I loved the 1st two chapters, but Tony was Gibbs' lap dog by ch 3. I never liked Gibbs after this epi, & I'm glad MW finally left the show. Gibbs treated McGee w more respect in 1 yr than he showed Tony in 13 yrs.
You did write this well... long live DiNozzo !

I feel like this fixed a lot of season 4 for me. When I binge-watch NCIS, I usually skip right over the entire ordeal; that could be because I don't like Jeanne, but I'd like to think Gibbs' behavior towards Tony was another reason. He really could've had a little more finesse. Oh well. I really liked this story. Thank you for writing it.
Darth Becky 726

See this story doesn't make me happy, it starts out with Tony angry but he gives in to Gibbs at every turn, it doesn't change anything. So Gibbs said you are the greatest agent...alone, no witness again. Doesn't help me as a watcher Gibbs NEVER says it in front of the two people who needed to hear it, McGee and Ziva.

Gibbs came back from Mexico different, changed, and I fell out of love with that Gibbs, I could never accept the mean, bully he became. Heck now in 2016 he doesn't even do anything but go for coffee and talk to therapist (with no good outcome ever). I stick with the fanfiction and have lost any respect or love for Gibbs that I ever had.

Man, I was so angry about how tptb handled this. I really want Tony to be respected and Gibbs knocked off his pedestal, I want there to be repercussions.
Thanks for sharing this.

How dare Gibbs act like Tony's being an irrational toddler, throwing a temper tantrum?! But I guess that's how he's always treated him, so nothing new there.

I don't think I've really gotten past this event. It was the lowest of the low. However you spin it, canon Gibbs does not come out of this as a good guy. Nor do Tim, Ziva or Abby, actually. It was a defining event imo. Thanks for addressing it. Tony did have every right to be angry. Gibbs DID quit! xo

It does make sence that the only reason that Gibbs was allowed to return like he did was because he had slept with Shephard in the past and now that she was director she had been busy trying to get Gibbs back in her bed. When Gibbs lost his memories and the Dr. told her about his first wife she was pissed and told everyone and was even more pissed that he didn't remember her or their affair when she was his probie.

Although I don't like Tony's attitude towards his co-workers, especially McGee, I never liked Gibbs's attitude towards Tony when he came back to the team at the beginning of season 4… Tony had a promotion, then suddenly he was taken back one step behind brutally.. And if we are to rely on the episode, it was Gibbs and Fornell who screwed at the first place, so Gibbs's words to Tony were so unfair...

Good story. The show did dispay some of Tony's resentment, but this feels very true.
Thanks and cheers!

I always did wonder how Gibbs was able to just walk in and take his old job back. He hadn't had his phy eval or weapons check after he got out of hospital. I guess the writers messed up big time. Everyone else had to go through that after they were injured on the job and Gibbs had lost his memory. He wouldn't have passed with those missing memories. I also think Agent Lee would have gone to Tony when her daughter was taken, but she didn't trust Gibbs after he came back from Mexico.

Wow this was good nice.

Wow he firs two parts were powerful and addicted me, great start. Intensely written.

Wow, what a great post-Hiatus fic. This is exactly what I was looking for! Tony actually getting mad at Gibbs instead of internalizing his feelings...again, and shrugging Gibbs' actions off like they didn't bother him. I'm glad Gibbs realized what a shitty thing that was to do, and that he actually apologized to Tony for it. Thank you for this, for giving me the closure I was looking for in the show.

Cheers,
Jimelda

That's sweet, so caring. Lovely, insightful story. I would have liked it to have been from one POV though because the back and forth between Tony's and Gibbs' thoughts is a bit confusing.

I like the way you compare Tony's messy attempt to leave with Stan Burley's, with the manly handshake. Very well written.