Kami was more than happy the next morning when Brad released Tony from the hospital. Gibbs wanted to keep an eye on his accident-prone man. Once he got Tony home, Tony got sick from the medication and car ride. He leaned over the toilet just as he had the day of the accident.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say you were pregnant and had morning sickness." Gibbs joked.
"It would be a lot better if this was morning sickness. At least then I'd know I was getting a little one out of the deal." Tony said wiping his mouth.
Gibbs helped Tony off the floor and into the shower.
"If you need anything, just holler." Gibbs said and then was off to fix lunch. Tony was never so thankful for the help. The bout with pneumonia and subsequent hospitalization had left him exhausted. He knew from here on out to ask for help instead of thinking he could do it all himself. Gibbs heard the water shut off and went in to help dry Tony and put him into some comfy sweats.
"Lunch is ready if you're hungry." Gibbs smiled as he dried Tony off.
"I am, but really all I want is to lie down." Tony yawned.
"Let's get you in bed and I will bring it to you." Gibbs said helping Tony into a soft t-shirt and sweats.
As Gibbs was putting Tony's sandwich on the plate, Kami came into the kitchen to make her protest.
"Sit down in your spot and I will put your sandwich on the table in a minute after I cut the crust off." Gibbs guided the young girl to the table.
Kami spun around and with the fierceness her momma once had stated "No! I want to eat with my daddy!"
Gibbs was shocked. "But Kami, Daddy is eating in bed."
"Then I eats with him." Kami crossed her arms.
"You drive a tough bargain kid." Gibbs mumbled. "Alright you can. Why don't you go pick out a movie to watch while we eat?"
Kami smiled and nodded before going off to her bedroom to find a movie.
A few minutes later, Gibbs was carrying three sandwiches back to the master bedroom. Tony gratefully took his chicken salad sandwich on a croissant while Kami took her pb&j with no crust.
"Did you pick a movie baby girl?" Tony asked.
"Uh-huh!" Kami nodded, handing the movie off to Gibbs.
"Beauty and the Beast. Good choice." Gibbs smiled.
Gibbs put the movie into the dvd player and it popped up on Tony's big flatscreen. The three of them curled up in Tony's bed once they had finished their lunch. Tony felt very loved in the middle of the big bed with Kami snuggled up to him on his left side, her little head resting on his chest. His heartbeat always brought comfort to the small girl. On the right side was Gibbs, cuddling his sick man. Ten minutes into the movie, Tony heard a strange noise. He looked down at his sweet baby girl.
"Hey Jet, look over here." Tony smiled.
Gibbs looked over and found Kami was sound asleep cuddled up to her daddy and was snoring softly.
"She missed you and so did I." Gibbs said softly, kissing Tony.
"There's something I need to come clean about." Tony sighed.
Gibbs shifted in the bed.
"What's that, Tony?" he asked.
"The day of the accident I needed to go pee. But then I got dizzy and fell. The last thing I remember is hitting my head on the toilet before everything went black." Tony confessed.
"Next time you need to go to the head and you're sick, let me know and I will help you. I don't want to go through this again. I can't lose you Anthony." Gibbs said.
By the way Gibbs used his birth name, he knew Gibbs was serious.
"I love you Jethro." Tony said.
"I love you too Tony." Gibbs said placing a tender kiss on the top of Tony's head.
As Tony began feeling better he made the realization that Gibbs was in love with him. He had proved it while Tony was sick. He realized he needed to move forward to make life as normal as possible for Kami and himself. Tony took off his wedding ring and slipped it into his top drawer. He loved Kate and always would, but he was ready to move forward. He loved Gibbs but sometimes he still cried in the shower, missing Kate. He wondered if he would ever get over the loss of his wife. But for the first time in a while he smiled, knowing that Kate would approve of him and Gibbs being together. He was finally smiling again thanks to Gibbs. Something he never thought he would ever do again. What he didn't know is Kami had noticed not only that Tony was smiling again but how happy her Papa Gibbs made her daddy.