Thanks so much for all the reviews and support for this story. As always, I appreciate it more than I can say. You all have been terrific :)

Special thanks: WCUGirl, Sparkiebunny, LongLashes1, pandi19, Space1Traveler, NikaDex, Rena-Spatz, sarahsrr, NickTonyK, combatcrazy, Gaddkzmp, godsdaughter77, Gloworm41, Stroma, Tiffany331, medicgirl, peanutmeg, GibbsGirlAbby, Tacpebs, GibbsRules, WildFire203, Meilea2010, NCIS-TIVA-FAN, AZGirl, julie250, newgal, diana teo, anci2506, ihearttony, angeleyes46, BleakRemberance, faldo, Servant05, OlympicStorm, Jessykuh,obfuscate2, Silvanelf, shirik, and annr.

xxxxx

Gibbs breathed a sigh of relief when he returned to DiNozzo's hospital room and saw Tony, leaning against Abby, fast asleep. Even though he knew Tony was safe, especially with his agents watching over him, the visit with DiNozzo Sr. had left Gibbs feeling very uneasy. Tim and Ziva were talking quietly in the far corner of the room. Abby saw Gibbs and pressed her finger up against her lips. "He dropped off about 15 minutes ago," she whispered.

"Was he still doing okay?" Gibbs asked casting a concerned look at his sleeping agent. "He didn't get sick to his stomach or anything, did he?"

Abby shook her head. "No, he was fine, just sleepy. He looks so sweet when he's asleep, doesn't he? Just like a little boy."

By this time, Ziva and Tim had joined Gibbs and Abby. "He does look sweet," Ziva said with a smile as she nodded in agreement. "He has an innocent look to him when he is asleep."

"Tony? Innocent?" Tim scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I said he looked innocent, McGee. I did not say he was innocent," Ziva whispered. "There is a difference. And do not speak so loudly. You are going to wake him up."

"Alright, you all need to think about getting back to work," Gibbs said quietly. He didn't think Tony would be at all comfortable to awaken and find them all standing there watching him. Thanks for coming. I think it did him some good."

"It was so good to see him," Abby said as she gracefully manipulated herself out from underneath Tony and gently placed his head on the pillow. She then dropped a light kiss on his forehead.

Is everything okay with you, Gibbs?" Ziva asked, giving her team leader a long look.

Gibbs nodded. "Yes, Ziva, everything is fine."

Ziva looked skeptical, not entirely convinced that was true, but she knew Gibbs would only talk about it if he was ready, not beforehand. "Okay then. I guess we will see you soon. Tell Tony we said goodbye."

"And tell him I'll be back to visit him tomorrow," Abby said as she gave Gibbs a hug and he kissed her cheek. "I'll bring him some treats."

"Remember Abs, he's still recovering," Gibbs said. He knew he was maybe being overprotective, but he had witnessed Tony going through hell. He couldn't help it.

"I won't bring him anything dangerous, Gibbs," Abby said, smirking back at him. She loved seeing how caring Gibbs was being with Tony. It was something both men really needed.

I just mean, I don't think you should be bringing him pizza or things like that, even if he asks for it," Gibbs explained. "His stomach has been pretty messed up."

"Don't worry, I won't bring anything too drastic."

They said their goodbyes and Gibbs settled down in his familiar chair next to Tony. The confrontation with his agent's father was still very fresh in his mind. He had no idea what to do. He was considering just telling DiNozzo the whole story, but wasn't sure he could. How could he tell him all those horrible things his father had said? He didn't think he could do it, especially with Tony's current health situation.

"Please don't...Stop! Leave me alone," Tony mumbled in his sleep.

"Shhh...its okay, Tony. Its just a dream," Gibbs murmured. He gently rubbed the younger man's shoulder, trying to soothe him without awakening him.

"I didn't mean to, please don't hit me, dad..."Tony groaned and began to thrash about on the bed. obviously quite distraught.

"Everything's alright, Tony...I'm right here. "You're okay." Tony's words sent an icy chill down the center of Gibbs spine. Of course, it was possible that the visions tormenting his agent were just dreams, though Gibbs suspected there was a lot more to them than that.

Tony opened his eyes and he looked up at Gibbs with a look of pure unadulterated fear. It vanished almost immediately once Tony got his bearings and realized where he was and that Gibbs was with him. "Hey, boss," Tony said a little bit shakily.

"Hey yourself, DiNozzo...are you okay?"

"Yeah...I'm fine...just another bad dream..."

"You want to talk about it?"

Tony shook his head quickly, not meeting Gibbs' eyes. "No...anyway...I don't really remember it..."

Gibbs sighed softly to himself. He could tell that Tony was holding back, but he wasn't about to push him, at least not right now.

"I guess the others left?" Tony asked, noting that the room was once again empty except for him and Gibbs. "I must have fallen asleep on them..."

"Don't worry about it, DiNozzo. They understood."

Tony nodded then looked back at Gibbs. "So...did you finish up your work back at headquarters?"

"For today," Gibbs said a little warily. "I'll probably go back in tomorrow."

"Did you see my father?"

Damn...damn...damn. He did not want to do this right now. He wasn't ready and Tony definitely wasn't ready.

"I guess you did," Tony stated when Gibbs hesitated. "What did he say? Did he ask about me?"

Gibbs nodded, thankful that he could at least answer that question truthfully. "Yeah, he asked about you."

"Well, what else did he say? What's going on with him?" Did he have any explanation for what he did?" Tony's voice rose with each question, his agitation very evident.

"He said he was trying to keep you from hurting yourself."

"But you don't believe him..."

Gibbs shook his head. "No...no, I'm sorry, Tony, but I don't."

Tony nodded and lowered his gaze to stare back down at his legs. He didn't want to talk about his father anymore. He had a feeling the conversation wouldn't go particularly well and he wasn't really up to it.

The two sat there, not speaking, as a long awkward silence began to build between them. "Could you get me a drink, please?" Tony finally asked. "Not water though...something else with ice?"

"Yeah, sure," Gibbs quickly got to his feet, grateful to have a task to occupy him if only for a few minutes. "I'll be right back."

Tony's eyes followed Gibbs as he left the room and then he leaned into the pillows with a small sigh. The nightmare had been much more troubling than he was willing to admit. It brought back memories he had tried to bury long ago. He had no idea why he was having these dreams all of a sudden. Maybe the drugs he had been given had screwed him up more than anyone realized. He refused to consider that his father was causing the nightmares. He wasn't some scared little kid his father could bat around anymore. He was all grown up and he wasn't going to let the past come back at him like that. He was stronger than the memories...they were just memories. They couldn't hurt him anymore.

Gibbs noiselessly came back into the room and he observed his agent from the doorway. Tony was so caught up in whatever he was thinking about that he didn't even hear Gibbs re-enter the room. Gibbs couldn't help but think that Tony resembled a lost little boy.

"Hey, Tony," Gibbs announced his entrance, hoping not to startle the younger man. "Got you a Coke."

"Thanks, boss." Tony accepted the drink from Gibbs and took a long sip before looking back at him. "You know...you really don't have to stay with me tonight. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I'm sure you'd like to be home in your own bed."

Gibbs shook his head. "I think I'm going to stay here, DiNozzo. Believe it or not, I've actually gotten kind of attached to that hospital bed."

"Yeah right," Tony chuckled. "Don't think I could ever believe that. This bed is as bad as that old crappy mattress you made me stay on in Bellingham's little prison."

"You were freezing cold."

"Yeah I know, boss, but even so...that thing was gross. Who knows who did what on it."

Tony wrinkled his nose up in disgust.

Gibbs realized that Tony was beginning to recall details of what had happened to them. "You're remembering, Tony..."

"Huh?" Tony gave Gibbs a baffled look and then realized what he was talking about. Memories which had been lost were suddenly coming back to him. "I remember what happened to us..." Tony shuddered slightly as he recalled Bellingham injecting the unknown contents of the syringe into his arm.

"All of it?" Gibbs asked. This was definitely a good sign.

Tony closed his eyes and thought back, just letting the memories come to him. "I remember the undercover case ending and you inviting me to your house, then Bellingham and his goons waiting there for us. We were cuffed and they took us to the lab and locked us in that room. Bellingham drugged me...then when I wasn't dying fast enough for him, he was going to finish the job." At this point Tony was breathing faster and his face was visibly more pale.

"Tony, that's enough," Gibbs said, growing more concerned. "You don't have to push it, you did good."

Tony opened his eyes and looked back at Gibbs. "I'm okay. I want to do this."

Gibbs hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Okay...just be careful..."

Tony closed his eyes again and as the images filled his mind, he continued his recitation. "Sheldon blew Bellingham's brains out and they took us to the cabin..." He opened his eyes again. "I was really sick..."

Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, you were..."

""You never left my side...you were always taking care of me..."

"Well, we were handcuffed together," Gibbs quipped, trying to lighten the moment.

"I...I really appreciate what you did for me, boss," Tony said, his green eyes intently fixed on Gibbs. "Thank you..."

"You're welcome, DiNozzo," Gibbs said gruffly. He couldn't help but notice that Tony was looking exhausted again. "You ought to get some sleep."

Tony shook his head. "No, not now. I need to do this."

"You're tired...it can wait until later..."

"I'd rather just do it now." He closed his eyes again and tried to remember the time spent at the cabin. A lot of it wasn't too clear, but he did remember Sheldon telling him that they had called his father.

"God..."

"Tony, what is it?" Gibbs asked. He could see Tony was upset.

"I remember Sheldon telling me about the ransom...that he had called my father..." He looked at Gibbs pleadingly. "How can I let my father go to jail?" he asked, his eyes filled with torment. "No matter what he might have done, he still wouldn't have been here if he wasn't trying to help me..."

"That isn't how it works, Tony. The circumstances did not in any way force him to do what he did to you." This was just great. It wasn't at all what Gibbs wanted to hear. No matter how many times he tried to reason with Tony, the younger man still believed that he was somehow to blame for what had happened.

"He...he'll never forgive me," Tony stated softly, looking impossibly young and vulnerable.

"So you think we should just let him off the hook?" Gibbs asked.

Tony shrugged. "If I don't want to press charges, I don't see why we have to..."

"And if he had killed you?"

"I told you before, he wouldn't have done that."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do."

Gibbs ran his hand back through his hair in frustration. Why did this have to be so damn difficult?

"You can't tell me you've never bent rules before," Tony persisted. "I know that you have. The legal system is a crock, lawyers playing let's make a deal. Guilty people are walking around all over the place."

"So, you're admitting he's guilty."

"I'm saying he made a mistake."

Gibbs shook his head. "It was much more than a mistake, Tony."

"Please, boss?" Tony looked at Gibbs imploringly. "I...I haven't asked you for much...can't you please do this one thing for me?"

Just then, Ducky walked into the room. "Hello, Anthony, Jethro..." He paused when he saw the intense looks on the faces of both men. "Am I interrupting something? I can come back..."

Gibbs shook his head and got to his feet. "Actually, Ducky, your timing couldn't be better. I'm going to get out of here for a while. I'll let you have some time alone with Tony." He just couldn't do this anymore. He felt like he was being torn in two. Gibbs then fled from the room without another look at his agent, never seeing the look of utter devastation on Tony's face as he walked out the door.