Title: A Father's Love

Pairings: Gibbs/Tony father/son

Summary: When Tony discovers his father's coming to town, it surfaces long buried memories. Can Gibbs convince Tony to let him help and that he's worth a father's love?

A/N: This is the first story in a series that is part of what I call A Father's Love or AFL 'verse. I have this story mostly completed, and will post when I can, but it will really help me out if you guys would leave reviews to tell me what you think I need to work on.

Thanks

-Starbeam

NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS

Tony quietly opened the door and made his way to his couch. He ungracefully plopped down and leaned back against the cushions with a weary sigh. He thought about the case they had just finished up.

The 12 year old son of a Naval Commander was found beaten, raped and murdered in Anacostia Park, tossed aside like yesterday's garbage. After a thorough investigation, they discovered the boy's father had been physically and sexually abusing his son for years. Only the last time he went too far. When asked why he did it, he shrugged and said "It's a father's right."

'It's a father's right.' That phrase had been swirling around in his head ever since the Commander said it. He remembered every time he heard his own father say those words. "It's a father's right, Anthony." It was starting to bring back some memories he had tried hard to forget.

"Stop it, Anthony," he told himself harshly. "Remembering won't solve anything."

It was then that he noticed the flashing light on his answering machine. He pressed the button. The automated voice came on. "You have one new message." As the message was relayed, Tony paled and started shaking as he heard the familiar voice filtering out.

"Hello, Junior," the voice of his father sneered. "Did you really think you could hide from me? Pathetic. Well guess what? I found you. And I'm coming to DC next weekend. And don't think you can hide from me because I will find you. It's been awhile since we had some fun together. I'm really looking forward to it. Until Saturday, Junior." Senior laughed a laugh that made chills run up and down Tony's spine.
"End of messages."

By the end of the message, Tony was practically hyperventilating. He sat down on his couch, hard, and tried to control his breathing. Once he got his breathing back to normal, he put his head in his hands.

'What am I going to do' he thought. Before he could stop himself, he flashed back to the last time he saw his father.

*Flashback*

Tony sat quietly in his room on his bed, reflecting back on the events of a week ago. His father was getting more and more abusive. Last time though was the worst it's ever been. He didn't know what made his father so angry. He had done well on his test and been on his best behavior. Maybe he hadn't tried hard enough. He was glad from the small respite, but knew it couldn't last forever.

All of a sudden he heard loud, angry footsteps resound throughout the mansion, and prayed that his father wasn't drunk again. They stopped outside his door, and Tony scrambled to stand at attention. All of a sudden his door was thrown wide open with a resounding bang. Tony jumped.

"JUNIOR," Senior bellowed.

"Y-y-yes si-sir," Tony stammered.

"Pathetic," Senior sneered, although his speech was a little slurred. Tony knew his father was drunk and that a brutal beating was coming.

"Yes sir, sorry sir," Tony said, hoping that agreeing with his father would put him in a good enough mood that he would leave the room without giving Tony a beating. But he knew that it was a slim chance.

"Pathetic," Senior repeated, the sneer still on his face. "You are a pathetic, worthless little brat. I have no idea why the hell I got such a sniveling idiot as a son. You should have died instead of your mother."

Tony struggled not to cry because it would get him another 'DiNozzo's don't cry' lecture, not to mention a more severe beating.

Senior took his belt off and folded it into thirds. He looked at his son.

"Take off your clothes and lay down on the bed, Junior," he said.

Tony looked up at his father in horror. "No sir, please," he begged.

"NOW, JUNIOR," he bellowed.

Tony scrambled to do as he was told. He laid down on the bed a prayed for this beating to be over with quickly. He tried to brace himself, but the first strike still came as a shock. He stifled a gasp. He didn't have time to brace himself for the next strike because it came fast, not to mention hard. He tried not to cry or scream because that would only make it worse. But Oh God it hurt! He prayed for it to be over. But soon, mercifully, he passed out.

*End Flashback*

The next time he woke up, he was in the hospital. Turns out Senior had beaten him so badly that he put Tony in a coma for a week. He never saw his father again, because as soon as he was well enough to leave the hospital, he was disowned and being shipped off to Rhode Island Military Academy.

He thought he'd put this all behind him and moved on. But hearing his father's voice and knowing he was coming to DC was bringing it all back for Tony.

'It just goes to show you how wrong I was', he thought bitterly. He had no idea what to do. He didn't want to have to face his father, but he also didn't want his team finding out about it. They'd treat him like a victim.

'And I am not a victim,' he thought darkly. He worked hard to make sure that no one ever knew what he had tried so hard to put behind him. But he was sure that Ducky and Gibbs suspected something. He sighed.

"Maybe everything will be clearer tomorrow," he said to himself.

He went to bed and tried to sleep. But all night he was plagued with nightmares. Nightmares filled with monsters, all with the grotesque-looking face of his father.