Panic started to kick in. Sweat on his upper lip. A trembling hand. What was happening?
Gibbs shook his head violently. Now was not the time to freak out. Looking down, he foundDiNozzo still in his arms. The young man's body lay limp, his mouth slightly parted as he let out a pained moan.
Thank God, Gibbs thought. At least he's conscious.
Looking up, DiNozzo's eyes opened into slits and tried desperately to focus on the man above him. Was that - 'Gibbs?'
Thank God. 'Yeah, DiNozzo. It's me. Come on, let's get you sitting up.'
It was only once he had lowered Tony carefully onto the rug against the sofa that his expert eye took a moment to survey the apartment. Cushions were scattered across the room. A pocketknife sat on the floor where Gibbs had caught DiNozzo only moments earlier. And on the coffee table lay a string of empty bottles that told the agent everything he needed to know.
'Been having some fun tonight, DiNozzo?'
'Mmmm,' he grunted, dozing off again. The kid was practically unrecognisable; his designer shirt was buttoned all wrong, his usually olive skin was a distinctive shade of green and dark circles had formed under his groggy eyes. Gibbs scanned a trained eye over Tony's body, but found no signs of injury.
The senior agent crouched by the pocketknife and searched for more clues before his eyes fell on the wall by the door. Edging forward, he found a quarter full bottle of rum and a carving in the wall: STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP.
'Come on,' Gibbs decided. The kid was in no shape to take care of himself tonight. 'Let's get you out of here.'
'Five more minutes,' he mumbled.
'Yeah right.' He scoffed, placing Tony's arm on his shoulder and lifting him onto his feet, much to the senior field agent's audible discomfort.
Carefully, Gibbs navigated the man out into the hallway and summoned the elevator. DiNozzo swayed on his feet.
'You pass out on me, DiNozzo, and I'll slap you so hard your grandchildren will feel it,' he grunted.
'Goddit, Boss,' Tony slurred.
And Gibbs led him, steered him, guided him, until he could safely lower him onto the couch in his own living room.
'Easy, DiNozzo,' he soothed when Tony looked as if he might be sick.
'Thanks, B-Boss,' he managed.
'Think you can make it up to the guest room?'
'In a minute, Boss.'
'Okay,' he sighed. As Tony eased back into the cushions he surveyed the young man's pained face. So many thoughts ran through his head. What would have happened if I went straight home? How much more would he have drunk? The kid could barely stand now, what shape would he be in after just one more?
'Why'd you do it, DiNozzo?' He knew the other man would understand him.
A pause.
'To forget,' Tony replied, his eyes still closed.
Gibbs nodded. He understood better than anyone the grief that could lead you to the bottom of a bottle. And that was why he had to make sure that this didn't consume the man who had come to be like a son to him. At that moment, nothing was more important.
'Minute's up, Tony,' he soothed, lifting him onto his feet once more and walking him to the stairs.
'Ready?' He asked, when they reached the first step.
'Uh-uh,' the younger man stammered worriedly.
'Good,' Gibbs replied gruffly. 'Maybe you'll remember this next time you decide to go on a bender.'
But when he helped his agent up the stairs it was with nothing but tenderness and concern, often pausing for a few moments when it looked like Tony wouldn't make it.
When they got to the guest room Gibbs fished out a pair of sweatpants Tony had left here last time he needed a place to stay, coaxing the man out of of the confines of his crumpled suit and into the comfort of the sweats.
'Get some sleep Tony,' he sighed as he eased the man under the covers. 'Cause I've got one hell of a day in store for you tomorrow…'
Can't apologise enough for the wait on this one. Uni's been absolutely insane lately, but thankfully I've found some time to write now that I'm on break. I've already started on the next chapter and it's so jam packed with classic Gibbs/DiNozzo father/son moments that it's gonna blow your mind - expect it in the next couple of days. Let me know what you think so far.