Thanks so much for your reviews and support for this story. As always, it is so much appreciated. Gibbs and Senior are finally meeting up in this chapter (though it might not go as you expect lol).

Special thanks: WCUGirl, Sparkiebunny, LongLashes1, Space1Traveler, Sarahsrr, Rena-Spatz, vanishingp2000, AZGirl, NikaDex, NickTonyK, Meilea2010, medicgirl, Gloworm41, godsdaughter77, combatcrazy, Gaddkzmp, NCIS-TIVA-FAN, Tacpebs, anci2506, GibbsRules, julie250, Stroma, newgal, GibbsGirlAbby, Diana teo, peanutmeg, Jessykuh, CSIGeekFan, angeleyes46, shirik and Detour.

**Warning - this chapter contains a sexual reference which some may find inappropriate.

xxxxx

"Tony!" Abby squealed as she bounced into Tony's room and headed for his bed. Tony flinched, anticipating the impact, but, surprisingly, Abby slowed down right before she got to him and she gave him a gentle hug. "Oh, Tony...I've missed you so much. I've been so worried about you."

"Hey, Abby, I've missed you too," Tony said as he returned her embrace, a genuine smile on his face. "I've missed all of you, even you, McGeek." He grinned at Tim and Ziva who had entered the room after Abby.

"Better be nice, Tony or you won't get this milkshake or what's in this bag," Tim said, brandishing the items in front of Tony.

"A milkshake?" Gibbs asked as he turned towards Abby who had curled up on the bed beside Tony. "I thought I told you to get him something light?"

"My fault, boss," Tony said as he put his arm around Abby and she settled her head contentedly on his shoulder. "I gave her a call when you had to hit the head. Asked her to bring me one."

"He was so sad and pitiful, Gibbs," Abby said. "You wouldn't have been able to say no to him either."

"Wouldn't be too sure of that, Abs," Gibbs said with a look of barely disguised amusement on his face.

"He's right, Abby," Tony said, grinning at Gibbs. "He ate a big breakfast right in front of me this morning, didn't offer me so much as a crumb."

"Don't blame me if you get sick, DiNozzo," Gibbs said, shaking his head as Tim handed the shake to Tony.

"Won't get sick, boss." Tony eagerly ripped the wrapper off the straw then stuck it through the slit in the cover of the cup. He took a small sip of the shake and closed his eyes blissfully. "Oh my God...this is soooo good. Now what's in the bag, Probie? Sorry, I mean Tim?"

Tim gave Tony an amused smile as he gave him the bag.

"It's a turkey sandwich," Abby stated before Tony could get the bag open. She glanced at Gibbs. "I figured that wouldn't be too much for him."

"So, how are you feeling, Tony?" Tim asked. He had been pretty worried about Tony and it was good to see him looking so much better than he had anticipated.

"I'm definitely doing better than I was," Tony stated as he took a large mouthful of the sandwich. "And thanks for bringing me this. You could die of starvation in this place." He glanced at Ziva who had remained in the background and had yet to speak. "Ziva, I can't even see you over there behind McGee. Come over here."

A subdued-appearing Ziva came out from behind Tim and dropped a light kiss on Tony's cheek. "Hello, Tony," she said quietly. "I am glad to see that you are feeling better. I have been quite concerned about you."

"No need to worry your pretty little head about me anymore," Tony stated. "I'll be back at work in no time."

"First you need to worry about getting out of here, DiNozzo," Gibbs said. "One thing at a time." He was glad to see Tony seeming so much better, but appearances could be deceiving. He was not about to let him go rushing back to work before he was truly ready.

"I'll be out of here before you know it, boss. You'll see."

Gibbs nodded. Seeing that Tony was in good hands, he decided to take the opportunity to head back to headquarters. His visit with DiNozzo Sr. was long overdue. "I need to take care of some paperwork. Why don't you take a long lunch and hang out with DiNozzo for a while," he said casually.

"We'll take good care of him, Gibbs," Abby said as she gave Tony another hug.

McGee and Ziva exchanged glances. "Are you sure you do not want one of us to accompany you?" Ziva asked in a low voice, Tony was laughing at something Abby had said and wasn't paying attention to them.

"I'm sure, Ziva. You stay here with Tony. I shouldn't be too long." He walked over to Tony and gently clasped his shoulder. "You take it easy, DiNozzo. I'll be back in a while."

"Okay. I'll see you later, boss."

Gibbs gave a final fond look at his agent and the little group surrounding him, then headed off for his confrontation with Tony's father.

xxxxx

"Well, well, well...Agent Gibbs...I wondered when you were going to show up," DiNozzo Sr. greeted Gibbs, his voice as smooth as silk. He was seated at the table in the interrogation room, appearing perfectly calm. "It's about time. The accommodations here are a bit lacking."

"DiNozzo," Gibbs stated flatly, making a concerted effort to keep his emotions under control when his first instinct was to bash the man's face in. "Just to let you know, this isn't being recorded. Today, its just you and me..."

"Is that for my protection or yours?"

A slight smile flickered over Gibbs' lips. "I can tape it if you want me to," he said as he sat down across from the other man.

Senior shook his head. "No, no...that's fine...So, how's my boy doing?" Senior asked with an easy smile.

"Do you even realize how much trouble you're in?" Gibbs growled.

"I asked how my boy was," Senior said with an angry glint in his eye.

"You weren't concerned about that when you were trying to choke the life out of him," Gibbs said fiercely.

"Now that's an exaggeration, Gibbs." Senior smiled again, but it was obviously forced. "I admit I might have gotten a tad carried away with the boy, but I was only trying to help him. He was out of control. I was afraid he might hurt himself."

"That's a lie," Gibbs hissed.

"You weren't there, Agent Gibbs, not for the beginning part. You only saw a tiny piece of what happened."

"I don't believe you for a second, you bastard."

Senior cocked his head and looked at Gibbs with a grin. "Wow...he really has you snowed, doesn't he?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"He was always a very imaginative child, Gibbs. Made up little stories. Cute when you're very young, but then the little tall tales turn into big lies and its not so cute anymore. I'd take anything Anthony tells you with a grain of salt."

"You're a damn liar," Gibbs said, seething.

"Anthony is the damn liar, Gibbs, not me," Senior said with a chuckle. "Maybe you haven't discovered it yet, but you will in time...trust me, you will..."

"Gibbs shook his head in disgust. "You really don't care about him at all, do you?"

"Of course I care about him, Gibbs. He's MY son. I'm just not blinded to his faults the way you seem to be. I see him for what he is."

"You have no idea what he is," Gibbs said softly. He was beginning to really see what kind of a childhood Tony must have had. He couldn't imagine he had ever gotten any affection at all from this man. No wonder Tony was having issues now.

"I know that he jokes around all the time, but underneath he's overly sensitive...insecure...I can crush him if I want to..."

Gibbs listened to Tony's so-called father with a growing sense of horror. Who the hell talked that way about their own child? "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying there are things I can say to him that would squash him like a bug, Gibbs. I'll tell him what a disappointment he's always been to me, that he's good for nothing, worthless, that ever since the day his mother died I wished it was him instead of her...things like that... He's always been so needy, seeking my approval. I had no time for such nonsense. Coddling a child is no way to make him into a man." He paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully before continuing. "Help me get out of this mess ...I'll go away. I'll leave him alone. I'll tell him how much he means to me, that he's a wonderful son, my pride and joy, blah, blah, blah. Then, I'll make myself scarce. He'll be all yours...That's what you want, isn't it? To have him all to yourself? I don't know why you want him so badly though. Is it a sexual thing, Gibbs? Do you have the hots for my boy?"

Gibbs couldn't take it anymore. Enraged, he flew at Senior, his fist hitting the other man's nose full force. Blood squirted out everywhere. He landed a punch on Senior's jaw, then focused on his torso. He hated this bastard. He didn't care if he killed him. Finally, he felt someone grabbing him from behind. "Jethro, Jethro! ENOUGH!" Ducky shouted. Not willing to risk hurting the older gentleman, Gibbs stopped his assault on Senior.

DiNozzo Sr. stumbled away from Gibbs and fell onto a chair. "Now I know why you didn't want this little session recorded," he snickered despite the pain he was feeling.

"Let's go get him cleaned up." Ducky turned towards Gibbs who hadn't moved. "Jethro, come on." He nudged Gibbs' arm and got him moving, then went over to Tony's father and helped him up off the chair. Luckily the trio didn't encounter anyone else on their way to Autopsy.

"Stay with him while I get my supplies," Ducky ordered.

"So, what do you think about my little offer?" Senior asked as Ducky went to retrieve his bag. He was gingerly rubbing his abdomen. Gibbs really packed a wallop.

Gibbs remained silent.

"You know, Gibbs, if I'm sent to prison, its going to to be local. Anthony will visit me. You know that to be true."

Gibbs didn't respond, but in his heart he knew Senior was right.

"It won't be good for him...I'll tell him things no father should ever say to his son... Little by little..bit by bit...I'll destroy him..."

Gibbs clenched his fists tightly, wanting to go at Senior again, but Ducky was already back with his bag.

"Let's get you tended to, shall we?" Ducky was all business as he proceeded to clean the blood from Senior's face.

Gibbs watched Ducky impassively, unable to stop thinking about what had just happened and the possible ramifications to Tony. More than anything, he wanted this scumbag to pay for what he had done...not only most recently, but for what he was now pretty sure had been years of emotional and he suspected physical abuse as well when Tony was a child. Tony was so vulnerable right now though, much more so than he had ever seen him. If his father was to go to prison who knew what it would do to his agent, especially if Senior carried out his threats. But if he let Senior off the hook, he was essentially letting him get away with everything, including blackmail. It was a lose-lose situation.

Finally, Ducky finished up with Senior and Gibbs silently escorted him back to his cell. "I could get you in a lot of trouble for what you did to me today," Senior said as Gibbs slammed the cell door.

"I don't really care," Gibbs replied.

Senior nodded, trusting Gibbs' words. "I believe you...which is why I won't say anything, but I'd think long and hard about what I said earlier, Gibbs, because I will do it and trust me...it won't be pretty. The boy's a sentimental fool, probably from watching too many of those damn movies he loves so much. He'll keep coming back for more, no matter what I say to him. I'll do more damage than anything you could ever imagine in your wildest dreams..."

Gibbs gave Senior a long, hard stare before abruptly turning away and heading back to Autopsy. The man was pure evil...a monster. Gibbs still needed to talk to O'Connell as well, but he definitely wasn't up for that today.

"Jethro," a grim-faced Ducky greeted him as he walked back into Ducky's lab.

"Hey, Duck."

"How is young Anthony doing today?"

"He's starting to feel better..." Gibbs sighed softly before continuing. "So...how did you know?"

"Ziva called me from the hospital. She suspected you were heading back here to confront Tony's father."

"Father? Really, Ducky? Is that what you'd call him?" Just thinking about what had just happened made Gibbs' blood boil all over again. "How much did you hear, anyhow?"

"Quite a bit...almost all of it," Ducky admitted. "And its lucky I was there, Jethro. You were quite out of control."

"Don't care, Duck," Gibbs said with a shrug. "He deserved every bit of it and more. You heard what he said..."

"I agree that he deserved it, but what if I hadn't been there? How far would you have gone?"

"Does it matter?"

"I think it would have mattered to Anthony a great deal if you had seriously hurt his father or worse. He's supposed to be your main concern, isn't he?"

"You know he is..." Gibbs said quietly.

"Yes, I know how much you care about the boy. But, Jethro, I would urge you to tread very carefully."

Gibbs shook his head slowly, overwhelmed by frustration and the enormity of the decision he had to make. "What should I do, Duck?"

Ducky pondered the question for a few moments, but had no idea what to say to his long time friend. "I don't know, Jethro," he said, giving Gibbs' shoulder an encouraging pat, "but I'm confident you will make the right choice..."