Hey guys. So to give you an idea of what my life has been like for the past few weeks, here is a quick preview into the magical world of Renee's distraction from fanfiction
1. Considered becoming a gypsy.
2. Decided not to become a gypsy and to become a stunt double instead. Apparently I have a 'problem' with adrenaline seeking. I swear you jump out of an airplane one time and people just assume you have problems...
3. Was nominated to be president of a club I'm not even a member of based on my soaking wet tee-shirt (It was raining and I didn't have a jacket. I swear it was an accident.) and the fact I was carrying a book about Batman and Philosophy. I declined.
4. Found evidence pointing that I could be a TimeLord. Got very excited and started looking around my Kia to see if there was someway it was a TARDIS and I just didn't know. Also started to examine pocket watches. Just in case.
5. Boyfriend informed me I was a hopeless dork. Like I didn't already know that. Apparently though he is also and he loves me anyway. Isn't that good of him?
So anyway, I hope that sheds a little bit of light as to why this is disgustingly late. At least it made me feel better and helped me think I have a life outside of this laptop.
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Tell me what you think!
I hope you have a beautiful night!
~Renee
Gibbs hesitated outside the door, his hand on the knob. He had just finished working on the guitar and it was nearly three in the morning. He had just about given up these late nights once Tony moved in, but seeing the look on his face when he offered to fix up the instrument made the lack of sleep completely worth it.
He gently eased the door open and looked in the room, a sliver of light from the hall shining into the dark and lighting up the pale blue space. The walls were still the soft faded blue that he, Mayer and Miguel had fixed up years ago, and the furniture had only grown as Tony had. Making space for his ever expanding collection of movies and books but never changing the style or set up as the boy had become surprisingly attached to everything in the room. All the pieces representing the home he cherished so much.
He smiled when the light landed on his son.
He was curled up in a tight ball on the bed, the sheet wrapped close around him. Sam was flopped over his lower body with his nose stuck up close to his knees. Doc was stretched out along the bed, snuggled as near to the boy as he could manage and in his sleep Tony had cuddled close to the dog, his arms wrapped around the soft warm body.
Gibbs sighed softly and shook his head, stepping into the room. He made it less than a foot when the german shepherd's head popped up and a low growl started in his throat. Gibbs paused and lifted his hands best he could holding the guitar but the dog relaxed as soon as he set his eyes on the man and his tail started wagging, thumping against Tony.
"Good dog." Gibbs murmured, trying to stay as silent as possible, knowing what a light sleeper his boy was. He walked carefully over to the corner of the room and set the instrument in the chair patting the dog's head as he walked back.
He stepped back out of the door and pulled his shut, not letting the latch catch and before it fully stopped he whispered quietly-
"I love you Tony."
The form on the bed didn't move and the dogs didn't even shift, but a drowsy reply came back.
"I love you too dad."
Xxx
Tony plucked a cord on the guitar and smiled as the sound echoed off the walls of his room.
"Hmm. I like that." He stroked his fingers down the metal strings and felt laughter bubble up in his throat as each note came out perfectly.
"You outdid yourself dad." he murmured, rubbing the stalk of the repaired instrument and shaking his head. He knew his dad had stayed up most of the night making sure that the guitar would be perfect for him and he wanted to surprise him by being able to play something, even if it was just going through some simple cords, when he got home.
His door was suddenly shoved open and he gripped the guitar tightly, moving it in front of himself defensively.
He was home alone.
Who would-
A deep bark instantly relaxed him as he smiled down at the dog wiggling to push his unlatched door open wider.
"Scare me death why don't you Doc?"
He rubbed the dogs soft short coat and murmured praises down on him.
"You really are a pretty dog, you know that?"
Doc leaned into his side and panted his tail wagging fast and excited.
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around the dog. He knew that his dad was a little flummoxed with his habit of taking in strays but he never complained, just sighed and bought more food for the new pet. He knew there was a reason he always brought the animals home, but he had never asked. Tony would tell him, if he did ever happen to ask, but he knew he would respect his privacy.
The reality was, Tony knew that he was lucky. Unbelievably gift from God lucky. Looking back at his childhood he knew he never should have made it out the way he did. His father's temper grew increasingly and he could do little to fight against it. With damage already done he knew it would have only been a matter of time before it father went to far. That was, if he didn't do something to himself first through his own desperation to get away. Slipping out and spending that time at the park at all hours of the night, it was a miracle he never ran into someone with unsavory intentions, injured and tired, past midnight and alone. Meeting a federal agent, honestly what are the odds that would happen? It truly was amazing. And that the agent was Gibbs? Someone who needed Tony as much as he needed a him? That was just…
He couldn't even imagine.
He had lived here with Gibbs for nearly six years and he still couldn't believe it.
But when it came to the animals.
He had to help them.
Because he understood.
He understood what it felt like to be scared and alone and hurt and just needing to belong somewhere.
He knew what it felt like to be lost.
When he ran into the strays he couldn't help but take them home.
Gibbs had given him a place to stay, had given him a family, why wouldn't he give one to everyone he could?
Doc whined and tried to cuddle closer to him.
He ginned at the dog and began to murmur quietly as he rubbed his back.
"You know bud, when I found you, you reminded me a lot of myself when I first met dad. I was scared and jumpy and the person who should have been taking care of me, my father, was hurting me instead. Like those boys in the alley with you. And I didn't know what I was supposed to do, but from the very beginning I trusted him, just like you trust me. I loved him, like you love me. I knew he would take care of me. Didn't know why, no one had really taken care of me before, Mayer and Miguel, the butler and cook, had tried their best but there was only so much they could do. For the most part until I met him, I was on my own. Like you. You know what it's like. Taking care of yourself. You get used to it. Then you meet someone who cares about you and you're suddenly part of a family and there's all this stuff you've never had before like bed time stories and catch and eating together. So strange. But nice you know? It's nice being taken care of. I'll take care of you Doc. You have a family now too. We watch out for each other around here. We love each other."
Doc barked, high and happy in the back of his throat and wagged his tail, his entire body shaking with the motion, not knowing what Tony was saying but obviously reacting to the emotion coming through Tony's body language.
He sighed and smiled, burying his face into the dogs hair.
"Good boy."
Xxx
"Damn it! Someone's got to have a working phone!"
"Would you calm down Franks, what part of black out don't you understand? Land line doesn't work and even if it did, you think we's let you call the states again? Last time you did you ran up three hundred dollars worth of charges!"
Mike slammed his hand on the bar and spun, cursing at the tender.
"Doesn't anyone in this sty have a phone."
A man leaning on a back table waved a 90's Nokia in the air.
"I do man, but it's emergency only-"
Mike snatched it from his hand.
"Trust me, it's an emergency."
He punched the number in the worn keys and waited impatiently for the line to pick up.
"Come on. Come on you old codger pick up the phone!"
"Gibbs."
"Where are you?"
"Franks? I'm at the-"
"Are you home?"
"No I-"
"Where's Tony?"
"Home. What's going-"
"Alone?"
"Damn it Mike what's going on?"
"Gibbs, Alejandro Hernandez is in the US."
"...How do you know that? What's he doing here?"
"Leyla knows Paloma's housekeeper. Alejandro is in D.C. I don't know why, but keep your eyes open probie and for heaven's sake don't leave the kid alone. Call the FBI agent pet of yours and have him keep an eye on the boy, I'll be up by tomorrow morning, quickest ticket I could get. We don't know that he'll come after you but-"
"Never assume. If he's coming after me, he'll come after what matters. If he isn't, I want to know why he's here."
"Exactly. I'll see you tomorrow. Take care of the kid."
Xxx
Tony sat on the floor and traced his fingers over the cords, listening to the perfectly tuned sound with the phone tucked in in-between his shoulder and ear.
"I'm telling you Spencer, it's perfect! I love it, he made it perfect!"
Spencer laughed quietly over the line.
"Your dad is awesome Tony. How do the strings feel?"
Tony grinned.
"I'm covered in band-aids but other than that, they're fantastic."
"Did you know that the Fender factory makes over enough guitar sting to encircle the world every year?"
"Seriously?"
"Yup."
"Wow that's- Hang on a second. I think I hear something."
Xxx
Gibbs snapped the phone shut and lurched to his feet.
"McGee! Todd! With me now!"
The agents jumped up and chased him down.
"McGee, Pedro Hernandez."
"Yes boss..."
Gibbs glared at him as they rode the elevator down. McGee swallowed and nodded while Gibbs quickly flipped open his phone and hurriedly sorted through his contacts.
"Right. I'll find everything."
"Not everything."
Kate and Tim looked at him in surprise.
"Focus on why he's in the states. I want to know what he's doing at all times. Todd, help him. Eyes on him. I want to know who he's talking to, why he's talking to them, and what they're talking about."
He put the phone to his ear and waited impatiently for it to ring.
"Yes boss." The spoke in unison.
"Todd, call Fornell, tell him to get to my house. Now. Tell him rule forty-four."
"Forty-four?"
Gibbs nodded and put the phone to his ear.
Come on Tony, pick up.
Come on!
He could hear Kate murmuring into her own phone and when the elevator opened he shot from the door, running from the box and out to the garage.
Tony.
Xxx
Tony clutched the phone tightly in his hands and walked over to the front door, Doc close on his heels. He peered his head around the corner and saw a shadow outside the curtained windows framing the door.
"Dad? Are you home?"
Xxx
"He said 'rule forty-four' I don't know what that one-"
Tobias swung his car around ignoring the blaring horns and screamed curses.
"Rule forty-four. Hide the woman and children. Where's Tony?"
Kate stuttered, realizing the source of her boss's panic.
"Oh my- he's um… I think he's home."
He hung up and hit the acceleration, flying down the road. He was a good five minutes away from the Gibbs' home.
Anything could happen in five minutes.
Anything.
Please. Tony.