AN: Here's the next chapter. Wanted to get it out quickly after the last chapter's cliffhanger ending. Thank you all so much for all the wonderful reviews - they mean so much to me. Small spoilers for Twilight in this one. Enjoy everyone and thanks again for reading :)

*****

Tony...Tony...TONY!"

He recognized the all too familiar voice and turned around slowly, his eyes lighting up with delight when he saw her. "Kate! Its so good to see you. You...you look great...I mean...um..." he trailed off and just stared back at her, wondering what the etiquette was for talking to ghosts or angels or whatever she was. His thoughts drifted back to that fateful day ending tragically with her death on a rooftop. "So...I guess I'm dead?"

"No Tony you're not dead," she said, annoyance evident in her tone.

"Geesh, Kate. Aren't you even the tiniest bit happy to see me?" Tony asked. "Why are you always so mad at me anyhow, even after all this time?"

Kate sighed softly and her expression softened. "I am happy to see you, Tony. Its just that I'm frustrated because you're not supposed to be here."

Tony rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Not my fault, Kate. Contrary to whatever you think, I didn't ask to come here."

"I know that, Tony, but you're not fighting very hard to leave either."

"I..." He dropped his eyes, guilt written all over his face, then he decided to throw it back at Kate. "Well...what about you? You didn't come back either."

"Oh my god, Tony! I was dead. You were there. Its not like I had a choice."

"Well, excuse me, Kate for not exactly knowing how things work up here."

They were both silent for a few moments then Kate finally made the first move, tentatively wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry, Tony. It really is good to see you."

He returned her embrace and it was almost like she had never been killed. He closed his eyes, just relishing the moment. "I'm sorry too, Kate," he murmured.

"What are you sorry for?" she pulled away, genuinely confused as she looked up at him. "Tony? What?"

"That day...it shouldn't have happened like that..."

"Oh Tony, there wasn't anything you could have done. You can't possibly feel guilty about that. It was nobody's fault. If it had to be anyone's fault it would be mine. I had the chance to kill Ari and I didn't take it."

He shook his head, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with sadness. "Not your fault, Kate."

This wasn't going the way it was supposed to be. Kate watched him for a bit, realizing that he was not the same man he had been five years ago. She didn't know how to help him, but she did know who could...

*****

One minute Kate was there, the next minute she was gone. "Not funny, Kate," Tony shouted out. She didn't answer him though. "She could have said goodbye." Feeling more than a little bit sorry for himself, he sat down on a bench that he didn't remember being there a few minutes before. This place was just weird.

"Is this seat taken?"

He held his breath for a moment, almost afraid to turn his head. When he did, his eyes immediately filled with tears. "Mama?" His voice broke and he found himself wrapped in her arms just like when he had been a sick little boy. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, bambino...more than you ever could have imagined. They hugged for a few long moments and then Caterina DiNozzo pulled back. "Let me look at you, Anthony," she said, her voice soft and lilting. "My...you are very handsome, my son." She brushed her hand back tenderly through his hair.

"And you look beautiful, mama," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Just the same as when I was a boy."

"So Anthony...you've been going through a very rough time, yes?"

Tony shrugged. "I guess, but I don't really want to talk about that."

"I'm sorry, darling, but our time together is growing short and we must talk about it."

"What do you mean? Can't I just stay here with you?"

Caterina stared into her son's eyes as if mesmerized. She would like nothing better than for him to stay there with her, but he needed to do what was right for him. "Why would you want to do that? Do you not have a family that loves you very much?"

"You mean dad?" Tony hesitated then shook his head. "I don't know if he has ever really loved me..."

"Your father is a very complicated man, Anthony," Caterina stated, neither denying or confirming Tony's statement. "But he is not who I am speaking of. I am speaking of your boss, Jethro Gibbs."

"Oh..."

"This man loves you. Surely you must see that."

Tony nodded. "Yes...I know," he admitted quietly.

"Then why on earth would you hurt him like that?"

"I don't want to hurt him," Tony protested. "That's exactly why I shouldn't go back. I don't want him to be hurt because of me."

"I don't understand."

"He...he wants to protect me too much, mama...I don't want that.."

"He would lay down his life for anyone on your team, would he not?"

"Yes...I can't explain this...let's just drop it, okay?"

"Oh, Anthony...this man loves you like a son. Do not run away from him."

"I'm not." He shook his head stubbornly.

"You are. And if you do not think this will hurt him in the very worst way possible, you are only fooling yourself. You were only brought into this situation because of someone seeking revenge against Gibbs. If you die, he will blame himself. Is that what you want?" Caterina's green eyes were intense as she gazed at her son.

"No..." he whispered.

"Then you need to go back to him, Anthony...Go back to your father..."

Tony gave his mother a startled look and she laughed lightly. "Don't look so surprised. I have been keeping an eye on you over the years."

"But...don't you mind?" he asked guiltily.

"How could I mind?" she asked as she gently stroked Tony's cheek with her hand. "A mother wants her children to be protected and loved. I can't think of a better man than Leroy Jethro Gibbs to be watching over you. Though I would not mind if he was to lighten up on the head slaps."

"I guess you have been watching," Tony said with a chuckle.

"Indeed I have...and I will continue to do so. Now, darling...I'm afraid it is time for you to go back."

"Can't I stay with you just a little bit longer?" he asked, his sad eyes mirroring her own. "Please?"

"I'm sorry, bambino. It is not my decision to make. I love you so much, Anthony. Be well and happy, my beautiful boy." A few stray teardrops fell from her eyes as she kissed Tony's cheeks . "Until we meet again, my son..."

"Mama...don't leave me," he pleaded as he started to grow woozy. His breathing was growing labored again and the pain in hs chest had returned. "Please stay with me..."

*****

Tony took a gasping breath and Ziva backed away from him. "He is breathing," she said unnecessarily to the small group surrounding them.

"He's really struggling though," Gibbs observed. The younger man's attempts at getting air into his lungs were obviously tortured. Finally having been released from the handcuffs, Gibbs was clutching Tony's hand tightly. "You hang in there, Tony. Do you hear me? Fight this. I know you can."

Ducky pushed his way through and settled himself beside Tony as he opened up his medical bag and pulled out his stethoscope. "Not feeling very well, are you my dear boy." His concern was evident as he took in Tony's blue-tinged lips, feverish appearance and harsh breathing. He glanced over at his long-time friend. "Its good to see you, Jethro, how are you doing?" he asked as he unzippered Tony's jacket.

"I'm fine, Duck. Its Tony I'm worried about. He's been put through hell."

"We'll get him through this, Jethro. Timothy, can you sit him up for me please?"

"Sure, Ducky." Tim got behind Tony and sat him up so that he was leaning against his chest.

"There, that's better, isn't it, Anthony," Ducky soothed as he began to listen to Tony's lungs. As he had expected, Tony's lungs did not sound good, filled with harsh breath sounds, crackles and gurgles.

"Duck?" Gibbs made no attempt to hide his anxiety.

"The paramedics should be here any moment, Jethro. They will take good care of him."

"I know that, Ducky," Gibbs said impatiently. "But what do you think?"

"Its hard to say right now," Ducky admitted. "I have no idea what the drugs might have done to his system, Jethro. All I can tell you right now is that he's very sick and has a long road ahead of him.

"He has to make it, Ducky...he just has to..." Finally, the sirens could be heard in the background. "Help is coming, Tony," Gibbs said softly. "Just a few more minutes."

*****

Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. stood in the background, watching as the paramedics worked on his son. Gibbs had never left Tony's side and he was becoming increasingly resentful of that. He was Tony's father but nobody seemed to care. He had basically been ignored since Tony had been rescued from the house. It was almost like he wasn't there at all and he did not like that feeling one bit. He was the one who had gotten the money for Tony's ransom, but everyone seemed to have forgotten about that.

The paramedics were finally ready to transfer Tony to the hospital. He watched as they loaded him into the ambulance along with Gibbs. "I am your father, Anthony, not Gibbs" he muttered to himself as he headed to his car so he could get to the hospital as well.