Gibbs arrived at the hospital thirty minutes later, after stopping off at Tony's favorite Italian restaurant and grabbing not only his favorite meal, but his favorite dessert as well. When he looked into Tony's bedroom, he smiled at his husband who was fast asleep, curled up around his pillow. Gibbs set the bag of food down on the dresser, then looked around the hallway, spotting Brad coming out of one of the rooms.

"Ah, Agent Gibbs, how are you doing?" Brad asked as he walked down the hall and stopped in front of the older man.

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders slightly "I'm okay… How is he doing?" Gibbs asked, inclining his head in Tony's direction.

Brad sighed as he leaned against the wall, looking directly at Gibbs "Physically? He's fine… Mentally? He is going to need help in the healing process…" Brad said quietly, glancing over his shoulder at the younger man through the window.

Gibbs nodded slowly "Yeah, I know. We're working on it… How long has he been asleep?" Gibbs asked, looking in at Tony with the slightest hint of a frown on his face.

Brad shook his head "Not long. He fell asleep about five minutes after I told him you were on your way back here." Brad said as he pushed off the wall "Take care of him, Gibbs, he looks like he really needs it." Brad added as he headed down the hall.


Tony cracked his eyes open slowly, a slow smile spreading across his face as he looked at Gibbs who was sitting in the reclining chair, idly flipping through an outdated magazine.

"You know… That's an old magazine." Tony whispered, looking directly at Gibbs, his smile having faded slightly as he thought about the day.

Gibbs chuckled as he set the magazine down and scooted to the edge of the chair "Yeah, I know. Just needed something to pass the time." Gibbs said softly, setting his hand close to the bed, but not making a move to touch Tony.

"How long have I been asleep?" Tony asked, slowly sitting up and turning, dangling his feet over the edge of the bed.

Gibbs looked down at his watch "Probably about an hour. How are you feeling?" Gibbs asked as he stood up, offering Tony his arm with a smile on his face.

Tony wrapped his hand around Gibbs' arm and pulled himself up, "I think I'm okay… As long as I'm not going to be arrested for murder?" Tony asked, looking at Gibbs as the two men walked slowly towards the bathroom.

Gibbs shook his head, chuckling softly "Nope. I called in Tobias, and Vance knows what has happened… There's no way you'll get arrested for murder…" Gibbs said as he helped Tony into the bathroom, then leaned against the counter as he watched Tony cautiously.

Tony nodded as he looked over at Gibbs, "So… about this morning…" Tony said quietly as he shuffled over to the sink after having finished his business, leaning heavily against the sink as he washed his hands.

Gibbs sighed as he wrapped his arm around Tony's back "You were right. I do take Abby's side every time she does something wrong, and it has to stop. I don't want to lose you Tony, especially not over something so…" Gibbs waved his hand helplessly, sighing as he and Tony carefully shuffled out of the bathroom.

"Over something so ridiculous? Yeah, I know… I shouldn't have overreacted – at least not with you… But, I've had enough of her acting like she's… the center of everyone else's world…" Tony said, sighing as he dropped down against the edge of the bed, rubbing at the back of his head slowly.

Gibbs smiled softly as he kissed Tony on the forehead, "You're the only person who is in the center of my world. And I won't take that for granted anymore, I love you Tony and I can't lose you…" Gibbs said as he crouched in front of Tony, linking their hands together.

Tony leaned down slightly, kissing Gibbs lovingly on the lips "You won't lose me, Jethro. I love you, and that will never change." Tony said sincerely, resting their foreheads together.

Gibbs smiled as he nudged his nose against Tony's softly "I can't believe you slept for so long though, I even brought your favorite meal and dessert, slept right through the smell of it wafting…" Gibbs said softly as he glanced over at the brown paper bag still sitting on the dresser underneath the window.

"Shrimp Carbonara and a Cherry Chocolate dipped Cannoli?" Tony asked, his eyes growing wide as he turned his head around to look at the bag, a longing look on his face, and his mouth watering.

Gibbs laughed as he nodded his head "I can probably find a microwave for the pasta… Do you want the cannoli now?" Gibbs asked as he stood up, heading towards the bag.

Tony rolled his eyes "Do you even have to ask?!" Tony questioned rhetorically, holding out his hands expectantly, Gibbs chuckled as he pulled out two small pastry boxes, handing them both to Tony.

"I'll be back with this in a few…" Gibbs said as he walked out of the room with the pasta, while Tony dug into the Cannoli's greedily.


By the time Gibbs and Tony got home, there was a white SUV sitting in the driveway, both men sighed as they glanced at each other, then at the driveway again as Tobias got out of the driver's seat and waited patiently for Gibbs to pull his challenger in.

"Guess it's time for that whole 'you've just gone through something tragic, let's talk about it some more' phase, huh?" Tony asked quietly, rubbing at the black and purple hand shaped bruise on his throat.

Gibbs nodded slightly "Looks that way… Unless you want me to floor it and leave him standing in the dust?" Gibbs asked, grinning as he looked over at Tony, squealing his tires slightly and wiggling his eyebrows.

Tony laughed, an actual, honest laugh, and shook his head, leaning over and kissing Gibbs lovingly on the cheek, "No, but thank you, Jethro… I needed that. I also want to get this over with as soon as possible, so we can maybe get back to living our lives." Tony said as he waved at Tobias slightly, then looked at Gibbs "In the driveway, let's go. Tobias looks like he's about to freeze his nuts off." Tony said, grinning widely.

Gibbs chuckled as he pulled into the driveway and then turned to look at Tony, "Hey… You know I love you, right?" Gibbs asked softly as he cut the challenger's engine off.

Tony nodded as he grabbed Gibbs by the collar, pulling the older man just a few inches from within his lips "If Tobias weren't staring into my window right now, I'd make you prove that statement to me… All night long." Tony said in a husky voice, then teased his lips against Gibbs'.

Gibbs growled in frustration as he got out of the car, staring over the hood at Tobias "You better make this damn quick, Tobias." Gibbs said roughly as he slammed the door shut and headed for the front door, Tobias and Tony following after him.

Tobias shot Tony a questioning look as they stood on the porch, and Tony just shrugged his shoulders, whistling an unknown tune – at least to Tobias' ears – which made Gibbs grin widely as he pushed the door open and led Tony and Tobias in and straight to the kitchen.


After giving Tobias his statement, Tony felt physically and emotionally drained once again, but he was thankful it was all over, he even made Tobias promise that this wouldn't come back to haunt him later on in life, especially if Ron Sacks decides he wants to exact revenge on Tony for whatever reason.

Now Gibbs and Tony were lying on the couch together, or at least Tony was lying on the couch – Gibbs was sitting on top of Tony's thighs, giving Tony a thorough back and shoulder massage. "You really should have become a masseuse…" Tony said quietly, arching slightly into Gibbs' skillful fingers.

Gibbs chuckled as he slapped Tony in the back of the head lightly "If I had become a masseuse, I would have never met you, and you wouldn't be getting this massage right now." Gibbs said as he moved his hands down Tony's spine slowly, feeling each vertebrae underneath his fingertips.

Tony moaned into the couch, "Mmm, yeah but… You never know… I might have come into your shop one day… Looking for a happy ending… and… Oh, yeah, right… right there…" Tony panted out, wiggling slightly on the couch as Gibbs pressed into a rather tight spot.

"Oh yeah? Do you think I would have given you a happy ending?" Gibbs asked curiously as he continued his movements along Tony's back and shoulders.

Tony nodded his head lazily "Mhm, I think you would have… You're a Tony pleaser, you would have acquiesced to my request and would have given me the best happy ending ever." Tony said, grinning softly as he turned his head to the side, looking up at Gibbs with one open eye.

Gibbs grinned as he leaned down, kissing the corner of Tony's mouth, "Our happy ending will be the best, regardless of what we could have been doing with our lives." Gibbs whispered against Tony's ear.

Tony smiled as he lifted his hips up slightly, then turned around underneath Gibbs' body, "I don't want our happy ending to ever end though." Tony said quietly as he interlocked his fingers with Gibbs', pulling the older man down towards him.

Gibbs braced his and Tony's hands on the arm of the couch as he leaned in, the tips of their noses lightly touching "It won't end, I promise." Gibbs whispered as he kissed Tony softly and slowly.

Tony sighed contentedly as he rested his forehead in the curve of Gibbs' nose, "Love you, Jeth." Tony whispered, kissing the tip of Gibbs' nose lightly.

"Love you too, Tone." Gibbs said as he shifted off of Tony, and laid behind him, curling his arm protectively around Tony's chest, lying gentle kisses across Tony's shoulder blades and smiling.

"I think I should go talk to Rachel… What do you think?" Tony asked, turning onto his back and looking up at Gibbs with a curious expression on his face.

Gibbs shrugged one shoulder, "If you think it'll help, then I say go for it… But you know if you're going to speak with her, you have to commit to this fully, and not drop out of therapy before it starts working…" Gibbs said, resting his head against the side of Tony's face.

Tony nodded as he kissed Gibbs' forehead lightly "I know, and I will… I need to do this Jethro, otherwise I'll never be able to get past it, not on my own anyway…" Tony said quietly, bringing his hand up to Gibbs' hand that was still on his chest, "And I don't want you to take that the wrong way – I know you're here for me, but…" Tony sighed, nuzzling into Gibbs' head slightly.

"I know, Tone… I'm not a professional and I can't get you through everything, I can only be there to support you, and love you. Which I will always do." Gibbs said as he kissed Tony's cheek, "Now… Let's head up to bed. You need sleep." Gibbs added as he pushed Tony towards the edge of the couch.

Tony frowned, nodding his head slightly "Stop being so pushy! I'm going, I'm going!" Tony said as he rolled off the couch and stood up, yawning into his fist and stretching out his body.


The next day, Tony was lying on the couch in Rachel's office, his hands resting against his stomach as he looked at Rachel who was sitting across from him in a high-backed chair.

Rachel sighed as she set her notebook down and crossed her legs, "Alright Tony… I know you don't like therapists, but you obviously came to me for a reason. So, what's going on?" Rachel asked, a look of concern on her face.

Tony shrugged slightly, "Just trying to figure my life out, again…" Tony said as he turned onto his side and stared directly at Rachel while he explained everything that has happened over the past few months beginning with the haunted house.

At the end of Tony's long winded recap, Rachel grabbed a tissue, swiping at the corners of her eyes "Wow… Damn Tony…" Rachel breathed out, sniffling slightly.

Tony quirked his eyebrow upward and shook his head "You know, for a therapist, you sure don't talk a whole hell of a lot." Tony quipped, grinning brightly as he looked up at Rachel.

Rachel laughed softly as she shook her head "Tony… I think you're already healing from this tragedy… Is there anything else going on? I mean… How are you sleeping? Eating?" Rachel asked, regaining her professional attitude quickly.

Tony shrugged "Eh… Haven't been eating a whole lot, but Jethro makes sure I at least get three meals of something inside of me… And, my sleeping is sporadic. Some days I feel like I could sleep for years, other days I don't feel like I need sleep at all…" Tony said quietly, sighing into the couch, "Let me guess, you're going to tell me I'm either crazy or depressed and you want to put me on meds?" Tony asked, looking blankly and expressionlessly at Rachel.

Rachel shook her head slowly "No, I'm not going to say either of those things – Do you feel like you're going crazy, or that you're depressed?" Rachel asked, cupping her hands over her knee.

"No… Well, maybe a little on the crazy side, but then again – This is me we're talking about here, but no… Not mentally crazy or depressed… Stressed, yeah, but nothing else…" Tony said, shaking his head slightly as he turned back over onto his back, resting his arms behind his head.

Rachel nodded "Good, because that's what I was going to say as well. I think you need to take a vacation, Tony. A week off from work, doing absolutely nothing but destressing activities… things that the old Tony would do, that would make him happy, and then… I think you will feel a thousand times better." Rachel said as she grabbed her pen from behind her ear, scribbling down something on a sheet of paper.

"Is this your medical opinion or personal opinion? I can't just take a week off of work, I mean… Jethro and I just returned from our Honeymoon… And, I had several days off between the trial and the weeks afterwards…" Tony said as he sat up, placing his hands between his knees as he stared incredulously at Rachel.

Rachel shook her head "Medical opinion. And you can, and will, take a week off… I don't want too, but I will call a higher authority in on this, if I have too – And your honeymoon was nearly seven months ago Tony… You need to do something fun! Something for yourself… Or do something with Jethro… Just get out, hell, you don't even have to leave DC if you don't want to… But you do need to take a break and get your bearings back…" Rachel said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Tony sighed as he lowered his chin to his chest "Alright, fine… If you really think I need to take a week off and do absolutely nothing, then I will. But I won't come in and check with you afterwards, you'll just have to talk to the higher authority about it and get your detailed report from him." Tony said sardonically as he stood up and took the doctor's note from Rachel, "See ya later Toddy." Tony added as he left Rachel's office in a hurry.


After heading home and changing into something more comfortable, Tony headed to NCIS so he could turn in the note from Rachel and talk to Gibbs about what Rachel said during their session, not that he'd call it an actual therapy session, it was more of just a meeting, especially since he wasn't being charged for it.

Once he'd given the note to Vance, Tony came back down into the bullpen and walked straight to Gibbs' desk, leaning tiredly against the filing cabinets behind the man's desk. Gibbs looked up at Tony and raised his eyebrow "Walk?" Gibbs asked simply, Tony nodded and held his hand out to Gibbs.

Gibbs nodded as he stood up and slid his hand into Tony's and headed out of the bullpen together and down to the coffee cart. Gibbs got his normal super-strength black and Tony got his normal Hazelnut infused coffee, "It's a little cold to walk outside, how about the parking garage?" Tony asked, nodding towards the elevator, Gibbs nodded as he followed Tony to the elevator and then down to the parking garage and the front of the challenger.

"So, what did Rachel have to say?" Gibbs asked as he sipped slowly on his cup, looking over the top of the cup at Tony who was sitting next to him on the hood of the challenger.

Tony shrugged slightly as he sipped his drink "Well, she doesn't think I'm crazy or depressed… Just really stressed out after all that has happened… She wants me to take a week off, on medical leave, so I can do activities that will destress me, not that I have a clue what I can do… But I guess I will figure it out... My leave was approved and I'm technically already starting on this impromptu vacation…" Tony said, taking a deep breath as he turned on the hood and laid his head down in Gibbs' lap.

Gibbs chuckled as he carded his fingers through Tony's hair "You went to her, for her to say that? Could have saved you the trip and told you that myself Tone." Gibbs said, grinning as he looked down at Tony.

Tony turned his head and bit into Gibbs' stomach lightly "Bastard, you're the one who told me to go see her! Anyway, what the hell am I going to do for a week?" Tony asked, settling his head back comfortably in Gibbs' lap.

Gibbs shrugged as he rubbed his stomach tenderly, "You could pick up a new hobby! Oh, you could learn pottery and fix that damn planters pot you broke a month ago." Gibbs said, nodding his head and grinning like a fool as he sipped on his coffee casually.

Tony shook his head, "I'd rather just buy a new pot. Oooh, there's an idea, I could go shopping. Shopping always makes me feel better, as long as it isn't grocery shopping." Tony said excitedly as he licked his lips slowly.

Gibbs sighed, shaking his head slowly "Ten thousand dollars later, maybe. I could take the rest of the week off if you want me to, and we could lock ourselves up in the bedroom for a couple days. I know that always makes me feel better." Gibbs said, grinning mischievously as he rubbed his hand across Tony's stomach and chest softly.

Tony shook his head slowly "And people thought I was the sex addict… Think maybe we could do other things, on top of that?" Tony asked, grinning slightly as he nuzzled his head into Gibbs' stomach.

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders "It's hard to have sex and do other things at the same time, but we're pretty smart guys especially when we work together… I'm sure we'll figure it out!" Gibbs teased, his grin widening as Tony slapped him playfully in the center of the chest, both men laughing softly, then Gibbs nodded his head "Yeah, I won't keep you locked up in the bedroom the entire time – Hell, maybe I would even risk my reputation to go clubbing with you here." Gibbs added as he bent forward, kissing Tony softly on the lips.

Tony smiled as he cupped Gibbs' cheek, keeping their lips together for a few seconds longer "Okay… You go back to work, I'm going to go home and get ready for tonight!" Tony exclaimed as he rolled off the challenger and stood up, kissing Gibbs lovingly on the lips before he took off for his car in the main parking lot.