Thanks for all the reviews ^^ I feel awful not letting on what's gonna happen at the end, but you just have to wait and see :)
Oh yeah, and there's more dialogue in this one than I thought there would be :( Sorry, but it might be worth it??
Warning: Wee bit of language in this :)
"You think Gibbs is going to kill him?" McGee asked Kate quietly as they discussed how Lacey had spent the night, sat in interrogation. Kate smiled to herself, knowing that as soon as Gibbs entered that room there was a good chance he wouldn't stop until he got blood all over the walls. Yeah, he might get answers pretty quickly, but he'd keep going.
"It depends who 'he' is and what he's done McGee." Gibbs said as he moved smoothly into the bullpen, his mouth jerking upwards into a grin as both McGee and Kate jumped half a mile into the air before turning around, Kate being pushed forward slightly as spokesperson,
"Er, we were just talking about Lacey, Gibbs," She said, glancing down at Tony who was scribbling on his sling with a felt tip, "He's been in interrogation all night, and is waiting for you." She grinned as Gibbs got an awful murderous glint in his eyes,
"Tony," He said, sitting the baby down on his seat, "Will you stay down here while I have a quick word with the Director?" Tony nodded happily, now drawing on some paper. Gibbs was about to bend down and kiss his head before realising that that may not be the best option - it was usually reserved for bedtimes or comforting, and Tony was in his adult mind mostly right now. He settled for a calm pat on the head and went up the stairs to MTAC.
Kate glanced over to Tony and smirked. Gibbs was undoubtedly in a good mood from the fact that A) Tony was happy, and B) He was going to kick Lacey's ass. Plus, she felt like a bit of fun,
"Tony," She started sweetly, "Want to play a game?" Tony glanced up eagerly,
"Strip poker?"
"Don't be disgusting DiNozzo," She admonished, before leaning back on her chair and asking, "What about truth or dare?" She snickered as she saw the flash of excitement in his eyes and knew how much he wanted to play - such opportunities just didn't arise so often. However, his face fell and he said,
"'M not allowed."
"Why?" Kate asked curiously,
"'Cause 'member last time we played? And Gibbs said if we did it again he'd... y'know..." She grinned at how frightened he looked at the Boss' threat,
"Tony that was months ago. And he wouldn't care now, you know what he does whenever you get in trouble." Tony grinned slyly at her and asked innocently,
"What do you mean?" Kate shook her head,
"Oh no, you do not need an ego-boost about he 'looks at you like a son' or whatever, so I'm not going to say anything." Tony shrugged, knowing she already kind of admitted what she wouldn't say. Instead, he grinned again and said,
"How long do you reckon it would take me to annoy McGeek so much that he'd try and hit me or something?"
"What?" Kate asked, thrown off balance, "McGee wouldn't hit a baby!" Tony thought for a moment before saying,
"Fine, how about we see how long it takes for him to make me cry." Kate tutted and asked,
"How will I know whether you're pretending or not?" Before realising the stupidness of the question and shook her head, "Tony it's McGee, I doubt he could make you cry." Tony shrugged and said,
"Fine, how long it takes for him to yell."
"And extra points if you get it within Gibbs hearing distance."
"Do I get extra if he only gets angry at Probie?"
"I guess."
"Then watch and learn." Kate grinned as Tony slid off the chair and toddled over to McGee, who was scrolling through some emails from his sister. She's attached some photos, and Tony clambered up onto a chair next to him and asked,
"Who's she?"
"That's my sister, she's studying at college, and we haven't talked in a while."
"Why?" McGee pondered this and said,
"I guess we just drifted apart, I mean, we were close as children, but when I moved out we just never really..."
"Why?"
"I was too busy, what with my studying."
"Why?"
"So I could get a good grade."
"Why?"
"So I could get a good job, and start my work at Norfolk."
"Why?"
"Well, I guess I really always wanted to join NCIS and..."
"Why?"
"Tony, you're doing this on purpose aren't you? Stop it."
"Why?"
"It's not funny..."
"Why?"
Kate giggled as McGee and Tony kept this up, before seeing Gibbs come out of MTAC. Giving a slight cough that only Tony picked up on. He glanced up and saw Gibbs, and quickly looked back at McGee, who did look ready to explode,
"Hey McGee," He said quickly, "Knock Knock." McGee sighed heavily but replied,
"Who's there?" Tony saw Gibbs walking down the stairs, so instead upped his annoyance plan to stage four,
"You've got something there." Foolishly, McGee looked down as Tony prodded him in his chest. The baby pulled his finger up so quickly that he accidentally stabbed the other agent in the eye. He bit his lip as McGee cried out in pain, before yelling at Tony,
"What was that for?!" Tony could hear Gibbs quicken his pace, having heard the shout. So, he blinked rapidly, feeling tears already falling down his face. I would have owned acting school he thought proudly, before bringing some sobbing into it. Kate sighed as Gibbs stormed into the bullpen, gently lifting a sobbing Tony into his arms and growling at McGee,
"You had better have a good reason for this." McGee started to splutter something incoherent, and Gibbs started to feel quite sorry for him, before Tony brought it up slightly with some shuddering breaths and slight moaning, reaching his working arm out and lightly gripping some of Gibbs' hair. Even Kate felt her heartstrings pull (And she knew indefinitely that Tony was putting it on) at this performance. Gibbs glared harder at poor McGee and snarled,
"Go down to Abby and see if she needs any help." Kate could swear McGee was whimpering as he almost ran past her towards the elevator. Tony gave her a victorious grin over Gibbs' shoulder and she rolled her eyes, amused. He kept up the crying a little while longer, and eventually started to snuffle against Gibbs' shoulder. The older man bounced him slightly, before saying,
"You ok now?" Tony nodded but didn't let go of Gibbs' hair.
"Erm, excuse me, Special Agent Gibbs?" Gibbs turned, still rubbing Tony's back to see Melissa. She smiled slightly, before walking over and stroking Tony's cheek in a calming gesture,
"Ahh, he's lovely isn't he?" He nodded, dumbfounded as Tony held his arms out to this complete stranger, and clung to her sleepily as she swayed from side to side. She saw Gibbs staring and smiled shyly,
"I've always had quite a way with children. I was going to be a paediatrician, but I prefer my chemicals." Gibbs nodded and saw Tony drop to sleep.
"He's never done that," He murmured, "I'm not sure he's that good with strangers." Melissa smiled and asked,
"Would it be ok if we talked? Maybe in the cafeteria or somewhere?" Gibbs glanced at Kate, who was moving papers around her desk in an attempt to appear like she was working.
"Yeah," Gibbs replied, "Coffee'd be good."
--
"So... you haven't felt ill at all since you took it?" Melissa asked, smiling in amusement as Tony sat in the high chair, swinging his legs happily and gulping his drink, whilst answering,
"No, well - I was sick a couple of nights ago, but if there was anything wrong, wouldn't it be straight after I took it?" Melissa giggled as Gibbs sighed in exasperation and leant forward to wipe the spurts of juice that were constantly being thrown down the baby's chin. He stuck his tongue out at the older man and glanced back at Melissa to know the answer,
"Yeah, how did you feel right after changing?"
"Odd. Confused. I hadn't actually been told what was going to happen." He glared good-naturedly at Gibbs who chuckled and shrugged, before asking,
"So how long before we can change him?" Melissa shifted forward in her seat slightly and said,
"I was looking up on that a bit more after calling you. I can actually do it sooner than I thought, well, depending on other things."
"What kind of things?" Tony asked, having the sense to put his drink down before Gibbs would have to sluice him down,
"Well, how babyish do you find that you're acting?" Tony pondered for a while before responding,
"Quite. But sometimes, like now, I'm completely in control. And sometimes it's more of a mix."
"We found a way to turn him into 'Tony Junior' as Abby likes to call it," Gibbs told her, "So he acts completely babyish."
"But I still know what's going on!"
"Ok," Melissa soothed, as Tony looked quite bothered by it, "I just need to ask a few more questions. Like... do you feel like you need a parental figure more now? Have you ever, subconsciously wanted your parents, or maybe woken up wondering where they are?" Tony blushed slightly, and his gaze shifted ever so slightly over to Gibbs, who tactfully said,
"I need more coffee. Melissa?" She smiled at him and shook her head, and heard Tony answer when Gibbs had gone,
"Yes, and no. Like, I feel I need a parent more, but not my own..."
"What do you mean Tony?" She probed gently, wondering if he was saying what she thought he was saying,
"Alot of the time, I get really nervous if Gibbs isn't around, and... I guess I feel sometimes that I... I want..."
"You want him to be your parent." She finished quietly for him, and patted his hand as he nodded and blushed,
"Don't tell him," He begged her, "It'll just be awkward when I'm back to normal."
"I think he already knows," She responded, "But I won't tell him. Just, promise me you will, if things get to... bad." He raised his eyebrow, not sure what she meant, but nodded anyway. She continued asking questions (Which Tony thought were quite meaningless to be honest) until she smiled brightly at him as Gibbs took his seat back,
"Well, if you give me a few hours, I'll see what I can do." Both men's mouths fell open,
"Hours? As in, by tea time I'm going back to my own apartment?" Tony croaked, unable to believe it. Gibbs had the same expression on his face, and Melissa sensed there was more to his emotions than met the eye. Spreading her hands over the table, she said,
"Yes, I think so, I need to work on it though."
"I thought you were going to have to wait until his arm was better?" Gibbs asked, not sure why he wasn't feeling as joyful as he should be. Melissa smiled at him and replied,,
"That's what I thought, but Tony here gave me a run for my money. I know neither of you would really understand when I'll try to explain what exactly happens when I make this stuff, but I don't think it'll matter. Although," She paused, and looked at both men, "It might, because of the growing, keep your arm from healing for another, maybe month or so..."
"It's up to you Tony," Gibbs said, understanding what Melissa was getting at, "Would you rather stay like this for another couple of weeks or have a broken arm for a while longer as an adult?"
Tony thought. Hard. He was embarrassed to even think that he had gotten to enjoy this whole thing. He loved having absolutely no responsibility, and all the attention. And the whole 'better childhood' thing. What he liked most though, was being with Gibbs. It was like 24-7 father/son time, and Tony had to admit he loved it. He'd never get this ever again. Ok, he'd just be slowing the inevitable, as he would get changed in a few weeks when his arm was mended, but it was still more time with Gibbs. And all of that would go if he changed in mere hours, they'd never be that close again.
However, could he really cope another couple of weeks with these kind of reactions? What if he had to be... re-toilet trained or something? He wouldn't be able to cope with that, he knew. And what if Gibbs was acting all nice, but really, he was just putting up with him? What if Gibbs was seriously running out of patience with the constant demands of a toddler? And Tony was sure they needed more help on whatever cases they were doing. Maybe Gibbs was secretly wishing he did go back today?
"Tony?" he glance up, not aware he'd been thinking for so long,
"I think we should do it today." He replied, and was watching Melissa's face so his heart didn't have to break at the relieved smile he was sure would be on Gibbs' face.
He failed to see the flare of a powerful emotion in his Boss' eyes though, and the fake smile he had on whenever Tony glanced over throughout the day.
--
"Where's everyone going?" Tony asked, trying to keep up with Gibbs, Kate and McGee as they went over to the lift. Kate glanced down and took pity on Tony, picking him up before answering,
"Gibbs is finally going to interrogate Lacey." Tony spluttered and replied,
"Is that what he's calling it? Not torture then?" Kate grinned as they stepped out the lift, and lagged behind so she could say,
"So? What happened?"
"I got bonus points for getting McGee yelled at and not me."
"About Melissa, not our game." Kate replied, trying hard not to laugh as she was sure McGee had heard that, and was about to turn around and say something. Gibbs went into interrogation, before giving Tony a smile which clearly meant, 'I'll get him for you. I'll kill him if I want.'.
--
Tony watched through the mirror with wide eyes as Gibbs prowled around the man sat in the chair. He had clearly been there all night, and hadn't been allowed sleep. Right now, he was pleading with Gibbs, who growled,
"Why? Why should I let you out of here without a single broken bone? I think I owe Tony that much."
"Look man, I didn't know it was actually your kid, I thought it was just... something from Harley's old man's past." Gibbs eyed him critically and slammed his palm down on the table,
"Liar! I don't give a damn what you tell me or not to be honest. You know why?"
"Why?" Lacey asked, rather fearful, eyeing the hand that had not five minutes ago made contact with his face,
"Because I'm going to beat the crap out of you anyway." Gibbs retorted, glancing up at the mirror where he knew Tony was watching.
"Listen, how about we get a deal? I won't..." He was stopped by a fist in his mouth, and heard an ominous cracking noise as a chunk of his tooth made contact with Gibbs' hands, "Oww! You bastard!! I'll get you for this, I wish I'd fucking killed that kid while I had the chance!" Gibbs grabbed hold of Lacey's collar and threw him to the floor, until he was stood over him. However, Lacey grinned and drawled,
"I wonder if you'll ever know what it felt like Gibbs... to snap that brat's arm in half. To have that feeling of power when he's crying for food, or if he wants to go to sleep. And you're in charge of that. Completely in charge." Kate shielded Tony's eyes from inside the other room as Gibbs started to really hurt Lacey. It got to the point, after half a dozen kicks to the testes and when the man was nearly unconscious Gibbs was hauled out the room, breathing heavily.
"Er, Gibbs, I really hope I never get on the wrong side of you..." Tony said, eyeing his Boss warily. Gibbs nodded at him before breathing out,
"McGee, get this worthless piece of crap out of my interrogation room and into a small cell in the worst state prison." Tony grinned and was happy to get a smile back from Gibbs.
I don't really think this chapter went anywhere... And I'm so sorry for not having like, weeks of Baby!Tony, but you gotta admit, after a while - it's all been written. Hope you continue to read the last few chapter :) Review? xxx