Title: You Notice Everything Chapter 2
Slash/Mature: Don't like, don't read.
Summary: At the Reception for Delilah and Tim, a surprise guest shows up. Like always, Gibbs notices everything.
Includes some spoilers for Episode 23 "Something Blue."
All mistakes are mine, this has not been proofed.
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Tony practically inhaled the burger and fries in front of him, then swallowed large gulps of the coffee. Gibbs watched as he sipped his coffee. There was so much that he had noticed in the brief hours that he'd spent with Tony.
Suddenly Tony realized Gibbs was watching him and he swallowed his mouthful of coffee. "Guess I was hungrier than I thought."
Gibbs just nodded.
"No meal on the flight last night and I just wanted to get Tali to bed, then myself to bed when we finally got settled at Senior's."
"Traveling with a kid is always rough."
"Yeah, I got lucky, she slept most of the way and she loves watching videos on the IPad." The waitress was about to come by and Tony put his cup at the edge of the table.
Gibbs followed suit and thanked the waitress as she walked away.
"I can't wait for you to see Tali, she's getting so big." Tony said as he pushed the plate away from him.
"I'm more interested in you." Gibbs sat his coffee cup down. "How are you?"
"I'm good, tired, but good."
Gibbs didn't speak just looked at Tony.
"What?" The look continued. "I told you I'm tired, but that's to be expected. I'm a single dad." Tony felt the steely blue eyes staring at him, into him. "What do you want me to say?" Tony's voice had an edge of annoyance.
"The truth."
Tony stared at his coffee cup moving it back and forth by the handle.
"You said I notice everything and your right, I do. One of the things I've noticed…" The green eyes came up to meet Gibbs. "You're taking care of Tali, but not yourself." He paused. "And if you don't take care of yourself you won't be able to take care of her."
"It's harder than I thought it would be." The words came out in a low whisper as Tony stared at the coffee cup again.
"It's okay to need help, to ask for help." Gibbs reached over and pulled the coffee cup from Tony's hand. With nothing to stare at, Tony again looked up at Gibbs. "No one can understand how hard until they have to do it."
Tony shook his head. "She's everything to me and I'm all she has."
"No you're not." Gibbs saw Tony's brow furrowed. "She has a family here that wants nothing more than to be a part of her life and help you in any way possible."
Tony nodded as he tried to hold back tears.
"You leaving didn't change that, we all understood why you needed to go." Gibbs pushed the cup back to Tony. "But you're here now and you need to let us help."
Tony managed a nod. "I um…I don't wanna do this here."
Standing up, Gibbs pulled out his wallet, tossed some money on the table, and looked at Tony nodding towards the door. Tony was instantly on his feet and heading out the door.
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Gibbs leaned against the railing looking out at the Potomac River, Tony stood next to him doing the same. He'd driven here, a seclude part of the park, driven in silence, because that's what Tony needed. When Tony was ready he'd talk, that was how it worked.
"I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, yet I miss this view."
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Gibbs chuckled. "Or so they say…whoever they are."
Tony glanced over at Gibbs and chuckled. Then he stared back out at the river. "It seemed easy in Israel, Orli helped a lot, plus everyone that knew Ziva or her father wanted to help." He paused. "Even when we started traveling Europe, it wasn't bad, I just barely got any sleep." He leaned forward on the railing, mirroring Gibbs position. "Tali loves Paris, just like her mom." He smiled proudly. "She started picking up the language, captivating everyone we met." He looked over at Gibbs. "She's gonna be a heart breaker."
"I'm sure she is." Gibbs smiled.
Tony shook his head. "She's this amazing combination of me and Ziva…one minute this energetic comedian that makes me laugh as she runs around the apartment singing and dancing. And the next she's staring out the window with this contemplative look asking me, how we reach the clouds and where does the sun go at night." He let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know the answers half the time, so we look it up."
"Kids don't care if you know the answer." Gibbs was again reminded of Kelly. "They care that you take the time to listen and help them try to figure it out."
Tony nodded. "She sits on my lap as we look at the computer and I explain all this to her and she…. she's like a sponge just soaking up all the knowledge and pointing at the pictures of clouds smiling up at me with this smile that melts my heart." Without looking over at Gibbs, Tony took a deep breath. "I get why you did what you did…I would give my life for that little girl…and take the life of anyone that harmed her." He squared his jaw. "If I didn't know the people that burnt the house down were already dead or locked away, I would have done everything in my power to end them."
Gibbs didn't respond there was no need to. He remembered that feeling as if it had happened yesterday.
"Senior is amazing with her." Tony quickly changed the tone of the conversation. "The kind of grandfather every little girl wants and when he was in Paris she didn't want to go anywhere without him."
"And when he's not there?" Gibbs asked.
Tony's brow furrowed and he looked at Gibbs.
"Who is there to help you?" Gibbs stood up and leaned sideways against the rail. "A friend, a nanny, someone, anyone?"
Tony shrugged and looked away. "There's a woman next door that watches Tali occasionally, when I need it." He swallowed hard. "I don't want her raised by strangers. I remember what that was like."
"You can't do it all and you can't be everything to her."
"I can try." Tony took a deep breath. "This isn't about me it's about her.
"It's about both of you." Gibbs saw Tony's body tense. "I'm not trying to tell you how to raise your daughter, but I will tell you what I notice about you." He took a deep breath and stared at Tony. "You probably haven't slept more than four hours a night in months, you've lost weight because you hardly eat, or just inhale something now and then when you actually take a moment to realize you're hungry. The long hair and unkempt nails are because you never take time to do anything for yourself." He paused. "And the dark circles under the green eyes that sparkle with pride for your daughter, have lost the sparkle that normally came from that inner fire that you had for living life to the fullest."
"Sounds like someone else I know." The words held no venom it was just a statement of fact.
"And you don't want to be like me, you made that clear years ago." Like Tony, there was no venom in Gibbs' words.
"You're one of the best men I know, I strived for years to be like you."
"Then keep the good, the positive qualities I taught you and throw away the negative." Gibbs shook his head. "And believe me there's a lot of negative to forget."
Tony finally turned and looked at Gibbs. "The good, the positive, have always out weighted the negatives."
"I'm not the omnipotent god like man you've always envisioned me to be."
"I know." Tony saw the look of surprise on Gibbs' face. "I've seen through the mask a few times, when you've let me, but it doesn't change the fact you're a good man." Tony's lips turned into a slight smirk. "Even with all the glaring flaws."
Gibbs rolled his eyes. "There's the smart ass I remember."
Tony let out a reserved laugh then became somber again as he stared out at the river. "I know you're right." He shook his head. "I'm just not sure what to do about any of it."
"I don't have all the answers." Gibbs paused. "But I'll always be here for you and I'll listen and try to help you figure it out."
"I'm having a sense of deja vu, are you giving me fatherly advice." Tony chuckled as the words were almost identical to the advice Gibbs had given earlier about Tali's questions.
Gibbs swallowed the lump in his throat and shook his head. "I'm not your father, I'm your friend and I'll always be here for you, whenever and however you need."
Tony's brow furrowed, bewildered by the distinction Gibbs felt it necessary to make. He nodded. "Thank you."
"And as your friend, I'm telling you, let us help, at least while you're here." Gibbs paused. "And when you go back to Paris, we can still help, just in different ways."
"You gonna take some time off and fly to Paris to babysit." Tony chuckled.
"If you need me to."
The quick response surprised Tony and he pulled his head back. "What would NCIS think of the great Leroy Jethro Gibbs traipsing off to Paris to babysit?"
"When have I ever cared what anyone thought?" Steel blue eyes stared into green. "I would do anything to help you."
Tony felt the emotion swell again. He nodded. Although he always knew it, it was nice hearing Gibbs say it.
Choosing his words carefully, Gibbs slid closer to Tony. "You are not your father and letting people help you is not the same as dropping her off at some boarding school to let strangers raise her. We are not strangers, we are your family and we love her as much as we love you."
Biting at his lower lip, Tony felt the tears start to flow.
Without a thought, Gibbs pulled Tony into his arms. The Tony fell heavily against him. The emotions from the younger man seeped into Gibbs' jacket and into every fiber of his being. He didn't know how long they stood there he only knew that he would stand there for as long as Tony needed.
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Turning into the familiar parking lot, Gibbs turned off the car, leaned back in the seat and gazed over at the man in the passenger seat. Tony had fallen asleep almost the moment they'd gotten in the car. The emotional release having taken its toll on the younger man and sleep was the best way to deal with it. Reaching out, Gibbs' finger gently traced the line of Tony's jaw, a jaw thinner and gaunter than he had ever remembered. As his finger reached Tony's chin, the younger man stirred seeming to lean into the touch. Gibbs quickly pulled his hand away. Shaking his head, he ran his hands down his face then took a deep breath. Stop staring at him and just wake him up.
"Tony." Gibbs touched Tony's shoulder. "We're here."
Again Tony stirred, but this time he opened his eyes slowly. "Oh God." Tony groaned. "I'm wonderful company." He stretched and smiled at Gibbs.
"You're not here to entertain me."
"Yeah, I know." Tony sat up. "Thank you…for everything."
Gibbs nodded.
"Do you wanna come up? You could see Tali."
Gibbs shook his head. "I'll see her tomorrow."
Tony's brow furrowed.
"This is your rental remember." Gibbs smirked. "I'll bring it over in the morning."
"Right." Tony chuckled. "I really am out of it."
"Go play with your daughter then get some sleep."
Tony nodded.
"I mean it." Gibbs look grew stern.
"Got it boss." Tony smiled
"Good."
Tony climbed out of the car, pausing as he stood there with the door open, he was about to open his mouth to speak when Gibbs shook his head.
"I know, now go."
A quick nod and Tony was walking towards the front entrance of the apartment.
Once he disappeared inside, Gibbs pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed the number. "We need to talk, when you can get away from Tony." A pause. "He's on his way up. Call me when you can." He closed the phone then opened it again. The reception should be over by now. He hit a button and waited. "You home? I'll be there in twenty." Clicking the phone closed Gibbs backed out of the parking spot and heading towards his next destination.