Gibbs:... there were no survivors.
--
Tony almost forgot to breathe. He watched as Abby slinked closer to McGee, and noticed Gibbs turning to leave before he could process what he'd just heard. After seeing his two friends embrace, he followed after his boss and slipped into the elevator just as it started to close.
"That's it?"
Gibbs continued to look straight ahead. "What's it?"
"You just come in…drop a bomb like that…and leave?" He noticed Gibbs hesitation in answering and switched off the power. "Come on boss…if there was ever a time for you to talk, it would be now…"
Gibbs turned to face him abruptly. "Why's that DiNozzo? You think a bunch of eloquent words would change what happened?"
"Well no…" he swallowed hard, his mind still processing it all. "I just…"
"You just what?"
"I just…" His lips started to quiver and before he knew it he slammed both hands into the wall of the elevator. His breathing a bit erratic and tears forming in his eyes faster than he could resist them.
Gibbs didn't move. "That's good Tony…"
He turned around slowly. "What is?"
"You're not numb to it."
He attempted to gather himself. "And you are?"
He took in his Agents expression. "Boat. Bourbon. Basement remember?"
Tony didn't need more of an explanation than that. "Where you become numb?"
"Where I try and forget."
"Then how do I forget?"
Gibbs glanced towards him; his eyes sad. "Can't say you ever will…"