He could feel tears leaking from his eyes, but wasn't able to open them.

Rough fingers brushed them away, tenderly.

He heard a man's voice say, "Is he in pain? I can't tell…is this normal?"

It was Gibbs.

"I dunno', Jethro," a woman said, worriedly. He recognized the voice. Maura. "I'll go get a nurse or doctor."

He wanted to open his eyes. But he just couldn't.

And he found he couldn't speak, or do much of anything but listen to the sounds around him.

"I dunno' if you can hear me, Tony," Gibbs said gently, "but we're all here. The whole team. And I've got your six. Everything's gonna' be okay."

He could hear machines now, beeping and whirring softly in the background.

He was confused.

A sudden assortment of sounds and voices pushed into the room, but faded, as he fell into nothingness.

Some time later, and hour or a hundred years for all he knew, a throbbing pain in his head woke him up.

He moaned softly, and took a breath.

"Tony?" he heard Gibbs calling him, and felt gentle fingers on his shoulder.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the light was almost painful. He squinted, and croaked out, "Hey Boss." His mouth felt like steel wool was stuck in it.

Gibbs let out a sigh of relief.

"How d'you feel ?"

"Like, someone…ran my head over with a truck…and then freeze dried me…" he tried to crack his eyes open again, and slammed them shut, hissing and bringing a hand to his face.

"I'm gonna' close the window…" Gibbs said, and he heard the sound of the blind working.

Suddenly, he remembered, the sword…and quickly put a hand to his belly. It was fine.

No pain there.

No bandages.

"Better?" Gibbs asked.

He tried again, and was finally able to keep them open, and see the icy blue of Gibbs' eyes. He blinked a few times.

"Yeah…but…" he looked around a little, confused.

Gibbs saw it.

"You're in the hospital. You had an embolism, probably from the hit you took from the bullet this week. They had to take you in for emergency surgery. I…uh, thought for a minute there, we were gonna' lose you…" Gibbs went a little hoarse at the end, looking away for a moment.

Tony was completely lost…

He stared at Gibbs for a moment, breathing starting to go shallow.

"I…"he began, not knowing what to make of anything,"m'sorry Boss…"

"Tony," Gibbs said, concern growing again, "it's okay, you're gonna be alright now."

"No," Tony said…"I don't understand…"he started to gasp for air, "this is all…wrong…"

The older man's eyes widened, and he quickly said, "Tony, easy, breathe…" He ran to the door, calling out, "We need someone in here !"

Gibbs came back to Tony's bed and saw he was shaking, and looked increasingly confused by the second. The green eyes were misting up…

Gibbs pulled the bed bar down, and moved some of the wires away to sit close to his friend.

Tony grew dizzy, laying his head back, while Gibbs put one hand on his arm, and with the other, stroked his cheek. His vision was graying, and he tried desperately to control his breathing.

"You're just confused," Gibbs paused, and swallowed. "You were under for a while. It was a long surgery."

"No…" Tony whispered, "that's not it…" he felt the hot tears slide down his face. "The mirror…and…the blood…" he shuddered.

Gibbs frowned, not understanding him.

Tony closed his eyes again, and disconnected. For just a moment he heard the doctor and nurses fussing around him…and then everything faded out again.

The next time he woke up, the room seemed different. More quiet. There was less machinery.

Someone was asleep in the chair next to the bed. It was Maura.

He watched the slow rise and fall of her chest, and the long, dark lashes moving slightly while she dreamt.

It was dark out.

Gibbs had said something…about an embolism.

Brain surgery?

"Well," he said quietly to himself, "that would explain it."

All of it. It had to have been an awful nightmare, triggered by the surgery, and the anesthetic. He never did well on even mild painkillers, never mind this.

He took a shaky breath.

He wanted to think that was it. But why did it feel different? It felt like more than dreams...or nightmares...

A chill ran down his spine.

Maura opened her eyes, seeing he was awake, and smiled.

"You're awake !" she said happily.

"Hey," he said softly.

She stood up, and leaned down to kiss him, with a hand on his face.

He couldn't stop himself, and turned away.

She stopped, and looked at him.

He looked into her eyes.

"Something…happened…" she said, backing away a little, and fingering her pendant nervously.

"Tony…what happened…?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but, he didn't know how to respond.

Did something happen?

"I dunno'," he said. "I just…" he looked at his hands, now in his lap, "I don't feel …the same."

She looked surprised, and then stammered out, "Ah, as in...after your surgery…or about us?"

He couldn't respond.

Instead he asked her, "Can you tell me…what happened to me?"

She stared at him for a moment, and then licked her lips, and sat back down in the chair. She wanted to reach out for him, but something told her not to.

"We were in the storage place…you were…looking at photos. I found some pieces of art, and then a large mirror. You came over to look at it with me. We were talking about it…" she bit her lip a moment. "Actually we were arguing about it. Because…it gave me a bad feeling. And you seemed fine with it…talking about bringing it home. And then," she shivered, "you just, passed out cold, onto the floor. It scared me half to death. And you wouldn't…wake up. And I called for help."

She leaned forward a little, and carefully took one of his hands in both of hers.

"They said…you almost died. And…Gibbs and the rest of your friends came. You were in surgery for almost nine hours."

He blinked at her, and gave her hands a squeeze. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you…"

"Of course not. You had no control over that." She sighed, relieved he was at least not pulling away again.

He was silent for a while.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"No."

"Are you in pain?"

He did have a mild headache, but not too bad. "No."

She frowned. "Then, what's wrong?"

"I…something…happened…or at least I feel like it did. I think, you were right about that mirror. I'm going to destroy it."

She raised her brows in complete surprise. "Really?"

"Yes. And, I'm sorry I didn't take you seriously before…"

"But…you do now."

"Yes."

That should have made her feel better, but she felt…apprehensive.

"Where is everyone?" he reached up to rub his temple, and could feel the tape from the bandages around his head. He still had hair on top…"Where…"

She saw what he was doing. "The whole back was shaved. They had to go in from there…but the good news is - it'll grow in fast. Before you even go back to work." She sighed. "Gibbs went for coffee, but he's pretty much slept here for the last three days. Abby, and McGee, and Ziva…ahhh I think are at the hotel. Doctor Mallard and Palmer went back because of it's late…maybe two am. They'll be by in the morning."

Just then the door opened and Gibbs stepped in. He immediately took in Tony's calm expression, and Maura holding his hand, and smiled.

"You back with us, DiNozzo?"

"I ah…guess so Boss."

Maura looked at them both. "I think, I am going to go to the lounge and lie on one of the cots for a bit…" she looked at Tony, deciding not to try and kiss him again. Something told her he wouldn't want her to, and it made her a little sad. She smiled anyway. "I'll see you in a bit."

"Okay, " Tony said, watching the door close after she left.

"You're looking better," Gibbs said, sitting in the chair.

Tony nodded, and looked at him. "Maura…told me what happened…"

Gibbs nodded, "Yep. You can't do anything on a small scale, can you DiNozzo? And you woke up yesterday morning, and you were really confused. Do you remember that?"

Tony looked away from him. "Yeah, a little."

Gibbs watched him, feeling like there was more the younger man needed to say.

"You wanna' talk about it?"

Tony turned his head back, and in a classic deflect, stated, "You've been very into the talking thing lately."

Gibbs glared at him. "Yeah. Okay. So what? Just because we don't usually talk much…doesn't mean we shouldn't." He dropped his gaze for a moment. "I just…figured you had a lot going on in your head…with your father contacting you…and having to look at all the stuff that belonged to your mom." Gibbs looked up at him again. "And…I…" he had sworn to himself when Tony was in surgery, he wouldn't waste the opportunity again. "I care about you. A lot. You're…Hell, I think maybe you're one of the only people on the planet who understands me. And I don't make that too easy." He expelled a breath, and sat back, fidgeting, and not looking up.

Tony smiled a little at the confession, knowing it cost Gibbs, to say things like that.

A picture of Gibbs' face, the utter devastation when he had thrown himself on the sword, flashed in his mind, along with some of the other "memories" of what he thought he had experienced.

Gibbs saw Tony's expression go from pleased, to something that looked frightened.

He stood up, and put his hand on Tony's arm, "You okay?"

Images suddenly reeled across his consciousness, filling his mind. Gibbs at the funeral for Shannon and Kelly…the pain and loneliness. The love he felt for the team, especially Tony. And the struggle to tell anyone about those feelings. The fear of loss, leftover from the tragic murder of his family, and losing others over the years, had made it near impossible to admit to himself, how much they meant to him.

"Tony? Don't do this to me again, okay?" Gibbs was rubbing his cheek, with a strained look on his face.

"What?" Tony asked, a little dazed, finally responding to him.

Gibbs rolled his eyes, and let out a little air. "I thought you were…doing that thing you did yesterday."

"M'sorry, Boss."

"Never apologize," Gibbs smiled.

"Yeah," Tony said, looking at him, "but…I am. I am really sorry. I don't know if…if you have any idea…" he looked down for a moment, and raised his brows when he looked back up at Gibbs. "I should have told you…a long time ago…that I wouldn't have any idea what…a real father would be like, if it weren't for you."

The older man's eyes widened, and his lips parted slightly.

He had never expected Tony to say anything like that. He felt like his heart had expanded. Something let loose inside, making him feel, just a little more free, more like the man Shannon had known.

"What?" Tony asked, "You're the only one who gets to have an Oprah moment?"

Suddenly, Gibbs expression went from vulnerable and affected, to totally bewildered.

"You watch Oprah?"

"Gibbs, women watch Oprah. You need to watch it sometimes to impress them with your sensitivity and knowledge of global warming."

Gibbs rolled his eyes, snorting, and sat back down with his coffee. Tony had known he couldn't handle much more.

He smiled at him, and was entirely grateful to have another chance.

In the morning, before the rest of the crew were due in, Maura had come into the room. Gibbs was snoring lightly in the chair.

Tony smiled at her. But looked, somehow nervous.

She knew.

Maura stood close to him, on the other side of the bed from Gibbs.

She put her hand up to his face, and he held it there for just a moment.

"I really like you," she said, quietly.

He heard her, but saw images again, seeing her working, in the shop, talking to Samuel, and spending time alone, until he called her. In a few months. To trick her into the date with Gibbs. He would trick them both. And the last ones whirred past, of sheer joy on her face, laughing at a barbeque at Gibbs' house, pulling Tony aside to thank him, and the baby…the little boy that would come way past the age Gibbs had ever expected to have one…and she was radiant, in love…they both would be…

He was either going to be right about all of it, or… find out later that he'd lost his mind.

His gut told him to follow what he felt was right.

"I really like you too," he sighed. He took her hand, and brought it to his lips, kissing it. "But…I don't love you."

Her eyes got a little glassy.

He took a deep breath.

"I think…we both know. You are…ridiculously hot. And …so, so not boring. But, we don't have that…connection…that something…and, you deserve that. You should have that." He smiled, and pushed some of her dark hair behind her ear.

She chuckled, still a little sad, but then said, "You're right."

"I'm still gonna' be in touch, and…I know you are gonna' think I'm crazy, or…maybe an asshole for this. But …I know…it's gonna' happen, when you're ready."

"No…I don't think either of those. And…I can't put my finger on it…but…something…happened. I could swear…" she eyed him, like a cat.

"What?"

She smiled. "If I didn't know better…I'd say you were a witch."

He laughed.

After another moment, she said, "I think you're in good hands…so, I'm gonna' go get a rental and drive home." She blinked her beautiful dark eyes at him.

"I'll see you around."

He nodded, and she left.

Tony sighed.

"You sure you wanted to do that?" Gibbs asked without a trace of sleep in his voice.

Tony smiled. "I ah…guess you heard all that…"

"Yep." Gibbs got up and stretched.

Then he put a hand on Tony's arm.

"She's pretty special. At least…I thought so. But I understand. You have to do what you think is right."

Tony looked at Gibbs hand for a moment, looking slightly unfocused. And then he seemed to shake it off, "I did, Boss. Trust me."

"I do, Tony."

Gibbs went back to the hotel and showered, while Abby, McGee, and Ziva spent time with Tony.

He made a few calls, and emailed his leave request to Vance, so he could look after Tony for a few days before he was back on his feet again. He also informed Vance that the doctors said Tony could go back to work in two weeks, on light duty, and then back in the field two weeks after that.

By the time he got back to the hospital, They were all smiling and laughing in the room, with an assortment of plates and half eaten desserts on them.

Tony was smiling, but extremely pale, and fighting sleep.

Gibbs threw them out, but not before pulling Abby to him and wiping a smudge of chocolate off her face.

"Thanks my silverhaired fox!" she kissed him on the cheek, as she bounced out of the room to follow Ziva and McGee.

He sat watching Tony sleep, comforted by the steady movement of his chest.

"...Was a close one, DiNozzo," he said softly to himself.

Gibbs fell asleep, not long after he sat down.

Sometime after dark, he started awake, heart pounding. He wasn't sure why, but then he heard a whimper from the bed.

He stood up, looking at the younger man for signs he was in pain or needed the doctor.

But Gibbs realized, Tony's rapid breathing, and next desperate moan, were because he was trapped in a nightmare.

"Tony." He brushed his hand over the sweaty forehead.

"Nnnn,' Tony flinched, eyes darting under his lids.

"Hey, wake up," Gibbs said, squeezing his shoulder.

A moan turned into half a scream, as he startled Gibbs, and jerked awake, gasping.

Tony immediately put both hands on Gibbs to push him away, but Gibbs' reflexes were lighting fast, and he held them still.

"Tony! You with me?"

The green eyes were filled with something Gibbs had never seen in them before. Pure terror.

"Please…don't…" Tony gasped, shaking, and launching into near-hysterics.

"Tony…c'mon! You're in the hospital. Remember?" Gibbs held his wrists firmly, uncertain if Tony was even fully awake.

He blinked, looking at Gibbs, "H-hospital," he blurted out, and Gibbs nodded.

He felt Tony's arms slack, and slowly let go of his wrists.

Tony looked at him sadly and sobbed, "They're still in my head…"

Gibbs put his arms around him, not knowing what else to do.

"Just a dream. Probably still the anesthetic working it's way out. You're okay," Gibbs kept still, until eventually, Tony had calmed.

He finally released him, sitting back.

Tony was pale, almost green, as if he might vomit. But, he was dazed looking, eyes closing again, falling asleep before his tears had even dried.

"Jesus," Gibbs said. "Must've been one hell of a nightmare."

It took Gibbs a while before he was able to doze again in the chair.

Several days later, they were getting ready to check Tony out to go home.

The nightmares came a few more times. But Tony wouldn't talk about them. The doctors had agreed with Gibbs, that they were likely going to fade, as the rest of the drugs from surgery dissipated from his system.

Since they insisted on him leaving in a wheelchair, Gibbs had gone in search of one.

Tony sat, dressed and ready to go, pondering to himself, if the doctors were right, and it was just the drugs. He kept having nightmares, about the mirror, and all the horrible things, that maybe were just a dream. A figment of his imagination, as they would say.

But he also thought of the visions that had flashed from Maura and Gibbs, the first day he was really awake…

He shook his head to himself.

"Maybe none of it was real…"

Just then, the door opened, and instead of Gibbs, it was an orderly with a wheelchair for him.

Tony's jaw dropped, and he stared.

"Heard you needed one of these," the old man said. He smiled at Tony, warmly.

"You…" Tony breathed.

"You seem surprised to see me," Apollyon smiled even wider. "Oh come now. Don't look like that. I'm here to give you an…oh what does Gibbs say…oh yes, an attaboy."

Tony's heart was pounding in his ears.

"I-I don't…"Tony closed his eyes for a moment, and opened them, and the angel was still there. He trembled. "Was it…real?"

"Oh, in the ways that count. And especially for you. You know, you're the only one to defeat that mirror in over two thousand years." The old man walked over, and sat casually next to him on the bed. "Not a long time by my standards, but, for humans, pretty long."

Tony rubbed his face for a moment. He felt angry, and a little sickened.

"What do you want from me?" he asked tersely.

Apollyon shrugged. "Nothing. I just wanted to let you know what a good job you did. See, it was always about you, Tony. Just you. And, I know, they tested you…sorely. It wasn't very nice, or very fair. But, because of you, those three troublemakers are back where they belong. The mirror is empty. Now, well…it's just a mirror."

"I'm still going to break that thing into pieces, as soon as I'm able."

"A shame." Apollyon said. "It's worth a lot of money."

"And it hurt a lot of people." Tony growled.

Apollyon sighed. "I thought you'd see it that way. Anyhow," he hopped off the bed,

"I just thought you'd wanna' know. You've received a little parting gift. You still have the sight."

Tony rubbed his temples, "Great."

"Indeed, it is. It will come in very handy in apprehending the villains you and Gibbs chase like bloodhounds. And it's a lovely thing you're doing for Gibbs and Maura."

"You don't say," Tony said sourly, wanting to be done with the conversation.

"Well," Apollyon said wistfully, "I really must go now. If you need me, I'll be around."

Tony rubbed his eyes for a moment.

"Why would I-" he stopped short. He was alone in the room.

Gibbs came in just then, with a low growl, "I can't find one for those goddamned – Oh," he looked at the wheelchair. "Huh. Guess it found us."

He saw the look on Tony's face.

"You okay?"

Tony let out a breath. "Yeah, yeah I'm good. Let's go home."

Gibbs smiled, "Copy that."

THE END

A/N: Holy crap. Was this a ride. Lemme know what you thought !