AN: Here's the next chapter. I have a really bad headache so if it doesn't make sense, I can blame it on that ;) I was going to start to wrap it up, but then decided to throw in one more twist - hope it's not too over the top. In any case, when I first started this, I thought it was only going to be a few chapters long. Who knew it would turn out like this. This is such a great fanfiction atmosphere. I'm so glad I discovered this show and started writing again.
Thanks so much for the reviews and alerts. Special thanks to: Sparkiebunny, WCUGirl, vanishingp2000, Graphicmaker1, pandi19, carismum, diana teo, NickTonyK, jgomez921, Stroma, Nikadex, Tiffany331, Gaddkmzp, sarahsrr, krynnalexia, ncismom and combatcrazy. Really appreciate all your reviews and support :)
xxxxx
"Well, Mr. Donaldson...what do you think? This vacation home has everything to meet the requirements you mentioned on the phone." Lydia Humphrey tried to hide her excitement as she guided the older gentleman through the rooms of the beachfront property. It was off-season and business had not exactly been booming as of late. Surprisingly, Mr. Donaldson hadn't seemed the least bit put off by the amount it would cost to rent the property. The owner had even given permission to lower the price, but with any luck, she wasn't going to have to do that.
DiNozzo Sr. nodded in satisfaction. "It seems very suitable," he told the beaming realtor. "The perfect place for me to get away to work on my novel. I'll start with a one month rental and we'll take it from there. Is that okay?"
"Oh yes, that should work out just fine. Why don't I go get the paperwork and we'll have you ready to move in, in no time. I'll be right back." DiNozzo Sr. watched as Lydia headed out to the car and then he walked over to the living room window which overlooked the beach. This house had everything he was looking for and more. It had every comfort one could wish for, as well as privacy in a beautiful and peaceful setting. Best of all, it would get Tony away from Gibbs, at least temporarily. He was going to pay in cash and since he had not used his real name, he didn't think Gibbs would have a very easy time tracing ther whereabouts. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep Tony with him for all that long, but hopefully long enough to make some inroads in their relationship. Who knew what could come of this? Maybe he would be able to help Tony realize that his being an agent was not the right choice for him. If they were to work together, they could possibly get the family business running as successfully as it had in the past. Of course, it would all be entirely legitimate now. He was smart enough to know his son would stand for nothing less.
He smiled as Lydia re-entered the home with her briefcase. Everything was going according to plan. He just had to work out a few more details and he could get things underway.
xxxxx
Jethro was stretched out on the bed next to Tony's, trying to get some much needed rest. He had been informed by more than one of Tony's nurses that he was welcome to make use of it as long as it wasn't needed for another patient. As exhausted as he was though, he found sleep to be elusive. Part of the problem was that Tony was not sleeping well. His temperature had elevated and he had been moving about restlessly under the covers, coughing and mumbling incoherently. One small blessing was that Tony's father had left. He hadn't mentioned where he was going and Gibbs hadn't asked. He was just grateful that he was gone, at least for the time being. His eyes moved towards Tony who was engaged in a particularly harsh coughing fit. Gibbs got up from the bed and made his way to the younger man's side, sitting on the bed next to him and gently easing him up into a sitting position. "It's okay, Tony. I've got ya."
The coughing was causing Tony to gasp for breath in spite of the oxygen. "Just take slow, deep breaths," Gibbs directed. He could feel the agent shivering against him. "You cold, DiNozzo?"
"Lit...little bit, boss," he managed before breaking out into more coughing.
Gibbs reached for the call button and pressed it. He was surprised by how quickly he got a response. "What can I do for you?" a pretty, young nurse, whose nametag said Ann Marie, asked as she smiled at Gibbs. Most of the nurses had already taking a liking to him. They were impressed by his level of devotion to Tony and were all wondering what exactly the nature of their relationship was.
"I was wondering if he could get another blanket. He's freezing," Gibbs replied, his eyes and tone both making his concern apparent. "I also think his temperature might still be rising."
Ann Marie nodded. "I'll go get a blanket for him and come back to take his temperature. I'll only be a minute."
"Thanks." Gibbs watched as the nurse exited the room and turned his attention back to Tony whose coughing had quieted down. "You doing any better, DiNozzo?"
"I'm okay, boss," Tony replied automatically, barely able to keep his eyes open.
Gibbs shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. He was going to contradict DiNozzo, but considering how stubborn he, himself, had been earlier it would have been hypocritical.
Ann Marie came back into the room a few moments later. She draped a blanket over Tony and then placed a thermometer in his mouth. A few seconds later, it beeped and she read it and made a notation in Tony's chart. "It isn't any higher than it was earlier," she said with a reassuring smile at Gibbs who looked relieved at the news. "He's due for some more medicine soon which should help."
"Thanks very much." Gibbs smiled at the nurse who left the room and decided he would try to get some rest himself. Tony had drifted off again and appeared to be resting peacefully. With one last look at DiNozzo, making sure he was okay, Gibbs settled himself into the other bed and fell into a restful sleep.
xxxxx
Hello?" The unkempt, middle-aged, man picked up the phone and held it to his ear.
"Hello, is this Dr. O'Connell?"
"Yes, it is. Who's calling?" He rubbed his bleary eyes and looked at the clock on his bedside table. It had been a long time since anyone had addressed him as doctor. Of course, losing one's medical license tended to have that effect.
"I'm not sure if you remember me or not, my name is Anthony DNozzo. You used to do some work for some of my associates in the past. I have a job for you, if you have any way of getting away for a week or two."
Luke O'Connell listened to the other man's story and his eyes practically popped out of his head when he heard the amount he was going to be paid. He hadn't seen money like that in ages. He scribbled down the names of the drugs DiNozzo's kid was on. None of them would be too difficult to get. This sounded like an easy gig. Most of his tasks in past years had involved gunshot wounds and stabbings. This would be nothing more than a glorified baby-sitting job. "I'll call up an associate of mine to cover my caseload. He had to close his practice when his wife got sick last year so he'll be more than happy to do it." The lies easily rolled off his lips. He certainly didn't want DiNozzo to know he had lost his license due to his abuse of drugs and alcohol. This was the best opportunity he'd been offered in years. He didn't want to screw it up.
"I'll see you soon, Mr. DiNozzo." Luke hung up the phone and hastily began throwing some clothes into a duffel bag. None of them were exactly clean, but they would have to do until he had an opportunity to wash them. Hell, with the money he was going to be getting, he could buy a whole new wardrobe. Taking one last look around his apartment, he closed the door and headed to the airport where his ticket would be waiting for him - first class with all the perks. Luckily for him, DiNozzo certainly didn't seem to mind throwing the cash around.
An hour later, he was at the airport anxiously waiting to board the plane. He could hardly wait to meet his new patient.
xxxxx
DiNozzo Sr. hesitated in the doorway of his son's hospital room. Gibbs was still there, sitting right by Tony's side. He had to admit the guy certainly seemed to care about his son. For a moment he reconsidered what he was about to do. Maybe he shouldn't be taking Tony out of the hospital so soon, but if he waited until he was better and had regained his strength, he knew that Tony would never willingly go with him. No, this was the best way to handle things. Besides, he had a doctor. Nothing was going to go wrong. Taking a deep breath, he walked into the room. Gibbs looked up immediately, his eyes narrowing when he saw who it was.
"How's my boy doing?" DiNozzo Sr. asked, deliberately emphasizing the word 'my'.
"He's holding his own," Gibbs replied calmly, unwilling to let the man get a rise out of him.
"Good...good." DiNozzo Sr. walked over to Tony's bedside and looked down at his sleeping son. Tony's complexion was ashen and he really did not appear well. "He looks really pale," DiNozzo Sr. murmured, once again experiencing qualms, but he quickly shook them away. Gibbs needed to get himself a puppy or adopt a kid of his own. He couldn't have his son.
Gibbs looked up at DiNozzo Sr., surprised at the note of concern in the other man's voice. "He's been through a lot," Gibbs said. "But he's strong...he'll be okay..."
DiNozzo Sr. nodded, still staring down at his son, wondering how things had gone so wrong. "I know you don't think much of me, Agent Gibbs..." he began. "And I can't really blame you. I haven't always done right by Anthony, but I want to change that. He's my son, and whether or not you believe it...I really do love him..."
Gibbs examined DiNozzo Sr. closely, looking for signs that the man wasn't being honest, but he appeared to be sincere. "I believe you want to change things," he finally admitted quietly. The man did appear to be legitimately concerned about Tony and he had come up with the ransom money. "But that might not be as easy as you think." A lot of damage had been done and Gibbs was certain there was more that he didn't even know about. Tony was pretty closed mouthed about his childhood, only letting out bits and pieces, mostly in the form of little quips and jokes, or when he was sick and very vulnerable.
DiNozzo Sr. bristled at Gibbs' comment, but managed to keep himself under control. "I do realize that, Agent Gibbs, but you can't deny me the right to try. He is, after all, my flesh and blood."
Gibbs considered that for a few minutes before nodding slowly. "No, I can't deny you that right," he admitted finally. "But you'd better not hurt him..."
DiNozzo Sr. correctly read the implied threat in Agent Gibbs words. "I'm not going to hurt him," he said contritely. The two men were silent for a few minutes before DiNozzo Sr. spoke again. This was the key moment in his plan. "Agent Gibbs...I know I have no right to ask this..." It practically killed him to utter the words He had every right to ask this. Hell, if it wasn't for Gibbs being marked as Tony's next of kin, none of these problems would be occurring. "I'd like to spend some time alone with him...I want him to know that I'm here for him this time...that he can count on me..."
Gibbs mulled it over before giving an answer. No matter how sincere Tony's father appeared, he still had a bad feeling in his gut about him. He couldn't constantly be running interference though. Tony was a grown man, not a kid. He was very vulnerable right now though and needed to use all his strength for recovering, not for dealing with his father. Finally, he nodded his consent. "Okay...I need to run over to headquarters for a bit anyhow." He wanted to ensure that everything was going smoothly with booking the kidnappers. He sure as hell didn't want them getting off on any technicalities. "I won't be long..."
"Don't worry, Agent Gibbs...I'll take good care of him." DiNozzo Sr. watched with bated breath as Gibbs fussed around Tony for a few moments, straightening his blankets and patting his head in a gesture that was so openly affectionate, it once again stirred up his jealousy to gargantuan proportions. Finally, Gibbs left. DiNozzo Sr. waited a few minutes to ensure the agent was really gone, then pulled out his cell phone to call Dr. O'Connell who was waiting downstairs. A few minutes later, the doctor arrived in the room, complete with a doctor's coat and a stethoscope around his neck.
"Grab his chart," Luke ordered as he quickly made his way to Tony's bedside. The faster they got this done, the better off they would be. The two men worked together to transfer Tony from the bed to the stretcher and aside from a few indecipherable murmurings, he never even stirred.
"Now remember, if anybody stops us..." DiNozzo Sr. began.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Luke interrupted impatiently. "I'm the doctor you called in to consult on your kid's case. We're taking him for some tests. Let's hurry up." He wasn't at all sure they would get away with this if they were stopped. He thought it was a pretty flimsy story, himself and if anyone looked into his credentials, they were totally screwed. As luck would have it though, he need not to have worried. Code blue alarms sounded and in the ensuing commotion, no one took notice of them as they made their way to a nearby elevator. Minutes later, Luke was behind the wheel of the Buick Lucerne that he had rented and DiNozzo Sr and his son were safely ensconced in the back seat.
DiNozzo Sr. was exuberant as Luke pulled out of the hospital parking lot. He had done it! He had gotten his son away from Agent Gibbs.