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Chapter 16- Building Bridges

Before Gibbs could say anything in response, Tony simply walked slowly towards the nurse's desk leaving a dejected looking Gibbs behind. Gibbs knew that he would be signing himself out, and he found that he couldn't do anything about it. Tony wouldn't look back at him so he could look sincere in his apology. He hated apologies as much as talking but he had to at least make the effort, even if Tony refused to listen. Over hearing part of what the nurse at the desk was saying as he was moving closer, he got an idea. Maybe, actions would speak better than words could.

"I'm sorry sir, you can't leave unless there will be someone to look after you." The stern nurse stated, she was an older more experienced nurse with brown hair and green eyes that were currently glaring at the patient before her. He wasn't ready to be let out, not yet, unless he had help. While the injury suffered wasn't particularly serious his range of movement on one side would still be limited so wouldn't be able to get around all that easily.

"I can look after myself perfectly fine." Tony replied, using an oh so fake looking grin. The nurse's eyes narrowed. Gibbs felt it was time to step in.

"He giving you trouble?" he asked the nurse.

"And you are?" she replied, turning her glare to him.

"His boss." Gibbs was purposely ignoring the slightly shocked look Tony wore, it was mixed with a suspicious look and Gibbs didn't like it, he would deal with that later.

Tony didn't know what Gibbs intended to do but knew that Gibbs would probably say something to get him trapped in here longer. He didn't quite believe what Gibbs had said and was no longer willing to put all his hope in him anymore, he wasn't even willing to completely trust him anymore, at least, not as much as he did.

The kind voice in his mind was telling him to trust the man but he couldn't; not now Gibbs hadn't even followed his own rules. I mean, how can you trust a man that didn't listen to his own rule, especially one as important as Semper Fi.

"Right, well, will you kindly tell him," she pointed at Tony, "that he should get back into bed and rest and I will not be releasing him until someone can come and pick him up."

"That won't be necessary, I will take him." The nurse glare softened a little and she huffed out her reply.

"I'd prefer that it be his emergency contact, do you know where I might find a Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

"You're looking at him."

"Very well, if you will just wait a moment for me to get the papers in order." As the nurse walked away, Gibbs turned his attention back towards Tony. Who, by the expression upon his face, didn't seem to know what to think.

For Tony, the scene that had played out in front of him was new, nobody had ever even bothered to want to get him back after finding everything out and him saying his piece. He'd expected Gibbs just to leave the hospital, he'd thrown every single kind word in Gibbs face and here he was getting him out of the hospital and actually seemed to want to genuinely help. Even the look Gibbs was sending him now only conveyed a sincerity that Gibbs rarely showed to anyone but victims families. It forced him to question why.

"Why." Asked Tony, his voice a little mumbled as he looked questionably at Gibbs.

"Because I want to." A small encouraging smile appeared upon his face. Gibbs almost grinned as Tony's posture relaxed and the corner of his mouth turned up a little. He figured that was as good as an apology anyway, especially from Gibbs. He was surprised by the next words though.

"I am Sorry Tony." Gibbs voice showed that he knew what he was saying sorry for and Tony accepted it finally as the truth, they would still have things to talk about on the way back but as least Tony could start to believe in Gibbs again.

After signing the papers, both Gibbs and Tony left the confines of the hospital. Tony took in a deep breath of fresh air then hesitated. He wasn't sure where they were actually going.

"Come on DiNozzo, we're heading back to DC, got a lead that Petty Officer Hughes headed there."

"But, I won't..."

"You can still work from your desk DiNozzo, besides I want Ducky to have a look at you."

Tony's smile from before widened a faction, he still had his job after all. He wasn't a hundred per cent but he could still do something. For the first time in two weeks he actually felt like he could do something to help find the other person or people the petty officer had said he had.

TBC

Again another short chapter sorry the next one will be longer and will be finished soon. Hope ya'll liked it.