Warnings: Spoilers for "React"

A/N: I know, I know, I'm behind lol. There were several things about this episode that I enjoyed. I wouldn't mind seeing Page again. Some people bitch that Tony has been pushed to the background (not a view I share or support) but poor Tim was sacrificed SEVERAL seasons for the sake of Tony, Gibbs, and Ziva drama. It's nice to learn some more things about Tim.

"Point"

Tony quickly pulled the plug on the operation once Gibbs, Fornell, and McGee went down. It had gone to hell in a hand basket quickly and all three agents were going to need medical attention always.

Doing this gave him the opportunity to shut himself in the supply closet and take deep breaths. Ironically this was a strategy that he had started to use when his wife was pregnant and cranky. It stopped a lot of fights from happening when he went to his calm down place. Today he was shutting himself in the closet to calm down for different reasons than being angry... he was terrified.

He could have lost Gibbs, Tim... SecNav could still lose her daughter, and for several minutes the entire thing rested on his shoulders. Which, was the whole point of Gibbs leaving him in charge in MTAC and not sitting in that restaurant watching... could Tim have pulled the plug as quickly? And taken the heat from Gibbs that is surely coming...

Cursing, Tony pulled the closet door open and stepped out. Was this job getting to be too much for him? All he could think about was Jack and someone taking his son from him.

"Gibbs didn't go to the hospital," Ellie informed him.

"Of course he didn't," Tony said. "Ducky will check him out. If not, call Dr. Taft."

"He will not like that," she stuttered. "He should have just gone to the ER with McGee and Fornell."

Tony chuckled. "Oh, Probie, you have so much to learn still."

Ellie frowned at him. "He just recovered from major injuries..."

As they rounded the corner, Tony was surprised to see Page standing there, arms crossed waiting for him. "That was pretty ballsy, DiNozzo. Cutting the cord like that and not going after the kidnappers," she said. "Guess there was a reason Gibbs left you running point in MTAC."

"We need to regroup," Tony said.

"Regroup?" Page repeated. "What is Gibbs' going to say to that?"

"You know something, Valeri, I don't care what Gibbs' is going to say," Tony sighed. He was sure Gibbs had a plan B. Right now, Tony had somewhere else to be.

Coffee dates in the Navy Yard was the only time that Tony got to see Leah and Jack these days. Especially the baby; Jack was usually sound asleep by the time his father made it home.

Tony paid for the two coffees and went to sit on the bench with Leah. He put the coffees in the cup holders on Jack's stroller and pulled her in for a quick, however, hungry kiss.

Leah pulled away, surprised. Clearly, she could tell that something was bothering him, but she wasn't sure exactly the what was. "What was that for?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "Not that I'm complaining or anything..."

"I watched Tim and Gibbs get nearly blown up today," Tony confessed, "and then I had to make the decision to pull the plug on an operation to find a kidnapped girl. Got me thinking about you and Jack..."

"Are Tim and Gibbs okay?" Leah asked, concerned. He nodded his head and she continued. "Gibbs shouldn't be going out into the field like that, not so soon after his injuries. His doctor isn't going to be happy about that."

Tony took a deep breath. "You know him, Leah... he thinks he's invincible."

Leah eyed him sadly. "Or, he just doesn't value his life that much since his family died."

He knew that she was speaking the truth. What did Gibbs have to live for these days? He certainly didn't seem to be living for anyone on the team, or for Jack... so what was driving him? "Well, if he's looking to get himself killed, he's doing a pretty damn good job of making sure that happens."

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I'm glad that it wasn't you that almost got blown up. Jack and I love you and need you and we'd be devastated if we lost you, Tony."

"That feeling works both ways," Tony replied, reaching for their coffees. He handed hers over. "I realized that while watching this all unfold."

"Realized what, exactly?" Leah inquired.

"I would be devastated if I lost you and Jack."

"Jack and I have no plans of going anywhere."

Tony rang his tongue over his lips and draped his arm over her shoulders. He pressed his lips to her temple. "I promise, Leah," he whispered to her, "I'm going to do my best to make sure that my job doesn't take you away from me."

Leah glanced at Jack, sleeping in the stroller, peacefully unaware of the world around him. "Did someone threaten me and Jack?" she asked, nervously, worried more for the safety of her baby than her own.

He shook his head. "No. No one threatened you or Jack. I'm just going to make sure that I do everything possible to eliminate the possibility."

She had never doubted his determination to keep her safe, ever. "Why are you so concerned about that now?"

"It's this case," Tony stated simply. "I wish I could tell you more but I can't."

"That's okay," Leah replied. "I understand."

"I made a decision, a decision that could cost someone their life," Tony confessed.

"That's why I left you in charge in MTAC," Gibbs interrupted.

Leah glanced up to see Gibbs standing there. It had been weeks since she had seen him. He very rarely showed up for team gatherings these days. Tony grumbled about how the team leader was playing chess with Doctor Taft all the time. Gibbs looked startling older to her. She tried to smile at him, to hide her obvious concern. "Hi, Gibbs. Sorry if I'm hogging Tony."

Gibbs shook his head and smiled at her, sadly. "It's fine. We're still waiting on a number of things, including Tim getting back from the hospital. I think I've hogged Tony enough these last few months from you."

Tony wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that Gibbs had just apologized to his wife. Standing, Tony planted a kiss on top of Leah's head, made no promises that he was going to be home for dinner and turned towards his boss. "I'll get back to work now."

"No, Tony," Gibbs snapped, gesturing towards Leah and Jack, "Stay with them for a while. You've earned a longer break."

"Meghan is still missing," Tony pointed out.

"And there's nothing we can do until we hear from the kidnappers again," Gibbs countered. "Take the opportunity to spend a few minutes with your family."

Leah could see that Tony was confused. Gibbs had been, well, distance, since being shot. It had been a cause for concern and puzzlement for Tony, one that had pushed him to almost resigning because he thought it would be better for the team if he was gone. "You better take it before he changes his mind," she joked.

Gibbs winced at the comment. Even Leah could see how terrible he had been to his team lately, and she wasn't around all the time. "I'll have Ellie call you when I need you," he said, walking away, "Nice job up there."

Tony slowly sat back down onto the bench. He wasn't sure what had just happened. Gibbs barely looked at him some days, snipped at both him and McGee all the time... he was even gruff with Ellie. Did Gibbs just compliment me?

Jack woke up and fussed. He found his mother first and then looked at his father. A smile spread across the baby's face and Tony was compelled to lift Jack out of the stroller. Tony settled his son on his lap and kissed his round cheeks. He decided he wasn't going to try to figure out Gibbs' sudden change of heart, he was going to be happy for it.