Warnings: Slight spoiler for "The Searchers". angst, darkish.

A/N: Wow... I've seen some good temper tantrums in my day working with young kids... but the haters in this fandom out do them all. What exactly was so awful about what Mark said? I mean... the show cannot sit around and wait on the chance that Cote is going to return... they'd lose viewers fast. Sure, he could have used something more... politically correct... but after sixteenth months of putting up with this crap with no end in sight... I say that the man is allowed a little bit of bitterness.

On a more happy, funny side note, MW continues to crack me whenever he does an interview. He also almost made my phone explode this week when he retweeted me. Seriously, it went off for a good twenty minutes non-stop with alerts lol. I was out to dinner with my mom and had to shut my phone off... gave us a good laugh anyways.

amaia- I always picture Tony being a cuddly guy, because of the lack of love he got as a child. I really do want to write more Jack, but well... he hasn't fit into this story too much. He does make an appearance in this chapter though!

Thank you everyone for sticking with me through this! You guys rock!

Six weeks of hell later, Tony was allowed to come home.

Leah made sure that the fridge was stocked with his favorite foods and beer. The couch was all set with his pillow and fleece throw, and she'd even put a few of his favorite movies into the DVD player. "Do you want me to make you something to eat?" she asked him, after she had helped him settle down on the sofa. "Are you comfortable? I can get some more pillows... or blankets."

Tony pulled her down and kissed her, just happy to be home. It was no secret to anyone that knew him that he hated hospitals... it also wasn't a secret to any of the nurses or doctors that had been taking care of him for the past six weeks. He kissed his wife again and smiled, "I'm fine. It feels good to be home."

"It was rather quiet and lonely around here without you," Leah confessed.

"Jack was here. And the cat. You had them to keep you company."

"Not the same."

He pulled her down onto the sofa with him, pulling her into his arms and as he did so, he noticed that Jack looked up from his playpen with a grin. Tony smiled back at him, saw the DiNozzo charm reflected in his son's eyes. He tightened his hold on his wife. "Hope you feel the same way after another month of me on sick leave."

She laughed, softly. "You annoying me is still the better option of how this could have ended."

Tony frowned and kissed her temple, closing his eyes. "Yeah," he whispered, "yeah this is a much better option."

"Ok. I'm going to make you something to eat," Leah said, breaking free from his hold. "You need a good, hearty home cooked meal."

"Your mom's chicken pot pie? Pretty please?"

"Flakey crust and all."

Tony grinned and leaned back against his pillow. Already he could feel his mood changing now that he was home with his family. He was much more optimistic. Yeah, Leah was right, this was much better than being in the hospital. Here he had home cooked meals and his movies and his cat, who he was not ashamed to say he'd missed grooming his arm. Right now, Rick Blaine was getting comfortable and snuggling up to his human. Tony reached out and scratched behind his ears and smiled at the purrs he was rewarded with.

Jack gave an annoyed cry from the playpen. Tony looked up to see him staring at his father with big eyes. He felt a little guilty that he was giving the cat more attention than his son, so he glanced over his shoulder to make sure that Leah was in the kitchen and limped over to the playpen. Lifting Jack out, Tony kissed his son's cheek. He carried the baby back to the sofa where Daddy, baby and kitty all snuggled up and watched a movie. Yeah, Tony thought, warmly, this is much better than the hospital.

Tim couldn't think on what kind of flowers he wanted at the wedding. It actually didn't matter to him, but since Leah had been out of commission helping Tony in his recovery, Delilah had informed him that he was to chip in while her maid of honor was busy.

Normally he wouldn't complain about spending time with Delilah but today he could only think about yesterday's opening arguments in Wayne's sentencing hearing. Shockingly, once the grand jury had decided that he was fit to stand trial he had pleaded guilty. Jake had told Ellie that it was because his lawyer was trying to get some leniency with his punishment, perhaps steering away from the death penalty. Prosecutor Alex Walsh wasn't putting the death penalty on the table, but the judge did have the power to overrule his recommendations. Tim just wanted Wayne out of their lives forever… whether that meant jail or execution… he really didn't care at this point.

"What do you think about blue hydrangea's? They'll match the dresses," Delilah said bringing him back to reality and the tiny florist shop they were in.

"Sure. Whatever you want, sweetheart," Tim whispered with a slight shrug.

"Tim. We should make this decision together," Delilah chided him.

"Fine. Blue hydrangea's look great."

Delilah nodded towards the florist, who went to get the order forms, and turned towards her future husband. "What's really bothering you, Tim? I know it's not flowers or wedding plans."

Tim shuddered, thinking to sitting in that courtroom the day before. "My skin is still crawling from the beginning of that hearing yesterday. I know his lawyer was just doing his job convincing him that he should plead guilty to avoid the death penalty but… I want him dead. Is that awful of me to say?"

She frowned, a little, and reached for his hand. "He hurt Tony… senselessly… anger is a normal reaction."

He matched her frown. "Anger sure… but wanting someone dead?"

"Didn't you once tell me that you wished Ari dead after he'd shot and killed Kate?"

"Yeah… I did. Kate's death was… brutal… needless."

"Same thing here… only Tony didn't die."

"But he almost did… Gibbs said he crashed on the way to the ER… the paramedic revived him."

Delilah gave his hand a squeeze. "That kid is going away to jail for the rest of his life, Tim. He's going to pay for his crimes. And think of the lives that have been saved… the other men he would have killed if Tony hadn't escaped and ran away."

Tim smiled, sadly. "You always manage to find the good even in the worst situations."

She chuckled. "Sometimes I think it goes with my job. Otherwise I'd go crazy with all the bad in the world."

He agreed. There was plenty bad in the world, so he really should be focusing on the good. Like picking out flowers for his wedding, like enjoying an afternoon at the park with his godson—there would be enough time later to worry about all the bad in the world. After all, the bad was a part of his job, and when he wasn't on the job he should be thinking about more pleasant things. Until his cell phone rang and he saw that it was Ellie calling him, pulling him back to the reality of his job and the world.

"McGee. We have… we have a problem. I just got off the phone with the FBI," she said, anxiously. "I'm trying to get in touch with Gibbs… but I think… I think he's at the hospital with Tony... he was going to take him to PT today... and… he isn't answering!"

"Bishop… slow down… what's going on?" Tim asked, calmly. They weren't working any active cases at the moment. Vance was taking it easy on them.

Ellie took a deep, steadying breath. "There was a problem transporting Wayne to court today. Apparently the van broke down and when… and when the driver got out to check on the engine… he choked his guard, uncuffed himself and… he's gone."

Tim felt his heart hammering in his chest. "Is the FBI sending someone over to the hospital?"

"Yes. Fornell said they were on their way but the driver didn't notice he was gone until probably twenty minutes had gone by."

"He's on foot. So that makes him slower."

"Tim. You know where he's going… Tony! He's going to finish off Tony! He has to… he can't leave it alone! It would ruin his entire game he plays!"

For a second Tim agreed with her, but then thought back to Leah's testimony. Son of a bitch, he thought as he snapped his fingers at Delilah and gestured for her cell phone. He precariously balanced his on his shoulder as he found Leah's information in his fiancée's phone and sent her a frantic message. "Ellie… call Metro… get someone over to Leah… now!"

Ellie was confused. "Leah? Why? I thought she was home with Jack…"

Tim swallowed the bile in his throat. "Yes! She is! But when she went to see Wayne in West Virginia… he threatened her!"

"How would he even know where to look for her?"

Immediately he thought about the afternoon that Leah had testified. Walsh had asked her to state her name and occupation. Wayne only had to show up at the university claiming to look for her… claiming to be family and he could get her address… or he could follow her home from a lecture… or just finish the job right then and there. "We can figure all that out later! Right now we need to make sure we get the police over there to their apartment… get in touch with Gibbs and let him know what the hell is going on!"

Ellie hung up on him and Tim shoved Delilah's phone back into her hand. He noticed the florist coming back with their papers but he looked anxiously at his future wife. Delilah shook her head, "Go! I think I can handle ordering the flowers and I can call a friend to get a ride home."

Tim took his leave, not bothering to button his coat as he flew from the florist shop and jumped into his car. He had to get to Tony's apartment before it was too late.

Gibbs noticed the annoying buzz of his cell phone when they were half way back to Tony's apartment. Grumbling he hit the ignore button and threw it on the dash.

"You're not going to get that, boss?" Tony asked, surprised. "Breaking your own rules."

"Not working an active case right now, DiNozzo," the team leader replied. "Vance has us on desk duty until you're back."

Tony frowned and watched the streets pass by him. "Boss... I'm not going to be that much help when I get back to work. Doctor wants me to take it easy and although it's been six weeks... I'm still pretty gimpy."

Gibbs chuckled to himself and felt himself relax. Tony was on the mend now that he was home, being with Leah and Jack really did improve his mood but the former marine knew that he was itching to get back to work. "Well... you can do all that computer stuff McGee does from your desk."

On the dash the cell phone buzzed again, jumping around until it slid off and landed at Tony's feet. The senior field agent leaned to pick it up and glanced at the tiny screen to see who was calling. "Bishop. Are you sure you don't have a case? I mean... I know she can be persistent but she's not Kate or Ziva persistent... unless something's wrong."

"It can wait until after I get you home."

"You know... I could have taken the bus. This brace is actually pretty good."

Gibbs shot his senior field agent a glare. Tony just grinned as the cell phone buzzed again. "Give me that," the team leader growled. Tony handed him the phone and Gibbs gruffly answered, "What Bishop!"

Fornell shouted back at him, "Since when are you unreachable!"

"I'm driving Tony home from physical therapy," Gibbs stated. "This couldn't wait?"

"No. Wayne Cooper escaped today. We think he's heading to Tony's apartment."

Gibbs slammed down on the gas pedal. Tony was jostled in the front seat and scrambled to grab the handle above the door. "How the hell did that happen, Tobias? He was supposed to be transported in cuffs!"

Fornell grumbled. "Choked the guard with the chains and then unlocked the cuffs. Driver was out inspecting the van. Listen... we can place blame later. McGee was sending Metro to meet you at the apartment. FBI isn't far behind... Jethro I don't have to tell you to shoot the kid if he tries anything... at this point... we're all better off."

Slamming the phone shut, Gibbs tossed it back on the dash and pressed the car forward, a rain of car horns blaring down on them. He could see Tony slightly tense in the front seat. "Boss?" he asked, sternly, "What's going on?"

"Wayne escaped."

"And he's coming after me?"

"No," Gibbs said with a shake of his head, thinking back to that cold afternoon he'd let Leah see Wayne. "He's going after Leah."

Leah woke up when she heard glass shatter.

Blinking to adjust her eyes to her surroundings, she paused to listen to the sounds of the apartment. If that stupid cat broke something else... she thought, slowly sitting up so she didn't disturb the baby sleeping next to her. But immediately she knew it wasn't the cat... because there was Rick Blaine snuggled up at the end of the bed, sound asleep himself.

Someone was in the apartment. And it wasn't Tony. He would have alerted her to his presence. Heavy footsteps echoed in the hall and she dashed for the bedroom door, slamming it shut and latching the lock. Jack awoke then with a cry and the cat jumped down from the bed and ran to hide underneath it. Leah stood there, hands shaking. That lock was not going to hold back who she'd seen in that hall. He wanted her dead. He was going to do whatever it took to make sure that happened.

The knob on the door jingled as Wayne tried to open it. "Oh come on, Leah... this isn't very fun. You're making my first female kill difficult," he called with a hateful chuckle. "Open the door, little lady."

"Bite me!" Leah snapped, wedging herself between the headboard and the wall. She reached for the gun that Tony had taped there. It was just out of her reach and the bed was heavy. Still... that gun was the only thing that was going to keep her and possibly Jack alive.

"See you're still pretty feisty," Wayne said on the other side of the door. "Didn't expect anything less from you, though."

Leah struggled to get to the weapon. She could hear Wayne working on the locks, knew that it would only be a minute or two more before he broke that door down. Finally she was able to undo the tape and yank the weapon free. She grabbed Jack up into her arms and found a safe place to hide him in the closet, in the laundry basket and as she turned, pressing her back into the door, the bedroom one finally gave way. Leah clutched the gun behind her back as Wayne stood there, grinning at her hatefully.

He showed her the weapon he had in his hand, tapping it against his temple as he stepped into the room. "Told you I was going to kill you. Agent Gibbs should have just shot me right then and there in the jail cell. Now... he'll have to live with that decision."

She shifted her weight, slightly. "Killing me will definitely get you the death penalty."

"Yes. I know. Poor, sweet mother of an infant... murdered in cold blood," Wayne recited like a newspaper headline. "Perhaps, now I'll get my insanity defense."

"By killing a mother? In her own bedroom? I doubt it," Leah snapped.

"Guess we'll see, huh?" Wayne responded, raising the weapon and aiming right for her skull. "Bye, Leah, it's been real."

Leah's pulse raced, Jack's cries hammered in her ears. She tightened her hold on the gun behind her back and watched as Wayne smiled, one last time at her and slowly pulled back on the trigger.

*Ducks under covers* please don't hate me lol