The next few days around the house were routine. Gibbs tried to make
it a routine getting up, taking a shower, then going down the stairs;
this way there wasn't a lot of movement. Then after eating Tony would
end up taking a nap and Gibbs would look at the web pages that Abby
and Ducky had given them. Gibbs was looking into a computer as well
that Tony could use that talked to him as well as a Braille
keyboard.
Gibbs also looked into a few of the programs for Tony to enroll in
for the helper dogs. The thing that kept Gibbs from helping Tony was
that to the government he was dead. Gibbs was not pushing this just
yet. Tony was just starting to believe that he was safe, at least the
nightmares had slowed and weren't happening every time he went to
sleep.
After the 3rd week Gibbs had still not gone back to work. Abby had
already gone back and they were very close to finding the man who had
attacked Tony in the first place. Their leads were getting better
and better. Gibbs was on the phone most of the day with the team.
Tony would lay on the sofa, listening to old movies on the TV. That
was one of the first things Gibbs got when Tony moved in; he got
cable hooked up to his side of the house, then a new TV. It was
nothing special but Abby did make sure it was an HD TV. The sound
was clearer and the picture rocked, not that Tony needed a picture.
Gibbs made a few calls to friends he knew around Washington to try to
find out how to prove that Tony was alive and not dead. Came to find
out when they did the check in payroll they made the check payable to
cash since they didn't know if he could cash them and be safe. They
had gotten permission from the director. This also sent up a flag in
Gibbs' mind. His number was now flagged from a conversation at the
IRS with an ex-girlfriend of his. This also was how Tony's father
must have found him. He also had friends in high places and could
track things like this.
One Friday afternoon Gibbs was in the kitchen cleaning up from
cooking dinner and he had forgotten what day it was. He hadn't really
talked to the outside world at all. Tony was asleep on the sofa. For
Tony trusting Gibbs was getting easier and easier. He would do their
shower and now Tony was not getting as aroused since Gibbs was not
making it anything but a shower. The bathroom trips were not as
frequent as they might have been if Tony was alone. Tony did make
sure that he counted how many steps that Gibbs would take to get from
one place to another. Or how many steps it took to push him to some
place. Tony was getting a little better at moving around by himself
but still had a great deal of pain.
"Poppy, Poppy!"
In from the door on Abby's side of the house ran a little girl, all
of eight with golden-blonde hair. She was in a lovely heavier dress
with Minnie Mouse on it. Gibbs looked up from the soap-filled sink
and remembered what day and weekend it was.
"In here angel," he yelled out.
He heard movement on the sofa and turned and saw a little girl in the
doorway of the kitchen at the same time. Gibbs looked out to the
living room from the kitchen and saw Tony trying to sit up with a
great deal of trouble.
"Angel, there's someone I want you to meet."
Gibbs dried his hands and picked up his daughter. They then proceeded
to walk into the living room. Tony still wasn't sitting up.
"Who's there?"
"Just me, Tony, and my daughter."
"Hey, Abs."
"Not that one."
Gibbs put Kelly down and then helped Tony sit up and sat next to
him.
"Kelly, this is a friend of mine. Say hello."
"Hello, sir, my name is Kelly. Abby is my sister."
"Well, hello, Kelly, it's nice to meet you." Tony put his hand out in
the general direction but not in front of Kelly and she started
laughing.
"Kelly, that's not nice," Gibbs warned.
"I'm sorry, Poppy." She stopped laughing and took the hand and noted
that it was for real and Tony didn't know where she was. "Are you
blind, sir?"
"Yes, I am blind, and please, call me Tony."
"Okay, Tony. Why do you have all those casts on?"
"Tony got hurt a few weeks back, and your sister and I are helping
him get better. I had even forgotten that it was your weekend."
"Poppy." She looked mad at her father's statement.
"How about you talk to Tony for a little bit till I finish up the
dishes in the kitchen. Where's your sister?"
"She and, um, I think his name was Tim, are kissing," she said with a
giggle.
Since Tony had come to stay with Gibbs, Tim and Abby had started
seeing each other now that she could be open and tell him the truth
about her house and her father. Gibbs smiled, as did Tony, at the
little girl's frankness.
"Okay, you talk with Tony here, and if he needs help, you think you
can help him?"
"Yes, Poppy, I can help Mr. Tony if he needs it."
"Good girl."
Tony could feel Gibbs get off the sofa and heard a kissing sound.
Gibbs was kissing the top of his daughter's head and then Tony heard
him walk away.
"So, Kelly, right?"
"Yes. You work with my Poppy?"
"I did, yes."
"How?" She covered her mouth for asking the question. "I'm sorry,
that wasn't nice. Poppy will be mad."
"Then how about we don't tell him, okay?" Tony patted next to him
where Gibbs had just been.
She hopped off the chair and sat next to Tony.
"Kelly, I'm betting you've never been around anyone who was blind."
"Nope. My grandfather was deaf but not blind."
"Well, then, you can ask me anything."
"Really?"
"Yes, really, even if your father might not like it. If you don't
know, ask me, okay?"
"Okay, so how do you work with Poppy? It's hard. Abby said that you
have to shoot a gun and everything."
"Well, I worked in the mail room. I walked the same path everyday and
the cart was set up that my stops were in compartments and I knew
which one would come first. I knew how many steps between one desk
and the next."
"Do you have a dog? Sometimes on TV people have dogs."
"No, I don't, but your father is going to help me try and get one."
"Oh. How long have you been blind?"
Gibbs was cleaning up in the kitchen, leaving the two new people to
get to know each other. He had forgotten that Kelly was coming this
week but he didn't care. He trusted Tony with her. He trusted Tony
with his life. He had never let any of his girlfriends or even
boyfriends ever meet her. The only one that had was Fornell but they
hadn't been dating and it was more of a court date thing since he did
sleep with Gibbs' second wife.
"Well, I lost my sight at about the age of fifteen. I got very sick,
and this was the result."
"Oh, that must have been sad. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I got over it, and now I can do just about anything that
you can do."
"Really? How can you see?"
"Well, I feel around. Like you see, I can feel what things look like."
"So you don't know what I look like or my Poppy looks like."
"Well, I kind of have a picture, yes. Not the best since I had a cast
when I felt your father's face."
"You want to feel my face?"
"Yes, I'd like that."
Tony felt a hand on his, drawing his hand to her face. She had a
round and lovely soft face. Tony just ran his fingers softly over it,
smiling.
"You're very pretty."
"Thank you. My Poppy and Mommy tell me that. So are you my Daddy's
boyfriend?"
Tony panicked now. He didn't know what to say about that. He went
pale, and his mouth became dry.
"You've met your father's boyfriends before?"
"Nope, I only overheard him talking with Mom about he had a date one
night with a man, so I asked Mom about it afterwards and she
explained that Poppy likes men and women both. I never met any
girlfriends, either."
"Oh." Tony no longer had his hand on the girl's face but in his lap.
"So, are you my Poppy's new boyfriend?"
"Well, I'm not really sure. Right now your father and I are just
friends, but maybe, one day, I hope."
"I like you. You make Poppy happy. I can tell."
"Well, he makes me very happy. I'm not used to people helping me, but
your father and sister have been a great deal of help while I'm
getting better."
"So will you be leaving after your casts are off?"
Gibbs was rounding the corner but stopped and listened to Tony's
answer.
"I'm not really sure, honey. Right now I'm just thinking about today.
Your father is teaching me how to look at one day at a time."
"He's nice that way. He makes people happy and you're making him
happy. I can tell. I saw him almost sit in your lap on the sofa. That
makes me happy that you're making him happy."
Gibbs saw his daughter hug the man on the sofa. Tony was moved to
tears by the warmth of the little girl he had just met. Gibbs walked,
in smiling.
"You two having fun in here?"
"Yes, Poppy. I like Tony."
"Good. He'll be around for a while, I hope." Gibbs was standing
behind the sofa, right behind his friend and his daughter. "How about
you go next door and get your sister and McGee and tell them dinner
is ready."
"Okay, Poppy." Kelly jumped off the sofa and went running out.
Gibbs walked around and sat next to Tony.
"She's lovely."
"Thanks. Sorry if she's a problem."
"No, she was very polite, and well, Jethro, I'm?I?well?I?just?well?"
"Tony, relax. What? Talk to me."
"I didn't know you had anymore kids."
"Yes, well, she lives with her mom. I get one weekend a month and
normally it's my weekend I'm not on call. Then I get her for a few
holidays a year. Her mom and I are still friends, but it just didn't
work out between us."
Gibbs could see the pain in Tony's face and the tears coming out from
behind the glasses. "Tony, what's the matter?"
Gibbs heard the others coming into the house. He signed to Abby to
give them a moment before they even got there and Abby took them all
straight into the kitchen.
"Nothing, I'm good, let's eat."
"No, Tony, we talk about this stuff. I don't care if I don't want to
hear it or you think I can't take it or whatever. Just talk. Why are
you crying?"
"Nothing. It's just that you opened your home to me. You trust me
with your house and now your daughter. Why? She said you never
introduced any of your other dates to her."
"She was right. What did she ask you, Tony?"
"Nothing."
"Tony."
"She wanted to know if I was your boyfriend."
"Oh, well, yeah her mom told me she overhead a conversation once, so
I guess I need to have a talk with her about asking questions."
"No, I told her to ask me anything. She doesn't know if she doesn't
ask"
"Tony, that's none of her business."
"Yes, it is. She wants you happy."
"Still."
Tony took Gibbs' hands and held them. "No, Jethro, it's okay. Really.
I just, well, she just met me and already she likes me. I'm not used
to that. And I know you're taking it slow and I like that and in the
end I'm sure I will be staying around since we can't move back to my
place." Tony felt a hand on the back on his head, just resting
there. "Thank you, Jethro. Thank you for trusting me with your
family, I guess."
"You're welcome. Just wait, I'm sure my mother will want to meet
you."
Gibbs chuckled, knowing the Southern woman would have no doubt
already heard about him from Abby and was just chomping at the bit
about meeting her son's new boyfriend.
"Now let's get in there before Kelly eats it all. I swear at times
she doesn't eat at home."
"Nope, it's just that your cooking is great," Tony said, moving to
the chair with Gibbs' help and going into dinner.
After dinner Kelly and Tim had dish duty. Tim was still a little
weirded-out by the fact his boss was also his girlfriend's father and
made the mistake of talking shop one day to him and she looked at him
with the look of death.
"So, Tony, how are you feeling?"
"With my hands, Tim."
"Funny. No, really, the girls in the secretarial pool asked about you
and I was the one who got the honor of informing them of your well-
being."
"Well, tell them I'm just fine and my caretaker is making sure I take
all my meds and I get moving every morning. But thank God not at the
crack of dawn like his Marine training taught him."
"Hey."
"He's right, Poppy, you get up early."
"Just for that no pancakes in the morning." Abby and Kelly both
frowned. "And boo-boo lip will not work on me." He crossed his arms
and looked away right at Tony.
Tony did something Gibbs didn't expect. He never took his glasses off
in front of people except for him and Abby. Tony took them off,
placed them on the table and made a sad, pathetic face.
"Oh, that is so not fair."
"What? I have no clue what you're talking about," Tony said, all
innocent-like.
"Tony."
"Yes, Kelly."
"You have pretty eyes."
"Thank you, honey, I haven't seen them in a long time. I keep
thinking that they're not there."
"Nope, they are there, and they are pretty."
"She's right, Tony, your eyes are very nice," Abby added. "When you
get better we are SO going shopping and matching things to them."
"I think I'd like that. I might even get rid of the glasses."
Gibbs placed his hand on top of Tony's and smiled. "I like that
idea."
The girls just giggled at the table. Abby was great with Kelly,
better than any big sister ever was. She never complained and at
times would call Gibbs' first wife and see about taking her for a day
and being girls.
"Okay, you two. Kelly, go up and get ready for bed."
"But, Poppy."
"No buts, you heard me. You're not going to bed but you have to get
ready. Got me? You can stay up and watch a move. You staying for
that, Tim?"
"Um, well?"
"Yes, he is, Dad."
"Good. You and I will make an ice cream run."
Gibbs got orders for ice cream and ran to the local Friendly's and
got ice cream sundaes for everyone. When they got back Abby had the
kitchen finished and Kelly was in her nightgown and was in front of
the TV with her head resting in Tony's lap. Tony was listening to the
cartoon they were watching. Gibbs smiled at the sight. Kelly was a
great judge of character.
They gave everyone their ice cream and they let Kelly pick out a
movie. She wanted to watch the new "Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory" and Abby went and got it from her collection. They all sat
there, Gibbs next to Tony. Tony's head was resting on Gibbs'
shoulder, sleeping by the end. Tim and Abby in the loveseat curled up
tighter. Kelly was asleep in Tony's lap.
After the movie Abby and Tim left after Tim helped Gibbs get Tony
back upstairs. Tony was put into bed and Kelly went to go brush her
teeth. She came back to Tony's room.
"Poppy, why is Tony sleeping in here?"
"This is his room, Angel. Why should he not sleep in here?"
"Well, you and him are dating. Mom's boyfriend sleeps with her."
"Well, Angel, it's complicated but a quick easy version is that Tony
and I are building a friendship first, then dating, okay?" Gibbs
looked at Tony, squeezed his leg, and Tony melted at the touch and
Gibbs could see it in his face. "Say goodnight to Tony and I'll be in
to read you a story."
"Okay, Poppy."
"Night, Tony." Kelly walked over and threw her arms around the blind
man.
Gibbs could see him kind of jump. "Angel, you have to be careful. You
can scare Tony like that."
"I'm sorry. I, well, I?"
"Kelly, it's okay. Just next time either tell me or touch me lightly
on the arm so I know where you are, okay?"
"I love you, Tony." Kelly hugged him again and went out of his room.
Gibbs saw the tears coming down his face again. "Okay, Tony, I'll be
right back, let me just tuck her in." Gibbs didn't make a big deal of
Tony's tears. He knew the man needed time.
Tony could make out that Gibbs was reading but not what since it was
in the next room. After about thirty minutes Tony was awakened by
Gibbs walking in. He could smell sawdust even if he hadn't been in
the basement that day at all.
"Hey."
"You okay?"
"I'm better now. She's lovely, Jethro."
"Thanks, she means a lot to me. I can't believe I forgot that it was
her weekend. I'm not like that."
"You've been a little busy with other things, Jethro."
"I know, still."
Tony patted the spot next to him on the bed. Gibbs went and sat where
Tony asked him to.
"Jethro, you can't beat yourself up over this."
"I'm not. I just forgot. I have been trying to get you better."
"And that means a lot to me. So tell me how you and her mom met."
The next four hours Gibbs talked to Tony. The younger man asked him
questions and Gibbs answered, frankly and truthfully. Gibbs didn't
hold anything back except some of the names of people he'd slept with
in Washington due to they might not be out, and Tony was okay with
that. At the end of the talk Tony was curled up in the bed on top of
Gibbs' lap. Gibbs just ran his hand through Tony's hair and let the
man sleep.
The next few days around the house were quiet. Kelly wanted to leave
the house and have Tony take her to the park down the street. Abby
took her instead. She wasn't happy about that but understood getting
Tony in and out of the house would mean a lot of effort and that Tony
really needed his rest. She understood that and was okay. Every night
she would curl up on Tony's lap or next to Tony. She wanted to help
her dad take care of Tony as much as she was allowed. On Monday Gibbs
took her to school. Abby stayed with Tony till Gibbs got home, then
she went to work herself.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Tony learns more about himself and Gibbs
Chapter End Notes:
I would like to thanks any and all who read this. if you happen to elave Feed back and i do not reply it is hinky at times and bounces back. I thank you in advance for reading and letting me know what you think. Good, Bad or indifrent.