Previous disclaimers and warnings apply.

Including that this chappie contains a lot of fluff.

They were going home.

Every minute or so, Gibbs would glance at his Senior Field Agent through the front-view mirror. Tony was laid down on top of the backseat. His face was turned the other way and all Gibbs saw was the back of his head. He wasn't sure if the still form was sleeping or if he was introspecting. Whatever it was, Gibbs just hoped it was the healthier option. The boy had suffered enough.

When they had reached their destination, Gibbs got out of the car. He opened the door and his eyes instantly met a familiar bedraggled mop of brown hair. Tony's eyes were closed, but Gibbs's gut told him he wasn't sleeping. His breathing was too irregular.

Gibbs gently shook his shoulder. "DiNozzo," he whispered, "we're here."

Tony slowly lifted his eyelids revealing somnolent olive-green orbs. He shifted his body and ambled out of the car. Gibbs immediately wrapped an arm around his waist and took the younger man's arm and swathed it around his neck, noting how light he was. When they arrived at the front porch Gibbs kicked the door open and steadily took his agent to the nearby couch. He didn't allow the younger man to slump, but to slowly sink down into the cushions. Gibbs then seated himself next to Tony. After a moment of silence, Gibbs's voice cut through the air, effectively breaking it.

"We need to talk."

Tony closed his eyes and resisted the urge to groan. There was no escaping Gibbs. And the suckiest part about it was that he couldn't say "I don't wanna talk about it" or "leave me alone" because he almost blew his brains out in front of his Boss. For a brief moment, Tony regretted giving up the gun in the first place.

"Boss," he started," I'm f-

"God help me if you utter the word 'fine.'" Gibbs growled. "You are not fine DiNozzo!"

The old Tony would have said, but I will be, but he wasn't the old Tony anymore. The new one didn't respond yet and looked down. The new one was tired of wearing the same façade every damn day. The new one was fed up.

"Then what do you want me to say, Gibbs?" He dejected.

Gibbs's gaze was stern. "I want you to move on, but that isn't gonna happen until we talk about it. I need you to tell me everything that lead you to almost ending your life."

The shake of his head was instinctual. But what came out his mouth shocked himself.

"No."

It was a simple two-letter, one syllable word, and yet it defied Gibbs's order.

However, Gibbs wasn't surprised at his reticence. The young man's mask of displaying superhuman strength had come crumbling down. Ofcourse he would logically deny any situation that would make him vulnerable. It was expected.

"Look at me," he spoke.

He waited until the younger man did.

"If you keep this bottled up inside it's only going to get worse."

Tony bit back a how? and settle with,

"I can't."

Gibbs nodded, sensing a déjà vu. "Yes you can."

Gibbs kindled a flame. Suddenly, all the sadness and depression turned into anger. "I said I can't dammit!" He fulminated. "What the hell do you want me to say? That I really AM a disappointment? That I'm- that I'm a fucked up human being!?"

"That's not true," Gibbs argued calmly.

"The hell it isn't," he spat.

"Yeah, it isn't!" The calmness seeped away and irate conviction took its place. "I never meant what I said! You are NOT a disappointment, you hear me?"

Gibbs watched Tony stand up. "Yeah I hear you," he said splenetically, "I just don't believe you."

When he tried marching away, Gibbs's hand shot out and grabbed his arm. The fabric of his long sleeve pressed into the raw flesh and it let out a stinging roar. He let out a hiss and immediately regretted it when Gibbs's expression morphed into something inscrutable. Gibbs immediately shifted his hand from Tony's arm to his wrist and pulled him closer. Tony struggled wildly when he felt his Boss try to peel away his long sleeve. He pounded his fist against his chest and tried to push his Boss away with his free hand, but because he was emaciated, his efforts were futile. Gibbs blinked solemnly at the red, angry, large scars that littered his agents arm. They both were silent for an interminable length. Gibbs put his other hand on Tony's shoulder, applying a little pressure, and Tony slumped down on the couch when he got the message. Gibbs disappeared.

He was pretty sure things just got worse. Tony sat there on the couch with both his sleeves now rolled up. He gave up the fight and sat there feeling defeated, bare, and raw.

Gibbs came back and set the medical supplies on the coffee table and resumed his position next to him. The older man's quiescence made him gulp in trepidation. Gibbs slipped his hand under the back of Tony's head and brought it to rest on his sternum. That way it provided solace for the younger man and himself, and he had better, closer access to Tony's…wounds. Once again he was reminded that his agent's mental wounds were so strong that it manifested into physical ones.

Gibbs soaked a cotton swab with Hydrogen Peroxide and gently dabbed it on the scars. When he was done he poured a generous amount of antibacterial ointment on a large set of pressure bandages. He then began wrapping both of his agent's arms. Any deeper and Tony would have needed stitches.

"Why are you doing this?" Tony mumbled from his chest.

"To help you." Gibbs settled with. There were so many things to say. Because I hurt you enough, because you're my agent, because I'm supposed to have your six-

"I don't want your pity," Tony muttered bitterly. When his head lifted from his chest to move away, Gibbs hand shot up and pushed it back to its proper place. Tony's eyes widened.

"I don't pity you," Gibbs spoke softly but truthfully, tucking Tony's head underneath his chin. "I let my temper get the best of me. You didn't ask for help but you needed it. All you needed was help, and instead of watching your six, I…" Tony raised his head and looked at Gibbs, baffled. He didn't know the man's voice was capable of being filled with such emotion… Gibbs looked down and straight into his eyes, his voice held every single ounce of truth. "I said it once and I'll say it again; you're irreplaceable." All the gratitude, love, joy, and pride went into that one word.

Tony bit the inside of his cheek and nodded. He understood what the man was asking for. That's the one Tony was confident in, the ability to understand Gibbs when others couldn't even take a simple guess.

"I, uh, forgive ya Boss."

Gibbs gave him one of those rare smiles you come across five or six times in a lifetime. And Tony took the brave chance of embracing the older man while they were both still emotional for the time being. But the funny thing was that Tony didn't care how childish he was acting. For once he didn't deny what he needed and full-on accept it instead.

Gibbs rested his cheek on top of Tony's head, while continuing to bandage his arms. He knew that he didn't deserve Tony's forgiveness, but he was grateful he got it anyway. When he was finished, Gibbs looked down at his agent and smiled fondly when he tried to keep his eyes open. Gibbs instinctively placed a paternal kiss in the brown hair and froze in panic, but when Tony didn't do or say anything he relaxed. He rose up and helped Tony get on his feet.

"Okay DiNozzo," he whispered," let's get you in bed."

Tony smiled his first genuine smile in… he doesn't know how long. "Didn't know you swung that way, Boss."

That familiar mischievous voice was mellifluous to his ears. Gibbs smirked and temporarily removed his arm from Tony's waist, and delivered a swift head slap, although, it was much gentler than usual.

Once they reached the guest bedroom, Gibbs lowered Tony to the bed. He then took off his agent's shoes, bloodied shirt, and such. Gibbs then covered DiNozzo's body with the blanket, tucking it up to his chin. He threaded his hand through his hair, and watched how Tony's eyes shut, welcoming slumber for the first time since God knows when. He remembered his first child Kelly and how he lost her, and how he was so close to losing his other one. With that thought in mind, Gibbs lowered himself and whispered, "Tony," into his ear. "We're still gonna talk about what happened tomorrow."

Tony shifted and mumbled, "M'kay Boss."

With one final glance at the sleeping form, he left the door slightly ajar, and retreated downstairs.

All would soon be well.

Le Fin…. Sorta?

I uh, *scratches head and laughs nervously * don't know if I should continue this? All I know is that I'm happy with it…I don't know what else to write, but if you, my lovely readers, have any ideas and want me to continue, please let me know. I thank EVERYONE who read, favorited, followed, and/or reviewed. I couldn't have done this without you. Seriously, you guys rock. And if you thought that that was too much fluff, I have one thing to say to you… THERE IS NO SUCH THING! :P

Take care, guys.

SheLovesGreenTea out!