Thanks as always for the reviews and alerts for this story and sorry for the wait. Something that was pointed out to me on an earlier chapter with my spelling of defence and most likely some other words as well, I'm using U.K spellings so some words may be different than there U.S counterparts. Sorry if it confuses you. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 14- Trying To Make It Right

After seeing Tony in the hospital, Ziva knew that she had to do something to make it right, she hadn't said anything about Tony being 'fine' but she knew he wasn't, she had seen the deep hurt in his eyes. She noticed that also, Abby had given her somewhat evil looks when they had been speaking about the case. Though, Abby was most likely the best person to help her with her plan, and then Abby could add some finishing touches seen as she knew Tony the most.

After spending most of the day with McGee, she knew that he needed to do something to help as well, he felt guiltier than she did, though that was nothing compared to the guilt she saw in Gibbs' and Abby's eyes.

Having gone over the crime scene, they had to transfer the trace evidence and such to the lab back in DC. Tony would have to stay in the hospital for another day or so before they released him. Even then he would have to go back to DC to rest. Both Ziva and McGee hoped that they wouldn't be in the room when Gibbs had to tell Tony. They could see the desperation in their friend's eyes and it unsettled them to no end, if they knew their friend like they thought they did, he would most probably try to be in work anyway, even if Gibbs didn't want it. They also knew how stubborn Tony could be when he set his mind on something.

Watching as the familiar sights of the city came into focus she sighed silently and wondered if Tony even wanted them to try and fix things. By the tired look on Gibbs face, even those two getting along was taking a toll on the older agent. Gibbs wasn't good at expressing himself and would rather interrogate and Tony…well, most of who he was, was an act and didn't take to kindly to being interrogated like a suspect. They all knew it, but couldn't find themselves willing to ask as it would only get a comical answer in reply. Tony DiNozzo was a very different person without his multitude of masks. Ziva knew he felt deeply about the family he had made at NCIS and that only proved to make her feel worse about what she had done, she knew all his secrets and she had still be blasé about the whole thing. Ziva could only hope that her plan would work and Tony would believe that they all cared for him.

***

Grimacing as a pain spiked through his side, Tony moved slowly towards the door having disconnected the IV and other machines he was connected to. He needed to solve this case before the other person died, after that; he didn't really care what happened to him. He just needed to see this case through, and for once, not to screw up. Breathing as deep as he dared he dragged his feet forwards, he knew his body wasn't really up to it but the new found reason for getting up was holding up for now.

Shuffling carefully across the sterile floor he wondered where he would be able to find some actual clothes from, cursing as he remembered that all his stuff was most likely waiting for him in the car they had taken or the hotel room they had booked close by to the crime scene. Stepping out of the room he was immediately caught off guard when someone familiar squealed his name.

"Tony!" Crap it was Abby, he'd hoped everyone had gone but obviously not. He also knew that he would need to get rid of her somehow but it was Abby and, well, if she wanted something, she'd usually get it. "What do you think you're doing mister?" Trying to fake nonchalance he replied but knew it wasn't up to his usual standards.

"Just out for a walk Abbs." Shaking her head at him he wondered why she wasn't already on her way back to the lab. "Why aren't you on your way back?"

"By the looks of it I'm right where I need to be." She answered back defiantly. Eyeing him closely, she'd known him long enough to know when he was up to something.

"But-" He started.

"No buts mister, now back to bed before I get Gibbs." Double crap, if Gibbs was still here then he was definitely not getting out of here any time soon. But he needed to go, needed to help do something. Anything. Trying to get him self out of the grasp Abby had on him, he almost pleaded with her.

"But I have to-"

"Have to what, DiNozzo?" Gibbs stated coming down the long white corridor of the hospital. Seeing the desperation in Tony's eyes almost made him rethink his decision on not letting him have any information on the case, almost.

Backing down a little from Gibbs' stare he hoped that the questioning look didn't mean they were going to have of them conversations again. His hopes were dashed as the next words came out of Gibbs' mouth, it made him ready to run a mile.

"Abby, go keep Ducky company." Gibbs ordered, not taking his eyes away from Tony. Abby nodded affirmatively and left her two boys on the edge of Tony's hospital room. She smiled deviously as she walked away.

"You wanna tell me why you're trying to escape, again." Tony shifted uncomfortable at the question but looked up and smiled a painfully desperate smile. Gibbs hated bringing that out of him though, he wondered briefly just how much damage had been done to the younger agent to cause him to be like he was and wondered whether it had just been his father that had done the damage.

"I just need to help solve the case, that's all." He looked all wide-eyed and innocent but Gibbs knew him better than that.

"Why do you need to solve it so bad," Gibbs glanced at Tony shuffling his feet as if he was embarrassed or uncomfortable. It didn't sit right and he needed answers to Tony's recent behaviour, "Tony?" he questioned sharply.

Not for the first time in the past couple of days Tony just looked else where when he answered, not being able to look Gibbs in the eye and see the truth of the statement he was just going to make. "So I can at least prove I can do this one thing right. Then you can fire me." There he admitted it, still not looking at Gibbs he could feel his face flushing, he really hate discussing this stuff.

Gibbs was more stunned than annoyed at the statement and whished he hadn't told Abby to go away, but knew this needed to come from him and him only. Firstly, he'd never seen Tony seem so desperate, so lost. Secondly, he sure as hell didn't want to lose Tony, the team needed him even if he couldn't see it. He needed him. Getting his composure back, he grabbed Tony's chin gently, forcing him to look him in the eyes and placed his other hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"Tony, I'm not going to fire you, you got that?" He could see Tony wanted to argue but stopped him by lifting a finger shushing him, waiting for the words to sink in until his agent nodded he continued. Tony's gaze shifted again. "Tony, I'm gonna say this as many times as you need so you believe it, you are needed, you do not need to prove anything to me or the others." Taking a chance he added something that would get to the heart of the matter and hopefully make Tony believe him. He had pretty much figured out what the younger man's own father had told him to get him acting recklessly and without a care for his own wellbeing.

"Your father was wrong, you are not worthless."

TBC

Whoop, Gibbs finally got his act together but will Tony believe him, what do the others of the team have planned and what else will happen? Thanks for reading and please review.