Part 2. Comeback.
His team was back. Langer was dead. So much had happened in the last weeks that Gibbs would need time to think about the consequences.
McGee and Ziva were at their desks but Tony was not here. Leon had told him it was impossible for now to make him come back but Gibbs had not believed him. Leon had sent Tony away to punish the young man.
Gibbs knew Tony had lived his new assignment as a punishment and he hated himself not to have talked to him before he left. He wished he had had the courage to tell him that Jenny’s death was not his fault. But he had been angry…Not at Tony but at Jenny. She had not asked for his help; she had died alone, in the middle of nowhere.
Gibbs had told himself many times that; if he had the chance to have Tony back in his life; he would talk to him. He wanted to tell him about his feelings for a long time but he was well aware that he would always find good reasons not to talk to Tony.
The real reason why he would never talk to him was that he was afraid of Tony’s reaction. He was scared to lose what he had. If the situation was not so sad, Gibbs would have laughed. Tony and he had nothing; nothing more than a boss-subordinate relationship. The only moment when he could touch Tony was when he slapped him at the behind of his head.
Gibbs missed those touches. He missed his smile, his voice.
Gibbs was at his desk, trying to work on the file he had in front of him but his mind was somewhere else. His mind was in the middle of the ocean, with Tony, the man that filled his dreams.
Gibbs had suffered after Langer’s death. He had not thought it would hurt him so much. When he had entered the white room, he had seen Agent Lee, a gun in her hands. Then he had seen Langer on the floor; his eyes closed; blood on his shirt. He had realized immediately Langer was dead.
The pain Gibbs had felt at that moment had almost been understandable for him. He had thought Langer had not reached his heart but he had been wrong. Gibbs had not said anything when Lee had declared she had been obliged to kill Langer, that Langer was threatening her life. He had not said anything when Leon had said they had finally found the traitor.
Gibbs didn’t believe Lee. He had felt from the beginning that she was hiding something. It would probably take time but he would find the truth; he would find what had happened to Langer. He would not let anyone believe Langer had betrayed his team, his country.
For that he would need Tony’s help. His first battle would be to make Tony come back; even if he had to fight Leon himself. He didn’t care about how many doors he would have to break down or how many people he would have to disturb. He needed Tony back in his team.
Ziva and McGee were working. None of them had asked for Tony’s desk. Gibbs had been proud to see the respect they showed for their former boss. Gibbs had always been proud of his team; even if he had never really told nor showed them. He was the boss and he was not supposed to make compliments.
Maybe he should have…especially with Tony. Gibbs knew about Tony’s insecurity, he had read about his childhood. He knew the way his father had thrown him out of his house. It was not surprising that Tony was always searching for Gibbs’ approval.
Gibbs was lost in his thoughts when he heard Leon’s voice.
-Agent Gibbs, do you have the Barney’s files?
Gibbs didn’t really know what to think about his new boss. He could not help thinking this man had stolen Jenny’s job and that it was not his place.
-Yes, Sir. I’ve just finished it.
He gave Leon the requested file and was waiting for him to leave. But Leon was not moving. Gibbs looked up at him, waiting for him to tell him what he wanted.
-Agent Dinozzo will be back at the end of the week. He will be back in your team on Monday.
Gibbs didn’t know what he was supposed to say: “thank you”… “What have taken you so long?”
-Agent Gibbs?
-What will happen to Agent Lee?
-She’s going to be assigned to a new team.
-Ok
Leon left before Gibbs could ask him anything else. He could not believe how easy it had been. He didn’t even have to ask for Tony’s return. Leon had understood there was no need to keep Tony away anymore. Leon had made his point. He wanted Tony to understand that what had happened with Jenny should never happen again. Gibbs thought that Tony had understood very well. The man was a fast learner.
Gibbs could not help smiling while he was thinking about Tony’s reaction when he learnt he was about to come back home. Gibbs remembered well the look in Tony’s eyes when Leon had told him about his new assignment. He had seemed so lost. For a moment, Gibbs had wanted to take him in his arms. He had wanted to whisper in Tony’s ears that everything would be all right, that he didn’t need to worry.
But he had not said anything, he had not made a move and Tony had left without knowing what Gibbs felt about it. Tony had accepted his new job without even complaining. What hurt Gibbs the most was that he was sure Tony thought Gibbs agreed with this punishment.
But now he knew he would have time to talk to Tony. He would have his entire team back the following week. It was already late in the afternoon and Tony was probably packing his things to come back home.
-Go back home. It was a long day.
Ziva and McGee looked up at their boss, visibly surprised by this order. They both nodded and got up.
-Boss, I’ve finished the report on the Boles’ file. It will be on your desk tomorrow morning.
-Good job, Tim.
Gibbs was reading a note on his desk so he didn’t see the stunned look on McGee’s face.
Ziva and McGee walked to the elevator. As soon as the door closed, McGee turned to looked at Ziva. The young woman’s face was unreadable as always.
-He called me Tim…And he said I did a good job…It was just a case report…I didn’t solve the case.
Ziva smiled without looking at her team mate.
-Sometimes males can be so blind!
-What? What did I miss this time?
-Have you listened to what Director Vance told Gibbs?
-Yes and I’m happy to have Tony back in the team…Even if I will never say that to him. But I don’t see the link between Tony’s come back and Gibbs sudden kindness…
-He is happy.
McGee was completely lost now. Of course, he knew that Tony was an important part of the team and that Gibbs trusted him and even liked to work with him. But he could not still understand what Ziva meant.
Ziva finally turned to face McGee just when the elevator doors opened and with a bright smile she added
-I think our boss is in love.
Mc Gee stayed in the elevator, trying to find out what she wanted to tell him and what her words really meant. Then it hit him. The doors closed on him. When they opened again, Ziva was on the other side, smiling at him.
-Come on McGee. You’re not going to sleep here.
-But you don’t mean what I think you mean? Gibbs can’t…
-And why not? Do you think he doesn’t have a heart and can have feelings?
-It’s not what I mean.
Ziva placed a hand on McGee’s arm.
-I know, Tim. But don’t worry, I don’t think Gibbs will ever act of his feelings and talk to Tony.
They walked in silence to their car. Before opening the door of his car, McGee looked up to Ziva.
-It’s too bad. I’m sure they would be good together.
It was Ziva’s turn to stay still for long minutes before realizing McGee had left. Her team mate was right, Tony and Gibbs would be good for each other. But she could not imagine Gibbs talking about his feelings to Tony and she didn’t think that Tony was even aware of his own feelings toward his boss. Maybe they would need a little help.
She smiled when she thought of what Gibbs could do to her if she tried to talk to Tony about it.
Monday morning. 6 am.
Gibbs was already at his desk. He had not slept the previous night, spending the night in his basement. He had walked to Tony’s apartment just to check the young man was home. He had felt so happy when he had seen the light coming through the kitchen window that he had not been able to hold back a sigh of relief.
Gibbs looked up when he heard the doors of the elevator open. He knew it was Tony.
Gibbs knew that Tony would come to the office very early for his first day. Just to be sure his team mates and his boss realized that he was back and he was still the senior field agent of the team. Gibbs smiled at this thought.
When he looked up at Tony he saw immediately that there was something wrong. Tony was walking as if he was in pain and Gibbs could see on his face that the last weeks had been more difficult for him than they all had thought.
Gibbs got up and walked to him. Tony had not seen him and when Gibbs placed a hand on the young man’s arm, Tony almost jumped.
-Relax, Tony. Welcome back.
-Thanks Boss.
Gibbs had not moved his hand and he could feel that Tony was not at ease with him so close. It was a little surprising, Tony had never said anything that could make Gibbs think he didn’t like such contacts.
-What’s wrong, Tony?
For the first time since his arrival, Tony looked up at him and what Gibbs saw in his eyes made his blood freeze in his veins. Tony was scared, terrified. What had happened to him that could make him feel like that.
-Nothing Boss. I’m ready to go back to work.
Gibbs knew that he should not insist but he could not let Tony go without explanations.
-What happened, Tony? You know you can talk to me.
Tony laughed but there was no joy in this laughter.
-Sure Jethro. What do you want me to talk about?
-I can see there is something wrong.
-Another “gut feeling” Jethro?
Gibbs didn’t miss the ironical tone. Tony had been hurt; badly hurt and he had had to deal with it alone. Gibbs knew what Tony had faced during his childhood and one more time, people who cared about him had abandoned him. It was not surprising that he reacted this way now.
-Ok, Dinozzo. I am here if you want to talk. I’m happy you’re back in the team.
Tony didn’t answer. He was happy to be back too but he was not sure to be able to work with them now. They had let him go without a word. Gibbs had not even said goodbye. Ziva and McGee had come back a week before him. He had had to spend one more week in hell. Director Vance had wanted to punish him and he had done well.
Tony sat at his desk slowly. Gibbs was still looking at him, trying to guess what had happened. He was already trying to find a way to make Leon pay but, if he was really honest, he was angrier at himself. He had not fought to keep Tony in his team and he had let the man he loved get hurt.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Tony comes back but something is wrong