A/N: Sorry, I didn't get this up sooner. I actually had it finished last night, but I wanted to reread it with a fresh set of eyes cause it was starting to feel a little OOC to me. But Gibbs and Tony are stubborn, and do their own thing. In this scenario, I hope you'll understand why I ended up not changing it.

I also added the last couple lines from the previous chapter since this starts right where it left off.

Enjoy!

Tony was sitting on the floor by the workbench, leaning back against the wall, his knees halfway up to his chest, and an almost empty bottle of bourbon in his hand.

"Becha wishhed you'd put that lock on now, huh?"

Gibbs sighed, and continued down the steps. "Why?" he retorted. "I told ya I'd just tell your mom." The marine ignored the way Tony flinched slightly. "Besides, few years later you were old enough to drink anyway. And I'd rather you get drunk somewhere safe than God only knows where."

He stopped in front of Tony, who finally looked up at him through glassy eyes.

Tony scoffed. "Betch're rethinking that now that your senior field agent is drunk on your basement floor with your bourbon." Despite being drunk, Tony wasn't slurring much.

Taking a breath, Gibbs squatted down so he was level with the younger man. "Right now – Hey!" He grabbed Tony's chin and made him look him in the eyes before continuing as softly as he'd began. "Right now, you're not my senior field agent Tony."

After a brief staring contest, Tony chuckled and knocked Gibbs hand away. "Firing me, Boss?" he joked.

Gibbs scowled. "No," he said firmly. "Right now, I'm not your boss, I'm your father."

"Since when?" Tony shot back viciously as he struggled into a standing position.

Gibbs stood too, blocking Tony's escape.

Tony scowled back, but then apparently decided to release the anger; which is what Gibbs had been hoping for.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was to see Maddie today, and act like I didn't know her or why you ran off without backup or even telling any of us anything, again?!"

Yelling is exactly what Gibbs had been pushing for, but the brutal, direct challenge in Tony's words had the marine's guilt in overdrive.

"I'm sorry."

Whatever Tony was feeling, the anger that was radiating off of him; he froze when he heard those quiet words. The shocked expression would've been comical in a different situation.

Not acknowledging that he'd just broken one of his rules, Gibbs used Tony's distraction to take the bottle out of his hand. Holding it up, he looked the younger man in the eyes and spoke in his usual blunt fashion, except his tone was soft. "But this – won't help what you're feeling… Trust me."

Swallowing, Tony stared at Gibbs for a minute.

The older man could see the anger coming back.

"And how the hell would you know what I'm feeling?" Tony hissed.

"Because I've been there," Gibbs shot back in quiet, fervent honesty.

Gibbs could see the unease dancing at the edges of Tony's anger. He knew what was coming, and sat the bottle down on the workbench beside them.

So, when Tony moved to try to get around him and make his escape, Gibbs was ready, and caught him quickly. Grabbing a handful of Tony's collar with the hand not holding onto the kid's arm, Gibbs backed him into the wall and pinned him there.

"No," he growled, his firm tone unwavering as he got right in Tony's face. "You're done running from this."

"Running from what?" Tony retorted in disbelief. His comic defense was rearing its head, a sign to Gibbs that he'd hit the nail on the head. "I'm just trying to get out of your way and go home!"

"You are home!" Gibbs snapped back.

Hurt flashed across Tony's eyes before he could avert them. When he looked back, the anger and defensiveness were gone, replaced by desperation. He struggled to get out of Gibbs's grasp, but the marine held firm.

"Hey! Look at me!" Gibbs ordered. Tony still struggled, and Gibbs repeated himself louder and harsher. "Look at me!"

Reluctantly, Tony finally met his eyes. Insubordination shined bright out of those green eyes; reminding Gibbs of the seventeen year old he'd convinced a social worker to give him and Shannon custody of.

Softening his voice, Gibbs told him firmly, "It's okay to miss them."

Again, Tony struggled to get away, but he was no match for a determined Gibbs, especially in his drunken state.

Gibbs could see Tony beginning to lose control of his emotions. He was fighting it with everything he had, but between the day they'd had, the alcohol, and Gibbs's refusal to let him run, well, even Tony had his breaking point.

"It's okay to miss them," Gibbs repeated, squeezing Tony's arm. "It's okay to be angry. It's okay to be sad."

Tony closed his eyes, and tried to throw Gibbs off again.

But this time, Gibbs didn't keep him pinned against the wall to stop him from running. Instead, Gibbs pulled him into a hug.

At first, Tony fought to escape the strong embrace. But when Gibbs refused to let go, and just continued to hold him, the younger man finally gave in.

It was as if he just deflated. He practically went limp in Gibbs's arms, and the marine eased them down to the floor, never lessening in the hug that would've made Abby proud.

He felt Tony start shaking, and held on tight. Gibbs's hand was on the back of the younger man's head, bringing it down onto his shoulder. A minute later, the marine felt his shoulder getting wet.

Closing his eyes, he just held onto Tony; tempted to sigh in relief when he felt arms wrap around him, returning the hug and holding on for dear life.

"I miss Mom and Kelly." The whisper was broken and anguished.

"Me too," Gibbs sighed, ignoring the liquid clouding his own vision. "Every day."

When Gibbs felt Tony stop shaking, he heard him take a shaky breath.

"I can't lose you too." Despite the still broken voice, Tony's statement was firm and serious.

"Right back at ya," Gibbs replied quietly, but just as serious.

Eventually, they settled back so they were leaning against the wall for support, but Gibbs still hadn't released his hold on Tony. And Tony seemed to not mind. Under normal circumstances, the marine knew the younger man would never allow such open displays of affection. But these were not normal circumstances, and Tony was inebriated. Neither of them were acting like they normally would, but then again, Shannon had always told him usual methods didn't work with Tony. She was right. So he used the opportunity to get one last point across.

"I love you Tony."

"Love you too Dad."

A/N: Ok, I know it got a little mushy there at the end. I didn't plan it that way, but honestly, I couldn't get it to work any other way.

Hope you liked this story! I am going to do a sequel that will take place about a year after this and have flashbacks showing how Tony ended up with the Gibbs. I don't know when I'll have it finished and posted.

Anyway, as always, reviews are greatly appreciated!