The group were all gathered at the new house. Abby was unusually subdued and quiet.
Tim noticed and pulled her aside. "Are you okay?"
She nodded and pulled Tim into a hug.
"You're not okay. What is it Abby?"
Abby just stood in Tim's arms. After a few minutes she looked up at Tim and said, "I'm scared for Tony. The appointment was scary Tim. He...oh Tim, I'm afraid we're going to lose him."
"What was scary Abby?"
Abby shook her head, "I think we should talk about it tonight. Once and then never again."
Tim looked at Abby and saw the sadness in her eyes. "Was it really that bad Abs?"
She just nodded and pulled away. The real estate lady had just shown up with the keys.
She walked to Tim and handed him a ring of keys. "You signed the papers so I'm going to give these to you."
Tim nodded and thanked the woman. "I hope you enjoy your new home, Thom." She nodded and left as quickly as she came.
"Should we go in and see what we need to do?" Ducky asked, herding the younger people in.
The group went inside and checked out a few things, sort of deciding who would get which rooms.
By everyone decided that because of the baby and just by default that Tony and Jethro should take the master bedroom.
There was enough rooms for everyone to take one and between the group here it was decided that one of the rooms would be a "dining room" for Tony. Knowing about Gibbs and Tony's feeling for each other they didn't want to use their room. Everyone measured their chosen room and Tim and Jimmy measured the main living areas. The house had so many rooms, they assumed they would eventually find a use for all of them. They all decided to leave the room nearest the master for the rugrat, as Tony was calling the baby. When the baby was bigger it would need a room of its own. Though they all knew that even if the baby wasn't a hemophage, this kid wasn't going to have a normal childhood. Rugrat was never going to get to pull one over of their parents, not with a house full of highly trained investigators, two parents and two aunts and one and half uncles. Since Jimmy and Ducky weren't trained they counted as a half collectively.
Tim caught each person alone and told them that Abby was concerned and that she wanted to talk. They all agreed to meet on the back porch in ten minutes.
Everyone sat down on the built in benches and waited. Tim figured he would start up the conversation by asking Abby what her fears were.
"Ducky was there, Tony was terrified. He wouldn't look at the monitor. He tried to shut down but Dr. Dean needed to ask him questions. I think it really hurt that Dr. Dream questioned wether Jethro was the baby."
"Abby you know Tony does not do well when he is sick. He is agitated and defensive," Ziva pointed out.
"Z it wasn't like that he literally didn't want to be a part of this. I think Jethro has to go to all of his appointments. Guys this has him really scared."
"Abby it would have any of us scared. Hell just the hemophage would have us scared add in being pregnant and you two would be terrified. Add that Tony is a guy, and yeah, I'm surprised he's as sane as he is at the moment."Jimmy defended.
"I just want to lose him. This isto much to ask of Tony. Maybe we should..."
"Abby you know Tony would never have an..."
Abby cut in before Tim could finish, "I know. Even if the baby wasn't Jethro's he wouldn't." Abby sighed, so terrified for her friend.
"You said the doctor questioned wether Jethro was the father..." Ziva pulled the topic away from the very sad one.
Ducky answered, "I explained this to Jethro earlier. There was no identifiable path for sperm to reach Tony's uterus. The only path from the uterus was to the one ovary he has. I am not sure how his body had been dealing with the shedding of the oh well, we will leave of that topic..." Ducky trailed off as he realized no one wanted to have that conversation.
"This could all be academic," Jimmy offered, "the baby may not... man these topics keep getting depressing and well hinky."
Everyone sat silent for a moment, "I don't mean to be a party crasher you know," Tony said from the back door, he was leaning heavily on Jethro's shoulder.
Jimmy bolted from the bench immediately and helped jethro support Tony.
"Tony I don't think you should be put of bed." Ducks said walking over to the young man.
Tony shrugged, "Don't feel to bad Ducky just can't stand up straight right now."
"None the less, why don't you sit down."
"Can't sit either, scrunches things that don't want to be scrunched. This is almost comfortable." He said tipping his head towards jimmy and Jethro. "My J's are comfy." He joked with a small smile.
"Can you give him something Ducky? This can't be good for him or the baby?" Jethro asked, he managed to keep the frustrated growl out of his tone, but only just.
Ducky shook his head, "until I talk to Dr. Dean, I'm not comfortable giving him any thing. His metabolism for medication has always been a little precarious, but now..."
"It's okay Jet, it doesn't really hurt, just can't be comfortable. Almost like a taped broken rib almost healed."
Jethro sighed, "We need to figure out what we can and can't do soon. I'm not comfortable with trail and error with Tony or the baby's heath."
"None of us are Jethro. I'll confer with Dr. Dean tomorrow."
Jethro nodded,he felt Tony tap him on the shoulder, looking at him he waited for Tony to speak.
"You should tell them about Vance. We need to decide..."
"You need to decide first," Jethro interrupted.
"I know but I want to know how everyone feels first. I will still decide on my own but this is a family discussion. I just get final say."
Tim stood up and offered to take Jethro's place at Tony's human crutch. Jethro and Tim traded and Jethro started to pace. It was a habit he had been using more and more often to try to get his thoughts together before speaking.
"I walked in on Leon and Olivia. She is a hemophage, like Michele and Yasmine. They wanted to know why I didn't react to seeing Olivia sucking blood from Leon. I only told them that I knew a hemophage. But Vance made it clear he wanted information on why I would switch with Balboa and what was going on with Tony. They both seemed pretty interested in knowing who the hemophage I knew was."
Abby squeezed and Tim groaned.
"I believe we should inform Vance of Tony's hemophage status." Ducky said. "If nothing else at least there would be some sort if an ally for Jimmy and Tony's lunches."
Jimmy's face turned beet red but he held fast to Tony. He wasn't embarrassed by being with Tony, just that they might get caught.
"Ziva?" Tony spoke her name. She had been silentthe entire time.
"I agree with Ducky. We should tell the Director. The baby, it would be wise to make a clean slate. When Tony needs to be on leave it will be easier if Director Vance signs the papers with out investigation. I will gladly stand with you Tony for support, when ever you choose to tell him."
"Thank you Ziva."
"Abby?" Jethro asked this time.
Abby rushed over to Tony and gently hugged him low around his waist, trying to avoid the puncture site. "I'm okay with telling him. I'm with Ziva. Now is better than later about the baby."
Tony moved his arm from Jimmy's shoulder and lifted Abby's face till he could look at her. "I'll be okay Abbys. Really, haven't let this thing beat me yet. Not going to let a little rugrat get me."
Abby nodded but a tear rolled down her cheek despite her best efforts.
"Tim?" Tony asked nudging the junior agent with his hip, biting his lip to keep from hissing.
"Yeah we can all go with you to tell Vance if that's what you want. We are all here for you."
"Take Abby and go get her a Cafpow! probie. Think she needs a little sugar pick me up."
"No I'm okay. It's just been a long day." Abby said sniffing but she still hadn't let go of Tony.
"Jimmy?"
"Um ditto?"
"That sounded more like a question than an answer."
"Well I'm not uh well after the things with um Agent Lee..."
"Ah you don't want Vance knowing your still getting it on at work." Tony said trying to lighten the mood. No one wanted to talk about how things had went down with Agent Lee. It was a bad place for all of them.
"I will, you have my support Tony. No matter what."
"I know, Mesimeriano." Tony pulled free from both of his supports and walked to the wall, sliding down till he found a position that didn't put pressure on his angry side. "Jet, last vote?"
"Whatever you want. I've bullshitted Vance before I can and will again."
"Thats a worse answer than Jimmy's, Jet."
"Not going to choose for you. Your choice."
"Not choosing, just voicing an opinion."
Jethro shook his head, "Yes we should tell him. We don't know how this is going to play out. Could be what seven months before the baby comes...could be weeks. We don't know how it's going to effect your blood need. To many damn variables."
"You have the weekend to decide Tony take it and think it over." Ducky said softly.
"No I don't really need it. I just wanted to know where everyone stood before I said that while don't want to tell him, in needs to be done. For all of the reasons everyone's said plus a few I thought of on the way over."
"Such as?" Ducky queried.
"Uh doctors appointments for one. Hard for one do us to be gone but both if us... yeah gonna need the Director to swing that occasionally. Plus this," Tony tapped the house. "If he knows then any questions would be brought to him as to why an entire team, plus half the support staff are all living at the same address."
"True." Tim said, Abby had sat on his lap as soon as he sat down.
"Hell maybe we should just get it over and bring him out here tomorrow. I'm not sure I want to explain everything in his office." Tony sighed, he really didn't want to talk to Vance in his office. To many cameras and...well everything.
"That's actually a really good idea Tony." Jet said running a soft hand over Tony's hair.
"Uh what time?" Tiny asked.
"Sooner the better." Ziva offered, "then we can begin moving things as we planned."
"Okay nine?"
At the round of nods, Tony patted Jethro's leg," Help me up. I'll call him."
Jethro gently pulled until Tony was upright. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure. This is my thing. I need to be the one to do it," Tony said kissing Jet on the cheek before walking away to find a good cell signal.
"I have some boosters I can bring out tomorrow to help with that." Tim said pointing towards Tony.
"Thanks Tim."
"Um Tony needs to eat soon. Where should we..." Ziva stopped. They never used Jethro's house anymore. It was either Tonys apartment or theirs.
"I'll take him back to my place after he calls Leon. You can-"
"No Jethro, we can -"
"Ziver it's fine I have other rooms. He's not going to sleep well tonight. I want him as close to me as possible so I can try yo get him to sleep as much as possible."
Ziva nodded in understanding.
Tony's hands shook as he dialed Leon Vance's number. His heart beat hard and fast in his chest. Honestly he wanted to end the call and puke but he knew it would only be stomach acid so willed the feeling away.
"Vance."
Tony took a steading breath and answered, "Leon."
"Dinozzo, you okay?"
"Uh that's still to be determined, Sir. If it's possible could you meet me to discuss something?"
"I'm sure I can make time. When?" Leon raised as eyebrow though no one could see it.
Swallowing past the fear Tony said, "Nine tomorrow morning?"
Both eyebrows shot up in surprise, "I can so that. Here?"
"No sir I uh I will text you the address. It's kind of one of the things I need to explain."
"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like the discussion Dinozzo?"
"Because any think to do with me puts you on edge Director?" Tony said with honest sarcasm.
"Could be. Nine tomorrow then."
"Yes Director." They both hung up on each other. Tony quickly sent the address before he could change his mind. He toyed for a second of only sending the address to Vance just before he would need to leave, ensuring the man wouldn't have time to check the address. However he was the director of a federal agency, he did need to know where he was walking into, if not totally what.
A wave of exhaustion slipped over Tony and he sank to the ground where he stood. Ziva had been checking her room, which faced the front yard. She watched Tony all but fall. Yelling as loudly as she could, "Jethro, Ducky."
Both men where in the hallway and looked up at there name, seeing Ziva rush towards the front door, had both men scrambling after her.
"Tony!" Ziva yelled as she reached him and dropped next to him.
"Ziva...I'm so tired. So tired."
The trio looked at Tony and sighed a small sigh of relief. He was awake and looked normal.
"Do you hurt anywhere Anthony?"
"Just sore. Exhausted Duck. Can't stay awake. Need to sleep." Tony's voice was soft and filled with sleep.
"Do you think you can make into one of the cars? I think you would be much more comfortable in a bed."
The answer came by way of a soft snore.
"Well. I will get the boys and we shall see if we can get him to your house Jethro."
Jethro nodded and shifted Tony's head into his lap. Ziva took of her light weight coat and placed it over Tony's chest as a blanket.
Jimmy and Tim showed up, Jimmy pulled his keys from his pocket, "My car has the biggest back seat, it would be the easiest to get him into."
Everyone nodded, Jimmy moved his car closer, and opened both doors. Jethro took Tony's shoulders, "I'll sit in the back with him."
It took a few minutes but Jimmy was on his way to Gibbs house with Timmy in the front seat.
"Hope nones around your house Gibbs, might get some odd looks." Tim said.
"We'll deal with it if we have to."
At the house they did a reverse and got Tony out of the car. Jethro worried that none of the moving had woken Tony up.
"Do we go for the couch or try for the bedroom?" Jimmy asked.
"I think couch. I'll let him sleep for an hour or so and see if I can get him to wake up. He should be wanting Ziva by then."
"We're going to head back to the house and get the girls. We're going to load a few things up and take them to the house. I'll make sure Ziva is here." Tim offered.
Gibbs just nodded and dropped into the chair next to the couch.
Jimmy walked over to Gibbs and belt before him, "We're here for you to."
"I know Jimmy, I know. I'm going to try and rest while he does."
Jimmy nodded and pulled Gibbs out of the chair, Gibbs gave in on,y because he didn't know what Jimmy wanted. He was surprised to find himself pulled into a hug. " We all love you and Tony. This will be okay. I know it."