Found Chap. 7

Jethro Gibbs watched as Tony sat trembling, wrapped up his blankets, trying to hide the wetness on his cheeks. The whispered apologies tore at his heart. The wrongness of the entire situation hit him like a ton of bricks. Making up his mind, Gibbs tossed all his doubt out the window and pulled Tony closer. The kid would just have to be embarrassed later. Right now, he needed to know someone was on his side.

"I've got you, Tony. It's ok, kiddo. You're alright, bud."

Gibbs felt Tony fighting with himself. The boy wanted the comfort that he'd been denied for so long, but he had no clue what to do once he finally had it. Slowly, Tony started to relax into the hug. When the tears stopped and Tony tried to pull away with a litany of apologies, Gibbs held on, not letting him go.

"Don't pull away until you're ready."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that."

"I did. Tony, I can't watch you fall apart and do nothing. Abby, why don't you go grab us something to drink?"

Squeezing Tony into a quick hug, Abby slipped out the bedroom door and down the stairs, while Gibbs tried to convince him that his mini breakdown was actually expected given what he'd been through.

"When I was missing, I knew you were looking for me. I knew it. I never doubted that. Then when we got back and you said that to Tim, I didn't know what to think."

Gibbs mentally kicked himself again for that ill thought out comment. Whatever relationship that might have been building between he and Tony had been shattered in that one breath.

"Why did you make me think you cared and then rip it all away?"

"I'm not good with emotions. That is no excuse for what I said though. My insecurities should never have kicked yours into overdrive. I need you to be angry about that, Tony. I need you to understand that I was wrong. Why aren't you pissed that I made you feel so terrible?"

"I guess I just kind of expect that from people."

Gibbs knew why Tony expected people to let him down, but it didn't make hearing it any easier. Right then and there, Jethro Gibbs vowed to change Tony's way of thinking. It was just wrong that Tony, of all people, felt that way. Goofy, laughing, Tony should never expect to be disappointed.

Before they could finish the conversation, Abby bounced back into the room with drinks. She had the absolute worst timing! Gibbs would have talk to her about that. Now though, he needed to get Tony settled and hopefully, back to bed.

"Thanks, Abbs. Apparently, crying all over your boss really takes it out of you."

Gibbs smirked. Some of the old Tony was shining through.

"The past two weeks have taken it out of you, Tony. Give yourself time to process that."

"Abby, Bizzaro Gibbs is back. I'm convinced he's the victim of an alien abduction. What say you?"

"Well, he has been acting funny lately."

Gibbs rolled his eyes and sighed. It was sad that Tony saw his attempt to comfort him as strange. That would have to change. Gibbs would have to change, he realized, if he wanted to regain Tony's trust. Changing too much, though, would leave Tony reeling. Gibbs had to talk to Ducky about all of this.

"Maybe I just realized some things had to change. Nothing alien about that."

Gibbs watched as Tony digested that bit of information and sighed into the bed. Exhaustion was warring with the need to avoid more nightmares. How long had the nightmares been a part of Tony's life?

"Go to sleep, Tonyboy. We'll be here."

"I don't want to wake either of you up again."

"Tony just let us take care of this for a while. Get some rest."

"Ok, but don't get pissed at me when I wake you up."

Gibbs watched as Abby tucked the blankets back around Tony and snuggled down beside him, protective as always. When she was certain Tony was asleep, she turned to Gibbs and glared at him.

"What did I do?"

"You have to fix this."

"I'm working on it. He doesn't make it easy."

"Tony's worth it."

"I agree."