A/N: Guys, this will be the final part of this story. :( I love you all for sticking with this story and loving it as much as I do. I hope you enjoy this installment of 'Each Other's Sixes'! Favorite and Review! Your reviews make my day! Especially if I get the emails tomorrow. It would be tiny birthday presents from all of you. Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think! ~DL14
Tony sat in his car for a bit before he got out and walked to the front door. He had stopped by his house and changed into lounge clothes and grabbed a movie that Gibbs would be okay watching. He stopped by the store and got a six pack of beer before heading onwards to Gibbs's house. Knowing, like always, that the door was unlocked and that he was welcomed he walked straight in and to the kitchen. From the kitchen he could hear Gibbs in the living room messing with the fireplace where the smell of Gibbs's amazing steaks was coming from.
"Bring plates when you come in here Tony." Gibbs said as he turned towards the kitchen and hearing his agent fiddle around the room.
"Here boss. Beer is in the fridge getting cold. When the steaks get done I'll go and get us each one." Tony said as he flopped down on to the couch and closed his eyes. He could feel the days tension start to ease and he sighed.
Gibbs looked back after taking the steaks out of the fireplace and half-smiled. He got up and went to the kitchen to get the beers and a couple of forks and came back to the living room.
"You know I would have got those Dad." Tony said as he opened his eyes and sat up.
"I know, but you looked peaceful finally after today's events." he said as he sat down. Gibbs handed Tony a plate, a fork, and a beer. "You can put the movie in though. What did you bring?"
Tony smiled and as he put the movie in explained. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre with Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt as the main characters. These two are trying to find work in Mexico and they meet this prospector who lets them work with him to find gold in the 'wilds of central Mexico'. I think you will like it.
"Well, sit and eat and we will start it son." Gibbs said as he took a bite of steak. They sat and watched the movie as they ate and after it was finished they cleaned everything up, turned the TV off, and headed to the basement where the stronger stuff needed for the conversation they were about to have lived. Tony sat on his step and Gibbs went over to the glasses that were kept down there and pour them both some and handed Tony his. He turned back to his glass and walked to his stool to work on the boat.
Tony took a deep breath before he spoke. "How can they not respect me Gibbs? How can they treat me the way they did in front of so many people? And Abby, I never expected that from her. I didn't know that she felt that way about me Gibbs. I thought that she was like a sister. What did I do wrong dad?"
Gibbs turned towards Tony and looked at him. He noticed that Tony was drawing in on himself afraid of Gibbs's answer. He wanted to throttle the people who made him feel like this starting with Senior and then going down the line.
"You didn't do anything wrong son. They just didn't try hard enough to get to know you they way I do. They are to blinded by one thing or another to actually know anything else. Get it out of your head that you were the one to mess up because it wasn't you. Is that clear, Tone?" Gibbs said as he moved to sit beside Tony.
"Crystal. It's just hard for me that they see me like that, like some frat boy who just goes and gets drunk and sleeps with anything in a skirt. That isn't me. I lie most of the time to keep up appearances because it keeps people out of what you want to stay hidden, but if they could have seen behind it? Kate did and she broke down all my walls. She knew the real me. There wasn't anything that she didn't know. She just pushed and pushed until I told her. Remember that week we didn't talk?" Tony waited until Gibbs nodded. "It was because of that. I had let something slip and I knew she was waiting on it, especially after seeing the way we acted around each other. Kate knew I was hiding something and was there for me. How is it that people who I have been working with longer than I had been with Kate, can't see anything? Why can't they be like you and Kate?"
"We both know how Kate was. She got a hold of something she never let it go. She knew you because you felt you could trust her with not just your life but your heart. You loved her and she loved you, even if it did take you forever to realize it at first. Kate was like you in that way; not letting something go. You both find something and you keep it until it either makes or breaks you. Ziva, McGee, and even Abby, they get something and enjoy for a short time and get rid of it or stop doing it. You keep living, they just stop and change course. They are different than Kate, you, and I. They have different realties that they live and believe happen. No one can be like you and Kate, Tony. It's impossible. You are to unique. And no one can be like me because who honestly wants two Jethro Gibbs' around?" Gibbs said and Tony chuckled.
"Thanks Gibbs. For someone who is functional mute you sure know what to say." Tony said as he leaned against Gibbs's shoulder.
"Well, sometimes there is a need for silence and sometimes there is a need for words, and this was one of those times. And it helps that I'm not as mean to you as others." Gibbs chuckled and Tony smiled. "Enough of the heavy stuff, help me work on the boat for a bit and then it's time for bed. We are getting up at five to run."
"Five? I normally don't get up to run until six thirty. Don't you think that's a little early?" Tony said as he looked at Gibbs wide-eyed with a sander in hand.
"Don't make me change it to four thirty." Gibbs said and Tony shook his head.
"No, I'm good. Five is perfect dad." Tony said and quickly turned to the boat and started working. Gibbs chuckled and enjoyed the peace that always formed with his son home.
"There are friends who sail together, through quiet waters and stormy weather, helping each other through joy and through strife. And they are the kind who gives meaning to life." ~Unknown
"Family strengthen each other during storms. They help us to be strong. After all it is a family tradition said Adam and Eve…" ~Karen Madewell