Jenny at least admitted she was part of the problem.  But she was right when she pointed out that all of them had secrets and at least the secret Tony kept was because he was ordered to and not because he chose to keep secrets or lie to everyone else.  That falls firmly with the rest of the team and Abby

Ducky should have told Gibbs to leave his anger at home and remind him that they were the ones that had been in the wrong.  They were the ones that treated Tony like he was useless and unwanted.  Also telling Gibbs that saying he was sorry wasn't a sign of weakness, especially when they were in the wrong.    But that is something Gibbs would never admit to

Listening to Gibbs thoughts, it's clear that it's not about Tony at all, it's all about Gibbs and his pride.

I have read this story a couple times and I really enjoyed the outcome that you had written.    

I have read this story before and I must say I really like Tony's new team.  They are far better and above Tim and Ziva.  I would also say that Tony found in his lab tech, someone that did belong in a class of their own and at a guess it was well above Abby's self claimed skills.   And unlike Abby tooting her own horn and claiming to be the best in the country, Caleb, unlike Abby let his work do the talking.  

I have read this story several times and I just love it.   I loved the way Tony had treated Gibbs.   Gibbs wasn't use to anyone putting the blame on him.   And he didn't like it one bit.  Which I found very funny.  After all, you never really see Gibbs accepting responsibility for his actions.  And the same could pretty much be said about Abby, Ziva and Tim also.    Maybe that's why they always seemed to be his favorites.   Because they are so much alike.   At least Tony aways accepted responsibility for him actiosn.     And you can always tell when Gibbs refuses to listen to Tony's side or even at times Tim's side, especially when it comes to Abby or Ziva.  That he must know deep down that they really aren't the ones to blame.  But he's always coverd for Abby's and Ziva actions.

I loved your end notes.  And you are right, abuse doesn't have to physical.  Just like a woman can just as easily be the abuser as a man.   The terrible thing is that most people don't want to believe that the woman can be the abuser in a relationship.    A firend's son was arrested beause his wife accused him of abuse.   She had a bruse on her wrist where he grabed her to stop her from hitting him.  When the cops arrived, he was the one with the bloody face, black eye, claw marks on his face, and chest.  While she only had a hand print where he grabbed her .   Thank goodness the judge saw things differently and he had ordered her arrestd for abuse when they went to court.

I have read this story several times.  What Ziva did was not a mistake or a misunderstanding.  What shows she did it with the intentions of hurting Tony because she knew it would and two, to give Gibbs the impression that Tony had refused her invite.   As Abby pointed out, Ziva had sent out invitations.     

What Gibbs did, he really deserved having Tony lay him out flat on his back.   Just goes to show how little respect or caring he really has towards Tony.   Gibbs had no right talking about Tony as he did behind his back.  If Tony wanted Ziva to know he would have told her himself.    But then, Gibbs has never really cared about Tony's feelings ever.  Anything Tony has shared with Gibbs, Gibbs has been quick to share with Abby and Ducky.     What Tony should have done was kick them both out of his apt and told Gibbs that he thought he could trust him for him to throw his trust back in his face

It is very easy seeing Gibbs saying something like this and not caring that his son heard him and his words hurt him.  After all, it isn't Kelly and it's a well known fact that Gibbs didn't want any more children after he lost her because in his twisted mind, having another child would have been like trying to replace the daughter he had lost.