**Chapter Eight -- Love Drunk**
**Three Months Later -- September 19, 2010 -- Bradley's House**
Abby climbed out of the car and headed into the house only to be immediately bombarded by her sister-in-law.
"You're back! Where are the pictures? I wanna see my little niece or nephew!"
She smiled and handed the redhead the sonogram pictures, shaking her head as she 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the blurry photos.
"Hey, Abs." Bradley smiled, stepping up behind his wife and wrapping his arms around her slim waist. "Baby pictures already? Aren't you girls overdoing it just a bit?"
Britty elbowed him lightly. "It's never too early to love a baby." She smiled at her friend, handing the pictures back. "Did you find out what the sex is?"
"Not yet. I don't think I wanna know. Keep it a surprise, you know?"
"Afraid it's gonna be a boy like that good for nothing..."
"Bradley!" Britty hissed, spinning around and fixing him with a harsh glare. *Do not start that now. Let it be.* She signed, her back to Abby so that she couldn't see. *She's having a good day. Don't ruin this for her.*
Abby turned and walked toward the stairs, her hand resting protectively over her still small baby bump as her brother and his wife argued silently. She had told Bradley about the pregnancy shortly after Britty found out, and needless to say, he hadn't been very happy. It took everything she had to keep him from going to DC and killing Tony with his bare hands.
The siblings didn't speak for almost two days before he came to her, assuring her that while he wasn't happy about the situation and the way it had turned out, that he'd support her, no matter what.
He still wasn't completely thrilled with the idea of his little sister being pregnant and unmarried, but as she'd reminded him time and again, she wasn't so little anymore.
Slipping into her bedroom, she closed the door quietly behind her, releasing the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Making her way over to the bed, she sank down on the comfortable mattress, wishing Tony had been there to share in her excitement at seeing their baby.
Britty turned back to her friend and frowned, punching her husband in the arm. "Look what you did!"
"What?" He said. "No, you can't blame her going upstairs on me. I didn't do anything!"
"She's already an emotional person, B, you know that! On top of being pregnant? You know better than to mention Tony. You know what it does to her."
"She's fine." He said, sighing when his wife glared at him again. "Fine. I'll go talk to her. Happy?"
"Very. Go." She said, slapping his ass as she pushed him toward the stairs. "And you had better apologize!"
Bradley made his way up the stairs and paused outside his sister's bedroom door, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly.
"Come in."
He could hear the strain in her voice, but was relieved when he walked in and she wasn't crying. He knew that she felt guilty about having left DC with no warning and now, after 3 months of being gone, she couldn't very well see herself being accepted back with open arms. Based on what he had heard from Gibbs, Tony was falling apart at the seams and McGee was refusing to discuss Abby in any way, shape, or form out of some misguided loyalty to the Italian. Her 'family' was crumbling around her, and all he was doing was punching holes through the pieces that remained.
"Hey." He said, sitting next to her on the mattress. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and frowned when she sniffled, resting her head against his chest. "Don't cry, Abs. I'm sorry."
"You're right." She mumbled. "You were always right about us. I...I just wish he was here."
He sighed, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I know, hon. I know you do."
She pulled away from him and opened the drawer on her nightstand, pulling out a small stack of papers. Tossing them onto the bed, she turned away from him, moving to stare out the window at the view of the French Quarter.
Picking up the papers, Bradley started sorting through them, realizing they were plane tickets that she hadn't used. "Abby..."
"I can't do it. I claim that I want him here, that I still love him...and I do still love him..." She said, wrapping her arms around herself. "But I can't seem to make myself get on the damn plane. What does that say about me, BB?"
Bradley opened his mouth to speak, but realized that he didn't have anything to say. He wanted to tell her that she was doing the right thing, that her initial decision to move home was correct and she shouldn't be second guessing herself, but he knew that wasn't what she wanted to hear. She wanted him to tell her that the pain of leaving her first real love behind would fade, and he knew that it never would. Especially not with the constant reminder she currently had her arms wrapped around as if she was holding on for dear life.
He stood up and walked over to his sister, pressing a kiss to the back of her head before turning and leaving the room. He went back downstairs and sank down onto the couch, dropping his head back against the cushion and sighing heavily, frowning when his wife joined him, running her fingers through his hair.
"What's goin' on, baby?"
"I don't know how to help her. She…I want her to be happy, B, but I don't know how to fix her anymore. She used to come to me for everything."
Britty pulled his head down against her chest and continued to play with his hair. "Its not something you can fix, Bradley. She has to do this for herself."
**2100 Hours -- NCIS Squad Room**
"Go home. There isn't anything else we can do tonight." Gibbs said, closing the file he was looking at and pinching the bridge of his nose.
Tony stood up and grabbed his backpack and his Sig to his belt without a word before heading toward the elevator quickly, grateful to be heading home.
"Hey Tony! Wait up." McGee said, jogging up behind him as he waited for the elevator.
"What's up?" He asked tiredly, stepping forward as the doors opened.
"Wanna grab something to eat?" The younger man asked, noticing the dark circles under his friend's eyes. It had been 3 months since Abby left town, but he knew that Tony was feeling it everyday. Going home to the apartment they had shared, the few things that she left behind still in the places she left them in, despite the fact that he could have boxed them up.
He had gotten slightly better, after the initial shock wore off and Gibbs finally cornered him about coming into work hungover and unshowered, smelling like booze and self pity, he cleaned up his act. McGee had helped him to clean out his liquor cabinet that weekend, he hadn't had anything stronger than a beer with dinner since.
"I don't know. I'm not really hungry."
"Come on. I'll buy."
"McGee..." he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was tired and all he wanted was to get some sleep. "I don't need a babysitter. Isn't there some Elf Lord competition going on tonight anyway?"
"It's a LAN party and that's not until tomorrow."
"You scare me sometimes, Probie."
The elevator doors opened in the parking garage and they stepped off, walking toward their cars.
"I'm not trying to babysit you, Tony. Just thought you might like some company."
"Sounds like babysitting to me." He said, turning back to face the younger man and sighing. "Fine. Meet me back at my place. Go get takeout on your way."
**45 Minutes Later -- Tony's Apartment**
McGee knocked on the door to the apartment, holding a large bad of Thai food in his hand.
"It's open!" Tony called, his feet propped up on the coffee table as he entered his credit card number into the laptop he was holding.
The younger man entered the apartment and set the food down on the counter, glancing over Tony's shoulder before grabbing some plates from the cupboard. "You actually gonna go this time? Or you just gonna go to the airport and watch the plane take off?"
The Italian snapped the lid of the laptop shut and turned to McGee. "You know? How?"
"I'm a trained investigator, Tony." He said, picking up the plates and joining the older man in the living room, taking a seat next to him on the couch.
He cocked an eyebrow at his partner, taking the plate he handed him. "Right."
"Okay. You left the flight confirmation up on your computer a few weeks ago." McGee caved, slumping against the couch.
"So you've been spying on me?"
"Look, I didn't want to piss you off. Honestly, I think you should go...if that's what you wanna do."
Tony sighed, leaning back against the couch as he ate his food. "That's the problem I'm having. I don't know what I want."
"It's not a matter of not knowing what you want. It's a matter of being too scared to do it."
"I'm not scared, McGee. I just want her to be happy, and if being away from me makes her happy...then who am I to interfere?"
He set down his plate and pushed himself off the couch, grabbing two beers from the refrigerator before returning. "You'll never know if you don't go find out."
"Have you talked to her? Did she say something?" Tony asked, cringing at the desperate hopefulness in his voice.
McGee shook his head. "I haven't talked to her. But you and I both know she can be as stubborn as you when she wants to be."
"Yeah." He nodded, looking down at his plate.
The pair continued to eat in silence, nearly finishing the food before Tony finally spoke, his voice low.
"I do love her, Tim." He said, as if trying to convince the younger man that he was being truthful despite the things he may have done to prove him otherwise.
"I know you do." He replied, glancing over at his friend.
"I shouldn't have let her go."
McGee shrugged, draining his beer. "Yeah, Tony. You're probably right. But I don't remember her exactly giving you a choice."
"Yeah. I'm not gonna be able to fix this with some flowers, am I?" He chuckled darkly, rubbing a hand over his tired face.
"Have you ever been able to fix anything with Abby by giving her flowers? Has anyone, for that matter?"
"Gibbs managed it once, I think. Not me though."
The two settled into a thoughtful silence for a moment, staring at the muted infomercial that was playing on the large TV before McGee turned, facing the Italian.
"I know you're afraid she's gonna reject you if you show up there, Tony. But you're gonna drive yourself crazy if you don't try. You know that."
"Yeah, I do."
"Then buy the ticket and for God's sake, get on the plane this time." Picking the laptop up from the table, McGee handed it to the older man. "You have to do this."
Swallowing hard, Tony settled the computer in his lap and lifted the lid. Then, before he could change his mind, he placed the order for the ticket.
"You think she'll come back?"
"I think she'll come back if you give her a reason to."
Tony scoffed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he collapsed back against the couch cushions. "And how do you suggest I go about doing that?"
"By reminding her of why she fell for you in the first place."
**The Next Day -- NCIS Headquarters**
"DiNozzo!"
Tony sighed, looking across the bullpen at his Boss. "Yeah, Boss?"
"Coffee. Then take these to Ducky."
He grumbled as he stood, taking the files off of Gibbs' desk and heading toward the elevator. The older man had been on his ass all week, making him run errands and yelling at him over every little infraction. He had ultimately decided that it was easier to just not argue.
"Uh, Boss?" McGee spoke up, glancing toward the elevator that Tony had just stepped into. "Don't you think you're being a little hard on him? He's been doing better lately. He hasn't even been drinking."
"You call what he's been doing 'better', McGee?"
"Well...I..."
"He is right, Gibbs." Ziva said, defending the senior agent. She was still holding a grudge against him for the way he left things between himself and Abby, avoiding him as much as possible, even while at work. "He has not been so...pitiful lately."
Gibbs shook his head and ignored his agents, going back to the file on his desk. He had noticed that Tony was making an attempt to get his life back on track after Abby's sudden departure. He had cleaned up his act, but he could still see the emptiness behind his senior agent's eyes. He was missing Abby still, and while she had been gone for 3 months, the wounds were still fresh for everyone.
Tony returned to the bullpen 20 minutes later with 4 cups of coffee and he passed them out before sitting back down at his desk with a sigh.
"Where's your report, DiNozzo?"
"Boss, I've been up running errands for you all day, when have I had time?"
Gibbs glared at the Italian, silently daring him to talk back again.
"10 minutes Boss."
Gibbs nodded, smirking slightly to himself before going back to his file. He knew he was pushing the younger man, but when he had found out about the plane tickets he had been purchasing with the intention of going to New Orleans, his hand was forced. Someone had to make Tony realize that burying his head in the sand wasn't the way to go about handling the situation, and he was willing to be that person.
Director Vance came walking down the stairs a moment later, a file in his hand and an angry glare on his face.
"DiNozzo." He barked, stopping next to the younger man's desk.
Gibbs watched from across the room as his agent slammed his hands down on the desk, his face screwed up in an angry glare as he pushed himself to his feet.
"How the fuck am I supposed to get any work done with everyone constantly hounding me?" He spat angrily. "I can't do this anymore!"
The entire squad room went silent at the outburst, everyone turning to face the Italian to see what was going to happen next.
Director Vance threw the file onto Tony's desk. "With me. In my office. Now." He growled.
"Leon..."
"You too, Gibbs. Now."
Gibbs stood up and started walking toward the stairs when he noticed McGee and Ziva standing to follow him. "Stay here." He said, not making eye contact with either of them as he made his way to the director's office.
He closed the door to the office behind him when he stepped inside, seeing Vance and Tony standing toe to toe, with Tony clearly defying the bald man.
"You think its okay to disrespect your director? I don't care what the hell you have going on in your life outside of this office, but if you can't hold it together here then there's only one option remaining." Vance snapped, walking behind his desk and opening a drawer.
"Tony, outside." Gibbs said, his voice low. The younger man set his jaw and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
"And I wonder where he learned to disrespect his superiors."
"I taught him well, what can I say?" Gibbs said, stepping over to Vance's desk. "You can't fire him, Leon."
"The hell I can't! He's an agent in this agency, MY agency, and last I checked, I hold hiring and firing power."
"He's done a lot for this agency." The older man explained. "He's just had a rough 6 months."
"And in that 6 months he's caused this agency more trouble than the last 9 years. Have you already forgotten about the weeks on end that he came in hungover? Or the fact that we lost a forensic scientist, not to mention my predecessor, all because of him. Inexcusable, Gibbs."
"I think I have a solution that can fix all our problems." He offered.
"What's that?" Vance sighed, sitting in his chair.
**20 Minutes Later**
Gibbs stepped out of Vance's office and closed the door quietly, stepping over to where Tony was sitting, surprised by the look on the younger man's face as he stood.
"I'm sorry, Gibbs. I really didn't mean to blow up like that."
He held his hand up, signaling the man to stop. He walked out onto the catwalk above the bullpen, motioning for Tony to follow him as he stepped onto the elevator. The car started up and he immediately flipped the emergency switch, turning toward his senior agent.
"I...I'm done, huh? I saw that coming. I'll go pack up my things, be out of your..."
The headslap came without warning, although it was hardly a surprise. "Sorry Boss."
"You're not getting fired."
"Then...oh, God. Not Agent Afloat again. Boss, I can't take that again."
"Will you shut up, DiNozzo?" Gibbs snapped, running a hand over his face. "You're getting leave time."
He accepted the piece of paper that Gibbs handed him, seeing the signatures of both the director and his boss. "Gibbs..."
"Its either this or you're gone, Tony. I talked him into this, so guess which road you're taking."
Tony looked over the paper for a moment longer before making eye contact with the older man again. "How long?"
"As long as it takes."
"As long as what takes? What do I have to do to come back?" He asked, folding the paper nervously.
"Bring her back." Gibbs said, flipping the switch and putting the elevator back in motion.
"Gibbs...she doesn't want me."
He turned to face him, an amused grin on his face. "You underestimate her, Tony, and you claim to know her best. Trust me, she plays you like a fiddle."
"I know she does." He said quietly.
"Good. Then go get her. Don't second guess yourself. You know what you have to do, so don't even think about coming back without her, clear?"
"Crystal, Boss."
**September 24, 2010 -- Dulles International Airport**
"I can't do this."
"Tony, seriously? Am I gonna have to get Ziva down here?"
He stopped in the middle of the terminal and faced the younger man, frowning at him. "I'm serious, McGee. I'll just resign."
"And Gibbs will murder you." McGee chuckled. "Yeah, that's the way to go."
Tony hesitated, looking over at the gate where his plane was starting to board. "I just remembered I have a dentist appointment next week. I can't miss it, teeth cleanings are important."
"I canceled it. Everything's been taken care of here, okay? All you have to do is go to New Orleans and tell Abby that you want her back."
"I'm not sure I should get on the plane. I'm coming down with something, might be swine flu.". He said, raising his voice slightly in hopes that the airline would prevent him from boarding.
"Nice try, Tony. Stop screwing around. You know what Gibbs' will do if you don't get on this plane."
McGee watched the man tense at the sound of the final boarding for his flight being called, and it was all he could do to keep from laughing at the terrified look on his face.
"I can't do this!" Tony moaned. "Bradley's gonna murder me as soon as I set foot on his property."
"You'll be fine, Tony," he said encouragingly, giving him a gentle shove. "Go. You know we're all just a phone call away if you need anything."
"Tim..."
"Go. Go get your girl."
He watched as the Italian headed for the gate, showing his ticket to the stewardess and glancing back at McGee quickly before boarding. Sighing, he turned back and walked toward the entrance, having a sinking feeling that they weren't going to see Tony for awhile.
Chapter End Notes:
"Love Drunk" by Boys Like Girls