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Chapter 3

Explaining.

Gibbs and McGee forcefully supported and led a very angry and slightly limping DiNozzo out of the elevator and into the bullpen. Ziva came behind them carrying the evidence bag that contained the gun that had been dropped at the scene. It was late so thankfully most of the other teams had gone home already and the few people that were still there were so used to the antics of the lead MRCT that they hardly paid any attention at all.

They all rolled their eyes when Tony once again exclaimed, "I'm telling you! I'm fine!"

Gibbs just rolled his eyes and said, "Uh huh sure ya are DiNozzo. And that's why your gonna let Ducky look you over. So stop fighting it."

"But boss," whined Tony.

"No buts DiNozzo. Now sit." ordered Gibbs as Ziva pulled out a chair for her partner to sit in. Tony sat or rather fell into the chair. He huffed and winced as that aggravated his already tender ribs.

He wasn't sure why they were all getting so upset about it; it wasn't like he hadn't ever had threats made on his life before. Of course this one was a little different, this one was more of a personal vendetta apparently they weren't too picky about who got caught in the cross fires, if his date tonight was any indication. Tony just shrugged mentally, it wasn't anything that hadn't happened before he supposed. Not like he couldn't handle it.

He was shaken from his mental reverie by the sound of some one clearing their throat. Tony looked up and found that the team plus Ducky and Abby were all standing around him, looking like they were waiting for an answer.

He looked around at them and asked innocently, "What's up guys?"

Abby stepped forward and poked him hard in the chest repeatedly as she said, "You mister are what's up. I can't believe you got hurt again Tony. You promised you would be more careful after the last time."

Tony looked taken aback and cried out, "What is it with you people tonight? This wasn't my fault. I didn't know that some psycho dude was gonna attack me. It's not like I foresaw it coming. Besides shouldn't I get a few points for 1. Getting out alive, 2. Keeping my date safe, and 3. Managing to get the bad guy?"

Abby's lip quivered slightly and her eyes began to fill up as she said, "But Tony you shouldn't have been out there alone at all. And why didn't you tell us? Or at least why didn't you tell me? We are supposed to be best friends Tony."

Tony looked very confused; there was a very uncomfortable tightness in his chest that he didn't understand. He couldn't understand it but he some how knew that something was very wrong. He thought about it for a minute and the part of this whole night that had bothered him from the beginning finally made sense he looked at all of them individually and asked, "How did you all know that I was in trouble? I know for a fact that I never told any of you that I had a date tonight so unless you have a tracker on me, how did you know were I was and that I was going to need your assistance?" His voice had gotten noticeably darker taking on a more demanding tone as he began to piece together the clues.

The whole team looked slightly uncomfortable as they all shifted their various expressions towards Gibbs who stood observing Tony with a closed off expression. After a few minutes of a starring contest with Tony, Gibbs reached over and grabbed an envelope off of his desk and handed it to Tony.

Tony took the envelope with hands that were shaking for various reasons. Very aware that his reactions were being scrutinized he tried to quell the sudden onslaught of emotions that over took him as he handled the envelope noticing the weight of it and the typing on the front of it addressing it to agent Gibbs. Tony took a deep breath and carefully pulled out the letter. He unfolded it and into his lap fell three photos. His mind was beginning to panic as he caught a glimpse of a photo as it landed face down in his lap.

He didn't even need to read the letter to know what this was about. His hands were shaking uncontrollably as he picked up the pictures and studied them. A sob escaped from him as he looked at the first, which was a picture of two smiling toddlers each with olive skin tone and big bright green eyes as they smiled widely for the picture and a young woman with long dark hair that had strips of bright purple in it and bright Hazel eyes that were lined with heavy eye liner giving her a distinct punk rock look. The next was of the same baby's but included one very young special agent DiNozzo as they sat in his lap and all three had their attention towards a TV. The third was a more recent picture of DiNozzo placing flowers next too three small head stones.

Tony suddenly felt very light headed as he looked up from the pictures. He blindly tried to stand up, but quickly fell down to the ground as his leg gave out and he missed the chair on his way down. He was slightly aware of someone touching him. He tried to pull away from the touch but it just followed him. He was suddenly finding it very hard to breath. He was becoming very disoriented. He looked around him but his vision was becoming blurry.

He heard murmuring in his ear but he couldn't focus on what it was saying. He wanted to get out of there but he was unable to move. He shook his head one more time trying to dispel the sudden fog that seemed to have descended on him. After what seemed like years he finally heard the voice of the man he trusted the most in his life.

He concentrated on that voice and soon every thing seemed to right it's self. The room stopped spinning, his vision cleared, and his brain seamed to start working again. He blinked several times as the light seemed harsher now. He came back to him self just as Ducky was preparing to give him a shot of something. Tony yelped and pulled back from Ducky as he exclaimed, "Hold on there Duckman I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet."

Ducky looked at him quizzically and after a minute asked, "Anthony are you back with us?"

Tony knew what Ducky meant but chose to use humor to lighten the situation, "Um I don't think I went any where Ducky."

Gibbs reached up to head slap him but Ducky quickly intervened and said, "Ah, ah Jethro I still have not determined whether or not our young lad here has a concussion so until then please refrain from hitting him on the head."

Gibbs looked down at Tony who was looking at him with a look that could be mistaken as pure innocence if you didn't know the man giving you the look and Gibbs knew him, knew him very well. So he just shook his head and said, "I'm putting it on your tab DiNozzo."

Tony grinned and said, "Thanks Boss."

Ducky quickly refocused Tony's attention by forcibly turning his head so that he was facing him directly and then began to assess Tony's injuries. Tony in his typical fashion squirmed and wiggled and was out right uncooperative. Ducky knew that this was just a rouse to try and distract him from when he would happen on something that was actually hurt, but he wasn't fooled so he ignored it all and did a thorough assessment. After about ten minutes of assessing him superficially Ducky finally said, "Alright Jethro lets get him down to my office so that I can do a more thorough examination and take some x-rays especially of that leg it looks like he might have done some real damage to it."

Tony was about to start protesting, but Gibbs placed a hand over his mouth and said, "I don't want to hear one complaint from you DiNozzo. As it is you need to save your voice to do some explaining."

With that Gibbs and McGee hauled a pouting DiNozzo to his feet and with an arm over each of their shoulders carried him onto the elevator. Tony was extremely embarrassed by not being able to walk by himself, but even he knew it was pointless. Cause for one he really couldn't support himself, and two even if he could they wouldn't let him.

Tony breathed as deeply as his ribs would let him; he shivered slightly as he was laid down on the cold autopsy table. He adjusted himself as much as he could without aggravating his injuries, for as much as he didn't want to admit it he did have injuries, and some of them were probably pretty severe. He closed his eyes and waited.

A few minutes passed before he had the sensation that he was being watched. He opened his eyes and saw that Gibbs was indeed starring at him so hard he thought his eyes might pop out of his head. Tony sighed again and said, "You know boss, glaring at me is not going to get you what you want."

"What I want DiNozzo," replied Gibbs as he walked over to the table, "Is for my senior field agent and the man who is like a son to me, to tell me just exactly what is going on here. Why didn't you tell me about them?"

Gibbs could see Tony trying to keep his emotions in check but wasn't having much luck with it. Finally after a few seconds Tony sighed heavily and said, "Probably for the same reason you never told me about your wife and daughter until after the explosion . . . It's just to painful Gibbs . . . It's like some thing is ripping my heart out of my chest every time I think about them . . . I can't imagine the pain of having to talk about them; even just thinking about it makes it so hard to breath. And the not so funny thing is, is that's exactly how I have felt since I lost them, like I couldn't breath. I hadn't been able to draw in a deep breath for years after I lost them. And then I met you and Abby and Ducky and suddenly it was like a little bit of that weight that was sitting on my chest was relieved, I still couldn't breath very well. I don't think I'll ever be able to again. Not really anyways. But suddenly I found that I was able to be a little bit happy again."

Gibbs just stood there and listened as Tony talked, he knew that the younger man must have been in a lot of pain to talk so freely. He reached out and gently smoothed the sweaty hair away from Tony's forehead. He smiled sadly and said, "I know how that feels Tony. I didn't think I would be able to live without my girls and to be honest I wasn't living until I met this crazy annoying, cop from Baltimore. You gave me a reason to open up again, you sure as hell didn't give me a choice in the matter."

Tony grinned and said, "That was just my way of coping boss. If you had seen the real me at that point I think even you would have run screaming in the other direction."

Gibbs snorted and said, "Marines do not runaway."

Tony let out a small laugh but then grimaced as it jostled his very tender ribs.

Gibbs scowled and said, "Why does it always happen to you."

Tony knew that it was a rhetorical question and just shrugged in response. The two men waited the rest of the time in silence. Soon Ducky arrived and said, "So sorry for the delay Jethro but I was delayed by director Vance and his guest, he wanted me to give him a preliminary report on our dear Anthony's condition."

Tony snorted and said, "So glad to know he cares."

Ducky shook his head and said, "Ah yes well I do imagine in light of certain circumstances he has grown a small amount of empathy for you. Being married and the father of two children I'm sure he is placing himself in your shoes and trying to imagine how he would cope if the same things happened to him."

Tony looked thoughtful for a minute then said, "Maybe, but it's probably more along the lines of he finally figured out that I have more of the skills he sees as valuable."

Ducky sighed heavily and said, "That may not be to entirely off the mark. Now young man lay still, and we will get this done and over with as soon as we can."

Tony smiled and said, "Lets just try and keep me out of the hospital Ducky."

"That young man," replied Ducky "is entirely out of my control. If I find any injuries that require hospitalization then that is what we will do. If not then you have lucked out. But something tells me that you were not so lucky eh?"

Tony clamed up at that comment, he knew that it would be pointless to argue with them. It didn't really matter any ways even if he did get admitted to the hospital he would just sign himself out AMA. So with that thought in mind he allowed himself to relax slightly and closed his eyes.

He suddenly let out hiss as Ducky palpitated over a sensitive area on his ribs. He squinted as he looked at Ducky who was exchanging worried glances with Gibbs. Tony smiled what he hoped was a relaxed and reassuring smile and said, "It's ok Ducky they're not broken, just really tender."

Ducky raised an eyebrow and replied disapprovingly, "My dear boy, the fact that you can tell the difference is quite unsettling."

Tony just grinned and said, "No offence Duck but I've been able to do that for a long time, even before I came to work here."

Ducky just shook his head and mumbled to himself as he prepared Tony for x-rays

Vance and the Director walked back into the bullpen to find Abby, McGee, and Ziva all starring at the plasma screen. On the screen were the note and all three pictures. Abby was up by the screen pointing at something and saying, "See here? I think that the sender intentionally left a fingerprint. It's like he is taunting us."

Ziva looked thoughtful for a minute before she said, "I agree but what is the point? Surely our mystery man would know that we would eventually catch up to him."

McGee got up from his desk and said, "Maybe not. Maybe our mystery man is so confidant in his abilities to hide himself that he thinks he can't be caught. Or he is trying to draw Tony out, to make it so he has a good chance at getting to him."

Vance and the Director chose that moment to step in and the Director asked, "Do you know whom the print belongs to?"

Abby nodded and put the picture up on the plasma, "It belongs to none other than one Gregory Ports. Who currently is working for none other than our very own Rolland Franklynns. He works as his body guard/ driver."

Vance looked thoughtful before he said, "And this would definitely tells us that Franklynns is the one trying to get to Tony and it supports the Directors theory here that Franklynns is going after all the people who he thinks betrayed him."

Every one was quiet for a while, as Vance chewed thoughtfully on a toothpick. After a few minutes he looked at McGee and Ziva and said, "Agent DiNozzo is under protective custody. I want you agent McGee to prepare our best safe house. And I want you Agent David to set up his protection detail."

McGee stepped forward and said, "With all due respect Director Vance, I don't think Tony is going to tolerate being locked away some where. Not on a good day, and especially not when he thinks we could use his help. Tony is not the kind to just sit on the side lines sir."

"What exactly are you trying to tell me agent McGee?"

McGee straightened his shoulders a little and said, "Well sir in all honesty, it wouldn't surprise me if Tony would some how manage to slip the protection detail and came back here to help out, or decided that he could manage on his own and make himself a target to draw whom ever is doing this out."

"So to be precise Agent McGee you are telling me that . . ."

"That it would be better and infinitely easier to protect Tony when he is hear with us. Where we will be able to keep a close eye on him. He is very good at giving people the slip Director, it's what he does, it's part of what makes him so good at undercover. It would be safer for him if he was around the people who know him the best and who know how to handle him."

Director Vance was thoughtful for a minute then asked, "Agent David, do you agree with agent McGee?"

Ziva nodded and said, "Absolutely Director. Tony is the kind of person who will not rest until he is sure that every one he cares about is taken care of, regardless of what that means for him. If he were to be sent away he would go crazy and then in turn do something crazy. Besides I feel like McGee that his skills are better put to use here."

The two Directors looked at each other and then Vance replied grimly, "You've made your case. The new orders are that you're team is DiNozzo's personal bodyguard. He is not to be alone. He does not go any where without one of you there. Once he is fit for desk duty he is not to leave this building. Do I make my self clear?"

McGee and Ziva both nodded solemnly. As they turned back to Abby and the plasma, Abby whistled low and said with a small smile, "Things just got a whole lot more interesting."

Down in autopsy Ducky and Gibbs were working very hard to keep an irritated DiNozzo from jumping ship on them. And he was giving them a run for their money.

Tony stood with his back against the wall shaking his head furiously and exclaimed. "No! No way am I going to the hospital! I want to stay here. I can help with the case. Please boss, don't make me go."

Tony's tone had turned pleading in the end and it made Gibbs really hate himself for this but Tony needed to be seen at the hospital, he had a broken leg for crying out loud. On top of several cracked ribs, a concussion, and multiple lacerations that needed stitching and bandaging. Gibbs took a deep breath and said, "You need to calm down. Your only making this worse by getting worked up."

Tony couldn't fault his boss's logic there. All the loud talking and shaking of his head were only making his concussion worse. And he knew that his body would be giving out any minute, but still he had to make them see he couldn't just go lay in a hospital bed while every one else worked around him. He needed to be involved he needed to be were the action was he just had to be working.

While he was distracted Gibbs had been able to get close enough to grab him and Tony suddenly found himself being pinned down on the ground by Gibbs and Palmer while Ducky quickly prepared a sedative for him. Tony struggled as much as he could but it was impossible to win against Gibbs, Palmer and, Ducky. They were all aware of Tony's aversion to needles. So Ducky being a kind soul turned to Gibbs and said, "Perhaps you could distract him Jethro?"

Gibbs nodded and said; "Tell me about your wife Tony."

Tony was quiet for a long time and Gibbs thought that he might not have heard him and was about to ask again when Tony answered him in a very soft voice, "She was the best boss. You would have liked her. She didn't have the red hair but she sure had the spirit. She was so damn feisty, she would tell you off for being rude or inappropriate like it was nothing. And then she could be the nicest person you would ever want to know. It didn't matter if she knew you or not she wouldn't hesitate for one minute to give you the shirt off her back."

"I swear I would get whiplash from her some times, cause one minute she would be all up in my face chewing me out for forgetting to take out the garbage or leaving my gym clothes all over, and then she would walk away and come back ten minutes later in tears because she felt awful for yelling at me. She really was like the perfect girl, you know boss? She was that perfect blend of silk and steel. She was all into sports and not afraid to get dirty and stuff like that but then she could turn right around and knit you a sweater or make you a blanket. And oh boy could she cook, and she would make some of the best damn cookies you could ever have. And she was really big in to family. Family meant everything to her,"

Gibbs looked down when a harsh sob escaped from Tony. He saw that there were tears in Tony's eyes and that he was trying to regulate his breathing. He wanted to distract Tony so he asked, "What were their names?"

Tony smiled slightly and said, "Shannon, but she preferred to be called Shay, and the girls their names were . . . Were Islah, and Maggie."

Gibbs found that suddenly he had to fight back his own emotions. He didn't know what to say so he didn't say anything he just hugged Tony a little closer to him. Tony seemed to understand what his boss was saying, there were some situations where words were not required.

As it turned out the distraction had worked and Ducky was done administering the sedative. He patted Tony's leg and said, "There, there lad now you will be able to rest."

Tony shook his head and said, "Don't wanna sleep Ducky. I wanna be working on who is trying to kill me now."

Neither Gibbs nor Ducky liked the tone of acceptance in Tony's voice. Gibbs gave him a little shake and said, "You know better DiNozzo you can't work your own case."

Tony just shrugged and said, "There is always the other case to work on too boss."

Ducky shook his head and said, "Anthony the only thing you are going to be working on is resting and getting better, at least for a day or two and then we shall see about light duty."

Tony sighed and scowled, he hated when they all ganged up on him. He instantly felt a little guilty for thinking that thought, in all fairness they were just looking out for his best interest. He suddenly realized that his eyes were becoming very heavy and every blink was a little harder to bring them back up.

Gibbs could see Tony fighting the sedative. He shook him a little and said, "Hey stop that."

Tony just scowled a little more and Gibbs said, "Let the medicine do its job Tony."

"Don't . . . Wanna . . . Sleep" replied Tony between yawns.

Gibbs looked worriedly over to Ducky and asked, "Why not Tony?"

"Cause then I'll dream of them and how I wasn't there to keep them safe." came the soft reply as Tony finally succumbed to the sedatives coursing through his system.

Gibbs and Ducky exchanged glances, Gibbs was about to say something when Palmer, who had gone to wait for the ambulance rushed into the room followed by the paramedic team. They quickly loaded a sleeping Tony and started out of the building. Gibbs held back and asked Ducky, "Do you mind going with him Duck? I need to stay here and over see things for a while. I'll come as soon as I can."

"Why of course Jethro. I dare say that Anthony is not going to be in a very good mood when he comes to and it would be in the best interest of the poor lad and the unfortunate hospital staff if some one he knows is with him."

Gibbs nodded and said, "My thoughts exactly Ducky. Just so you know he is under protective custody, he just doesn't know it yet."

"Oh my we are going to have our hands full aren't we?"

"Oh yah, plus I'm making Vance tell him." Replied Gibbs with an evil grin.

Ducky shook his head and said, "Now, Now Jethro you wouldn't perhaps be trying to punish our dear Director would you?"

Gibbs just shrugged his reply and walked out of autopsy, leaving Ducky standing they're shaking his head.

Gibbs walked into the bullpen and found that his Agents were nowhere to be found. He waited a few minutes to see if either of them would be back. When over five minutes passed and no one came, he headed down to Abby's to see if she had anything for him.

A few seconds later and he found to his surprise that Abby's lab was completely dark and void of its usual ear shattering music. Gibbs didn't like it. Something was off. He rested his hand on his gun and carefully entered the lab. He searched the room carefully before he headed into the office. He stopped and smiled at he sight that greeted him. There on the floor under a pile of blankets was McGee and Abby and Ziva were stretched out on the futon.

Gibbs looked at his watch and saw with some surprise that it was almost midnight. He knew his team were tired they had, had one hell of a busy month. It all started with a routine under cover that lasted two weeks, and then suddenly ended badly with Tony getting kidnapped and almost getting shot. It had been an extremely trying time for all of them especially Tony. After that op he had been very quiet and withdrawn. Of course Gibbs thought he could understand why now, if that's all there was to it. But Gibbs had a feeling that, that wasn't all there was to this whole situation. His gut was telling him that something else happened to his senior field agent while he was held captive. Something that hadn't left any physical marks.

Hey every one here is the next chapter I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for the reviews and all the alerts and favs I really appreciate it. just a little note, the pronunciation for the name Islah is (eye-lah) like in island. Thanks again and hope you all have a great day.