Look at my profile! Lol, sorry about that little imperative ;) But Gibbslet drew several amazing pictures of Tony and George (And Gibbs :D); the link's on my profile ^^
Thanks for reviews, I appreciate each and every one :)
Warning: There're parts in this chapter that contain vomiting :) If you don't like it, skip it and tell me, and I'll give ya a brief outline of what happened :)
Gibbs stretched out his legs happily, resisting the urge to yawn like a cat. He'd finished the tidying up of the living room (Which he still took great joy in, which he found slightly odd) and was stretched out on the sofa quite happily, watching an old sitcom on telly. He wasn't really focusing on it, his thoughts revolving around the way Tony had acted around his father.
Ok, when you first met him, Jackson could be slightly intimidating, but Tony acted like he was really trying to impress him, and not get on his bad side. Could he be trying to earn that kind of affection he never got before as a child? Was Gibbs not really giving him enough? Maybe he should talk to him more. That's why Tony tried to get so much attention off Jackson, because he needed another adult to do it, as he clearly wasn't getting that much off his boss?
Gibbs had stopped relaxing now, his thoughts jumbled up inside his head, confusing and worrying him. However, he jumped up as he heard a small moan on the baby monitor he constantly had by him. Almost running up the stairs, determined to give Tony the affection he was obviously not getting at the moment, Gibbs slid into the baby's room, pausing for half a second before hearing yet another tiny moan.
"Tony?" Gibbs approached the cot. Tony was curled up in a little ball, desperately sucking his thumb, with one arm holding his stomach, his eyes squeezing together as a few tears seeped out from beneath his eyelids,
"Tony?" Gibbs asked again, his heart beating faster than it should have done, "What's wrong?"
Tony blinked his eyes open and whimpered softly, "Hurts." Gibbs heart flipped over as he realised this was one thing he definitely didn't have any power over,
"Where exactly does it hurt DiNozzo?" Gibbs used his last name in the hopes that Tony might tell him. He knew the kid would be hesitant to tell him, embarrassed or scared of being a nuisance; so maybe if he used the name the poor kid was used to, he might spill,
"My tummy... I don't feel well." Tony croaked unhappily. However, now was 'round about the time he'd get up and hold his arms out for comfort, but he just curled up tighter, giving a little sob. At once Gibbs reached in a slowly and gently lifted him out,
"It's ok Tony... I know you don't feel well, but how about a little walk around the house?" Tony simply gave a small whimper into Gibbs' chest (He was holding the kid as he would a small baby), so Gibbs just took that as a 'Yes'. However, he only stayed to the upstairs, not wanting Tony to be jogged or anything going up or down stairs.
"Gibbs..." He moaned, and the older man instantly knew what he wanted. In a flash they were in the bathroom, and Gibbs carefully knelt down by the toilet, holding Tony close to it but still kept him near his body, offering him warmth and protection. He rubbed the kid's back softly, wincing as he heard the familiar sounds of a stomach churning sickeningly.
Very soon, Tony was emptying the contents of his stomach into the toilet bowl, sobbing weakly as the lack of sleep, how he felt, and the horrible feeling of throwing up got too much for him. All Gibbs could do was rub his back and stroke his hair, offering small words of comfort into his ears until he finally finished, leaning against his boss tiredly, but still with that horrible feeling in his stomach,
"You ok?" Gibbs asked softly, "Think you can be sat up?" Tony nodded, and was slowly brought up to a sitting position on Gibbs' knee, who was perched on the side of the bath. Not saying anything, the older man took his phone out of his pocket and pressed a speed dial, soon getting an answer,
"Jethro! I wasn't expecting to hear from you tonight! How's your head?"
"It's fine Duck," Gibbs replied impatiently, wincing as Tony gave a small whine and nuzzled into his shirt, "Look, I know it's quite late, but..."
"It's only half seven Jethro." Ducky reminded him, to which Gibbs replied,
"Sorry, I guess I've been going by Tony-time. I think it's late when he goes to bed... Anyway, I didn't call to ask what time it was! Tony's ill. He just threw up and he said his stomach hurts." Gibbs could sense Ducky shuffling up in his seat interestedly,
"He might have caught something in the hospital yesterday Jethro, there were quite a few pale children there."
Gibbs nodded, and asked, "Will you come? Please?"
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs saying please? It must be urgent. I'll be there in a wink my boy." Gibbs thanked him and put the phone down. The scene was like a playback, with visions ranging from Kelly sobbing as she hurt her knee; Kelly teething, her irkesome wails keeping him and Shannon up all night; Kelly ill, throwing up miserably; Tony whimpering as he rubbed his gums in frustration; Tony trying to breathe, an IV in his arm, blue lights everywhere...
"Jethro!" Gibbs and Tony's heads both jerked upwards, which made Tony give another tiny whimper and push his face into Gibbs' chest, letting him rock him forward and back, the gesture soothing for a while, until he was suddenly taken away from the safety of his fath... Gibbs' arms and sat on the closed toilet seat lid, being looked at closely by Ducky, who asked,
"How long have you felt like this?"
Tony rubbed at his eyes, hoping to drive away the tears building up there, "Only since I woke up."
Ducky looked to Gibbs for translation, "About half an hour ago."
"And he's been vomiting and said his stomach hurts?" Gibbs nodded, taking Tony back from the toilet seat as he looked like he was about to start howling.
Giving him a comforting cuddle when Ducky's back was turned for a second, Gibbs asked, "What do you think is wrong with him?"
"I would say it's just a stomach bug. He needs plenty of liquids and rest Jethro, but I would suggest having another person round."
"Why?" Gibbs demanded. He'd been doing well with Tony so far hadn't he?
"Well... Abigail's been quite worried, and I hear poor Timothy is being quite bullied by Caitlin, who needs to speak to you about something, so..."
"So you invited them all round and they're waiting outside?" Gibbs asked shrewdly, narrowing his eyes. Ducky blushed slightly and bowed his head, saying,
"They promised not to disturb young Anthony unless you said so, and said they didn't want you to be lonely."
"I'm not lonely," Gibbs defended, "We had a visitor this afternoon, didn't we Tony?" The baby nodded, clutching at Gibbs' fingers like a life-line, and whispered,
"Grandpa."
Gibbs chuckled and said to Ducky, "My Dad came round. After not that much contact for about ten years, he picks now of all times to visit."
"What did you say?" The excitable squeal that came with that question definitely didn't come from Ducky, and Gibbs turned to find Abby hovering in the doorway, along with McGee and Kate squashed behind her. As soon as she saw the miserable Tony sat limply in Gibbs' arms Abby at once lowered her voice and gave a whispered apology; before,
"Do you want me to take him for a while Gibbs? You look like you could use the rest."
Gibbs at once shook his head and argued, "I need to stay with him, he's ill, and if he gets worse, what if..."
"Gibbs, just go get some rest, I'll be fine." Tony murmured. Gibbs looked down at his face worriedly. What if something was seriously wrong with the baby? Gibbs knew that Tony wanted him close by, but all the same, he was pretty tired...
"Go Gibbs." Abby ordered, "We'll look after him for you. I promise." Gibbs looked at her for a moment before hesitantly offering Tony to Abby, who was about to cringe and whimper, holding his arms out for Gibbs again, before remembering that he'd told Gibbs it was fine. He sat there in Abby's arms for a while, unhappily, before she carefully stepped out the room, leaving Gibbs to go to the living room with Ducky.
She sat down gently on a chair in the kitchen, and whispered,
"So what did you do today baby?" Tony sniffed miserably, although his stomach felt slightly better,
"Grandpa came round...and I drew him a picture." Abby kissed Tony's head and lapsed into silence, thinking. Tony was undoubtedly slipping more and more into Tony Junior. Not in the way he spoke, as she knew 18 month olds could barely string a proper sentence together, but in what he said, or how he said it. What if it got so bad that he'd forever talk like that? She knew Gibbs wouldn't mind being called 'Daddy', whatever he said, but it would be horrible without Tony. Actual Tony, who would happily tease McGee and Kate, and forever say, 'On your six Boss!'.
"Abbs?" Tony asked in a small voice,
"Yeah sweetie?"
"Do you think Gibbs likes having me here?" Abby grinned, and in that small gesture, Tony guessed he did. However, Abby felt it prudent to expand on it,
"Of course he does Tony! If he didn't you wouldn't be here! I mean, he feeds you, changes you, bathes you... Need I go on? He loves having a baby in the house!"
"A baby?" Tony questioned quietly, "Or me?" Abby bit her lip,
"I meant you Tony, not just any baby."
"Yeah but he only wants me here while I'm still like this. As soon as I'm normal it'll be back to... slaps on the head and growling."
"Which makes you feel wanted."
"But I feel more wanted now." He moaned, just before he gave a whine and started to sob weakly, "I don't feel so good..." Abby cuddled him before she realised that was subtle hint to, 'I'm going to throw up now.'
She got him over to Gibbs' sink, praying he wouldn't be angry for it. Once Tony had finished, she kissed his head again, and got him to drink some water. He sipped it and felt better, but still had tears in his eyes, and was glancing at the door every three seconds, hoping a certain person would come in.
--
"Should we still go to the nursery tomorrow?" Kate asked Gibbs, not sure whether that sounded tactless or not.
Gibbs shrugged and replied, "I don't know Kate. We'll see how he is in the morning. If not, we call the whole thing off and go in guns blazing and arrest him. The more I think about it, the more it sounds a better idea."
Kate snorted, not really sure what to do. To be completely honest, she didn't want to go to the nursery with Tony tomorrow. The suspect creeped her out a bit, and she knew Tony would do something. Still, she merely nodded and winced as she heard the sounds of more vomiting in the kitchen, followed by sobbing.
At once, Gibbs tried to get up and go to the baby, to try and comfort him, but they wouldn't let him. He was pinned back slightly by Ducky and Kate, and told,
"Abby can handle it Gibbs, she has little siblings."
"But I should be with him," Gibbs argued, "He needs me." There was a small silence as they all processed what Gibbs said. They knew how much he cared for Tony, and how that side was coming out more and more as time went on, but he was never so open about it. They all jumped as Abby re-entered the room, holding Tony,
"He was exhausted," She explained, as they realised the baby was asleep, "He said he felt better after the second time."
"Maybe he didn't catch anything," Ducky said, "He may just have... needed to vomit I suppose. But keep an eye on him Jethro." Gibbs nodded as Ducky went out the house, quickly followed by every member of his team.
Really. You'd think they didn't have lives of their own. McGee hadn't even said anything. It was as if they'd all come round to make sure he was keeping Tony alive. He scowled but quietly placed the baby in the cot, and kissed his forehead softly,
"Night night kiddo, see you in the morning."
Ok, I know this was like, worst chapter ever, and quite short, but I didn't have much ideas for this part, and it was kinda to tide them over to the next day, when lots is going to happen (I hope :P). So, sorry again, but I'd really appreciate reviews :) xx