what he's saying."

Apparently Dominic Leone does not trust me with his cousin. Well…that's fair. Our last squabble involved me straddling him and holding his arms to force him to take some damn pill. Alright, so maybe control escaped me at that moment.

"He's not staying in the kitchen to keep terrorizing people", I say back dragging him to the couch. I throw him onto it and I don't care if it hurts or not. I loom over him and grab his fingers and start bending them backwards until I know he has to be feeling it.

"Hey man", Dominic says, "You're hurting him."

I ignore Dominic and keep pushing until finally I see some reaction from DiNozzo. He has no energy to fight me, and he knows better than to try, but that doesn't stop him.

"Let me go Gibbs", he grits out.

"Stop struggling" I tell him so quietly near his ear.

"Gibbs", McGee starts in, "You're hurting him."

"Let me go", DiNozzo pants out.

"Stop struggling", I say again.

"Tony just calm down for Pete's sake", Dominic yells.

"Boss", McGee says raising his voice, "You're going to break his fingers."

That's another new development. McGee has become incredibly protective of DiNozzo. The two of them have been talking more and more, and Tony for whatever reason seems to listen more to Tim than myself or his cousin. However its times like these when I want to just tell McGee to shut up. I know a thing or two about breaking fingers and there is still more pressure to be applied until that happens. I don't understand how he could actually think I would break his fingers. I'm trying to help here damn it, I just have a very different relationship with DiNozzo than he does. Of course on the other hand it is always nice to have some voice in the room saying that you are crossing the line because with DiNozzo that line moves constantly.

"Knock it off", I order to DiNozzo and finally I get some kind of response. He stops completely. I push back harder on his fingers over the edge of the couch and then let go. The problem is that when DiNozzo has problems like these he needs to get them out of his system by doing something physical like running. However, because moving is out of the question he's just stuck in this cycle of depression and rage.

"McGee", I order, "Turn the damn movie on."