Chapter 19

I can't thank everyone enough for all the reactions on the story. They really are inspiring for me to continue, thank you thank you thank you!

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Light starts to appear after a long dark night.

Yet Tony still had to go home.

Gibbs, his father and himself had spoken almost the entire night.

Senior had given them a whole bunch of information, including the hiding place of Robert Michaels, a team was on their way to pick him up.

After Gibbs and he left the room agents brought his father to lock up and Gibbs went to get Kelly.

He promised that he would see them back at the house but he had yet to leave.

Even after hearing it from his father, he can still hardly believe that all his father had done was to keep him safe.

And he knew that staying here wasn't going to help him in the slightest but he just needs a little time alone to think!

The problem is that "a little time" became the rest of the night.

God, Shannon would kill him!

'No she won't', says Gibbs out of nowhere.

Tony jumps out of his chair and grabs for his heart.

'Jesus Gibbs, you scared me half to death!'

Gibbs takes a sip of coffee to hide his grin.

'And how did you know what I was thinking?'

'It was not hard to guess, we figured you'd need some time to think, now go home and let Kelly fuss about you, come back when your mind is clear.'

'I want to see this through Gibbs!'

'And you will, but now you're exhausted and wondering if all that you heard last night is true, so take the morning of and spent it with loved ones.'

Tony sighs, he has to admit that Gibbs has a point.

He is tired and thinking about all that he heard, he really could use some time off together with Kelly.

'She has taken the morning off as well so go to her.'

Tony nods, grateful for the chance given to him.

'Let me ask you something first Gibbs.'

'What's that?'

'My father, what will happen to him if this all plays out?'

'What do you want to happen, I can step in and help him cut a deal.'

'I don't know…', he whispers.

'Do you think that what he says is true?'

'It sure seems like it, but it's not something to worry about now.'

Tony has to admit that Gibbs is right, they still have to arrest Vincent DiNozzo to end all this.

'See you after lunch Gibbs.'

He grabs his bag and leaves the bullpen.

Kelly sits outside on a bench right in front of the building.

She had come with her father but had decided to wait outside for Tony to come out.

When her father had come home without Tony she had wanted to get into the car and go pick him up.

Just as she had gotten her coat her mother had stopped her.

"Give him some time Kells, he learned a lot today."

She could hear her mother's words echoing through her head.

She had decided to heed her words and not to go to him but as the night went on and Tony had not come back she had started to worry more and more.

Finally she saw him coming out of the building and she stands up from where she sits.

'Tony!', she calls.

He looks up and turns towards her, the worry in his eyes immediately making place for happiness and love.

'Hello there beautiful, what's shaking.'

'You and your bad pick up lines', she laughs.

'Ahw come on, you know you love me.'

'Not saying that I don't, just saying that your pick up lines suck.'

He smiles and kisses her.

'I'm sorry I didn't come home, to be honest I had no idea that so much time had passed.'

'That's okay, dad told us what happened, I'm just not sure what to do with the information.'

'Me neither, I wonder if I should be happy that my father apparently isn't that deep into the mob or angry because he put me through all that, but I now know that he did that to keep me safe, I just don't know what to feel.'

'of course you don't know what to feel you silly, nobody would know what to feel in a situation like this.'

'Yeah, sorry, this whole situation makes me rather cranky.'

'That's alright, you forget that I grew up as the daughter of Leroy Jethro Gibbs and that I have seen him awake without any coffee, cranky is no problem for me.'

Tony can't help but laugh at that.

'True enough, so since we both have the morning off, how about breakfast?'

'Sounds good, how about we eat first and then go shopping?'

'I'm not much of a shopping guy but if it let's me spent some time with you I'm in!'

'That's sweet, but it's not just shopping for fun, my mother's birthday is this Saturday and I fear that I still have not found anything to give her.'

'Well, since I've been accused of giving awful gifts I'll just act as dumb muscle.'

Kelly laughs.

'Who accused you, an ex of yours?'

'Yes, my ex partner, we were just working together for a few moths when his birthday came around,…'

'What did you get him?'

'A plant, a few weeks before we had a night off and decided on watching tv and eating dinner together his home was empty and dark, I hoped a plant would bring some life into that place…'

'But that's a pretty good idea, and besides, your place was probably worse!'

'I had a small apartment and a low salary, and yeah, the idea was good but he apparently was suffering from hay fever, he had a rather bad reaction to it and wouldn't stop tearing up.'

Kelly laughed at that.

'That's only one time.'

'His birthday after that I gave him a watch, he busted his old one on an op the week before, but he turned out allergic and needed a real silver watch.'

At that point Kelly had to stop and sit down, she just couldn't stop laughing.

'So yeah, I always manage to get the wrong things for people.'

'That's just the best thing ever!'

'You say that now…'

'Any more examples?'

'I wanted to make my mother a mother's day cake, instead of sugar I accidentally used salt and gave her the cake, it was disgusting.'

'I can believe that, but that was an honest mistake not a badly chosen gift.'

'A badly chosen ingredient.'

Together they stepped into a small diner, Kelly greeted a woman with a wave.

'Hey there Elaine,'

'Good morning Kelly, is your father today not with you and who is the tall, dark and handsome guy with you?'

'Dad's at work, this is his new agent and my partner Tony, Tony this is a good friend of ours Elaine.'

'Nice to meet you Elaine.'

'Nice to meet you too Tony, you kids want some coffee?'

'Please, milk and four sugar for me.'

'Oh you're a sweet tooth aren't you honey?'

Tony blushes a little.

'More then a little, can we have some pancakes as well?'

'Coffee a la obese, coffee black and pancakes coming right up!'

Tony and Kelly sit down.

'You know her well?'

'My dad and I have been coming here since I was a kid, it was something just for me and dad.'

'I see, Shannon never came?'

'No, like I said, this was something for dad and me to spent time together, we didn't get much time together since he was a marine.'

'I understand, you still do this?'

'Sometimes yes.'

Elaine came back with the coffee.

'Enjoy, your pancakes will come in a few minutes, you just call when you want a refill.'

'Thanks Elaine, we'll let you know.'

They spent most of the morning in the diner, talking, laughing and remembering things from their childhood.

By the time they realize what time it is it's almost noon.

Kelly walks Tony back to the NCIS headquarters and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

'Thanks for breakfast Tony.'

'Sorry that I can't come shopping with you.'

'That's okay, after hearing your stories I think I'm off going alone, I can't wait for my birthday.'

'I'm sure you won't be disappointed, see you tonight.'

With a quick kiss he goes back to work, ready to face whatever it is that his father will throw at him.