Guess what guys... Its a sequel! Thanks to a delightful reviewer to Free Falling who reminded me that I did promise a sequel I decided I needed to get off my butt and get to work. So this lovely AN has five points and I'll keep them quick. (Ha! I'm sure you all are laughing at me, you know I can't have a short intro to save my life)
1. This has nothing to do with the story but I want to share anyways, I turned 21 last week! Big moment for me! Not as big as the button accomplishment, but pretty close. ;)
2. I'm heading back to school in a couple days so this will NOT be updated everyday, but I will do my best to be consistent.
3. If you know the song Tony is singing without looking it up, I will be so very proud.
4. I don't know how long the story will be. I really don't. I'm always asked that and I never know. Sorry!
5. And finally, I've been having some rather significant health problems that make looking a computer screen kind of painful. It's really unhelpful when it comes to school but something I kind of have to work around. For that reason it's getting harder and harder to catch the smaller grammatical mistakes in my chapters. I'm looking for a beta reader but until I find one I hope you'll excuse the little mistakes and let me know (nicely please) about the larger ones. I'll do my very best to catch them before I send them out though!
I'll quit chattering now! I hope you all enjoy and please tell me what you think!
~Renee

Gravity

"You sure this is the one you want?" The man looked at him worriedly, his dark eyes filled with concern and apprehension. "It's not the best we have, there's some problems with the neck and it'll probably need to be restrung. Really there's some major damage with the entire instrument."

He ran his fingers over the cool metal strings and felt a faint smile drift over his face as he murmured.

"I've seen worse. My dad says any hurt can be fixed with right amount of care..." he turned a bright grin to the startled pawn shop owner. "Yeah...this one. How much do I owe you?"

The man shook his head and grabbed the calculator his head moving side to side as he crunched the numbers.

"With the current damage? I'll give it to you for fifty."

"Thirty five."
The man stuck out a hand and shook his ruefully.

"Got yourself a deal young man."

He smiled and set the money on the counter and swung the guitar on his back, leaving the pawn shop whistling, carrying his grocery sack in one hand and holding the door open for a young woman with the other.

Now, how exactly are you going to explain to your dad that you left the house to get a jug of milk and came back with a guitar?

He laughed to himself and started for home, still humming the tune he hadn't been able to get out of his head and he wanted to try out on an actual instrument.

That's an excellent reason to buy a guitar. You had a song stuck in your head. Maybe Toby will stop him from killing you.

His grin widened, at least he didn't buy the drum-set. That would have been really hard to explain.

He walked easily down the familiar streets, the weight of the guitar already becoming familiar and comforting against his back as the sunlight beat down against his shaggy hair.

"Badabababa...I've got a query… riddle you...you and your theories...hmmm… that could work."

He continued to move his head to unraveling beat in his head but was interrupted by a panicked barking coming from a side alley and splattering of harsh laughter.

He wrinkled his forehead and slowed, turning towards the darkened lane with caution. If there was one thing his life had taught him it was- don't rush into something without knowing what you're doing because you would get hurt. But if there was one thing his dad had taught him is was that you do the right thing no matter what.

He nodded once and stepped forward, walking towards the pained noises. He poked his head around a dumpster and narrowed his eyes when he saw the boys cornering the cowering dog under a fire escape.

"Hey!"

The four boys turned as one to look at him, one of them still holding the dented metal can he was about to throw at the shaking dog.

"What do you think you're doing?"

One boy stepped forward shakily, his eyes red and voice too loud.

"We're just having fun, why don't you just keep walking."

He shook his head and placed the grocery bag at his feet.

"That's not fun. You're hurting him."

The boy rolled his eyes and two more stepped forward, flanking their friend, but the last stayed hanging back, watching him with a curious expression.

"You want to get into something? Over a dog?"

He crossed his arms and looked at the boys closer, taking note of the bloodshot eyes and slurred words, memories colliding to suddenly make sense of the scene.

"Are you guys drunk?"

One boy stiffened and another huffed, "So what if we are?"

He look at him incredulously.

"It's three in the afternoon. Seems a bit early. And a bit young." He said pointedly.

One of them stepped forward angrily, his arm outstretched and hand curling into a fist. He watched it warily and felt himself tense for a fight. All of this for a fight. Now his dad really would kill him.

"Look you little-"

"Wait a minute." the one still standing back and looking the most sober finally spoke up. "You're...you're old man Gibbs' son."

He raised an eyebrow, ill timed humor and disbelief warring.

"Old man Gibbs? Seriously?"

"You are aren't you? You're that kid he adopted? Oh my G-"

He raised a hand to cut him off.

"I'm sorry but...Old man Gibbs? Really?"

The boy was starting to look mad while the others just looked confused.

"Okay are you the kid he adopted or not?"

"Tony. My name's Tony. But yeah, Gibbs' is my dad."

The boy swallowed and nodded.

"Well...cool. Um...we need to go, we're uh late. It was fantastic to meet you."

He edged around Tony and started out, his friends following him looking even more confused.

"Kevin why are we-"

"Shut up and walk."

Tony watched as the made their way to the end of the alley and couldn't resist calling out when they reached the end of it.

"You know, if he found out you were calling him an old man-"

They were gone before he finished the sentence.

He chuckled and turned back towards the dog who was still huddled in the corner. He frowned softly and approached it slowly, his hand extended unthreateningly. He kneeled a couple feet away so it wouldn't feel trapped and waited for it to venture out of the corner. Eventually it started out of its' hiding place and crept towards him, its' eyes wide and cautious.

"Hi Buddy. Good dog." he murmured as the dog sniffed his hand. Slowly he moved and began to rub the dogs ears, easing down the dogs spine and smiling as he saw the tail began to wag and his tongue roll out of his mouth. The dog straightened to its' full height and Tony's eyes widened in surprise.

"Hi there, you're a big fellow aren't you? See, nothing to be afraid of now. Good boy." he patted the dog once more on the head and straightened, picking up his grocery bag once more and starting back out of the alley.

He made it all of five feet before he realized he was being followed. He looked back and the dog was sitting at his heels, tail still wagging, eyes wide and hopeful.

"Oh no...I can't. I've already...I've got..." the dog turned its' head to the side like he was listening and trying desperatly to understand and Tony closed his eyes and sighed.

"You don't have a collar. You're not well fed...You're not aggressive…Alright. Oh he's not going to be happy with me. Come on boy." he patted his leg and started walking again while the dog bounded forward, leaning against his jeans, staining the denim.

"Hmmm...I wonder what you look like underneath all the dirt?"

The dog barked once as if answering and Tony laughed.

"Handsome are you?"

Went for milk. I went for milk. Which has now sat on the floor of an alley next to a dumpster. Yuck. Went for milk. Came back with a guitar and a dog. I better have some coffee ready.

…

"Aah!"

Tony hit the ground and went sliding through the mud as the dog hit his chest and knocked him off his feet.

"Down...dog. We have to find you a name."

The unnamed dog wagged his tail and barked, obviously overjoyed at either the concept of having a name or finally being able to lick Tony's face. Which he did. Exuberantly.

Tony took advantage of the dog holding still for a brief moment to spray his back with the hose, gently rubbing circle and trying to ignore the fact that he was covering himself in muddy dog water.

"Wow, you are kind of pretty underneath all the guck."

He could hear the muffled barking of Sam from inside the house, barred from meeting the new dog till he was clean.

"Hold on boy, almost done. Almost."

He did one more swipe with the hose and then wiggled out from under the dog, reaching for one of the many old towels he had brought with him.

"Come here boy."

The dog trotted forward obediently and sat on his foot. Tony grinned down at him and started to dry him him off, rubbing briskly but gently at the fur.

"Oh wow. You're part german shepherd. I always wanted one of those. Where did you come from bud?"

The dog pressed his head into Tony's shoulder into response and he smiled, wrapping his arms around the animal.

"Good dog. Come on, let's introduce you to everyone else and get you some food. And I've got to clean up. This is ridiculous."

He grimaced looking down at himself and tried to dry himself off best he could before walking back to the house, his new shadow never for than a foot away.

"Move Sam, come on, let us in the house."

The long haired dog bounced around him and weaved between his legs before stopping in front of the new dog and sniffing him curiously.

"Sam this is...Doc. Doc this is Sam."

He kneeled down between the dogs as they interacted until he was reassured evertthing was friendly and then grabbed two bowls and poured food in both of them, placing one in each corner, not wanting to start a fight between the dogs so early. He started through the house and up the stairs as he searched out new clothes and was startled to see Doc still following him.

"Buddy there's food downstairs."

The dog just wagged his tail and panted, waiting as the teenager changed his clothes and went back to kitchen and only then did he eat.

"You are a strange one." he murmured fondly as the dog ate.

He looked up as he heard the front door open and smiled.

"Dad's home."

"Tony?"

"Be right there!"

He could hear another voice with his dad and his smile stretched wider as he recognized Toby.

This was going to be fun.

Abruptly Doc jumped up and started towards the living room and walked through the doorway making a bee line towards the men. He studied them for a minute and then sat, watching them and wagging his tail.

Tony hung back and watched.

Tobias and Gibbs were talking quietly by the door and neither had noticed the dog yet.

"I told you he didn't do it."

Tobias rolled his eyes.

"Yeah yeah, you're always right and I owe you another twenty. I sure liked it better when you never talked."

He turned and paused, staring at the dog in confusion.

"I thought your dog was white."

Gibbs froze and didn't turn.

"I don't have a dog. Tony has a dog. Tony has a dog, three cats and fish. And the dog is white."

Tobias nodded and smirked.

"Well either your dog has had some work done or you're a grandpa again."

Gibbs turned slowly and looked at the dog for an endless moment before shaking his head.

Tobias' smile grew.

"Well Gibbs, technically you did lead by example. This is your fault."

Gibbs turned and stared at him in shock.

"How the hell is this my fault?"

Tobias shrugged.

"You did take in the first stray."

Gibbs threw his hands in the air.

"And what stray is that?"

"That would be me."

Tony sauntered into the room, holding a mug of coffee and grinned as the dog whirled around and ran to him, barking once happily and sitting on his foot again.

Gibbs pointed to his son. "You just hush." and then turned to Tobias. "And don't encourage him. We already have a zoo." He gestured to the three cats tangled up together on his sofa, the dog climbing into his recliner and the goldfish swimming contentedly in its bowl on the coffee table.

"And you love it." he reached out and handed his dad the mug. Gibbs smiled and stepped forward, taking the coffee and hugging his son.

"Hi Tony."

Tony leaned into his dads embrace, relaxing into the safety and warmth it always provided.

"Hi dad. Catch any bad guys?"

Gibbs nodded and took a sip of the drink.

"Finally broke apart the drug ring."

Tony grinned and rubbed Doc's ears.

"Awesome. You help out Toby?"

The FBI agent nodded ruefully.

"More or less."

"Fornell helped out, the rest of his agents, decidedly less."

Tony laughed at the glare Toby gave his dad.

"Sorry Toby."

"Yeah yeah. Is that a guitar?"

Tony looked in the corner and saw the battered instrument sitting in the corner and grinned at the expression on his dad's face.

"I can explain?"

Xxx

He adjusted the binoculars and narrowed his eyes at the interaction and laughter.

"Hmmm… interesting."

He picked up his cell phone and scrolled through the list of contacts until he found the name he was looking for.

It rang twice before an angry voice picked up.

"I told you not to call me."

"You're going to want to hear this."

"I doubt-"

"I found his weak spot."