AN: Thanks so much for all the great feedback from the first chapter. This is probably going to end up longer than I first intended and I need to finish "Dinner" as well so I might not be able to update quite as quickly as I'd like. I'll do the best I can though. Thanks for reading :)

xxxxx

30 minutes and counting...

It was funny. Most people had family to rally around them in times of trouble. Tony had Gibbs and his NCIS family. When he had been sick with the plague, Kate had been terrific while he was in the hospital. She had stayed with him and their playful banter had helped him keep his mind off of what had been happening, at least a little bit. He felt a twinge of guilt when he realized he had never had the chance to properly thank her for that. When he had been released from the hospital, Gibbs had taken over. It had all started with Gibbs insisting on driving Tony home. It hadn't taken Tony long to realize that they were headed in the opposite direction of where he lived.

"Hey, boss...this isn't the way to my apartment," Tony said.

"I know how to get to your apartment, DiNozzo," Gibbs responded.

Tony had been puzzled, but nonetheless had kept his mouth shut, at least for a minute or two. "You taking me out to lunch?" he asked. His appetite was still nowhere near what it usually was, but he supposed he could manage to eat if that was Gibbs' plan.

"We're going to my house, Tony," Gibbs said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh..." That had thrown Tony. He couldn't help but wonder why they were going to Gibbs' place. "Uh, boss? Why are we doing that?" He didn't want to be impolite, but truth be told, he was already starting to tire.

"You are staying with me for a couple of days, DiNozzo," Gibbs replied.

"Staying with you?" Tony echoed. "I appreciate that, but, uh...I can take care of myself, boss."

"You are staying with me," Gibbs had repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Staying with you, boss," Tony had dutifully responded.

In reality, staying with Gibbs had been great. Gibbs had made sure he was doing okay, but he hadn't treated Tony like an invalid. He had made his concern known though and it had been very obvious how much Gibbs cared about him. Coming from a family where Tony had basically been starved for attention, it had been really nice to have someone taking care of him. They had shared some nice talks and Gibbs had even taught Tony a thing or two about boat building. He had actually felt disappointed the day Gibbs had deemed him fit enough to return to his own apartment.

Tony sighed sadly as he realized he likely wouldn't be having any more moments like that one. Not to mention the fact that he was going to die alone. Not that he would have wanted anyone to be in this predicament with him, but it would have been kind of nice to have someone hold his hand or listen to his dying words...something...

25 minutes and counting...

As he started to search in yet another building, Gibbs was trying very hard not to lose hope. He was just trying to stay focused on the task at hand, trying not to think of what Tony was going through. Tony still had so much unfinished in his life, both personally and professionally. He wanted so much for the younger man, wanted to see him fall in love and have children. Having a real family, someone to go home to, would do him all the good in the world. He had to smile at the thought of little DiNozzos running around. Professionally, he wanted Tony to have the chance to run his own team, though selfishly, he would hate like hell to lose him. Of course, now it could very well be a moot point. His stomach was a tangled mass of knots even considering the possibility that they wouldn't find Tony in time. He forced the negative thoughts from his mind and continued to search.

20 minutes and counting...

Tony started to think about Kate and that fateful day on the rooftop. He remembered how scared he had been when she took the bullet to her chest, then the intense relief to find out the bullet was embedded in her protective vest. The subsequent shock when she had been shot in the head and killed instantly had almost been to much to bear. He had managed to hold himself together pretty well until after the funeral. Then, alone in his apartment, he had finally let himself feel the pain.

Tony had just taken a sip of his third beer when he heard a knock on his apartment door. "Go away," he muttered to himself. Geeze, couldn't he ever get any peace?

The knocking continued persistently. "Nobody's home!" he finally called out in aggravation.

"DiNozzo, its Gibbs."

Damn...what the hell did he want? "Not feeling so hot, boss. I'm resting. Can't this wait?"

"Open the door, Tony. I want to talk to you."

"Just go away, boss." He angrily swiped at his tear-filled eyes with the back of his hand. He didn't want Gibbs to see him this way. Couldn't he just leave?

"Don't make me break the door down, DiNozzo."

Damn him. Tony got to his feet and stormed over to the front door, flinging it open. "What?" he demanded as Gibbs brushed past him and entered his apartment. "What do you want?"

"Like I said, I want to talk to you." Gibbs entered Tony's living room and took a seat on Tony's sofa, then patted the cushion next to him. "Sit down, DiNozzo."

"I'd rather stand." Tony knew he was being rude, but he basically didn't care. Gibbs was the one who just decided to show up out of the blue without even calling.

Gibbs sighed. "Don't be stubborn, Tony."

"Fine." Tony had taken a seat on the sofa but kept his are crossed over his chest defensively. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Kate."

Tony had given Gibbs a stricken look then slowly shook his head. "I don't want to talk about Kate."

"Come on, Tony...I know how close the two of you were."

"I said I don't want to talk about her." Since when was Gibbs Mr. touchy feely all wanting to talk about feelings anyway?

"I know how much it hurts to lose her...I'm feeling it too."

Tony had looked back at Gibbs and had been surprised to see one lone tear drop slowly trickle down Gibbs' cheek.

Seeing that Gibbs was as affected by Kate's death as he was had allowed Tony to let his guard down a bit. He had offered Gibbs a beer and then they had ended up ordering a pizza. The two men had bonded and shared stories about Kate. Although they had kept heartfelt emotions and any more tears at bay, Tony knew it had made him feel better. He liked to think it had helped Gibbs as well. Thinking about Kate now, Tony couldn't help envying her a tiny bit. She had never even known what hit her...he wished that he would have been so lucky...

15 minutes and counting...

Gibbs was starting to feel a little bit desperate. He found himself moving even faster, calling Tony's name out as he went. This wasn't the first time Tony had been in jeopardy with Gibbs searching for him. He recalled the time that they had been investigating the disappearance of marine gunnery sergeant Bill Atlas. Tony had been trailing a suspect at a bar. He had been checking in with Gibbs on his cell phone and had had told Gibbs he thought he had screwed up right before their cell phone connection had abruptly ended. Gibbs had been beside himself with worry over the young agent and had been immensely relieved when they found him safe. Then there was the time Tony had gone undercover, posing as an escaped prisoner. They had been tracking Tony via a GPS locator when they had lost the signal. Then they had discovered that the man Tony was with was not only a thief, but a killer as well. Finally, after a stressful search, Gibbs had found him in the front seat of a car with blood-spattered windows. He remembered the trepidation he had felt as he walked towards the car, fearing what he was going to find within. Tony was alive though. He had managed to kill Jeffrey White before the man had killed him.

"You can't keep doing this to me, DiNozzo," Gibbs muttered. He was getting too old for this.

10 minutes and counting...

Tony wondered what his father was going to think. He wondered if he'd attend his funeral...wondered if he'd really care at all. He probably would care a little bit anyhow. After all, the last time they'd seen each other, Tony's father had hugged him...had told him that he loved him. He still wasn't sure whether he believed him or not, but for the man to even tell him that must have meant he had at least some feelings for him, didn't it?

He knew that Gibbs did. Gibbs was going to miss him for sure. Abby would be really upset as well. Ziva...McGee...it wouldn't be easy for them either. He knew these people all cared about him, just as he cared about them. Ducky would talk to his charred body on one of his autopsy tables, calling him 'dear boy' and mourning in his own way...that was if there was even a body left...maybe he'd just totally be blown to bits, probably not though...they had found the bodies of the other two murdered agents...in bad shape, but bodies nonetheless. He wondered if it was going to hurt or if he'd just suddenly be gone.

God...he was scared...he was really scared. He wished someone would come and save him...he didn't want it to end this way...

8 minutes and counting...

Time was running out. This couldn't be happening. Gibbs couldn't lose him like this. Hadn't he lost enough in his life? Now he was going to lose his boy? Tony didn't deserve this. It wasn't fair...it wasn't fair at all...

xxxxx

5 minutes and counting...

So, this was how Anthony DiNozzo's life was going to end...

Now that his time had come, he was starting to come to terms with what was about to happen and accept his fate. He did feel bad for those he was leaving behind though. He knew Gibbs was going to take this hard...really hard... He wished there was some way he could have told him that he knew the man would have done everything in his power to find him...that it wasn't his fault.

Tony had never really put much thought into whether or not there was an afterlife. He wasn't really a praying kind of guy, but now that his time on this earth was over, he figured a prayer wouldn't hurt.

He closed his eyes and bowed his head.

Our father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...

xxxxx

4 minutes and counting...

The second Gibbs saw the door, he knew that Tony was behind it. It was obviously brand new, it didn't match anything else around him. He also knew that time was just about up. He aimed his gun at the lock, praying that he'd get the damn door open.

xxxxx

3 minutes and counting...

The sound of gunshots interrupted his silent prayer. Tony opened his eyes in wonderment as Gibbs came through the doorway, just like a real live action hero.

"Are you hurt? Can you walk?" Gibbs pulled out his knife and quickly cut through Tony's bonds and released the gag. There was no time to try to disarm the bomb...no time at all to spare.

"I'm not hurt, boss."

Gibbs put his arm around the younger man, helping him to his feet, and practically dragged him from the room. "Run!"