"Nice job in there," Gibbs said once they were out in the hall. "I forget how good you are at playing up the sympathy."
The rare praise barely registered and Tony just shrugged.
Gibbs tried again, knowing he was playing with fire but determined not to give Tony the undeserved punishment he so desperately seemed to want. "Bet Daniel believed you were pissed at me."
"You were badgering a cooperating witness," Tony said icily.
Gibbs smiled. "Come on, Tony. You know as well as I do that he's hiding something."
There was a slight thaw in green eyes and Tony's mouth twitched in an almost-smile. "You think he knows where his brother is?"
"Think he knows more than he's telling us."
"Why didn't you ask how he just happened to show up at the scene?" Tony asked, his tone more normal without the simmering anger that had been there all day. "I was waiting for it."
Gibbs blinked in surprise. He winced and gave DiNozzo a sheepish smile. "Didn't think about it," he admitted. He didn't admit that it was because he was too busy worrying about Tony.
DiNozzo shrugged. "Mother said she was supposed to meet them both for lunch at that restaurant across the street. Ryan disappeared sometime last night though—off his meds again, apparently—but they decided to meet without him to see if he showed up."
"So you were waiting for me to ask even though you knew the answer?" he asked, mildly amused.
"You didn't know I knew," Tony said simply.
"Nice job," Gibbs said again, realizing it was the wrong thing to say when the shutters slammed down in Tony's eyes again.
They walked into the squad room and Gibbs bit back a frustrated growl when Tony went straight to his desk without a word to his teammates.
"Whaddaya got?" Gibbs barked, making his junior agents jump at his harsh tone.
"Nothing, Boss," McGee said after a flurry of tapping keys. "Ryan's off the grid. No cell phone, no credit or debit cards. No utilities because he lives at home and no place of employment."
"I contacted local hospitals and clinics in case he shows up," Ziva said. "I also contacted his psychiatrist and informed him of the situation."
McGee glanced at his phone. "Abby said no GSR on Daniel's hands or clothing."
"And Ducky said no prints on the body," Ziva said, shaking her head.
Gibbs frowned at the new information—or lack thereof—but he didn't speak.
"I'll update the BOLO with the scar," Tony said, sounding exhausted after a long night followed by a long day.
Gibbs nodded at his people, unable to think of anything else that could be done. He swallowed a sigh, hating that there was nothing to do but sit and wait—and try to make things right with his still-upset agent.
"Send Mrs. Jordan home with a pair of agents from the pool," Gibbs said as he sank into his chair.
"And Daniel?" Ziva asked.
Gibbs frowned again—as if he had ever stopped. "Cut him loose."
"Gibbs," Tony said, looking up sharply. "You just said he's hiding something."
"You see the way he was never two steps from his mother until we separated them?" Gibbs asked pointedly.
Tony nodded, but his eyes were still hard. "And if he runs straight to his brother?"
"He'll go home with his mother," Gibbs said confidently.
Tony sighed. "And with the agents we're sending with her," he grudgingly agreed. "What do we do now?"
"Go home," Gibbs answered. He looked directly at Tony. "All of you."
McGee and Ziva nodded, gathering their things and walking to the elevator without a word, both having sensed the tension between Gibbs and Tony all day, if the speed with which the two junior agents fled was any indication.
Gibbs waited for the elevator doors to close before leaning back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head until aching vertebrae popped in blessed relief. He knew Tony was waiting for him to snap at him so he just leaned forward, elbows on his desk, and studied his agent's tired face.
"You want a ride?" Gibbs asked softly.
"I can get myself home," Tony said crisply, making no move to get up.
Gibbs just glanced at his watch. "You should get going then," he said, no trace of an order in his voice. "You must be exhausted."
"I'm fine," came the expected reply.
Gibbs just watched him turn back to his screen.
He waited.
He got nothing.
"All right, DiNozzo. You win," he finally said, watching Tony turn wary, tired eyes on him. "I give. Why do you so desperately want me to be mad at you?"
Tony's eyes went back to the screen and the agent stayed silent.
"Already told you there's no reason for you to punish yourself," Gibbs said, his tone neutral. "And there's no reason for me to punish you either."
Tony didn't look at him.
"I meant it when I said you did everything you could," Gibbs tried again, reaching down deep for patience. He remembered Ducky's words and said, "Not everyone can be saved, Tony."
Only Gibbs' experience and familiarity with his agent allowed him to catch the anguish in the green eyes avoiding his steady gaze. But still Tony did not speak.
Gibbs tried a more direct approach, getting up and moving to sit on the edge of Tony's desk. He tried not to wince at the wariness he saw and simply watched Tony fight not to fidget. "Talk to me, DiNozzo," he said, going back to last names but not even coming close to an order. "Please." He paused, letting the rare word fully sink in. "Will you just talk to me?"
The only sound was of the pencil Tony tapped against the back of his left hand, which rested curled in a fist on his desk.
"Please?" Gibbs said again.
"Stop it," Tony said, his anger evident as the pencil snapped in his hand. He threw the pieces onto the desk and looked up, finally meeting Gibbs' eyes. "I don't want to talk. But we can go settle this downstairs if you want."
Gibbs shook his head, surprising his coldly furious agent. "No, DiNozzo," he said firmly. "I'm not sparring with you tonight."
"Why the hell not?" Tony demanded, getting up and stalking away to lean against Ziva's empty desk.
"Because," Gibbs said, "you're looking for a punishment and I'm not about to give you one you don't deserve."
Tony gave him a confused look, but Gibbs didn't buy it for a second.
But still he explained, "You'd let me hurt you, Tony. And as much as you think you want that, or deserve that, or need that, I won't do it. Because you don't deserve it."
Gibbs stepped away and allowed Tony to silently gather his things. He waited until his agent was standing in front of the elevator to speak, his voice carrying through the silent squad room.
"I know you feel responsible for Kevin, and I know you're angry. But you wanna be pissed at someone, be pissed at me. I'm the one who misread your code."