Air Guitar

by Kiamii

Warning: More time skipping

Today was the day they were finally going home...

Leroy Jethro Gibbs could not be anymore happier than he already was at those words. He looked around the house they'd been at for four months maximum with a wistful look. When they got back the agents would be returning to finding killers once more. Well, he mused, except for two agents.

Looking over at the playpen, he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Anthony DiNozzo snoozing away, his diapered bottom sticking up the air and his pacifier firmly in his mouth being sucked away on. His tiny fist were planted by his head and he looked perfectly content, his stuffed animal not too far from him either.

It was only three days ago that Gibbs had woken up and he wasn't going back to work in the field just yet until he passed inspection from a doctor by the NCIS. Tony's tracing bracelet that had been on him many weeks back had been dumped in a playground the day he was kidnapped, so Gibbs hadn't been able to find him until that phone call. Lightly laying a hand on his stomach, he winced at the soreness before just being grateful he was alive. He hung up the phone after talking to the director and bent down, retrieved his bag, and carted it to his room before coming back downstairs, picking up his charge.

Tony was so small in his arms, but he'd grown since Gibbs had seen him. The baby could walk and utter a few sentences correctly now. That was a positive... But Tony now also flinched at loud noises and was clingy to his "daddy". He slipped a lot into baby mode when he was particularly upset or overwhelmed, or tired. Gibbs found he didn't mind. He'd actually begun to think of his agent as his own son and spoiled him as a baby.

Speaking of which, the toddler was making small baby chirps to get his attention which had Gibbs immediately bending down to scoop him up. Tony rubbed the sleep from his eyes before blinking owlishly at his surrogate father.

"Time to go home Tone," Gibbs said happily, "What do you say to a celebratory dinner tonight."

"P... Pidda?"

"Hmm Pizza? Works for me. No beer for you yet short stuff," Gibbs said with a smirk as Tony pouted at him, lightly giving Gibbs a smack on the cheek with his tiny hand in protest of the tease. He laughed, just happy to have his agent - though shrunk still - back to him. He hadn't realized just how much the kid meant to him until he'd been kidnapped. It was even worst with Tony in baby form. His agent was just so helpless now that all Gibbs wanted to do was shelter him, even though he knew Tony had his adult mind.

The father carried Tony over to the car where Tim McGee and Ziva David awaited him, talking quietly to one another about the wild undercover work. Apparently Ziva had met a man while portraying as a nanny and Tim was trying to pry details out of her. Tony squirmed as Gibbs strapped him into the car seat next to Tim who smiled at him. Pacifier once more in his mouth, Tony amused himself on the ride home by poking Tim in the eye with the stuffed bear he had, feigning sleep when the man looked over.

"You won't be leader temporarily when we return?" Ziva queried just as Tim made a victorious noise, having caught Tony while he was about to poke him. Gibbs smirked at his agents and their bickering in the backseat before nodding at Ziva solemnly.

"I'm still under doctor's orders, that and it seems the drugs Tony is under won't wear off for another two weeks." Gibbs told her quietly, not really wanting to let Tony know the news since he knew Tony was looking forward to being an adult again.

The rest of the way was quiet and soon Gibbs found himself with his team back on a plane, Tim arguing with the babified Tony about something to do with some movie that Tony swore was worst than the original with all the effects. Eventually Gibbs found himself breaking the bickering up and convincing Tony to take a nap, knowing the kid was getting tired (and cranky, though Gibbs knew he'd get an earful of baby ranting if he told him that).

Settling against the seat to peer out the window with Tony sleeping soundly on his lap, pacifier suckled away, Gibbs smiles.

Life was good.

Author's Note: Short and to the point. For now. I was busy with other things so I thought I'd end this here and go back to fix things up eventually. Sequel or no? You decide.