"What an awesome way to spend a birthday." Tony thought sarcastically as he leaned heavily against the wall of the surgical waiting room of Bethesda Naval Hospital. Trying his hardest to ignore the nauseating pain in his side. He had hit the door handle really hard when the car crashed. Not to mention the glass from the wind sheild and window that were inbeded all over his body. He had treated his own wounds as best he could by swiping some bandages from the first aide kit Palmer always carried with him. Ducky had one too but he was more obsessive about is kit. He didn't deserve a doctors care not after what he had done.

"Sir are you okay?" A young doctor asked.

"I'm fine" Tony lied.

"Are you sure you look and sound like you are in pain. I have a while before my next surgrey if you want I can look you over real quick?" The doctor asked.

"I said I was fine." Tony replied.

"Alright but head over to the emergency room if you start feeling bad." The doctor replied.

"Yeah whatever." Tony replied.

Tony had made a lot of mistakes in his nearly two decades long career as a cop but this had to be the worst he had ever made. For the past two weeks he had been charged with protecting the daughter of Gunnery Sergeant Gustav Darbey's duaghter Keely. His wife Sharon had already been murdered in their home on Quantico a year prior. Thankfully that happened when Keely was out of the house but the man that killed her mother was still after her. The case was almost surreal it was like the plot of some hour long drama then real life. An ex of Gustav's had gone through a rough divorce and fertility struggle and decided that she wanted him back. Gus had told her that he was sorry but he was happy with his family. So she had decided to take Sharon out of the picture. Sharon was a diabetic. So the ex had broke in and injected Sharon with a lethal dose while she slept. The death had been ruled an accident or possible suicide. Sharon also had battled depression since she was a child. Until a month ago when the ex had contacted Gus and said that she had heard about Sharon and was sorry and then asked if he was ready to date again. He said no and two weeks later an attempt was made on Keely's life and with that the truth came out. Ever since then Keely had been left under Tony's care for protection detail. At first everything had been fine. Then today the unthinkable happened Tony was driving Keely to soccer practice they had been running late so he decided to take the back roads. He knew that was a bad idea but he did it anyway. They were in sight of the field when a car side swiped them. Keely had been severly injured and was unresponsive when help arrived. He had been badly injured too but less severely. The doors opened and a surgeon exited covered in blood. The way he looked at Tony and Gibbs who had remained in the same place he had after Jackie was shot and again after Tony and Ziva's accident. Both men knew it was bad news. Still he could not tell them they were not next of kin Gus had to be the first to be told.

"Why did they have to be named Sharon and Keely?" Gibbs asked in broken whisper for the umpteenth time since the case first started.

This whole ordeal had been really hard on him it didn't help that while Tony's birthday was today. It just had to be the big 4 0. Though why should this decade suck any less then the previous three Tony told himself. The next day was Vance forty ninth his first without Jackie and to make things wore both kids were gone for the whole month of July. They went to camp every summer but this year was different. So naturally Gibbs was reliving a lot of dark memories.

"I am sorry Gunny. I know it doesn't mean anything but I know exactly how you feel and if you ever need a friend my door is always open. I will give you my address." Gibbs said after Gus gave him the bad news.

"Just give me your phone number I am retiring and moving out to California my sister and her partner live out there with their twins. May as well be some kids male influeence." Gus replied.

"Alright but call me anytime." Gibbs replied.

Gus left to go say goodbye to his daughter and handle a few things. He was still in shock as to be expected he had just had a bomb dropped on him metaphorcally of course. Tony hated that he left before he could say anything. It didn't matter though either way he was the biggest idiot on the plannet.

"Boss I..." Tony said.

"You know what DiNozzo I don't want to hear it! You knew it was a bad idea to take the backroads and you did anyway! Was being on time to soccer really that big of a deal?! She'd have been five minutes late ten at the most and now she's dead! I thought you were a good agent! Your dad was right you are worthless!" Gibbs yelled.

Tony ran from the room hoping that he could be a proper DiNozzo and not cry. He had no car the had been using the Darbey's car and a had just walked to the hospital. Which was probably the worst thing he could have done with his injuries. Until he started runing that is. He called a taxi service from the parking lot and had them drop him off at NCIS HQ.

"Hey Tony Vance told us about Keely. It's not your fault." McGee said calmly.

"Yes Tony I hope the rest of your birthday goes better." Ziva added.

"I called Palmer and Abby tonight may be a school night but we are going out for drinks." McGee said.

"Sorry McGee but I have plans." Tony replied.

"What?" Ziva asked.

"Hot date I hope." McGee guessed.

"I...I need to talk to Vance." Tony replied dejectedly.

Tony had already run off before Gibbs realized what he had said. He always got real emothional when it came to cases like this one. They always made the memories of Shannon and Kelly fresh. This one with the names and stories being so similar had made things even worse. He hadn't meant to lash out on Tony. God the poor kid already felt terrible. He left the hospital and returned to NCIS. Where he was greeted by the nine words he dreaded most.

"Boss we have a huge problem Tony just quit." McGee said

A/N: Where did Tony go? Should I continue or are there too many stories like this out there? Please review thanks.