"Y'ello," Tony answered his cell phone casually, easing back into his father's lazy-boy as smoothly as his stiff muscles would allow.

"Tony? It's me, Abby. Where are you? Are you at home?" Abby sounded loudly into the phone, her energy at a level much higher than his, and he winced slightly. Not only was she loud though, she sounded a little worked up.. not an unusual occurrence with his little sister, but always worth asking…

"Yeah, Abs.. still at mom and dad's… why, what's up?" Tony hoped everything was all good.

"Okay, I am on my way there, I just read something… and, and I have to see you, okay?" Abby said into the phone a little more gently this time.

"Uh, yeah sure Abs, me and my busy schedule here are always open to pencil you in.." Tony smirked into the phone a little hoping to cheer her up, but that turned out to be a little more than his chest could take, and he hacked harshly much to his own protest. He never wanted to cough again..

"Oh, Tony.. I'm going to bring you some soup or something, you can eat and everything right? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? How are you feeling I can go grab some—"

"M'fine Abby, I will be here when you get here, kay?" Tony's voice was much raspier than the previous moments.

"Okay, I will be right there Tony don't move, if you need anything I will get it.." Abby said enthusiastically into the phone. "Im almost there!"

"Goodbye, Abby."

"Bye, Tony."

When Abby got to the front of her old house, she jogged up the front few steps and tried the knob, only to find it locked. Good, she thought, they shouldn't have even left Tony alone in the first place, but at least he was protected by the hefty locks her Dad and Tony had installed many years ago.

Jethro didn't use the locks when he was home alone, like when Jenny was away for work. But when she was home, and more importantly when one of his children were home, or all of them, the locks stayed firmly locked to keep his family safe.

Abby went over to the third rock in the garden, grabbed the spare key and let herself in. Immediately to the left of the entryway was where she knew she would find her older brother.

Tony was in the recliner, looking terribly uncomfortable, but somehow asleep. His face pinched with pain that only one of their family members would recognize. He was in big sweatpants and an old t-shirt, and his head fell onto his shoulder as he was slumped to the side, much too upright to be comfortable. His face turned away from her, and his hair in that disastrous masterpiece that it always sculpted into when he wasn't well, or injured. Abby frowned a little.

He looked a little cold, so she grabbed her favorite blanket from the hope chest in the corner, the one her dad had made for her mom, and gently placed it on the sleeping man. She knew she should let him get his rest, although she wanted nothing more than to talk with him and make sure he was okay for herself. She eyed him peacefully for a moment, before going into the kitchen to start some soup.

Just as Abby was stirring her creation, she heard to door to the garage open, and footsteps which followed, so she peaked around the corner to see her mom and Kate walking in.

"Hi, guys.." Abby whispered, loud enough for them to hear but hopefully soft enough for Tony's wonder-ears to miss. "Tony's asleep.."

"Hi, Abs, what are you doing here?" Jenny set down her groceries and bags on the island before hugging Abby. Jenny and Abby hugged longer than any other two people on earth hug, it was a fact Tim and Tony were determined to one day put to a statistical test..

"Oh, I just.. I read some things online and then I couldn't stop worrying about Tony, and I don't have any classes tomorrow, and I thought I would come home for the weekend.. I couldn't take it being away anymore." Abby said and her mom rubbed her cheek affectionately.

"Oh, well I'm sure glad you came home, and your Dad will be too," Jenny smiled sensitively at her youngest daughter, and most emotional child by far.

"Yeah its good to see you, Abby.." Kate smiled, and then she was nearly knocked over by Abby and her embracing arms.

"Kate! I miss you, I have been so worried about you.. and about Tony..are you doing okay?" Abby looked into her sister's eyes for the truth, lord knows Kate can lie about her feelings just as well as Tony, hell as well as Jethro can too. But not when Abby asked her, her eyes pried the truth out like the jaws of life..only much easier.

"I'm doing fine, Abby. You saw me last week, I was okay then and I am okay now.." Kate rubbed Abby's shoulder assuringly.

"I know, it's just I was so worried with those bad dreams I was having and then something bad really did happen, but not as bad as it could have been but it could have been so bad! And-" Abby rambled every time she thought about what had happened last week, well the past three weeks really.

"Abby, everyone is fine, okay? Tony is gonna be okay, Im okay, Dad is okay… Mom is fine.. you don't have anything to worry about," Kate said softly. Kate wouldn't admit it, but she totally understood where Abby was coming from. She wouldn't admit it, but Kate was still terrified, and she was glad that her mom and dad had ordered her to stay back at home while Tony recuperated, and until Ari was found and dead.

Ari had really shaken things up in the Gibbs' world, and she wanted him dead just as much as anyone else… though it would be tough to amount to the same amount of pure hatred as to what her Dad felt towards Ari, but she was sure she was a close second.

"I hope so," Abby said endearingly. "Where's dad?"

"He is still at work," Jenny gave her a look. "But I told him to come home soon." She said sternly, as she unloaded her groceries.

"He's not giving up is he?" Abby asked, already knowing her father was far from being a quitter. Not when someone wronged his family, and threatened them. Oh no, he was out for blood.

Jenny shook her head slowly, "Which is good, none of us are. But I am worried he's taking it on a little too much, he isn't sleeping, stays at work late, goes in early.."

"It's scary," Kate said with big eyes. "I haven't really ever seen him like this.."

"I know," Jenny said forlornly. "It's been hard on all of us, everyone is stressed."

Jenny shook her head, it was like their life turned into an intense action movie these past few weeks, one she did not care for.

It had all been too real, too close of a call… and then when she got to the scene.. it was too much. Ari needed to pay, and needed to pay with his life.

"Kate, you are being re-assigned to MCRT.." Director Morrow told Kate, the rest of her and her mom's team surrounding them as he ordered her.

"My dad's team? May I ask why, Director?" Kate was looking around a little confused.

"Protection Detail. This bastard has crosshairs on Jethro's head, and until we hunt Haswari down, I want someone to be on Jethro 24/7, lord knows he can be a reckless man when he wants to be, and I want to do everything in our power to make sure this bastard doesn't succeed." Morrow spoke to the team, but mainly to Kate.

"Why kate? Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest?" Joey the Probie spoke up, his intentions good. What if she failed, her fathers death would be on her hands..

"This whole damn agency has conflicts of interest everywhere," he looked towards Jenny and then towards the MCRT Bullpen. "And in case you have forgotten, Agent Barden, Kate was handpicked to protect the President of the United States. Shes the best, and I know she would want the best for Agent Gibbs as well as I."

Well said. "Okay, but he's not gonna like this." Kate said, looking over her shoulder as Gibbs yelled at his Probationary agent, Agent LeRoy.

"Tough," Jenny and Director Morrow said in unison.

"Let's get on with it then," she grabbed her stuff and together she walked around the edge of the bullpen and waltzed into whatever debate was currently taking place. It stopped on their arrival.

"Agent Gibbs, a moment..?" Morrow gestured with one finger, and they moved away from the group to have their discussion. That left Kate to be with the rest of the team.

She plopped her pack, purse and coat on the floor behind Tony's baron desk. She looked at all his things, feeling bad for a moment for disrupting it, then remembered all the annoying things Tony has done, and had no problem plopping down in his chair and making herself at home.

"Uhh.. what's your name?" The Probie LeRoy asked from his desk next to her new one.

"Kate.." She smiled, and then unloaded her weapon and put it in the drawer, on top of the tacky magazine pile and cologne bottles. Jesus, Tony.

"Uh, well Kate, that is Tony's desk.. you can't sit there." She smiled even bigger, and looked across to Vivian's desk whom was smiling just as big before raising her eyebrows playfully.

"Oh, I cant?" Kate scoffed amusedly and leaned back in Tony's well-broken-in office chair, and placed her feet on his desk.

"No, Tony is going to be returning to work this afternoon after his check-up and.. and you cant sit there, he..he'll be really mad." LeRoy seemed so convinced.

"We'll see.." Kate shared a laugh with Vivian before Gibbs returned swiftly back into the bullpen.

"Welcome to the team Kate, I see you've met our newest, Agent LeRoy.."

"Oh, yes, he was just informing me of how mad "Tony" will be if he finds out I'm sitting at his desk," she smiled playfully. The Probie had no idea Kate was Tony's older sister, or probably that she was his boss's daughter. Did he even know Tony was Gibbs' son? Surely he'd know..right?

Jethro laughed a rare laugh, "Sure."

"So this agent is coming back to work today?" Kate asked the Boss.

Jethro inhaled and exhaled stressfully, then shrugged one shoulder. "Says he's ready.."

"Hm, and does his mom know about this? I think she was pretty concerned about how sick he was.." Kate didn't say it accusingly, she just said it to bring it, Jenny hadn't mentioned it to Kate, and she knew had Jenny known she would've A) Not allowed it, Tony needs at least another week off and B) at least told Kate about it.

"Hasn't passed the eval, yet.."

"Think maybe he found out about the threats and that's why he's coming back.." Kate knew once Tony found out about Ari being back and leaving bombs and death promises that he would be here in an instant.

Jethro pretended to click something on the computer, before his phone rang and he picked it up gruffly.. saved by the bell. "Be right there.." He slammed the phone down.

"Going to get Tony from autopsy," Gibbs huffed.

Kate got up immediately and was hot on his heels before he left the bullpen, causing him to turn around abruptly right in his daughter's space.

"Don't need protection down there…" Jethro said in a low tone.

"Im the protection detail here Agent Gibbs, anything I say goes. And I say I go. Clear?"

Gibbs smiled a rare smile and shook his head. "Protection detail or being nosy about Tony?"

"Both. Im worried about him, theres no way he's ready, I wanna see for myself. And besides Morrow said 24/7… that means where you go I go." She smirked, having the opportunity to order her Dad, one of the meanest and toughest bosses around, was going to have its perks.

"Yes, ma-am," Jethro smiled, walking towards the elevator, his detail perfectly in stride with him.

Even before the automatic doors to autopsy opened, Kate and Jethro could hear the sounds of wheezing and coughing coming from inside. Tony, you've got to be kidding trying to tell us you are ready. Jethro waltzed in immediately.

"Ahh, Jethro.." he turned from the table where he was still examining a shirtless Tony who sat unhappily atop the cold metal. "I see you have brought Caitlyn, too, welcome my dear."

"Im on strict Protection Detail, Duck. Director's orders." Kate supplied, eyeing Tony from across the room.

"Mhm, yes, it is for the best I presume.." Ducky motioned for them to join him in front of Tony. "Come, we are just getting started."

"Open up for me Anthony, please.." Ducky asked nicely, knowing Tony was likely to disoblige.

"Okay, no offense Duck, but I'm fine. I said I was fine, and I don't get why you guys just cant trust what I say…" Tony pleaded. He had a feeling he wouldn't exactly pass this physical with flying colors as he so usually did.

"Tony…" Jethro stepped directly in front of Tony who sat like a young boy on the counter waiting to get his scraped knees cleaned, and lord knows that happened far too many times when he was a child. Jethro shook the image from his head, and again saw his young twenties son looking purely haggard.

Purple circles under his green eyes, which were sunken in, and bloodshot from all the coughing he was obviously still undergoing, and glazed over.. probably from that fever he was relentlessly battling, obviously even now. His shirt was next to him, and Jethro could see Tony was much thinner than his usual fuller, muscular self. His jeans looked three sizes too big, and his hair was doing that thing that it did when Tony didn't spend his usual time in front of the mirror.

Jethro placed his hands on either side of Tony's thighs, and leaned over right into Tony's face. And he just looked.

Tony held the gaze for an impressive four seconds, before dropping his head like a schoolboy taken to the headmaster's office.

"Tony.." Jethro said again, his voice lower this time.

"Yeah, Dad.." His voice was quiet, like he knew he did something wrong.

"What're ya doing… your still sick." Jethro only had that tone with Tony, it was a tone that had respect in it, and one that demanded it. It was a caring tone, but it was stern as well. Kate didn't usual like when she heard that tone, and she didn't like it now either.. she knows why Tony wanted to come in to work, and it didn't surprise her one bit.

"Dad, I'm not sick. I was, and now I'm better. I have been gone for too long, I can't sit at home anymore, I'm going crazy." Tony spoke into his Dads gaze, his courage finally building back up to earn another look into those entrapping blue eyes.

"Tony.." Jethro said, that tone making Kate's arm hairs stand up, or maybe it was just cold in autopsy.

"Let Ducky do the tests, I am good to go." Tony gestured behind his dad to his uncle, hoping to avert some of the attention. It was making him cringe. Tony knew what his dad wanted him to say, but he wasn't gonna.. couldn't. It was too much. But if anyone thinks that there is a chance in hell Tony would be at home sitting on his ass while his Dad was getting threatened by a mossad double agent with a history of conflict with Jethro, from holding Kate and Ducky hostage in this very room, they were so very mistaken.

It was Tony's job to watch his Dad's six and he wasn't going to let the likes of LeRoy be the only man around to help watch Jethro's back. The thought alone made him sick. No, he was fine, and he was right where he needed to be. He knew it deep inside.

Jethro knew he got his stubbornness from him, but it didn't make it any easier. These were the times when being his boss and being his father made the lines a little blurrier, but he knew he needed to be his boss right now, no matter how bad he wanted to father him and make him go home. Tony wasn't going anywhere, and he knew it.. but he wished it were different.

"Still got a week of vacation time left…" Jethro tried one more time, from a Boss-like standing. "Don't need ya back til then.." He knew as soon as he was done saying it, that he shouldn't have. But Jethro knew when Tony wasn't up to par, and he was so far from it right now it made him worry if he somehow got cleared for duty.

There it was, voom. Tony shut down right there at that saying, a mask slipping into place. "M'fine." He dismissed Jethro, even though he was only inches from his face, with a look at his uncle, telling him to get on with it.

Jethro dropped his head before moving back to his spot beside Kate, who looked concernedly at Tony, who had yet to give her any sort of acknowledgment or some snarky comment. He was definitely not feeling well.

"Okay, and under the tongue please, my boy." Ducky gently cupped his chin and placed in the thermometer. He then wrapped a blood pressure cuff around his bicep and began pumping up the balloon, listening through his stethoscope.

Tony kept his gaze forward, eyes distant. Kate saw that his hands were gripping the edge of the table with white knuckles.

"Did you like that soup I made the other night, Tony? I know you would have liked chili better, but I figured mom makes chili better and you probably had enough of it.." Kate made small talk.

Tony's mouth formed a smile around the glass tube protruding from his mouth and nodded. Huffing through his nostrils in a giggle. That was better, Kate thought.

"Good, and after you fell asleep I finished watching that movie.. you were right, it was pretty good." Kate smiled up at him, and he nodded back.

"Told ya so.." he mumbled around the thermometer.

Jethro smiled internally at the conversation, glad that Kate was still living with Tony. Tony had been staying at their family home under the care of Jethro, Jenny and Ducky for the first few nights out of the hospital. Then, Tony had insisted on going back to his place to escape the musings or worries from his mother, and so they got Tony back settled in with Kate at his apartment so he could have a little more freedom. Kate still took good care of him, Jethro could tell, and obviously it had been a bonding moment for their relationship.

With a whoosh Ducky released the blood pressure cuff, before shaking his head gently and tisk-tisk-ing. Then he pulled out the thermometer and looked at it precisely, before having a similar reaction.

"What is it Duck?" Jethro asked with crossed arms.

"Blood pressure is high, and you are still running a temperature, my boy," Ducky looked sternly over the rim of his glasses. Ducky took Tony's health personally sometimes, and when he failed to listen to his body and to defy medical advice it really irked Ducky. "But you are telling us you are fine." Ducky stared sternly still.

"Hm well maybe its hot in here? And being around Kate too much.. it would make anyone's blood pressure elevate.." Tony said with a hint of his old self.

"I assure you those are not the reasons. You must take care of yourself, Anthony." Ducky cleaned the end of his stethoscope, "Now your temp was only slightly elevated, and your blood pressure isn't in danger zone, just high for you.." Tony was usually in top physical shape… this bout with pneumonic plague surely made a difference.

"But I do no like being lied to," Ducky didn't often get stern, especially not with his nieces and nephews, but if anyone could bring out the protector in you, it was Tony.

"I am feeling better, Ducky. Honest." Tony said in a small voice.

"Mmm yes better, as in better than being on a ventilator in a hospital," another peer over the rim of his bifocals. That made Tony drop his head a little, he didn't like talking about these kinds of things, he hated being vulnerable. "But are you in good health, my boy.."

Ducky began warming the end of his stethoscope, "I am going to listen to your heart, now.. be still." He listened intently for a few seconds. "All good there.. that's a relief."

Tony nodded. "Okay, now Anthony I would like to get a listen to your lungs," Ducky said and he moved the stethoscope down to his ribs. "Deep breath.."

Tony looked nervous, but attempted to take a breath anyway, and it resulted in a slight wheeze and one cough.. he was obviously suppressing a line of coughs.

"Mhmm…" he moved the scope. "And again.."

Tony took a somewhat deep breath, and exhaled with a few coughs.

"No need to continue there.." Ducky knew he was still facing a cough. He placed the device around his neck. "Anthony, you still have some fluid in your lungs and I can hear a slight wheeze as you breath. Surely you are uncomfortable.."

"No, Im not uncomfortable, Im fine, as long as people don't ask me to take big deep breaths.." Tony quipped.

"Hm, yes I suppose. But did you bring your inhaler?" Ducky asked.

"Uh sure, its out in the car."

"You need it with you at all times, my boy. And you need to use it," he made his point known with a look to his father and sister, if he wouldn't tell himself, surely jethro and kate would remind him.

"I will, Duck." Tony said, gaining hope.

"And so we are clear, I do not find you physically fit enough for duty.." he paused. "However, if you keep on your medicine and use your inhaler, I will clear you for light duties, and that is purely out of concern for your mental health, no doubt." Ducky said.

"Yes, thank you, Ducky." Tony began putting his loose shirt back on.

Tony looked at his dad and smirked. "Cant get rid of me that easy.."

Jethro just shook his head slightly, and smiled a bit at seeing Tony smile. "Im gonna make sure you take it easy Tony, and so is Kate. Don't make Ducky regret this.."

"Scouts honor, Boss."

"Got the reports from Duck, says he'll know more once we get them back to HQ—" Tony was cutoff from his ramblings as his foot caught a root, and he tumbled ungraciously, and unforgivingly down the hill to the crime scene.

"Shoulda taken that extra week, Tony," Jethro walked past him, and jogged up the hill.

Tony just groaned a little before finding his way back to his feet.

"Aw, looked like it hurt Tony.." Kate teased, insincerity dripping from her grin.

"Ha-ha.." Tony said without an ounce of humor. "Whats into you?" Lately she had been overly nice to him.

"Vivian told me .."

"Told you what..?" Tony pondered.

"About what you said about me.." Kate snapped another picture of the car and its two victims.

"Kate, I didn't mean itttttt…" he said like they were ten years old again. "Come on I didn't think she would actually believe me.."

"What? Why wouldn't –"

"because you would never sleep with Steve, you hate em.."

"You told her I did? Im gonna kill you!"

"No?" he dug his own grave on that one.. wooops.

"God Tony, one minute your mature, level headed and the next you're a—"

"Snake."

"Yeah, exactly.."

"No," Tony points to her feet. "Snake. Big, big, snake."

"Oh im not falling for—Get it off! Tony! Get it off me, you know I hate snakes!" Kate whined

"Hold on, I'll get it.. just hold still." Tony calmed her.

"Is it poisonous..?"

"Very.."

"Oh forget it! Move Im gonna shoot it!" She pulled out her weapon.

"Hey! Put that gun away…" he guided rationally. "your gonna blow your foot off."

"Almost got it.." Tony grabbed the corn snake easily but pretended it was a valiant task. "There.. got it!" he held it in front if him.

"I'll hand it to you, Tony, you do have your moments."

"Oh cool, a corn snake!" LeRoy bounded the last few steps down the hill. Uhho. "Can I hold it?"

"No LeRoy, its poisonous," Kate warned.

"Uh, no actually its not.." LeRoy advised. "Remember that case in Rock Creek, Tony? You had one around your neck for like an hour..?"

"I didn't—" Tony tried one of his winning smiles. It didn't work, Kate gave him a boot to the chest and it sent him sprawling onto his back.

"LeRoy, lets get to work, check the trunk," Kate handed him the keys.

Tony attempted to get his breath back from the blow to chest, and as he moaned for drama, he saw something blink beneath the trunk.

"Hold it! Freeze, LeRoy, don't move!" Tony used his deep voice, one not often heard unless it was serious.

"What? What is it?"

"Trunk is wired to explode…"

"What!" LeRoy almost panicked and let go.

"How far did you turn the key?"

"Uhh I don't—"

"How far LeRoy?" Tony demanded, sometimes the new probie needed a little encouragement.

"Uh, all the way I think.." He answered nervously.

"Okay im gonna grab the key, don't let it snap back," Tony grabbed the key from his hand and held it in position. "Okay you guys go up the hill im gonna be right behind you.."

"Tony, no, we aren't just gonna leave you here.." Kate rationed.

"Not a request Kate, Im faster than both of you, get up the hill and tell Gibbs, now." Tony ordered.

Kate and LeRoy ran like hell, and as soon as she reached the road where Ducky and Jethro were discussing the bodies, Kate yelled, "Trunks wired to explode!"

That's when a fireball erupted into the air, and the shockwave caused all four to hit the deck, as debris rained all around them.

"Kate? Where's Tony?" Jethro realized far too late, his voice hoping for a different answer than he was expecting.

"He said he'd be right behind us!" Kate said and they all sat up and looked around in fear. "He didn't make it?"

Just then a hand made contact with the shoulder of the road, and next came Tony's hair, and he was covered in soot and had a cut on his head, his eyes were glazed and they all knew he had taken a hit from the bomb.

"Boss? Remember when I said.. I never felt better…I Lied." And with that Tony dropped cold onto the asphalt, half entangled in the crime scene tape, his head making contact with the road, bouncing his skull right off it.

"He what?" Jenny screamed into the receiver. "Why was he—is he alright? I will be right down.." Jenny slammed the office phone into the receiver.

"What's going on?" one of her agents ask, it being obvious that something is wrong.

"Im gonna kill my husband," Jenny said as she boarded the elevator headed for autopsy.

She walked with a purpose through the doors, and as she did she saw Tony sitting on one of the autopsy tables, a thermometer in his mouth, a blood pressure cuff around his arm and a 4x4 of gauze being held to the side of his head by himself as Ducky took the stats and her husband and Kate looked on.

"What the hell is going on.." Jenny asked, why was Tony at work even today, that was the real question and why hadn't anyone thought to mention it to her. She walked past her husband and the others, and made her way to her son which she immediately began fussing over. "what happened to your head? Are you alright?"

"The car at the crime scene was rigged, c4… if Tony hadn't seen in, we would—" Kate didn't really wanna finish that statement. It was overwhelmingly lucky that Tony came back today for this one crime scene.. he saved her, probably Jethro's if he had been down there, and LeRoy's and even Ducky's life.

"Oh my god, was it—" Jenny didn't want to say the name, she'd been hearing it far too much lately.

"Yep." Jethro said before slamming his fist hard into the autopsy table behind him, causing the others to jump a little.

"Now Jethro, no need to get worked up," Ducky said, in an attempt to keep the peace in the room, if not for the others sake most definitely for Tony's.

"How is he Duck?" Jethro turned around, focusing his energy where it should be. Tony looked like shit, if he hadn't already before.

"Stubborn, pigheaded, and unaware of his own limitations." Ducky said truthfully.

"Sounds about right," Jethro contributed to the lightness his answer brought the room.

"I'm fine, Boss. Nothing I cant handle," Tony said dutifully, hand still pressed against the scrape and goose-egg growing on his forehead, where he bounced it off the hill, and then later off the cement.

"Looks like a small concussion to me," Ducky said not letting him get away with any of his funny business this time. "and your blood pressure is still high, as with the temperature.."

"Getting blown up tends to do that to me…" He shook it off, buttoning back up his shirt.

"Tony? You cant be serious?" Kate said, surely he wasn't going to go back to work.

"Lighten up Kate, this kind of stuff happens all time.. part of the job description," He grinned a cheesy grin as he buttoned back up his shirt.

"Go home, son.." Jethro tried.

"Nope, wasn't going to earlier and I am especially not going to after what just happened," Tony stood from the table, a little woozy but hiding it quite well.

"Tony, you've had enough, just go rest," Jenny rubbed his back.

"Nope, I'm fine, I think there's work to be done.." He was sick of this attention.

"He's right, lets find that dirt bag.. I want to end this. Today." Jethro said fiercely. This guy has shot Gerald, held Ducky and Kate hostage, and now he blew up my son. "No more…" he vented.

"We'll find him Jethro," jenny said, even though she was furious at the man at the moment for letting tony go out and get hurt, it was a debate for another time. They had bigger fish to fry.

"You betcha. Tony, go lay down. Jenny let's go..coffee." And with that there were off.

Kate stayed behind with Ducky just for a minute. "Ducky isn't there something you can do?" She was referring to making Tony rest when he should, like now.

"I am doing it, Caitlyn." Ducky patted his niece on the shoulder.

"What?" She was a little confused.

"Praying.."

"Arent you gonna eat Tony?" Vivian asked as she mowed down her mooshoo, they hadn't gotten a break all day.

"M'not hungry," Tony up against the filing cabinet, since Kate had commandeered his desk. He had mostly been laying down anyway, so he knew that was her purpose for not giving it back to him, so he would rest.

"What? Tony, your always hungry?" LeRoy spoke up, flabbergasted.

"Well apparently I haven't worked up an appetite yet today, LeRoy." Tony was getting fed up with the probie.

Just then Gibbs entered the bullpen, and he grabbed his weapon and badge from the drawer.

"Where you going, Gibbs?" Vivian asked between bites, wondering if he had a lead.

"Coffee… be back in ten." And he walked past the huddled group of relentless workers. He paused, then turned around. He stalked over to LeRoy and just as he was about to take a big bite the Asian cuisine was ripped from his grasps, he followed it with his eyes and saw it being shoved at Tony.

"Eat."

Gibbs had eventually tipped his head back and found himself in a few hours of good, much needed sleep, and when he woke up he felt a coat draped over his arms. That was the work of Jenny.

He got up, chugged the leftover of his coffee from last night and looked around. The sun was just coming up, and an eery dawn was settling in the bullpen. All things were quiet, except for the light snoring from his team.

He looked over at LeRoy, who had taken up a sleeping position much similar to Gibbs'. He then walked over to Viv's desk, and saw her passed out peacefully behind it. He turned and went to Tony's desk, where he saw the deep bruise and painful looking gash and bump on Tony's head, from where he lay by the filing cabinet, a coat draped over him too, another gift from Jenny. He turned around and peered at Jenny's bullpen and saw that she was sleeping in her chair as well, it hurt his heart to see, but he grew in love for this woman everyday when she did things like this.

Jethro knelt beside Tony's sleeping form and touched ever so gently the hot, raised forehead of his still sick boy. He was as loyal as a Saint Bernard, sometimes so far as to a fault. Jethro would do the same for Tony though, and that's why he let him get away with it. He turned, his hand still caressing Tony's head and saw Kate laying not too far from him, asleep soundly.

Just as he was going to get up he saw Kate start to stir a little, from the like of a nightmare. Just as he was about to wake her, she sat bolt upright, and gasped, 'Dad'.

"Everything okay Kate?"

"Dad, your?" She realized it was a dream. An awful one at that, but still.. just a dream. "Yeah, fine. You? How's Tony?"

"I'm fine, Tony's asleep. Going to get some coffee, wanna talk about it?" He whispered.

"No, I will get everyone else up and going. Don't make me wish you had protection detail on this coffee run though, understand?"

Gibbs smiled, "Yes, ma'am," He joked, and then stood up. "Give them fifteen more minutes.." Jethro thought they deserved it, and with that he left, stopping by Jenny's still sleeping form to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Kate was about to lay back down for fifteen more minutes of sleep when she saw Tony's phone vibrating from a call. She grabbed it off the desk and saw that it was Abby.

"Hello?" Kate stood up, so as not to wake Tony with her talking.

"Kate? Where's Tony? Oh my god is he okay?" Abby asked in a panic.

"Yeah he is right here, he's sleeping." Kate looked at him, just making sure she was right with her declaration and so far she was.

"Oh, god, good. Timmy called, and he was worried because he was having a bad feeling, and I just woke up crying from an awful, awful, terrible dream, and I just wanted to talk to him."

"Yeah, I had a bad dream too. What was yours?" Kate asked as she grabbed her toothbrush and headed for the bathroom.

"You guys were working together and then I saw Tony, and there was blood everywhere, all over his face… I have a really bad feeling Kate. I never wake up crying." Abby told her sister her fears.

"Well I am working protection detail on dad until this case is over, but I will watch over mr. accident as well, you got nothing to worry about Abby.." Kate said with pride.

"well what was your dream about?" Abby asked.

"Nothing.." Kate didn't want to freak Abby out, it was an easy thing to do.

"Kate, be careful. And tell Tony too. Watch your back, okay?" Abby asked with a whole heart.

"Always, Abby. Talk to you later," Kate said.

"Where are you guys headed?" Jenny asked hastily as she rounded the corner and saw the MCRT suiting up.

"Warehouses. There is a rocket that's going to blow up the docks at the ships homecoming." Jethro said as he loaded his gun, and put one in the chamber.

"What do you need me to do," Jenny asked indignantly.

"I need you to take Vivian and your team to the docks and warn them, there's going thousands of families and kids there, and navy-men.. I don't want to take any chances." Jethro holstered his gun and he saw Tony gearing up as well, Kate too.

"Okay, on it," her eyes never left Jethro's. "Viv you ready to go?"

"Ready.." She finished suiting up, and waited for Jenny.

"Take care of them, Jethro.. and take care of yourself, understand?" Jenny understood the risks that this profession came with, and she knew her husband was the best. That didn't mean that bad things didn't happen, couldn't happen. You keep knocking on the devil's door soon enough somebody is going to answer.

"Always, you the same, Jen," He kissed her on the cheek, and with that she left.

Jethro went to put his coat on, "Ah, not so fast." Kate held up a Kevlar vest, and smiled before throwing it to him. He put it on with a smile. "Whatever you say, Boss."

"I'll get the car," LeRoy was off.

"I will load up the gear," Kate said following him out of the bullpen.

Jethro finished suiting up, and walked over to Tony, who was at his desk still trying to get his ear comm all hooked up.

"You sure your up for this, Tony?" Jethro asked sincerely. "I don't want you out there if your not 100%, son."

"Dad, me at 50% is better than LeRoy at 100%. But I told ya, Boss, Im fine."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You like like crap, Tony."

"Love you too, Boss."

And with that Tony was off, and Gibbs was left to follow, and hope that his gut wasn't right…

"Where's Tony?"

"Fire escape, he is scouting out the numbers for us.." Jethro said as he and Kate climbed up the inner stairwell to the roof access point.

"LeRoy, all systems go?" Jethro asked into the com.

"No I think one of the bullets hit my computer, Im going to have to do it manually." He yelled as he returned fire to whoever was shooting at him.

"Do it, we will be out and neutralizing your shooter in less than one." Jethro communicated.

"Sitrep, Tony.." Jethro asked.

"Getting up there now, Boss." He sounded a little winded. Jethro hadn't thought that through, he keeps forgetting Tony isn't at full strength, that kid needs to speak up once in a while and quit acting like he's fine. "I have 5..maybe 6. All armed.. ready to do this?"

"On my count, 3-2-1-," Gibbs heard Tony's weapon firing just as he kicked open the door and began firing himself, Kate low and firing as well.

Jethro saw Tony take down a man just behind himself, and then saw a man coming up behind Tony in the same manner, which Jethro double-tapped. They shared a nod of appreciation and kept on their spree to neutralize the zone.

He counted 5 down, and they didn't spot any more hostiles, just in time too.

"I'm out," Gibbs clicked an empty chamber.

"Me too.." Kate held up a now useless shotgun.

"Here," Tony handed Gibbs his last clip, and just as Gibbs was putting it in his sig, Kate jumped in front of him yelling, "Shooter!" before falling to the ground.

Tony and Gibbs riddled the scumbag, then immediately dropped down to Kate.. she had been hit.

"Kate?" Jethro looked for a bleeding wound, and saw that she was still awake, just wincing hard in pain.

Tony reached out and unzipped her jacket. There they say the bullet stopped in her own Kevlar vest. Tony missed the invite, he wasn't wearing one.. but thank god Kate was.

"You okay Kate?" Tony asked.

"Just got shot at point blank range Tony, what do you think?" Kate snided back.

"Take it you won't be going to pilates tomorrow morning.." Tony kept the mood light. They helped her to stand. "Ya did good Kate." Tony smiled at her.

"For once," Jethro brushed off her shoulders and straightened her coat. "Your brother's right.."

Kate smiled. "Never thought he'd live long enough to- -" She suddenly felt the wind being robbed from her chest, and she barreled into her dad and they toppled over.

"What the?" She had been hit by a freight train, or something. She looked down at her dad and began to wonder what the hell happened when the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed off all the surrounding buildings and met her ears. She could tell it met her Dad's too, and he pushed her off and sat up.

"Tony?" Jethro couldn't keep his voice from cracking. Tony was on his knees, one hand on the ground, his body hunched over, head hanging , and one hand was clutched to his chest. Blood was dripping at an alarmingly fast rate out from somewhere.. oh no. No. Jesus. He leapt forward.

"Tony?" Jethro grabbed his son by the shoulder and searched for his face. Tony lifted his head to talk, and the pained look in his green eyes startled Gibbs even more than the blood flowing down his wrist. Tony moved his mouth to talk, but nothing came out but a strangled gasp.

"Tony, I gotcha! I gotcha, son!" Jethro tried to keep the panic in his own eyes from showing. "Kate! Call 911!"

Kate hadn't been able to move. She was too shocked. She had been shot, then someone shot at her again… a sniper. She looked around at the buildings, and wondered if they were going to take another shot. She figured they already would have.

"Tony, lay back, lay on you back.."Jethro guided as calmly as he could. Trying to stay upright and hold your own blood into a chest wound was a noble move, but Gibbs didn't need a noble son as much as he needed an alive one. Tony fell forward, the arm that had been supporting him giving out, and he felt Gibbs catch him and lower him gently to the rooftop.

"Shit. Shit! Tony breathe, you gotta breathe!" Tony was making a valiant effort to try and get air back into his lungs, but if just wasn't working. "Relax, and breathe, your fine, I gotcha…" Jethro got on his knees and put two hands hard over the bubbling, much too fast, bleeding gunshot wound to his chest. It was his upper left side, but he was still awake so it wasn't to his heart right?

Tony relaxed enough to take a big, shaky breath, only to have it stolen back out from him in a wheezing gasp. He began thrashing around at all pain finally making itself known to his chest. It was like fire. Breathing was like fire. He could barely do it, his chest was heaving up and down and he was trying to get it to cooperate but it just wouldn't and all he knew was that he needed air, memories of the plague coming forth in his mind, and so he kept trying to breathe, panic fully setting in.

Jethro saw blood coming up between his fingers, and he pushed down harder. Tony thrashed beneath him, and gasped and gasped, green eyes ablaze in fear.

"Tony, your doing good. Just keep breathing, in and out, your fine. I'm here, your gonna be alright," Jethro knew a fatal gunshot wound when he saw one. He knew about giving them comfort, telling them they'll be okay… he'd been in war, he been at the frontlines and he's held men as they breathe their last breath. Not today.

This wasn't going to be a fatal wound, nope. He pushed down harder. Jethro had tears in his eyes, god it looked bad.

Kate ended the call and dropped down to meet them on the floor of the roof. "I called LeRoy, and he is gonna wait for the ambulance and bring them up to us." Jethro nodded slightly in understanding.

"Oh god, Tony.." Kate breathed as the severity of his wounds made itself known to her own chest, the air long gone from her own chest seeing the pain, the struggle, the blood. Too much, blood.

Tony was writhing around in pain, squirming beneath where his dad was pushing so hard into his chest. He peeled open his eyes, which were clenched in anguish, and peered down at his chest, groaning and gasping at the attempt, and through clenched teeth he managed a few more breaths before dropping his head back down and continuing his struggle there. He didn't want to see that, his dad's hands barely able to keep his own blood in his chest.

"Tony, lay still.. Don't look at it, I got ya.." Jethro coaxed, Tony didn't need to go into shock any sooner than his depleting body was going to.

"Y'kay…K'te?" Tony struggled to talk, but wanted to make sure he had done his duty and gotten Kate out of the way of the gun he saw glint in the afternoon sun from the adjacent building.

"Me? I'm fine, Tony.." Kate could help but keep the tremble out of her hands as she began to touch Tony's face and hair, trying to soothe him. She choked up at his comment; he would be worried about her when he had a gaping chest wound and was bleeding out. "Cause of you.." She blinked away tears, and grabbed his hand strong.

"G'd" he made noises, but you could only tell what he was trying to say by the way he moved his mouth, 'good'. His eyelids were becoming heavy and his body began to feel numb.

"Come on Tony, keep fighting, your doing so good.." Jethro pleaded. "Your stronger than this Tony, come on.."

You could see the fight in his eyes, it was deep in there, buried far below all the pain and suffering he was battling against now, but it was there… but what irked Gibbs' gut was that it looked like he was losing the battle.

"M'sry..D'ad.." He choked between gasps, his eyes were having trouble finding Jethro, he was spacing out.

"Tony, don't. Don't talk just rest, your gonna be fine.." Jethro ordered the ailing young man.

Tony's eyelids began to droop, but suddenly he began to cough. Big, deep, debilitating coughs. Coughs that robbed his poor body of the oxygen it was already fighting so hard just to get. Damn it.. damn the plague. Damn Ari. Damn the world if it was doing this to his family, to his son.

"Dad, what do we do?" Kate looked to her father for the advice he could give her. Her father knew the answer to everything, he fixed all the problems, he would save Tony..

Jethro looked up from his focus on Tony's wound, and with his arms still pressing as hard as possible into Tony, he locked gazes with Kate.

Kate saw a fear in Jethro's blue eyes that she never wanted to see.

It was devastating.

They looked back down to Tony, who was still coughing. Was it best to sit him up when he coughed? Or should he be laying down? He surely wasn't getting enough air..

When he coughed more blood forced its way through Gibbs' hands, but was he pushing too hard already? If he cant get air, should he be pushing down this hard on his chest?

"Tony, look at me," Jethro said loudly above the terrible fit of coughing.

Tony was trying hard to find his dad's face, but his eyes weren't focusing, he couldn't stop the damn coughs and now he felt moisture coming up with them.

"Where is the damn ambulance!"

Blood began to spatter from Tony's mouth and he began to choke on it, he quickly pushed it out of his mouth as best he could with his tongue.

"Shit, shit! Tony…Tony! Stay with us, come on!" Jethro begged, wishing he could do so much more with his hands, like hold him, hug him.. "Where is the damn medic!"

Tony faded into the blackness that he had tried so hard to stay out of… he had heard the orders from his dad, the begging from his sister and he had given all he had to stay there with them. Sometimes the pull was just too strong..

As Tony's eyes slid close, Kate felt her heart jump in fear, the strong grip that Kate had not realized Tony had had on her own hand made known once it went lax as he passed out. Her hand throbbed like it had been crushed.

The only reason she knew he was still alive was that his chest was still heaving and wheezing with the most awful noises she'd ever heard.

"Dad, I hear the ambulance, I think its here.." Kate got excited, god she hoped they would hurry.

"Something is wrong with his lungs.." Jethro said quietly, his mind still reeling at the scene, wondering if what he was doing was right. God everything went to shit so fast, why did this always have to happen?

"Well…" Kate knew that, obviously, there was a long range chest wound still bleeding from the now unconscious Tony.

"No, look.." Jethro nodded down, gesturing with his head, his voice a little more full of panic this time, more urgent. "Only that side is moving when he breathes..collapsed lung." Jethro rationalized out loud, adding to the cruciate need for help.. ten minutes ago!

"Oh, god.." Kate could see one side if his chest valiantly wheezing in and out grotesquely, while the other stayed put beneath her Dad's strong hands.

Kate heard her dad trying to talk to her, trying to coax her back.. but it was of no victory. She saw Tony laying their unconscious and all she could think abut was how he had put himself there for her; that was supposed to be her.

She couldn't stop staring at his lax face, splattered in his own blood, and she remembered the nightmare Abby had, but couldn't find words to voice her unease.

She saw Jethro turn Tony on his side as he began to cough up more blood, clogging his already stressed airway, but couldn't move, frozen in this place in time.

"Kate! KATE, I need you back!" Jethro spoke loudly to his daughter. She looked like she was going into shock, and that wasn't good, he knew that much. He needed more pressure on the wound, when he was turning him on his side, it was hard to hold him up and keep focused on making sure no more blood came out.

"KATE!" he did it one more time, in his gunnery sergeant voice. That did the trick, as Kate snapped out of her haze and looked to him. "I need you to hold him on his side, I'm not moving my hands from this wound!" It wasn't that Jethro didn't trust Kate to do her best to hold pressure on Tony's chest, its just he wasn't going to let Tony lose anymore blood, he was going to make it happen, he was going to make sure Tony didn't die. "Hold his head up, Kate.." he wanted Tony's airway open as far as possible.

Kate grabbed held his head up, and softly stroked it, giving him words of encouragement and love. Crying softly once more.

That's when the wretched, awful chest sounds stopped. That's when Tony stopped breathing.

"No..no, Tony! Come on, breathe!" Jethro felt himself falling apart.

"Ma'am.. ma'am please back away, we need to get a better look at your partner." A young medic tried coaxing the woman away from the bloody mess he was trying to gain access to, his partner right behind him.

Kate couldn't move, she didn't want to let go of Tony's head, or stop holding him..she didn't want to let go. She felt gentle hands prying her away, telling her it was for the best, that they could help Tony, and she didn't have to mind or the energy to fight them off, but she soon realized it was the voice of LeRoy, and that he was right.

"Brother," She said with eyes miles away, in a soft voice.

"What's that?" The medic asked as he began to assess the patient.

"He's not my partner, he's my brother.." Kate said quietly again.

The medic paused just for a second, the heartbreak of the scene finally setting in, but he knew he had a job to do, and he got right back to treating the patient.

Within seconds they had a breathing tube in and were bagging him, putting in a chest tube, and loading him on the stretcher.

"Lost the heart beat Mike!"

"Shit! We need to roll! Sir, I am going to start compressions, do not let up on the wound, can you do that for me?" The medic hopped on top of Tony's now shirtless, and apparently dead, body and straddled him as he began to thrust his arms up and down, hopefully making Tony's stubborn heart come back to life.

"Got it.." Jethro looked on with bug eyes.

"Im am going to keep squeezing the bag, but let's get him rolling." The other medic said eyes lit with adrenaline.

"Up!" LeRoy helped him to raise the stretcher to rolling height, and with one medic on top pumping Tony's heart, one medic at his head squeezing the bag, and Jethro on the side holding pressure to the wound the caravan headed briskly off the rooftop.. they had a life to save.

Jenny all but sprinted into the hospital, worry etched all over her body, her face pinched in fear, stomach in knots.

She knew this was going to happen, she knew it. She shouldn't have let them go, she should have been there with them.

"This way Jenny!" Ducky was behind her, trying to keep up despite his older bones and stiff legs, pointing in the direction of Bethesda's waiting room she had passed.

Jenny quickly turned around and met back up with Ducky, and they stumbled into the waiting room.

She had hoped there would have been good news by now, but when she was met with the appearance of her husband and daughter, she knew she was wrong.

Covered in the horrific sight of red, Jethro held Kate as she cried, trembling with every breath. Jethro locked eyes with Jen, and right away she noticed the struggle within them, and right then she knew things weren't good. Right then tears formed in her eyes, and she slowed her pace considerably, not sure she wanted to hear whatever news this may be so soon.

"What happened?" She asked strongly, her knees already starting to feel weak, but wanting answers.

"Jen, why don't you come sit down.." Jethro released Kate gently, and Kate finally noticed the presence of her mom.

"No, Jethro I'm not going to sit down! What..happened." She tried to keep it together.

Jethro stood, and met his stubborn-stricken wife in the middle of the room. Ducky went over to talk with Kate.

"Sniper, on the roof.." Jethro huffed out, trying to keep it together.

"Huh! Oh, God!" She gasped, a hand clasping over her agape mouth.

Jethro just nodded. "I- I didn't see him, Jen, I didn't know. It all happened so fast." Jethro began to ramble, his guilt surfacing. He was supposed to be the one protecting his kids, not the other way around. "I should've seen it, I should've known.."

"Jethro, where… where did—"

Jethro swallowed the emotions rising in his throat. He didn't trust his voice, so he just pointed. One slow, shaking, still bloody finger …and pointed to the right side of his chest.

Jenny began to cry as soon as she saw his finger moving up, but when it finally landed on that spot in his chest Jenny was overwhelmed. Jethro hugged her and told her he was sorry, that everything was going to be okay, that Tony was strong, but he was still trying to convince himself that.

A few minutes later, Kate spoke up. They had all been sitting quietly in their own thoughts now for what felt like eternity. "Someone should call Abby and Tim."

"I'll do it," Ducky said, knowing this was something he could do for his family. He was usually the family designated talker anyways..

"Thanks, Duck." Jenny said.

"Yes of course, my dear. And I will also go and see if we can get some more information about young Anthony." Ducky nodded and promptly left. Ducky was never one to sit still and wait well, and he was happy to keep busy.

"I'm going to hunt that bastard down, and I am going to kill him." Spoken like a true killer.

Jenny and Kate could not even disagree. Ari was a menace and a terror, and he must be stopped.

"If Tony.. cause of this bastard… I swear, I –" Jethro's face locked stone-cold into the white floor, revenge burning inside him.

"Tony is strong Jethro, just like you told us the other day, he isn't going to give up, so don't you dare give up on him now, Jethro.." Jenny spoke, her own fire burning a little in her belly.

Jethro let the words sink in, and he began to nod his head, she was right.

"Family for Tony Gibbs?"

They were all on their feet. "How is he?" Jethro was the first to ask, he saw distress in the doctors eyes.

"We just finished removing the bullet, and repairing the internal damage as best we could. Your son lost a lot of blood, and he went through several episodes of cardiac arrest. While on the table, it was a tough call whether to keep going with the surgery, because of the stress being put on his heart and lungs, him already being in respiratory failure, but we went on with it, and I am here to say that your son, by the graces of god, pulled through the surgery."

They all let out a huge sigh of relief.

"It took a while to get him back, but he came through.."

"Where is he now?" Jethro was sick of this bullshit, he wanted to go see Tony and just make sure he was alright by his own accord, not the word of some stranger.

"We are moving him from recovery to ICU. Nurses are going to get him cleaned up a bit before any visitors," the doctor offered a small smile.

"Is he going to be okay, Doc?" Jethro asked the question they all wanted to know, but had been scared of the answer.

"He's not breathing on his own, and won't be for a few days I would assume. This is major trauma, and with an already un-surmountable history of pulmonary damage, I can tell you that he is not out of the woods yet, however as long as he can pull through the night, and makes it through the next couple days without any complications I would give him the benefit of the doubt and say should make a full recovery."

Jethro nodded, "Oh, he will.." How could he have ever doubted that he would.

"He's is very lucky, the bullet was so close to his heart, my entire staff, as well as I, still cannot believe it ricocheted the way it did upon entry… centimeter away from an instant kill." The doctor was flabbergasted.

That wasn't exactly what they wanted to hear at the moment, the shock of the situation still setting in, but as long as Tony was on the good end of the luck, it was okay to hear.

"Can we see him now?" Jenny spoke up hastily.

"I will take you guys up to ICU waiting room, and I will make sure a nurse comes and gets you guys when he is all cleaned up and settled down." The doctor offered.

"Sure. When do you expect him to wake up?"

"Well it didn't happen in recovery, which I was hoping for, but it isn't any cause for alarm yet. Cardiac arrest has some dangers to it, like brain damage or coma, but I don't see any need to worry about that. We will cross that bridge if we get to it. As of now I would give him a few more hours… It sounds to me like he has had quite the day. We don't have him in any sedation, his body was really taxed by the anesthesia in surgery, and I think it best we get him up and back with us STAT."

"Quite the past few weeks, really…" Jenny chided, her mind still blown about all that has happened in those few weeks.

"Mm, yes. Shall we go see if he is settled in?" The doctor said, and the group nodded feistily in response.

Abby returned to her soup, it began to steam profusely after she got sidetracked greeting her mom and sister.

"So I know you missed a few classes last week when you and Tim came to the hospital, are you missing any this week? I don't want you to fall behind, sweety.." Jenny said as she handed more groceries for Kate to put in the fridge.

"I wont fall behind, I just really needed to be home with you guys… I cant stand being away when I'm so scared something bad is going to happen.." Abby said softly, her gaze never leaving the soup.

"Oh, honey… I don't want you to be worried all the time. Your dad isn't going to let anything bad happen. Me either." Jenny wrapped Abby in another hug from behind.

"How long has Tony been asleep?" Kate asked, changing the subject.

"Apparently too long…" All heads snapped over to see a groggy, disheveled Tony.. hair awry, thick sweatpants hanging low on his hips, and his old shirt sitting loose on his frame. He had lost too much weight these past few weeks, being so sick and injured and nobody liked to see it.

"Hey, how you doing bud?" Jenny turned her head to the side affectionately. It was so good to have Tony there, she couldn't stop thinking it. She was determined to never let Tony get hurt again.. she was prepared to never let him leave the house again.. but she wasn't sure she had a good enough case to bring it to argument yet.

Maybe his medical records would suffice.

"M'good Mom," Tony mumbled. He walked stiffly, and oh so gingerly more into the kitchen. Abby approached him quickly, but paused as soon as she got right in front of him.

"Hi Tony," She rung her hands out in front of her. "Can I hug you? I'll be gentle, I promise." She looked at him like she would be at a major loss if she didn't get to hug him.

"Course, Abs." His green eyes were mere slits, the effect of sleeping the past week away, and this day away having a pull on him still.

He opened his arms tenderly, and Abby leant in to one of the softest hugs she had ever given, but it felt like one of the best. She rubbed his back softly, and nuzzled into her big brother's chest ever-so-softly, on the good side. Tony draped his arms around her, and hugged back warmly, eyes closed, enjoying the moment.

"Mmm, I just had to make sure you were okay," Abby said, still far from wanting to break the hug.

"What're ya so worried about, Abs… everything is fine." Tony said, his throat still raspy from the breathing tube.

"Its not fine. I want that bad man out of the picture, I can hardly sleep at night. And then on top of that, I was reading on the internet a report that said that people who get a lot of head injuries are more likely to have Parkinson's disease, and then I remembered you got a concussion last week from the car, and I remembered all those other head injuries you've had and I don't know it sounds so stupid now, but I guess I just got really worked up.. and I had to make sure you were okay still. I didn't really get a lot of time to visit with you awake last week and - -"

"Hey.." Tony smirked, pulling back from the hug, making sure to make eye contact with Abby. "I don't have Parkinson's.. see.." He held up a hand, and it was tremor free.

"I know, I guess it made a lot more sense when I was reading it, I just started thinking.."

"You, thinking? That's never a good thing, Abby." Tony joked, and they all laughed.

"Yeah, I think I just really wanted to come home and make sure you guys were okay. I made you some soup Tony! You have to eat it, please, your so skinny and you need to get your strength back." Abby walked over and began ladling it into a bowl.

"Here Tony, come and sit down," Jenny walked over and began guiding him to the kitchen table chair. He moved pitifully slow, and Kate's heart broke with every second she saw of him in pain.

"Want some juice? Or water? Milk?" Kate asked, wanting to do something.

"Sure," He leaned his head into his hands and began to ruff his hand through his hair, increasing its disarray.

Kate didn't know what he meant by that ambiguous answer, probably that he didn't care which one, so she poured a tall glass of milk. "So you can grow up and be healthy and strong." She smiled playfully, setting the glass in front of him just as Abby placed the soup down.

"Thanks guys, you don't need to do all this, I can mana-" Tony looked to the three women in his life he cared for most.

"Shush, don't even finish that ridiculous sentence, Tony." Jenny rubbed his back soothingly as she sat in the chair beside him. "We all want to help you, make you as comfy as possible."

"Thanks," he grabbed a spoon, and began to stir the soup. "Where's Dad?"

"At the yard still… I told him to be home early tonight," Jenny said in a tone that expressed her distaste for her husband's recent working habits.

"Oh… Was going to see if he wanted to watch the Redskins game with me, starts in a little bit."

"I'll call him and make sure," Jenny grabbed the phone from the table.

"No you don't have to, I was ju—"

"Uh-uh, quiet im on the phone," Jenny played with a smirk.

"No need to call Jen, I'm home," He appeared in the kitchen. It was still eery the way he could sneak up on a room full of investigators.

"Jesus, Jethro, don't do that.." She hung up the pointless phone call.

"Abby? What're you doing home?" Jethro smiled, a very rare occurance for him these last few days, or maybe it was weeks. He walked over and welcomed her with a hug. Always good to have the kids home, it kept em safe. "Tim come home too?"

"No, he has some exams tomorrow morning. He is coming for the weekend though, leaving right after class."

"Oh, well one is better than none," He released her and kissed her forehead.

"Well you got three out of four home, so that's better than none too…" Kate chipped in.

"Sure is," He walked by Kate and kissed the top of her hair. He did the same to Jenny, and then dropped down next to Tony in the old wooded chair that matched the set.

He leaned forward, and put a calloused hand on the back of Tony's neck. "How you doing today?" He spoke in a lower tone, a gentler tone.

"M'fine Dad," Tony said somewhat bashfully.

"Good, and eat all that soup or I wont let you have any of the pizza I ordered for halftime tonight…"

Tony looked up, a little over being told what to do and eat so much lately.

"And that's an order or I'm calling Ducky and we are putting a feeding tube in… kapeesh?" Gibbs ruffled his hair playfully as he stood up from the table.

"Kapeesh," Tony smiled to hip spoonful of soup before shoving it in his mouth.

Gibbs crept down the stairwell as quietly as he could. Tony wasn't quite ready for all those stairs yet, so he had been sleeping in the living room. He couldn't sleep, not now, not really all week either. He knew his body needed it, that it couldn't run off coffee forever, but when the devil among men was walking around alive after reaping havoc on his family it was hard to just lay down and get a full nights sleep.

He thought he would go check on Tony before heading to the basement to work out some stress on the boat.

He walked into the living room to find Tony snoring easily in the recliner. He walked over and adjusted the blankets a little to make sure he stayed nice and warm.

God, he couldn't believe yet again how close he had come to losing his son. And then he thought how close he could have been to losing Kate, it Tony hadn't pushed her out of the way. The bullet hit Tony high on the left side of his chest, and Jethro knew that when his eldest stood next to Tony, her forehead lined up just at that height.

She would've probably been shot between the eyes.

God he was thankful for Tony. He was thankful that he was a good agent and a great teammate, and thankful he was a good son as well, and an even better brother. He saved her life without a second thought, and that was a fact.

God he was thankful for Tony.

With that he walked to the basement door and went down to his boat, to his peace of mind.

Tony woke up for the third time that night, not sure what did it this time, it was either the pain his body was in, the difficulty he still found he had breathing when he laid down, or maybe it was just the fact that he has slept too damn much lately.

He decided on a trip to the sink for some water, but on his way past the basement door he heard the soothing sounds of his Dad sanding the boat. He ditched the water and headed for the stairs.

He made it three steps before, "Tony? What're ya doin up?" Damn he was good.

"Can't sleep…" He continued down the steps, trying not to be as out of breath as he truly was. He took a pause as soon as he reached the threshold of the basement ceiling and had a visual on his dad.

"Shouldn't be going down all those stairs, son." Gibbs knew he couldn't tell Tony to do or not to do something.. it was Tony after all. He didn't mind the company if Tony didn't mind making the trip.

"I could use the.. exercise," Tony finally reached the bottom, and slowly shuffled his stiff body towards his stool in the corner.

"What about some bourbon?" Jethro continued to sand.

"That too," he poured himself a jar, and began to watch his dad sculpt the boat, one stroke at a time.

A few minutes went by of them silently keeping their musings to themselves, until Jethro had the urge to speak. "Did a good job out there Tony."

"Was just doing my job," he replied humbly, then taking another large swig of the strong stuff.

"Proud of you, Tony." Jethro kept sanding.

"You woulda done the same if you woulda seen the gun too," Tony answered.

"Yeah," Jethro dropped the sandpaper, and turned to look at Tony. "Except I didn't see it. I was right next to you, and I didn't see it, and I should have. I should have known Ari wouldn't have been on our roof. I was so stupid to lead us up there." Jethro let his guilt about the situation be known.

"You couldn't have known, and none of us thought of that, its not just on you… its what you have a whole team of people for, remember?" Tony didn't want anyone feeling guilty about what had happened, except Ari.

"That was too close. I… Tony, when you were laying on the roof, and I was trying to stop all the blood, but it just wouldn't… and then you stopped breathing, and … and it was my worst nightmare."

Tony stayed quiet.

"I just always thought I wanted you on my team so I could make sure you were okay, and that someone always had your six… but now, I look at it and you got the plague which almost killed you, and then you got blown up at a crime scene and knocked out, and then you took one to the chest for Kate, and I just… Its all my fault."

"Gibbs. Such a heartfelt confession…" A third voice cut through the basement like a knife, and Tony and Gibbs turned around to see who it was, even though they already knew. Ari. "I thought you didn't like showing weakness."

Gibbs had a gun on the workbench on the other side of the room, but as he turned to eyeball it, Ari pulled up his own gun and pointed it right between Gibbs' eyes.

"Tisk-tisk Agent Gibbs. I wouldn't try anything funny. Next shot I take wont be through pretty boy's chest, hm?" Ari snarled, in his all black he looked like a true villain, and Gibbs and Tony wanted nothing more than to get their hands on him, but right now they seemed to be in quite the pickle.

"You even point that thing at him again, I will guarantee you die a slow death…Ari" he threatened, saying his name like it was poison.

"So bold of you to make such declarations when you are in no position to do so, Agent Gibbs." Ari said, clearly just toying with the two men.

This was usually the time for Tony to start with his rambling and dangerous taunting, but he was far from having the energy to do so.

"How is your chest healing, Tony," his accent making the words sting his ears. "seem to be doing pretty well, it's a shame you survive that just to be killed here tonight, in your father's basement. Although you should feel comfort in knowing you wont be going alone, your dear father right beside you.." Ari teased and taunted.

"Fuck off." Jethro wasn't going to let this guy talk to his kid like that.

"Hahaha, you are one of the most entertaining people I have had the pleasure to kill, Agent Gibbs." Ari smiled a dirty smile.

"I hope that you burn in hell," Gibbs roared.

"Ha, after you two.." Ari turned and pointed to gun right at Tony's head, even from across the room Tony felt confident he didn't have a chance of getting out of this. He didn't have the energy left to fight, and mentally and physically he was at a place where he couldn't keep up with this life if this is what it required of him. He looked at his dad.

Jethro did not like the look he saw in Tony's eyes, but he knew it wasn't over.

"No, after you, dirtbag!" Jethro turned back and smiled at Ari who paused in his pulling of the trigger to wonder what he could be smiling about.

In that second, Tony saw Ari's head snap to the side from his perch on the landing, followed by blood and then he fell, and then he heard a gunshot.

He looked at his dad who was walking over to Ari's now limp body, and was going to make sure the bastard was dead. Tony was missing something. Who in the world?

"You guys okay?" He heard Kate's voice boom down the stairwell and fill the basement like music to his ears.

"Fine Kate. Nice shot." Gibbs responded, and Kate made her way down to the bottom to look at her accomplishment.

"I heard the backdoor open, and I came down because I … I just knew it was Ari," Kate said truthfully. She had a bad feeling, an ability she must have inherited from her dad.

"Glad ya did."

"No kidding, Kate." Tony was impressed, and pretty relieved he didn't get shot again.

"Jethro! What was that, it sounded like a gunshot—" Jenny rounded the corner in her robe, gun leading the way, only lowering it when she saw what they were surrounding in the basement. "I will call it in.." She walked to the kitchen.

"It's over.." Kate said with a sigh.

"Thanks to you Kate, thanks…" Tony smirked, things had been sort of awkward between him and Kate this past week. She had been so reserved, and polite, and guilty looking around Tony he hated it.

"I owed you," She said seriously.

"Well you are even now," Jethro said as he kicked Ari in the foot to try and get to him stir.

"No.. no actually if you think about it, first Kate saved you when she jumped in front of the bullet. Then I saved her when I pushed her out of the way. And then her she was tonight with another rally, saving us. So actually if you think about it Dad, your still down to Kate 2." Tony lightened the mood with the jabber of his jaw.

Jethro shook his head with a smile. "You know, once again… Tony's right."