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Two weeks after he was admitted in critical condition, Brad discharged him with strict instructions that Tony could not return to work for a fortnight. Tony was so happy to get out of Bethesda that he didn't argue too much with the future home confinement. Further, he realized that it really made no difference how he personally felt about being housebound, because Jethro would enforce it anyway.

One month after that terrifying night at the club Gibbs, Tony, and Abby finished a Sunday night supper as they discussed Tony's return to work the next day. He was beside himself with anticipation, having missed his actual job and his workplace environment. Tony thrived on action, and the days of remaining physically inactive had served as a punishment to him. Nevertheless, that inactivity had allowed him to rebuild his strength.

"So, Boss, now that means that I am good to go, to return to a normal schedule, so I can head out this weekend after work for some extra curricular activities." Tony regarded Jethro warily, not sure that his boss would not put up a fuss about his protege pushing himself too hard and too soon.

The man was just as likely to say no as to say yes.

Gibbs put down his fork and picked up his coffee cup, then took a long swallow before he turned to address Abby. "How long did Tony actually stay in the hospital, Abbs?"

She smiled, "I believe the correct answer to your inquiry is two weeks, my wise Silver Fox."

Tony reached over and yanked one of her pigtails, "Correct, Baby Girl, and let's not forget two more weeks of rehabilitation, so little Anthony is beyond ready to get out and play."

Gibbs took another swallow of his coffee and spoke softly, "Let us not forget those additional days, Son, where you realized you were sick but didn't alert me."

Tony and Abby exchanged shocked glances, then looked down at their plates guiltily. Gibbs knew that they had hidden Tony's condition from him deliberately! Prior experience had taught them that something unpalatable always followed on any occassion when Jethro discovered they had acted dishonestly with him.

Gibbs continued, "So, the upshot is that by not telling me when you actually started feeling sick, you were deceitful, and I am pretty sure that you know how I feel about deceit."

Tony felt like he had been sucker punched, and he threw himself back in the chair, his dreams of an impending hot weekend evaporating by the second. He knew from personal experience what was coming his way. Nevertheless, he tried to turn the tide of Jethro's thinking. "Boss, but I..."

"Hush-" Jethro held up his hand, "because you have no credible excuse for your decision."

Abby started to get up from the table, not sure that Gibbs knew of her complicit involvement. However, he glared in her direction, pointed at her chair, and she sat back down at once.

"You don't need to make any after work or weekend plans for the next two weeks, because your butt is going to be sitting right here at home," Jethro continued, facing Tony.

"Boss, please," Tony had so looked forward to freedom and suddenly it was yanked from his reach. "I am going stir crazy as it is. Haven't I already suffered enough?"

"No, and get quiet before I make your punishment longer than that, Anthony. The next two weeks you will either be here, grounded, or you will be at NCIS, working. You will not be anywhere else. Am I completely clear?"

Tony's lip crept out into a pout, but he nodded.

"Give me a verbal response," Gibbs ordered.

"Yes sir, I understand," he answered softly, trying to reconcile himself to having the rug snatched out from under him.

Gibbs took another swallow of coffee .

Abby reached over and patted Tony's hand and spoke cheerfully, trying to make him feel better.

"Bad luck, Tony, but two weeks really isn't that long of an amount of time. It will be over before you know it, and then you'll be up to your usual weekend shenanigans."

Jethro turned to her and raised his eyebrows, his blue eyes assessing her demeanour. "I am sincerely glad you feel that way, Abby, because you are going to serve that restriction with him."

"For what? What did I do?" Abby's own eyes went huge with shock, and Tony turned to Jethro for clarification, his mouth shaped like an O.

"I distinctly recall promising the two of you that the next time one of you covered for the other to avoid trouble from me, I would give you both the same punishment."

Abby sputtered, "How do you know I knew that he was covering up being sick?"

Gibbs leaned over and put his hand under her chin, lifting so that she made eye contact with him. "Watch yourself, Abby, and don't compound your problems. Both of you knew Tony was sick, and instead of coming to me and telling me, you decided to go out for a night on the town."

Gibbs picked his cup back up but didn't drink, leaning forward to deliver a blistering lecture to the pair. "That behaviour has earned you a two week time out during which I hope you will genuinely regret and question your decision to have fun at all cost. I am incredibly disappointed in your actions- in your subterfuge. You two are adults, and you both know the risk Tony has carried since he contracted the plague. The chance that he could die four weeks ago was as real as it gets. His life was in as much danger as if a suspect had held a loaded gun to his head. This past month could have played out differently, and I really don't appreciate knowing that you two acted like toddlers instead of as adults. You don't deserve any free time because you didn't earn any free time. Now, am I clear?"

His words had found their mark. They both nodded, chastened, and tears slid from Abby's eyes.

"Answer me!" Jethro rubbed the bridge of his nose as he raised his voice, and the pair jumped and reacted quickly.

"Yes sir, Boss, I've got it, and I apologize."

"You're clear, Gibbs, I understand, and I am sorry."

Gibbs stood up then and set down his cup, and his expression softened as he regarded them. They looked miserable, all right, and guilty, as well.

He moved to Abby and kissed the top of her head gently, then brushed back her bangs. "I expect you to act like responsible family members. Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again. I care too much to lose either of you."

Rounding the table he came to Tony, and softly placed a kiss on his head, as well. "You did not fight for your life by yourself, Anthony." Brushing back his bangs, he patted his cheek. "Remember that."

With that he left, and Tony and Abby sat silently for several moments, absorbing his words. Gibbs had voiced the truth, and they realized that it hurt most that they had jeopardized their family unit.

Tony finally stood up and began clearing the table, and Abby started loading the dishwasher.

Down in the basement Jethro listened to the sounds above him, normal after supper sounds in the House of Gibbs. He leaned against the worktable and took a deep breath, enjoying the sheer relief of knowing that both of his charges were safe. His jaw clenched as he physically kept his emotion under control, and he whispered, "God, thank you for giving me the love of my second family."