The doctors came in with x-ray machines and an ultrasound machine they were desperate to see what kind of damage Tony did to his knit together abdomen during the seizure. They made Gibbs wait outside in the waiting room. Gibbs couldn't sit he paced back and forth.

After about an hour Dr. Leonard, one of the thoracic surgeons that worked on Tony, came out. Dr. Leonard held his hand out for Gibbs to shake but Gibbs just looked at him with terror filled eyes, "How is he? Did he do any damage to himself?"

Dr. Leonard sat down and patted the seat next to him. Gibbs reluctantly sat down and the Doctor began, "Agent DiNozzo unfortunately tore some significant stitches in his abdomen. He is currently bleeding pretty badly and he is being prepped for surgery as we speak. We are waiting on the blood tests to come back but we cant wait long the bleeding is severe and if we don't stop it he could die. We need you to sign the permission to operate."

Gibbs held his head in his hands and whispered, "Of course Doc just do what you have to do to save my boy."

He signed the papers and the doctor went back to prepare for surgery.

About a half an hour later Gibbs was startled out of silence by his phone. "Gibbs" was his usual gruff answer.

On the other end was a panicking Abby, "Gibbs, Gibbs listen to me I have begun to analyze the mixture that was in the syringe and that bastard was awful, it is a mixture of drugs the ones I have found so far are a drug that makes your blood sugar bottom out another that puts Coumadin to shame as a blood thinner and another one that makes the persons blood calcium plummet which is why he had the seizure. Luckily he didn't get much out of the syringe but it is enough to make him bleed out during surgery they need to treat him with a clotting agent before they operate. If they don't Gibbs he will bleed out and die before they even get started."

Gibbs stood up and slammed his phone shut and began to run toward Tony's room but he was all ready gone. The nurse stopped him and asked him what was wrong? Gibbs breathlessly pushed her aside and ran toward the operating rooms.

He busted into the operating room stopping for just a moment to put the needed booties on his shoes he looked into each OR room and then he finally found the room Tony was in and he began to bang on the door. When the doctor wouldn't look up he stuck his head into the room.

The Doctor finally noticed the intrusion as Gibbs yelled, "STOP the surgery NOW!"

Dr. Leonard came to the door and asked, "Sir will you please explain to me why you are in my operating room?"

Gibbs said, "My team has identified the mixture that the attacker put in his IV it is a mixture of drugs that made his calcium and blood sugar to drop to near nothing and it also contained a VERY strong experimental blood thinner. My tech said it made Coumadin look gentle. He has got to have calcium and sugar and a coagulate before you can safely operate on him."

Dr. Leonard smiled and shook his head in approval, "Tell your tech she just saved this young mans life. We will give him the meds and make sure they are working before we operate. Now please leave my OR Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded and turned and went back to the waiting area. He called Abby and said, "You did good Abby, you did real good, and you just saved our boy."

The Doctor gave him the needed medication and then repaired everything that tore in his abdomen and by nightfall Tony was back in his room with a very tired Gibbs by his side.

During the surgery McGee and Ziva went and took the statement from the man that Gibbs shot. He admitted to everything stating that he would do it again to save the reputation of his precious school. They were happy to charge him with three murders and two attempts on a federal agents life. Then they called Tripp Simmons and let him know that he could go home it was truly over now. When that was all done they stopped into see Tony and Gibbs before they went home.

"We have a full signed confession, it is over finally over for Tony." Ziva proudly said.

Gibbs let out a huge sigh, "Thank God this is over. Poor Tony has been through enough. All this shows me how tough Tony must be to be able to withstand all the abuse then two separate attacks on his life?"

Ziva smiled and bent down and kissed the sleeping man on the forehead and whispered, "Wake up soon Tony, we are so proud of you."

McGee patted his leg and said, "Wake up soon Tony, I haven't had anyone call me Probbie in the last few days I am starting to miss it."

Gibbs smiled at the members of his team. He looked at them and said, "I am really proud of the work you two did on this case. I know Tony will appreciate it too. Now you guys go home and don't even think about coming to work tomorrow okay. I think we all need tomorrow off."

They smiled at him and said in unison "Yes Sir" and then left.

Gibbs went around and turned off all the bright overhead lights except for a small one that shone up from the head of Tony's bed. He checked Tony and adjusted his covers and then took his perch on the chair beside the bed. He sat there and just starred at the sleeping Tony. He looked so small and young and Gibbs flashed back to sitting next to Kelly's bed after she had her tonsils out and he sat and watched her sleep that night too.

He desperately missed being some ones Daddy or Abba as Ziva calls it. He looked at Tony and he sees himself at that age. Himself but even better, he also sees an amazing young man that had parents that didn't give a care in the world about their child. He couldn't understand how someone with such an amazing son could care so little for him. When he brought Tony on to his team it wasn't to be a father to the boy it was to train a good agent and send him out into the world. Tony wasn't just another agent though and Gibbs wanted more he wanted to love on him and show him what a real father was and not just train him to be a good agent but to be a good man.

Tony and him were both broken and maybe together they could make each other whole again.

Gibbs was brought out of his deep thought by a small cough. He looked down at Tony and he was awake and smiling at him. Tony said, "Penny for your thoughts Pops"

Gibbs smiled and said, "What did you just call me?"

Tony looked afraid and stammered, "Pops, is that okay Boss? I mean you have been like a Dad to me lately, I am sorry I shouldn't have, you probably didn't mean, I am.."

Gibbs shook his head, "Anthony, I would want nothing more than for you to call me Pops or Dad or anything you want. Outside of work Jethro would be fine too. On one condition."

Tony gave him a crooked smile and said, "Okay what is the condition?"

Gibbs smiled, "I know you have a father and I also know he wasn't much of one to you. I would like to be your stand in Dad if you will. I was sitting here thinking you and I are really similar you have a Dad shape whole in your life and I have a son shaped whole in mine. We aren't blood but do you think you would accept me as a surrogate Dad to you and let me take care of you while you recover and be there for you like a real Dad would. Oh and if you say yes there is a bonus of a sometimes crotchety always eccentric Grandpa Jack."

Tony looked sad at Gibbs, "You want me? Why me? I don't deserve you as a Dad."

Gibbs bent down and kissed him on the forehead and then smacked it gently, "You deserve to be loved by someone who will appreciate you for the amazing son you are. I can't think of anyone else I would rather call my son."

Tony smiled a huge and genuine smile, "You have a deal, I love you Dad."

Gibbs smiled and his eyes filled with tears, "I love you too son."

A very long week later Father and Son were on their way to the Gibbs home for Tony's recuperation. The Coach was charged but not imprisoned, Rhode Island Military School was shut down and Dr. Foster was set to be sentenced next week.

Tony sat next to the rickety old workbench next to Gibbs. Tony was listening intently as Gibbs tried to show him how to use the carving tool to make a dolls face. He watched as Gibbs turned two little pieces of wood into beautiful heads. Tony took up the tool and gently began to sculpt his piece of wood. The wood was beginning to take a head shape when the chisel slipped and slid across Tony's hand.

Tony actually froze at the site of so much blood coming from his hand Gibbs didn't waste a minute he grabbed a clean shop towel and pressed it into the wound and then ran upstairs to the first aide kit. He got back downstairs in record time to fine Tony still sitting looking at his hand in shock.

Gibbs opened up the first aide box and gathered a few tools and began to pull the shop towels off of Tony's hand. He pulled away at first and Gibbs looked at him and said, "Son, you have to let me doctor this." Tony shook his head and allowed him to look at his wound.

Gibbs smiled, "Ah it isn't as bad as I thought it was. I think we can fix this with some liquid skin and some gauze. No problem."

Tony looked like so sad when he said, "Please don't be mad at me I am sorry."

Gibbs looked up from his work confused at the young mans statement, "Mad at you? Why in the world would I be mad at you?"

Tony stammered, "I ruined your work and messed up our evening."

Gibbs realized right then that the work he has too do with his new son is going to take a while. He couldn't believe the damage that that poor excuse for parents did to the boy. He smiled and cupped Tony's face in his hands, "Rule number 5 never apologize and they especially goes for something that was an accident. I hurt myself down here all the time and half the wood in here has been bleed on by me."

Tony smiled and thanked him for doctoring him up.

Gibbs reminded Tony of the agreement they made in the hospital, "Don't forget Tony, you promised me that I get to be a Dad to you and take care of you while you recuperate. We made an agreement you get to play son and I get to play Dad. Dads take care of their children and bandage their wounds and be there when they hurt and be their biggest fan."

Tony bit his lip, "So they don't beat them till they spend months in the hospital and a Dad doesn't take their child to Hawaii on vacation and then leaves them there and then flies to the mainland." He started to go on but stopped himself.

Gibbs listened in horror as Tony recounted tales from his childhood and when he was done he couldn't help it a tear fell down his cheek, "No Anthony that is not what a parent does. You have never felt a Fathers unconditional love before and for that I am so sorry but they say it is never too late. I want nothing from you but the opportunity to help you be the best man you can be and cheer on while I watch you achieve every goal you set for yourself. This injury was a blessing for me because I became a father again to a bouncing 37-year-old baby boy

Tony looked at Gibbs and they both busted out laughing.