Sorry for the days delay. I have to say that maybe this chapter is not as good as the previous ones... The father of a really good friends of mine and my family past away thursday and while he and his wife were there i had to babysit their daughers of 10 and 7, who aredevastated for their loss of their grandpa, which made me sad too :( heartbroken kids just makes me cry. So yeah...
Anyways this is the last chapter for this story, but i promise! there will be a Sequel. I wanted to thank you all for your reviews and I would love it if you would follow me if you want to have an update for the first chapter for the sequel.
(Warning: No BETA! So any Typo's and/or grammar mistakes are mine, just please to hold them against me ;) )
Enjoy your reading people!
''Okay! You guys thought about what I ordered you to?'' Gibbs asked angry as he stepped out from the elevator and walked into the bullpen.
''Ah Jethro! I was wondering where you went'' Ducky spoke up. He was sitting on Gibbs desk and had heard about what was going on from McGee and Ziva, after he had found Abby crying downstairs. ''I wanted to speak to you''
''I'm kind of busy, Duck'' Gibbs half-heartily dismissed his friend. ''I have to have a talk to my team at the moment'' He glared at Ziva and McGee, but they kept that gazes on the papers in front of them.
''Yes, I heard about young Anthony''
''What do you know about my days in Mexico?'' Gibbs asked, realizing that Ducky's opinion can help.
''I'm afraid not much, other than the fact that Anthony was more tired and had a temper, much related to yours. Ziva and Timothy didn't talk much about how he was. I sensed some tension, but trying to talk to them, one of them did not make them open up'' Ducky said.
Gibbs turned to the two others in the bullpen. ''So, you didn't go anywhere with your problems?'' The two shook their heads. ''Why not?''
''We thought that Tony would solve his own problems. He should be able to'' Tim said.
''And you never thought to ask what was wrong?''
''We did!'' Ziva said annoyed. ''He said that nothing was wrong. That he was fine''
''How long are you here now, Agent David?'' Gibbs asked.
''Two years'' She answered.
''And you still don't know Tony's definition for the word 'Fine'?'' Gibbs asked. ''He can be shot in the gut and bleeding to death and still claim he's fine'' He growled.
''That definitely sounds like Anthony'' Ducky said.
''What were we supposed to do?'' McGee asked. ''You know as well as we do that Tony doesn't talk''
''Funny, I thought I just had a nice talk with him...'' Gibbs thought. ''I would keep asking and glaring until he spoke up. I wouldn't give up simply because he says he's fine'' Gibbs snapped. ''That's not the big issue right now'' He shook his head. ''Have you thought about why you thought you had the right to ignore or to disobey order from a team leader?''
Ducky kept himself in the background, observing his friends.
Ziva was the first to speak up. ''I simply didn't see and still don't see how his skills and methods of working are so good that he had to be the one to be Supervisory Agent''
McGee jaw dropped. He too had his doubts but he wasn't so bold in saying it that way.
''His skills?'' Gibbs asked in disbelieve. ''You doubt his abilities as a SFA or a Supervisory Field Agent? Tony has 6 years of street experience and 6 years of investigating experience, the second 6 all of them under me. Would you really think that if he wasn't as good as he is that he would still be on my team?'' Gibbs asked.
''No but that doesn't mean that he has it in him to lead an team'' Ziva protested.
''I have to disagree with you Agent David'' A voice said. And all of them looked up to see Jenny coming down the stairs.
Gibbs raised his eyebrows in surprise.
''I think I have heard enough. This agency has a lot of ears and a lot of mouths who come and talk to me'' Jenny said. ''It's remarkable to hear that two of my best agents are lacking in their desk duties, but still I end up getting full reports from everyone''
''You knew about this?'' Gibbs asked. ''Why didn't you do something about it?''
''Because, Agent Gibbs'' She turned to him. ''If the team leader doesn't tell me there are problems I simple can't come to take action''
''So it's true. Tony did most of the things himself?'' Gibbs asked.
''We did our reports if he doesn't think they're good enough, he should come to us and that he didn't do either'' McGee excused.
''With a problem like this, it still surprises me that Agent DiNozzo didn't take the team leader spot in Spain I offered'' Jenny said.
''He was offered job in Spain?'' Ziva's eyes widened.
Jenny nodded, glancing at Gibbs, but his face was unreadable.
''And he declined?'' McGee asked in disbelieve.
''Yes'' Jenny nodded again.
''Why would he do that?'' Gibbs asked.
''I believe he said something about that you needed him'' Jenny told Gibbs.
Gibbs jaw clenched.
''I believe in his abilities, because he managed to keep the solve-rate the same, while he was clearly 2 man down and practically on his own. As long that didn't change and he didn't file a complaint I couldn't do anything about it'' Jenny explained. ''And I still can't''
''Because I still won't complain'' Tony's voice appeared from the other side of the bullpen.
''Why the hell not, DiNozzo?'' Gibbs demanded.
''Because I don't question their abilities. I know what Ziva and McGee can do. I can't let them lower them to something they're not'' Tony told him. ''They made the choice not to listen to a word I said in the bullpen, but I still kind of trusted them in the field and to have my back. Besides it's not like they're still not listening to their team leader. They do everything you say''
Ziva and McGee looked at him eyes wide. Ducky and Gibbs shared a look, both had heard the struggle of 'Kind of trusted'.
''Gibbs we really don't have a problem here'' Tony tried. He didn't want all this. He didn't want to be an issue between his friends and colleagues. Everything was fine now that Gibbs was back.
''The hell there isn't! They don't even trust you when you say you don't have a date in the weekend'' Gibbs retorted.
''And that made me snap. But it won't happen again, because they don't need to know what I do, It's none of their business where I go! I don't care anymore. Personally it will be a while before we do anything friendly again, but that doesn't mean I don't trust them to have my back in the field. I still got you don't I?'' He asked.
''Of course you still have me!'' Gibbs said in a 'Duh!' tone.
''Then we don't have a problem. I have you on my six, you have me and I believe that Ziva and McGee are very capable in doing their jobs, even if I don't talk to them outside of work'' Tony said.
''You can't be serious'' Ziva exclaimed.
''Oh, I am'' Tony smiled at her. ''And besides, I didn't choose to be the team leader, but I was fine with it, because I knew that someday Gibbs would be back. But I don't want to be a team leader yet, I still have much to learn''
Ziva scoffed.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at him, trying to figure out why Tony was lying. He didn't like the tone Tony used the whole time. It was cold and empty, but the others didn't seem to hear it.
''Very well agent DiNozzo. If with this the issues in this building are cleared up, I don't have anything other to say'' Jenny said. ''But remember to keep your personal issues at home and out of my building''
''Yes, ma'am'' He nodded.
Jenny nodded at him and the others and went back upstairs.
''What the hell are you doing, DiNozzo!'' Gibbs hissed.
''Like she said. There are no problems in his building, I just want to forget about it in this building''
''And outside of this building?'' Gibbs asked.
''Like I said, I don't know how long it will take for the friendship to come back, I tried to keep it, but I got tired of it'' He shrugged.
''Tony...'' McGee wanted to interrupt.
''Save it probie'' Tony smiled. ''You have said enough about it. Now we have a case to solve. I'm sure Abby will call any minute now''
As if it was on cue, Gibbs phone rang. ''Yeah Gibbs... Uhu... Yep... we're on our way Abbs'' And he hung up again. ''Abbs got something. DiNozzo with me'' He said not waiting and walking to the elevator.
Tony almost rolled his eyes because he knew that he would get a head-slap, but he told the truth. He was done with it, and he simply didn't care anymore. He knew that they all could be professional in work, what McGee and Ziva do outside of it wasn't his business either.
The three other people in the bullpen watched them go. Two with twisted stomaches. They now new that they did something horribly wrong. They didn't give Tony the chance to prove himself. They were so fat up with the fact that Gibbs was gone and in their eyes Tony just wasn't good enough. Now they were both thinking the same thing. For the first time they had seen and heard how Tony felt about those months and it didn't feel good.
With guilt they sat down behind their desks and said nothing, as their doctor began to speak his opinion about the issue.
…
As soon as the door closed Gibbs, as suspected, hit the emergency switch stopping the car from traveling. He turned to Tony who stubbornly looked at himself in the reflection of the steel doors.
''You want to tell me what happened to the Tony I just spoke with outside a while ago?'' He asked.
''I'm tired'' Tony said simply.
''Then you go home and come back tomorrow''
''No! I mean I'm tired of playing like everything is alright. I'm tired to be something that I'm not. I'm mad and saying those stuff out loud to Abby... I can't go back how I pretended to feel before that''
''You don't have to'' Gibbs said. ''And what about that the offer in Spain, Jenny talked about?''
''She told the truth of what I said'' Tony said.
''Yeah? That I needed you. How would you know that?'' Gibbs asked, even though he appreciated it.
''You weren't yourself when you came back. You couldn't remember everything yet, I know it felt like Kelly and Shannon past away just months ago, and you had a beard! I mean come one! Even people who don't know you, know that you don't have a beard!– Ow!'' Tony rubbed the back of his head after the head-slap and glared at Gibbs, who had a hard time not to smirk.
''And?'' Gibbs asked knowing Tony wasn't finished.
''And... D.C is where my family is. I didn't want to leave them'' Tony said.
''You still consider them as your family?''
''Well yeah. Every family has disagreements and arguments. My real family has anyway, but those are way worse than this''
''Now it's my turn to ask: What do we do now? We can't just do as if nothing has happened Tony. It won't work. Once we are in the lab, Abby's going to jump you and rambling apologies''
Tony snorted softly. That would be Abby alright. ''I guess... that I just have to... I don't know... stay angry at her?''
''Tony, you know as well as I do, that no one can stay angry at Abby'' Gibbs smirked.
A small laugh escaped Tony's lips. ''Okay, so maybe not angry... but not totally happy either'' She needs to have the point across about what happened back then...''
''I know'' Gibbs nodded. A silence came over them and Tony wasn't sure why Gibbs didn't hit the emergency switch already, but before he could say something Gibbs spoke up again. ''You were right that I needed you back then. That was 4 months ago. You still think I need you? I gotta tell you, you would make one hell of a leader, you know that?''
''Maybe'' Tony sighed. ''But it wasn't because I wanted to. I just took care of the team while you were gone. I just waited for you to get your head out of your ass and come back. I and the team need you just as much as you need us''
''You really are going to be death to me with all that sappy talk we did this week'' Gibbs shook his head and hit the switch.
''You like it!'' Tony grinned. Gibbs slapped him again, but the grin didn't fade.
''I got your six'' Gibbs only said ''So we're going to work normally and stay professional at work. What you do outside of work is your choice, but we can't let this interfere with how we work together as a team'' Tony didn't have time to respond as the doors opened.
They both stepped out and walked into the lab. As soon as the doors of the lab opened Abby spun around. ''Tony!'' She squealed when she saw him and ran towards him, only for Tony to step back. He looked at her stone faced. No emotion in his face or eyes.
Gibbs took a deep breath. ''What do you got Abbs?'' He asked. She looked at him with fear and back to Tony. His expression hadn't changed. She nodded to both of them and turned to her computer.
She explained what she had and they listened, Tony only speaking when it was necessary for the case. He hated the look in Abby's eyes, but he had to make his point.
''So how is that they found that raw material on his body, but never thought to look into it where it is?'' Gibbs asked in disbelieve. ''Sometimes those rookie teams are so.. ARGH!'' His mind screamed.
''Nope. And that was the biggest mistake, because it's almost nowhere to be found around here'' Abby explained.
Tony narrowed his eyes and read which it was. ''It was stored in one of the Navy yard's storage boxes buildings. Is it still there?'' He asked.
Abby turned and type for a minute. ''Nope. Place was cleared out three years ago''
Gibbs looked at Tony and saw 'that' expression. The one that said that Tony's mind was working and he was thinking. ''Care to share, DiNozzo?''
''I saw the name of the building before'' He said out loud. He frowned as he tried to remember where. Then his eyes widened. ''One of the suspects... It had a contract for it'' He looked at Abby. ''Is it just cleared out from the material or is the whole building empty?''
''It's empty'' Abby answered.
Tony turned back to Gibbs. ''What if he still uses it. No one will look there it's supposed to be empty'' He said, grabbing his cellphone and then walked towards the elevators. ''Yeah McGee, I want you to pull up the info of Randy Paddington...''
Gibbs turned to Abby. He saw her pleading eyes. ''Good work Abbs'' He only said and kissed her on the cheek.
''Boss! Come on, McGeek gave me the address Of Paddington'' Tony called, holding the elevator.
Gibbs rolled his eyes but did follow him to the elevator.
Once in the bullpen, Gibbs told McGee and Ziva to go to the locker of Randy, while he Tony and he went to this his house for just a talk.
McGee and Ziva looked at Tony while he was grabbing his gun and badge. They wanted to say so many things, but they both didn't know what to say or how to say it. It was going to be long time until everything was going to feel normal and even longer for the friendships going to be back the way they were.
Tony looked over his team mates and took a deep breath and nodded at them.
His eyes went to Gibbs. He was still a little confused by this 'New old Gibbs', who was a lot nicer and had a lot more patients for him.
His first instincts before this all happened was to be worried, because a nice Gibbs wasn't Gibbs, but now he knew that he was wrong about this, a nice Gibbs was just the Gibbs who he used to be. A Gibbs who had fun and was happy, and Tony was glad that he could give that back to Gibbs. He didn't know why Gibbs was so 'happy'? to know someone who knew Shannon and Kelly, but if it made Gibbs happy, Tony was glad that it was him.
And in return, Tony was glad he could share his memories of the Gibbs Girls, who gave him back the feeling of how a family should feel like. And like Gibbs, Tony didn't believe in coincidences, so for what it's worth, he knew that Shannon had found a way to let them cross paths.
A smiled to himself. ''When the student is ready, the right teacher will appear'' Shannon had said. Who would have known that his teacher would be her husband. Maybe she did? They would never know.
''Come on DiNozzo! We don't have all day'' Gibbs called, pulling him out of his thoughts. Gibbs already walking to the elevator again.
''On your six, Boss!'' He said and hurried after him. He made it just in time before the doors closed.
Gibbs smirked to himself in the reflection in the elevator. ''I know''
THE END
Yaaaaaaay! :D it's finished. Well not really really, because of the sequel ,but this story anyway! haha
So what do you think? This is the summary I'm going to use for the second story in the FAB-Universe:
''Sequel to 'Flesh and Blood' ended. Things take a turn for the worse when the routine question visit turns into a gun fight with drastic results Tony doesn't want to face. Meanwhile Tony and Gibbs are still remembering their own pasts with Shannon and Kelly and their friendship with the rest of the team is still on a thin line''
Do you like it and would your read it? I'm still thinking of a Title for this one sor if you have any Ideas based on this summary, which isn't much to go on... Please tell me and maybe i will use it!
Thank you all for following this story and all the great reviews i know it's shorter then i used to write but the idea's that i had i wanted to make in a second story. Please leave a review! :D
Love ya'll -X- Leonie