Title: You Notice Everything Chapter 8

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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"Large hazelnut latte." Tony handed the cashier the money and when he was handed the change he dropped it in the tip jar. Stepping down to the end of the counter he waited to hear his name called. He'd avoided the diner, thinking maybe Gibbs would head there. Instead he'd stopped at the coffee shop across the street from NCIS on his way back to Senior's place.

"Tony?"

Staring at the wall behind the counter and lost in thought Tony didn't even here his name.

"Tony." The man touched his arm and Tony jumped.

"Hey Tim." Tony shook his head trying to clear the thoughts away.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

"Just grabbing a quick coffee."

McGee's brow furrowed at the somber tone of his friends voice. "Everything okay?"

"What?" Tony had become lost in thought again.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine." Tony forced a smile. "Just have a lot on my mind."

"Where's Tali?"

"She's with Senior while I was running some errands." This time Tony heard his name as the Barista called out that his drink was reading. Picking up the drink, the two of them made their way towards the condiment station. Pulling off the lid Tony poured in some sugar, put the lid back on and took a long swig. His face contorted as the sweetness filled his mouth then hit his stomach.

"Is it not your order?" McGee chuckled at the disgusted look on Tony's face.

Tony shook his head. "No it's my order; I just haven't had it in a long time. It's sickeningly sweet."

"That was how you liked it."

Clearing his throat, Tony tossed the drink in the trash. "Not anymore. God, black coffee is so much better."

McGee snickered. "Another habit you picked up from Gibbs."

Tony looked at him confused.

"You did pick up a lot of Gibbs habits over the year."

"Yeah right." Tony sighed as he glanced down into the trash where he'd just tossed the drink.

"That's not a bad thing." McGee stared at his friend trying to figure out what was going on. "You know if you need to talk-"

The concern in McGee's voice made Tony look up. "I know Tim." He patted McGee's shoulder. "And thanks, but this is something I need to figure out myself."

"I know its hard being back, everyone wanting to spend time with you and Tali…" McGee smiled at his friend. "We just missed you and you know how this group can get a little over zealous." He chuckled. "Especially Abby…and I know Gibbs was really happy to see you."

"Right."

Again it was a tone in his friend's voice that made McGee uneasy. "Did something happen between you and Gibbs, is that why you took off so fast after I told you he took the day off?"

Glancing at his watch, Tony tried to sound convincing. "I really need to go." He patted McGee's shoulder again. "We'll all go out, we'll make plans." With that Tony was already heading towards the door.

McGee watched Tony until he couldn't see the man anymore, the look of confusion still evident on his face as he tried to piece together what was bothering his friend.

##########

Quietly opening the door, Tony stepped into the apartment and put the bag down by the door. He could hear his father's voice in the distance. Walking into the living room he stood there a moment just watching the scene before him. Tali was sitting on Senior's lap her head against his shoulder, her eyes heavy as he red her a story. It took only a few seconds for the two to realize they were being watched.

"Abba." Tali jumped down and ran to her father.

"Hey sweetie." Tony scooper her up.

"I was trying to get her down for a nap." Senior said as he put the book on the coffee table.

"You ready for a nap?" Kissing Tali's forehead, she nodded and Tony headed towards the spare room. He sat her down on the bed and she looked up at him.

He sat down next to her on the bed and felt the phone dig into his thigh. Pulling it from his front pant he placed it on the bedside table. Brushing the hair from her forehead, he looked down at his daughter. "Did you have fun with Papa?"

She smiled and nodded. Then her little brow furrowed and she reached up and touched her father's cheek. "Why are you sad?"

His brow furrowed a mirror image of her own. "Why do you think I'm sad?"

"You look sad." She put her finger at the corner of her father's mouth and pushed upward. "No smiles."

Taking her hand from his face he kissed her finger and forced a smile. Her right eyebrow went up and again he was reminded of how many of his mannerisms she had picked up. "I'm okay. Now it's nap time." He could see that she doubted him was on the verge of asking another question but he dropped a kiss on her forehead and whispered I love you in her ear and she smiled up at him. She curled up on her side and closed her eyes.

Walking out of the room he closed the door behind him and made his way into the living room. His father was looking at the newspaper, but looked up when Tony walked into the room.

"I didn't expect you home so early." Senior folded the newspaper and dropped it on the side table next to him. "Thought you had some errands to run that were going to take away, that's why you dropped Tali back home." He glanced at his watch. "Home by twelve thirty. That's less than two hours."

Tony shrugged. "Didn't take as long as I expected."

Senior just slowly nodded.

"Don't start analyzing everything I do." Tony's words came out sharper than he intended.

"Hard not to analyze when it's obvious something put you in a foul mood." Senior picked up the newspaper. "But I won't press." Opening the paper he started reading.

Tony blew out a long breath and walked into the kitchen.

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Gibbs was sitting in a chair on the back patio staring out at the back yard. He'd tried working on the boat, but his heart and mind weren't in it so he'd grabbed another cup of coffee and ended up out here. He was staring at the tree, a huge white oak towards the back left corner of the yard. It was part of the reason he bought the house. It was tall and imposing, its branches and leaves offering shade to a large portion of the yard. He knew when he saw the tree it would be perfect to put a swing set for Kelly under it. She'd love the swing set as a young girl and as she grew the swing set was the stepping stone to climbing into the branches of the tree. He smile as the image flashed through his mind. He'd walked out into the back yard expecting to see her swinging back and forth, instead the swing set was empty his heart sank momentarily until he heard a giggle from above. She was sitting on the first branch of the tall oak partially covered by the full growth spring leaves. The vision faded and he was looking at the empty back yard again. Rubbing his temples he tried to ignore the headache that was building. The squeak of the back door opening made Gibbs turn. "Case?" He was about to get up when the man shook his head.

"No case." McGee said as he walked over and sat down in the chair next to Gibbs and looked out at the back yard. "Gorgeous day out."

"Yeah." Gibbs looked at the side of McGee's face trying to get a read on what had made the young man show up out of the blue.

"I know I don't usually just show up."

"You're always welcome."

"I know." McGee took a deep breath. "I always thought after Tony left that I'd end up showing up here once a week for steak."

"Our relationship is different."

"That's why I'm here." McGee continued to stare out at the back yard. "I ran into Tony earlier."

Gibbs didn't say anything.

"When Tony left I was sad to see my friend leave, but excited be became your Senior Field Agent." McGee chuckled. "It was like the youngest son watching his sibling leave and knowing he was finally going to have all his father's attention."

Gibbs' snickered.

"We've always had a father son relationship and I've always been thankful for that." McGee swallowed hard as he braced himself for what kind of reaction his next words may bring. "You never looked at Tony like a son and he never wanted you to be a father figure." He paused a moment and when he received no reaction he continued. "I think we all knew there was something more between the two of you, something deeper than friendship, but we just never voiced because we figured if you two didn't see it or act on it, we sure in hell weren't going to point it out."

Gibbs leaned forward in the chair and put his elbows on his knees and folded his hands together. "What did Tony say?"

"It wasn't what he said it was what he didn't say."

Gibbs glanced over at McGee.

"And finding you out here staring at the back yard, says just as much." McGee looked at the watch on his wrist then back at Gibbs. "I don't know exactly what happened and I don't have to, but I do know that two people that I care about are hurting and I wanna help if I can. I don't want this to ruin your friendship."

Gibbs sighed. "I'm not sure friendship can be enough anymore…at least for me."

McGee saw the pain and sadness in Gibbs' eyes, the same look he had when he talked about Shannon and Kelly. "That's why you pushed Tony away. Why you didn't hardly talk while he was away this last year." It wasn't a question, but more of a statement. "Have you talked, I mean really talked?"

"I talked…" Gibbs swallowed the fear. "I'm not sure I'm ready to hear what he has to say."

McGee's eyes went wide. "You think he's going to walk away."

"He's afr-" Gibbs stopped mid word and pulled the phone out of his pocket. He was surprised by the name on the caller id.

"Is it Tony?"

Gibbs flipped the phone open. "Tony I-"

"Gibbs."

Gibbs' face contracted with surprise as he heard the little girl's voice and stood up. "Tali? Is everything okay?"

McGee was on his feet as well as he heard the concern in Gibbs' voice.

"Abba's sad." Tali sighed. "He's not smiley."

"But he's okay, he's there with you."

"He's in the living room with Papa."

"Are you supposed to be taking a nap?"

"I don't like when Abba's sad."

Gibbs sighed. "I know I don't like when Abba's sad either."

"Can you come here and make him smiley…you make him smiley."

Gibbs ran his hand over his mouth. "I don't think I can make him smiley right now sweetie."

McGee tried to hide a smirk.

"Please Gibbs."

The pleading little voice tugged at his heart.

"Please, pretty please."

Gibbs head went back and his eyes closed momentarily. Letting a long breath he replied. "I'll there in just a little bit." He closed the phone and shook his head.

"God, I hope we have a boy." McGee groaned. "If we have a girl she will have me so wrapped around her finger I'll cave every time she says please daddy." He looked at Gibbs. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah." Gibbs took a step towards McGee.

"You don't have to say it, I know." McGee smiled when the hand came up and patted his cheek.

Gibbs nodded as he walked passed him and back towards the garage.

##########

The knock at the door made Senior look up and over at his son. "You expecting someone?"

Tony shook his head. "I'll get it." Walking to the front door he peeked out the peep hole shocked when he saw Gibbs standing there. "I didn't expect to see you." Tony said as he opened the door.

"I didn't expect to show up." Gibbs tried to keep his emotions in check. "But Tali called."

"What?"

"Gibbs!" The name was shouted as Tali came running towards them.

Crouching down, Gibbs was almost knocked over when Tali ran into him hugging him tightly.

"You called Gibbs?" Tony looked shocked.

Letting go of Gibbs, she leaned back against him as she nodded up at her father. "You were sad, he makes you smiley."

"Tali the phone is for emergencies only." Tony said in a scolding voice.

"This is an emergency." She scolded him back, the two sounding almost identical in tone and emotion.

Tony took a deep breath and squatted down. "Come here."

She walked over to him, a defiant look in her eyes. He leaned in and kissed her on the tip of the nose. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. When she pulled back she looked at him with a serious expression. "Me and Gibbs don't like when you're sad."

"Is that so?"

She nodded. "He told me."

"Well I'll try not to be sad anymore." He glanced over at Gibbs who suddenly stood up. Looking back at Tali, Tony smiled softly. "But it's okay to be sad sometimes."

She nodded.

Scooping her up, Tony stood up and met Gibbs steely gaze.

"I'm sorry she called you." Tony chuckled. "I put everyone's picture on their contact info on the phone, added them to my favorites and taught her how to call in case of an emergency."

Gibbs shook his head. "It's fine." He smiled at Tali. "You can call me any time okay."

"Okay." She smiled back.

"Especially when you're worried about Abba." Gibbs leaned in closer to Tali. "I always want to know you and Abba are okay, no matter where you are."

"You love Abba."

Gibbs looked straight at Tony. "Yes I do." He watched as Tony's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"You love me!" Tali exclaimed happily.

Gibbs grinned back at her. "I absolutely do."

"Come in." Tony offered awkwardly. "I didn't mean to keep you standing in the open door way."

"It's okay. I just wanted to check in, she was worried on the phone."

Tony grinned. "She did the please, pretty please didn't she?"

Gibbs sighed. "Yeah."

Laughing, Tony shook his head. "Gets me every time."

"See." Tali put her hands on Tony's cheeks. "Gibbs makes you smiley."

Tony smiled at his daughter and nodded. "Why don't you go have Papa get you some juice." Putting her down, she looked up at him then up at Gibbs.

"Let's get juice." She said taking Gibbs' hand.

"Um, sweetie I don't think-"

"Come in, please." Tony paused. "Pretty please."

"Pretty please!" Tali repeated.

Gibbs gaze met Tony's.

"Just a quick glass of juice and you can leave…if you want."

Wrestling with his emotions, something inside him made him nod and he stepped into the apartment.

"We have apple and grape." Tali said as she pulled him through the apartment.