A/N: I really didn't want to publish this story, but a friend of mine kinda convinced me to give it a shot. So here it is! Hope you like it. :)

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This story happens during season 9, but there's no spoiler, well, unless you don't know what happened at the end of season 3 and in the beginning of season 4!

No slash, No pairing. Just Friendship.

And I should tell you that this isn't a case fic.

I'm sorry for any mistakes, they are all mine.

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. In Love and War .

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"Get out and never come back." Gibbs yelled from the wheelchair he'd been stuck in for the past month.

"Boss-" Tony approached calmly but Gibbs stopped him mid-sentence.

"I'm not your boss anymore, Dammit." He yelled again. "Don't you have better things to do? I'm tired of seeing your sorry ass wandering around my house every night. I don't need your pity."

"Yeah, and here I thought we were over with that one." Tony mumbled and rolled his eyes. "Gibbs, snap out of it. You're gonna be fine. You're going to walk again and get back to work and boss us around. But till then, you're stuck with me."

"Oh, am I?"

Tony didn't answer, knowing Gibbs was in one of his moods.

"Tell me one thing, why you?" He snarled. "Isn't there anyone else? Where's Abby?"

"You know she can't do what I can."

"Then the nurse. Anyone but you." Gibbs turned his chair around, but not before noticing that his words had stung, if the look on Tony's face was anything to go by, and it was shamefully gratifying to see that look at that moment.

He was tired of being the one who'd been hurt. He was tired of being stuck in a stupid wheelchair and although he'd been reassured that he was going to walk again, he was tired and sick of depending on others.

Tony was right, he was the best choice to help him and the younger man had always been there, helping him happily. It wasn't like anyone had forced him to come by, but he'd always shown up and in occasions that he had to stay at office the whole night, the nurse who'd been helping him during the day would stay the night, as well.

And honestly, Gibbs was thankful, but everyone including Tony knew that he wasn't one to admit it out loud and although he'd been more of a bastard than a good company the past month, Tony hadn't said a word about it; he'd just stayed there and took Gibbs' malicious words and the next night it was like nothing had happened. They would just get back to normal. Tony would make dinner and help Gibbs with his exercises and needs while talking nonstop in order to keep Gibbs' mind too busy to start feeling sorry for himself.

That night it seemed different, though. When Tony had returned to his place, he looked too tired; he was silent and seemingly preoccupied and when Gibbs had asked about the case, he'd just smiled and refused to talk about it.

That was what aggravated Gibbs. Tony and everyone else kept saying that he was going to be fine and back to work soon enough, but now it appeared that Tony was keeping him out of the loop. Not that he was in the loop in the first place; it was just that Tony used to tell him about their cases before.

Somehow, Gibbs felt like it meant that he wasn't going to get back on his feet and Tony staying with him was just out of pity and although they'd been through that conversation many times before, he couldn't keep his words to himself anymore. And this time he'd tried to be more hurtful.

Tony dismissed the hurt as soon as his heart registered it and smiled. "Aw, come on. You will miss me if I don't show up one night. Don't deny it, Boss."

"You're just too full of yourself, aren't you?" Gibbs turned back. "What are you trying to prove? That you care? I know that you will be out of that door the second you find the chance, then why the bother?"

Tony blinked in confusion, and then shook his head. "You've been drinking again, haven't you?" He rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna make dinner."

"You approach my kitchen and I'll shoot you." Gibbs growled.

"With what?" Tony laughed.

Gibbs growled angrily. "You know what? You're right, I'm gonna be fine and get my job back from you, and when I do, I want you off my team." He felt an irrational desire to blame someone for his misery; like Tony wanted his job and that was why he was helping Gibbs, like he was doing it to ease his guilty conscience.

That had the effect Gibbs was waiting for, and although he didn't really mean what he had said, he really wanted to hurt someone at that moment and Tony was the only target around.

Tony froze in his place and turned around to look at Gibbs. "I-... I've never wanted your job. Your desk is still intact. Why do you-" he trailed off.

"You think I'm stupid? Get the hell out of my house, DiNozzo." The older man yelled. "I don't wanna see your face ever again."

"Look, Bo-" he stopped at the anger in Gibbs' eyes and corrected himself; "Gibbs, I don't know what has triggered your anger this time, but things are gonna look better tomorrow, I... I will leave now if that's what you want, just give me a second to call someone to-"

"I don't need a damn babysitter, DiNozzo. No wonder you don't have any real friends. Just how annoying can you be?"

That stung. Tony was trying hard not to show it and not to take Gibbs' words to heart, but his defenses were already down after dealing with the hard case they had in hand and honestly, Gibbs had never been that blunt; that angry; that full of hatred.

"Tomorrow if anyone wants to come and check on me, it better not be you."

Quietly, Tony grabbed his overcoat and walked out of his boss' place. Once outside, he sighed heavily and debated about calling Ducky or Abby. Gibbs would never treat them that way, but he dismissed the idea. They all were tired after the events of that day and needed their rest.

So he just walked to his car and waited there; watching Gibbs' house from outside, telling himself that he was close enough and would check on the older man once he was sure he was asleep.

Gibbs rolled himself to the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of bourbon and took large gulps of the liquid, feeling bad for what he'd said to his friend.
Part of him was satisfied that now he wasn't the only one hurting, but a small part of him knew that he hadn't been fair and that part was sure going to show itself in full force the next day, so he'd make it up to Tony.

But till then he had time to drown his sorrows and forget about his miserable life.

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... TBC ...

A/N: Let me know what you think? :)

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