Disclaimer—I do not own.

A/N: Hey guys so, so, so sorry for the wait on this chapter, it just didn't want to be written. Also on a side note I am looking for a beta. I had an offer a while ago, but I accidentally erased the message and I can't remember whom it was from. So if you are interested or know of some one who would be, please let me know. Thanks and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Also thank you all so much for all those awesome reviews I really loved reading them.

Chapter 6

Family

NCIS—NCIS—NCIS—NCIS

Tony lay on the futon in Abby's office for over an hour trying to force him self to sleep before he finally gave up with a heavy sigh. He knew it was pointless to even try. His brain was much to fired up to let him sleep and he was much to emotionally upset to try and shut it down. He didn't want to but he couldn't stop thinking about everything that he and Dr. Cranston had talked about. Some of those things he had never discussed with any one not even the men from his unit. Who had pulled him back from the brink of self-destruction; he hung his head low thinking, 'Damn I reallyneed a drink!'

As he sat there an idea of were he could get that drink came to him. He lifted his head up and stretching so that he could look out the glass walls with out getting up. He looked to see if there was anyone on guard duty. Not seeing anyone out there he smiled slightly to himself. He stood slowly; he didn't want to risk falling. He may not like all the attention but he wasn't stupid. He knew better than to move to fast with the way he was feeling. What really drove him mad was not the fact that his team wanted to help him, but that they seemed to think that he was completely incapable of making any decisions at all while he was injured.

Tony smiled when he made it all the way out into the main lab without incident. And his smile grew when he saw the pair of crutches that were left for him by the door. He figured that he at least owed them all an apology for loosing his temper like that. He hated when he lost his temper. It made him feel like his father and that was the last person he wanted to emulate.

He gingerly put the crutches up under his arm and slowly put his weight down on them. He smiled even more when he realized that his arm was not as sore as it had been earlier and that using the crutches was going to be doable. He didn't waste any time in heading for the elevator and then down to autopsy. He hoped there wouldn't be any one in there right then. As much as he felt bad for loosing his temper, he really didn't want or need another lecture about taking better care of himself from Ducky.

All he wanted was half a glass of whisky, not enough to make him buzzed but just enough to take the edge off. He just wanted the burn of the whisky to chase away this shlump that he currently found himself in; it was all just too much for him to process. He hated feeling this way. That was why he never discussed his feelings if he could help it. Rehashing all of the ugliness that was his past, and facing it head on was one of the scariest things he never wanted to do. Yet it was the one thing that they all seemed determined that he should do. He wished that he could get them to back off the idea for a while but it didn't look like it would be happening any time soon.

Tony was pulled out of his musings when the elevator came to a stop and with a ding opened onto the hall leading to autopsy. He quickly and quietly made his way down the hall keeping his senses alert for any sudden appearances. His team, and especially Gibbs, had a bad habit of coming out of nowhere and surprising you. He breathed out a sigh of relief when he finally entered autopsy to find it dark and empty.

He made his way over to Ducky's office and sitting down at his desk, pulled open the one draw that he knew would hold what he was looking for. He looked around one more time to make sure that he wasn't going to be suddenly disturbed and then with a satisfied smile pulled out the bottle of whiskey and a tumbler. He poured himself half a glass full and then swallowed it back in one go.

It had the desired effect that he was looking for. But what he hadn't counted on was the sudden head rush. He had thought the majority of the meds would have been out of his system by then. He tried to stand up but that only caused him to feel even dizzier and the dizziness along with his instability and gravity together worked to bring him down on his ass. Once again missing the chair by a few inches and landing solidly on his bum.

It stunned him and he just sat there feeling shocked and slightly upset. He was suddenly overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the last few days and he found himself fighting desperately for control over tears that he had never let himself cry. That had always been the one habit his wife could never break him of, the need to remain strong all the time. To never show weakness. And now he sat there on the floor of autopsy struggling to breath and to hold back the damn that was bursting to break through. It was a heavy invisible blanket that had settled over him, smothering him. He suddenly found himself having to take deep breaths to steady himself.

He didn't know how long he sat there gasping for breath, trying to get himself under control, before another body pressed up against him and gently wrestled the tumbler—that he hadn't even realized that he was still holding onto as if his life depended on it—from his hands. Large callused hands cupped him on the back of the neck and drew him forward until his head rested on broad shoulders.

Tony inhaled deeply and took in the comforting scents of sawdust, old spice, and coffee. He felt the thumb at the back of his neck begin to gently stroke at the base of his scalp. It moved gently back and forth and little circular motions, easing the tension there. Tony began to work even harder to reign in his emotions as he felt the administrations of his boss begin to relax his body regardless of whether he wanted it to or not.

Gibbs sighed when he felt Tony's body go tense with trying to remain in control. He positioned them so that they were both more comfortable and then in a low voice said, "Come on son let it out."

Tony's breath hitched at those words. He had always wanted to cry and scream and shout and hurt some one, but then had never allowed himself that luxury because he felt that he had no right to that release. He began to blink rapidly, but before he could really think twice about it the tears began to flow freely down his face and soak into Gibbs' shirt. Gibbs for his part just sat there with him, rocking back and forth, soothing him and allowing him to vent all of his pent up frustration and grief.

Tony grabbed that back of Gibbs's shirt as if it were his only lifeline. He was mortified by the loud gasping sounds and sobs that were coming from him-self and the way his whole body was heaving with the sobs but he couldn't seem to get himself to stop either. They sat there for what seemed to be a good long time he couldn't be sure of just how long. He was sure of one thing however and that was that he was beyond exhausted and was definitely having a hard time keeping his eyes open now.

He hadn't realized just how much he had bottled up and kept inside of him. He felt as though he had lost about ten pounds off his shoulders. He felt himself slowly starting to give in to his tiredness. With everything that had happened in the last couple of days he hadn't slept much and the weeks before all of this had been filled with back-to-back cases and then the FUBAR of an undercover op had happened. He realized that it had been over a month since he had, had a decent nights sleep without any interruptions.

He hadn't realized that he had fallen asleep until he felt himself being moved around but he was too tired to fight with Gibbs. So he allowed himself to be rearranged and made more comfortable. He sighed when he realized that this new position did in deed make a big difference. He felt his shoulder being rubbed in a soothing and distracting. Quickly lulling him back to that blessed darkness. He was just about to go under when he heard the doors once again swish open.

NCIS—NCIS—NCIS—NCIS

Abby's lab:

Ducky walked in through the doors to Abby's lab to find that her music was blaring and that she and Ziva were working on arranging some things for their movie night later on. He stopped beside her and picked up three of the movies that she had selected for them to watch. He looked at them a minute before asking, "Abigail, are you sure you should be playing such loud music with Anthony sleeping in the other room?"

Abby looked at him like he was crazy while she said, "Ducky; Tony's not here. Gibbs went to find him and said he would be calling you when he did. OMG! He hasn't called you yet! That was like over an hour ago! What . . . what if Tony went out side for some fresh and some how got kidnapped and we didn't know it. What if something has happened to him?"

Ducky placed a soothing hand on her arm saying, "Abigail calm your self Anthony knows better than to leave the building. I'm sure Jethro's just taking his time and perhaps he has gotten young Anthony to talk to him a little. I dare say that would be quite a feat all in it's sel—,"

Ducky stopped mid-sentence when his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen and seeing whom it was smiled saying, "Well speak of the devil. Well hello Jethro. You found him. Good. He did what? No, no I understand. Yes I will be right down. Yes I will make sure to grab all the necessary supplies. I dare say he should be sleeping quite comfortably for the next several hours the sodded fool."

Ducky hung up his phone and shook his head and looking up to his two onlookers said, "Jethro has found Anthony and he seems to be no worse for wear. I am going to go to them now and help Jethro bring Anthony back here so that he can sleep more comfortably."

Abby nervously stepped forward asking, "What did Tony do Ducky?"

Ducky debated a minute not knowing whether or not he should tell them but then he figured that there wasn't really any harm in them knowing, it could actually be helpful for them to know so that they could help them keep an eye out in the future. Taking a deep breath he began, "Anthony procured himself some whiskey. It appears to have had some adverse effects on the poor lad. Gibbs isn't sure how much he has had. So I am going down there to asses him and determine the damage if there is any."

Abby sighed heavily saying, "Poor Tony! You know I've only ever seen him drink like that twice? Once when Kate was killed and then when the Jeanne mess happened. He must be feeling so awful right now."

Ducky nodded thinking about those times as well. He sighed heavily saying; "Yes this is indeed a very stressful time for Anthony. And normally I wouldn't begrudge a person their coping mechanism. But in Anthony's case he still has quite a few of the medications from the hospital still floating around in his system and then the added painkillers and muscle relaxants that I have given him, although mild still have their side affects. Let it suffice to say that alcohol is not his friend."

Abby nodded in understanding and said, "You better get going Ducky. Don't want to keep Gibbs waiting."

Ducky nodded quietly in agreement and turning on his heal walked briskly down the hall.

NCIS—NCIS—NCIS—NCIS

Autopsy:

Gibbs looked up when the doors opened and saw Palmer walk in with his nose buried in a file. He seemed to sense that something wasn't quite right with room and stopped mid step and scanned the room. He saw Gibbs sitting there with his arms protectively wrapped around Tony.

His eyes got large and he instantly dropped down to the floor in front of them and whispered, "Agent Gibbs. Is Tony all right? Is there something I can do to help?"

Gibbs shook his head and mouthed, "Wheel chair." He didn't want to take the risk of upsetting Tony any more than he already was. He had felt Tony tense up when the doors had opened and he was just beginning to relax again now that he knew who it was.

Palmer nodded silently in understanding and quickly got up to find what he needed. He was just heading towards the doors when they opened again revealing a slightly agitated Ducky.

Ducky had been ready to go in and give a well deserved lecture, but what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. There was Gibbs sitting on the floor gently rocking Tony back and forth. Ducky caught Gibbs' eye as he approached the two men. The message his friend conveyed to him that their young friend was not in a good way.

He approached the two men more cautiously and then squatting down asked softly, "How is he Jethro?"

Gibbs just shrugged saying, "About as good as he can be Duck. I think everything is finally starting to catch up with him and he's to damn confused to know what to do."

A soft snort came from the man in question and a soft, "I'm right here you know." Was heard from where he had his head buried into Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs smacked him gently on the arm saying, "Go back to sleep."

Tony sleepily shook his head and mumbled something about an impending interrogation. Gibbs and Ducky just shook their heads smiling slightly. A joking Tony was a coping Tony. And that is what they wanted. They wanted to see him coping instead of hiding and pretending that every thing was all right.

They didn't have to wait long before Palmer came back with the requested wheel chair. Tony took one look at it and cried out indignantly, "I don't need that thing! I can walk."

Ducky shook his head exasperatedly and said firmly, "Anthony you are in absolutely no condition to walk back to the lab. Now please no more arguing and get in the chair."

Tony looked groggily between Gibbs and Ducky and seeing their almost identical looks of determination gave up the fight and allowed them to help him into the chair, although he hated it and felt stupid for having to use it. But he knew he wasn't in any shape or form to argue with them about it.

It didn't take them very long to make it back to the lab were they silently helped Tony get back onto the bed and situated before Ducky stepped up with his bag which seemed to have magically appeared out of thin air. Tony gave him a wary look saying, "Please Ducky no more poking and prodding, I'm not sure I can take any more."

Ducky sighed and said, "I must insist Anthony that you allow me to look you over. The alcohol that you ingested is not meant to be mixed with the meds you are on. I really need to assess you now and several more times to track any more adverse reactions."

Tony lifted his head slightly and looked between Gibbs and Ducky before sighing and saying, "It was only half a tumbler I swear."

Gibbs looked to Ducky and asked, "Can it wait Duck? It looks like he just needs to sleep."

Ducky sighed and looked thoughtful for a minute then said, "Alright I will wait until Anthony has slept awhile. But once you awake from your nap I am insisting on a full assessment. No excuses, understand?"

Tony nodded gratefully and sleepily said, "You're the best Ducky."

Ducky smiled and gently patted Tony on the shoulder and as he left he said, "Sleep well my friend."

Both men watched as Ducky left the room. Tony saw Gibbs getting more comfortable in the chair that he had pulled up next to the futon and as he pulled out a file and started to go over it. There was a few minutes of silence between the men before Tony finally said, "You know boss I'll be okay by myself, you don't have to stay."

"I know DiNozzo."

He knew that the short reply was all he was going to get on the subject so he let it go for now. He closed his heavy eyes and sighed at the relief that was almost instantaneous with that action. His eyes suddenly popped open when he felt a hand begin to gently comb through his hair. He couldn't believe the almost instant comfort that it gave him. He sighed and mumbled sleepily as his eyes drifted closed again, "Thanks Boss."

Gibbs waited a few seconds before saying, "Any time son. Any time."